How to treat osteochondrosis at home

Osteochondrosis is a disorder of articular cartilage. Most often, this disease affects the intervertebral discs.

Depending on the localization zone, the following are distinguished:

• cervical,
• chest,
• lumbar osteochondrosis.

Cervical osteochondrosis is more common, since the joints of the neck are the most mobile.

80 percent of the world's population is familiar with back pain. It is believed that the main cause of the disease is upright walking. A person got this disease when he stood on two limbs. The main problem is uneven distribution of the load on the spinal column. In those places where physical activity is excessive, a change in the structure of articular cartilage gradually occurs.

Before treating a disease, you need to know it better

With this disease, so-called salt deposition occurs (deposition of calcium compounds). It occurs due to curvature of the spine or a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, as well as when the blood supply to the joints is impaired. The reasons for the development of this disease can be factors such as excess weight, injuries and bruises of the joints, heavy loads on the joints, as well as other diseases of the joints and a number of other factors.

A little theory

We discuss the causes and signs of osteochondrosis in other articles; here we also collect treatment methods that you can apply yourself. It is worth noting that treatment at home can only be an auxiliary method, but not the main one. For the most effective and safe treatment, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the causes of the disease, as well as prescribe the safest and most effective treatment method.

There are a large number of non-drug treatment methods, such as acupuncture, leech treatment, back exercises, massages, compresses, tinctures, diets, exercises.

Symptoms:

• pain in the spine
• aches, numbness, chilliness of the limbs
• possible dizziness, up to loss of consciousness

From the above it follows that the main way to combat osteochondrosis, as well as a measure to prevent it, is gymnastics. Exercises allow you to evenly develop and strengthen your muscles to avoid uneven load on your joints.

The main cure for osteochondrosis is physical education.

Immobility destroys the spine. Medications only soften the symptoms of osteochondrosis and relieve pain. Only physical exercise can completely restore joints and spine.Exercises that can be done for osteochondrosis:

• tilts,
• turns,
• twisting,
• rocking on your back,
• clasping your knees with your hands.
• Exercises for stretching the spine are of great importance: hanging on the bar, gymnastics from the arsenal of yoga,
• exercises that develop the muscles that support the spine: pull-ups, push-ups, exercise machines.

What exercises cannot be done with osteochondrosis.

• If you have acute pain in the lumbar spine, you should not do twisting exercises.
• Jumping and fast running are undesirable; it is better to practice walking, swimming, skiing, and cycling.
• Please note that some doctorsCircular head movements are not recommendedwith cervical osteochondrosis.

Unlike medications, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, but do not bring improvement to the condition of the spine, gymnastics requires self-discipline and willpower, because doing exercises 2-3 times a month will not get rid of osteochondrosis.Exercises for osteochondrosis should be done every day.There is a wonderful complex by Academician Amosov - 1000 movements, which requires only 15 minutes a day, the wonderful achievements of Dr. Bubnovsky, who cures all joint diseases in any degree of neglect in his center with exercises.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis.

The exercises are simple and known to everyone:

• Exercise 1.Nodding your head up and down (20-40 times)
• Exercise 2.Head tilts left and right (20-60 times)
• Exercise 3.Turns the head left and right (20-40 times)
• Exercise 4.Circular movement of the head left and right (40 times)
• Exercise 5.Sit on the floor, bend your knees in front of you, place your forehead on your knees, and freeze for 20-50 seconds. This exercise stretches the spine well in the cervical region and is a good prevention of osteochondrosis.

How we managed to cure osteochondrosis with physical exercises. The man fell ill at the age of 40, massages and rubbing did not help him much, and he decided to go to the hospital to treat his spine. There he was given injections, massage, physical procedures, then sent to the regional center, where he was prescribed baths and extracts. As a result of treatment, after 4 months, he was discharged home on a stretcher: the spine was completely curved, one leg was 7 cm longer than the other, the muscles on this leg had completely atrophied, there was hellish pain. I was given group 2 disability. One man in line said that the spine can be restored by fulfilling two conditions:

1. build a muscle corset around it,
2. stretch the spine so that the discs fall into place.

The man built a simulator: he removed the door, covered it with a blanket, and placed it at an angle. I made loops at the top of the board to secure my arms under my arms. In the upper part I also stretched polyethylene, to which my bare back stuck while stretching. I hung in these loops for as long as possible, stretching my spine. Through hellish pain, I did gymnastics, worked out the muscles of my swollen leg with the help of an elastic bandage, and did abdominal exercises. Soon he began to move around the apartment on crutches, then with a cane, then abandoned that too. But he continued to do the exercise and gymnastics for another year. Soon his disability was removed. Now he lives a full life.

Here are some simple exercises that are useful for osteochondrosis.

• Exercise No. 1.Stand with your back to the wall, press the back of your head, shoulder blades, buttocks and heels against the wall. The entire body except the abdominal muscles is relaxed. Stay in this position for as long as possible. Every day add 5 seconds. The goal is 5 minutes.
• Exercise No. 2.Lie on your back, stretch your legs. Pull one sock away from you, the other towards you, then with both socks, then spread the socks apart and bring them together.
• Exercise No. 3.Lie on your back, arms at your sides or behind your head, bend your knees. Bend your knees to the right, head to the left, fix this position for 30 seconds, then knees to the left, head to the right.
• Exercise No. 4.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Release and lift your pelvis, resting on your feet and shoulder blades.
• Exercise No. 5.Lying on your side, swing your straight leg forward and backward.
• Exercise No. 6.Get on all fours. Bend and arch your back
• Exercise No. 7.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Pull your right knee to your left elbow, your left knee to your right elbow.

All kinds of hangings, stretches lying on the stomach and back with the limbs and head lifted off the floor are very useful for osteochondrosis.

How to relieve pain from osteochondrosis at home.

• This remedy helps relieve pain in the spine for several months. Treatment of osteochondrosis is designed for 12 days. Before treatment, two mixtures should be prepared:Recipe 1:50 g of camphor alcohol, 50 g of vodka, 50 g of dry mustard and 3 egg whites - beat and leave for one night.Recipe 2:50 g aloe juice, 100 g honey, 150 g vodka, mix. Make compresses from mixture No. 1 twice a day (or simply lubricate the spine) for three days. Then make compresses from mixture No. 2 for three days. Then again use mixture No. 1 for three days and mixture No. 2 for three days. After such treatment, osteochondrosis subsides for a long time.
• Here is a recipe that relieves pain very quickly, but the effect lasts only a few days: mix 300 g of raw grated potatoes and 1 tbsp. l. honey, apply to the spine, remove the film and warm cloth, keep the compress for 1 hour.
• Rub for osteochondrosis and joint pain. The woman fell ill at the age of 35. A friend suggested a way to overcome the disease using folk remedies. You need to mix triple cologne, valerian tincture, half a bottle of iodine and 6 analgin tablets. Stir everything and leave for 5 days. Rub the mixture onto the affected area until it is absorbed. Then cover with a flannel cloth and secure with a warm scarf overnight. 7 procedures were enough for the woman to forget about the pain in her spine forever, although 25 years had already passed. Oda gave this recipe to a friend who had joint pain. This folk remedy also helped her.
• Grandma's rub. Another similar recipe for osteochondrosis and joint pain is "grandmother’s rub": 300 g of alcohol, 10 ml of camphor alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 analgin tablets - mix and infuse. Rub on sore spots. In two days, the woman had all the pain in her spine gone. Another woman, using this recipe in 4 procedures, cured osteochondrosis, which she could not cure with any other means.

These folk remedies for treating osteochondrosis give quick results.

• Home treatment with bottle massage. Fill a 1. 5 liter plastic bottle with warm water, place it on the floor, lie on the bottle with your back and roll on it on the floor. 10-15 minutes a day is enough for osteochondrosis to go away forever. But to prevent the disease from returning, this exercise must be continued.
• Treatment of osteochondrosis with a salt compress. The man had pain in his shoulders and spine. Ointments and rubbing did not help. In five procedures, one simple folk remedy helped cure osteochondrosis. You need to take 1 kg of salt, preferably coarsely ground, mix with 3 tbsp. l. dry mustard, add 100 g of water, mix and heat this paste to 50 degrees, stirring constantly. Apply the mixture to the painful area, cover with oilcloth or polyethylene, and top with a warm scarf. Lie until it cools down, then remove the mixture, wipe the body with a damp cloth, then dry and lie warm for another 2 hours. 5 procedures were enough for that man and the pain in his spine was gone.
• Home treatment with bath and honey. The woman had cervical osteochondrosis and lost her arms. She was advised a treatment that helped her within a month - she should visit the bathhouse 1-2 times a week, and in the steam room, lubricate her neck and hands with honey, sit in the steam room for 5-10 minutes. Then go to the dressing room, wrap yourself in a warm sheet and drink tea, sweating. Make three such passes. At home, just lie under the blanket and sweat.
• A quick traditional method of treatment by heating. A 30-year-old man suffered greatly from pain in his spine and could not bend over or sit. The old men at the entrance gave him the following recipe: knead a thin rye dough with yeast, let it rise and fall. Place gauze on your back, cover the gauze with a 5-6 mm layer of dough. Place a fist-sized piece of tow on the dough, set it on fire, and roll it over the dough with a fork, evenly warming the spine. That man had no rye flour or tow, so he heated the stove and sat with his back to the coals, blazing with heat, warming his back with maximum patience. After two procedures, spinal osteochondrosis left him forever.
• Cervical osteochondrosis - traditional treatment with honey massage. The woman could not turn her head, the pain spread to her shoulder and left arm, she could not even move it. The doctor prescribed injections and physical therapy, but nothing helped. Then, on the advice of a neighbor, the woman tried to be treated with folk remedies, namely honey massage. Before the procedure, she warmed her arm, shoulder and neck under running hot water for 10-15 minutes, then quickly dried herself and applied honey. She rubbed honey on her neck, collarbone, arm, and shoulder. Then she did a honey massage: she pressed her palm and sharply tore it away from the skin. I massaged until my palm stopped sticking to the skin. Then she applied compress paper, gauze and a warm scarf to these areas and went to bed. In the morning I washed off the honey. After two procedures the pain went away. Soon she managed to completely get rid of the pain.
• Traditional method of treatment with cold water A woman managed to cure osteochondrosis of the spine by taking cold baths: she filled the bathtub with tap water and lay down in it for 30 seconds. In winter she did this procedure once a day, and in summer - twice.
• Turpentine in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman used a folk recipe found in a newspaper. You need to knead the dough from 70-100 g of yeast, 500 g of water and rye flour, not very thick. Keep it for 7 days in a cool place, constantly kneading it. Before going to bed, drink a glass of hot milk with 1 tsp. soda, then apply 1 tsp to the sore spine three times. turpentine, rubbing it into the skin. Spread the dough on gauze, apply to the spine, cellophane, gauze and towel on top. Lie down for 40-60 minutes, then remove the compress. After 7 days, repeat the treatment. You can use the same dough for treatment. After such folk treatment, 25 years have passed, and that woman’s spine still does not hurt.

Effective folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis, recipes from the newspaper.

• How to treat osteochondrosis at home with Indian onions. You can quickly relieve pain with a houseplant, Indian onion. To do this, take a piece of leaf 10-15 cm long, chop it very finely and rub the sore spots with this mass. It will burn, but it will soon pass along with the pain in the spine.
• Traditional treatment with parsley. The man suddenly developed a severe pain in his spine. The reagent showed the deposition of salts - in the picture they looked like layers of transparent needles between the vertebrae. The doctor prescribed him various medications, but on the way to the pharmacy the patient met a friend who advised him to treat the spine with folk remedies, namely parsley. The man ate parsley three times a day for a whole month, and the pain in his spine gradually went away. Now he is already 90 years old, but after that parsley treatment his spine never hurt.
• Treatment of osteochondrosis at home with horseradish. Horseradish quickly removes salts from the spine. Before going to bed, fresh horseradish leaves are dipped in boiling water, cooled slightly and pressed to the spine, then polyethylene and a scarf. In the morning, remove the compress; a white coating may remain on the skin - this is the release of salts. It is necessary to carry out 10 such procedures. It is advisable to combine this folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis with cleansing the joints with rice.
• How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with cinquefoil. The man developed a pain in the cervical spine, the pain did not go away around the clock, then he decided to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies. I made a tincture from the stems and roots of cinquefoil. I took 1 tbsp tincture. l. three times a day. I didn’t notice any side effects and decided to add cinquefoil tea to the treatment. After a month of this treatment, the heaviness and pain in the spine disappeared.Sabelnik tincture: Pour 200 g of cinquefoil roots and 100 g of cinquefoil or elecampane roots into a three-liter jar, top up with vodka, leave for 21 days in the dark. Take 1 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. After 30 days of treatment – 10 days break. For complete success, you need to drink all three liters of tincture. Rub sore joints with an ointment prepared from the same rhizomes: 200 g of cinquefoil, 50 g of galangal, 50 g of elecampane - finely chop dry rhizomes to powder, heat together with 1 kg of vegetable oil or lard.
• Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman had pain in her knee joints, it took a year for treatment, but the condition only worsened. It got worse to the point where she could barely move. I suffered from pain in the hip joints and lower back, and bedsores appeared. Diagnosis: osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis of the hip joints with bone growths of the 2nd degree. There was terrible depression, I wanted to die. But a neighbor brought the "Healthy Lifestyle Bulletin", and the patient decided to fight for her health. I began to use various folk remedies: stretching on an inclined board, tincture of burdock root, rosehip decoction, rubbing bischofite and fir oil into the spine and joints. As a result, she managed to get out of the wheelchair, now she takes a 5 km walk every day and climbs to the fifth floor.

It is known that to get rid of osteochondrosis, it is important to constantly attend physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy classes and a reflexologist without interruption. Only complex methods and regular therapy can cure damage to intervertebral cartilage and return the patient to a full, active life.

But how to combine daily procedures, which can take several hours, with regular household chores and work? For reasons of saving time and money, osteochondrosis is treated at home.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are based on the same principles that suggest medical methods. This improves blood circulation and trophism in the intervertebral cartilage, stimulates the outflow of stagnant blood, eliminates pinched nerves and blood vessels in the affected area, and enhances tissue regeneration.

To cure osteochondrosis, use the following traditional medicine recipes:

• Taking decoctions and tinctures internally.
• Medicinal herbs for external use: rubbing, ointments, compresses and baths.
• Self-massage.
• Therapeutic exercises.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures at home.

Compresses

Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies involves the mandatory use of warm compresses. They are applied to any part of the spine, helping to eliminate blood stagnation.

To prepare compresses, use radish juice, raw potatoes, celery root or birch leaves. The ingredients are crushed to a mushy state, and then mixed with heated honey. When applying the product to the affected part of the spine, it is covered with cellophane and wrapped in wool to retain heat.

Recipes for osteochondrosis based on mustard are also used as compresses. To do this, mix it with beaten egg whites and add two glasses of vodka. Since this product has a pronounced irritating effect, before applying it it is advised to lubricate the skin with any oil to avoid burns.

Compresses with aloe, honey and vodka are softer. They can even be used for skin diseases.

Self-massage

The method of self-massage at home allows you to relieve muscle spasms, pain and normalize blood flow. It is especially effective for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

It uses the same techniques as for professional massage. First, strokes are performed from top to bottom. They can be carried out simultaneously with both hands or in turn for each side of the neck. Then they begin rubbing to warm and soften the muscles of the cervical spine. They are performed with the flat or edge of the palm until a feeling of warmth appears.

Having warmed the neck, knead it by grasping the skin with your fingers and releasing it. It is convenient to perform such pinching with the opposite hand for each side. The purpose of this technique is to eliminate pinched nerve roots, relieve pain and normalize neck movements.

The advantage of this folk remedy is the ability to use it not only at home, but also at work when you feel tired neck muscles. The same techniques can be used for the lower back, only in a standing position.

In addition to your hands, it is convenient to use improvised means, such as a rolling pin, for self-massage at home. It is usually used for the lumbar spine. At the same time, lying on their back, they try to turn the rolling pin up and down, rolling over it. It’s even better to have a special massager with infrared rays, which simultaneously warms and kneads the tissues, and also relieves spasms.

Types of treatment for osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

One of the most common. Sedentary work (driving, using a computer) leads to the development of the disease. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include dizziness, headache, numbness of the tongue, pain in the chest, in the arms, and darkening in the eyes. Blood pressure may rise.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region

Part of the thoracic spine is rarely affected. There are no acute pains. A person feels aching pain in the spine, a feeling of insects crawling on the chest, pain in the heart. But sometimes similar symptoms can be observed with a heart attack, angina, ulcers, and gastritis. With osteochondrosis, the ECG readings are normal, but with an impending heart attack they are different. This is the difference between diseases, even with similar symptoms.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region

Since the largest and most basic load lies on the back area, osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is one of the common forms of the disease. If you do not start treating the disease in time, a hernia may appear. Pain in the back (lower back) occurs more in the fall and spring, mainly at night. A person feels shooting pain in the back, aching in the legs, and numbness in the limbs. The pain usually radiates to the buttock, heels, under the knees, and calves. If the sciatic nerve is pinched, the person tries not to lean towards the affected side. Lumbar osteochondrosis brings a lot of problems to a person.

Injections for osteochondrosis.

1. Anti-inflammatory.
2. General strengthening.
3. Painkillers.
4. Blockades.

Causes

• injuries and congenital defects of the spine;
• genetic predisposition;
• metabolic disorders, obesity;
• infectious diseases;
• aging of the body;
• constant overload of the spine due to sports or heavy physical labor;
• exposure to chemicals;
• constant vibrations, for example, from truck drivers or drivers of agricultural machinery;
• flat feet;
• posture disorders.

Symptoms

Lumbar osteochondrosis:

• constant aching or acute pain in the lower back;
• pain increases with physical activity or movement;
• pain can radiate to the sacrum, legs, pelvic organs;
• loss of sensation in the legs;
• Often a person cannot turn or bend over. He maintains the same position in which he feels the least pain.

Cervical region:

• headaches that worsen with movement and do not go away after analgesics;
• dizziness when turning the head suddenly;
• pain in the arms, shoulders and chest;
• "floaters" and colored spots before the eyes;
• deterioration of vision and hearing, "ringing" in the ears;
• occasionally numbness of the tongue, change in voice.

Chest:

• pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades, when raising the arm, bending over;
• the pain is felt more strongly at night, during hypothermia, turning, or heavy physical activity;
• painful sensations intensify with deep inhalation and exhalation;
• numbness of certain areas of the skin, "goosebumps";
• itching, burning, feeling of cold in the legs;
• attack of pain between the ribs while walking;
• sensation as if chest were being squeezed by a hoop.

Treatment of osteochondrosis at home

Gymnastics and exercises for osteochondrosis

For the effect of gymnastics to be effective, it must be performed daily.

• You should tilt your head forward, cross your fingers and press your crossed hands on the neck area. Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
• Perform circular movements with your head. In this case, the fingertips should be in the middle of the shoulder.

Massage of the earlobes, neck, and shoulders is very effective.

• While sitting, you should tilt your head back and straighten your back. You need to press your chin with your hand and gradually turn your head left and right. After each movement and turn of the head, you should hold for 15 seconds.
• You need to raise and lower your shoulders alternately and together. With each change in body position, you need to linger for 15-20 seconds. You need to raise your shoulders strongly so that they reach almost to your ears. Rubbing the spine (warming up) at the beginning and at the end of charging is necessary.