Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that is more common in adult patients. Complications can lead to spinal immobilization and disability if treatment is not started on time. Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are complementary treatments, which are carried out in parallel with medication, diet, massage classes and a set of special exercises. You can extend the remission period based on medical advice.
What is osteochondrosis
It is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system in which the intervertebral discs and vertebral body tissue are gradually destroyed. Muscles gradually atrophy, the conduction of nerve impulses, and the work of physiological systems and individual internal organs are disrupted. The disease has been asymptomatic for a long time. The patient then complained of back and neck pain. This is the first sign of osteochondrosis. Other symptoms depend on the location of the pathological lesion. General signs of illness:
- Static syndrome: impaired posture, stiffness of the spine, more frequent back pain;
- Nutritional syndrome: trophic ulcers on the skin due to impaired tissue oxygen supply;
- Vascular syndrome: pale skin, nausea, dizziness, signs of hypoxia;
- Nervous system syndrome: decreased sensitivity in different areas of the spine, "skin crawling" feeling, numbness in the extremities.
If left untreated, episodes of nausea and dizziness become more frequent, and patients may even lose consciousness. Parts of the brain die from lack of oxygen as atherosclerosis narrows. In addition, the patient complained of a sharp loss of vision and flashing "goose bumps" before the eyes.
How to Treat Osteochondrosis at Home
Treatment is performed by neuropathologists, chiropractors, surgeons or neurosurgeons, chiropractors, exercise therapists, physical therapists. The selection of a narrow specialist depends on the form and stage of the pathological process, possible health complications. Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative or surgical. In the first case, a comprehensive approach is required that, in addition to a therapeutic diet and medication, includes:
- Remedial gymnastics and physical education classes;
- change your usual way of life;
- reflexology;
- manual therapy;
- physical therapy methods;
- massage classes;
- traditional medicine methods.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis or other spine is a long process. The primary goal is to stop the pain syndrome, restore vertebral structure and function, and prolong remission. The comprehensive treatment measures proposed by experts are designed for 1-3 months, depending on the severity of the pathological process. The recovery period is 1 year. Effective treatment can be performed at home as prescribed by a doctor.
drug
It is advisable to take the drug in the acute phase, when the patient has acute pain in the spine and cannot fully exercise and sleep. Doctors prescribe oral tablets, ointments, topical gels. For osteochondrosis, complex treatment contains drugs from several pharmacological groups:
| Pharmacological group name | The principle of action of pathological focus | drug release form |
|---|---|---|
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hereafter referred to as NSAIDs) | Blocks prostaglandin synthesis (inhibits inflammatory processes and acute pain attacks) | Capsules, injections, tablets, gels, plasters, ointments |
| Vasodilator | Nutrition of the vertebral tissue, accelerating its regeneration process | Creams, ointments, gels, tablets, injections |
| muscle relaxant | Relax spastic muscles and relieve pain syndrome | injection, tablet |
| anesthetic, analgesic | Rapid anesthesia for pathological lesions | injection, tablet |
| chondroprotective agent | Restores the structure of bone and cartilage tissue, preventing further damage | Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
| sedative | Improve sleep quality and achieve emotional balance | tincture, tablet |
| Antidepressants | Relief of anxiety and depressive conditions caused by acute pain and vertebral movement disorders | tablet |
| Glucocorticoids | Prescribed in complex clinical cases to relieve inflammation, reduce the intensity of pain syndromes, restore vertebral function | Ointment, injection, tablet |
| Botanicals (herbs) | Restores the body's protective functions, normalizes sleep quality, prevents depression | tablet |
| Antioxidants | Improve local blood circulation and stimulate metabolism at the cellular level | injection, tablet |
| multi-vitamins | Strengthen the spine and enhance immunity | tablet |
tablet
Oral medications come in the form of tablets, capsules, pills, etc. , and have complex effects on the body. In this way, you can reduce inflammation, suppress pain attacks, restore damaged vertebral structure, and provide vital oxygen nutrients to tissues. Symptomatic treatment of osteochondrosis at home consists of oral administration of:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- vasodilators;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesics;
- chondroprotective agent;
- sedative;
- antidepressants and sedatives;
- Glucocorticoids;
- botanical preparations;
- Antioxidants;
- Multivitamin complex.
After taking such drugs, spinal movements resumed orally and acute pain episodes disappeared:
ointment
Topical devices with analgesic, stimulating and distracting properties are intended for topical use - direct focus on pathology. With topical exposure, the risk of contraindications and side effects is minimal, and the therapeutic effect is evident 15-20 minutes after a single dose of the selected drug:
- Painkillers;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotective agent;
- Homeopathic ointment.
These drugs can cause topical and allergic reactions in the skin, so you need to consult a specialist before using them at home.
injection
The main purpose of the injection is to relieve spasticity, reduce the increased excitability of nerve endings, and suppress the onset of pain, thereby depriving the patient of sleep and rest. For successful treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations from several pharmacological groups are suitable for intramuscular administration:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- analgesics;
- chondroprotective agent;
- muscle relaxants;
- Paravertebral block.
Most of these injections are used for intramuscular administration. You can give the injection at home.
diet
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home necessarily involves a healthy diet, so the patient needs to make certain adjustments to his usual daily diet. A prerequisite is to reduce the total calorie content of meals and the amount of food components that increase blood cholesterol. It is recommended to stick to a balanced diet, eat more fermented milk and plant products, control the amount of water you drink, and take in natural vitamins and antioxidants.
| Healthy Food | fasting |
|---|---|
| Dairy and Yogurt Products | fast food |
| fish and seafood | Semi-finished products, preservatives |
| red meat | Pastries, Desserts |
| eggs, hard cheese, butter | sweet carbonated drinks |
| beef liver | alcohol in any form |
| Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, various cabbage) | salt, spices |
| Fruits (peaches, apricots, citrus fruits) | sausage, bacon |
charger
For osteochondrosis, the morning should start with exercise. The patient performed therapeutic exercise at any time of the day. In this way, blood circulation can be improved, the degenerative dystrophy process of the spine can be slowed, the muscular corset can be strengthened, and the period of remission of the underlying disease can be prolonged. Cervical osteochondrosis gymnastics at home can help relax tense muscles in the back and neck, widen a spinal fissure, and release compressed spinal nerves. General advice from experts:
- It is necessary to treat gymnasts starting from a warm-up.
- Torsion is contraindicated if acute pain syndrome is felt in the lower back.
- For cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to give up sharp head turns.
- It is recommended to replace running and jumping with walking, swimming, and frequent walks in the fresh air.
- All movements should be smooth and slow, and you need to do them every day.
- It is necessary to monitor breathing (should be even) and pulse to control the physical load on the body.
If you regularly perform simple exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical or other spine, you can forget about the excruciating pain for a long time. Provide training centers at home:
- Sit in a chair, cross your hands behind your head, and lean forward. Press your hands on the back of your head so that your head drops smoothly and your chin touches your ribcage. Hold this position for a few seconds to feel maximum muscle tension.
- As you sit, stroke your right cheek with your right palm and slowly tilt your head to the left, then switch hands and then to the right. It is recommended to complete 15-20 approaches per side.
- Sit on a chair so you can grab its edge with your hands. Then slowly lower your head back and stretch your shoulder blades and shoulders. Then return to the starting position and repeat the same movement 15-20 times.
- Sit on the floor with your legs straight and bend forward so that you reach your toes without bending your knees. Freeze for a moment in this position, then exhale and relax.
- Lie on your back with your legs bent at the knees. Slowly flip the bridge over and lift your pelvis off the ground. Freeze for 5-10 seconds at the highest point. Renowned expert S. M. recommends this osteochondrosis exercise as part of a developed training complex. Bubnovsky.
massage
To quickly relieve muscle spasms, increase microcirculation, strengthen the back, and improve the general condition of patients, osteochondrosis doctors recommend massage. You can do each procedure yourself at home. The main condition is to concentrate on exercising the cervical and lumbar vertebrae to activate local blood circulation. The method does not matter, you can choose to knead, knead, and press:
- To warm up your muscles, start with a light stroke.
- Then continue to knead and knead. Grab the folds of skin and move slowly from bottom to top.
- Press the longitudinal muscle area of the back with your fingertips in a circular motion.
- Stretch the muscles of your chest, thighs, and shoulder girdle to avoid adding stress to your spine.
- The process is done by tapping, vibrating, tapping. Depending on the severity of the disease, do this with the pads of your fingers, the edges, or the entire palm of your hand.
cervical osteochondrosis massager
To get rid of unbearable neck pain episodes at home, relax muscle fibers and quickly relieve general discomfort, patients are advised to use a special massager. It will help stop pain syndrome even in advanced cases.
therapeutic bath
During the exacerbation phase, the use of water programs is prohibited. During rehabilitation, such home sessions become essential as they dilate blood vessels, relax muscles and have a beneficial effect on spinal joints. To enhance the desired effect, it is recommended to add a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, twine, thyme, horsetail, thyme to warm water. General advice from experts:
- Pour 250-300 grams of dry plant material or mixture into 5 liters of boiling water.
- Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- After holding the lid down, strain the broth and add to the collected bath.
- Do this program 15-20 minutes before bed.
compression
This at-home procedure helps eliminate edema and acute pain flare-ups in osteochondrosis. In addition, they can improve blood circulation, relieve pain, and relieve muscle spasms. When treating osteochondrosis at home, a two-week course of warm compresses at the pathologist's focus is required 1-2 times a day. Formulation of the pharmaceutical composition:
- Grate horseradish and apples on a fine grater and combine. The juice is squeezed out and the resulting gruel is used to form a cake. Place on the inflamed area and wrap it with a bandage. Repeat the process every day until the pain subsides.
- Melt 1 gram of propolis in a water bath, at which point 50 grams of fresh aloe vera juice is taken from the fresh leaves. Combine ingredients, add 50g mustard powder, 400ml vodka to the mixture, mix. The composition is applied to several layers of gauze and applied to the lesion. Do not remove the cloth until it is completely dry. Do the home routine every day before bed.
application
If this warming procedure is used for osteochondrosis, normal motor activity of the spine can be restored. The application acts reflexively on biologically active points and areas, normalizing the energy balance in the body. It is necessary to wet gauze with drug ingredients and apply it to the pathological lesions. Do not take off for 30-40 minutes and repeat at home several times a day. When choosing ingredients for your medicine, you need to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Effective application formula:
- Pass 50 grams of fresh aloe vera leaves through a meat grinder, add 100 grams of honey and mix. Pour the mixture into 100ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for a week. Afterwards, the gauze is moistened with the drug and applied to the lesion. Secure first with plastic wrap, then with a warm scarf. Do not shoot for 30 minutes. Repeat this process twice a day.
- Mix a cup of medical turpentine with an equal amount of crushed aloe vera leaves, add 100 grams of lactone, 5-10 drops of iodine. Continue to use the composition for 5 days in a dark place, then rub the sore area overnight, cover with plastic wrap, a warm scarf.
wipe
No treatment for osteochondrosis at home is complete without friction. A procedure like a massage can quickly relieve inflammation, suppress pain flare-ups, and stimulate blood circulation in the affected area. It is recommended to rub a maximum of 2-3 times a day. Turpentine, badger fat, kerosene, and nutria fat can all be used as medicine. Among medicinal plants, doctors recommend paying attention to the beneficial properties of juniper, plantain, and sage. Tried and tested recipes:
- Mix 1 tsp in a container. Juniper Needles, 6 tsp. Pre-chopped bay leaves, 6 tbsp. l. Butter. Apply the composition evenly to the painful area. Gently apply the prepared cervical osteochondrosis ointment to the skin. Perform this procedure several times a day, avoiding drafts. Courses are selected individually.
- Combine 2 tablespoons. l. Pre-chopped sage and plantain, add 40 g petrolatum, 50 ml vegetable oil to the mixture. The composition is mixed well, applied to the lesion and rubbed. To enhance healing, wrap a warm scarf over the skin of the treatment area. Do not wash off the ointment for 30-40 minutes.
Treating Osteochondrosis with Folk Remedies
Alternative medicine approaches to osteochondrosis are no weaker than official medicines. The most important thing is to choose the right recipe. The following are tried and tested remedies that can bring joy to exercise for patients:
- Shred raw, peeled potatoes with a fine grater. Add 50 grams of honey to the resulting gruel, mix, form a cake, apply it to the pathological center, do not remove it for 30 minutes.
- Grind the dried spiced root. Then 2 tablespoons. l. Pour 400ml of boiling water over the ingredients and simmer for 5-7 minutes on high heat. After sticking and tightening, compress up to 3-4 times a day for up to 2 weeks. The remedy reduces inflammation and eliminates pain.
- Stir in 200 grams of chopped spiced root and 100 grams of vermicelli, and pour in 1 liter of vodka. Hold on for 3 weeks, then get nervous. Take 1 tablespoon by mouth. l. 3 times a day, one month before meals.
- Chop lingonberry leaves. 1 tablespoon. l. Fill finished ingredients with 1 tablespoon. Boil water, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Divide the completed dose into 2 doses - drink in the morning and in the evening. Prepare a fresh dose of medicine each day.