How to treat osteochondrosis at home

11 January 2021

Walking upright frees a person's hands to perform work operations - this is an indisputable advantage. Along with this, the load on the spine has increased, which leads to the development of serious illnesses, and this is a colossal sign. Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. It affects 60% of the world's population aged 35 and over. Surgical intervention is one of the treatment methods, but an alternative is possible in the early stages of disease development. You can treat osteochondrosis at home. The range of effective therapeutic measures is wide and accessible.

What is osteochondrosis

Dysfunction and destruction of intervertebral discs, vertebral tissues, is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is 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 state of the body.

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

Main symptoms: pain in shoulders, arms, neck; dizziness, tinnitus, spots in front of the eyes.
Characterized by dull pain or lumbago in the chest area.
There are pains in the hip joints, lower back and sacrum. The functionality of the lower extremities 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 the timely diagnosis of the disease. It goes through 4 degrees (or stages):

The pathological process begins with dehydration of the central part of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus). As a result, the structure decreases, cracks appear on the outer part of the disc (fibrous ring). This stage is almost invisible to the patient. Mild discomfort manifests itself in an uncomfortable position or during active physical activity.
The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to subsidence of the intervertebral disc. Ligaments and muscles give way. The vertebrae acquire additional mobility. For this reason, they are displaced. This condition is called spondylolisthesis. With a heavy load, the patient feels discomfort, sometimes pain at the location of the pathology.
The formation of prolapses (hernias), protrusions (irregular protrusions) of discs, subluxations and arthrosis of the intervertebral joints are the main pathological changes in the third stage of the disease. The patient's movements are restricted, numbness, tingling in the limbs occurs. Pains are present, their location depends on the location of the disease focus.
To eliminate excessive mobility of the vertebrae, the body forms neoplasms of bone tissue (osteophytes) in the spine. Its formation occurs in a chaotic way, depending on the location, can damage the nerve endings of the spinal cord, adjacent vertebrae. Processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebral-motor segment appears "bricked". The signs of osteochondrosis at this stage are practically not felt.

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

The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home includes:

medications;
;
medical gymnastics;
correction of the diet.

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

Medicines

Various medications are used to combat the symptoms of the disease. They must be prescribed by a doctor specializing in the treatment of osteochondrosis - a neuropathologist or a vertebrologist.

Medicines

For severe pain, you can take pain relievers such as sodium metamizole. If they don't work, NSAIDs can be taken.
Sometimes "distractions" are used, like a pepper patch. By itself, it does not heal, but it heats 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). They help to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation of the affected nerve root.
Group B vitamins. They help to improve metabolic processes in nerve tissues.
Chondroprotectors. Promotes the restoration of cartilaginous tissue.
Muscle relaxants (tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride). Helps to reduce muscle spasm.
Medicines to improve the rheological properties of blood flow and blood. They help to improve the blood flow process to the brain and the nutrition of the affected nerve endings.

Intramuscular injections may also be indicated.

How to treat cervical and thoracic spine osteochondrosis 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 small efforts, sudden movements;
headaches;
dizziness;
shortness of breath and shortness of breath;
tiredness.

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

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

The treatment of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis at home is done with the help of pharmaceutical preparations, a complex of light physical exercises, a popular recipe for friction, compresses. Doctors recommend visiting the pool, massage therapist, physiotherapy rooms. Actions aim to relieve symptoms:

muscle relaxation

;
stimulation of the cartilage layers for regeneration;
return of the displaced vertebrae to their original position;
release of compressed nerve fibers.

The home treatment of 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 the help of drugs - drugs that are commonly available and easy to buy at pharmacies. Do not do treatment without a prescription, the wrong medicine will delay the healing process. It is impossible to predict the body's reaction to drugs. They block pain in the affected area, relieve muscle tone, increase blood circulation, improve metabolic processes and improve well-being.

Drugs slow 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 in the spinal artery and blood vessels is observed in the spine.
Analgesic pills quickly eliminate the sensation of pain and nervous tension.
Relaxers - drugs that relax muscle tissue and relieve pain.
Chondroprotective preparations for osteochondrosis in the thoracic and cervical spine normalize the metabolic processes in the cartilaginous and bone tissues of the spine. With this, it is possible to stimulate the regenerative properties of the tissues, increase the gap between the vertebrae and allow the deformed parts to assume the desired position. Under the influence of chondroprotectors, pain manifests less frequently.
Vasodilator drugs that improve blood flow to the injury site. As a result of increased nutrition, the manifestation of symptoms decreases, the correction process is accelerated.
Vitamins are useful to help treat osteochondrosis at home. The reception of group B, C, E provides the body with the necessary substances for the fight. 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 objectives of home treatment

A doctor decides to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home if the patient does not have severe disorders, if the symptoms are moderate and there is no indication for hospitalization. The chosen therapy tactics aim to eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of the pathological process and solve 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.
Better blood circulation.
Launch regeneration processes to restore cartilage tissue.
Saturation of the body with vitamins and minerals.
Eliminate anxiety, panic attacks and irritability.
Improves the condition of the cervical ridge.

It is completely impossible to 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 implies a change in the diet, increased physical activity, taking medications and consulting the massage therapist.

Cervical osteochondrosis can be cured at home only with strict observance of all the doctor's recommendations, constant monitoring of food and medication intake and the performance of prescribed therapeutic exercises.

It is worthwhile to start treating cervical chondrosis with the elimination of pain. For this, the specialist selects the appropriate painkillers. The pharmaceutical industry offers a wide variety of products that differ in principle of action, form and price. With unbearable acute pain, novocaine block is possible. After the disappearance of the main symptoms, the use of alternative techniques is allowed. Can be:

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

The cheapest methods of treatment at home are ointments, friction, baths, decoctions, compresses. These traditional medicines have been known for a long time and are famous for their safety, ease of use and minimal number of contraindications.

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

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the early stage may not manifest at all. The accompanying signs appear only in the case of an advanced form of pathology, when there is a violation of blood circulation in the brain. This process is usually accompanied by:

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

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

painful sensations in the neck, neck, shoulder, arm, difficulty moving the head, crushing when turning the head or bending;
pulling pain in the left chest region with irradiation in the left arm, a burning sensation between the shoulder blades;
frequent headaches, increased fatigue, weakness, difficulty turning the head;
pain in the neck extends to the shoulder and arm, numbness in the fingers;
hearing and vision problems, numbness of the tongue and face, dizziness, lung and heart problems may occur.

Symptoms are divided into three groups:

neurological manifestations (persistent pain in the neck, pain in the muscles, chest, joints);
pathological effect on the spinal cord (weakness in the arms and legs, involuntary spasms, myelopathy);
associated with processes that occur in the brain (brain manifestations 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 disorders, decreased ability to remember).