Hello dear readers. Spinal diseases are one of the most pressing medical problems facing humanity today. More and more young people are complaining of pain in various parts of the spine, although not so long ago this pathology mainly worried the older generation. That is why effective treatment of osteochondrosis is so actively discussed everywhere. How to get rid of back pain is the topic of this article. Due to the effects of gravity, such as a penalty for walking upright, as well as other factors, spinal structures wear out prematurely.
What is osteochondrosis
Insufficient nutrition of cartilaginous tissue leads to weakening of the cartilage. The intervertebral layers lose the ability to withstand excessive load. The vertebrae press against each other, literally crushing the intervertebral cartilaginous pads. This is how osteochondrosis develops.
At first, cartilaginous tissue suffers, and later the vertebrae themselves are involved in the pathological process. The disease is chronic and accompanied by 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 pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, head, dizziness, mild visual abnormalities and sound effects.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Back pain is reflected in the chest, sometimes very similar to heart pain.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
The pain is concentrated in the pelvis, peritoneum, lower back and radiates to the lower extremities.
Simultaneous damage can occur in different vertebral sections.
As the disease progresses, there are 4 main stages of the disease. An unpleasant feature of the pathology is the low probability of its initial detection. This is due to the asymptomatic nature of the initial stage of osteochondrosis development.
Chondrotic changes will only be noticeable on radiography, that is, they can only be detected by chance. Since there are no prerequisites for intentionally carrying out an X-ray examination.
Stages of chondrotic changes in the spine
- Cartilage dystrophy, initial tissue degeneration.
- Individual foci of inflammation in the cartilage and microcracks are visible. There is discomfort and stiffness in the movements of the spine. Sometimes the cartilage is compressed outward, forming protrusions - bumps.
- Cartilage is replaced by bone formations. Mobility in the affected area is increasingly limited. The nerve roots and blood vessels are compressed, which causes the development of chronic pain in the back and surrounding areas. Dislocations and hernias may occur.
- The disease affects bone tissue, cartilage is almost completely destroyed. The inflammation is extensive, complications arise. Certain areas of the spine completely lose mobility.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The causes of pathological changes in the cartilaginous structures of the spine have not yet been fully studied by medicine. 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 sedentary position. Patients with excess body weight and metabolic disorders are also at risk of becoming ill.
Spinal health among hard workers and professional athletes is also at risk.
Factors provoking the formation of pathological changes include
- prolonged lack of fluid in the body;
- inadequate diet causing lack of minerals;
- hormonal changes;
- emotional outbursts, stress;
- injuries, overload;
- remain in static positions that are not anatomically correct;
- foci of infectious lesions on the body;
- flat feet of any severity;
- congenital predisposition;
- muscle weakness;
- pregnancy;
- aging of the body, natural wear and tear of tissues;
- harmful addictions;
- use of medications, poisonings of various etiologies;
- overweight, obesity;
- sleeping on a very soft mattress and a high pillow.
Treatment methods
Therapy consists of an active phase and a rehabilitation process. Even if there are no lasting results for a long time, you cannot give up. Recovery is very slow.
All of this requires patience, willpower and a high level of self-discipline. Success can only be guaranteed if there is an insatiable desire for recovery and a set of therapeutic and preventive measures.
It is highly undesirable to limit yourself to self-medication. You need to clearly understand that taking painkillers alone without changing your lifestyle will not bring any results other than temporary relief.
The disease will continue to develop actively. In addition, dependence on anesthetics and analgesics is formed.
Combined therapy provides not only pain relief, but also combats degenerative changes, restores mobility, relieves inflammation, prevents complications and attempts to regenerate damaged structures.
Therefore they connect:
- medication and, if necessary, surgical intervention;
- therapeutic and preventive gymnastics;
- physical procedures;
- various types of manual therapy, including traditional massage, reflexology;
- clamp removal, spinal traction.
All of this is prescribed and monitored by the doctor. The patient can use unconventional methods, but in agreement with the doctor. The patient must also report all successes and the occurrence of adverse reactions. This will allow timely adjustments to be made to the treatment regimen.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
In a familiar home environment, effective treatment of osteochondrosis is quite possible. Your doctor will tell you how to get rid of back pain, not just with the help of anesthesia. The patient will need to follow your instructions and perhaps slightly modify the standard approach to spinal treatment.
We are mainly talking about regulating the load when performing a series of exercises and stretching the vertebral structures. In this case, you need to focus on personal resistance and sensitivity.
Medicines - medicines for osteochondrosis
It should be immediately emphasized that osteochondrosis cannot be overcome with medication alone. But they are an important and even necessary part of the healing process. Pharmacological medications are used, as a rule, during an exacerbation of the disease to alleviate symptoms and relieve inflammation. As for the restoration of cartilaginous tissue, dietary supplements are used here, albeit with varying degrees of success.
The medicinal effects are aimed at:
- relief of pain in different parts of the body;
- containment of inflammation and cessation of this pathological process;
- increased blood circulation;
- improving metabolism;
- increased nutrition of damaged tissues;
- return of mobility to the spine;
- restoration of cartilage layers;
- prevent the development of depression due to health problems.
To solve the problems, several groups of medicines are used. If the effectiveness of one of them is low, more effective medications are administered with caution, as they have a greater number of possible adverse reactions.
- Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). A group of multifunctional non-steroidal medicines. Relieves inflammation, relieves pain, reduces fever. For osteochondrosis, creams, ointments and analgesic tablets are most often used.
- Antispasmodics, combined analgesics, local anesthetics. Helps get rid of muscle pain and headaches.
- Medicines that dilate blood vessels. Helps get rid of headaches and numbness.
- Muscle relaxants. They relieve stiffness and spasms, which allows you to eliminate the resulting muscle pain and swelling.
- Vitamin preparations (vit. B, A, E, C, multivitamins), mineral supplements. They provide the body with the necessary compounds for cartilage tissue.
- Sedative medicines: valerian tincture, motherwort. Help relieve stress from constant pain and normalize sleep.
- Hormonal medicines based on substances methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone. They are strong anti-inflammatories.
- Chondroprotective agents. Restore cartilage.
Physical exercise
Spinal injuries have their limitations when performing special exercises. Therefore, it is recommended to teach classes under the supervision of an instructor.
Therapeutic exercises help eliminate pain, restore spinal mobility, and release compressed nerves and blood vessels. The exercises aim to develop the affected areas, strengthening and stretching the muscles.
The set of gymnastics techniques is more or less standardized. But the duration, intensity and number of repetitions are determined individually.
With osteochondrosis, the probability of injury is high, therefore all actions are performed with caution. If discomfort or pain occurs, gymnastics should be suspended until the sensation disappears. After the action resumes.
It may be necessary to reduce the load or replace this exercise with a similar but more suitable exercise.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Traditional medicine has in its arsenal many simple, effective and safe recipes against osteochondrosis. They are used in the form of teas, tinctures, lotions, compresses, rubs, applications, ointments.
Herbal medicines help support the body, strengthen it, normalize its functioning and relieve unpleasant symptoms. These remedies can be purchased at any pharmacy or herbalist at an affordable price.
Effective compresses
The use of compresses will help eliminate attacks of pain, swelling and inflammation of cartilaginous tissue. For this purpose, irritating agents and heaters are used.
- Horseradish with apples. Horseradish root and a small apple are grated on a fine grater. The puree is mixed in equal parts and applied to the diseased area. Cover the top with film and apply a warm bandage overnight. Treatment is continued until the pain is eliminated.
- For the same purpose, compresses from other products can be used: grated radish, onion pulp, burdock leaves, cabbage. To enhance the anti-inflammatory effect, honey can be added.
- Vodka, mustard powder, camphorated alcohol - 50 g each, mix with three beaten egg whites. The mixture is infused for about 10 hours and used as a compress for 3 days in a row, morning and evening. Then move on to the next recipe.
- 50 g of aloe vera leaf extract is mixed with 150 g of vodka and 100 g of honey. Compresses are also used twice a day for three days. Then go back to the previous recipe. These two remedies are used alternately, for 3 days each, 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 provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic, strengthening and calming effects.
pine cones
Decoction: wash 4 green cones, chop them, add half a liter of water, boil 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, shaking the container daily. Drink a teaspoon after meals.
Birch buds and blueberry leaves
1 teaspoon each, brew a glass of boiling water. Drink a little throughout the day.
Herbs
Teas from plants such as horsetail, mint, St. John's wort, motherwort, calendula, linden, milk thistle, chamomile, plantain, thyme, cinquefoil, sage and immortelle are also useful. They are used in various combinations or separately.
Honey applications
For osteochondrosis, applications and lotions based on aloe juice and honey help. They are used individually or as a mixture.
A piece of gauze must be moistened in the product and applied to the sore spot under a warm bandage for at least 40 minutes. You can also simply lubricate the desired areas with them several times a day.
Friction
Rubbing the medicinal composition accelerates the blood, ensures deep penetration of the product into the body, warms it, stimulates active centers, relieves tension and eliminates numbness.
Suitable for rubbing with osteochondrosis:
- bear/badger fat;
- turpentine;
- alcoholic herbal tinctures;
- decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants;
- fir oil;
- special compounds.
Rubbing for severe pain: crush a pack of analgin (10 pcs. ), mix with a glass of alcohol, a small vial of iodine, 10 ml of camphorated alcohol. Rub your back only on painful areas. May cause a burning sensation.
Therapeutic baths for osteochondrosis
Similar procedures are performed during the remission phase. Warm water is used with the addition of decoctions of herbs and essential oils. It must be used before bed.
Baths help to relax, calm, relieve swelling and tension, eliminate numbness, pain and heaviness in muscles. Here, decoctions are used in higher concentrations than when taken orally. But the same plants will do.