One of the most common diseases of the spine is osteochondrosis. It occurs in 60% of all inhabitants of planet Earth and can also develop in young people under 30-35 years old. The disease is a disorder of the intervertebral discs and their systemic destruction, which means that the spine can no longer fulfill its musculoskeletal functions. To combat the 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, atrophy of muscle tissue, disruption of nerve impulses and dysfunction of a number of internal organs gradually occur. 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 lie in a passive lifestyle, insufficient load on the spine and a developed muscular framework. Concomitant factors also include poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, posture problems, 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 consults with a doctor regarding the complex effect on the pathology. The main ways to eliminate the problem are:
- Drug therapy.
- Massage and physiotherapy.
- Gymnastics.
- Ethnoscience.
A quick cure for osteochondrosis is not possible because the affected cartilage tissue recovers only slowly. The implementation of complex measures will take at least three months, and the rehabilitation phase lasts about a year. The achieved result of treatment largely depends on the patient himself, his diligence in following the instructions, as well as the stage of development of the disease.
Medication
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 mobility to cartilage tissue. After examination and diagnostics, the specialist prescribes the following groups of drugs:
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Painkiller.
- Vasodilators.
- Muscle relaxants.
- Sedatives (valerian extract, feverfew 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 one should not forget that osteochondrosis is a systemic disease and only requires comprehensive treatment. Pills alone cannot solve the problem.
Massage and therapeutic baths
Self-massage sessions are very helpful in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. You can do them at home without involving a specialist. Due to the constant gentle compression of the soft tissues in the area of development of the pathology, blood circulation is activated and the supply of oxygen and useful microelements to the intervertebral disc tissue and other cartilages 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 with you; the influence of your palms and fingers is enough.
- After rubbing there is an increased effect on the area. You can grab a fold of skin with your fingers and gently press.
- In the paravertebral area, the muscles and soft tissue should be kneaded; the alveolar ridge itself cannot be affected. Movements can be carried out in a tapping, circling or pressure manner.
- The session should be completed with tapping, vibration and stroking.
This self-massage of the back can be done every day even without special knowledge and skills. The effect on the chest, hip, shoulder and lower back muscles has a positive effect on the treatment of osteochondrosis in general.
In addition to massage, medicinal baths also help to cope with the illness. They are contraindicated during the exacerbation phase, but become indispensable in the remission stage. Through proper and regular exercise, you can increase blood circulation, relax muscles, and improve your mood and well-being. You can only use warm water (hot water only does harm), to which decoctions of medicinal herbs are added. Thyme, string, thyme, lemon balm and chamomile have proven to be effective. You should take a healing bath 20 minutes before going to bed.
physical therapy
If there are dysfunctions of the cartilage tissue, simple exercises for the spine are useful. 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 treatment should not be underestimated. They are aimed at warming up the muscles, improving blood circulation, stretching and relaxing the muscles where there are blockages.
During the implementation process, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Do not perform the exercises quickly, as this places a strong load on bone tissue and muscles.
- Everything happens smoothly, thoughtfully and under control of the sensations in the body.
- Classes are stopped completely if the patient feels pain and cannot sit up.
- Strength complexes are always alternated with breathing exercises so that the tissues receive enough oxygen.
- Classes should only be conducted in a well-ventilated room or in the fresh air.
It should be borne in mind that the attending physician prescribes exercises; some effects on the spine are dangerous in a disease such as osteoporosis. They can cause serious complications. Exercise therapy is an excellent tool for combating back diseases and is often used as a preventive measure for a number of problems at increased risk. The complexes include exercises from yoga or oriental techniques. You need to do this regularly, at least three times a week.
ethnoscience
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis or other localizations at home is possible using commonly known means. They are highly effective and safe for human health. It is not difficult to find a large number of recipes for decoctions, ointments, infusions and compresses with medicinal herbs. They are easy to prepare yourself and at the same time saturate the body with useful substances, thereby providing a general strengthening effect. It is recommended to use this technique under the supervision of the attending physician and 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 made from plants collected in an environmentally friendly place or purchased at the pharmacy. Parsley seeds, pine or spruce cones, thyme and cinquefoil have proven successful. Simple recipes to cook:
- Take 200 g of cinquefoil root, chop it carefully, mix it with 100 g of Potentilla erecta and pour in 1 liter of vodka. Let rest in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks. Then strain the infusion through cheesecloth. Take 1 spoon three times a day for a month.
- Take 30 spruce cones, wash them from dirt and pour boiling water over them. Strain the resulting broth and drink in two steps. One part is taken in the morning and the second part in the evening. This is repeated every day for a month.
- 5 g of dried bay leaf are poured with boiling water and left to stand for 5 minutes. This is best done in a thermos flask. 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 dosages specified in the recipe. For women, the amount can be reduced depending on age and weight.
Compresses and applications
To relieve pain, relieve inflammation and treat back pain, lotions with various components are often used. Their regular use 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 out of the juice a little.
- Form a tight clump.
- Stick it on the affected area.
- Cover with a towel or clean cloth.
- Leave in place until unpleasant symptoms disappear.
The process is repeated daily. In addition to compresses, applications are also used. With their help, the functionality of the nerve endings and normal mobility of the joints are restored. Aloe juice, natural honey and vodka are used for lotions. They are mixed in the ratio 50 g: 100 g: 100 ml. And after 5 days of infusion, the mixture is applied to the affected area and covered with polyethylene. It is better to carry out 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 medication regimen or add strength training without the doctor's knowledge. An integrated approach and adherence to specialist recommendations are the key to a successful fight against pathology. Traditional recipes achieve better results when supported by physical exercise, massage and rubbing.