The story of how the king treated osteochondrosis has survived to this day. 150-200 grams of mustard were added to a huge vat full of hot water, and the king, a great hunter for a pleasant and useful pastime in a hotly heated bath, slowly plunged into it up to his neck. The procedure ended with a tea party.
The next morning, the ruler was ready for another 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 "spring", becomes covered with cracks due to increasing pressure, and its contents are "squeezed out" over time - 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 thoracic region makes for 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 - complicates the blood supply to the brain.
Sometimes the disease affects several departments of the "pillar of life" - widespread osteochondrosis of the spine develops, the treatment standards for which are similar to those described below, but the recovery process requires much more effort on the part of the patient and doctors.
Cartilaginous tissue and bones of the joints of the legs also suffer from 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 the growth of 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 the rapid removal of pain, the main goal of treating 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 contribute to the relief of inflammation and pain; usually with osteochondrosis, analgesics are prescribed, as well as NSAIDs;
- With a stable, severe pain syndrome, an anesthetic injection with a glucocorticoid or novocaine is indicated. With exacerbated osteochondrosis, these drugs provide a prolonged analgesic effect;
- With unbearable, sleep-depriving pain in osteochondrosis, the use of hypnotics and tranquilizers is recommended;
- With hypertonicity of the muscles of the back and lower extremities, muscle relaxants of central action 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 site of pain localization;
- To optimize the blood supply to the spine, angioprotective drugs and venotonics 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 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 carried out 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 inhibiting 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 stage of treatment of osteochondrosis 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 preparations at this stage continues. The most important of them 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 chondoprotectors. The latter are extracts of cartilage - a kind of pills for osteochondrosis, stimulating the restoration of "sagging" cartilage tissue. An anti-inflammatory component is often added to their composition, which makes it possible to reduce the dosage of NSAIDs. Chondoprotectors 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 destructive processes at the attachment site:
- Chinese patches for osteochondrosis, containing herbal ingredients and beeswax, accelerate the final subsidence of inflammation and relax muscles. With the disappearance of pain, metabolic processes are normalized, and with them - the trophism of the affected segment;
- 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 tissues that compress the nerve roots;
Physiotherapy and alternative therapies
As 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 goal of this period is the expansion of the motor regime.
How to get rid of osteochondrosis without medication:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures - infrared laser, magnetotherapy, phonophoresis with chondroxide help to relieve muscle hypertonicity and symptoms of "tension" of the nerves, and also allow you to deliver chondroitin, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue, directly into the unhealthy segment;
- Effective treatment of osteochondrosis rarely does without traction, or stretching of the spine under the influence of its own weight, additional load, or the forces of a chiropractor. The most accessible method of spinal traction, especially when osteochondrosis is combined with stoop, is hanging on the horizontal bar. 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 metabolic processes in it by pointwise action with thin needles 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 to reduce pain;
- Often, the treatment of osteochondrosis becomes a "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 is recovery impossible?
Perhaps before the onset of the illness, the daily routine was not your priority. In the recovery period, the "updating" of the natural depreciation mechanism 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 hard shield under a regular mattress. What mattress to use for osteochondrosis in the future?
In the absence of posture 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 getting out of bed rest, the patient is recommended to use a corset - in case of osteochondrosis, it unloads the affected segments, preventing spasm of weakened muscles. The duration of its wearing is determined by the doctor.
Nutrition
Review your diet. Perhaps, if previously it was not ideal, the springboard to recovery will be . . . starvation. It is known that the first fasting exacerbates the disease, subsequent it is treated. How fasting treats osteochondrosis? In fact, the intervertebral disc is a small hydraulic shock absorber. Like a water cushion, 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 helps to eliminate "waste", "dead" water from the tissues surrounding the disc and stimulates the renewal of its own, purified intercellular fluid.
Fasting should be carried out 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 the muscles of the body, selected by an exercise therapy instructor, should become a daily rule. Training should be carried out in series, several times a day, 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 phases: 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 the place of the "hidden" disease.
Thus, the relaxation of the paravertebral muscles occurs, followed by stimulation of the blood supply, which gives rise to the regenerative process.
Pain often signals serious "malfunctions" in the spine. Therefore, do not postpone the visit to the doctor, and be healthy!