Cervical osteochondrosis is a so-called disease of civilization.Modern people spend most of their day sitting in front of a computer monitor.This sedentary lifestyle can put severe stress on your neck muscles and vertebrae.Therefore, the intervertebral disc structure undergoes pathological changes and the spinal nerve roots are compressed.Today, it is difficult to find a person who has never been troubled by a manifestation of this disease in his or her life.That is why this question remains important for many people: how and how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine yourself at home.
Cause of pathology
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative processes of intervertebral cartilage are activated.They become atrophied, inelastic and lose function.Depending on which part of the spine the injury occurs, it can be divided into cervical osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis and lumbar osteochondrosis.This pathology is not uncommon.Medical statistics show that 90% of the population will experience varying degrees of symptoms, with the average age of onset being 30-35 years old.Manifestations of osteochondrosis may begin at an earlier age following adverse factors and severe injury.Pregnant women who are pregnant with older children or multiple fetuses at the same time are also susceptible to this condition.
The main cause of osteochondrosis is dystrophy of cartilage tissue.This may be caused by the following negative factors:
- Malnutrition, insufficient supply of micronutrients and macronutrients;
- Insufficient fluid intake;
- congenital and acquired metabolic disorders;
- being overweight;
- Bad habits, especially drinking and smoking;
- Stressful situations constantly arise;
- heavy genetic burden;
- Low level of physical development and muscle weakness;
- Static load is too large;
- incorrect posture;
- Foot deformity, flat feet;
- chronic poisoning;
- Spinal injury.
All these triggers are the result of unhealthy lifestyle and lack of physical activity.
signs and symptoms
When exposed to the above-mentioned causes, pathological symptoms may gradually appear, indicating the manifestation of the disease.The first signs to appear are:
- neck pain;
- Dizziness;
- Sudden changes in blood pressure during the day;
- A strong feeling of powerlessness and loss of power;
- feeling of interrupted heart rhythm;
- numbness of tongue;
- blurred vision;
- Numbness in the hands, especially at night;
- Limited body movement;
- There is a tingling sensation in the hands.
Notice!The symptoms of falling on the head are typical symptoms of osteochondrosis.In this case, in order to relieve the pain, the patient has to support his head with his hands.
treatment at home
Qualitative treatment of osteochondrosis is possible only if all efforts are aimed at eliminating the causes of the pathology.Complex therapies include traditional therapies prescribed by chiropractors as well as other traditional medicine methods.
Home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis does not occur in isolation.It is just a supplement to the main therapy and helps to eliminate the following manifestations of the disease:
- neck pain;
- muscle spasms;
- muscle weakness;
- Intervertebral disc cartilage destruction;
- interruption of blood supply to the brain;
- Numbness of upper limbs.
Treatment with folk remedies can halt the progression of tissue-destroying processes and prevent the progression of the condition.
Many medications, self-massage, compresses, ointments, and homemade herbal decoctions are suitable for home use.Most experts confirm their effectiveness.Proper use of this type of therapy can significantly speed up recovery.Additionally, they require no special skills and are easy to use at home.This is extremely valuable because osteochondrosis is a chronic disease and every patient should know how to respond quickly to painful symptoms.Home therapy has many advantages because it can be performed by anyone and the treatment is relatively inexpensive.Patients can use several different methods at the same time and choose the method that works best for them and is most effective.
Against the background of intensive treatment, it is necessary to reconsider the diet and increase dishes made of seafood, vegetables, fruits, green plants and animal cartilage, such as the well-known aspic.
It is important to sleep with your head in the correct position and your neck muscles completely relaxed.For this purpose, it is best to choose special orthopedic pillows made of latex or memory foam.
Sports therapy complex
Without regular, methodical therapeutic exercises, osteochondrosis is very difficult to get rid of; even the best and most expensive medications will not help.If you spend at least a minimal amount of time doing simple exercises, you'll immediately notice increased neck mobility and reduced pain.Exercise therapy can improve blood circulation and help strengthen muscles.To achieve more visible and lasting results, it is recommended to train several times a day.A gymnastics expert will choose a suitable set of exercises that you can then perform freely at home.It is necessary to repeat 8-10 times, taking a short break after each approach.The most common exercise therapy exercises:
- Turn your head left and right.They need to be done slowly, gradually achieving maximum stretch and relaxation of the muscles.
- Tilt your head forward, backward, and sideways, and it is recommended to stay in each position for a short period of time.When bending over, you need to touch your chin to your chest and tilt your head back.
- Static exercises can be performed with the head against the resistance of the hands, by pressing the palms of the hands to the forehead, temples, or back of the head.
- A good exercise to relax your shoulder girdle muscles.The raising and lowering of the arms, the circular movement of the shoulders, and raising them as high as possible to the ears will help activate blood flow and ensure that the spine in the neck is adequately nourished.
It is important to remember that this kind of warming-up can only be done during the remission phase, when there are no active inflammatory processes.You should not make sudden jerky movements, and if pain occurs, you should end the activity as soon as possible and consult a doctor.
suggestion!If the pain worsens, it is recommended to wear a Shants collar.It immobilizes the head and neck, provides calm and prevents pinching of nerve roots.
self massage
Massage is a quick and effective way to relieve pain caused by osteochondrosis and eliminate salt deposits.There are some rules to follow for self-massage:
- Massage movements should be done with your fingers, not your palms;
- All techniques must be smooth and slow;
- Direction of movement – from spine to periphery, top to bottom;
- The neck should be kept straight during massage.
You need to sit on a flat, hard surface and cross your legs.Resting your elbows on your knees, use your other hand to begin stroking, rubbing, and kneading the muscles in your neck and back of your head.
Back massage should be performed during a period when there is no inflammation, otherwise increased blood flow will lead to activation of inflammation and aggravation of the condition.
drug treatment
If severe pain occurs, outpatient use of medications is reasonable.In addition, doctors may prescribe medications to halt the cartilage degeneration process and eliminate inflammation.
The most important thing when taking medication at home is to strictly follow the experts' recommendations regarding medication regimen and frequency of use.For example, the average treatment time with NSAIDs is 5-7 days, and glucocorticoid-based hormonal ointments can be used strictly in a certain amount, no more than 3 times a day.
Notice!In addition to having the strongest anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids can also cause adverse reactions and have many contraindications.Therefore, most doctors prescribe the safest drugs of the new generation.
For topical use, use a warming ointment containing bee or snake venom.This patch has a similar effect.It quickly reduces pain and swelling in tissues.
Medications such as chondroitin and glucosamine are used to restore cartilage tissue.These drugs must be taken over a long period of time because they work very slowly.But in mild cases, they can completely restore damaged cartilage.
Treatment options also include vitamin-mineral complexes and medications that help "feed" the cartilage, improve circulation in the vertebrae, and tissue metabolic processes.
applicator
The applicator is a cloth or rubber pad with a needle.The tips of these needles are coated with a special compound that contains small amounts of zinc, copper and iron.By acting on skin receptors, the needles create a stimulating effect that causes blood flow to the inflamed area.By injecting multiple needles, a warming effect is achieved, which causes the muscles to relax.This is how the applicator helps relieve pain.
Folk remedies and recipes
How is osteochondrosis treated with traditional medicine?There are tons of different recipes based on herbal ingredients.They effectively deal with the symptoms of the disease in the context of basic treatment.Therapeutic compositions are prepared for oral administration, compresses, ointments and friction.
For osteochondrosis, take a mixture of the following by mouth:
- Wash the pine buds that are no longer than 2 cm in length and place them in a blender to crush them thoroughly for a few minutes.Add sugar at a rate of 100 grams per 200 grams of kidneys.Transfer the sugar mixture to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator for 12-14 days.When the tincture is ready, it will have a brown color.Take 1 teaspoon 2-3 times daily for three weeks.
- Pour warm water over the celery and let sit for 8 hours.Take 1 teaspoon of tincture 3 times daily.
Homemade rubs are also widely used.The most effective secret recipe is called grandma rub.Take 10 metamizole tablets, grind them into fine powder, and add camphor, medical alcohol, and iodine solution in equal proportions.Shake the resulting mixture vigorously until the tablets dissolve.Suitable for local painful areas.You may feel a slight burning and warming sensation immediately after use, but the pain will disappear quickly.Contraindications to the use of this product are the presence of skin imperfections such as abrasions, cuts and scratches.
Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured, especially without consulting a doctor.However, the use of folk remedies can prevent the onset of pain and halt the degenerative process of the cervical spine.Regular use of these methods will improve your quality of life and overall performance.