A common disease is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which manifests itself in people of any age, and especially among the working population from 30 to 50 years old. Some people suffer from this disease, sometimes unaware of the cause of the ailments, because degenerative changes in the cervical spine occur imperceptibly. Timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will return a person to excellent health, and give health in the future.
Symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis at the onset of the disease may not appear at all. The disease makes itself felt already in a neglected form with frequent head and neck pain when moving. When there is a violation of cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis, a person develops the following symptoms:
- regular headaches;
- violation of the sensitivity of facial muscles;
- increased fatigue;
- noise in the head;
- ringing in the ears;
- high blood pressure;
- loss of coordination;
- frequent dizziness;
- wobbly gait.
If osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae takes on a chronic form, then the pain is permanent, and any head movements are difficult due to the tension of the neck muscles. The patient begins to suffer from cervical migraines, and the headache is sometimes accompanied by vomiting, nausea and even loss of consciousness. If cervical osteochondrosis is not treated on time, then the person may be accompanied by pharyngeal symptoms: difficulty swallowing, a feeling of dry throat, itching and tickling. Over time, this disease can lead to a herniated disc.
Methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a whole range of tools and methods that are aimed at eliminating pain and combating the inflammatory process in tissues. An effective method is daily exercise for the flexibility of the spine. As a rule, an individual exercise program is selected by a doctor after diagnostics using MRI or computed tomography and assessment of the stage of the disease. Let's see how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated.
Medication: pills, medications and injections
Drug therapy is prescribed already at the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis. If the first pain can be eliminated with a regular anesthetic pill, then later it will no longer help. Medical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out with new generation chondroprotectors - drugs that stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue in the spine. The best therapeutic effect is provided by a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The course of treatment with these drugs can be several months of admission, after which the mobility of the cervical spine improves.
But if you need to relieve acute pain in cervical osteochondrosis, then doctors prescribe a novocaine blockade or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are ointments, capsules, tablets and injections that quickly improve the general condition of the patient. But if chondroprotectors have no contraindications even with prolonged use, then NSAIDs have serious ones, so their use must be agreed with the attending physician.
Local remedies: gels and ointments
To quickly anesthetize the cervical spine in case of osteochondrosis, special gels or ointments that begin to act 10 minutes after application will help. There are several types of them:
- Regenerating, allowing to restore damaged cartilage tissue between the vertebrae.
- Anti-inflammatory, based on non-steroidal substances, eliminating pain.
- Pain relievers that affect nerve endings, quickly dulling pain.
- Massage ointments.
Manual therapy
The oldest, but no less effective method than modern methods of treating osteochondrosis, is manual therapy. Specialists have developed many techniques that have a beneficial effect on the vertebrae, tissues and joints of the affected area. Only the chiropractor should be a good specialist in his field, so as not to lead the patient to a wheelchair. The main methods of manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- segmental massage that relieves muscle tension;
- recovery manipulationjoint performance, accompanied by their crunch;
- mobilization, restoring damaged joints by stretching them.
Acupuncture
With the help of acupuncture, you can not only remove pain symptoms in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, but also completely cure it. The needle technique came to Russian medicine from the East. The wise Chinese, guided by the philosophy and knowledge of the human body, have learned to regulate energy in the body using metal needles. The acupuncture procedure is today recognized by doctors as an extremely effective method of combating osteochondrosis.
But before resorting to acupuncture, you need to consult a doctor, as this procedure is not suitable for everyone. You cannot use this technique:
- in the presence of infectious diseases;
- pregnancy;
- any tumor;
- diseases of the skin or blood;
- old age or infancy.
Homeopathic remedies
Cervical osteochondrosis is successfully treated with homeopathy. Homeopathic preparations contain useful trace elements and biologically active substances. They fully correspond to the concentration of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Homeopathic remedies contain plant extracts, herbal extracts taken from environmentally friendly samples, and most importantly, they are completely natural. The principle of their action in osteochondrosis:
- Activate the immune system.
- Restore cartilage tissue.
- Improves blood circulation in the neck area.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis at home
Complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home is now possible. It is quite possible to achieve better health and relieve pain symptoms on your own if you adhere to the correct diet and lead an active lifestyle. The daily diet for cervical osteochondrosis should contain foods that contribute to the regeneration of cartilage tissue, these include:
- legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits;
- containing proteins: nuts, eggs, lean poultry, fish;
- unsaturated fatty acids: flax seed, oily sea fish;
- foods rich in calcium: milk, cottage cheese, leafy vegetables.
Massage and self-massage
Successful home treatments are performed with massage or self-massage. This procedure relieves tension by relaxing tight neck muscles. After the massage, blood circulation in the intervertebral discs improves, which gives quick relief to the patient. The self-massage procedure is performed while sitting and is carried out by rubbing, stroking and kneading movements in the back of the head. But in order to get a greater effect, it is better to invite a qualified massage therapist.
Wellness gymnastics
Remedial gymnastics has no less effect than drug treatment of osteochondrosis, and is the basis of recovery. The exercises will not take long, especially since they are easy to do at home. Gymnastics is aimed at relieving pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, stretching the ligaments and relaxing the neck muscles. But you need to do the exercises only after consulting a doctor and very carefully so as not to harm the body.
Traditional medicine recipes
When asked about how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home, as a rule, folk remedies are meant. Herbal treatment is economical, effective, and most importantly - safe. There is no need to purchase expensive pain relief medications, which can also have negative side effects. Natural remedies for traditional medicine that help with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine include:
- Horseradish leaves. You need to attach the sheet to the back of your neck and fix it overnight. By morning the pain will be gone.
- Potatoes. It should be rubbed with honey in the same proportion so that the mixture resembles an ointment in consistency. Use the product as a compress at least once a week.
- Compresses made from vodka (1 l) with the addition of freshly squeezed aloe juice (1 tablespoon), mustard powder (1 tablespoon) and propolis (50 g) are effective. The mixture is impregnated with a fabric and applied to the neck, fixing with a woolen cloth, the procedure is carried out 1-2 times a week at night.
Methods of disease prevention
It is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to treat it for a long time. Prevention includes adherence to posture, fitness exercises, exercise equipment, race walking, yoga, swimming. It is necessary to sit correctly at the table and the computer, you cannot throw your head back for a long time or tilt when lifting weights. When writing or reading, it is not recommended to bend low over the table surface, and it is advisable to use an orthopedic pillow during sleep.