Such a disease of the musculoskeletal system as osteochondrosis today practically does not give itself a complete cure.
However, the team of doctors has sufficient tools that help to effectively stop the symptoms of the disease and are able to stop its further development.
Many of these methods require hospital treatment, for which, given the modern pace of life, a person does not always have time. How to get rid of osteochondrosis in this case?
There is only one answer - treating osteochondrosis at home. Consider methods of treating osteochondrosis at home with folk remedies.
Pathogenesis of the disease
According to statistics, every third person under 45 has complaints of back pain. In most cases, this is caused by osteochondrosis of the spine.
The pathology is mainly characterized by damage to cartilage and bone tissue, and in the process of progression, begins to affect the patient's nervous system.
The disease is "recovering" rapidly due to declining physical activity of the population due to the development of computer technologies and emerging transport infrastructure.
But in addition to a sedentary lifestyle, experts cite other reasons for the development of pathology:
- Ecology;
- Diet disorder;
- Inadequate distribution of physical load on the spine;
- Trauma;
- Skeletal muscle weakness;
- Decreased immunity against the background of the development of chronic diseases;
- Viral and bacterial pathologies etc.
With the modern dynamics of a person's life, he simply does not have enough time to take care of his health. There are always ten other reasons not to do this: work, family, children, etc.
Then the man asks for a long time: where did he get osteochondrosis at the age of 25-30? - a disease that usually occurs in the elderly.
Many consider it a waste of time to go to the clinic, and a logical question is emerging: how to treat osteochondrosis at home?
To answer this question, it is necessary to consider what are the most common methods of therapy used by specialists in the treatment of this pathology.
Only then can we consider treating osteochondrosis with folk remedies to understand how effective alternative treatment methods are in general.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Therapy for this pathology does not have any standard and depends on the individual diagnosis of the patient.
This suggests that before starting treatment for osteochondrosis at home, you should visit your doctor for a diagnosis.
This should be done so as not to cause the most harm to your body. Complications of this pathology lead to elongation and herniation of intervertebral discs, which can contribute to headaches, loss of limb sensitivity, up to paralysis.
In hospital treatment after diagnosis, specialists first of all solve three main tasks:
- Removal of pain syndrome;
- Relief of the inflammatory process and edema. These symptoms are almost always present during the development of this pathology;
- Physiotherapy procedures aimed at restoring damaged tissue, the main goal is to achieve a long and lasting remission.
Treatment of spinal osteochondrosis with alternative methods can not replace complete therapy.
However, alternative treatment for osteochondrosis can help reduce pain symptoms and improve the patient's overall health.
What medicines can be used at home
Many medications used to treat osteochondrosis have a range of serious side effects and therefore they are only taken with the permission of the attending physician.
But what if your back pain follows you and there is no way to go to the clinic? How to cure osteochondrosis at home using the medicines found in the first aid kit at home?
The first thing that is recommended for acute pain are drugs from the group of pain relievers.
Aspirin, in addition to its mild analgesic effect, has the ability to dilute the blood, which promotes better blood circulation and has an antipyretic effect.
This helps relieve inflammation and swelling of the tissues that tighten the nerve endings and thus cause pain.
The use of patches that relieve pain is advised. In their composition, they most often contain lidocaine, which quickly has an analgesic effect.
Also, excellent reviews have analgesic ointments with a cooling effect, which, as a rule, contain menthol and camphor.
If you are sure that the acute phase of the disease has passed and you have no symptoms of inflammation, it is recommended to use gel with a warming effect: turpentine ointment.
The ointment should be applied directly to the sore spot, rubbing it gently on the skin. It makes no sense to touch untouched areas.
Cold effect gels can be applied at any time. It is recommended to apply ointment with warming effect at night and also wrap the affected area with a woolen cloth.
Home gymnastics
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis is one of the main and effective methods in treating this pathology. A common reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a weak muscle framework that can not withstand physical activity.
Thus, the entire load falls on the intervertebral discs, as a result of which their degenerative changes occur.
The discs between the vertebrae become thinner or, as they say, dry out and lose their functional ability. Gymnastics allows you to increase muscle tone, improve their elasticity and blood circulation in them.
Depending on the localization of the tissue damage and pain syndrome, osteochondrosis can be cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral.
Exercises also exist for different departments, but it is not recommended to train only the most affected area, which brings discomfort to a person, but to process all parts of the spine.
Careful!If pain occurs while performing remedial gymnastics, training should be discontinued immediately and performed only under the supervision of a specialist.
- The first two exercises perfectly stimulate the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine, promote better fluid circulation and thicken them. To perform them, you must take a sitting or standing position. We do head bends back and forth with a small range of motion. The gestures should remind you that you are talking to the person and in what agreement with him, saying yes.
- The next exercise is similar to the first, only now you have to turn your head left and right, as if to say no. Movements should not be made with a large amplitude, it should be approximately 30% of the maximum possible tilt or turn of the head. They are performed several times a day at a convenient time for 2-3 minutes each.
- The following exercise for home treatment of the spine strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles well. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, your arms resting down along your body. We make circular motions with our shoulders back and forth. It is also performed several times a day in several approaches, 15-20 times in each direction.
- To process the lumbar spine, it is recommended to perform an exercise that looks more like a belly jump. Starting position, feet shoulder-width apart. We make circular motions with the pelvis, first in one direction, then in the other. At the same time, we make sure that the chest and shoulders remain as still as possible. Just do two or three times in different directions for 20 -25 turns.
- The next exercise aims to strengthen the latissimus and trapezius muscles. Body position, lying on stomach, arms outstretched forward. We raise the arms, shoulders and head up, stand for a second and lower to the starting position. The exercise is performed 10-15 times.
In addition to strengthening the back muscles, one should not forget the abdominal muscles, which are involved not only in deep breathing, but also in maintaining proper posture. Weak abdominal muscles contribute to the development of lumbar lordosis.
Careful!Exercise benefits the body only with regular exercise.
Gymnastics is a good remedy for osteochondrosis. The therapeutic effect is achieved by strengthening the muscles and improving blood circulation in them, which prevents the development of the inflammatory process and edema around the cartilage tissue.
Physiotherapy at home
The folk remedies used for osteochondrosis are often taken from the life experience of entire generations and are used successfully in traditional medicine as physiotherapy procedures.
Some of them can be easily made at home.
Cold and hot shower
The first popular remedy with which you can treat osteochondrosis at home is a contrast bath.
For many, this procedure is accompanied only by hardening and not everyone understands how this procedure will help fight this pathology.
The explanation here is quite simple - a sharp redirection of blood flow to the muscles, around the cartilage tissue and the skin.
This promotes the outflow of excess fluid from the areas of inflammation and edema and the entry of essential trace elements into the damaged tissues.
At the moment when a person is under the hot streams of water, in the body the defense mechanisms are activated, which must save him from overheating.
This is achieved by the outflow of blood from the internal organs to the muscles and skin. The vessels dilate, the amount of blood increases and the excess heat is removed.
When you suddenly stand in the cold streams of water, the opposite reaction occurs - blood flow from the muscles and skin to the internal organs.
This is the process of thermoregulation of the body and, at the same time, normalizes blood circulation to the damaged tissues, which contributes to the improvement of the condition as a whole.
The procedure is quite simple. It is necessary to stay under tolerant hot water, not scorching for 20-30 seconds.
Then pass the water in the cold for 10-20 seconds. The procedure should be performed 3-5 times, ending with a cold but comfortable water temperature.
Despite the obvious benefits of this procedure, it still has contraindications:
- It is forbidden to perform this procedure when the patient has symptoms of cold or acute respiratory disease;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs, etc.
The volume of blood from the internal organs to the muscles and spine is quite large and can cause: heart attack, stroke or internal bleeding. Therefore, this complex should be performed with a gradual increase of the time interval under cold or warm water.
First, spend no more than 5-7 seconds under running water and gradually bring these values to 30 seconds over several weeks.
Baths with salt
Another popular remedy for treating osteochondrosis are salt baths. They help a lot if the back pain is provoked by excessive muscle strain.
To prepare a bath, you will need sea salt or ordinary coarse. Thin and evaporated will be less effective in this case.
The volume of a standard bath varies from 170 to 195 liters, this amount of water will require about 5 kg of salt.
Water temperature from 36 to 38 ° С. Any essential oil can be used for the best effect. After the procedure, it is recommended to stay for a few minutes under slightly warm running water.
Osteochondrosis is practically incurable, but by using treatment with alternative methods as an adjunct therapy to the main treatment, it is still possible to stop, and therefore gain.