Osteochondrosis is one of the most common spinal pathologies. It occurs in 60% of all inhabitants of planet Earth and can develop even in young people under 30-35 years old. The disease is a disorder of the intervertebral discs and their systemic destruction, which leads to the inability of the spine to perform its musculoskeletal functions. To combat the pathology, doctors suggest surgical intervention or drug treatment, but in some cases osteochondrosis can be treated at home.
Brief description of the disease
Osteochondrosis manifests itself with unpleasant symptoms. Patients unnecessarily complain of pain in the spine, aches and numbness in the arms or legs. In some cases, even loss of consciousness or frequent dizziness is possible. If the disease is not treated, it gradually leads to atrophy of muscle tissue, disruption of nerve impulses and dysfunction of a number of internal organs. Protrusions, intervertebral hernias and radiculitis are considered serious complications of the disease. It is therefore necessary to start treatment as early as possible, as soon as the first signs of pain appear.
The causes of the disease are hidden in a passive lifestyle, lack of sufficient load on the spine and developed muscle structure. Concomitant factors also include poor diet, hormonal imbalances, posture problems, insufficient fluid intake, hereditary predisposition, infectious diseases, obesity and bad habits.
Features of fighting the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible if the patient does not use folk remedies as the only therapy and consulted a doctor regarding the complex effect on the pathology. The main ways to solve the problem are:
- Drug therapy.
- Massage and physiotherapy.
- Gymnastic.
- Ethnoscience.
It is impossible to quickly cure osteochondrosis, since the affected cartilage tissue recovers slowly. It will take at least three months to carry out complex measures, and about a year will be spent on the rehabilitation period. The resulting treatment result largely depends on the patient himself, his diligence in following the instructions, as well as the stage of development of the disease.
Drugs
Chondrosis can be treated at home only after a doctor has prescribed drug treatment. They are aimed at relieving back pain, eliminating inflammatory processes and restoring mobility of cartilage tissue. After examination and diagnosis, the specialist prescribes the following groups of drugs:
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Painkillers.
- Vasodilators.
- Muscle relaxers.
- Sedatives (valerian extract, motherwort decoction).
- Multivitamins.
They must be taken in strict accordance with the instructions. Medicines improve the patient's well-being and restore metabolism. Therefore, after a few weeks the patient feels noticeably better, but we must not forget that osteochondrosis is a systemic disease and it should only be treated comprehensively. Pills alone cannot solve the problem.
Massages and therapeutic baths
Self-massage sessions are very useful in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. You can do them at home without the intervention of a specialist. Due to the constant exposure to gentle compression of soft tissues in the zone of pathological development, blood circulation is activated, the supply of oxygen and beneficial microelements to the tissues of discs and other cartilages is improved. The complex is built as follows:
- The process should begin with light and gentle stroking of the problem area. It is better not to take additional devices, the impact of your palms and fingers will be enough.
- After rubbing, they have an increased impact on the area. You can grab a fold of skin with your fingers and squeeze it gently.
- Kneading of muscles and soft tissues should occur in the paravertebral region; the crest itself cannot be affected. The movements can be tapping, circular or with pressure.
- The session should be completed with tapping, vibration and caressing.
This back self-massage can be performed daily even without special knowledge and skills. The effect on the muscles of the chest, hips, shoulders and lower back has a beneficial effect on the treatment of osteochondrosis in general.
In addition to massages, medicinal baths also help to cope with the disease. They are contraindicated during the period of exacerbation, but become essential during the remission phase. Proper and regular exercise allows you to increase blood flow, relax muscles, improve your mood and well-being. You can only use warm water in the process (hot water will only harm), to which decoctions of medicinal herbs are added. Thyme, string, thyme, lemon balm and chamomile have proven themselves well. You need to take a medicinal bath 20 minutes before bedtime.
Physiotherapy
Simple exercises are useful for the spine in case of dysfunction of cartilage tissue. The doctor selects them individually for each patient, taking into account the general condition, physical fitness and age. They are carried out daily and are an integral part of the therapy. The simplest activities are reminiscent of school exercises, but their importance for the body during the treatment period should not be underestimated. They aim to warm up the muscles, improve blood circulation, stretch and relax the muscles where the blockages are.
During the implementation process, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Do not do exercises quickly, which will put a lot of pressure on bone tissue and muscles.
- Everything is done gently, thoughtfully, with control of sensations in the body.
- Classes are stopped completely if the patient feels pain and cannot straighten up.
- Strength complexes are always alternated with breathing exercises so that the tissues receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.
- Classes should only take place in a well-ventilated room or in the fresh air.
Remember that the attending physician prescribes exercises; some effects on the spine are dangerous in cases of illness such as osteoporosis. They can cause serious complications. Exercise therapy is an excellent tool for combating back pathologies and is often used as a preventative measure for a number of increased risk problems. The complexes include yoga exercises or oriental techniques. You must do this regularly, at least 3 times a week.
ethnoscience
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis or other localization at home is possible with means widely known to the people. They are very effective and safe for human health. Finding a large number of recipes for decoctions, ointments, infusions and compresses based on medicinal herbs is not difficult. They are easy to prepare independently and at the same time saturate the body with useful substances, providing a general strengthening effect. It is advisable to use this technique under the supervision of the attending physician and use it only in combination with the traditional approach.
Decoctions and infusions
It is best to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis from the inside, influencing the body with healing drinks. They are prepared from plants harvested in an environmentally friendly place, or purchased in pharmacies. Parsley seeds, pine or spruce cones, thyme and cinquefoil have proven themselves. Simple recipes for cooking:
- Take 200 g of potentilla root, chop it carefully, mix it with 100 g of Potentilla erecta and pour 1 liter of vodka. Leave for 2-3 weeks in a cool, dark place. After that, filter the infusion through cheesecloth. Take 1 spoon 3 times a day for a month.
- Take 30 spruce cones, wash them from dirt and pour boiling water over them. Filter and drink the broth obtained in two stages. One part is taken in the morning, the second in the evening. This is repeated every day for a month.
- Dried bay leaf, 5 g is poured with boiling water and left for 5 minutes. It's better to do this in a thermos. You should drink it within three days.
Decoctions can be prepared from pear branches, nettle leaves, lemon and celery. It is very important to follow the recommendations and dosage specified in the recipe. For women, the amount may be reduced depending on age and weight.
Compresses and applications
To relieve pain, relieve inflammation and treat back pain, lotions containing various components are widely used. Their regular implementation allows you to normalize the movement of biological fluids in the body, eliminate muscle spasms, improve your condition and warm up soft tissues. Compresses are made as follows:
- Carefully chop fresh horseradish root and apples of any variety.
- Squeeze the resulting mass a little from the juice.
- Form a tight ball.
- Stick it on the affected area.
- Cover with a clean towel or cloth.
- Leave on until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
The procedure is repeated daily. In addition to compresses, applications are also used. With their help, the functionality of nerve endings and normal joint mobility are restored. Aloe juice, natural honey and vodka are used for lotions. They are mixed in the proportion of 50 g: 100 g: 100 ml, respectively. And after infusion for 5 days, the mixture is applied to the affected area and covered with polyethylene. It is better to perform the procedure several times a day.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is carried out with great care. The patient should not voluntarily change the prescribed treatment or add strength training without the doctor's knowledge. An integrated approach and compliance with the recommendations of specialists are the key to a successful fight against pathology. Traditional recipes give better results if accompanied by physical exercises, massage and rubbing.