Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms, home treatment

Thanks to healthy intervertebral discs, which play the role of shock absorbers in the spine, movement is easy and natural for a person. He does not have to think about his movements and calculate them to get the least pain.

Over time, as well as under the influence of some other factors, the intervertebral discs wear out, deform, causing such a disease as osteochondrosis. The disease is divided into zones of distribution, depending on the localization of the deformation of the discs. The most common is cervical osteochondrosis.

Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms, home treatment conditions - this is the topic of this article, the materials of which do not contradict official medicine.

Destructive changes in the intervertebral discs are observed already after the age of 20, when the natural moisture of tissues and organs begins to decrease. As a result of the gradual loss of moisture, the discs decrease in volume, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases.

When the reduction in this distance reaches such an extent that the vertebrae begin to touch each other, causing pain sensations, speak of osteochondrosis ("osteo" - bone, "chondro" - connective tissue), that is, a disease of connective tissue between vertebrae. The process of development of pathology lasts for years and even decades. The following factors may contribute to (or may accelerate) it:

• features of a profession that requires fixing the body in a certain position for a long time: conveyor workers, vehicle drivers, painters;
• sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work;
• long fixation of the body in certain positions: incorrect posture when sitting at the table, incorrect posture during sleep;
• excessive physical exertion to which athletes, dancers, acrobats, loaders are subjected;
• frequent intoxication of the body, which also have a destructive effect on the intervertebral discs. These include frequent colds, bad habits;
• flat feet;
• back injuries, resulting in a violation of the integrity of the intervertebral discs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the cervicothoracic spine are conventionally divided into three groups:

1. Painful sensations manifest as pain in the upper back, neck and back of the head. The pain can be either clearly localized in nature, or it can be given to the hand. Depending on which vertebrae the disc is damaged between, the irradiation (spread) of pain can occur in the left or right hand - both in the forearm area and along the length of the entire arm up to the tips fingers. The pain can be permanent or occasionally occur under the influence of some factors, mainly movements.
2. Movement disorders. After a long period of life with osteochondrosis, a person develops motor stereotypes, as a result of which movement disorders are formed. For example, if there is pain when turning the head to the left, then the patient will try to make head turns to the left as little as possible, which is a mistake. Over time, turning the neck to the left becomes as impossible as bending the knee in the opposite direction. Additional symptoms appear in the form numbness of the fingers, brushes, lateral surface of the forearm.
3. Vegetovascular manifestations osteochondrosis occurs as a result of a spasm of the vessels squeezed by the vertebrae or even the carotid arteries, causing migraines, dizziness. "Flies" in the eyes, noise or stuffiness in the ears. From the side of the central nervous system, asthenia, low mood, weakness, drowsiness, and chronic fatigue are observed. And if the vertebral artery syndrome is pronounced in cervical osteochondrosis, then it is accompanied by an increase in pressure and headaches, often severe.

If osteochondrosis itself proceeds slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient, then its exacerbation (intervertebral hernia, sciatica) cause the patient great physical suffering, restrict movement and significantly impair the quality life. Due to severe pain during an exacerbation, even an elementary visit to a hospital can become an impossible task.

If you call an ambulance at home, then the patient will be injected with an anesthetic (usually it is "Ketorol" or some kind of analgesic in the absence of it intolerance), they will issue a signal sheet with an inaccurate, vague diagnosis: "vertebral sciatica" and it will be recommended to visit a neurologist in polyclinic. You still have to go to the clinic!

Currently osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine does not heal like osteochondrosis of other areas of the spine, but preventive measures and folk remedies, coupled with traditional treatment, stop the development of the disease, lengthen periods of remission, and alleviate symptoms during an exacerbation.

The approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, combining the methods of traditional medicine and traditional methods. An examination in a polyclinic is necessary to determine precisely osteochondrosis, and no other disease. After all, shoulder pain can occur not only with osteochondrosis, but also with heart diseases that require other treatment, often emergency.

Drug treatment

The most effective way to relieve acute back pain is to block it with anesthetic. But first, it is necessary to conduct an MRI examination of the upper spine, which is the most informative diagnostic method today. Depending on the results of the study, the specialist prescribes drug treatment and physiotherapy.

Drug treatment includes prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of injections ("Diclofenac"), Tablets ("Ibuprofen") Or ointments ("Fastum gel», «Diklak»).

How support therapy is prescribed chondroprotective drugs («Chondroxide" or "Chondroitin»). In case of severe pain, it is prescribedMedokam».

Vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed to relieve symptoms such as numbness, "goose bumps" under the skin, chills and to enhance the effect of drugs of the above groups.

Physiotherapy

From physiotherapy, the patient will be prescribed remedial gymnastics, which can be performed at home. At first, it is recommended to visit her in a medical institution. This is necessary in order to remember the exercises and the methodology for their implementation. Not all exercises can be performed with osteochondrosis. A complex of correctly selected exercises helps to strengthen the muscles of the back and neck, stabilizes the functions of the spine.

Exercises will stretch the back: hanging on a horizontal bar, freezing in certain poses. Stretching the back releases the nerve roots clamped by the vertebrae, thereby relieving pain. Exercises with jerks, strength exercises, running, bending to the sides are prohibited.

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Swimming is another form of physical activity that brings quick and long-term results. Swimming crawl or breaststroke are the most suitable methods for patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine. You can master them by purchasing a gym membership. In the warm season, you can practice in local waters.

The richest choice of physical exercises for osteochondrosis offers yoga - the section of oriental medicine "Ayurveda".

It is forbidden to do gymnastics during the period of acute pain! It is allowed only after the morning rise to hang on a horizontal bar or crossbar, with your arms wide apart, it is in the morning, after sleep, a long stay in one position, that the most severe pains are felt.

Nutrition for osteochondrosis

There is no special diet for osteochondrosis, but some foods help to improve metabolic processes in the cartilage, which make up the membrane of the intervertebral disc.

These products include: meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy products, eggs. During exacerbations, it is recommended to exclude:

• sweet,
• flour and limit the use of cereals,
• salt and spices.

You need to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day. Water cannot be substituted for coffee, juices, carbonated drinks and alkaline types of mineral waters. It is very useful to add dandelion syrup to the water in the amount of 1 tsp per glass.

Making syrup is easy: 350 grams of dandelion flowers and two chopped lemons, pour water (if only to cover) and boil for half an hour. Then strain and pour a kilogram of sugar into the resulting broth, dissolve over low heat, stirring occasionally. The amount received is sufficient for the full course. Dandelion syrup helps to retain moisture in the cartilage tissues of the body.

The beneficial effect of the cinquefoil on the musculoskeletal system is known in that it relieves inflammation.

Sabelnik is sold in phyto-pharmacies. Fill a glass bottle 2/3 with grass, pour alcohol or vodka under the lid. Insist, and subsequently store, in a dark place for 2 weeks.

Take 10-15 drops with water in the morning. for a month or two. You can repeat the course 2 times a year. The same tincture of cinquefoil can be used for compresses on the sore neck area.

It is known that the poor condition of the intervertebral discs is associated with excess body weight, which increases the load on them. Therefore, if you are overweight, it is wise to choose a low-calorie diet for weight loss.

Massage

With osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic region, especially if it is caused by physical inactivity, a sedentary lifestyle, massage helps. The patient lies on the sofa with his stomach down so that his chin hangs over the edge of the sofa. Another family member works out his back muscles with circular motions of his fingers. He should feel the rolling muscles under his fingers. Then the masseur puts his right palm on the spine, and with his left palm slightly presses from above and gently slides along the spine from the base of the skull to the tailbone.

The last stage of the massage will be rubbing the skin of the back with a special compound. For its preparation in the old days, the Pomors, residents of the Arkhangelsk region, used vegetable oil (damp pressed, cold pressed) and sea salt, taken in equal amounts by volume. The components are mixed periodically for three days, keeping the mixture at room temperature. On the third day, the composition is ready for use. When buying sea salt, it is important to pay attention to the composition: there should be no colorants, flavors or other additives.

Rubbing the back using this composition is carried out daily, starting from three minutes. The duration of the session is increased by one minute every day and is brought to twenty. After the massage, rinse off the mixture as usual using any detergent. Thus, the course will take two weeks. As a result, the condition of the vessels of the back and tissues adjacent to the spine will improve. This method is especially helpful when there is vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis with increased blood pressure and migraines.

Applications and compresses

In osteochondrosis, often damaged discs are subject to calcification and salt overgrowth. The adjacent tissues are also susceptible to this process, which causes severe pain in case of unsuccessful or abrupt movements. Applications according to folk recipes will help dissolve these salts.

The dough is kneaded from rye flour and pharmacy turpentine, resin to the consistency of dough for pies. It should lie down for two days at room temperature. After two days, the patient should drink a glass of milk and apply cakes from the resulting dough to the sore spots, fix with cellophane, and wrap it with a towel on top. Withstand all evening. Repeat the application 2-3 times a week.

Another recipe for an application mixture is softer, less irritating to the skin, but its disadvantage is not so fast the onset of the healing effect: a tablespoon of flour, 100 grams of ghee and a tablespoon of 9% vinegar mix. Cakes are made from this test in the same way and applied with fixation to the sore spot.

With osteochondrosis, compresses are often and successfully used in folk medicine:

• a glass of honey
• 2 cups radish juice
• half a glass of alcohol,
• mix everything and use for compresses on the sore spot.

The recipe for cinquefoil tincture given above is also good for this purpose.

During the period of exacerbation, heating of sore spots cannot be used, but after the inflammation is removed, a sauna with a broom fixes the result. First, the body must be coated with a mixture of honey and sea salt in equal parts. With osteochondrosis, fluid often accumulates in the tissues around the focus of inflammation, and this method removes excess fluid from the body.

The best treatment for any disease is prevention. This hackneyed truth fully concerns osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. So that pain does not appear again, you should strengthen the immune system, organize physical activity with a visit to the pool, gym, it is convenient to organize a sleeping place and a workplace, take measures to reduce excess weight when it availability. It may even be wise to leave work if it requires excessive physical exertion, because health is more important!