How to treat osteochondrosis at home

11 January 2021

Walking upright freed a person's hands to perform work operations - this is a definite advantage. At the same time, the load on the spine increased, which leads to the development of serious diseases, which is a colossal disadvantage. Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. It affects 60% of the world's inhabitants aged 35 and over. Surgical intervention is one of the methods of treatment, but an alternative is possible in the early stages of the development of the disease. You can treat osteochondrosis at home. The range of effective therapeutic measures is wide and affordable.

What is osteochondrosis

The dysfunction and destruction of intervertebral discs, vertebral tissues is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, called osteochondrosis. Osteocytes are bone cells and chondrocytes are cartilage cells. Based on these names, the origin of the term "osteochondrosis" is clear. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine negatively affect the general condition of the body.

As the disease progresses, muscles atrophy, conduction of nerve impulses is disrupted, physiological systems and individual internal organs malfunction. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of pain in the back and neck. Depending on the location of the site of the lesion, osteochondrosis is:

Main symptoms: pain in shoulders, arms, neck; dizziness, tinnitus, spots in front of the eyes.
Characterized by dull ache or lumbago in the chest area.
There is pain in the hip joints, lower back, sacrum. The functionality of the lower limbs is limited.
It develops in several parts of the spine at the same time. It is accompanied by severe pain.

Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible with timely diagnosis of the disease. It goes through 4 degrees (or stages):

The pathological process begins with the dehydration of the central part of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus). As a result, the structure sags, cracks appear in the outer part of the disc (annulus fibrosus). This step is almost invisible to the patient. Mild discomfort is manifested by an uncomfortable posture or during active physical activity.
The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to sagging intervertebral disc. Ligaments and muscles sag. The vertebrae acquire additional mobility. For this reason, they are moved. This condition is called spondylolisthesis. With a strong load, the patient feels discomfort, sometimes pain in the localization of the pathology.
The formation of prolapse (hernias), protrusions (uneven protrusions) of discs, subluxations and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints are the main pathological changes in the third stage of the disease. The patient's movements are constrained, numbness, tingling in the limbs occurs. Pains are present, their localization depends on the location of the focus of the disease.
To eliminate excessive mobility of the vertebrae, the body forms neoplasms of bone tissue (osteophytes) in the spine. Their formation occurs chaotically, depending on the location, they can injure the nerve endings of the spinal cord, adjacent vertebrae. The processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebral-motor segment looks like "walled". Signs of osteochondrosis at this stage are practically not felt.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home. How to provide first aid at home?

Home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis includes:

drugs

;
;
;
medical gymnastics;
regime.

It is in combination that the methods of therapy can achieve good results in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. The symptoms can be very uncomfortable, so you need to know how to give first aid.

Drugs

Various drugs are used to combat the symptoms of the disease. They should be prescribed by a doctor who specializes in the treatment of osteochondrosis - a neuropathologist or a vertebrologist.

Drugs

For severe pain, you can take a pain reliever, such as metamizole sodium. If they don't work, NSAIDs can be taken.
Sometimes "distractions" are used, like a pepper patch. By itself, it does not heal, but warms the inflamed area and relieves pain.
Herbal infusions and diuretics are useful for edema in the area of inflammation.

The following groups of drugs are prescribed for the treatment of SHS:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nimesulide, ketoprofen, meloxicam, diclofenac and others). Helps relieve pain, swelling and inflammation of the affected nerve root.
Group B vitamins. They help improve metabolic processes in nervous tissue.
Chondroprotectors. Promotes the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Muscle relaxants (tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride). Helps reduce muscle spasms.
Medicines intended to improve the rheological properties of the blood circulation and blood. They help improve the process of blood flow to the brain and the nutrition of the affected nerve endings.

Intramuscular injections may also be indicated.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine at home. Overview of home treatments

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, if neglected, leads to disability. Signs of pathology:

pain in the affected area (neck, chest) with slight effort, sharp movements;
headache;
dizziness;
shortness of breath and shortness of breath;
fatigue.

If alarming symptoms appear, you need to see a doctor for a further diagnosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will determine the stage and prescribe treatment.

Treatment of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis includes conservative technique and surgery. At home, you can manage treatment in the first and second stages of development. With the deterioration of the condition, the even greater displacement of the vertebrae, their fusion, the defect is eliminated during the operation.

Treatment of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis at home is carried out with the help of pharmaceutical preparations, a complex of light physical exercises, a popular rubbing recipe, compresses. Doctors recommend visiting the pool, the masseur, physiotherapy rooms. The actions are aimed at relieving the symptoms:

muscle relaxation;
stimulation of the cartilaginous layers for regeneration;
return the displaced vertebrae to their original position;
release of pinched nerve fibers.

Home treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine will be effective if all the doctor's recommendations are followed.

Pharmaceutical preparations

Cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis can be treated at home with medication - commonly available medications that are easily purchased at a pharmacy. Do not carry out treatment without medical prescription, the wrong remedy will delay the healing process. It is impossible to predict the body's response to drugs. They block pain in the affected area, relieve muscle tone, increase blood circulation, improve metabolic processes and improve well-being.

Medication slows progression.

Medicines are prescribed at home for the treatment of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis in the chest and neck area:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help eliminate inflammation and edema at home. After the course is completed, a decrease in pressure on the spinal artery and blood vessels is observed in the spine.
quickly eliminate the feeling of pain and nervous tension.
Relaxants - drugs that relax muscle tissue, relieve pain.
Chondroprotective preparations for osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical spine normalize metabolic processes in cartilage and bone tissues of the spine. As a result, it is possible to stimulate the regenerative properties of tissues, to increase the space between the vertebrae and to allow the deformed parts to take the desired position. Under the influence of chondroprotectors, pain is manifested less often.
vasodilator drugs that improve blood flow to the injury site. Due to increased nutrition, the manifestation of symptoms decreases, the correction process is accelerated.
Vitamins are useful aids in the treatment of osteochondrosis at home. Reception of groups B, C, E provides the body with the necessary substances for combat. They stimulate the healing of cartilage tissue, strengthen the spine and improve the permeability of nerve fibers.

How to treat osteochondrosis and myositis at home. The main goals of home treatment

A doctor decides to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home if the patient does not have serious problems, the symptoms are moderate and there is no indication for hospitalization. The chosen therapeutic tactics are aimed at eliminating the unpleasant manifestations of the pathological process and solving the following tasks:

Normalization of blood circulation in the affected area.
Elimination of cerebral hypoxia.
Normalization of sleep.
Prevention of the rapid development of the disease.
Improved blood circulation.
Initiation of regeneration process to restore cartilage tissue.
Saturation of the body with vitamins and minerals.
Eliminate anxiety, panic attacks, irritability.
Improve the condition of the cervical crest.

It is impossible to completely cure chondrosis, but the right approach can significantly slow down the process, restore normal health, and maintain a high quality of life for many years. For this, an integrated approach is used, which involves a change in diet, increased physical activity, taking medication and visiting a massage therapist.

Cervical osteochondrosis can be cured at home only with strict observance of all the recommendations of the doctor, constant monitoring of nutrition and drug intake and carrying out prescribed therapeutic exercises.

It is worth starting to treat cervical chondrosis by eliminating the pain. For this, the specialist selects the appropriate analgesics. The pharmaceutical industry offers a wide variety of products which differ in the principle of action, form and price. With acute unbearable pain, blockage of novocaine is possible. After the main symptomatology has resolved, alternative techniques can be used. It can be:

Massage procedures - eliminates spasms, pain and tension.
Exercise therapy - strengthen muscle tissue, restore normal spine support and restore flexibility.
Mud baths - warm the affected area and relieve pain syndrome for a long time.
Manual therapy - restores metabolic processes and improves blood circulation, eliminates oxygen deprivation from the brain.
Reflexology - reduces pain in the area, starts regeneration processes in cartilage tissue.
Acupuncture - activates metabolism, improves the condition of cartilage tissue, reduces the manifestation of pain in the affected area.

The most affordable home treatment methods are ointments, rubs, baths, decoctions, compresses. These traditional medicines have been known for a long time and are renowned for their safety, ease of use and the minimum number of contraindications.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home. Symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the initial stage may not manifest itself in any way. The accompanying signs appear only in the case of an advanced form of pathology, in the event of a violation of blood circulation in the brain. This process is usually accompanied by:

dizziness;
numbness of the limbs;
with cold hands and feet;
"Goosebumps" in the eyes, darkness;
headache;
noise in the head, ringing in the ears;
increased fatigue;
irritability;
lack of coordination;
instability in the gait;
tingling, tingling in the muscles of the neck.

If the disease takes a chronic form, discomfort and pain constantly accompany the patient. Main events:

painful sensations in the back of the head, neck, shoulder, arm, difficulty moving the head, squealing when turning the head or bending down;
tightening pain in left chest area, radiating to left arm, burning sensation between shoulder blades;
frequent headaches, increased fatigue, weakness, difficulty in turning your head;
neck pain spreads to shoulder and arm, numbness in fingers;
Hearing and vision problems, numbness of the tongue and face, dizziness, lung failure and heart failure may occur.

The symptoms are divided into three groups:

neurological manifestations (persistent pain in the neck, pain in muscles, chest, joints);
pathological effect on the spinal cord (weakness of arms and legs, involuntary contractions, myelopathy);
associated with processes occurring in the brain (manifestations in the brain due to insufficient blood supply: visual disturbances, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, noise and ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, instability when walking, fainting, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances, reduced ability to remember).