Osteochondrosis is a chronic condition that is more common in adult patients. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, complications lead to spinal immobilization and disability. Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are an auxiliary method of treatment, they are prescribed simultaneously with drugs, diet, massage and a number of special exercises. Subject to medical recommendations, you can extend the remission period.
What is osteochondrosis?
This is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a gradual destruction of intervertebral discs and vertebral tissues. Muscles gradually atrophy, the transmission of nerve impulses, the work of physiological systems and individual internal organs is disturbed. The disease is asymptomatic for a long time. Then the patient complains of pain in the back and neck. This is the first sign of osteochondrosis. Other symptoms depend on the location of the pathological focus. General signs of the disease:
- static syndrome: posture disorders, spinal stiffness, more frequent back pain;
- trophic syndrome: the formation of trophic ulcers on the skin due to impaired oxygen supply to tissues;
- Vascular syndrome: paleness of the skin, nausea, dizziness, signs of lack of oxygen;
- neurological syndrome: decreased sensitivity in various areas of the spine, feeling of "crawling on the skin", numbness of the limbs.
Without timely treatment, nausea and dizziness are more common, and the patient may even lose consciousness. Due to arteriosclerotic narrowing of the arteries, certain parts of the brain suffer from a lack of oxygen and die. In addition, the patient complains of a sharp drop in visual acuity and "goose bumps" flickering in front of the eyes.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Treatment is carried out by a neuropathologist, vertebrologist, surgeon or neurosurgeon, chiropractor, movement therapist, physiotherapist. Choosing a specialist with a narrow profile depends on the shape and stage of the pathological process and possible health complications. Treatment for osteochondrosis is conservative or surgical. In the first case, an integrated approach is required, which, in addition to a therapeutic diet and taking medication, includes:
- Remedial gymnastics and physical education;
- Change of usual way of life;
- Reflexology;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy methods;
- Massage course;
- Methods of traditional medicine.
Treating cervical osteochondrosis, or any other spine, is a long process. The main goal is to stop the pain syndrome, restore the structure and function of the vertebrae, and increase the time of remission. The complex of therapeutic measures proposed by the specialist is designed for 1-3 months, depending on the severity of the pathological process. The rehabilitation period is 1 year. Effective home treatment can be performed as directed by a doctor.
Medication
The use of medication is appropriate in the acute stage, when the patient suffers from acute pain in the spine, cannot move fully and cannot sleep. The doctor prescribes tablets for oral administration, ointments, gels for external use. With osteochondrosis, the complex treatment includes drugs of several pharmacological groups:
| Name of the pharmacological group | The principle of action in the focus of pathology | Forms of drug delivery |
|---|---|---|
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hereinafter NSAIDs) | Blockade of prostaglandin synthesis (suppression of the inflammatory process and acute pain attack) | Capsules, injections, tablets, gels, plasters, ointments |
| vasodilator drugs | Nutrition of the vertebral tissue, acceleration of their regeneration process | Creams, ointments, gels, tablets, injections |
| Muscle relaxants | Relaxing spasmodic muscles, reducing pain syndrome | Injections, tablets |
| Anesthetics, analgesics | rapid anesthesia of the pathological focus | Injections, tablets |
| Chondroprotectors | Restoring the structure of bone and cartilage tissue to prevent their further destruction | Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
| Sedatives | Improving the quality of sleep, achieving emotional balance | Tinctures, tablets |
| Antidepressants | Relief of anxiety and depressive states due to acute pain and reduced mobility of the vertebrae | Tablets |
| Glucocorticosteroids | are prescribed in complicated clinical cases to relieve inflammation, reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome, restore the functioning of the vertebrae | Ointments, injections, tablets |
| Phytopreparations (herbal medicines) | Restoring the protective functions of the body, normalizing the quality of sleep, preventing depression | Tablets |
| Antioxidants | Improvement of the local blood circulation, stimulation of the metabolism at the cellular level | Injections, tablets |
| Multivitamin complexes | Strengthening the spine, strengthening immunity | Tablets |
Tablets
Oral drugs are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pills and have a complex effect on the body. In this way, you can reduce inflammation, suppress an attack of pain, restore the damaged structure of the vertebrae, and supply the tissues with vital oxygen. Symptomatic therapy for osteochondrosis performed at home includes oral administration:
- NSAIDs;
- vasodilator drugs;
- Muscle relaxants;
- Analgesics;
- Chondroprotectors;
- Sedatives;
- Antidepressants and sedatives;
- Glucocorticosteroids;
- Phytopreparations;
- Antioxidants;
- Multivitamin complexes.
After taking such drugs, the movement of the vertebrae is restored orally, an acute attack of pain disappears:
ointment
Means for local external use have analgesic, irritant and distracting properties, are intended for external use - directly in the focus of pathology. With local exposure, the risk of contraindications and side effects is minimal, the therapeutic effect is felt 15-20 minutes after using a single dose of the selected drug:
- pain relieving ointments;
- NSAIDs;
- Chondroprotectors;
- homeopathic ointments.
These medicines can cause local and allergic reactions on the skin. Therefore, before using it at home, you need to consult a specialist.
Injections
The main purpose of performing injections is to relieve convulsions, reduce the increased excitability of nerve endings, suppress an attack of pain that deprives the patient of sleep and rest. For the successful treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations of several pharmacological groups are suitable for intramuscular administration:
- NSAIDs;
- Analgesics;
- Chondroprotectors;
- Muscle relaxants;
- paravertebral blockage.
Most of these injections are for intramuscular administration. You can give yourself injections at home.
diet
Effective home treatment for osteochondrosis necessarily involves a healthy diet, so the patient must make certain adjustments to their usual daily diet. The prerequisite is to reduce the total calorie content of meals and the amount of cholesterol-increasing food ingredients. It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet, consume more fermented milk and vegetable products, control the water balance, and the intake of natural vitamins and antioxidants.
| To eat healthy food | Prohibited food |
|---|---|
| Milk and sour milk products | Fast food |
| fish and seafood | Semi-finished products, preservatives |
| Red meat | Confectionery, candy |
| Eggs, hard cheese, butter | sweet carbonated drinks |
| Beef liver | Alcohol in any form |
| Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage of all kinds) | Table salt, spices |
| Fruits (peaches, apricots, citrus fruits) | Sausages, smoked meat |
charger
With osteochondrosis, the morning should start with exercise. Patients take part in therapeutic exercises at any time of the day. In this way, it is possible to improve blood circulation, slow down degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine, strengthen the muscle corset and extend the period of remission of the underlying disease. Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home helps to relax tense muscles in the back and neck, widen the intervertebral gaps and release pinched spinal nerves. General recommendations from specialists:
- It is necessary to start the therapeutic gymnast with a warm-up.
- If an acute pain syndrome is felt in the lower back, twisting is contraindicated.
- With cervical osteochondrosis, it is advisable not to turn your head sharply.
- It is recommended that you replace running and jumping with walking, swimming, and frequent walks in the fresh air.
- All movements should be smooth and slow, you need to do them every day.
- It is necessary to monitor breathing (should be steady) and pulse rate in order to control the physical stress on the body.
Regularly doing simple exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical or other spine, you can forget about the excruciating pain for a long time. Training complex available at home:
- Sit in a chair, clasp your hands in a lock at the back of your head, lean your body forward. Press your hands on the back of your head so that the head lowers gently, the chin touching the chest region. Hold this position for a few seconds, feel the maximum muscle tension.
- While sitting, touch your right cheek with the palm of your right hand and slowly tilt your head first to the left, then switch hands to the right. It is recommended to do 15-20 approaches on each side.
- Sit on a chair so that you can grab it by the edge with your hands. Then slowly lower your head back, spreading your shoulder blades and shoulders. Then return to the starting position and repeat the same movement 15-20 more times.
- In a sitting position on the floor, bend forward with your legs straight so that, without bending your knees, you can reach the tips of your toes. Freeze in this position for a few moments, then exhale and relax.
- Lie on your back with your legs bent at the knees. Slowly drive around the bridge and lift the pool off the floor. Freeze at the highest point for 5-10 seconds. Such an exercise for osteochondrosis as part of the developed training complex is carried out by the renowned specialist S. M. Bubnowski.
massage
To quickly relieve muscle spasms, increase microcirculation, strengthen the back and improve the general condition of the patient, doctors with osteochondrosis recommend massage. You can do each operation yourself at home. The basic requirement is intensive training of the cervical and lumbar spine in order to activate the local blood circulation. The technique does not matter, you can knead, rub, squeeze the skin:
- To warm up your muscles, start the massage with light stroking movements.
- Then rub, knead. Grab a fold of skin and slowly move up from the bottom.
- Press with your fingertips in the area of the longitudinal muscles of the back, make circular movements.
- Stretch the muscles of the chest, thighs, shoulder girdle, avoiding increased pressure on the spine.
- End the process by knocking, vibrating, hitting. Perform such manipulations with your fingertips, an edge or the entire palm, depending on the severity of the disease.
Massager for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
In order to get rid of an unbearable attack of pain in the neck area at home, relax muscle fibers and quickly relieve general well-being, the patient is recommended to use a special massager. It will help stop the pain syndrome even in advanced cases.
Medicinal baths
In the phase of exacerbation, water procedures are contraindicated. Such home sessions have become indispensable in rehabilitation, as they expand the blood vessels, relax the muscles and have a positive effect on the joints of the spine. To enhance the desired effect, it is recommended to add a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, horsetail and thyme in warm water. General recommendations from specialists:
- Pour 250-300 g of dry plant material or mixture with 5 liters of boiling water.
- Simmer over a moderate heat for 20 minutes.
- After insisting under the lid, strain the broth and pour it into the collected bath.
- Do the procedure before bed for 15-20 minutes.
Compressed
Such home procedures will help remove edema and an acute attack of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, they improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. In the treatment of osteochondrosis at home, a two-week course is required, during which the pathologist will focus on warming compresses 1-2 times a day. Recipes for medicinal compositions:
- Grind the horseradish root and apple on a fine grater, mix the composition. Squeeze juice, form a cake from the resulting porridge. Place on the inflamed area and wrap with a bandage. Repeat the process daily until the pain subsides.
- Melt 1g of propolis in a water bath and at this point get 50g of fresh aloe juice made from fresh leaves. Mix the ingredients, add 50 g mustard powder, 400 ml vodka to the mixture, mix. Apply the composition to several layers of gauze and attach to the focus of the pathology. Do not remove until the cloth is completely dry. Do a home treatment every day before bed.
Applications
When such heating procedures are used in osteochondrosis, it is possible to restore normal motor activity of the spine. Applications act reflexively on biologically active points and zones, normalize the energy balance in the body. It is necessary to moisten gauze with a medicinal composition and apply it to the focus of pathology. Do not lose weight for 30-40 minutes, repeat the procedures several times a day at home. When choosing a medicinal composition, you need to make sure that there are no allergic reactions. Effective application recipes:
- Pass 50 g of fresh aloe leaves through a meat grinder, add 100 g of honey and mix. Pour the mixture with 100 ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for a week. After that, moisten the gauze with the medicine and apply it to the focus of the pathology. First fix with cling film, then with a warm scarf. Don't shoot for 30 minutes. Repeat the process twice a day.
- Mix a glass of medicinal turpentine and the same amount of crushed aloe leaf, add 100 g of internal fat and 5-10 drops of iodine. Insist on the composition in a dark place for 5 days, then rub the sore spots overnight and cover with cling film, a warm scarf.
Rub
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without rubbing. Such procedures, like massage, quickly relieve inflammation, suppress an attack of pain, and stimulate blood circulation in the affected area. Rubbing is recommended up to 2-3 times a day. Turpentine, badger fat, kerosene, nutria fat can be used as medicaments. Of the medicinal plants, doctors recommend paying attention to the beneficial properties of juniper, plantain and sage. Proven recipes:
- Mix 1 tsp in a container. Juniper needles, 6 tsp. pre-chopped bay leaf, 6 tbsp. l. Butter. Apply an even composition to the painful area. Rub the prepared ointment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine into the skin with light movements. Do the procedure several times a day, avoiding drafts. The course is selected individually.
- Combine 2 tbsp. l. pre-chopped sage and plantain, add to the mixture 40 g of petroleum jelly, 50 ml of vegetable oil. Thoroughly mix the composition, apply it to the pathological focus and rub it in. To intensify the healing effect, wrap the treated area of skin over it with a warm scarf. Do not wash off the ointment for 30-40 minutes.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Alternative medical methods for osteochondrosis are no weaker than official drugs. The main thing is to choose the right recipe. The following are tried and tested means that bring back the joy of exercise to the patient:
- Chop raw, peeled potatoes on a fine grater. To the resulting porridge, add 50 g of honey, mix, form a cake, apply to the center of pathology, do not remove for 30 minutes.
- Grind the dried cinquefoil root. Then 2 tbsp. l. Pour 400 ml of boiling water over the raw materials, simmer on the fire for 5-7 minutes. Strain when prompted, use as a compress up to 3-4 times a day for a period of up to 2 weeks. The remedy relieves inflammation, eliminates pain.
- Stir in 200 g of chopped cinquefoil root and 100 g of potentilla, pour in 1 liter of vodka. Insist 3 weeks, then strain. Take 1 tbsp orally. l. 3 times a day before meals for a month.
- Chop the cranberry leaves. 1 TBSP. l. fill the finished raw material with 1 tbsp. boiling water and let stand under the lid for 1 hour. Divide the finished dose into 2 doses - drink in the morning and in the evening. Prepare a fresh dose of medicine every day.