How to treat osteochondrosis at home

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

osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Depending on the localization area, the following are distinguished:

  • cervical,
  • Chest,
  • lumbar osteochondrosis.

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

80% 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 contracted this disease when he was on two limbs. The main problem is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine. In places where physical activity is excessive, a change in the structure of the articular cartilage gradually occurs.

Before treating a disease you need to know it better

With this disease, the so-called salt deposition (deposition of calcium compounds) occurs. It occurs due to the curvature of the spine or the 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, joint injuries and bruises, heavy loads on the joints, as well as other joint diseases 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 home treatment can be only an auxiliary method, but not the main one. For more effective and safe treatment, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the causes of the disease and prescribe the safest and most effective method of treatment.

There are numerous non-drug treatment methods, such as acupuncture, leech treatment, back exercises, massages, compresses, tinctures, diets, exercises.

Symptoms:

  • pain in the spine
  • pain, numbness, coldness 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. The exercises allow you to evenly develop and strengthen your muscles to avoid uneven load on the joints.

The main treatment for osteochondrosis is physical education.

Immobility destroys the spine. Drugs only dull the symptoms of osteochondrosis and relieve pain. Only exercise can completely restore the joints and spine.Exercises that can be performed for osteochondrosis:

  • it 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 barre, gymnastics from the arsenal of yoga,
  • exercises that develop the muscles that support the spine: chin-ups, push-ups, exercise machines.

What exercises can not be performed with osteochondrosis.

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

Unlike drugs, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, but do not improve 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 performed every day.There is a wonderful complex of academician Amosov - 1000 movements, which takes only 15 minutes a day, the wonderful results of Dr. Bubnovsky, who cures all joint diseases with any degree of neglect in his center with exercises.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis.

The exercises are simple and known to all:

  • Exercise 1.Nodding your head up and down (20-40 times)
  • Exercise 2.Head tilts left and right (20-60 times)
  • Exercise 3.Turns 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 to 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, massages, physical procedures, then he was sent to the regional center, where he was prescribed baths and extractions. 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 of this leg were completely atrophied, there was hellish pain . I was assigned group 2 disability. A man in line said that the spine can be restored by fulfilling two conditions:

  1. build a muscular corset around it,
  2. lengthen the spine so 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 some loops at the top of the board to secure the arms under the arms. At the top I also stretched some polyethylene, to which my bare back stuck as it stretched. I hung on these rings as long as I could, stretching my spine. Through hellish pain, I did gymnastics, trained the muscles of my swollen leg with the help of an elastic bandage and did abdominal exercises. Soon he was moving around the apartment with crutches, then with a cane, then he abandoned that too. But he continued to do exercises and gymnastics for another year. Soon his disability was removed. He now lives a full life.

Here are some simple exercises 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 whole body except the abdominal muscles is relaxed. Stay in this position as long as possible. Every day add 5 seconds. The goal is 5 minutes.
  • Exercise no. 2.Lie on your back, stretch your legs. He pulls 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 it on your feet and shoulder blades.
  • Exercise no. 5.Lying on your side, swing your straight leg back and forth.
  • Exercise no. 6.Get on all fours. Bend and arch your back
  • Exercise no. 7.Lie on your back, bend your knees. Bring your right knee towards your left elbow, your left knee towards your right elbow.

For osteochondrosis, all types of hangings, stretching lying on the stomach and back with the limbs and head raised from the floor are very useful.

How to relieve pain from osteochondrosis at home.

  • This remedy helps relieve spinal pain for several months. Treatment of osteochondrosis is designed for 12 days. Before treatment it is necessary to prepare two mixtures:Recipe 1:50 g of camphor alcohol, 50 g of vodka, 50 g of dry mustard and 3 egg whites - beat and leave overnight.Recipe 2:50 g of aloe juice, 100 g of honey, 150 g of vodka, mix. Prepare compresses from mixture no. 1 twice a day (or simply lubricate the spine) for three days. Then prepare compresses from mixture no. 2 for three days. Then use mixture no. again. 1 for three days and mixture no. 2 for three days. After such treatment, osteochondrosis disappears 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 a 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 tablets of analgin. Mix everything and leave it for 5 days. Rub the mixture into 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 the pain in her spine forever, even if 25 years had already passed. Oda gave this recipe to a friend who was suffering from joint pain. This folk remedy also helped her.
  • Grandma's problem. 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 tablets of analgin - mix and infuse. Rub on sore spots. In two days, the woman had lost all pain in her spine. Another woman, using this recipe in 4 procedures, cured osteochondrosis, which she could not cure by any other means.

These folk remedies for the treatment of 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 over it on the floor. 10-15 minutes a day are enough for osteochondrosis to disappear forever. But to prevent the disease from returning, it is necessary to continue this exercise.
  • Treatment of osteochondrosis with saline compress. The man had pain in his shoulders and spine. Ointments and rubbing did not help. In five procedures, a simple folk remedy helped cure osteochondrosis. You need to take 1 kg of salt, preferably coarsely ground, mix with 3 tablespoons. 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 cover with a warm scarf. Spread until cool, then remove the mixture, wipe the body with a damp cloth, then dry and place warm for another 2 hours. That man only needed 5 procedures 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 recommended a treatment that helped her within a month: she should visit the bath 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 you go to the locker room, wrap yourself in a warm sheet and drink tea, sweating. Do three of these steps. At home, lie under the blanket and sweat.
  • A traditional rapid method of treatment by heating. A 30-year-old man suffered from severe spinal pain and could not bend or sit. The old men at the entrance gave him the following recipe: knead a thin rye dough with yeast, let it rise and lower. Place gauze on your back, cover the gauze with a 5-6 mm layer of paste. Place a fist-sized piece of tow on the dough, put it on the fire and spread it over the dough with a fork, evenly warming the spine. The man had no rye flour or tow, so he lit the stove and sat with his back to the coals, blazing with heat, warming his back with the utmost 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 extended to her left shoulder and 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 warm running water for 10-15 minutes, then she quickly dried herself and applied honey. She rubbed the honey on her neck, collarbone, arm and shoulder. She then gave her a honey massage: she pressed the palm of her hand and tore it sharply from the skin. I massaged until the palm of her hand stopped sticking to the skin. She then applied compressed paper, gauze and a warm scarf to these areas and she went to bed. In the morning I washed off the honey. After two operations the pain disappeared. She soon 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 tub with tap water and lay in it for 30 seconds. In winter she performed this procedure once a day and in summer twice.
  • Turpentine in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman used a popular recipe found in a newspaper. You need to knead a dough with 70-100 g of yeast, 500 g of water and rye flour, not very dense. Store it for 7 days in a cool place, kneading it constantly. Before going to bed drink a glass of warm milk with 1 teaspoon. soda, then apply 1 teaspoon to the sore spine three times. turpentine, rubbing it into the skin. Spread the mixture on gauze, apply to the back, 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 a popular treatment, 25 years have passed and that woman's spine still doesn't 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 will soon pass along with the pain in the spine.
  • Traditional treatment with parsley. The man suddenly felt a sharp pain in his spine. The reagent showed the deposition of salts: in the photo they looked like layers of transparent needles between the vertebrae. The doctor prescribed him various drugs, 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 back pain gradually disappeared. Now he is already 90 years old, but after that parsley treatment his back has 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, slightly cooled and pressed onto the spine, then polyethylene and a scarf. In the morning, remove the compress, a white layer may remain on the skin - this is the release of salts. It is necessary to perform 10 such procedures. It is recommended 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 pain in the cervical spine, the pain did not go away around the clock, so he decided to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies. I made a tincture from the stems and roots of cinquefoil. I took 1 tablespoon of 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 the sore joints with an ointment prepared from the same rhizomes: 200 g of cinquefoil, 50 g of galangal, 50 g of elecampane - finely chop the dry rhizomes into powder, heat together with 1 kg of vegetable oil or lard.
  • Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies. The woman had pain in the knee joints, it took a year for treatment, but the condition only worsened. The situation worsened to the point where she could barely move. I suffered from pain in my hip joints and lower back and bedsores appeared. Diagnosis: osteochondrosis, deforming arthrosis of the hip joints with 2nd degree bone growths. There was a 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 on the spine and joints. As a result, she was able to get out of the wheelchair and now takes a 5 km walk every day and goes up to the fifth floor.

It is known that to get rid of osteochondrosis it is important to constantly attend physiotherapy, massage, physiotherapy and reflexology courses without interruptions. Only complex methods and regular therapies can cure damage to the intervertebral cartilage and return the patient to a full and active life.

But how to reconcile daily activities, which can take several hours, with normal household chores and work? For the sake of saving time and money, osteochondrosis is treated at home.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are based on the same principles that medical methods suggest. 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 improves tissue regeneration.

To treat osteochondrosis, use the following recipes of traditional medicine:

  • Taking decoctions and tinctures internally.
  • Officinal herbs for external use: rubs, ointments, compresses and baths.
  • Self-massage.
  • Therapeutic exercises.
  • Physiotherapy 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, celeriac or birch leaves. The ingredients are crushed into a paste-like 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 recommended to lubricate the skin with any oil to avoid burns.

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

Self-massage

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

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

After warming the neck, work it by grasping the skin with your fingers and releasing it. It is convenient to perform such pinching with the opposite hand on 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 possibility of using it not only at home, but also at work when the neck muscles feel tired. The same techniques can be used for the lower back, only in a standing position.

In addition to 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 backs, they try to turn the rolling pin up and down, rolling it over. It is even better to have a special massager with infrared rays, which simultaneously heats and massages 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, arms, and darkening of the eyes. Blood pressure may increase.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region

Rarely, a part of the thoracic spine is affected. There are no sharp pains. A person feels an aching pain in the spine, a sensation of insects crawling on the chest, pain in the heart. But sometimes similar symptoms can be observed with heart attack, angina, ulcers and gastritis. With osteochondrosis, 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 greatest and most basic load falls on the dorsal area, osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is one of the most common forms of the disease. If you do not start treating the disease in time, a hernia may appear. Back pain (lower back) occurs more in autumn and spring, especially at night. A person feels excruciating pain in the back, pain in the legs and numbness in the limbs. The pain usually radiates to the buttocks, 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 many problems to a person.

Injections for osteochondrosis.

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

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 work;
  • exposure to chemicals;
  • constant vibrations, for example, from truck drivers or drivers of agricultural machinery;
  • flat feet;
  • posture disorders.

Symptoms

Lumbar osteochondrosis:

  • constant or sharp 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. He maintains the same position in which he feels less pain.

Cervical region:

  • headaches that get worse with movement and do not go away after painkillers;
  • dizziness when you suddenly turn your head;
  • 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;
  • the pain is felt stronger at night, during hypothermia, turning over or intense physical activity;
  • painful sensations intensify with deep inhalation and exhalation;
  • numbness of some areas of the skin, "goosebumps";
  • itching, burning, cold sensation in the legs;
  • attack of pain between the ribs while walking;
  • sensation as if the chest were pressed by a circle.

Treatment of osteochondrosis at home

Gymnastics and exercises for osteochondrosis

In order 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, your fingertips should be in the center of your 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 rotation 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 almost reach your ears. It is necessary to massage the spine (warm-up) at the beginning and end of charging.