The story of how the king cured osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard were added to a huge tub full of hot water, and the king, a great hunter of pleasant and useful entertainment in a hot tub, slowly immersed himself in 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 fine 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 "stretch", is covered with cracks due to increasing pressure, and its contents over time "squeeze" - an intervertebral hernia is formed.
The leaked fluid compresses the nerve endings of the spinal cord, disrupting the "connection" between all the internal organs of a person. So, osteochondrosis of the chest area has been treating gastritis for years or looking for the cause of heart pain; lumbar or lumbosacral osteochondrosis can cause partial or complete paralysis of the lower extremities, and cervical - complicates the blood supply to the brain.
Sometimes the disease affects several parts of the "ladder of life" - widespread osteochondrosis of the spine, the standards of treatment of which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort on the part of the patient and doctors.
Cartilage and bone in the joints of the legs also suffer from destructive processes. Shooting pains during movement, cramps and calf muscle pain, numbness of the toes and decreased sensitivity of the skin of the feet are associated with lumbosacral osteochondrosis.
However, more often these symptoms indicate osteochondrosis of the legs, the treatment of which begins with a visit to a neurologist and is performed successfully with the help of classical massage, chiropractic, osteopathy and acupuncture.
And how to cure osteochondrosis of the spine? In fact, over time, the body compensates for the "missing" disc height by growing the bone tissue of the vertebral bodies, and growing together, such growths immobilize individual segments of the "axis of life. "
How to treat exacerbation 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 an intervertebral hernia, the patient is shown treatment with a position - strict bed rest, the duration of which is at least 6 days;
- Painkillers help relieve inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis analgesics are prescribed, as well as NSAIDs;
- Anesthetic injection of glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated for stable, severe pain. In acute osteochondrosis, these drugs provide a long-lasting analgesic effect;
- In unbearable, sleep-depriving pain in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and tranquilizers is recommended;
- In case of hypertension of the muscles of the back and lower extremities, muscle relaxants with central action are prescribed;
- In spinal decompression, diuretics are used to relieve edema;
- Local treatment of pain in osteochondrosis is provided by ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory component. They are applied at the site of pain;
- To optimize the blood supply to the spine, angioprotective drugs and venotonics are prescribed, which remove congestion in the bloodstream, as well as nicotinic acid, which is a vasodilator;
- Surgery is often the only correct solution to paralysis.
Where do we treat osteochondrosis?
As a rule, the patient goes through a kind of circle - hospital - treatment in a clinic - hydropathy or sanatorium - treatment at home under the supervision of a doctor.
Often, even in the acute period, treatment is carried out at home, but the low effectiveness of the listed therapeutic measures solves the issue of hospitalization of the patient.
Recovery period in osteochondrosis
After an acute period, efforts should be focused on inhibiting destructive processes and optimizing local blood flow and metabolism. The expected result of the treatment is maximum recovery of the cartilage tissue.
The goal of the next stage of osteochondrosis treatment is to eliminate the effects of neurological complications and prevent future exacerbations by preventing further degeneration of the soft "components" of the spine.
How to treat osteochondrosis in the recovery period?
The use of pharmaceuticals at this stage continues. The most important of these are vitamins A, E, P, C and most "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 that stimulates the recovery of "sagging" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory component is often added to their composition, which makes it possible to reduce the dose of NSAIDs. Chondoprotectors are taken without exacerbation of the pain syndrome.
To enhance the effect of oral chondroprotectors, 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 the destructive processes at the site of attachment:
- Chinese osteochondrosis patches, containing herbal ingredients and beeswax, accelerate the final disappearance of inflammation and relax 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 "burning" belladonna, rosin and black pepper, stimulates the blood supply to the problem area, eliminates muscle spasm and accelerates the swelling of tissues that press on nerve roots;
Physiotherapy and alternative therapies
As the inflammation subsides, further rehabilitation in the presence of complications of osteochondrosis is performed by non-drug methods of exposure. The emphasis in treatment is shifting to physiotherapy and alternative methods.
The main goal of this period is to expand the motor regime.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without drugs:
- Physiotherapy procedures - infrared laser, magnetic therapy, chondroxide phonophoresis help relieve muscle hypertonia and symptoms of "tension" of the nerves, and also allow you to deliver chondroitin, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue, directly in the unhealthy segment;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis is rarely performed without tightening or stretching the spine under the influence of its own weight, extra load or the forces of chiropractic. The most accessible method of tightening the spine, especially when osteochondrosis is combined with flexion, is to hang the horizontal bar. But even this simple exercise is fraught with complications if the technique is incorrect, so all methods of withdrawal should be discussed with your doctor;
- It is also possible to improve the blood supply to the spine and to normalize metabolic processes in it by point action with thin needles on the plexuses of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissue. 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 use its synthetic analogue. Gradually relaxing the paravertebral muscles also helps reduce pain;
- Often the treatment of osteochondrosis becomes a "work of life", and patients who have tried many ways to alleviate the 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 accelerated nutrient supply.
Without what is recovery impossible?
Maybe before the onset of the disease, everyday life was not your priority. During the recovery period, the "updating" of the natural depreciation mechanism is impossible if the schedule for rest, meals 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 for sleep
Start by organizing a night's rest. In the acute phase, place a hard shield under an ordinary mattress. What mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of deformations of the posture - orthopedic. In the presence of curvature, the bed should be firmer.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the use of orthopedic pillows is recommended.
After getting out of bed, the patient is advised to use a corset - in case of osteochondrosis, he unloads the affected segments, preventing spasm of weakened muscles. The duration of wearing it is determined by the doctor.
Nutrition
Review your diet. Maybe, if it wasn't perfect before, the springboard for recovery will be. . . hunger. It is known that the first fasting worsens the disease, the subsequent fasting cures it. How does fasting cure osteochondrosis? In fact, the intervertebral disc is a small hydraulic shock absorber. Like a water cushion, disc cushions collide. Alternating compression and releasing pressure on the disc keeps it hydrated.
According to the author's method, dry starvation contributes to the elimination of "waste", "dead" water from the tissues around 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 treatment for osteochondrosis is physical education. Exercises for self-stretching the spine and strengthening the muscles of the body, selected by the instructor of exercise therapy, should become a daily rule. Training should be performed sequentially, 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 presented 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 "hidden" disease.
Thus, relaxation of the paravertebral muscles occurs, followed by stimulation of the blood supply, which leads to the regenerative process.
Pain often signals serious "defects" in the spine. So do not delay the visit to the doctor and be healthy!