Radiculitis is a condition characterized by inflammation, damage, or pinching of the spinal nerve roots. Such a disease is accompanied by prolonged acute back pain. As a rule, they suffer from this disease after forty years, but every year radiculitis more often affects people of a younger age. Those who spend a lot of time at the computer and professional athletes are especially prone to this condition. This article will talk about how to treat sciatica at home.
Why does radiculitis occur?
Nerves extending from the spinal cord pass through special openings between the vertebrae. With their inflammation or damage, radiculitis occurs. Also, this condition may be preceded by:
- weight lifting;
- stress;
- infection;
- metabolic disease;
- spinal injury;
- osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of the disease
The signs of radiculitis depend on the type of disease, however, the general symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- sharp piercing pain at the site of damage to the nerve roots, aggravated by attempts to change the position of the body, sneezing, straining, coughing;
- impaired mobility of the spine;
- decreased sensitivity;
- pain during palpation of the affected area;
- muscle fiber weakness.
Types of disease
Depending on the location of the disease, the following types of radiculitis are distinguished:
- Thoracic . This is the most rare type of radiculitis. There is pain between the shoulder blades, extending through the intercostal space to the front surface of the chest. Painful sensations intensify with movement.
- Cervicobrachial or cervical . It manifests itself as pain in the neck, shoulder blades, nape, shoulder. It can be expressed by weakness of the muscles of the hands, numbness, burning in the hands, circulatory disorders. Painful sensations appear when moving the arm and turning the head.
- Lumbosacral or lumbar . This is the most common type of disease. The pain occurs in the lumbar region, can radiate to the thigh (back surface), buttock, in especially advanced cases - to the foot. Numbness of the skin, a feeling of coldness in the leg, "goosebumps" - this is how lumbar radiculitis manifests itself.
How to treat each of these types of diseases, the doctor will tell you after a full examination of the patient.
Diagnostics
In order for the doctor to be able to accurately diagnose, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures:
- Identify the symptoms.
- Go through the inspection.
- Conduct a neurological examination.
- Make an x-ray.
- Make a discography.
- Get computed tomography.
Why can not delay the treatment of radiculitis?
Activities begun on time will help to avoid the chronic form of the disease. Radiculitis therapy is always prescribed individually, depending on the condition of the patient. The development of the disease that caused radiculitis (spinal stenosis, osteochondrosis, etc.) can be very dangerous and lead to serious consequences, even disability. So, due to the complete loss of a hernia of the disc of the lower spine, a malfunction of the pelvic organs occurs, paralysis of the legs and feet can occur. Muscle cramps, often the cause of radiculitis, also require treatment. Under their influence, nutrition of the vertebral joints worsens, which inevitably leads to destruction of the spine. If the attack lasts for several days, the pain is accompanied by a burning sensation, numbness, sipping in the limbs, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Radiculitis treatment
The goal of drug therapy is primarily to eliminate inflammation, relieve swelling, and reduce pain. There are enough physiotherapeutic methods that contribute to the normalization of blood circulation in tissues, the improvement of impulse conduction along nerve fibers, and the reduction of painful sensations. However, methods of alternative medicine are no less effective (how to treat sciatica at home, will be described below). The treatment methods and drugs most commonly used for radiculitis are as follows:
- immobilization;
- spinal traction - traction;
- physiotherapy;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- anti-inflammatory drugs for sciatica that reduce pain;
- muscle relaxants;
- antidepressants, sedatives;
- folk methods.
Means for external use
In the treatment of radiculitis, preparations for external use are quite effective - it can be a cream, gel, radiculitis ointment. These drugs are rubbed into the skin, as a result of which the muscles relax, their elasticity increases, metabolic processes are activated. The drugs in their composition have components that act irritatingly on skin receptors. The skin at the application site becomes red, a feeling of warmth, tingling appears. The main component of some drugs is bee venom, long-term use of funds with this substance has proven its effectiveness. Also, a gel, cream or ointment for radiculitis may contain snake venom. This substance activates the immune system.
How to treat sciatica at home?
In order for the treatment of radiculitis with alternative methods to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to determine the localization of the disease, and this or that method should be used depending on this. So, the treatment of lumbosacral radiculitis primarily consists in ensuring maximum comfort in the affected area of the spine. To do this, you can make a corset from the sheets and fix it on the lower back. At night, such a device does not need to be removed, since thanks to it the patient’s condition is much easier. Also, treatment of lumbosacral radiculitis involves the complete exclusion of any sudden movements and lifting weights. Procedures with home remedies have a warming effect, you can try the following of them:
- to rub sore spots with an aqueous solution of horseradish juice, and then immediately wrap them with a woolen cloth;
- peeled black radish, chopped on a fine grater, apply to problem areas;
- moisten a piece of soft tissue with black radish juice, put on a sore spot and wrap it in a warm blanket;
- Boil 0.5 kg of potatoes, ceiling and mix with 1-2 tbsp. l soda, put the resulting mixture on a gauze folded in 2 layers, put a bandage on the sore spot, cover with cellophane on top and wrap it with a warm cloth;
- make a pulp of garlic, combine in a ratio of 1: 2 with melted pork fat, rub the resulting composition daily into the affected areas of the skin;
- fir oil will help relieve severe pain, it is recommended to rub it into the skin after taking a bath or warming up the sore spot;
- Mix 200-400 g of mustard powder in a container with water and pour into a bath, it is recommended to take it for 15 minutes, the water temperature should be 39 ° C for women, for men - 43 ° C;
- Mix 1 cup of black radish kashchitsa with mashed garlic (1 head), with an exacerbation of the disease, apply the mixture to a sore spot for 15 minutes;
- prepare a compress of pottery clay and apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1: 2, apply to the affected area of the skin for 2 hours.
For the treatment of breast radiculitis, hot baths at bedtime with the addition of a thyme decoction are useful. A good therapeutic effect is exerted by such medicinal plants as birch, linden, aspen, root and burdock leaves. Based on them, you can prepare decoctions, infusions and drink throughout the day. In addition to the funds taken orally, at home, you can prepare an effective ointment for radiculitis. The main component of such funds is often black radish, which has a warming effect. Treatment of breast radiculitis medical or folk remedies, as well as other types of ailment, it is recommended to combine with simple physical exercises and massage, which can be done at home. For example, such an effective exercise as double twisting: lie on your back, stretch your arms, legs bent at the knees gently pull to the chest, while stretching your shoulders in the opposite direction. After you can grab your knees with your hands, linger for a few seconds at the top point, then slowly lower yourself to the starting position. Remember - all movements are performed at a slow pace, without sharp jerks. There are several effective recipes with the use of folk remedies for the treatment of cervical radiculitis:
- Wash the burdock leaf, rinse with boiling water and attach to the neck, every 2 hours change to a new one;
- chopped rye bread (200 g) or crackers (100 g) pour warm water (1 l), leave for 24 hours, then drink bread water during the day;
- Mix 100 g of medical alcohol with 20 g of propolis, insist in a dark place for 10 days, put the finished tincture on a gauze napkin and apply to the sore spot for 2 hours;
- crush the cabbage leaf and mix with 1 tsp. soda, the resulting mixture is applied to the neck, after 2 hours, remove the compress and apply a nourishing cream to the skin.
After the pain subsides, treatment of cervical radiculitis with alternative methods is recommended to be supplemented with simple exercises for the neck. In addition, for sleep, you should choose an anatomical or orthopedic pillow. It is also necessary to avoid injury to the cervical spine.
Diet
We have examined how to treat sciatica with folk remedies, however, in order for therapy to be most effective, it is necessary to adhere to certain principles of nutrition. The diet should mainly consist of fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers) and fruits (especially bananas). It is necessary to exclude fried, fatty foods, refuse fatty dairy products, confectionery, strong coffee and tea.
So, now you know almost everything about how to treat sciatica at home, as well as about the symptoms, causes and types of this disease.