Cervical osteochondrosis is a so-called disease of civilization.Modern people spend most of their days sitting in front of computer monitors.Such a sedentary lifestyle leads to severe stress on the muscles and cervical vertebrae.Because of this, the structure of the intervertebral discs changes pathologically and the roots of the spinal nerves are pinched.Today, it is difficult to find a person who has never been bothered by the manifestations of this disease.That's why for many the relevant question remains: how and how you can cure cervical osteochondrosis yourself at home.
Reasons for the development of pathology
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative processes are activated in the intervertebral cartilage.They become atrophic, inelastic and lose their functionality.Depending on which part of the spinal column was damaged, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished.This pathology is not uncommon at all.Medical statistics claim that symptoms of varying degrees are detected in 90% of the population, and the average age of onset of the disease is 30-35 years.When exposed to unfavorable factors and after severe injuries, the manifestation of osteochondrosis can begin at an earlier age.Pregnant women who carry a large child or several fetuses at the same time are susceptible to this.
The main cause of osteochondrosis is malnutrition of cartilage tissue.Such negative factors as:
- poor nutrition with a lack of micro- and macroelements;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- congenital and acquired metabolic disorders;
- excess body weight;
- bad habits, especially alcohol consumption and smoking;
- repetitive stressful situations;
- burdened heredity;
- low level of physical development, weakness of the muscular frame;
- excessive static loads;
- improper posture;
- foot deformities, flat feet;
- chronic intoxication;
- spinal injuries.
All these provoking factors are in one way or another the result of an unhealthy lifestyle and physical inactivity.
Signs and symptoms
When they are exposed to the above reasons, pathological symptoms may gradually appear, indicating the manifestation of the disease.The first signs to appear are:
- aching pain in the neck;
- dizziness;
- sudden changes in blood pressure during the day;
- strong feeling of weakness, loss of strength;
- feeling of interruption of heart rhythm;
- numbness of the tongue;
- blurred vision;
- numbness of the hands, especially pronounced at night;
- limitation of limb movement;
- a burning sensation in the hands.
Pay attention!The symptom of head drop is pathognomonic for osteochondrosis.In this case, in order to alleviate the pain, the patient must 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 that led to the appearance of the pathology.Complex therapy includes a traditional regimen, prescribed by a vertebrologist, and additional methods of traditional medicine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home is not carried out in isolation.It only complements the main therapy and helps to eliminate the following manifestations of the disease:
- neck pain;
- muscle spasm;
- muscle weakness;
- destruction of intervertebral disc cartilage;
- disorder of blood supply to the brain;
- numbness of the upper extremities.
Treatment with folk remedies allows you to stop the progression of destructive processes in tissues and prevent exacerbations.
Numerous remedies, self-massage, poultices, ointments and homemade herbal decoctions are suitable for home use.Most experts confirm their effectiveness.Correct use of such drugs significantly accelerates recovery.In addition, they do not require special skills and are suitable for use at home.And this is extremely valuable, because osteochondrosis is a chronic disease and every patient should know how to quickly deal with painful symptoms.Home treatment has numerous advantages, as it is available to everyone, and the price of treatment is relatively low.The patient can use several different methods at the same time and choose the most suitable and effective methods for himself.
Against the background of intensive treatment, it is necessary to review the diet, enrich it with seafood, vegetables, fruits, green herbs and dishes made from animal cartilage, such as, for example, the well-known jelly.
It is very important that during sleep the head is in the correct position and the neck muscles are completely relaxed.To do this, it is better to choose special orthopedic pillows made of latex or memory foam.
Exercise therapy complex
Without regular and methodical implementation of therapeutic exercises, it will be very difficult to get rid of osteochondrosis;even the best and most expensive drugs will not help.If you devote at least a minimal amount of time to simple exercises, you can immediately notice an increase in neck mobility and a decrease in pain.Exercise therapy improves blood circulation and helps strengthen muscles.To achieve a more pronounced and lasting effect, it is recommended to exercise several times a day.A gymnastics expert will select the appropriate set of exercises, after which you can freely perform them at home.It is necessary to do 8-10 repetitions with a short break after each approach.The most common exercise therapy exercises:
- He turns his head right and left.They should be done slowly, gradually achieving maximum stretching and relaxation of the muscles.
- Tilt your head forward, back and to the side, and it is recommended that you stay in each position for a short time.When you bend over, you must touch your chest with your chin and then throw your head back.
- You can do static exercises by overcoming the resistance of the hand with your head, and you can press the forehead, temple or back of your head with your palm.
- Good exercises for relaxing the muscles of the shoulder girdle.Raising and lowering the arms, circular movements of the shoulders, bringing them as far as possible to the ears help to activate blood flow and ensure adequate nutrition of the spinal column in the cervical region.
It is very important to remember that such warm-ups can only be done in periods of remission, when there is no active inflammatory process.You should not make sudden jerky movements, and if pain occurs, you should end the activity quickly and consult a doctor.
Advice!In case of worsening pain, wearing a Shants collar is indicated.It fixes the head and neck, provides peace and prevents pinching of nerve roots.
Self massage
Massage is a quick and effective means of alleviating pain attacks due to osteochondrosis and getting rid of salt deposits.You must follow some self-massage rules:
- massage movements should be done with the fingers, without using the palm;
- all techniques must be smooth and slow;
- direction of movement – from the spine to the periphery and from top to bottom;
- The neck should remain straight during the massage.
You should sit on a flat, hard surface and cross your legs.Place your elbow on your knee, and with the opposite hand, start stroking, rubbing and kneading the neck and back muscles.
Back massage should be done in a period when there is no inflammation, otherwise increased blood flow will, on the contrary, lead to the activation of inflammation and worsening of the disease.
Drug therapy
Outpatient administration of drugs is justified in case of severe pain.In addition, doctors prescribe drugs that stop degenerative processes in the cartilage and can remove inflammation.
The main thing when taking medicines at home is to strictly adhere to the recommendations of experts regarding the regimen and frequency of medication use.For example, the duration of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is on average 5-7 days, and hormonal ointments based on glucocorticosteroids can be applied strictly in a certain amount no more than 3 times a day.
Pay attention!In addition to the most powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids can cause unwanted reactions and have numerous contraindications.Therefore, most doctors prescribe the safest drugs of new generations.
For external use, warming ointments with bee or snake venom are used.The patch has similar effects.Quickly reduces pain and tissue swelling.
Restoration of cartilage tissue is carried out with drugs that include chondroitin and glucosamine.These drugs must be taken for a long time, because they work very slowly.But in mild cases, they are able to completely restore the damaged cartilage.
The treatment regimen also includes vitamin-mineral complexes and drugs that help "nourish" the cartilage, improve the circulation of the vertebrae and metabolic processes in the tissues.
Applicator
The applicator is a cloth or rubber mat with needles.The tips of these needles are coated with a special compound containing small doses of zinc, copper and iron.Acting on skin receptors, the needles have an irritating effect and cause blood flow to the area of inflammation.By injecting numerous needles, a heating effect is achieved, which leads to muscle relaxation.This is how the applicator helps relieve pain.
Folk remedies and recipes
How is osteochondrosis treated with traditional medicine?There are a large number of different recipes based on herbal ingredients.They effectively cope with the symptoms of the disease against the background of basic treatment.Medicinal compositions for oral administration, poultices, ointments and rubs are prepared.
For osteochondrosis, the following mixtures are taken orally:
- Wash young pine buds no more than 2 centimeters long and crush them thoroughly in a blender for a few minutes.Add sugar in the amount of 100 grams per 200 grams of kidney.Transfer the sugar mixture to a glass container with a tight lid and leave it in the refrigerator for 12-14 days.When the tincture is ready, it will take on a brownish hue.Take 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day for three weeks.
- Pour warm water over the celery and leave for 8 hours.Take the tincture three times a day for 1 teaspoon.
Homemade rubs are also widely used.The most effective recipe is called grandma's rub.You need to take 10 tablets of analgin and grind them well into powder, add camphor, medical alcohol and iodine solution to them in equal proportions.Shake the resulting mixture vigorously until the tablets dissolve.Apply to areas where pain is localized.Immediately after use, you may feel a slight burning sensation and warmth, but the pain disappears very quickly.Contraindication to the use of this product is the presence of skin damage such as scratches, cuts and abrasions.
Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured, especially if you do not consult a doctor.However, the use of folk remedies will prevent pain and stop degenerative processes in the cervical spine.Regular use of these methods will improve your quality of life and overall performance.