Today it is difficult to find a person who does not know what osteochondrosis is. Unfortunately, the disease has recently become much younger. It is not only the elderly who suffer from the disease. Increasingly, pathology is observed in young people, and sometimes even in schoolchildren. That is why the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back is of interest to most people. So, consider how to deal with such a formidable disease.
Treatment methods
Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized as a degenerative disorder of cartilage. Pathology leads to the emergence of a persistent pain syndrome and is able to limit motor activity. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back includes many different directions.
The most popular ones are:
- massage;
- physiotherapy treatments;
- exercise complex;
- manual therapy.
In case of severe pain, the doctor will prescribe:
- NSAID;
- painkillers;
- multivitamin complexes;
- chondroprotectors.
Along with such therapy, it does not lose itsrelevance of the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back with folk remedies. Indeed, in most cases, such methods do not require significant financial costs. Traditional medicine recipes are easy to use. In addition, they are able to have a significant healing effect.
Symptoms of the disease
Manifestations of pathology directly depend on where the lesion is localized. In addition, the degree of damage and the nature of the violation of the intervertebral discs play an important role.
According to the place of localization, the following types of illness are distinguished:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- sacral.
Each of them is characterized by its own characteristics. Therefore, it is advisable to understand them before considering the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Symptoms (at home, you can suspect a pathology, but provide the diagnosis to the doctor) at the initial stage may be little expressed. A bright clinic is characteristic of advanced pathologies.
Cervical symptoms:
- Headache. Most often occurs in the region of the back of the head and parietal-temporal region. The discomfort is permanent. As a result of a sharp turn of the head, a person can lose consciousness. The symptom is often accompanied by a decrease in hearing, vision, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea.
- Increase in pressure. Muscle tension disrupts blood flow in the vessels.
- Syndrome of the vertebral artery. This is a combination of the following clinical signs: "flies" before the eyes, noise in the head,throbbing, burning headache, dizziness.
- Discomfort in arms and shoulders. Significantly increases with stress.
Signs of pathology in the thoracic region:
- Chest pain. Significantly aggravated after exertion or prolonged immobility.
- Intercostal neuralgia. Aching or burning discomfort in the shoulder blades.
- Pain in the region of the heart. It has a pressing, boring, long character.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is characterized by symptoms:
- Feeling of "locked back". The muscles are very tense.
- Pain in the lumbosacral region. Discomfort is aggravated by heavy lifting, coughing, sneezing, sudden movements.
- Tingling, numbness, chilliness of limbs.
- Impaired sweating.
- Dry, flaky skin.
Using injections
If the patient experiences severe pain, the doctor will prescribe injections. Injections are the most effective treatment for back osteochondrosis. Injections allow you to quickly stop unpleasant symptoms.
Therapy includes the following drugs:
- NSAIDs. Such drugs can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, reduce intoxication syndrome. Thanks to the injection, a favorable result is observed within a couple of minutes after the injection. The most commonly prescribed medications are: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Movalis, Meloxicam, Ketoprofen, Lornoxicam.
- Painkillers. ToUnfortunately, it is not always possible to completely get rid of pain with the help of NSAIDs. Therefore, therapy includes painkillers: Lidocaine, Novocain, Trimecaine. These medicines allow you to block an unpleasant syndrome.
- B vitamins. Modern studies have confirmed that during acute attacks of osteochondrosis, the use of such drugs significantly reduces pain. That is why vitamins are included in complex therapy: Milgamma, Neurobion, Kombilipen, Trigamma.
- Muscle relaxants. Often the pain is based on muscle spasm. As a result, the nerve root is stretched. This provokes the appearance of a secondary radicular syndrome. To save the patient from such a condition, and therefore reduce pain, it is necessary to relieve muscle spasm. It is with this task that muscle relaxants cope: Mydocalm, Tolperison.
- Chondroprotectors. The drugs allow to achieve a long-term positive, and at the same time stable, effect in the treatment. These drugs contribute to the restoration of the cartilage structure. At the beginning of the development of the disease, these drugs are very effective. Such injections can be administered intramuscularly. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe an injection into the affected joints. Effective drugs are Alflutop, Chondroitin sulfate.
Pill prescribing
In most cases, injections are prescribed for patients who are admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the back. Treatment at home often involves taking the tablet form of drugs.
Therapy is based on application:
- NSAIDs:Celebrex, Arcoxia, Texamen, Nalgezin, Diklak, Naklofen, Movalis, Artrozan, Voltaren, Ortofen.
- Miorelaxants: Tolperisone, Mydocalm, Hydroxysin, Atarax, Baclofen, Baclosan, Tizanidin, Sirdalud, Tizanil, Tizalud.
- Combined painkillers: Dolaren, Panoxen, Neurodiclovit.
Effective ointments
One should not forget about the local effect on the painful area. Various ointments, gels, creams can perfectly eliminate pain. Therefore, their use is necessarily included in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Ointments are recommended as follows:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs-non-steroids: "Quick-gel", "Fastum-gel".
- Ointments based on snake or bee venom, leech extract, menthol, bischofite, plant extracts.
- Drugs of complex action: "Dolobene-gel".
- Massage products: Arthrocin gel, comfrey ointment, Shungite cream.
Pain-relieving patches are very popular. Such a remedy can quickly and effectively relieve pain.
Folk methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back using old recipes allows you to achieve excellent results. But only if it is combined with the main therapy.
Doctors warn that the independent use of folk recipes, without consulting a doctor, can lead to serious and serious consequences.
Also,you should be aware that such therapy, as well as drug therapy, can cause various adverse reactions and poisoning if a person ignores the rules for use.
It is important to strictly follow the dosage, the course of treatment. And at the same time, take into account the compatibility of folk remedies with prescribed medicines. That is why, before starting treatment, be sure to consult your doctor.
Rubbing for pathology
Such activities can significantly reduce back pain in osteochondrosis. Treatment with rubbing should be done daily for 10-15 days.
The following recipes are effective:
- Horseradish with vodka. Rubbing these compositions is best done at night. To prepare the medicine, it is necessary to grind the horseradish root in a meat grinder. Add the same amount of vodka to this gruel. The mixture should be rubbed on painful areas.
- Hops and pork fat. The last component must first be melted. Pork fat should be at room temperature. This ingredient will need 1 tbsp. l. Add mashed hops to the fat also in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. The rubbing procedure is best done just before bedtime. After rubbing the composition, it is recommended to wrap the affected area with a warm blanket or scarf.
- Juniper and bay leaf. In addition to these components, you will also need butter - 12 tsp. Combine the ground juniper leaves (1 tsp) with carefully chopped bay leaves (6 tsp). Enter into the mixturebutter and stir until smooth. This ointment should be rubbed on the back 1-2 times throughout the day.
Using compresses
These procedures provide effective treatment of osteochondrosis of the back and neck. Such procedures should be done every day for 5-15 days.
Healers advise using the following compresses:
- Burdock. Use a fresh leaf. Spread it out. Then apply to the affected area. Top with a warm blanket. Hold the compress for about 30-40 minutes.
- Honey and potatoes. The last component is used in its raw form. Peel the tuber and chop it on a grater. Mix potato pulp with honey in equal proportions. Apply the resulting composition to the sore spot. Top with polyethylene and wrap with a blanket. The compress is placed at 2.
Herbal baths
This treatment of osteochondrosis of the back will alleviate suffering after the first procedure. However, remember that water activities should last no more than 30 minutes.
The following herbal baths are recommended:
- Horse chestnut. Chop the fruits. Pour the composition with water and boil the ingredients for 20 minutes. Then pour the infusion into the bath.
- Birch leaves. You will need dry leaves of May birch. Fill the component with boiling water. Let the mixture stand.
- Chamomile flowers. Pour boiling water over the dry component. Infuse the composition for about 30 minutes. Add strained liquid to your bath.
Healers recommend spending bothat least 7 procedures. In this case, it is advisable to alternate recipes for the bath.
Additional methods
Only an integrated approach can give excellent results.
Therefore, along with medication and alternative treatment, the following rules should be followed:
- Follow proper nutrition, rich in minerals, vitamins. It is advisable to exclude fatty and cholesterol-containing foods.
- Give up bad habits. Alcohol and smoking provoke spasms.
- Limit the use of strong tea, coffee.
- Pick up an orthopedic pillow and mattress.
Patient feedback
Now let's consider what therapy is considered the most effective by people diagnosed with back osteochondrosis.
Treatment, patient reviews confirm this, should only be comprehensive. Drug therapy, supplemented by massage, a complex of exercise therapy, the use of folk recipes, can alleviate symptoms. At the same time, each patient indicates his list of procedures that brought relief.
Analyzing such reviews, we can conclude that therapy for the patient should be selected purely individually.
