Can degenerative spinal disease be cured? Few think about it, but everyone wants relief from the symptoms.
What to do if you have pain: try all the methods one by one at home or see a doctor? The main treatment for osteochondrosis is blocking the pain and relieving the inflammation at the site of the damaged spinal area and then performing restorative measures. Depending on the causes of osteochondrosis, treatment may consist of relieving vascular spasms, restoring food to the intervertebral discs, eliminating spinal curvature, and so on. Maybe you just need to visit a chiropractor and “place” the displaced vertebrae, or it may be time to remove the hernia.
There is no consensus among doctors on how to treat osteochondrosis. This is due to the complexity of the processes occurring in the vertebral structures. Just as it is impossible to "cure" the old age of the whole organism, so it is impossible to "cure" the destructive processes of the old back. But reasonable prevention will help stop the process of degradation of vertebrae and discs - osteochondrosis. Treatment consists not only in helping with immediate needs - eliminating unpleasant symptoms, but also in forming the habit of caring for the spine. This should be remembered especially if you have an unfavorable inheritance.
How and how to treat osteochondrosis at home
Some people think that if your back hurts a little, then there is no need to go to the doctor, it is easier to self-medicate. Before treating osteochondrosis, you just need to be examined! A complete diagnosis of the spine avoids major errors in home treatment, which can lead to a worsening of the condition (swelling of the joints, hernia).
What can we do ourselves with an osteochondrosis attack? If pain syndrome bothers you periodically and you already know for sure what its cause is, then treating osteochondrosis at home becomes a habit. Compresses and ointments, massage, relaxation meditations, muscle strengthening are procedures that can be used at home.
Pay special attention to proper nutrition. Fats are needed to keep joints working, so butter is the best food for breakfast. Protein is also vital, but it is better to eat it not in the form of meat, but in the form of cereals and legumes. All of these are cereals, peas, beans and nuts. Enough water is useful for blood vessels and metabolic processes in the body, so drink clean water (from a filter) between meals.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in humans
By folk remedies we mean natural products, not medicines. Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is directed to relieve pain, local inflammation, "disperse salts" in the joints.
- Black grape leaves are an excellent diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Their infusion is useful for muscle and joint pain. Pour boiling water over a handful of currant leaves and simmer in a water bath for 10 minutes. Drink half a glass 2-3 times a day.
- For head and neck pain, try horseradish leaves. Pour boiling water over the sheet, put a warm one on the neck, cover with plastic wrap and a warm cloth. Keep up to 1 hour.
For back pain, you can rub horseradish juice, you can mix it in half with vodka. Necessary weight to cover the injured area with a warm scarf, preferably woolen, and lie down for up to 1 hour. - Painful sensations are relieved by burning food, red pepper, mustard, garlic mixed with lard 1: 2 are suitable for these purposes. Do not overdo it, with a strong burning sensation, remove the compress immediately.
Many people perceive osteochondrosis as a disease associated with salt deposition, so the following products are helpful in removing them.
- Pumpkin - promotes the elimination of chlorides and cholesterol, as it contains a lot of pectin. Eat raw before meals, and drink pumpkin juice 15 minutes before meals.
- Celery - squeeze the juice from the whole plant (stalk, leaves and roots) and drink 2 tablespoons each. 3 times a day. You can make a compress from the "tightening" of celery: smear the sore spot with vegetable oil, place the cake, tie it with cotton cloth and then woolen cloth.
- Leave the cranberry leaves in a thermos with boiling water for at least 1 hour and drink a quarter cup of soup 4-5 times a day.
- Pour two tablespoons of birch with a glass of boiling water and steam in a "water bath" for 15 minutes, drain and drink chilled in the morning and at lunch before meals.
Pay special attention when using traditional methods of treating osteochondrosis with herbs. Plants contain many chemicals that, when combined with medicines, can increase their effect, or vice versa, be incompatible and harmful. Therefore, consult your doctor even if you are using individual herbs.
Remembering that all diseases are caused by nerves, treating osteochondrosis at home also includes relieving emotional stress, relieving stress.
The mechanism of this process is simple: under stress, our body prepares to repel an attack, this is biologically natural, which means that the muscles are tense. The muscles in the neck and spine are in a constant state of tension and begin to ache due to spasm. But this is not so bad. On the other hand, blood flow and nutrient supply to the spinal structures are disturbed, they begin to degrade (break down).
To make it completely clear how to treat osteochondrosis, we recall once again that the main efforts are aimed at reducing the processes of destruction of vertebral structures. Our job is to slow them down or stop them. Then we turn to preventive measures, namely strengthening the muscles of the back and developing mobility of the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home by gymnastics
Everyone knows that keeping your joints moving requires an active lifestyle. But active sports are only good for healthy people. When there are spinal dysfunctions, then therapeutic exercises are indicated without a strong load.
Basic Principles:
The main thing when doing exercises is to remove the load from the spine, so that all the exercises are performed while standing on all fours or lying down. Efforts are made in two directions: exercises to relax the muscles and to strengthen them.
In case of worsening osteochondrosis, home treatment is contraindicated in any form, especially with the help of physical activity, as it is necessary to diagnose and find the cause of the pain. Even during the period of forgiveness, exercises accompanied by considerable stretching of the back muscles are prohibited, such as tilting the trunk by more than 20 degrees (they create unnecessary pressure on the discs, their damage is possible).
With the help of gymnastics, treating osteochondrosis at home is effective in the early stages of the disease. Gentle exercises guarantee the safety of the spine. At the same time, they restore the microcirculation of blood flow and, consequently, the nutrition of the tissues of the discs and vertebrae.
The safest and most useful activity is to hang on a horizontal bar. In this case, the spine is stretched, the intervertebral discs are released, and with them the vessels and nerve roots are tightened. You can make very small torso bends while doing this, which improves the blood supply to the spine.
Home treatment involves sustained effort. Gymnastics lasts 10 to 30 minutes every day, only then can we talk about recovery.
Medications for osteochondrosis
Before treating osteochondrosis with medication, it is best to visit a specialist: a vertebrologist or a neurologist. Osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain - the most important factor for patients, causing a lot of trouble and disrupting work. Therefore, medicines are mainly aimed at relieving pain. When symptoms worsen, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in pills and injections. The so-called NSAIDs have an analgesic effect.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with medication
Here are some popular anti-inflammatory drugs:
- injections, injections: Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Metamizole sodium. Tablets
- : Nimesulide, Ibuprofen, Celecoxib.
- ointments and gels: Diclofenac.
It must be remembered that a medicine taken alone is not effective. An integrated approach is needed, so a doctor's consultation is a must!
Your doctor may prescribe additional medications, for example, to prevent side effects or to increase the action of basic medicines, antioxidants and vitamin complexes. Sometimes sedatives (sedatives) are prescribed to eliminate the neurological disorders that are one of the causes of spinal disease.
Muscle relaxants are used - medicines to remove muscle tone, relax spasmodic tissues. They are an important part of the treatment of osteochondrosis, in which muscle tension is a characteristic and common occurrence.
Angioprotectors are mandatory - drugs that restore blood vessel function and blood flow.Drug treatment of osteochondrosis is not complete without chondroprotectors - drugs that restore cartilage tissue. However, their effectiveness is a moot point when it comes to the backbone. Therefore, their implementation depends on your considerations.
Medications that improve metabolism and vitamins are helpful during this period, as fighting any disease requires a lot of energy from the body. It will not be superfluous to support your immunity.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy also aims to relieve inflammation, edema, muscle tone, speed up tissue metabolism and normalize blood circulation. Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy includes procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, mud therapy, baths, acupuncture.
Spa treatment of osteochondrosis
it is impossible to miss such a fact as treating osteochondrosis in a sanatorium is a popular service in any resort. All the same physiotherapy plus massage are offered. Sanatoriums are mainly aimed at preventing this disease and strengthening the overall well-being of the patient.
You can choose your treatment for osteochondrosis and consult your doctor about its suitability.