Can degenerative spine disease be cured? Few people think about it, but everyone wants to alleviate the symptoms.
What to do if you are in pain: try all the methods one by one at home or visit a doctor? The main treatment for osteochondrosis is to block the pain and alleviate the inflammation at the site of the damaged area of the spine, and then to carry out restorative measures. Depending on the causes of osteochondrosis, treatment may consist of relieving vascular spasms, restoring nutrition to the intervertebral discs, removing the curvature of the spine, and so on. Maybe you just need to visit a chiropractor and “put in place” the displaced vertebrae, or maybe it’s 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" the age of the whole organism, so it is impossible to "cure" the destructive processes of aging of the spine. But reasonable prevention will help stop the process of degradation of the vertebrae and discs - osteochondrosis. The treatment consists not only in helping with immediate needs - eliminating unpleasant symptoms, but also in creating the habit of caring for the spine. This should be kept in mind especially if you have an unfavorable heredity.
How and how to treat osteochondrosis at home
Some people think that if your back hurts a little, then there is no need to go to the doctor, it is easier to self-medicate. Before treating osteochondrosis, you just need to be examined! A thorough diagnosis of the spinal column avoids gross errors in home treatment, which can lead to worsening of the condition (swelling of the joints, hernia).
What can we do alone with an osteochondrosis attack? If the pain syndrome bothers you from time to time and if you already know for sure what its cause is, then treating osteochondrosis at home becomes a habit. Compresses and ointments, massage, relaxing meditations, muscle strengthening are procedures that can be used at home.
Pay special attention to proper nutrition. Fat is needed for the joints to work, so butter is the best food for breakfast. Proteins are also vital, but it is better to consume them not in the form of meat, but in the form of cereals and legumes. These are all grains, peas, beans and nuts. Proper water is good for blood vessels and metabolic processes in the body, so drink clean water (from the filter) between meals.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in humans
By folk remedies we mean natural products, not medicines. Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is aimed at relieving pain, local inflammation, "dissolving salt" in the joints.
- Black currant leaves are an excellent diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Their infusion is useful for pain in muscles and joints. Pour a handful of currant leaves with boiling water and simmer 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 leaf, apply warm to the neck, cover with plastic and a warm cloth. Hold for up to 1 hour.
For back pain, you can rub horseradish juice, or you can mix it half with vodka. It is necessary to cover the sore spot with a warm, preferably woolen scarf and lie down for up to 1 hour. - Painful feelings are relieved by burning food, red peppers, mustard, garlic mixed with lard 1: 2 are suitable for these purposes. Do not overdo it, with a strong burning sensation, remove the dressing immediately.
Many people experience osteochondrosis as a disease associated with salt deposition, so the following products are helpful in eliminating them.
- Pumpkin - promotes the elimination of chloride and cholesterol, because it contains a lot of pectin. Eat raw before meals, and drink pumpkin juice 15 minutes before meals.
- Celery - squeeze the juice from the whole plant (stem, leaves and roots) and drink 2 tbsp. 3 times a day. You can make a compress of celery: "squeeze": lubricate the sore spot with vegetable oil, apply the cake, tie it with a cotton cloth and then a woolen cloth.
- Cook cranberry leaves in a thermos with boiling water for at least 1 hour and drink a quarter cup of soup 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 during lunch before meals.
Pay special attention when using traditional methods of treating osteochondrosis with herbs. Herbs contain many chemicals that in combination with drugs can enhance their effect, or vice versa, be incompatible and harmful. Therefore, consult your doctor even if you use individual herbs.
Remembering that all diseases are caused by nerves, treating osteochondrosis at home also involves removing emotional stress and resolving stress.
The mechanism of this process is simple: under stress our body prepares to repel attacks, it is biologically inherent, which means that the muscles are tense. The muscles in the neck and back are in a constant state of tension and begin to ache due to cramps. But this is not so bad. In turn, the blood flow and the supply of nutrients in the structure of the spine are disturbed, they begin to decay (decompose).
To make it completely clear how osteochondrosis is treated, we are reminded once again that the main efforts are aimed at reducing the process of destruction of spinal structures. Our task is to slow them down or stop them. Then we turn to preventive measures, namely strengthening the back muscles and developing spinal mobility.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home with gymnastics
Everyone knows that running joints requires an active lifestyle. But active sports are only useful for healthy people. When there are disturbances in the work of the spine, then therapeutic exercises are indicated without a strong load.
Basic principles:
The main thing when performing exercises is to remove the load from the spine, so all exercises are performed standing on all fours or lying down. They work in two directions: exercises to relax the muscles and strengthen them.
In case of worsening osteochondrosis, treatment at home is contraindicated in any form, especially with the help of physical activity, because it is necessary to diagnose and find the cause of pain. Even in the period of remission, exercises associated with significant stretching of the back muscles, such as tilting the torso by more than 20 degrees, are prohibited (they create unnecessary pressure on the discs, and their injury is possible).
With the help of gymnastics, 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 bloodstream and, accordingly, the nutrition of the tissues of the discs and vertebrae.
The safest and most cost-effective activity is hanging on a horizontal bar. In this case, the spine stretches, the intervertebral discs are released, and with them the veins and pinched nerve roots. You can make very small torso bends, which improves the blood supply to the spine.
Home treatment involves constant effort. Gymnastics lasts 10 to 30 minutes a day, only then can we talk about recovery.
Osteochondrosis drug
Before treating osteochondrosis with medication, it is better to visit a specialist: a vertebrologist or a neurologist. Osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain - the most important factor for patients, which causes a lot of problems and interferes with work. Therefore, medications are primarily aimed at relieving pain. When symptoms worsen, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in tablets 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.
We must keep in mind that the medicine taken alone is not effective. An integrated approach is needed, so consulting a doctor is imperative!
Your doctor may prescribe additional medications, for example, to prevent side effects or to boost the effects of essential medications, antioxidants, and vitamin complexes. Sedative (sedative) drugs are sometimes prescribed to eliminate neurological disorders that are one of the causes of spinal diseases.
Muscle relaxants are used - drugs to remove muscle tone, relax spasmodic tissues. They are an important part of the treatment of osteochondrosis, in which muscle tension is a characteristic and common occurrence.
Angioprotectors are mandatory - drugs that restore the work of blood vessels and blood flow.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs is not completely 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 in this period, because the fight against any disease requires a lot of energy from the body. It will not be superfluous to support immunity.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is also aimed at relieving inflammation, edema, muscle tone, accelerating tissue metabolism and normalizing blood circulation. Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy includes procedures such as electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, mud therapy, baths, acupuncture.
Spa treatment of osteochondrosis
It is impossible to miss such a fact because the treatment of osteochondrosis in a sanatorium is a popular service in any resort. The same physiotherapy and massage are offered. Sanatoriums are primarily intended to prevent this disease and strengthen the general well-being of the patient.
You can choose your way of treating osteochondrosis and consult your doctor about its suitability.