The story of how the king treated osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard was added to a huge vat filled with hot water, and the king, a great hunter of a pleasant and useful hobby in a hot bath, slowly dipped 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?
The danger of "unyielding" 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 "spring" ability, 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, disrupting the "connection" between all of a person's internal organs. Thus, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region takes years to treat gastritis or look for the cause of heart pain; 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 for which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort on the part of the patient and doctors.
The cartilaginous tissue and bones of the leg joints also undergo destructive processes. Shooting 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 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 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 quickly removing pain, the main goal of treating exacerbated osteochondrosis is to eliminate muscle spasm and fight swelling of inflamed tissues that compress 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 an intervertebral hernia, the patient is treated with one position - absolute rest, the duration of which is at least 6 days;
- Analgesics contribute to the relief of inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis, analgesics are prescribed, as well as NSAIDs;
- With a severe and stable pain syndrome, an anesthetic injection with glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated. With exacerbated osteochondrosis, these drugs provide a prolonged analgesic effect;
- With unbearable pain and sleep deprivation in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and tranquilizers is recommended;
- With hypertonicity of the muscles of the back and lower extremities, centrally acting muscle relaxants 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 at the location of the pain;
- To optimize the blood supply to the spine, angioprotective and venotonic drugs are prescribed, which eliminate congestion in the bloodstream, in addition to 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 undergoes a kind of circle - a hospital - treatment in a clinic - a hydropathic or sanatorium - treatment at home under the supervision of a doctor.
Often, even in the acute period, treatment is performed at home, however, with the low effectiveness of the therapeutic measures listed, the question of patient hospitalization is decided.
Recovery period for osteochondrosis
After an acute period, efforts should be directed towards inhibiting destructive processes and optimizing local blood flow and metabolism. The expected result of the treatment is the maximum restoration of cartilage tissue.
The aim of the next stage of osteochondrosis treatment is to eliminate the consequences of neurological complications and prevent exacerbations in the future, preventing further degeneration of the soft "components" of the spine.
How do we treat osteochondrosis in the recovery period?
Reception of pharmaceutical drugs at this stage continues. The most important of them are vitamins A, E, P, C and most of the "representatives" of the B group, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels and restore the normal "course" of the nerve impulse, as well as condoprotectors. The latter are cartilage extracts - a kind of pills for osteochondrosis, stimulating the restoration of "flaccid" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory component is often added to its composition, which makes it possible to reduce the dosage of NSAIDs. Condoprotectants are taken without exacerbation of the pain syndrome.
To enhance the action of oral chondroprotectors, it is advisable to use a cream for osteochondrosis, in addition to ointments based on chondroitin and glucosamine.
Relatively new and good remedies for osteochondrosis are patches.
Small pieces of tissue with an adhesive surface help to retain heat, anesthetize and slow down destructive processes at the attachment site:
- Chinese patches for osteochondrosis, containing herbal ingredients and beeswax, accelerate the ultimate decrease in 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 "burned" belladonna, pine resin and pepper, stimulates the blood supply to the problem area, eliminating muscle spasm and accelerating the swelling of the tissues that compress the nerve roots;
Physiotherapy and alternative therapies
As inflammation subsides, further rehabilitation in the presence of complications of osteochondrosis is carried out by non-drug exposure methods. The emphasis on treatment is shifting to physical therapy and alternative methods.
The main objective of this period is the expansion of the motor regime.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without medication:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures - infrared laser, magnetotherapy, chondroxide phonophoresis help relieve muscle hypertonicity and nerve "tension" symptoms and also allow you to deliver chondroitin, which prevents cartilage tissue destruction, directly into the unhealthy segment;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis rarely dispenses with traction or stretching of the spine under the influence of its own weight, additional load, or the forces of a chiropractor. The most affordable method of spinal traction, particularly when osteochondrosis is combined with tilting, is horizontal bar suspension. But even this simple exercise is fraught with complications if the technique is incorrect, so any traction methods should be discussed with the doctor;
- It is also possible to improve the blood supply to the spine and normalize the metabolic processes in it 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 opioids that act as pain relievers, as well as the production of "anti-inflammatory" cortisol, which eliminates the need to administer its synthetic equivalent. Gradual relaxation of the paraspinal muscles also helps to reduce pain;
- Often, treating osteochondrosis becomes a "life's work", and patients who have tried many ways to alleviate suffering leave positive feedback 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, promoting vasodilation and an accelerated supply of nutrients.
Without what is recovery impossible?
Perhaps before the onset of the illness, the daily routine was not his priority. In the recovery period, the "update" of the natural mechanism of depreciation 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's rest. In the acute phase, place a rigid shield under a regular mattress. What mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of postural deformities - orthopedic. In the presence of curvature, the bed should be more rigid.
The use of orthopedic pillows is recommended for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
After coming out of bed rest, the patient is recommended to wear a corset - in case of osteochondrosis, it unloads the affected segments, preventing spasm of weakened muscles. The duration of its use is determined by the doctor.
Nutrition
Review your diet. Perhaps, if it wasn't ideal before, the springboard to recovery will be. . . the hunger. It is known that the first fasting aggravates the disease, the subsequent fasting the cure. How does fasting treat osteochondrosis? In fact, the intervertebral disc is a small hydraulic shock absorber. Like a cushion of water, the disc cushions impacts. The alternating compression and release of 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 own purified intercellular fluid.
Fasting should be performed under the supervision of a physician.
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 exercise therapy instructor, should become a daily rule. Training should be performed in series, several times a day, in the periods between exacerbations.
Thus, 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 muscle electrical stimulation, combined with local gymnastics and acupressure at the site of the "hidden" disease .
Thus, there is a relaxation of the paravertebral muscles, followed by stimulation of the blood supply, which gives rise to the regenerative process.
Pain often signals serious "malfunctions" in the spine. So don't put off visiting the doctor and stay healthy!