Can degenerative spine disease be cured? Few think about it, but everyone wants relief from symptoms.
What to do if you are in 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 spinal cord injury site and then perform 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. You may just need to visit a chiropractor and "put the displaced vertebrae in place" 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 that occur in the vertebral structures. Just as it is impossible to "cure" old age for 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 creating a habit of caring for the 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 their back hurts a little, they don't need to go to the doctor, it is easier to self-medicate. Before treating osteochondrosis, you just need to be examined! A complete diagnosis of the spine prevents serious errors in home treatment, which can lead to the worsening of the condition (swelling in the joints, hernia).
What can we do alone with an osteochondrosis attack? 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, massages, relaxation meditations, muscle strengthening are procedures that can be used at home.
Pay special attention to proper nutrition. Fats are necessary to keep joints working, so butter is the best food for breakfast. Protein is also vital, but it is best to consume it not in the form of meat, but in the form of grains and vegetables. They are all cereals, peas, beans and nuts. Adequate water is beneficial to the body's blood vessels and metabolic processes, so drink clean water (from a filter) between meals.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in people
By folk 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 blackcurrant leaves and cook in a water bath for 10 minutes. Drink half a glass 2-3 times a day.
- For headaches and neck pain, try horseradish leaves. Pour boiling water over the sheet, put a warm on the neck, cover with plastic and a warm cloth. Hold for 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 wound with a warm tissue, preferably wool, and lie down for up to 1 hour. - Painful sensations are relieved by burning food, 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 large amount of pectin. Eat raw foods 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 "twist" celery compress: grease the wound with vegetable oil, apply the cake, tie it with a cotton cloth and then a woolen cloth.
- Prepare the lingonberry leaves in a thermos with boiling water for at least 1 hour and drink a quarter cup of broth 4-5 times a day.
- Pour two tablespoons of birch with a glass of boiling water and cook in a water bath for 15 minutes, strain and drink cold 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 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, treating osteochondrosis at home also involves removing 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 that the muscles are tense. The muscles of the neck and back are in a constant state of tension and start to hurt due to spasm. But this is not so bad. In turn, blood flow and nutrient supply to spinal structures are disrupted, they begin to degrade (break).
To make it clear how osteochondrosis should be treated, we remember once again that the main efforts are aimed at reducing the processes of destruction of vertebral structures. Our task is to slow down or stop them. Then we turn to preventive measures, that is, strengthen the muscles of the back and develop mobility of the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home by gym
Everyone knows that keeping your joints moving requires an active lifestyle. But active sports are only useful for healthy people. When there are spinal dysfunctions, therapeutic exercises without a strong load are indicated.
Basic principles:
The main factor when doing exercises is to lighten the load on the spine, so that 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 osteochondrosis exacerbation, home treatment is contraindicated in any way, mainly with the aid of physical activity, as it is necessary to diagnose and locate the cause of the pain. Even during the remission period, exercises associated with significant stretching of the back muscles are prohibited, such as tilting the trunk more than 20 degrees (they create unnecessary pressure on the discs, your injury is possible).
With the help of gymnastics, the treatment of osteochondrosis at home is effective in the initial stage of the disease. Gentle exercises guarantee the safety of the spine. At the same time, they restore the microcirculation of the blood flow and, consequently, the nutrition of the tissues of the discs and vertebrae.
The safest and most rewarding activity is to hang from a horizontal bar. In this case, the spine is elongated, the intervertebral discs are released and, with them, the vessels and nerve roots are fixed. You can make very small curves with your torso while doing this, which improves the blood supply to your spine.
Home treatment involves continuous effort. Gymnastics lasts 10 to 30 minutes daily, only then can we talk about recovery.
Medication for osteochondrosis
Before treating osteochondrosis with medication, it is best to consult a specialist: a vertebrologist or a neurologist. Osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain - the most important factor for patients, causing many problems and interrupting work. Therefore, the main objective of medications is to relieve pain. When symptoms worsen, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in tablets and injections. So-called NSAIDs have an analgesic effect.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with medications
Here are some popular anti-inflammatories:
- injections, injections: Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Metamizole sodium.
- tablets: Nimesulide, Ibuprofen, Celecoxib.
- ointments and gels: Diclofenac.
It should be remembered that a medicine taken alone is not effective. An integrated approach is necessary, so a medical consultation is essential!
The doctor may prescribe additional medications, for example, to prevent side effects or to increase the action of basic medications, antioxidants and vitamin complexes. Sometimes, sedative medications (sedatives) are prescribed to eliminate neurological disorders that are one of the causes of spinal diseases.
Muscle relaxants - drugs are used to remove 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 blood vessel function and blood flow.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis is not complete without condoprotectors - 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.
Drugs that improve metabolism and vitamins are useful in this period, as fighting 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. The treatment of osteochondrosis with physical therapy involves procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, mud therapy, baths, acupuncture.
Spa treatment for osteochondrosis
It is impossible to ignore this fact, as the treatment of osteochondrosis in a sanatorium is a popular service at any resort. All the same physiotherapy and massage are offered. The main objective of sanatoriums is to prevent 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 suitability.