Can degenerative spine disease be cured? Few think about it, but everyone wants relief from symptoms.
What to do if you have pain: try all the methods one by one at home or consult a doctor? The main treatment for osteochondrosis is to block pain and relieve inflammation at the site of the damaged area of the spine, and then carry out restorative measures. Depending on the causes of osteochondrosis, treatment may consist of relieving vascular spasms, restoring nutrition to the intervertebral discs, eliminating the curvature of the spine, etc. Perhaps you just need to visit a chiropractor and "reposition" the displaced vertebrae, or it may be time to remove the hernia.
There is no consensus among physicians on how to treat osteochondrosis. This is due to the complexity of the processes that occur in the vertebral structures. Just as it is impossible to "cure" the aging of the entire organism, it is also impossible to "cure" the destructive processes of aging in the spine. But reasonable prevention will help to stop the process of degradation of the vertebrae and discs - osteochondrosis. Treatment consists not only of helping with immediate needs, eliminating unpleasant symptoms, but also of forming the habit of caring for your 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 only need one examination! A complete diagnosis of the spine prevents serious errors in home treatment, which can lead to a worsening of the condition (joint inflammation, hernia).
What can we do alone with an attack of osteochondrosis? If the pain syndrome periodically bothers you, and you already know for sure what its cause is, then treating osteochondrosis at home becomes a habit. Compresses and ointments, massages, relaxation meditations, muscle strengthening are procedures that can be used at home.
Pay special attention to proper nutrition. Fats are necessary for joints to function, which is why butter is the best breakfast food. Proteins are also vital, but it is better to consume them not in the form of meat, but in the form of cereals and legumes. These are all cereals, peas, beans, and nuts. Adequate water is beneficial for blood vessels and metabolic processes in the body, so drink clean water (from a filter) between meals.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in people
By home remedies we mean natural products, not medicines. Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is aimed at relieving pain, local inflammation, "dissolving salts" in the joints.
- Blackcurrant leaves are an excellent diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Its 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, apply a warm one to 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. It is imperative to cover the sore spot with a warm scarf, preferably wool, and lie down for up to 1 hour. - Painful sensations are relieved by burning food, red pepper, mustard, garlic mixed with 1: 2 pork fat are suitable for these purposes. Do not overdo it, with a strong burning sensation, remove the compress immediately.
Osteochondrosis is perceived by many people as a disease associated with the deposition of salts, so the following products are useful to eliminate 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 (stem, leaves and root) and drink 2 tablespoons each. 3 times a day. You can make a compress from "squeezed" celery: grease the sore spot with vegetable oil, apply the cake, tie it with a cotton cloth, and then with a woolen cloth.
- Prepare cranberry leaves in a thermos with boiling water for at least 1 hour and drink a quarter glass of broth 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, strain and drink cold in the morning and at noon before meals.
Pay particular attention when using traditional methods to treat osteochondrosis with herbs. Herbs contain many chemicals that, when combined with medications, can enhance 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, the treatment of osteochondrosis at home also involves the elimination of emotional stress, eliminating stress.
The mechanism of this process is simple: under stress, our body prepares to repel an attack, this is biologically inherent, which means that the muscles are tense. The muscles of the neck and back are in constant tension and begin to ache due to the spasm. But this is not so bad. In turn, blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the structures of the spine are disturbed, which 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 the vertebral structures. Our task is to stop or stop them. Then we move on to preventive measures, namely strengthening the back muscles and developing mobility of the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home through gymnastics
Everyone knows that keeping your joints moving requires an active lifestyle. But active sports are only useful for healthy people. When there are dysfunctions of the spine, therapeutic exercises are indicated without a strong load.
Basic principles:
The main thing when doing exercises is to take the load off the spine, so all exercises are performed standing on all fours or lying down. The efforts are made in two directions: exercises to relax the muscles and strengthen them.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, home treatment is contraindicated in any form, especially with the help of physical activity, since it is necessary to diagnose and find the cause of pain. Even during the remission period, exercises associated with a significant stretching of the back muscles are prohibited, such as tilting the trunk of more than 20 degrees (they create unnecessary pressure on the discs, their injury is possible).
With the help of gymnastics, the treatment of osteochondrosis at home is effective at the initial stage of the disease. Gentle exercises ensure 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 rewarding activity is hanging from a horizontal bar. In this case, the spinal column is stretched, the intervertebral discs are released, and with them, the vessels and pinched nerve roots. You can make very small twists of the torso while doing this, which improves the blood supply to the spine.
Home treatment involves sustained effort. Gymnastics takes 10 to 30 minutes a day, only then can we talk about recovery.
Medications for osteochondrosis
Before treating osteochondrosis with drugs, it is better to visit a specialist - a vertebrologist or a neurologist. Osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain, the most important factor for patients, causing many problems and disrupting work. Therefore, the drugs are primarily intended to relieve pain. When symptoms worsen, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the form of pills and injections. The so-called NSAIDs have an analgesic effect.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs
Here are some popular anti-inflammatory medications:
- injections, injections: diclofenac, meloxicam, metamizole sodium.
- tablets: nimesulide, ibuprofen, celecoxib.
- ointments and gels: diclofenac.
It should be remembered that a drug taken alone is not effective. An integrated approach is needed, so consultation with a physician is imperative.
The doctor may prescribe additional drugs, for example, to prevent side effects or to enhance the action of basic drugs, antioxidants and vitamin complexes. Sometimes sedative (sedative) medications are prescribed to eliminate neurological disorders that are one of the causes of spinal disease.
Muscle relaxants are used: drugs to eliminate muscle tone and relax spasmodic tissues. They are an important part of the treatment of osteochondrosis, in which muscle tension is a characteristic and frequent phenomenon.
Angioprotectors are mandatory: drugs that restore blood vessel function and blood flow.
The pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis is not complete without chondroprotectors, drugs that restore cartilage tissue. However, its effectiveness is a controversial issue when it comes to the spine. Therefore, its application depends on your considerations.
Medicines that improve metabolism and vitamins are useful during this period, as the fight against 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, accelerate tissue metabolism and normalize blood circulation. Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy involves procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, mud therapy, baths, acupuncture.
Spa treatment for osteochondrosis
It is impossible to ignore one fact, since the treatment of osteochondrosis in a sanatorium is a popular service in any resort. The same physiotherapy plus massage is offered. Sanatoriums are primarily intended for the prevention of this disease and to strengthen the general well-being of the patient.
You can choose your own way of treating osteochondrosis and consult your doctor about its suitability.