Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is part of complex therapy. It is carried out if the patient does not have permanent polymorphic headaches, accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, and visual disturbances. Recurrent numbness and weakness in the arms, instability of blood pressure and heart rate are also considered contraindications for home therapy.
Osteochondrosis is caused by bony growths of the vertebral bodies with the formation of osteophytes and drying out of the intervertebral cartilage. Particularly dangerous is the formation of intervertebral hernias, pressing on the nerves and blood vessels. In advanced cases of osteochondrosis, an acute violation of cerebral circulation is possible, which is fraught with serious consequences for the patient.
Medicines for home treatment of osteochondrosis
When treating cervical osteochondrosis at home, doctors prescribe the following medications, taken by mouth or injected into the muscles:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Diclofenac, Meloxicam;
- muscle relaxants - Tolperisone hydrochloride;
- group vitamins - Thiamine hydrochloride;
- pain relievers;
- antispasmodics - Drotaverine hydrochloride.
In addition, topical preparations applied to the affected area are a good help for the rapid treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. So, gels and creams containing NSAIDs, as well as ointments with a warming or cooling effect, are widely used.
Medicines are indicated for exacerbations of osteochondrosis, including with the appearance of persistent pain in the cervical spine, numbness and cramps in the hands. The same drugs are used in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis at home.
When chest osteochondrosis is detected, treatment at home is preliminarily agreed with a cardiologist to exclude cardiac pathology.
At the stage of remission of osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors and calcium derivatives will help.
Alternative treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk methods involves the use of recipes that have been proven for centuries to relieve pain and restore the mobility of various parts of the spine.
Compresses for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
Compresses with bischofite, which is a natural combination of potassium, magnesium, calcium and other trace elements, help relieve pain in cervical osteochondrosis. Previously, the agent must be warmed up to body temperature and rubbed into the painful area with light circular movements.
After that, apply a bandage soaked in a healing solution to the spine affected by osteochondrosis, cover it with cellophane on top and insulate it with a woolen cloth. It is optimal to do the procedures before going to bed, after the treatment, thoroughly rinse off the remnants of the product with warm water.
Treatment with such a folk remedy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be carried out every other day, since it can provoke allergic reactions and exacerbation of the pathology of various organs. The course of therapy is at least 12 sessions. In case of undesirable reactions and poor tolerance, the procedure time is reduced to 3 hours or doctors are looking for another way to help the patient.
Other popular recipes for compresses for osteochondrosis:
- Burdock leaves.Pour boiling water over and apply to the affected area. Wrap with woolen cloth for 40 minutes.
- Raw potatoes and honey.Mix the grated root vegetable in equal proportions with honey, put it on the diseased spine, insulating it with polyethylene and wool. The duration of the procedure for osteochondrosis is about 2 hours.
- Dandelion, St. John's wort and burdock.Take the leaves of plants in equal amounts, pour boiling water for half an hour. Fix the warm infusion compress with a bandage for 3 hours.
- Aloe.Mix the crushed leaves of a medicinal plant with honey and vodka, the amount of which should be 2 times the weight of aloe. Insist for a week. Apply to the painful part of the spine, wrap. The compress is kept for 3 hours or overnight with good tolerance.
Infusions and decoctions for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
At home, chondrosis can be treated using herbal medicine. Usually, infusions and decoctions are prepared for these purposes. Healing plants help to enhance microcirculation, strengthen the tendon-ligamentous apparatus, stop the destruction of cartilage. They also relieve inflammation and normalize the metabolism of minerals in the body.
Effective methods of using medicinal plants for osteochondrosis:
- Pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water with 40 g of dried horsetail leaves for 1 hour. After straining, drink 70 ml before meals for 3 weeks. A week later, the course treatment of osteochondrosis can be resumed.
- Take 25 g of chamomile and mint flowers each, pour boiling water in a volume of 300 ml, keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. Apply 2 times a day, 100 ml. The treatment lasts 3 weeks.
- Pour finely chopped parsley root (100 g) with a liter of water. Keep on low heat for about an hour. With osteochondrosis, drink a tablespoon 2 times a day for a month.
- A mixture using lemon balm herb (15 grams), chopped orange peel (30 grams), pour hot water (0. 5 liters) for one hour. Then add a teaspoon of honey and 15 drops of valerian tincture. Drink 1 glass twice a day for at least a month.
Applications for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
This method of treatment with folk remedies is often used for chest osteochondrosis. Applications have a distracting, analgesic effect, relieve inflammation, and improve local blood circulation.
Pepper plaster is used for pathology of any part of the spinal column, including for osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the lumbar spine. The skin must be pretreated with alcohol-containing solutions and dried. The application is applied with the capture of the entire affected area or small rounded pieces of a patch are glued to the most painful points near the vertebrae. The patch is replaced after 48 hours.
Mustard plasters give the same effect in cervical osteochondrosis. At home, a simple procedure helps to reduce pain, improve cerebral blood flow and lymph circulation in the head and neck area.
Dimethyl sulfoxide applications are often used. In order for the drug to have a positive effect, it must be used strictly according to the instructions: dissolve in warm boiled water in a ratio of 1: 3. The amount of the solution obtained should be calculated for only one procedure. To increase the effectiveness of treatment, you can add nicotinic acid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics.
A treatment session for osteochondrosis lasts at least half an hour, with good tolerance, the application can be left overnight. The duration of therapy is at least 15 procedures.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, reflexology techniques are shown. At home, needle applicators with an author's brand are used for this.
These devices are used both in exacerbation of osteochondrosis and in the process of dying out. They reduce pain in the spine, have a harmonizing effect on the body, improving the psychoemotional state of the patient.
The duration of the procedure and the frequency of using the product for osteochondrosis should be agreed with the doctor. The parameters depend on the age, the degree of destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Rubbing for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
With osteochondrosis, agents are often used to rub the affected part of the neck or back. The following alcohol solutions, ointments have a good effect at home:
- Take 25 g of pork fat, melt and mix with the same volume of chopped hop cones. Leave it on for a few hours. Warm slightly, rub gently into the painful area, preferably at bedtime.
- Mix chopped bay leaves with chopped pine or fir needles in a ratio of 1: 5. Add butter to obtain the consistency of an ointment. Place in a cold place for a week. Use 1-2 times a day, excluding the possibility of hypothermia.
- Pour the ground horseradish root with vodka in equal proportions. The tincture can be applied after 5 days, rubbing into the most painful area.
- Mix the leaves and flowers of calendula with an equal amount of vodka and camphor alcohol. Leave in a dark place for 10 days. Shake well before use.
Folk remedies for chondrosis reduce muscle spasms and pain, normalize blood circulation, and relieve inflammation. To achieve stable positive results, you need to repeat the course of treatment in consultation with your doctor.
Baths for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
When treating the back at home, water treatments are effective. Warm sea salt baths are popular.
The addition of essential oils - lavender, valerian, laurel, pine - has a positive effect. Baths relax muscles, relieve pain and calm the person.
The duration of the procedure for osteochondrosis is half an hour, you need to take baths within a month. The frequency of sessions will be recommended by the doctor.
Exercise therapy
Physical therapy will help to get rid of osteochondrosis at home.
Exercise has the following effects:
- strengthening the muscles of the back, which increases the tolerance of the spine to sudden movements, lifting weights, physical overload;
- improvement of blood and lymph circulation in the paravertebral muscles and ligaments;
- restoration of cartilage and tendon tissue.
An adequate complex is selected by the doctor depending on the spine affected by osteochondrosis and the general condition of the patient. Exercise therapy is prescribed at any stage of osteochondrosis. It is strictly forbidden to select exercises on your own.
You can not engage in medical gymnastics in the following cases:
- pronounced pain syndrome with exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- recovery of pathology in the form of an intervertebral hernia, compressing the nerve endings and vessels of the spinal cord and surrounding muscles;
- verified instability of the vertebral bodies;
- infectious diseases with fever;
- varterial hypertension with high blood pressure;
- oncological problems.
If you have a history of heart attack or stroke, you can not do physical exercise at home, since you need constant medical supervision.
Basic recommendations for performing exercises for osteochondrosis:
- the duration of daily classes is no more than 30 minutes;
- the minimum course lasts 90-100 days;
- classes are held in a warm, ventilated and clean room;
- sharp movements and increased pain during gymnastics are excluded;
- the complex always begins with a warm-up, which prepares the muscles for subsequent loads;
- smooth increase in frequency and range of motion.
Diet
Often, the development of osteochondrosis is provoked by improper diet. A dietitian will help you regulate it at home.
Postulates of therapeutic nutrition for osteochondrosis:
- low calorie content;
- emphasis on dairy and plant foods;
- balance in the main food components, minerals, vitamins;
- products are eaten boiled or steamed;
- restriction of salt and sugar, spices;
- fragmentation of food intake in small portions;
- early dinner - 3-4 hours before bedtime;
- drinking clean water at least 3 liters per day.
Permitted products include lean meat and fish, eggs, cereals, herbs, vegetables, fruits, seafood, high-quality mild cheese.
With osteochondrosis, you should limit the use of coffee, pastries, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, sweets, spicy, fatty and canned foods. Fatty meat broths, smoked meats, sausages are prohibited.
You can not use dubious diets with a predominance of one or more products - meat, apples, kefir, rice. Fasting with osteochondrosis is contraindicated.
How not to be treated
Traditional recipes in the treatment of osteochondrosis are only part of the treatment strategy. Do not rely only on the advice of healers and healers. The choice of folk remedies used at home should be agreed with the doctor after diagnosis. Self-medication is dangerous and can be harmful.
At home, only proven and safe recipes should be used. The patient should be aware that a positive result is achieved only with persistent and long-term treatment.
During the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid physical overload, hypothermia and stress.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of osteochondrosis is an effective addition to medicines, physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy and diet. At home, it accelerates the onset of remission, restores working capacity and normalizes the patient's emotional tone.