The story of how the king treated osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard were added to a large cauldron full of hot water and the king, a great hunter for a pleasant and useful pastime in a hot bath, slowly plunged into it 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?
Risk of "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, which gradually loses its ability to "accept", is covered with cracks due to increasing pressure, and its contents "squeeze" over time - an intervertebral hernia is formed.
The leaking fluid compresses the nerve endings of the spinal cord, breaking the "connection" between all the internal organs of a person. So osteochondrosis of the chest region makes for years the treatment of gastritis or the search for the cause of heart pain; Lumbar or lumbosacral osteochondrosis can cause partial or complete paralysis of the lower extremities, and the cervix - complicates the blood supply to the brain.
Sometimes the disease affects several departments of the "backbone" - diffuse osteochondrosis of the spine develops, the standards of treatment for which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort on the part of the patient anddoctors.
The cartilaginous tissues and bones of the ankle joints also suffer from destructive processes. Movement pain, cramps and pain in the calf muscles, numbness of the toes and decreased sensitivity of the skin of the feet are associated with lumbosacral osteochondrosis.
Most often, however, these symptoms indicate osteochondrosis of the foot, the treatment of which begins with a visit to a neurologist and is successfully performed with the help of classical massage, manual therapy, osteopathy and acupuncture.
And how to cure osteochondrosis of the spine? Indeed, over time, the body compensates for the "missing" height of the discs by increasing the bone tissue of the vertebral bodies and, growing together, such growths immobilize individual segments of the "axis of life. "
How to treat exacerbations of osteochondrosis?
In addition to rapid pain relief, the main goal of treating worsening osteochondrosis is to eliminate muscle spasm and combat the swelling of inflamed tissues that suppress nerve roots.
In the acute period, modern standards for the treatment of osteochondrosis prescribe treatment aimed at relieving the spine and eliminating pain:
- In the acute period, especially in the presence of an intervertebral hernia, the patient is shown treatment with one position - strict bed rest, the duration of which is at least 6 days;
- Painkillers contribute to the relief of inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis, analgesics are prescribed, as well as NSAIDs;
- With a persistent, severe pain syndrome, an anesthetic injection with a glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated. With worsening osteochondrosis, these drugs offer a prolonged analgesic effect;
- With unbearable pain, depriving sleep in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and sedatives is recommended;
- With hypertension of the muscles of the back and lower extremities, relaxants of central action muscles are prescribed;
- During spinal decompression, diuretics are used to relieve swelling;
- Local treatment of pain in osteochondrosis is provided by ointments and gels with an anti-inflammatory ingredient. They are applied to the site of pain localization;
- 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 to treat osteochondrosis?
As a rule, the patient goes through some kind of district - a hospital - treatment in a clinic - a hydropathic or sanatorium - home treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Often, even in the acute period, treatment is performed at home, however, with the low effectiveness of the listed therapeutic measures, the issue of hospitalization of the patient is decided.
Recovery period for osteochondrosis
After an acute period, efforts should be aimed at curbing destructive processes and optimizing local blood flow and metabolism. The expected result of the treatment is the maximum restoration of cartilage tissue.
The goal of the next phase of osteochondrosis treatment is to eliminate the consequences of neurological complications and prevent future deterioration, preventing further degeneration of the soft "components" of the spine.
How to treat osteochondrosis in the recovery period?
Acceptance of pharmaceutical preparations at this stage continues. The most important of these 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 chondroprotectors. The latter are cartilage extracts - a type of pill for osteochondrosis, stimulating the restoration of "dependent" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory ingredient is often added to their composition, which makes it possible to reduce the dose of NSAIDs. Condoprotectors are taken without exacerbation of pain syndrome.
To increase the action of oral chondroprotectors, it is advisable to use a cream for osteochondrosis, as well as ointments based on chondroitin and glucosamine.
Relatively new and good medicines for osteochondrosis are patches.
Small pieces of fabric with an adhesive surface help retain heat, anesthesia and slow down destructive processes at the adhesive site:
- Chinese patches for osteochondrosis, which contain herbal ingredients and beeswax, accelerate the final reduction of inflammation and relax the muscles. With the disappearance of pain, metabolic processes are normalized, and with them - the trophism of the affected segment;
- Pepper plaster for osteochondrosis, due to the presence of "burnt" belladonna, rosin of pine and pepper, stimulates blood supply to the problem area, eliminating muscle spasm and accelerating swelling of tissues that suppress nerve roots;
Physiotherapy and alternative therapy
As inflammation decreases, further rehabilitation in the presence of osteochondrosis complications is performed with non-drug exposure methods. The emphasis in treatment is shifting to physiotherapy and alternative methods.
The main purpose of this period is to expand the motor regime.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without medication:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures - infrared laser, magnetotherapy, chondroxide phonophoresis help relieve muscle hypertension and symptoms of nerve "tension", and also allow you to distribute chondroitin, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue, directly into the segment ofunhealthy;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis rarely occurs without pulling or stretching the spine under the influence of its weight, extra load, or chiropractor forces. The most accessible method of spinal traction, especially when osteochondrosis is combined with flexion, is hanging on the horizontal bar. But even this simple exercise is fraught with complications if the technique is incorrect, so any method of withdrawal should be discussed with the doctor;
- It is also possible to improve the blood supply to the spine and normalize metabolic processes in it by acting with fine needle point on the plexuses of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissues. In addition, acupuncture for osteochondrosis provokes the release of endogenous opiates that act as analgesics, as well as the production of "anti-inflammatory" cortisol, which eliminates the need to administer its synthetic counterpart. Gradual relaxation of the paravertebral muscles also helps reduce pain;
- Often, the treatment of osteochondrosis becomes the "work of life" and patients who have tried many ways to alleviate suffering, leave positive feedback on 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 an accelerated supply of nutrients.
Without what recovery is impossible?
Maybe before the onset of the disease, the daily routine was not your priority. In the recovery period, "updating" the natural cushioning mechanism is impossible if the schedule of rest, food 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.
The place to sleep
Start by arranging a night out. In the acute phase, place a strong shield under a regular mattress. What mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of behavioral deformities - orthopedic. In the presence of bending, the bed should be stiffer.
The use of orthopedic pillows is recommended for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
After getting out of bed rest, the patient is recommended to use a corset - in case of osteochondrosis, it discharges the affected segments, preventing spasm of weakened muscles. The duration of its use is determined by the doctor.
Nutrition
Review your diet. Perhaps, if previously it was not ideal, the springboard to recovery will be. . . uria. It 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 water cushion, disc pads affect. Alternating compression and releasing pressure on the disc keeps it hydrated.
According to the author's method, dry fasting contributes to the elimination of "waste", "dead" water from the tissues surrounding the disc and stimulates the renewal of its purified intercellular fluid.
Fasting should be done under the supervision of a doctor.
Physical education
The best medicine for osteochondrosis is physical education. Performing exercises for self-extension of the spine and strengthening of the muscles of the body, chosen by the instructor of exercise therapy, should become a daily rule. Training should be done in series, 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 stages: the extension of the muscle through movements, the amplitude of which slightly exceeds the existing movement in the joint or segment, and the electrical stimulation of the muscle, combined with local gymnastics and acupressure at the "hidden" disease site. .
Thus, there is a relaxation of the paravertebral muscles, followed by stimulation of the blood supply, which triggers the regeneration process.
Pain often signals serious "malfunctions" in the spine. Therefore, do not postpone the visit to the doctor and be healthy!