Can degenerative spine disease be cured? Few think about it, but everyone wants symptom relief.
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 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 in relieving vascular spasms, restoring nutrition to the intervertebral discs, eliminating curvature of the spine, etc. Perhaps you just need to visit a chiropractor and "put in 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 aging spine. But reasonable prevention will help stop the process of degradation of the vertebrae and discs - osteochondrosis. Treatment consists not only in helping with immediate needs - eliminating unpleasant symptoms, but also in forming the habit of taking care of your spine. This should be remembered especially if you have an unfavorable heredity.
How and how to treat osteochondrosis at home
Some people think that if the back hurts a little, then there is no need to go to the doctors, it is easier to self-medicate. Before treating osteochondrosis, you just need to be examined! A thorough diagnosis of the spinal column avoids gross mistakes in home treatment, which can lead to a worsening of the condition (joint swelling, hernia).
What can we do on our own with an attack of osteochondrosis? If the 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 breakfast food. Protein is also vital, but it is better to consume them not in the form of meat, but in the form of grains 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 the people
By folk remedies, we mean natural products, not medicines. Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is directed to relieve pain, local inflammation, "dissolve salts" in the joints.
- Blackcurrant 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, apply a warm one to the neck, cover with plastic 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, preferably woolen scarf, and lie down for up to 1 hour. - Painful sensations are relieved by burning foods, red pepper, mustard, garlic mixed with pork fat 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 the deposition of salts, so the following products are useful for 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 out 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 celery "wring": grease the sore spot with vegetable oil, apply cake, tie it with cotton cloth, and then woolen cloth.
- Brew lingonberry leaves in a thermos with boiling water for at least 1 hour and drink a quarter of a 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 chilled in the morning and at lunchtime before meals.
Pay special attention when using traditional methods of treating osteochondrosis with herbs. Herbs contain many chemicals that, when combined with medicines, 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 removal of emotional stress, getting rid of stress.
The mechanism of this process is simple: under stress, our body prepares to repel an attack, this is biologically inherent, which means muscles are tense. The muscles in the neck and back are in a constant state of tension and begin to ache due to the spasm. But this is not so bad. In turn, the blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the structures of the spine 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 the vertebral structures. Our task is to slow down or stop them. Then we turn to preventive measures, namely, strengthening the back muscles and developing the mobility of the spine.
Osteochondrosis treatment at home by gymnastics
Everyone knows that keeping your joints moving requires an active lifestyle. But active sports are useful only for healthy people. When there are dysfunctions of the spine, then 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 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 exacerbation of osteochondrosis, treatment at home 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 period of remission, exercises associated with 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, treatment of osteochondrosis at home is effective at the initial stage of the disease. Gentle exercises guarantee the safety of the spine. At the same time, they restore microcirculation of blood flow, and, consequently, nutrition of the tissues of the discs and vertebrae.
The safest and most rewarding 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 clamped nerve roots. You can make very small turns 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 daily, only then can we talk about recovery.
Medication for osteochondrosis
Before treating osteochondrosis with medications, 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 a lot of trouble and disrupting work. Therefore, medications are primarily 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 drugs
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 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 for relieving muscle tone, relaxing spasmodic tissues. They are an important part of the treatment of osteochondrosis, in which muscle tension is a characteristic and frequent occurrence.
Angioprotectors are mandatory - drugs that restore the work of blood vessels and blood flow.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis is not complete without chondoprotectors - drugs that restore cartilage tissue. However, their effectiveness is a controversial issue when it comes to the spine. Therefore, their application depends on your considerations.
Medications that improve metabolism and vitamins are useful during this period, since the fight against any disease requires a lot of energy from the body. It will not be superfluous to support your immunity.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is also aimed at relieving inflammation, edema, muscle tone, accelerating tissue metabolism and normalizing blood circulation. Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy involves procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, mud therapy, baths, acupuncture.
Spa treatment of osteochondrosis
It is impossible to miss such a fact as the treatment of osteochondrosis in a sanatorium is a popular service at any resort. All the same physiotherapy plus massage are offered. Sanatoriums are primarily intended for the prevention of this disease and strengthening the general well-being of the patient.
You can choose your own way of treating osteochondrosis and consult your doctor about its appropriateness.