Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage. Most often, this disease affects the intervertebral discs.
Depending on the localization zone, a distinction is made:
- cervical,
- Breast,
- lumbar osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more common because the neck joints are the most mobile.
80 percent of the world's population experiences back pain. It is believed that the main cause of the disease is walking upright. One person got this disease while standing on two limbs. The main problem is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine. In places of excessive physical activity, a change in the structure of the articular cartilage gradually occurs.
Before treating a disease, you need to know it better
This disease causes so-called salt deposition (deposition of calcium compounds). It occurs due to a curvature of the spine or a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, as well as impaired blood supply to the joints. The reasons for the development of this disease can be factors such as excess weight, injuries and bruises to the joints, heavy loads on the joints, as well as other diseases of the joints and a number of other factors.
A little theory
In further articles we will discuss the causes and signs of osteochondrosis; Here we also collect treatment methods that you can use 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 treatment method.
There are a variety of non-drug treatment methods, such as acupuncture, leech treatment, back exercises, massages, compresses, tinctures, diets, exercises.
Symptoms:
- Pain in the spine
- Pain, numbness, chilliness of the limbs
- possible dizziness and even loss of consciousness
It follows that the main means of combating osteochondrosis, as well as a measure to prevent it, is gymnastics. Exercise allows you to develop and strengthen your muscles evenly to avoid uneven stress on your joints.
The main remedy for osteochondrosis is physical education.
Immobility destroys the spine. Medicines only alleviate the symptoms of osteochondrosis and relieve pain. Only physical exercise can fully restore the joints and spine.Exercises that can be done for osteochondrosis:
- tilts,
- turns,
- twist,
- rocking on your back,
- Grasp your knees with your hands.
- Exercises for stretching the spine are of great importance: hanging on the bar, gymnastics from the arsenal of yoga,
- 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 area, you should avoid 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 recommendedwith cervical osteochondrosis.
Unlike drugs that quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, but do not improve the condition of the spine, gymnastics requires self-discipline and willpower, because exercises 2-3 times a month will not eliminate osteochondrosis.Exercises for osteochondrosis should be done every day.There is a wonderful complex from Academician Amosov - 1000 movements, which requires only 15 minutes a day, the wonderful achievements 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:
- Exercise 1.Nod your head up and down (20-40 times)
- Exercise 2.Head tilts left and right (20-60 times)
- Exercise 3.Turns 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 area and is a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
How we managed to cure osteochondrosis with physical exercises. The man fell ill at the age of 40, massages and rubs did not help him much and he decided to go to the hospital for treatment of his spine. There he received injections, massages and physical procedures, and then was sent 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 bent, one leg was 7 cm longer than the other, the muscles on this leg were completely atrophied, there was terrible pain. I was assigned a group 2 disability. A man in line said that the spine could be restored if two conditions were met:
- build a muscle corset around it,
- Stretch the 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 added loops to the top of the board to secure my arms under my arms. I also stretched polyethylene in the upper part, to which my bare back stuck while stretching. I hung in these loops as long as possible, stretching my spine. In excruciating pain, I did gymnastics, trained the muscles of my swollen leg with the help of an elastic bandage and did abdominal exercises. Soon he began moving around the apartment on crutches, then with a cane, then he gave up that too. But he continued with sports and gymnastics for another year. Soon his disability was removed. Now he lives a full life.
Here are some simple exercises that are useful for osteochondrosis.
- Exercise #1.Stand with your back to the wall and 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. Add 5 seconds every day. The goal is 5 minutes.
- Exercise #2.Lie on your back and stretch your legs. Pull one sock away from you, the other toward you, using both socks, then spread the socks apart and bring them together.
- Exercise #3.Lie on your back, arms at your sides or behind your head, bend your knees. Bend your knees to the right, head to the left, fix this position for 30 seconds, then knees to the left, head to the right.
- Exercise #4.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Release your pelvis and lift it, resting it on your feet and shoulder blades.
- Exercise number 5.While lying on your side, swing your straight leg forward and back.
- Exercise number 6.Get on all fours. Bend and arch your back
- Exercise number 7.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Pull your right knee toward your left elbow, your left knee toward your right elbow.
With osteochondrosis, all kinds of hanging exercises, stretching exercises lying on the stomach and back with the limbs and head raised off the floor are very helpful.
How to relieve pain from osteochondrosis at home.
- This remedy relieves pain in the spine for several months. Treatment of osteochondrosis is designed for 12 days. Before treatment, two mixtures should be prepared:Recipe 1:50 g camphor alcohol, 50 g vodka, 50 g dry mustard and 3 egg whites – beat and leave to rest overnight.Recipe 2:Mix 50 g aloe juice, 100 g honey, 150 g vodka. Make compresses from mixture No. 1 (or simply lubricate the spine) twice a day for three days. Then make compresses from mixture No. 2 for three days. Then again use mixture No. 1 for three days and mixture No. 2 for three days. After such treatment, osteochondrosis subsides for a long time.
- Here is a recipe that relieves the 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 foil and warm cloth, keep compress for 1 hour.
- Rub for osteochondrosis and joint pain. The woman fell ill at the age of 35. A friend suggested a way to overcome the disease using folk remedies. You need 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 with a flannel cloth and secure with a warm scarf overnight. 7 procedures were enough for the woman to forever forget about the pain in her spine, although 25 years had already passed. Oda gave this recipe to a friend who was having joint pain. This folk remedy also helped her.
- 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 analgin tablets - mix and pour. Rub on sore spots. Within two days, all pain in the spine was goneof the woman disappeared. Another woman who used this recipe in 4 procedures cured osteochondrosis, which she could not cure with any other means.
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 your back on the bottle and roll it on the floor. 10-15 minutes a day is enough for osteochondrosis to disappear forever. However, to prevent recurrence of the disease, this exercise must be continued.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with a salt compress. The man had pain in his shoulders and spine. Ointments and rubs didn't help. In five procedures, a simple folk remedy helped cure osteochondrosis. You need to mix 1 kg of salt, preferably coarsely ground, with 3 tbsp. l. Add dry mustard, 100 g of water, mix and heat this paste to 50 degrees, stirring constantly. Apply the mixture to the painful area, cover it with oilcloth or polyethylene and put a warm scarf on top. Lie 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 this man and the pain in his spine disappeared.
- Home treatment with bath and honey. The woman had cervical osteochondrosis and lost her arms. She was recommended a treatment that helped her within a month - she was supposed to visit the bathhouse 1-2 times a week and in the steam room, grease her neck and hands with honey and sit in the steam room for 5-10 minutes. Then go to the locker room, wrap yourself in a warm sheet and drink tea while sweating. Make three such passes. Just lie under the covers at home and sweat.
- A quick traditional treatment method using heating. A 30-year-old man suffered from severe spinal pain and was unable to bend or sit. The old men at the entrance gave him the following recipe: Knead a thin rye dough with yeast, let it rise and let it fall. Place gauze on your back and cover the gauze with a 5-6 mm thick layer of dough. Place a fist-sized piece of tow on the dough, light it, and use a fork to roll it over the dough, heating the spine evenly. This man had neither rye flour nor rye, so he heated the oven, sat with his back to the glowing coals, and warmed his back with the utmost patience. 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, the woman tried to be treated with folk remedies, namely honey massage. Before the procedure, she warmed her arm, shoulder and neck under hot running water for 10-15 minutes, then quickly dried herself and applied honey. She rubbed honey on her neck, collarbone, arm and shoulder. Then she did a honey massage: she squeezed her palm and vigorously tore it off the skin. I massaged until my palm no longer stuck to the skin. Then she put compress paper, gauze and a warm scarf on these areas and 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 using cold baths: she filled the bathtub with tap water and lay in it for 30 seconds. She performed this procedure once a day in winter and twice a day in summer.
- Turpentine in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman used a folk recipe found in a newspaper. You need to knead the dough from 70-100 g of yeast, 500 g of water and rye flour, not very thick. Keep it in a cool place for 7 days, kneading it constantly. Before going to bed, drink a glass of hot milk with 1 tsp. Soda, then apply 1 tsp three times to the painful spine. turpentine and rub it into the skin. Spread the dough on gauze, apply to the back, put cellophane, gauze and a towel on top. Lie down for 40-60 minutes and 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 this 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 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 go away along with the pain in the spine.
- Traditional treatment with parsley. The man suddenly experienced severe pain in his spine. The reagent showed the deposition of salts - in the picture they looked like layers of transparent needles between the vertebrae. The doctor prescribed various medications, 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. Now he is already 90 years old, but after this parsley treatment his spine never hurt again.
- 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 coating may remain on the skin - this is the release of salts. 10 such procedures must be carried out. 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 began to have pain in the cervical spine, the pain did not go away around the clock, then he decided to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies. I made a tincture from the stems and roots of cinquefoil. I took 1 tbsp of tincture. l. three times a day. I didn't notice any side effects and decided to supplement the treatment with cinquefoil tea. After a month of this treatment, the feeling of heaviness and pain in the spine disappeared.Sabelnik tincture: Put 200 g of cinquefoil roots and 100 g of cinquefoil or elecampane roots in a three-liter jar, 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, you need to drink all three liters of tincture. Rub sore joints with an ointment made from the same rhizomes: 200 g cinquefoil, 50 g galangal, 50 g elecampane - finely chop dry rhizomes, pulverize, heat together with 1 kg of vegetable oil or lard.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman had pain in the knee joints, the treatment lasted a year, but the condition only worsened. It got so bad that she could barely move. I suffered from pain in the hip joints and lower back and developed bedsores. Diagnosis: osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis of the hip joints with bone growth of the 2nd degree. There was a terrible depression, I wanted to die. But a neighbor brought the "Bulletin for a Healthy Lifestyle" 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 into the spineand the joints. As a result, she managed to get up from the wheelchair, now she walks 5 km every day and climbs to the fifth floor.
It is known that to eliminate osteochondrosis it is important to constantly and without interruption attend physiotherapy, massage, physiotherapy courses and a reflexologist. Only complex methods and regular therapy can heal damage to the intervertebral cartilage and lead the patient back to a fulfilling, active life.
But how can everyday life, which can last several hours, be combined with regular housework and work? To save time and money, osteochondrosis is treated at home.
Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are based on the same principles that suggest medical methods. This improves blood circulation and trophism in the intervertebral cartilage, stimulates the outflow of stagnant blood, eliminates pinched nerves and blood vessels in the affected area, and promotes 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.
Compressed
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies requires the mandatory use of warm compresses. They are applied to any part of the spine and help eliminate blood congestion.
To prepare compresses, use radish juice, raw potatoes, celery root or birch leaves. The ingredients are crushed to a pulpy state and then mixed with heated honey. When applying the product to the affected part of the spine, it is covered with cellophane and wrapped in wool to retain heat.
Mustard-based recipes for osteochondrosis are also used as compresses. To do this, mix it with whipped egg whites and add two glasses of vodka. Since this product is highly irritating, it is recommended to lubricate the skin with oil before use to avoid burns.
Compresses with aloe, honey and vodka are 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 circulation. It is particularly effective for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The same techniques are used as for a professional massage. First, strokes are made from top to bottom. They can be performed simultaneously with both hands or alternately for each side of the neck. Then they begin rubbing to warm and loosen the muscles of the cervical spine. They are performed with the flat of the palm or the edge of the palm until a feeling of warmth appears.
After warming the neck, knead it by grasping the skin with your fingers and releasing it. It is convenient to perform such pinching for each side with the other hand. The purpose of this technique is to eliminate pinched nerve roots, relieve pain and normalize neck movements.
The advantage of this folk remedy is the ability to use it not only at home, but also at work if you feel tired neck muscles. The same techniques can be used for the lower back, but while standing.
For self-massage at home, it is convenient to use, in addition to your hands, improvised means such as a rolling pin. 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 it over 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 activities (driving a car, using a computer) lead 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 increase.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Rarely, part of the thoracic spine is affected. There is no acute pain. A person feels aching pain in the spine, the feeling that insects are crawling on the chest, pain in the heart. But sometimes similar symptoms can be observed with heart attack, angina, ulcers and gastritis. With osteochondrosis, the ECG values are normal, but with an impending heart attack they are different. This is the difference between diseases, even if they have similar symptoms.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region
Since the greatest and most fundamental stress lies in the back area, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is one of the most common forms of the disease. If you do not start treating the disease on time, a hernia may occur. Back (lower back) pain is more common in fall and spring, mostly at night. A person feels stabbing pain in the back, pain in the legs and numbness in the limbs. The pain usually radiates to the buttocks, heels, under the knees and calves. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, the person tries not to lean toward the affected side. Lumbar osteochondrosis causes many problems for humans.
Injections for osteochondrosis.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- General strengthening.
- Painkiller.
- Blockages.
causes
- Injuries and congenital defects of the spine;
- 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 agricultural machinery drivers;
- Flat feet;
- Postural disorders.
Symptoms
Lumbar osteochondrosis:
- constant pain or acute pain in the lower back;
- Pain increases with physical activity or exercise;
- Pain can radiate to the sacrum, legs and pelvic organs;
- loss of feeling in legs;
- Often a person cannot turn or bend over. He maintains the position in which he feels the least pain.
Neck area:
- Headache that worsens with exercise and does not go away after painkillers;
- Dizziness when suddenly turning the head;
- pain in arms, shoulders and chest;
- "Swimmers" and colored spots in front of the eyes;
- Deterioration of vision and hearing, "ringing" in the ears;
- occasionally numbness of the tongue, change in voice.
Breast:
- Pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades, when lifting the arm, when bending over;
- the pain is felt more strongly at night, during hypothermia, when turning or during heavy physical activity;
- painful sensations increase with deep inhalation and exhalation;
- Numbness of certain areas of the skin, "goosebumps";
- Itching, burning, feeling of cold in the legs;
- Attack of pain between ribs when walking;
- Sensation as if chest were being compressed by a tire.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home
Gymnastics and exercises for osteochondrosis
In order for the effect of gymnastics to be effective, it must be done daily.
- You should tilt your head forward, cross your fingers and press your clasped hands on 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.
Massaging the earlobes, neck and shoulders is very effective.
- When sitting, you should tilt your head back and stretch your back. You need to press your chin with your hand and gradually turn your head left and right. After each movement and rotation of your head, you should hold for 15 seconds.
- You need to raise and lower your shoulders alternately and together. Each time you change your posture, you need to stay for 15 to 20 seconds. You need to raise your shoulders sharply so that they almost reach your ears. Spinal rubbing (warm-up) is required at the beginning and end of loading.