Therapy for osteonecrosis consists of eliminating symptoms, achieving stable remission. A patient with cervical, thoracic, and vertebral disease is admitted to the hospital with acute back pain, usually due to disc displacement. In all other cases, osteonecrosis is treated at home. It includes the use of pharmacological drugs, adherence to a frugal regimen, physical education and gymnastics.
What is osteonecrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease that progresses rapidly without medical intervention. Under the influence of negative factors, the intervertebral discs lose their ability to retain moisture. This leads to a violation of nutrition, a deficiency of nutrients in the cartilage tissues. The intervertebral discs become denser, thinner, their surface covered with radial cracks.
They are no longer able to perform the function of shock absorption, leading to instability of the vertebral structures, displacement beyond the boundaries of the spinal canal. The vertebral bodies are also deformed - outgrowths (osteocytes) are formed on them.
Reason
Disc nutritional disorders occur due to overexertion, sedentary lifestyle. In the elderly, the pathology appears due to the natural aging process of the body - a decrease in collagen production, the regeneration process slows down. The following diseases can also provoke the development of osteonecrosis:
- autoimmune pathologies - rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus;
- endocrine diseases - hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus;
- disorders of hematopoiesis, blood circulation, metabolic disorders.
The predisposing factors for the destruction of discs are obesity, smoking, wearing high heels, congenital and acquired malformations of the spine's structure.
Symptom
At the initial stage of development, the pathology has no symptoms. Mild back pain that appears after exertion, disappears after a short period of rest. But over time, their intensity increases. Pain is worse when bending, turning, or climbing stairs. Other characteristic signs of osteonecrosis appear:
- crunching, rattling when walking or changing body position;
- movement restriction.
In the remission stage, back pain is mild. Discomfort occurs with hypothermia, lifting weights, and changing weather.
Home remedies for osteonecrosis
Drugs that can restore damaged discs and vertebrae have not yet been synthesized. Therefore, osteolytic therapy is aimed at stopping the progression of the disease. All methods used in treatment are based on accelerating blood circulation, replenishing nutrients stored in cartilage and bone tissues.
Wearing an orthopedic device allows the patient to feel better. For cervical pathology, Shants necklaces are used to treat osteonecrosis of the chest and waist - a soft bandage with a warming effect or an elastic cardigan with a hard plastic or metal insert.
Drug treatment
The drugs of first choice for symptomatic treatment of osteonecrosis are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The intramuscular injection of the solution allows the cessation of acute pain.
If the pain syndrome is not obvious, you can get rid of it by taking medicine.
Mild discomfort is eliminated by applying topical gels and ointments.
| Drugs used in the treatment of osteonecrosis | Therapeutic action |
|---|---|
| Glucocorticosteroids | They reduce inflammation, have analgesic, antiemetic, immunosuppressive effects |
| Muscle relaxants | Relaxes skeletal muscles, eliminating compression on spinal roots and blood vessels caused by muscle spasms |
| Chondroprotectors | Partial restoration of cartilage tissue of intervertebral disc, exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity, |
| Warming ointment | Stimulates receptors under the skin, distracts the patient from pain, improves blood circulation and microcirculation |
Physiotherapy exercises
Receiving chondroprotectors and performing physical therapy will not give the same therapeutic effect as daily exercise therapy and gymnastics. A set of exercises developed specifically for the patient by an exercise therapist. Taking into account not only the location of the pathology, but also the patient's fitness, the radiological stage of the osteonecrosis process. The complex must include the following exercises:
- in case of damage to the cervical structures - tilt, turn, turn the head;
- with defeat of the thoracic and lumbar intervertebral discs - tilt, turn, walk with high knees.
The main task of exercise therapy is to improve the blood supply to tissues with nutrients, strengthen the musculature of the back to stabilize the discs and vertebrae. But when performing exercises, micro-injury of the vertebral structures is unacceptable. So every movement should be rhythmic, slightly slowed down, with a small amplitude.
Therapeutic Diet
For any pathology of the musculoskeletal system, nutritionists recommend limiting the use of salt and spices in the diet, which often leads to the formation of edema. Food is not salted during cooking but in the process of eating. Among spices, you only need to choose those that do not change the water-electrolyte balance in the body, such as cinnamon, cardamom, dried paprika.
It is necessary to limit and, preferably, completely eliminate fried, smoked, semi-finished and fast food products.
The most useful food for osteonecrosis is food that is steamed or stewed with a small amount of water. Should add to the daily menu a little oily fish (salmon, herring) to remove cholesterol from the blood vessels.
Massage for osteonecrosis
Classical, fractional acupressure massage is applied in the treatment of osteonecrosis to eliminate muscle hypertonia and restore optimal blood circulation. The masseuse acts on the contracted muscles by rubbing, stroking, using vibrating, tight movements. Neurologists recommend going to the massage room not only for treatment but also to prevent recurrent pain.
Manual or hardware vacuum massages are also being required. When performing medical procedures, glass, ceramic, plastic, and bamboo vials are used. They are installed on biologically active points, and then move slightly along the surface of the body. The combination of vacuum and mechanical impact allows you to get rid of all the symptoms of the disease in 5-7 sessions.
Compression
Compressed mixtures are prepared immediately before the procedure. They are spread in a thick layer over the skin, wrapped with plastic wrap and warm cloth, and secured with gauze or elastic bandages. If the mixture does not contain substances with a local irritant effect, leave it overnight. Compressed with quartz alcohol, red pepper, essential oils keep about 1-2 hours.
Usually, fresh leaves of burdock, horseradish, dandelion, plantain, cabbage are used for tricks. They are crushed, add a spoonful of honey and evenly distributed on the skin. Compressed with sea salt removes hardness well. One teaspoon of salt is diluted in 0. 5 cups of warm water, moistened with a sterile napkin and applied to the painful area.
Infusion and decoction
Doctors recommend drinking at least 2. 5 liters of fluid per day to treat osteonecrosis. In addition to water, fruit drinks and preparations, you can use infusions of medicinal plants. To make a smoothie, people put 5 dried rosehips, honeysuckle, lingzhi, juniper, and apricot in a thermos, pour 2. 5 cups of boiling water. After 3 hours, the infusion is cooled, filtered, orally 100 ml 3 times a day after meals.
A decoction of the leaves of the reishi plant is also very useful. Pour a tablespoon of raw dry vegetables into a small pot, pour 0. 5 liters of hot water in, bring to a boil. Simmer under the lid for about 10 minutes, let cool. Take 3 tablespoons 2 times a day after meals.
Applications
At home, you can make applications with ozokerite or paraffin - good heat-retaining agents. They are sold in pharmacies as a coarse crystalline powder. Approximately 100 g of the free-flowing mixture is melted in a water bath at 50-60°C, and then cooled to 40°C. Take a wooden flat spatula or a wide brush and apply a paste. layer of warm mass to the skin over the affected vertebral structures. After it dries a little, the ozokerite or similar paraffin is distributed. In total, 3-4 layers are applied. From above, the frozen mass is wrapped with film, thick cloth and left for 1 hour.
Rubbed
The most effective treatment for osteonecrosis of any site of rubbing with saber. In a dark glass container with a volume of 1 liter, put half a glass of crushed dried rhizomes and a glass of squid grass. Pour vodka or 96% alcohol over the neck diluted with an equal amount of water. Place in a warm place for 2-3 months, periodically shaking the jar. Unfiltered, but, as needed, pour a few tablespoons of the brown liquid and rub it on your back to relieve pain.
If desired, you can add a red chili or 2-3 cloves of garlic when pressed. For people with sensitive skin, it is not recommended to mix vodka but use vegetable oil.
Healing bathroom
In the treatment of osteonecrosis, salt baths are used, which strengthen and replenish the patient's body. 200 g of sea salt is dissolved in 2 liters of hot water. The bath is filled with warm water, poured with a concentrated solution and stirred thoroughly. The duration of the procedure is no more than half an hour. Then take a shower and wipe it off with a clean towel.
Preventive
In order for the discs not to begin to collapse, it is necessary to exclude from the usual lifestyle all provoking factors that destroy them. Unable to maintain the same position of the body for a long time, the spine is subjected to excessive loads. Doctors recommend quitting smoking, supplementing the diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.