Hello dear readers. Diseases of the spine are one of the most urgent medical problems of humanity today. More and more young people complain of pain in different parts of the spine, although not long ago, this pathology mainly bothered the older generation. That is why the effective treatment of osteochondrosis is so actively discussed everywhere. How to get rid of pain in the spine is the topic of this article. The structures of the spine wear out prematurely due to the effects of gravity, as well as the penalty of upright walking, as well as other factors.
What is osteochondrosis?
Insufficient nutrition of the cartilage tissue leads to weakening of the cartilage. Intervertebral layers lose their ability to withstand excess load. Vertebrae press against each other, crushing the intervertebral cartilage cushions. This is how osteochondrosis develops.
First, the cartilage tissue suffers, and then 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 neck, shoulders, arms, headaches, dizziness, mild visual disturbances and noise effects.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Pain in the back is reflected in the chest, sometimes surprisingly similar to heart pain.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
The pain is concentrated in the pelvis, peritoneum, lower back and spreads to the lower limbs.
Damage to different vertebral parts can occur simultaneously.
As the disease progresses, 4 main stages of the disease are distinguished. An unpleasant feature of the pathology is the low probability of its detection at first. This is due to the asymptomatic nature of the initial stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
Chondrotic changes will be noticeable only on an X-ray, that is, they can be detected only by chance. Because there is no condition to undergo an X-ray examination on purpose.
Stages of chondrotic changes in the spine
- Cartilage dystrophy, primary tissue degeneration.
- Individual foci of inflammation are noticeable in the cartilage and microcracks. There is discomfort and stiffness in the movements of the spine. Sometimes the cartilage is pressed outward, forming protrusions - protrusions.
- Cartilage is replaced by bone joints. The mobility of the affected area is increasingly restricted. Nerve roots and blood vessels are compressed, which leads to the development of chronic pain in the back and surrounding areas. Dislocations and ruptures may occur.
- The disease affects bone tissue, cartilage is almost completely destroyed. Inflammation is widespread, complications appear. Certain parts of the spine lose their mobility completely.
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 more likely to develop osteochondrosis.
These are people who lead a passive lifestyle, whose work consists of a sedentary position. Patients with excess body weight and metabolic disorders are also at risk.
Spinal health is also at risk among workers and professional athletes.
Factors that cause pathological changes are included
- long-term lack of fluid in the body;
- improper diet that causes a lack of minerals;
- hormonal changes;
- emotional outbursts, stress;
- injuries, overload;
- staying in anatomically incorrect static positions;
- foci of infectious lesions in the body;
- straight legs of any severity;
- congenital tendency;
- muscle weakness;
- pregnancy;
- aging of the body, natural wear of tissues;
- harmful addictions;
- taking medicine, intoxication 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. You can't give up, even if there are no long-lasting results. Recovery is very slow.
All this requires patience, strong will and high level of discipline. Success can be ensured only if there is an insatiable desire to recover and a number of therapeutic and preventive measures.
It is highly undesirable to limit oneself to treatment. You must 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, addiction to anesthetics and analgesics is formed.
Combined therapy not only relieves pain, but also fights degenerative changes, attempts to restore mobility, eliminate inflammation, prevent complications, and restore damaged structures.
Therefore, they are closed:
- drug treatment and, if necessary, surgical intervention;
- therapeutic and preventive gymnastics;
- physical procedures;
- various types of manual therapy, including traditional massage, reflexology;
- removal of clamps, stretching of the spine.
All this is prescribed and controlled by a doctor. The patient can use non-traditional methods, but in agreement with the doctor. The patient should also report all successes and occurrences of adverse reactions. This will allow you to make timely adjustments to the treatment regimen.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis in familiar home conditions is quite possible. Your doctor will tell you how to get rid of pain in the spine, not only with the help of anesthesia. The patient should follow his instructions and perhaps slightly change the standard approach to treating the spine.
It is primarily about adjusting the load while performing a series of exercises and stretching the vertebral structures. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to personal tolerance and sensitivity.
Medicines - medicines for osteochondrosis
You should immediately emphasize that osteochondrosis cannot be eliminated only with drugs. But they are an important and even necessary part of the healing process. Pharmacological drugs, as a rule, are used to relieve symptoms and relieve inflammation during the exacerbation of the disease. As for the regeneration of cartilage tissue, dietary supplements are used here, although with varying degrees of success.
The effect of the drug is aimed at:
- relieve pain in different parts of the body;
- preventing inflammation and stopping this pathological process;
- increased blood circulation;
- improving metabolism;
- increased nutrition of damaged tissues;
- return of mobility to the spine;
- regeneration of cartilage layers;
- prevent the development of depression due to poor health.
Different groups of drugs are used to solve problems. If the effectiveness of one of them is low, more effective drugs are used with caution, because they have a greater number of possible adverse reactions.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A group of non-steroidal multifunctional drugs. Eliminates inflammation, relieves pain, reduces fever. Pain-relieving creams, ointments and tablets are most often used for osteochondrosis.
- Antispasmodics, combined analgesics, local anesthetics. It helps to get rid of muscle aches and headaches.
- Medicines that dilate blood vessels. It helps to get rid of headache and numbness.
- Muscle relaxants. They relieve tightness and spasm, which allows you to relieve the resulting muscle pain and swelling.
- Vitamin preparations (vit. B, A, E, C, multivitamins), mineral supplements. They provide the body with compounds necessary for cartilage tissue.
- Sedative drugs: tincture of valerian, motherwort. Help relieve stress from constant pain and normalize sleep.
- Hormonal drugs based on methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone substances. They are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Chondroprotective substances. Restore cartilage tissue.
Physical exercise
Spinal injuries have their limitations when doing specific exercises. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct the lessons under the supervision of an instructor.
Therapeutic exercise will help to get rid of pain, restore the mobility of the spine and release compressed nerves and blood vessels. Exercises are aimed at developing the affected areas, strengthening and stretching the muscles.
The set of gymnastic techniques is more or less standard. However, the duration, intensity and number of repetitions are determined individually.
There is a high probability of injury with osteochondrosis, so all actions are carried out with caution. If discomfort or pain occurs, gymnastics should be stopped until the sensation disappears. After the action is resumed.
You should reduce the load or replace this exercise with a similar but more suitable one.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Traditional medicine has many simple, effective and safe recipes against osteochondrosis in its arsenal. It is used in the form of teas, tinctures, lotions, compresses, rubs, applications, ointments.
Herbal medicine will help support the body, strengthen it, normalize its activity and eliminate unpleasant symptoms. These medicines can be bought at any pharmacy or herbalist at a reasonable price.
Effective compresses
The use of compresses will help to get rid of painful attacks, swelling and inflammation of cartilage tissue. For this purpose, irritant and warming agents are used.
- Horseradish with apples. Horseradish root and a small apple pass through a fine grater. The puree is mixed in equal parts and applied to the disease. Cover with a film and apply a warm compress overnight. Treatment is continued until the pain disappears.
- For the same purpose, you can use compresses from other products: fried radish, onion pulp, burdock leaves, cabbage. You can add honey to increase the anti-inflammatory effect.
- Vodka, mustard powder, camphor alcohol - 50 g each, mix with three beaten egg whites. The mixture is brewed for about 10 hours and used as a compress in the morning and evening for 3 consecutive days. Then move on to the next recipe.
- 50 g of aloe 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 means are used alternately, each for 3 days, until the symptoms disappear.
Infusions and decoctions for osteochondrosis
This group of folk remedies is used to have a systemic effect on the body to have an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, strengthening and calming effect.
Pine cones
Decoction: wash 4 unripe walnuts, chop them, add half a liter of water, boil for a few minutes. Drink ¼ tbsp. 1-3 times a day.
Tincture: pour 5 mature crushed cones with a glass of alcohol (strong vodka) with seeds, shake the container every day, leave for 2 weeks. Drink a teaspoon after a meal.
Birch buds and lingonberry leaves
1 teaspoon of each, brew a glass of boiling water. Drink a little throughout the day.
Herbs
Also useful are teas made from plants such as cattail, mint, yarrow, grasshopper, calendula, linden, milk thistle, chamomile, plantain, thyme, cinquefoil, sage, and immortelle. They are used in different combinations or separately.
Honey applications
Aloe juice and honey applications and lotions help for osteochondrosis. They are used individually or in combination.
A piece of gauze should be moistened in the product and applied to the painful area under a heating 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, relieves numbness.
Suitable for rubbing for osteochondrosis:
- bear/badger oil;
- turpentine;
- alcoholic herbal tinctures;
- decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants;
- fir oil;
- special combinations.
Rubbing for severe pain: crush a packet of analgin (10 pieces), combine with a glass of alcohol, a small bottle of iodine, 10 ml of camphor alcohol. Rub your back only on painful areas. May cause a burning sensation.
Therapeutic baths for osteochondrosis
Similar procedures are carried out in the phase of remission. Hot water is used with the addition of herbal decoctions and essential oils. It should be used before going to bed.
Baths help to relax, soothe, relieve swelling and tension, relieve numbness, pain, heaviness in muscles. Here, decoctions are used in higher concentrations than when taken orally. But the same plants will do.