The story of how the king treated osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard were added to a large tub filled with hot water, and the king, a great hunter for a pleasant and useful pastime in a hot bath, slowly immersed up to his neck. The procedure ended with a tea party.
The next morning, the ruler was ready for the next military campaign.
What is osteochondrosis and how is it treated today?
The danger of the "inflexible" disease
Osteochondrosis makes a person inflexible - a subtle aphorism accurately describes the consequences of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc, the progression of which leads to its destruction.
The intervertebral disc, gradually losing its ability to "jump", becomes covered with cracks due to increased pressure, and its contents are "squeezed" over time - an intervertebral hernia is formed.
The leaked fluid compresses the nerve endings in the spinal cord, severing the "connection" between all of a person's internal organs. Thus, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region causes gastritis to be treated for years or the cause of cardiac pain to be sought; Lumbar or lumbosacral osteochondrosis can cause partial or complete paralysis of the lower extremities and cervical - it complicates the blood supply to the brain.
Sometimes the disease affects several departments of the "pillar of life": generalized osteochondrosis of the spine develops, the standards of treatment of which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort from the of the patient and doctors.
The cartilaginous tissue and the bones of the leg joints also undergo destructive processes. Sharp pains during movement, cramps and pain in the calf muscles, numbness of the fingers and decreased sensitivity of the skin of the legs are associated with lumbosacral osteochondrosis.
However, more often these symptoms indicate osteochondrosis of the leg, the treatment of which begins with a visit to a neurologist and is successfully carried out with the help of classic massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and acupuncture.
And how to cure osteochondrosis of the spine? In fact, over time, the body compensates for the "missing" height of the discs by growing bone tissue from the vertebral bodies, and growing together, these growths immobilize individual segments of the "axis of life. "
How to treat exacerbations of osteochondrosis?
In addition to the rapid elimination of pain, the main goal of treatment of exacerbated osteochondrosis is to eliminate muscle spasm and combat swelling of inflamed tissues that compress the nerve roots.
In the acute period, modern standards for the treatment of osteochondrosis prescribe treatment aimed at unloading the spine and eliminating pain:
- In the acute period, especially in the presence of intervertebral hernia, the patient is shown treatment with one position: strict bed rest, the duration of which is at least 6 days;
- Analgesics contribute to the relief of inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis, painkillers are prescribed, as well as NSAIDs;
- With a severe and stable pain syndrome, an anesthetic injection with a glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated. With exacerbated osteochondrosis, these drugs provide a prolonged analgesic effect;
- With excruciating pain that deprives sleep in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and tranquilizers is recommended;
- With hypertonicity of the muscles of the back and lower extremities, muscle relaxants of central action are prescribed;
- When decompressing the spine, diuretics are used to relieve swelling;
- Local treatment of pain in osteochondrosis is provided by ointments and gels with an anti-inflammatory component. They are applied to the site of localization of pain;
- To optimize the blood supply to the spine, angioprotective and venotonic drugs are prescribed, which eliminate congestion in the bloodstream, as well as nicotinic acid, which is a vasodilator;
- Surgery is often the only correct solution for paralysis.
Where do we treat osteochondrosis?
As a rule, the patient goes through a kind of circle: a hospital, treatment in a clinic, hydropathic or sanatorium, home treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Often, even in the acute period, treatment is carried out at home; however, with the low effectiveness of the listed therapeutic measures, the issue of hospitalization of the patient is decided.
Osteochondrosis recovery period
After an acute period, efforts should be directed at inhibiting destructive processes and optimizing metabolism and local blood flow. The expected result of the treatment is the maximum restoration of the cartilaginous tissue.
The goal of the next stage of treatment of osteochondrosis is to eliminate the consequences of neurological complications and prevent future exacerbations, preventing further degeneration of the soft "components" of the spine.
How do we treat osteochondrosis in the recovery period?
The reception of pharmaceutical preparations at this stage continues. The most important are vitamins A, E, P, C and most of the "representatives" of group B, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels and restore the normal "course" of the nerve impulse, as well as chondoprotectors. The latter are cartilage extracts, a kind of pills for osteochondrosis, which stimulate the restoration of "sagging" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory component is often added to its composition, which makes it possible to reduce the dose of NSAIDs. Chondoprotectors are taken without exacerbation of the pain syndrome.
To enhance the action of oral chondoprotectors, it is recommended to use a cream for osteochondrosis, as well as ointments based on chondroitin and glucosamine.
Relatively new and good remedies for osteochondrosis are patches.
Small pieces of fabric with an adhesive surface help retain heat, anesthetize and slow down destructive processes at the attachment site:
- Chinese osteochondrosis patches, containing herbal ingredients and beeswax, hasten the final subsidence of inflammation and relax muscles. With the disappearance of pain, the metabolic processes are normalized and, with them, the trophism of the affected segment;
- Pepper plaster for osteochondrosis, due to the presence of "burning" belladonna, pine rosin and pepper, stimulates the blood supply to the problem area, eliminates muscle spasm and accelerates the swelling of tissues that compress the nerve roots ;
Physiotherapy and alternative therapies
As the inflammation subsides, further rehabilitation in the presence of complications of osteochondrosis is carried out by non-pharmacological exposure methods. The emphasis in treatment is shifting towards physical therapy and alternative methods.
The main objective of this period is the expansion of the engine speed.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without drugs:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures: infrared laser, magnetotherapy, chondroxide phonophoresis help relieve muscle hypertonicity and symptoms of "tension" of the nerves, and also allow you to deliver chondroitin, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue, directly into the diseased segment ;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis rarely works without traction or stretching of the spine under the influence of its own weight, additional load or the forces of a chiropractor. The most accessible method of spinal traction, especially when osteochondrosis is combined with stooping, is hanging from the horizontal bar. But even this simple exercise is fraught with complications if the technique is incorrect, so any method of traction should be discussed with your doctor;
- It is also possible to improve the blood supply to the spine and normalize metabolic processes by punctual action with fine needles on the plexuses of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissues. In addition, acupuncture for osteochondrosis causes the release of endogenous opiates that act as analgesics, as well as the production of "anti-inflammatory" cortisol, thus eliminating the need to administer its synthetic equivalent. Gradual relaxation of the paraspinal muscles also helps reduce pain;
- Often, the treatment of osteochondrosis becomes a "life's work", and positive comments are left by patients who have tried many ways to relieve suffering about the healing properties of apitoxin and bee products.
Thus, therapeutic doses of bee venom significantly reduce inflammation and relieve pain more effectively than analgesics and NSAIDs, promote vasodilation and accelerate nutrient supply.
Without what is recovery impossible?
Perhaps before the onset of the disease, the daily routine was not your priority. In the recovery period, the "update" of the natural depreciation mechanism is impossible if the schedule of rest, nutrition and physical activity is not observed.
Therefore, study the hygiene of postures and movements - the ability to observe it in everyday life will allow you to "unload" the spine.
place to sleep
Start by organizing a night of rest. In the acute phase, put a hard shield under a normal mattress. What mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of postural deformities - orthopedic. In the presence of curvature, the bed must be more rigid.
The use of orthopedic pillows is recommended for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
After getting up from bed rest, the patient is recommended to wear a corset; in case of osteochondrosis, it unloads the affected segments and prevents spasm of weakened muscles. The duration of its use is determined by the doctor.
Nutrition
Check your diet. Perhaps, if it was not ideal before, the springboard to recovery will be. . . starvationIt is known that the first fast aggravates the disease, the subsequent fast cures it. How does fasting treat osteochondrosis? In fact, the intervertebral disc is a small hydraulic shock absorber. Like a cushion of water, the disc absorbs shock. The alternating compression and release of pressure on the disc keeps it hydrated.
According to the author's method, dry fasting contributes to the removal of "waste", "dead" water from the tissues surrounding the disc and stimulates the renewal of its own purified intercellular fluid.
Fasting should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
Physical education
The best remedy for osteochondrosis is physical education. Performing exercises for self-extension of the spine and strengthening of the muscles of the body, selected by the instructor of exercise therapy, should become a daily rule. Training should be carried out serially, several times a day, in the periods between exacerbations.
So, a modern and at the same time reasonable trend in the treatment of osteochondrosis is segmental gymnastics. Schematically, it can be represented in two phases: muscle stretching through movements whose amplitude slightly exceeds the existing mobility in the joint or segment, and electrical muscle stimulation, combined with local gymnastics and acupressure at the site of the "hidden" disease. .
Thus, a relaxation of the paravertebral muscles is produced, followed by a stimulation of the blood supply, which gives rise to the regenerative process.
Pain often indicates serious "malfunction" in the spine. Therefore, do not postpone the visit to the doctor and stay healthy!