One of the most common pathologies of the spine is osteochondrosis. It occurs in 60% of all inhabitants of planet Earth, and can develop even in young people under the age of 30-35 years. The disease is a disorder of the intervertebral discs and their systemic destruction, which leads to the inability of the spine to perform musculoskeletal function. To combat pathology, doctors suggest surgical intervention or drug therapy, but in some cases, osteochondrosis can be treated at home.
Brief description of the disease
Osteochondrosis manifests itself with unpleasant symptoms. Patients complain of pain in the spine, body aches and numbness in the arms or legs for no reason. In some cases, even loss of consciousness or frequent dizziness are 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. Therefore, it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible, when 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 a developed muscular frame. Concomitant factors also include poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, problems with posture, insufficient fluid intake, hereditary predisposition, infectious diseases, obesity and bad habits.
Features of the fight against the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible if the patient does not use folk remedies as the only therapy, and has consulted with a doctor regarding the complex effect on the pathology. The main ways to get rid of the problem are:
- Drug therapy.
- Massage and physiotherapy.
- Gymnastics.
- Ethnoscience.
It is impossible to quickly cure osteochondrosis, since the affected cartilage tissue is restored slowly. It will take at least three months to complete complex measures, and about a year will be spent on the rehabilitation period. The obtained treatment result largely depends on the patient himself, his diligence in following the instructions, as well as the stage of development of the disease.
Medications
Chondrosis can be treated at home only after a doctor has prescribed a course of medications. They are aimed at relieving back pain, eliminating inflammatory processes, and restoring the mobility of cartilage tissue. After examination and diagnostics, the specialist prescribes the following groups of drugs:
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Painkillers.
- Vasodilators.
- Muscle relaxants.
- 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 significantly better, but we should not forget that osteochondrosis is a systemic disease, and it must be treated only comprehensively. Pills alone cannot solve the problem.
Massage and therapeutic baths
Self-massage sessions are very helpful in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. You can perform them at home without the involvement of a specialist. Due to the constant exposure to gentle compression of soft tissues in the area of pathology development, blood circulation is activated, the supply of oxygen and beneficial microelements to the tissues of discs and other cartilage is improved. The complex is performed as follows:
- The process should begin with light, 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 move on to increased impact on the area. You can grab a fold of skin with your fingers and gently squeeze.
- Kneading of muscles and soft tissues should occur in the paravertebral region; the ridge itself cannot be affected. Movements can be patting, circular, or with pressure.
- The session should be completed with tapping, vibration, and stroking.
This self-massage of the back can be performed even without special knowledge and skills every day. 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 massage, medicinal baths also help to cope with the disease. They are contraindicated during the period of exacerbation, but become indispensable during the remission stage. 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 do harm), to which decoctions of medicinal herbs are added. Thyme, string, thyme, lemon balm, and chamomile have proven themselves well. You should 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 for each patient individually, taking into account the general condition, physical fitness, and age. They are performed daily and are an integral part of therapy. The simplest activities are reminiscent of school exercises, but their importance for the body during the treatment period should not be underestimated. They are aimed at warming up the muscles, improving blood circulation, stretching and relaxing the muscles where there are blocks.
During the implementation process, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Do not do exercises quickly, putting a lot of stress on bone tissue and muscles.
- Everything is done smoothly, thoughtfully, with control of sensations in the body.
- Classes are completely stopped 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 be carried out in a well-ventilated room or in the fresh air.
It should be remembered that the attending physician prescribes exercises; some effects on the spine are dangerous in case of a disease such as osteoporosis. They can cause serious complications. Exercise therapy is an excellent tool for combating pathologies in the back and is often used as a preventive measure for a number of problems with increased risks. The complexes include exercises from yoga or oriental techniques. You need to do it regularly, at least 3 times a week.
ethnoscience
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis or other localization at home is possible with means widely known among the people. They are highly effective and safe for human health. Finding a large number of recipes for decoctions, ointments, infusions and compresses using 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 better to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis from the inside, influencing the body with healing drinks. They are prepared from plants collected in an environmentally friendly place, or purchased at a pharmacy. Parsley seeds, pine cones or spruce cones, thyme, and cinquefoil have proven themselves well. Simple recipes for cooking:
- Take 200 g of cinquefoil root, chop it carefully, mix with 100 g of Potentilla erecta and pour in 1 liter of vodka. Leave for 2-3 weeks in a cool, dark place. After this, strain 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. Strain and drink the resulting broth in two steps. One part is taken in the morning, the second in the evening. This is repeated every day for a month.
- Dried laurel 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 adhere to 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 with 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:
- Thoroughly chop fresh horseradish root and apples of any variety.
- Squeeze the resulting mass a little from the juice.
- Form a tight lump.
- Stick it to the affected area.
- Cover with a towel or clean cloth.
- Leave in place 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 course of medications or add strength training without the knowledge of the doctor. An integrated approach and compliance with specialist recommendations are the key to a successful fight against pathology. Traditional recipes give greater results if supported by physical exercise, massage and rubbing.