Therapy for osteochondrosis consists in eliminating symptoms, achieving a stable remission. A patient with cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral pathology is hospitalized for acute back pain, usually provoked by a displacement of the intervertebral disc. In all other cases, osteochondrosis is treated at home. It consists in the use of pharmacological drugs, compliance with a sparing regimen, physical education and gymnastics.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology, rapidly progressing without medical intervention. Under the influence of negative factors, the intervertebral discs lose their ability to retain moisture. This leads to a violation of trophism, a deficiency of nutrients in the cartilage tissues. Intervertebral discs become dense, thinner, their surface is covered with radial cracks.
They are no longer able to perform a shock-absorbing function, which leads to instability of the vertebral structures, their displacement beyond the boundaries of the spinal canal. The vertebral bodies are also deformed - bone growths (osteophytes) are formed on them.
Causes
Disorder of trophic intervertebral discs occurs due to excessive physical exertion, a sedentary lifestyle. In older people, pathology appears due to the natural aging of the body - a decrease in collagen production, a slowdown in regeneration processes. The following diseases can also provoke the development of osteochondrosis:
- autoimmune pathologies - rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus;
- endocrine diseases - hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus;
- disorders of hematopoiesis, blood circulation, metabolic disorders.
The prerequisites for the destruction of intervertebral discs are obesity, smoking, wearing high-heeled shoes, congenital and acquired anomalies of the structure of the spine.
Symptoms
At the initial stage of development, the pathology is asymptomatic. Mild aching back pain occurs after physical exertion, disappearing after a short rest. But over time, their intensity increases. The pain is worse when bending, turning, climbing stairs. Other characteristic signs of osteochondrosis appear:
- crunching, clicking when walking or changing body position;
- restriction of movement.
At the stage of remission, back pain is mild. Discomfort occurs with hypothermia, heavy lifting, and a change in weather.
Methods for treating osteochondrosis at home
The drugs with which it would be possible to restore the destroyed discs and vertebrae have not yet been synthesized. Therefore, osteochondrosis therapy is aimed at preventing the progression of the disease. All the methods used in the treatment are based on accelerating blood circulation, replenishing the reserves of nutrients in cartilage and bone tissues.
Wearing orthopedic devices allows the patient to feel better. For cervical pathology, Shants collars are used, for thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis - soft bandages with a warming effect or elastic corsets with rigid inserts made of plastic or metal.
Drug therapy
The drugs of first choice in the symptomatic treatment of osteochondrosis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The intramuscular administration of solutions allows to stop acute pain.
If the pain syndrome is not very pronounced, then you can get rid of it by taking pills.
Mild discomfort is eliminated by local application of gels and ointments.
| Drugs used in the treatment of osteochondrosis | Therapeutic action |
|---|---|
| Glucocorticosteroids | They suppress inflammatory processes, have analgesic, antiexudative, immunosuppressive effects |
| Muscle relaxants | Relaxes skeletal muscles, eliminate compression of spinal roots and blood vessels by muscle spasms |
| Chondroprotectors | Partially restore the cartilaginous tissue of intervertebral discs, exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity |
| Warming ointments | Irritates subcutaneous receptors, distracting a person from pain, improves blood circulation and microcirculation |
Physiotherapy exercises
Reception of chondroprotectors and carrying out physiotherapy will not give such a therapeutic effect as daily exercise therapy and gymnastics. The set of exercises is developed individually for the patient by the exercise therapy doctor. Not only the localization of pathology is taken into account, but also the physical fitness of the patient, the X-ray stage of osteochondrosis. The complex must include the following exercises:
- in case of damage to the cervical structures - tilts, turns, rotation of the head;
- with the defeat of the thoracic and lumbar discs - tilting, turning the body, walking with high knees.
The main tasks of exercise therapy are to improve the blood supply to tissues with nutrients, to strengthen the muscular frame of the back to stabilize the discs and vertebrae. But when performing exercises, microtrauma of the spinal structures is unacceptable. Therefore, all movements should be smooth, slightly slowed down, with a small amplitude.
Therapeutic diet
For any pathology of the musculoskeletal system, nutritionists recommend limiting the use of salt and spices in the diet, which often leads to the formation of edema. Food should not be salted when cooking, but during eating. Of the spices, you need to choose only those that do not change the water-electrolyte balance in the body, for example, cinnamon, cardamom, dry paprika.
It is necessary to limit, and it is better to abandon altogether fried, smoked products, semi-finished products, fast food.
The most useful food for osteochondrosis is food that is steamed or stewed in a small amount of water. It is advisable to include in the daily menu a little oily fish (salmon, herring) to remove cholesterol from the blood vessels.
Massage for osteochondrosis
Classic, segmental, acupressure massage is used in the treatment of osteochondrosis to eliminate muscle hypertonicity, restore optimal blood circulation. The masseur acts on the spasmodic muscles by rubbing, stroking, using vibrating, chopping movements. Neurologists recommend visiting the massage room not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of painful relapses.
Manual or hardware vacuum massage is also in demand. When carrying out medical procedures, glass, ceramic, plastic, bamboo jars are used. They are installed on biologically active points, and then slightly move along the surface of the body. The combination of vacuum and mechanical action allows you to get rid of all the symptoms of the disease in 5-7 sessions.
Compresses
Compress mixtures are prepared immediately before the procedure. They are spread in a thick layer on the skin, covered with plastic wrap and a warm cloth, and the bandage is fixed with gauze or elastic bandage. If the mixture contains no substances with a local irritating effect, then it is left overnight. Compresses with tinctures of cinquefoil, red pepper, essential oils keep for about 1-2 hours.
Most often, fresh leaves of burdock, horseradish, dandelion, plantain, cabbage are used for procedures. They are crushed, a tablespoon of honey is added and evenly distributed on the skin. Compresses with sea salt well eliminate stiffness. A teaspoon of salt is diluted in 0. 5 cups of warm water, moistened with a sterile napkin and applied to the area of soreness.
Infusions and decoctions
Doctors recommend drinking at least 2. 5 liters of fluid per day for osteochondrosis. In addition to water, fruit drinks and compotes, you can use infusions of medicinal plants. To prepare a vitamin drink, 5 dry berries of rosehip, viburnum, lingonberry, juniper, barberry are put in a thermos, 2. 5 cups of boiling water are poured. After 3 hours, the infusion is cooled, filtered, taken in 100 ml 3 times a day after meals.
A decoction of lingonberry leaves is also useful. Pour a tablespoon of dry vegetable raw materials into a small saucepan, pour in 0. 5 liters of hot water, bring to a boil. Simmer under the lid for about 10 minutes, cool. Take 3 tablespoons 2 times a day after meals.
Applications
At home, you can make applications with ozokerite or paraffin - substances that retain heat well. They are sold in pharmacies in the form of coarse crystalline powders. About 100 g of the free-flowing mixture is melted in a water bath at a temperature of 50-60 ° C, and then cooled to 40 ° C. Take a wooden flat spatula or a wide brush and apply a layer of warm mass to the skin over the affected vertebral structures. After it dries a little, the same amount of ozokerite or paraffin is distributed. In total, 3-4 layers are applied. From above, the frozen mass is covered with a film, a thick cloth and left for 1 hour.
Rubbing
The most therapeutically effective in osteochondrosis of any localization of rubbing with saber. In a dark glass container with a volume of 1 liter, put half a glass of crushed dry rhizomes and a glass of grass. Pour vodka or 96% alcohol diluted with an equal amount of water to the neck. Insist in a warm place for 2-3 months, periodically shaking the jar. Do not filter, but, as necessary, pour out a couple of tablespoons of brown liquid and rub it into the back for pain.
If desired, you can add a pod of red pepper or 2-3 cloves of garlic while insisting. For people with sensitive skin, rubbing should not be prepared with vodka, but with vegetable oil.
Healing baths
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, salt baths are used, which have a general strengthening and tonic effect on the patient's body. 200 g of sea salt is dissolved in 2 liters of hot water. The bath is filled with warm water, the concentrated solution is poured, and thoroughly stirred. The duration of the procedure is no more than half an hour. Then take a shower and rub thoroughly with a towel.
Prophylaxis
So that the intervertebral discs do not begin to collapse, it is necessary to exclude all factors provoking their destruction from the usual way of life. It is impossible to stay in one position of the body for a long time, to expose the spine to excessive loads. Doctors recommend quitting smoking, replenishing the diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.