The story of how the king treated osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard was added to a huge tub filled with hot water, and the king, great hunter for a pleasant and useful pastime in a hot bath, slowly dived 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?
The danger 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 "snap", 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. So, osteochondrosis of the thoracic 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 limbs and cervical - complicates the blood supply to the brain.
Sometimes the disease affects different departments of the "pillar of life" - diffuse osteochondrosis of the spine develops, the treatment standards of which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort on the part of the patient and doctors.
The cartilage tissue and bones of the leg joints also suffer from destructive processes. Shooting pains during movement, cramps and pain in the calf muscles, numbness in 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 with the growth of the bone tissue of the vertebral bodies and, growing together, these growths immobilize the individual segments of the "axis of life".
How to treat exacerbations of osteochondrosis?
In addition to the rapid removal of pain, the main goal of treating exacerbated osteochondrosis is to eliminate muscle spasm and fight swelling of the inflamed tissues that compress the 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;
- Pain relievers contribute to the relief of inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis, analgesics and NSAIDs are prescribed;
- With a stable and severe pain syndrome, an injection of anesthetic with glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated. With exacerbated osteochondrosis, these drugs provide a prolonged analgesic effect;
- With unbearable and sleepless pain in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and tranquilizers is recommended;
- With hypertonicity of the muscles of the back and lower limbs, 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 to the pain localization site;
- 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 some kind of circle - a hospital - a treatment in a clinic - a hydropath or a sanatorium - a home treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Often, even in the acute period, the treatment is carried out at home, however, with the poor effectiveness of the listed therapeutic measures, the question of hospitalization of the patient is decided.
Recovery period for osteochondrosis
After an acute period, efforts should be aimed at inhibiting destructive processes and optimizing local blood flow and metabolism. The expected result of the treatment is the maximum restoration of the cartilage tissue.
The goal of the next stage of osteochondrosis treatment is to eliminate the consequences of neurological complications and prevent exacerbations in the future by preventing further degeneration of the soft "components" of the spine.
How do we treat osteochondrosis in the recovery period?
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 condoprotectors. The latter are cartilage extracts - a kind of osteochondrosis pills, which stimulate the restoration of "sagging" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory component is often added to their composition, which allows to reduce the dosage of NSAIDs. Co-protectors are taken without exacerbation of the pain syndrome.
To enhance the action of oral chondoprotectors, it is advisable 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 the destructive processes at the attack site:
- Chinese osteochondrosis patches, containing herbal ingredients and beeswax, accelerate the eventual subsidence of inflammation and relax muscles. With the disappearance of pain, metabolic processes normalize and, with them, the trophism of the affected segment;
- The pepper patch for osteochondrosis, due to the presence of "burning" belladonna, pine rosin 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
When the inflammation subsides, further rehabilitation in the presence of complications of osteochondrosis is carried out by non-drug methods of exposure. The emphasis in treatment is shifting to physiotherapy and alternative methods.
The main focus of this period is the expansion of the motor regime.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without drugs:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures: infrared lasers, magnetotherapy, phonophoresis with chondroxide help to relieve muscle hypertonia and the symptoms of "tension" of the nerves and also allow to deliver chondroitin, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue, directly in the unhealthy segment;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis rarely does without traction or stretching of the spine under the influence of one's own weight, additional load, or the forces of a chiropractor. The most accessible method of spinal traction, especially when osteochondrosis is combined with curvature, is hung on 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 the doctor;
- It is also possible to improve the blood supply to the spine and normalize the metabolic processes in it by means of a point action with fine needles on the plexuses of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissues. Additionally, acupuncture for osteochondrosis causes the release of endogenous opioids that act as analgesics, as well as the production of "anti-inflammatory" cortisol, which eliminates the need to administer its synthetic counterpart. The gradual relaxation of the paravertebral muscles also helps reduce pain;
- Often the treatment of osteochondrosis becomes a "life's work" and patients who have tried many ways to relieve suffering leave positive feedback on the healing properties of apitoxin and bee products.
Therefore, therapeutic doses of bee venom significantly reduce inflammation and relieve pain more effectively than analgesics and NSAIDs, promote vasodilation and accelerated 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 "updating" of the natural depreciation mechanism is impossible if the program of rest, nutrition and physical activity is not followed.
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 your night's rest. In the acute phase, place a stiff shield under an ordinary mattress. Which mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of postural - orthopedic deformities. 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 getting out of bed, the patient is advised to use a brace: 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 launch pad for recovery will be. . . hunger. The first fasting is known to aggravate the disease, the subsequent fasting to cure 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 impacts. The alternation of compression and pressure release 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 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 physical therapy instructor, should become a daily rule. Training should be done in series, several times a day, in the periods between flare-ups.
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: muscle stretching through movements, the amplitude of which slightly exceeds the existing mobility in the joint or segment, and electrical muscle stimulation, combined with local gymnastics and acupressure in place of "hidden" disease. .
Thus, there is a relaxation of the paravertebral muscles, followed by a stimulation of the blood supply, which gives rise to the regenerative process.
Pain often signals severe "malfunction" of the spine. Therefore, do not postpone the visit to the doctor and be healthy!