Osteochondrosis is a disorder of the articular cartilage. Most often, this disease affects the intervertebral discs.
Depending on the location area, the following are distinguished:
- cervical,
- chest,
- lumbar osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more common because the joints in the neck are the most mobile.
80 percent of the world's population is familiar with back pain. The main cause of the disease is believed to be walking upright. A person contracted this disease when standing on two limbs. The main problem is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine. In those places where physical activity is excessive, little by little a change occurs in the structure of the articular cartilage.
Before treating a disease it is necessary to know it better
In this disease, the so-called salt deposition (deposition of calcium compounds) occurs. It occurs due to the curvature of the spine or a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, as well as when the blood supply to the joints is disturbed. The reasons for the development of this disease can be factors such as excess weight, injuries and bruises in the joints, heavy loads on the joints, as well as other joint diseases and a number of other factors.
a little theory
We talked about the causes and signs of osteochondrosis in other articles, here we also collect treatment methods that you can apply yourself. It is worth noting that home treatment can only be an auxiliary method, but not the main one. For the most effective and safe treatment, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the causes of the disease and prescribe the safest and most effective method of treatment.
There are a large number of non-drug treatment methods, such as acupuncture, leech treatment, back exercises, massages, compresses, tinctures, diets and exercises.
Symptoms:
- pain in the spine
- pain, numbness, chills in extremities
- possible dizziness, up to loss of consciousness
From the above it follows that the main way to combat osteochondrosis, as well as a measure to prevent it, is gymnastics. The exercises allow you to develop and strengthen your muscles evenly to avoid uneven loading on your joints.
The main cure for osteochondrosis is physical education.
Immobility destroys the spine. Medicines only soften the symptoms of osteochondrosis and relieve pain. Only physical exercise can completely restore the joints and spine.Exercises that can be done for osteochondrosis:
- inclinations,
- turns,
- cramp,
- swinging on your back,
- bringing your knees together with your hands.
- Of great importance are exercises to stretch the spine: hanging from the bar, gymnastics from the yoga arsenal,
- Exercises that develop the muscles that support the spine: pull-ups, push-ups, exercise machines.
What exercises cannot be done with osteochondrosis.
- If you have acute pain in the lumbar spine, you should not perform twisting exercises.
- Jumping and fast running are undesirable, it is better to practice walking, swimming, skiing and cycling.
- Please note that some doctorsCircular head movements are not recommended.with cervical osteochondrosis.
Unlike medications, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, but do not improve the condition of the spine, gymnastics requires self-discipline and willpower, because doing exercises 2-3 times a month will not eliminate osteochondrosis.Exercises for osteochondrosis should be done every day.There is a wonderful complex of Academician Amosov: 1000 movements, requiring only 15 minutes a day, the wonderful achievements of Dr. Bubnovsky, who cures with exercises all joint diseases in any degree of negligence.
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis.
The exercises are simple and known to everyone:
- Exercise 1.Nod head up and down (20-40 times)
- Exercise 2.Head tilts left and right (20-60 times)
- Exercise 3.Turn your head left and right (20-40 times)
- Exercise 4.Circular movement of the head to the left and right (40 times)
- Exercise 5.Sit on the floor, bend your knees in front of you, place your forehead on your knees, and freeze for 20 to 50 seconds. This exercise stretches the spine well in the cervical region and is a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
How we can cure osteochondrosis with physical exercises. The man fell ill at the age of 40, massages and rubbing did not help him much and he decided to go to the hospital to treat his spine. There they gave him injections, massages, physical procedures and then sent him to the regional center, where he was prescribed baths and extracts. As a result of the treatment, after 4 months, he was discharged home on a stretcher: the spine was completely curved, one leg was 7 cm longer than the other, the muscles of this leg were completely atrophied, there was hellish pain. I was given group 2 disability. A man in line said that the spine can be restored by meeting two conditions:
- build a muscular corset around it,
- Stretch your spine so the discs fall into place.
The man built a simulator: he removed the door, covered it with a blanket and placed it at an angle. I made loops at the top of the board to secure my arms under my arms. On top I also stretched polyethylene, to which my bare back stuck as I stretched. I hung on these loops as long as possible, stretching the spine. Despite hellish pain, I did gymnastics, exercised the muscles of my swollen leg with the help of an elastic bandage, and did abdominal exercises. Soon he began to move around the apartment on crutches, then with a cane, and then abandoned it as well. But he continued exercising and gymnastics for another year. His disability was soon eliminated. Now he lives a full life.
Below are some simple exercises that are useful for osteochondrosis.
- Exercise No. 1.Stand with your back to the wall, press the back of your head, shoulder blades, buttocks and heels against the wall. The entire body, except the abdominal muscles, is relaxed. Stay in this position as long as possible. Every day add 5 seconds. The goal is 5 minutes.
- Exercise number 2.Lie on your back, straighten your legs. Take one sock away from you, the other towards you, then with both socks, then separate the socks and put them together.
- Exercise No. 3.Lie on your back, arms at your sides or behind your head, bend your knees. Bend your knees to the right, your head to the left, fix this position for 30 seconds, then your knees to the left, your head to the right.
- Exercise No. 4.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Release and lift your pelvis, resting on your feet and shoulder blades.
- Exercise number 5.Lying on your side, swing your straight leg back and forth.
- Exercise No. 6.Get on all fours. Bend and arch your back
- Exercise No. 7.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Pull your right knee toward your left elbow and your left knee toward your right elbow.
All types of hangings, stretching lying on the stomach and on the back with the limbs and head raised from the floor are very useful for osteochondrosis.
How to relieve pain from osteochondrosis at home.
- This remedy helps relieve pain in the spine for several months. Osteochondrosis treatment is designed for 12 days. Before treatment, it is advisable to prepare two mixtures:Recipe 1:50 g of camphor alcohol, 50 g of vodka, 50 g of dry mustard and 3 egg whites - beat and leave overnight.Recipe 2:50 g of aloe juice, 100 g of honey, 150 g of vodka, mix. Make compresses with mixture n. Apply #1 twice a day (or simply lubricate the column) for three days. Then make compresses with mixture number 2 for three days. Then use mixture No. 1 again for three days and mixture No. 2 for three days. After such treatment, osteochondrosis disappears for a long time.
- Here is a recipe that relieves pain very quickly, but the effect lasts only a few days: mix 300 g of grated raw potatoes and 1 tbsp. l. Honey, apply to the spine, remove the film and a warm cloth, keep the compress for 1 hour.
- Rub for osteochondrosis and joint pain. The woman became ill at 35 years old. A friend suggested a way to overcome the illness through home remedies. It is necessary to mix triple cologne, valerian tincture, half a bottle of iodine and 6 analgin tablets. Stir everything and let it rest for 5 days. Rub the mixture onto the affected area until absorbed. Then cover it with a flannel cloth and secure it with a warm scarf overnight. 7 procedures were enough for the woman to forget forever about the pain in her spine, although 25 years had already passed. Oda gave this recipe to a friend who had joint pain. This folk remedy also helped her.
- Grandma's massage. Another similar recipe for osteochondrosis and joint pain is "grandmother's rub": 300 g of alcohol, 10 ml of camphor alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 analgin tablets - mix and infuse. Rub the sore spots. In two days, the woman had all the pain in her spine gone. Another woman, using this recipe in 4 procedures, cured osteochondrosis, which she could not cure with any other means.
These home remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis give quick results.
- Home treatment with bottle massage. Fill a 1. 5 liter plastic bottle with warm water, place it on the floor, lie on the bottle on your back and roll on it on the floor. 10 to 15 minutes a day are enough for osteochondrosis to disappear forever. But to prevent the disease from returning, it is necessary to continue with this exercise.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with salt compress. The man had pain in his shoulders and spine. Ointments and rubs did not help. In five procedures, a simple folk remedy helped cure osteochondrosis. You need to take 1 kg of salt, preferably coarsely ground, mix with 3 tbsp. l. Dry mustard, add 100 g of water, mix and heat this paste to 50 degrees, stirring constantly. Apply the mixture to the painful area, cover with oilcloth or polyethylene and cover with a warm scarf. Lie down until cool, then remove the mixture, wipe the body with a damp cloth, then dry and leave warm for another 2 hours. 5 procedures were enough for that man and the pain in his spine disappeared.
- Home treatment with bath and honey. The woman suffered from cervical osteochondrosis and lost her arms. They recommended a treatment that helped her within a month: she should visit the bathhouse 1 or 2 times a week and, in the steam room, lubricate her neck and hands with honey and sit in the steam room for 5 to 10 minutes. Then she goes to the dressing room, wraps herself in a warm sheet and drinks tea, sweating. Make three of those passes. At home, just lie under the blanket and sweat.
- A quick traditional method of heating treatment. A 30-year-old man suffered greatly from spinal pain and could not bend or sit. The elders at the entrance gave him the following recipe: knead a thin yeasted rye dough, let it rise and fall. Place cheesecloth on his back, cover the cheesecloth with a layer of 5-6mm dough. Place a fist-sized piece of tow over the dough, put it on fire, and roll it over the dough with a fork, evenly heating the tenderloin. That man had no rye flour or tow, so he heated the stove and sat with his back to the embers, burning with heat, warming his back with the utmost patience. After two procedures, spinal osteochondrosis left him forever.
- Cervical osteochondrosis: traditional treatment with honey massage. The woman could not turn her head, the pain spread to her shoulder and left arm, she could not even move it. The doctor prescribed injections and physiotherapy, but nothing helped. Then, following the advice of a neighbor, the woman tried to be treated with home remedies, specifically a honey massage. Before the procedure, she warmed her arm, shoulder and neck with hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, then quickly dried herself and applied honey. He rubbed honey on her neck, collarbone, arm and shoulder. She then did a massage with honey: she pressed it on her palm and ripped it sharply from the skin. I massaged until my palm stopped sticking to the skin. She then applied compresses, gauze and a warm scarf to those areas and she went to bed. In the morning I washed off the honey. After two procedures the pain disappeared. Soon she managed to completely get rid of the pain.
- Traditional method of treatment with cold water A woman managed to cure osteochondrosis of the spine by taking cold baths: she filled the bathtub with tap water and lay in it for 30 seconds. In winter she performed this procedure once a day and in summer - twice.
- Turpentine in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman used a popular recipe found in a newspaper. It is necessary to knead the dough with 70-100 g of yeast, 500 g of water and rye flour, not very thick. Store it for 7 days in a cool place, kneading it constantly. Before going to bed, drink a glass of warm milk with 1 tsp. soda, then apply 1 teaspoon to the sore spine three times. turpentine, rubbing it on the skin. Spread the dough on cheesecloth, apply cellophane, cheesecloth and towel on top. Lie down for 40 to 60 minutes and then remove the compress. After 7 days repeat the treatment. You can use the same mass for the treatment. After such a popular treatment, 25 years have passed and that woman still has no pain in her spine.
Effective folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis, recipes from the newspaper.
- How to treat osteochondrosis at home with Indian onions. You can quickly relieve pain with a houseplant, the Indian onion. To do this, take a piece of leaf 10-15 cm long, chop it very finely and rub the sore spots with this mass. It will burn, but it will soon pass along with the pain in the spine.
- Traditional treatment with parsley. Suddenly, the man developed severe pain in his spine. The reagent showed salt deposits; In the image they looked like layers of transparent needles between the vertebrae. The doctor prescribed several medications, but on the way to the pharmacy the patient met a friend who advised him to treat the spine with home remedies, specifically parsley. The man ate parsley three times a day for a whole month and the spinal pain gradually disappeared. He is now 90 years old, but after that treatment with parsley his spine never hurt.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis at home with horseradish. Horseradish quickly removes salts from the spine. Before going to bed, fresh horseradish leaves are dipped in boiling water, cooled slightly and pressed to the back, then polyethylene and a scarf. In the morning, remove the compress, a white layer may remain on the skin: this is the release of salts. It is necessary to perform 10 of these procedures. It is advisable to combine this folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis with cleansing the joints with rice.
- How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with cinquefoil. The man developed pain in the cervical spine, the pain did not go away throughout the day, then he decided to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies. He made a tincture with the stems and roots of cinquefoil. I took 1 tablespoon of tincture. l. three times a day. I didn't notice any side effects and decided to add cinquefoil tea to the treatment. After a month of this treatment, the heaviness and pain in the spine disappeared.Sabelnik tincture: Pour 200 g of cinquefoil roots and 100 g of cinquefoil or elecampane roots into a three-liter jar, fill with vodka and leave in the dark for 21 days. Take 1 tablespoon. l. three times a day before meals. After 30 days of treatment – 10 days of rest. For complete success, you need to drink three liters of tincture. Rub the sore joints with an ointment prepared from the same rhizomes: 200 g of cinquefoil, 50 g of galangal, 50 g of elecampane; Finely chop the dried rhizomes into powder, heat them together with 1 kg of vegetable oil or lard.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman had pain in her knee joints, treatment took a year, but the condition only worsened. She worsened to the point that she could barely move. I suffered pain in my hip joints and lower back and bedsores appeared. Diagnosis: osteochondrosis, deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joints with second-degree bone growths. There was a terrible depression, I wanted to die. But a neighbor brought the "Healthy Living Bulletin" and the patient decided to fight for her health. I began to use various folk remedies: stretching on an inclined board, tincture of burdock root, rosehip decoction, rubbing bischofite and fir oil on the spine and joints. As a result, he managed to get out of the wheelchair, now walks 5 km every day and climbs to the fifth floor.
It is known that to get rid of osteochondrosis, it is important to constantly attend physiotherapy, massages, physiotherapy classes and a reflexologist without interruption. Only complex methods and regular therapy can cure damage to the intervertebral cartilage and return the patient to a full and active life.
But how to combine daily procedures, which can last several hours, with regular household chores and work? To save time and money, osteochondrosis is treated at home.
Home remedies for osteochondrosis are based on the same principles that medical methods suggest. This improves blood circulation and trophism in the intervertebral cartilage, stimulates the outflow of stagnant blood, eliminates compressed nerves and blood vessels in the affected area and improves tissue regeneration.
To cure osteochondrosis, use the following traditional medicine recipes:
- Take decoctions and tinctures internally.
- Medicinal herbs for external use: rubs, ointments, compresses and baths.
- Self-massage.
- Therapeutic exercises.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures at home.
Compresses
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies involves the mandatory use of warm compresses. They are applied to any part of the spine, helping to eliminate blood stagnation.
To prepare compresses, use radish juice, raw potatoes, celery root or birch leaves. The ingredients are crushed to a soft state and then mixed with hot honey. When applying the product to the affected part of the spine, it is covered with cellophane and wrapped in wool to retain heat.
Recipes for osteochondrosis based on mustard are also used as compresses. To do this, mix it with beaten egg whites and add two glasses of vodka. Since this product has a pronounced irritating effect, before applying it it is recommended to lubricate the skin with any oil to avoid burns.
Compresses with aloe, honey and vodka are gentler. They can even be used for skin diseases.
self-massage
The self-massage method at home allows you to relieve muscle spasms, pain and normalize blood flow. It is especially effective for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Use the same techniques as for professional massage. First, the strokes are made from top to bottom. They can be performed simultaneously with both hands or in turns for each side of the neck. Then they begin rubbing to warm and soften the muscles of the cervical spine. They are performed with the palm or the edge of the palm until a sensation of heat appears.
Having warmed the neck, knead it by grabbing the skin with your fingers and releasing it. It is convenient to perform these pinches with the opposite hand on each side. The goal of this technique is to eliminate pinched nerve roots, relieve pain, and normalize neck movements.
The advantage of this folk remedy is the possibility of using it not only at home, but also at work, when the neck muscles feel tired. The same techniques can be used for the lower back, only in a standing position.
In addition to your hands, for self-massage at home it is advisable to use improvised means, such as a roller. It is usually used for the lumbar spine. At the same time, lying on their back, they try to turn the roller up and down, rolling on it. It is even better to have a special massager with infrared rays, which simultaneously heats and kneads the tissues, and also relieves spasms.
Types of treatment for osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
One of the most common. Sedentary work (driving, using a computer) leads to the development of the disease. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include dizziness, headache, numbness of the tongue, pain in the chest, pain in the arms, and darkening of the eyes. Blood pressure may increase.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.
Part of the thoracic spine is rarely affected. There are no sharp pains. A person feels pain in the spine, a feeling of insects crawling on the chest, pain in the heart. But sometimes similar symptoms can be observed in case of heart attack, sore throat, ulcers and gastritis. With osteochondrosis, ECG readings are normal, but with an impending heart attack they are different. This is the difference between diseases, even with similar symptoms.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region.
Since the greatest and most basic load falls on the back area, osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is one of the most common forms of the disease. If the disease is not treated in time, a hernia may appear. Pain in the back (lower back) occurs more in autumn and spring, mainly at night. A person feels a stabbing pain in the back, pain in the legs, and numbness in the extremities. The pain usually radiates to the buttocks, heels, under the knees and calves. If the sciatic nerve is pinched, the person tries not to lean toward the affected side. Lumbar osteochondrosis brings a lot of problems to a person.
Injections for osteochondrosis.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- General strengthening.
- Analgesics.
- Locks.
Causes
- spinal injuries and congenital defects;
- genetic predisposition;
- metabolic disorders, obesity;
- infectious diseases;
- aging of the body;
- constant overload of the spine due to sports or heavy physical work;
- exposure to chemicals;
- constant vibrations, for example, from truck drivers or drivers of agricultural machinery;
- flatfoot;
- Postural disorders.
Symptoms
Lumbar osteochondrosis:
- constant or sharp pain in the lower back;
- pain increases with physical activity or movement;
- pain can radiate to the sacrum, legs and pelvic organs;
- loss of sensation in the legs;
- Often a person cannot turn around or bend over. He maintains the same position in which he feels the least pain.
Cervical region:
- headaches that worsen with movement and do not go away after pain relievers;
- dizziness when turning your head suddenly;
- pain in arms, shoulders and chest;
- "floaters" and colored spots before the eyes;
- deterioration of vision and hearing, "ringing" in the ears;
- occasionally numbness of the tongue, change in voice.
Chest:
- pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades, when raising the arm, when bending;
- the pain is felt stronger at night, during hypothermia, when turning or during intense physical activity;
- painful sensations intensify with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- numbness of certain areas of the skin, "goosebumps";
- itching, burning, cold sensation in the legs;
- attack of pain between the ribs when walking;
- Sensation as if a ring were squeezing the chest.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home.
Gymnastics and exercises for osteochondrosis.
For the effect of gymnastics to be effective, it is necessary to do it daily.
- You should tilt your head forward, cross your fingers and press the neck area with your crossed hands. Remain in this position for 30 seconds.
- Make circular movements with your head. In this case, the fingertips should be in the middle of the shoulder.
Massage of the earlobes, neck and shoulders is very effective.
- While sitting, you should tilt your head back and straighten your back. You need to press your chin with your hand and gradually turn your head to the left and right. After each movement and turn of the head, you must hold for 15 seconds.
- You must raise and lower your shoulders alternately and together. With each change in body position, you should stay for 15-20 seconds. You should raise your shoulders strongly so that they reach almost to your ears. It is necessary to rub the column (warm up) at the beginning and at the end of the load.