Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is part of complex therapy. It is performed if the patient does not have permanent polymorphic headaches, accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus and visual disturbances. Recurrent numbness and weakness in the arms, unstable blood pressure and heart rate are also considered contraindications to home treatment.
Osteochondrosis is caused by bony growths in the vertebral bodies with the formation of osteophytes and drying out of the intervertebral cartilage. Particularly dangerous is the formation of intervertebral hernias, which put pressure on nerves and blood vessels. In advanced cases of osteochondrosis, an acute violation of cerebral circulation is possible, which leads to serious consequences for the patient.
Medicines for osteochondrosis home treatment
When treating cervical osteochondrosis at home, doctors prescribe the following drugs, taken by mouth or injected into the muscles:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Diclofenac, Meloxicam;
- muscle relaxants - tolperisone hydrochloride;
- vitamin group - Thiamine hydrochloride;
- painkillers;
- antispasmodics - drotaverine hydrochloride.
Also, topical preparations applied to the affected area are a good help for the timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Thus, gels and creams containing NSAIDs, as well as ointments with a warming or cooling effect, are widely used.
Drugs 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 thoracic osteochondrosis is detected, home treatment is previously agreed with a cardiologist to rule out cardiac pathology.
At the stage of remission of osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors and calcium derivatives will help.
Alternative treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis with traditional methods involves the use of recipes that have been proven for centuries to relieve pain and restore mobility in 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 should be warmed 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 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 cause allergic reactions and exacerbation of the pathology of various organs. The course of therapy is at least 12 sessions. In the event of adverse reactions and poor tolerance, the duration of the procedure is reduced to 3 hours or the doctors look for another way to help the patient.
Other popular recipes of compresses for osteochondrosis:
- Burdock leaves.Pour boiling water and apply on the affected area. Wrap with a woolen cloth for 40 minutes.
- Raw potatoes and honey.Mix the grated root vegetable in equal proportions with honey, place 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 quantities, pour boiling water for half an hour. Secure the compress of the hot infusion 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 around. The compress can be 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 with the help of herbal medicine. Usually, infusions and decoctions are prepared for these purposes. Medicinal plants help improve microcirculation, strengthen the tendon-ligament system, stop the destruction of cartilage. They also relieve inflammation and normalize mineral metabolism in the body.
Effective methods of using herbal remedies for osteochondrosis:
- Pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water with 40 g of dried horsetail leaves for 1 hour. After filtering, drink 70 ml before meals for 3 weeks. One week later, the ongoing treatment for osteochondrosis can be resumed.
- Take 25 g of chamomile and mint flowers each, pour boiling water in a volume of 300 ml, store in a water bath for 15 minutes. Apply twice a day, 100 ml. The treatment lasts 3 weeks.
- Pour the 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 of lemon balm grass (15 grams), chopped orange peel (30 grams), pour hot water (0, 5 liters) for an hour. Then add a teaspoon of honey and 15 drops of tincture of valerian. 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. The applications have a distracting analgesic effect, relieve inflammation and improve local blood circulation.
Pepper plaster is used for pathology of any part of the spine, including osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the lumbar spine. The skin should be pretreated with solutions containing alcohol and dried. The application is applied with the capture of the entire affected area or small rounded pieces of a patch are stuck 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 reduces pain, improves cerebral blood flow and lymph flow to the head and neck area.
Dimethyl sulfoxide applications are often used. In order for the drug to have a positive effect, it should be used strictly according to the instructions: dissolve in warm boiled water in a ratio of 1: 3. The resulting amount of solution should be calculated for one procedure. To increase the effectiveness of treatment, you can add niacin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers.
A treatment session for osteochondrosis lasts at least half an hour, with good tolerance, the application can be left overnight. The course of treatment is at least 15 procedures.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, reflexology techniques are presented. At home, needle applicators with an author's mark are used for this.
These devices are used both in the exacerbation of osteochondrosis and in the process of its disappearance. They reduce pain in the spine, have a harmonizing effect on the body, improving the psycho-emotional state of the patient.
The duration of the procedure and the frequency of use of the product for osteochondrosis should be agreed with the doctor. The parameters depend on the age, the degree of destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Scrub for osteochondrosis treatment at home
With osteochondrosis, agents are often used to rub the affected part of the neck or back. The following alcoholic 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 for a few hours. Warm up 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 once or twice 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 in the most painful area.
- Mix the calendula leaves and flowers 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 should repeat the treatment in consultation with your doctor.
Baths for the treatment of osteochondrosis at home
When treating the back at home, water treatments are effective. Hot sea salt baths are popular.
Adding essential oils - lavender, valerian, bay leaf, 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 the sessions will be recommended by the doctor.
Exercise therapy
Physiotherapy will help get rid of osteochondrosis at home.
Exercise has the following effects:
- strengthen the back muscles, which increases the tolerance of the spine to sudden movements, lifting weights, physical overload;
- improvement of blood and lymphatic circulation in the paravertebral muscles and ligaments;
- restoration of cartilage and tendon tissue.
A suitable 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 cannot practice medical gymnastics in the following cases:
- pronounced pain syndrome with exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- recovery from pathology in the form of intervertebral hernia, compression of nerve endings and vessels of the spinal cord and surrounding muscles;
- verified instability of the vertebral bodies;
- infectious diseases with fever;
- varterial hypertension with arterial hypertension;
- oncological problems.
If you have a history of heart attack or stroke, you cannot exercise at home because you need constant medical supervision.
Basic recommendations for performing exercises for osteochondrosis:
- the duration of daily lessons does not exceed 30 minutes;
- the minimum course lasts 90 to 100 days;
- the lessons take place in a warm, ventilated and clean room;
- sudden movements and increased pain during gymnastics are excluded;
- the complex always begins with a warm-up, which prepares the muscles for the following loads;
- gentle increase in frequency and range of motion.
Diet
Often the development of osteochondrosis is provoked by a poor diet. A dietitian will help you regulate it at home.
Postulates of therapeutic nutrition for osteochondrosis:
- low in calories;
- emphasis on dairy and vegetable products;
- balance in the main food components, minerals, vitamins;
- products are eaten boiled or steamed;
- restriction of salt and sugar, spices;
- fragmentation of food intake into small portions;
- early dinner - 3-4 hours before bedtime;
- drink clean water at least 3 liters per day.
Permitted products include lean meat and fish, eggs, grains, herbs, vegetables, fruits, seafood and high quality mild cheese.
With osteochondrosis, you should limit the use of coffee, pastries, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, sweets, spicy, fatty and canned foods. Broths of fatty meat, smoked meats, sausages are prohibited.
You can not use questionable diets with the 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. Don't just rely 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 only obtained with persistent and long-term treatment.
When treating osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid physical overload, hypothermia and stress.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of osteochondrosis is an effective addition to drugs, physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy and diet. At home, it accelerates the onset of remission, restores the ability to work and normalizes the emotional tone of the patient.