Hello dear readers. Diseases of the spine are one of the most urgent health problems of humanity. More and more young people complain of pain in different parts of the spine, although not so long ago this pathology mainly concerned the older generation. That is why the effective treatment of osteochondrosis is so actively discussed everywhere. The topic of this article is how to get rid of back pain. Under the influence of gravity, as a punishment for walking straight, and under the influence of other factors, the structures of the spinal column wear out prematurely.
What is osteochondrosis
Insufficient nutrition of the cartilage tissue leads to weakening of the cartilage. The intervertebral layers lose their ability to withstand excessive loads. The vertebrae are pressed together, literally crushing the cartilage cushions between the vertebrae. This is how osteochondrosis develops.
At first, the cartilage tissue suffers, later the vertebrae themselves are involved in the pathological process. The disease is associated with chronic and severe pain.
Depending on the location of the lesions in the spinal region, several types of the disease are distinguished:
Cervical osteochondrosis
It is characterized by neck, shoulder, arm, headache, dizziness, mild visual disturbances and noise effects.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Back pain is reflected in the chest, sometimes strikingly similar to heart pain.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
The pain is concentrated in the pelvis, abdomen, lower back and radiates to the lower limbs.
Simultaneous damage to different vertebral sections can occur.
As the disease progresses, the disease has 4 main stages. An unpleasant feature of the pathology is the low probability of its first detection. The reason for this is the absence of symptoms in the initial stage of development of osteochondrosis.
Chondrotic changes will only be noticeable on an X-ray, that is, they can only be detected by chance. Since there is no prerequisite for an intentional X-ray examination.
Stages of chondrotic lesions of the spine
- Cartilage dystrophy, initial tissue degeneration.
- Unique foci of inflammation in the cartilage and microcracks are noticeable. There is discomfort and stiffness in the movement of the spine. Sometimes the cartilage is squeezed outward, forming protrusions - protrusions.
- Cartilage is replaced by bone formations. The mobility of the affected area is increasingly limited. Nerve roots and blood vessels are compressed, causing chronic pain in the back and surrounding areas. Dislocations and hernias may occur.
- The disease affects the bone tissue, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed. The inflammation is extensive, complications appear. Certain areas of the spine lose their mobility completely.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Medical science has not yet fully investigated the causes of pathological changes in the cartilaginous structures of the spine. However, scientists have identified several risk groups that are most likely to develop osteochondrosis.
These are people who lead a passive life, whose work involves a sitting position. Patients who are overweight and have metabolic disorders are also at risk of the disease.
The spine health of hard workers and professional athletes is also at risk.
It is one of the factors that trigger the development of pathological changes
- prolonged lack of fluid in the body;
- improper diet, which causes a lack of minerals;
- hormonal changes;
- emotional outbursts, stress;
- injuries, overload;
- staying in anatomically inappropriate static positions;
- foci of infectious lesions in the body;
- flat feet of any severity;
- innate tendency;
- muscle weakness;
- pregnancy;
- aging of the body, natural wear and tear of tissues;
- harmful passions;
- taking drugs, poisoning of various etiologies;
- overweight, obesity;
- sleeps on a too soft mattress and high pillow.
Treatment methods
The therapy consists of an active phase and a rehabilitation process. Even if there is no lasting result for a long time, you cannot give up. Recovery is very slow.
All this requires patience, a strong will and a high level of self-discipline. Success can only be guaranteed if there is an insatiable desire for healing and a series of therapeutic and preventive measures.
It is highly undesirable to limit yourself to self-medication. You need to clearly understand that taking painkillers by themselves without changing your lifestyle will not give you any results other than temporary relief.
The disease is still actively developing. In addition, addiction to anesthetics and painkillers develops.
Combined therapy not only provides pain relief, but also combats degenerative changes, restores mobility, relieves inflammation, prevents complications, and restores damaged structures.
That is why they are connected:
- drug treatment and, if necessary, surgical intervention;
- therapeutic and preventive gymnastics;
- physical procedures;
- different types of manual therapy, including traditional massage, reflexology;
- removal of handcuffs, traction of the spinal column.
All of this is prescribed and supervised by the doctor. The patient can use non-traditional methods, but in agreement with the doctor. The patient must report any success and the occurrence of side effects. This makes it possible to change the treatment regimen in time.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis in a familiar home environment is quite possible. Your doctor will tell you how to get rid of pain in the spine not only with the help of anesthesia. The patient should follow your instructions and may need to slightly modify the usual approach to spine treatment.
We are primarily talking about the regulation of the load when performing a series of exercises and when stretching the vertebral structures. In this case, you need to focus on personal endurance and sensitivity.
Medicines - medicines against osteochondrosis
You should immediately emphasize that osteochondrosis alone cannot be treated with drugs. But they are an important and even necessary part of the healing process. Pharmacological drugs are usually used when the disease worsens to relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation. As for the restoration of cartilage tissue, dietary supplements are used here, although with varying degrees of success.
The purpose of the medicinal effects:
- relief of pain in different parts of the body;
- suppressing inflammation and stopping this pathological process;
- increased blood circulation;
- improving metabolism;
- increased nutrition of damaged tissues;
- return of mobility to the spine;
- restoration of cartilage layers;
- preventing the development of depression due to poor health.
Different groups of drugs are used to solve the problems. If the effectiveness of one of them is low, then the more effective drugs should be administered with caution, since they have a greater number of possible side effects.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A group of non-steroidal multifunctional drugs. It relieves inflammation, relieves pain, and reduces fever. In case of osteochondrosis, pain-relieving creams, ointments and tablets are most often used.
- Anticonvulsants, combined pain relievers, local anesthetics. It helps to get rid of muscle and headache.
- Medicines that dilate blood vessels. It helps to get rid of headaches and numbness.
- Muscle relaxants. They relieve tightness and spasms, which makes it possible to eliminate the resulting muscle pain and swelling.
- Vitamin preparations (vitamins B, A, E, C, multivitamins), mineral supplements. They supply the body with compounds necessary for cartilage tissue.
- Calming drugs: valerian tincture, motherwort. Help relieve stress from constant pain and normalize sleep.
- Hormonal drugs based on methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone. These are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Chondroprotective agents. Restoration of cartilage.
Physical exercise
Spinal injuries have limitations when performing specific exercises. Therefore, it is recommended to hold the lessons under the supervision of an instructor.
Therapeutic exercise helps relieve pain, restore spinal mobility, and frees pinched nerves and blood vessels. The exercises are aimed at developing the affected areas, strengthening and stretching the muscles.
All of the gymnastic techniques are more or less standard. But the duration, intensity and number of repetitions are determined individually.
In the case of osteochondrosis, the probability of injury is high, so all measures should be carried out carefully. If discomfort or pain occurs, gymnastics should be suspended until the sensation passes. After the operation continues.
You may need to reduce the load or replace this exercise with a similar but more suitable one.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
In the arsenal of traditional medicine, there are many simple, effective and safe recipes against osteochondrosis. They are used in the form of teas, tinctures, lotions, poultices, rubs, applications, and ointments.
Medicinal plants support the body, strengthen it, normalize its functioning and relieve unpleasant symptoms. These remedies can be purchased at affordable prices at any pharmacy or herbal shop.
Effective poultice
The use of poultices helps to get rid of painful attacks, swelling and inflammation of cartilage tissue. Irritating and warming agents are used for this purpose.
- Horseradish with apples. Grate the horseradish root and a small apple on a fine grater. The puree is mixed in equal parts and applied to the affected area. Cover the top with a film and put a heating bandage overnight. The treatment is continued until the pain disappears.
- For the same purpose, you can also use poultices made from other products: grated radishes, onion pulp, burdock leaves, cabbage. You can add honey to increase the anti-inflammatory effect.
- Vodka, mustard powder, camphor alcohol - 50 g each, mix with three beaten egg whites. The mixture is infused for about 10 hours and used as a poultice in the morning and evening for 3 consecutive days. Then move on to the next recipe.
- Mix 50 g of aloe leaf extract with 150 g of vodka and 100 g of honey. Compresses are used twice a day for three days. Then go back to the previous recipe. These two drugs are used alternately, each for 3 days, without breaks, until the symptoms disappear.
Infusions and decoctions for osteochondrosis
This group of folk remedies is used for systemic effects on the body to produce anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, strengthening and calming effects.
pine cone
Cooking: 4 unripe pine cones are washed, chopped, poured with half a liter of water and boiled for a few minutes. Drink ¼ tbsp. 1-3 times a day.
Tincture: pour 5 ripe crushed cones with seeds with a glass of alcohol (strong vodka), leave for 2 weeks, shake the container daily. Drink a teaspoon after a meal.
Birch buds and lingonberry leaves
1 teaspoon of each, boil a glass of boiling water. Drink a little throughout the day.
Herbs
Horsetail, mint, St. John's wort, St. John's wort, calendula, linden, milk thistle, chamomile, plantain, thyme, cinnamon, sage, and immortal teas are also helpful. They are used in different combinations or separately.
Honey applications
In case of osteochondrosis, ointments and body lotions made from aloe juice and honey help. They are used singly or in a mixture.
A piece of gauze must be moistened in the product and applied to the painful area under a heating bandage for at least 40 minutes. You can simply apply them to the desired areas several times a day.
Rubbing
Rubbing the medicinal product accelerates the blood, ensures deep penetration of the product into the body, warms it up, stimulates the active centers, removes tension and eliminates numbness.
Suitable for rubbing osteochondrosis:
- bear/badger fat;
- turpentine;
- alcoholic herbal tinctures;
- herbal decoctions and infusions;
- pine oil;
- special compounds.
Rubbing in case of severe pain: crush a packet of analgin (10 pieces), mix with a glass of alcohol, a small bottle of iodine, 10 ml of camphor alcohol. Rub your back only on painful areas. It may cause a burning sensation.
Therapeutic baths for osteochondrosis
Similar procedures are performed during the remission phase. They use warm water with the addition of herbal decoctions and essential oils. It should be used before going to bed.
Baths help to relax and calm down, relieve swelling and tension, eliminate numbness, pain, and heaviness in the muscles. Here, decoctions are used in higher concentrations than when taken orally. But the same plants do.