Osteochondrosis is a lesion of the tissues and intervertebral discs of the spine.
The spine is strongly compressed, thereby squeezing all the disks located between the vertebrae.
After some time, their elasticity is lost, along with the discs the nerve endings of the spinal cord are clamped.
A person feels severe pain.
The advanced stage of osteochondrosis can lead to disability.
Osteochondrosis: causes
The cause of osteochondrosis can be hypothermia, a sharp slope or turn, strong physical exertion.
Experts are sure that the main cause of osteochondrosis is the incorrect distribution of the load on the spinal column. As a result, in the place where the excessive physical pressure is located, a complete or partial change in the cartilage tissue occurs.
These are not all the causes of the development of the disease, and provocative factors can also be distinguished:
1. The spine is curved.
2. The patient stoops when sitting or walking.
3. The back muscles are weak.
4. A person leads a sedentary lifestyle, moves a little.
5. The body has a severe lack of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus.
6. Hereditary factors.
7. Past infectious diseases.
8. Strong nervous strain, depression.
9. The hormonal background is broken.
10. Injuries to the spine, they can occur when falling, hitting.
11. The position of the body changes frequently and dramatically.
If you lift the weight at right angles to the torso, prolapse of the intervertebral discs may occur. That is why a large load must be taken only while squatting, so the spine will be protected.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home: medications
Drug treatment is necessary at the time of exacerbation of the disease. Medications are primarily aimed at relieving pain that occurs due to compression of the vertebral arteries and spinal nerves. Medication is divided into local and general, depending on how the drugs are administered. General treatment includes the following medications:
1. Anti-inflammatory. Inside, non-steroidal drugs are used, which, first of all, have an analgesic effect - diclofenac, ketans, nimisil, ibuprofen. The daily dose should be divided into 4 doses. Medications are taken on time and after meals. Since they have a pronounced irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, they need to be washed down with plenty of water. If you have a peptic ulcer or exacerbation of gastritis, it is necessary to switch to the lateral administration of the drug.
2. Muscle relaxants. Medicines are used only in combination with diuretics. Due to this, muscle hypertonicity is reduced, as well as reduced swelling of tissues, in which, first of all, pain is localized. For this, the following medications can be used - furosemide, troxevasin.
3. Sedative. To prevent neurotization due to severe pain, it is recommended to drink sedatives, but certainly of plant origin - herbs, tinctures, herbal teas. If the exacerbation dragged on for a long period, it is necessary to take tranquilizers - phenozepam, antidepressants.
4. Vitamins in group B. Medications are prescribed, in the form of mutivitamin complexes, for oral administration. Due to this, the structure of the nervous tissue is restored. You need to drink vitamins for three weeks, every day.
Local treatment involves the use of various drugs, as a coating on the area of localization of pain. The following dosage forms are considered the most effective:
• anti-inflammatory gels and ointments. As the active substance, they contain non-steroidal agents, for example, ibuprofen, diclofenac. But they are prescribed only in combination with general therapy. The ointment must be thoroughly rubbed into the back, neck and lower back, several times a day. But this should be done only during the period of exacerbation of the disease, until the pain completely disappears;
• grindings, ointments, warming balms. They contain biologically active substances that have a mild irritant effect. The composition of the medicine includes menthol, snake and bee venom. As a result of the impact of all components on the skin, puffiness decreases, blood circulation improves;
• dimeside. Besides the fact that this drug has a good anti-inflammatory effect, it also has a penetrating effect, which allows you to deliver drugs deep into the tissue. Apply it in the form of an application or dry dressings.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home: folk remedies
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis at home worries more and more. It is important to understand that osteochondrosis is an unusual disease that will disappear after a pill is drunk. Osteochondrosis is, first of all, a change in the vertebrae and cartilage. In order to recover, you need to take a number of actions. The tablets listed above must be drunk, but they can not be dispensed with.
Below we will consider the possibilities of treating osteochondrosis at home. But before applying this or that prescription, you need to consult your doctor so as not to harm yourself.
The first thing to do is to relieve pain. This can be done with drugs. But it is important to understand that regular use of painkillers will lead to problems with the intestines, liver and pancreas. That is why an experienced doctor will definitely advise those folk remedies that can be used with complete safety at home.
1. Honey and grated potatoes. Take a few potatoes and rub them on a fine grater, then mix in equal proportions with honey. Mix well and put the gruel on the cheesecloth, then apply as a compress to the sore spot. On top you need to wrap something warm and leave in this position for one hour. This tool will quickly relieve pain, but, unfortunately, not for long.
2. Horseradish leaf. Take one leaf of horseradish and steam it with boiling water. Turn the leaf over with the inner side toward you and attach to the affected area. Wrap well on top and go to bed. In the morning you will feel that the pain has receded.
3. A hot bottle. Take a plastic bottle and pour hot water into it, put it on a sofa or bed and lie on your back. Try to roll it under you for half an hour.
4. Parsley. For a month, you need to eat one parsley root every day.
5. Pine buds. Every spring, collect pine buds, but only those that are two centimeters long. Wash them well, dry, and grind through a meat grinder. In a 1: 2 ratio, add sugar, the number 2 is the kidneys.
6. Stir everything well and remove to insist for two weeks in the refrigerator. To understand that the mixture is ready, you can by its changed color, it will turn brown. The course of treatment will be three weeks. Eat one teaspoon each day.
7. The bath. You can relieve pain with breast osteochondrosis in the steam room. The course of treatment is ten days. Do three runs, lasting five minutes. But visit the bath every other day.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home: massage and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy with osteochondrosis is used as an addition to the main treatment, the patient's condition becomes noticeably better. Physiotherapeutic procedures act directly on the painful focus, so no side effects will occur.
This type of therapy does not cause absolutely any exacerbations, you can significantly reduce the dose of drugs used. Physiotherapy has many advantages:
1. Metabolism in the body is normalized.
2. The condition of tissues and organs is improving.
3. The immunity rises and becomes more stable.
4. The pain stops.
5. Good anti-inflammatory and decongestant action.
Specialists often prescribe combination physiotherapy. For example, if the pain is severe, electrophoresis and diadynamic therapy are used, with the mandatory use of novocaine.
In order to simultaneously act on biologically active points, acupuncture is used. The effect on the tissue is through laser radiation and needles. Together with electrotherapy, mud therapy is used.
Massage
In order to get rid of osteochondrosis, various therapeutic procedures are used, including massage. It has many useful properties - muscle tone is removed, blood flow in the spine is stimulated, intervertebral discs become stronger. Massage for osteochondrosis is prescribed in two cases:
1. In the period when there is no pain, at this moment the movement will not cause pain.
2. At the time of exacerbation.
Before the specialist starts this procedure, the patient is prepared. To do this, you need to pat your back about 3-5 minutes, first stroking in the area of the shoulder blades, then closer to the neck and shoulders. After this stroking should be replaced by kneading and shaking. At this stage, the preparation will be completed, you can proceed directly to the massage procedure.
Massage with osteochondrosis can cause severe pain. But if the body is properly prepared and relaxed, then this will be avoided.
If after the first procedures you feel discomfort, you don’t need to worry, about the third day the pain will recede, and the procedure itself will become much more pleasant.
The patient must be placed on a flat surface in a horizontal position. If massage is performed only in the neck area, then the patient should sit.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home and not harm yourself
You need not only to know how to treat osteochondrosis at home, but also how not to harm your body.
Watch the position of your posture, not only at the moment of movement, but, for example, sitting at the computer. Exercise, do exercises that can strengthen your muscle corset.
For a night's rest, it is best to choose pillows and orthopedic mattresses. They are designed specifically for the prevention and prevention of the development of the disease.
In order not to harm your musculoskeletal system, you need to very carefully lift heavy objects, and also not lift loads weighing more than 15 kilograms.
Be sure to monitor your diet, you need to eat six times a day, but in small portions. Avoid drinks that are high in caffeine. Do not abuse bad habits.
Very often, patients find symptoms of osteochondrosis, but do not know which doctor they need to go to. In order not to miss the time, make an appointment with the therapist at the nearest medical facility.
The doctor will listen to all complaints, examine, send for a laboratory test. The results of a laboratory study are likely to be sent to a neurologist. Since osteochondrosis can develop against a background of neurological disorders.
Take care of your health, take care of yourself, only in this way your health will not remind yourself of pain and unpleasant symptoms.
