Osteochondrosis is a disorder of articular cartilage. Most often, this disease affects the intervertebral discs.
Depending on the localization zone, we distinguish the following:
- cervical,
- chest,
- lumbar osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more common, since the joints of the neck are the most mobile.
80 percent of the world's population knows back pain. It is believed that the main cause of the disease is straight walking. A person contracted this disease while standing on two legs. The main problem is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine. In places where physical activity is excessive, the structure of the articular cartilage gradually changes.
Before treating a disease, you need to know it better
In this disease, 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 damage to the blood supply to the joints. The causes of the development of the disease can be factors such as excess weight, joint injuries and bruises, high load on the joints, as well as other diseases of the joints and many other factors.
A little theory
The causes and signs of osteochondrosis are discussed in other articles, here we also collect treatment methods that you can use. It is worth noting that home treatment can only be an additional method, but not the main one. For the most effective and safest treatment, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the causes of the disease and prescribe the safest and most effective treatment method.
There are many non-drug treatment methods such as acupuncture, leech treatment, background, massage, poultice, tincture, diet, exercise.
Symptoms:
- pain in the spine
- pains, numbness, coldness of the limbs
- possible dizziness, up to loss of consciousness
It follows from the above that gymnastics is the main way to overcome osteochondrosis, as well as a measure to prevent it. Exercises allow you to develop and strengthen the muscles evenly to avoid uneven stress on the joints.
The main remedy for osteochondrosis is physical education.
Immobility destroys the spine. Medicines only relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis and relieve pain. Only exercise can fully restore the joints and spine.Exercises that can be performed in case of osteochondrosis:
- inclines,
- turns
- twisting,
- rocking on your back
- he clasps his knees together with his hands.
- Exercises for stretching the spine are of great importance: hanging on the pole, gymnastics from the yoga arsenal,
- exercises that develop the muscles supporting the spine: pull-ups, push-ups, exercise machines.
What exercises cannot be done with osteochondrosis.
- If you have acute pain in the lumbar spine, do not do twisting exercises.
- Jumping and fast running are not desirable, it is better to practice walking, swimming, skiing and cycling.
- Please note that some doctorsCircular movement of the head is not recommendedwith cervical osteochondrosis.
Unlike drugs, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, but do not bring improvement in the condition of the spine, gymnastics requires self-discipline and willpower, because if you do 2-3 exercises a month, you will not get rid of osteochondrosis.Exercises for osteochondrosis should be done every day.There is a wonderful complex from Academician Amosov - 1000 movements that require only 15 minutes a day, the wonderful results of Dr. Bubnovsky, who cures all joint diseases of any degree of neglect with exercises in his center.
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis.
The exercises are simple and known to everyone:
- 1. Task.Head nodding up and down (20-40 times)
- Exercise 2.The head can be tilted left and right (20-60 times)
- Exercise 3.Turns the head left and right (20-40 times)
- Exercise 4.Circular movement of the head left and right (40 times)
- Exercise 5.Sit on the floor, bend your knees in front of you, rest your forehead on your knees and freeze for 20-50 seconds. This exercise stretches the spine well in the neck region and is a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
How to cure osteochondrosis with physical exercises. The man fell ill at the age of 40, massages and rubbing did not help him much, so he decided to go to the hospital to treat his spine. There he received injections, massages, physical procedures, and then was sent to the regional center, where he was prescribed baths and extracts. As a result of the treatment, he was discharged home on a stretcher after 4 months: his spine was completely bent, one leg was 7 cm longer than the other, the muscles on this leg were completely atrophied, and he was in hellish pain. I received group 2 disability. A man standing in line said that the spine can be restored by fulfilling two conditions:
- build a muscle belt around it,
- tension the spine so that the plates are in place.
The man built a simulator: he removed the door, covered it with a blanket and placed it at an angle. I made loops on top of the board to secure my arm under my arm. I also stretched polyethylene on the upper part, which my bare back stuck to during stretching. I hung in these loops as long as possible, straining my spine. I exercised through excruciating pain, exercised the muscles of my swollen leg with the help of an elastic bandage, and did abdominal exercises. Soon he started moving around the apartment with crutches and then with a cane, and then he abandoned that as well. But he continued to practice and do gymnastics for another year. His disability soon disappeared. Now she lives life to the fullest.
Here are some simple exercises that are useful for osteochondrosis.
- Exercise number 1.Stand with your back to the wall, press your head, shoulder blades, buttocks and heels against the wall. The whole body except the abdominal muscles relaxes. Stay in this position as long as possible. Add 5 seconds every day. The goal is 5 minutes.
- Exercise number 2.Lie on your back, stretch your legs. Pull one sock away from you, the other towards you, then with both socks, then separate the socks and put them together.
- Exercise number 3.Lie on your back with your arms at your sides or behind your head, bend your knees. Bend your knees to the right, head to the left, hold this position for 30 seconds, then knee to the left, head to the right.
- Exercise number 4.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Release and lift your pelvis, leaning on your legs and shoulder blades.
- Exercise number 5.Lying on your side, swing your straight leg forward and backward.
- Exercise number 6.Get on all fours. Bend and arch your back
- Exercise number 7.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Bring your right knee to your left elbow and your left knee to your right elbow.
In case of osteochondrosis, all kinds of hangings, lying on the stomach and back, with limbs and head raised from the floor are very useful.
How to relieve pain from osteochondrosis at home.
- This medicine helps relieve pain in the spine for several months. Treatment of osteochondrosis is planned for 12 days. Before treatment, two mixtures must be prepared:Recipe 1:50 g of camphor alcohol, 50 g of vodka, 50 g of dry mustard and 3 egg whites - beat and let stand overnight.Recipe 2:Mix 50 g aloe juice, 100 g honey, 150 g vodka. Make a compress from mixture number 1 twice a day (or simply apply to the spine) for three days. Then make a compress from mixture No. 2 for three days. Then again use mixture #1 for three days and mixture #2 for three days. After such treatment, osteochondrosis subsides 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 raw grated potatoes and 1 tbsp. l. honey, apply to the spine, remove the film and warm clothes, keep the compress for 1 hour.
- Rub it for osteochondrosis and joint pain. The woman fell ill at the age of 35. A friend suggested a way to fight the disease with folk remedies. You need to mix three times cologne, tincture of valerian, half a bottle of iodine and 6 tablets of analgin. Mix everything and leave for 5 days. Rub the mixture on 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 her spine pain forever, even though 25 years have already passed. She gave this recipe to a friend who had joint pain. This folk remedy also helped him.
- Grandma's rub. 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 tablets of analgin - mix and infuse. Rub the painful places. In two days, the woman will have everythingher pain in her spine is gone. Another woman who used this recipe in 4 procedures cured osteochondrosis which she could not cure in any other way.
These folk 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 with your back and roll it on the floor. 10-15 minutes a day is enough to make osteochondrosis go away forever. But in order to prevent the return of the disease, this practice must be continued.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with salt compresses. The man's shoulder and spine hurt. Ointments and rubbing did not help. In five procedures, a simple folk remedy helped in the treatment of osteochondrosis. You need to take 1 kg of salt, preferably coarsely ground, mix 3 tbsp. l. dry mustard, add 100 g of water, mix and heat this paste to 50 degrees with constant stirring. Apply the mixture to the painful area, cover with an oilcloth or polyethylene and cover with a warm scarf. Lie down until it cools, then remove the mixture, wipe the body with a wet cloth, then dry it and lie warm for another 2 hours. 5 procedures were enough for that man, and the pain in his spine was gone.
- Home treatment with bath and honey. The woman suffered from cervical osteochondrosis and lost her arm. He was recommended a treatment that helped within a month - he should visit the spa 1-2 times a week, and in the steam bath, apply honey to his neck and hands, sit in the steam bath for 5-10 minutes. Then go to the dressing room, wrap yourself in a warm sheet and drink tea while sweating. Make three such passes. At home, just lie under the covers and sweat.
- Fast traditional treatment method with heating. A 30-year-old man suffered from severe spinal pain and could not bend down or sit. The old people at the entrance gave him the following recipe: knead thin rye dough with yeast, let it rise and fall. Place gauze on your back, cover the gauze with a 5-6 mm layer of dough. Put a fistful of tow on the dough, light it and roll it on the dough with a fork, heating the spine evenly. That man had no rye flour or tow, so he heated the stove and sat with his back to the coals, warming his back with the utmost patience in the blazing heat. After two procedures, osteochondrosis of the spine 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 physical therapy, but nothing helped. Then, on the advice of a neighbor, they tried to treat the woman with folk remedies, namely honey massage. Before the procedure, he warmed his arms, shoulders and neck under running hot water for 10-15 minutes, then quickly dried himself and applied honey. He rubbed honey on his neck, collarbone, arms and shoulders. Then he did a honey massage: he pressed his palm and sharply tore it off the skin. I massaged until my palm was no longer sticking to the skin. Then she put compress paper, gauze and a warm scarf on these areas and went to bed. I washed off the honey in the morning. After two procedures, the pain is gone. Soon he managed to get rid of the pain completely.
- Traditional treatment method with cold water A woman managed to cure osteochondrosis of the spine with a cold bath: she filled the bathtub with tap water and lay down in it for 30 seconds. He performed this procedure once a day in the winter and twice a day in the summer.
- Turpentine in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman used a folk recipe she found in a newspaper. The dough should be kneaded from 70-100 g of yeast, 500 g of water and rye flour until it is not too thick. Keep it in a cool place for 7 days with constant kneading. Before going to bed, drink a glass of hot milk with 1 tsp. soda, then apply 1 teaspoon to the painful spine three times. turpentine, rub it into the skin. Spread the dough on gauze, spread on the spine, top with cellophane, gauze and a towel. Lie down for 40-60 minutes, then remove the compress. Repeat the treatment after 7 days. You can use the same dough for treatment. After such folk treatment, 25 years have passed, and that woman's spine still does not hurt.
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 the pain with a houseplant, the Indian onion. To do this, take a 10-15 cm long piece of leaf, cut it into very small pieces, and rub the painful places with this mass. It will burn, but it will soon go away along with the pain in the spine.
- Traditional treatment with parsley. The man suddenly had a severe pain in his spine. The reagent showed deposits of salts - in the picture they looked like transparent layers of needles between the vertebrae. The doctor prescribed him various medicines, but on the way to the pharmacy, the patient met a friend who advised him to treat the spine with folk remedies, namely parsley. The man ate parsley three times a day for a whole month, and the pain in his spine gradually disappeared. He is now 90 years old, but after the parsley treatment, his spine has never hurt.
- Home treatment of osteochondrosis with horseradish. Horseradish quickly removes salts from the spine. Before going to bed, dip fresh horseradish leaves in boiling water, cool slightly and press against the spine, then polyethylene and a scarf. Remove the compress in the morning, a white coating may remain on the skin - this is the release of salts. 10 such procedures must be performed. It is advisable to combine this folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis with cleaning the joints with rice.
- How to treat cervical osteochondrosis cinquefoil. The man had pain in the cervical spine, the pain did not go away day and night, and then he decided to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies. I made a tincture from the stems and roots of cinquefoil. I bought 1 tablespoon of tincture. l. three times a day. I did not notice any side effects and decided to add cinquefoil tea to the treatment. After one month of treatment, the heaviness and pain in the spine disappeared.Sabelnik tincture: Pour 200 g of cinquefoil root and 100 g of cinquefoil or elecampane root into a three-liter bottle, fill with vodka, leave in the dark for 21 days. Take 1 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. After 30 days of treatment - 10 days break. For complete success, all three liters of tincture must be drunk. Rub aching joints with an ointment made from the same rhizomes: 200 g cinquefoil, 50 g galangal, 50 g elecampane - dry rhizomes cut into small powder, heated with 1 kg of vegetable oil or lard.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman's knee joints hurt, the treatment lasted a year, but her condition only worsened. It got so bad that he could barely move. I suffered from pain in the hip joints and lower back, bedsores appeared. Diagnosis: osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis of the hip joints with 2nd degree bone growths. It was a terrible depression, I wanted to die. But a neighbor brought the "Healthy Lifestyle Bulletin", and the patient decided to fight for his health. I began to use various folk remedies: stretching on an inclined plank, burdock root tincture, rosehip decoction, rubbing bischofite and pine oil into the spine and joints. As a resulthe managed to get out of the wheelchair, now he walks 5 km every day and climbs to the fifth floor.
It is known that in order to get rid of osteochondrosis, it is important to continuously attend physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy classes and the reflexologist without interruption. Only with complex methods and regular therapy can the damage to the intervertebral cartilages be cured and the patient returned to a full, active life.
But how to combine the daily procedures that take several hours with the usual housework and work? To save time and money, treat osteochondrosis at home.
Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are based on the same principles that recommend medical methods. This improves blood circulation and trophism of the intervertebral cartilages, stimulates the outflow of stagnant blood, eliminates pinched nerves and blood vessels in the affected area, and enhances tissue regeneration.
To cure osteochondrosis, use the following traditional medicine recipes:
- Internal intake of decoctions and tinctures.
- Herbs for external use: rubbing, ointments, poultices and baths.
- Self-massage.
- Therapeutic exercises.
- Physiotherapy procedures at home.
It compresses
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies includes the mandatory use of warm compresses. It is applied to any part of the spine, helping to eliminate blood stagnation.
To make poultices, use radish juice, raw potatoes, celery root or birch leaves. Crush the ingredients to a paste, then mix with heated honey. When the product is applied 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 the beaten egg white and add two glasses of vodka. Since this product has a particularly irritating effect, it is recommended to apply any oil to the skin to avoid burns.
A poultice made with aloe, honey and vodka is softer. They can even be used for skin diseases.
Self-massage
The method of self-massage at home allows you to relieve muscle spasms, pain and normalize blood flow. It is especially effective in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
It uses the same techniques as a professional massage. First, the punches are performed from top to bottom. They can be performed simultaneously with both hands or alternately on both sides of the neck. Then they begin to rub to warm and soften the muscles of the cervical spine. It is performed with the flat or edge of the palm until a feeling of warmth appears.
Once you've warmed up the neck, knead it by gripping the skin with your fingers and letting go. It is convenient to perform such a pinch on both sides with the opposite hand. The aim of this technique is to eliminate trapped nerve roots, relieve pain and normalize neck movements.
The advantage of this folk remedy is that you can use it not only at home, but also at work when your neck muscles feel tired. The same techniques can be used for the lower back, only in a standing position.
For self-massage at home, it is convenient to use improvised tools, such as a rolling pin, in addition to your hands. It is usually used for the lumbar spine. At the same time, lying on their backs, they try to turn the rolling pin up and down and roll over it. Even better, there is a special infrared massager that simultaneously heats and kneads the tissues and relieves cramps.
Types of treatment of 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, arms, and darkening of the eyes. Blood pressure may rise.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Part of the thoracic spine is rarely affected. There are no acute pains. A person feels aching pain in the spine, a feeling of insects crawling on the chest, pain in the heart. But sometimes similar symptoms are observed in heart attack, angina, ulcers and gastritis. In osteochondrosis, the ECG values are normal, but in the case of 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 is in the back area, osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is one of the common forms of the disease. If you do not start treating the disease in time, a hernia may appear. Back pain (lower back) occurs more often in autumn and spring, especially at night. A person feels a shooting pain in his back, his legs hurt, and his limbs are numb. The pain usually radiates to the buttock, heel, below the knee and calf. If the sciatic nerve is pinched, the person tries not to lean towards the affected side. Lumbar osteochondrosis causes many problems for a person.
Injections for osteochondrosis.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- General reinforcement.
- Pain relievers.
- Blockades.
Cause
- injuries and congenital anomalies of the spine;
- genetic predisposition;
- metabolic disorders, obesity;
- infectious diseases;
- aging of the body;
- constant overloading of the spine due to sports or heavy physical work;
- exposure to chemicals;
- constant vibrations, such as truck drivers or drivers of agricultural machinery;
- goose feet;
- posture disorders.
Symptoms
Lumbar osteochondrosis:
- constant aching or acute pain in the lower back;
- pain increases with physical activity or movement;
- the pain may radiate to the sacrum, legs, pelvic organs;
- loss of feeling in the legs;
- The person is often unable to turn or bend over. You keep the same position in which you feel the least pain.
Neck region:
- headache that worsens with movement and does not go away after pain relief;
- dizziness when turning the head suddenly;
- pain in the arms, shoulders and chest;
- "floaters" and colored spots in front of the eyes;
- deterioration of vision and hearing, "ringing" in the ears;
- sometimes numbness of the tongue, voice change.
Chest:
- pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades, when raising the arm, when bending down;
- the pain is felt more strongly at night, during hypothermia, during turning or heavy physical activity;
- painful sensations intensify with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- numbness of certain areas of the skin, "goosebumps";
- itching, burning, cold feeling in the legs;
- attack of pain between the ribs when walking;
- feeling as if a hoop were pressing the chest.
Home treatment of osteochondrosis
Gymnastics and exercises for osteochondrosis
For exercise to be effective, it must be done daily.
- You should tilt your head forward, cross your fingers and cross your hands in the neck area. Stay 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, 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. You must hold for 15 seconds after each movement and head turn.
- You should raise and lower your shoulders alternately and together. With each change of body position, you should stay for 15-20 seconds. You should strongly raise your shoulders so that they reach almost to your ears. Rubbing the spine (warming up) is required at the beginning and end of the filling.