Cervical osteochondrosis is the so-called disease of civilization.Modern people spend most of the day sitting in front of computer monitors.Such a sedentary lifestyle causes great strain on the muscles and vertebrae of the neck.Because of this, the structure of the intervertebral discs changes pathologically and the roots of the spinal nerves become pinched.Nowadays it is difficult to find a person who has never been bothered by the manifestations of this disease in his life.That is why for many the question remains relevant: how and how you can cure cervical osteochondrosis 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 spine the damage occurred, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis is distinguished.This pathology is not at all uncommon.Medical statistics state that symptoms of varying degrees are detected in 90% of the population, with the average age of onset of the disease being between 30 and 35 years.When exposed to unfavorable factors and after serious injuries, the manifestation of osteochondrosis can begin at an earlier age.Pregnant women who are carrying a large child or carrying several fetuses at the same time are also susceptible.
The main cause of osteochondrosis is malnutrition of cartilage tissue.Negative factors such as:
- poor nutrition with insufficient supply of micro- and macroelements;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- congenital and acquired metabolic disorders;
- excess body weight;
- bad habits, in particular drinking alcohol and smoking;
- constantly recurring stressful situations;
- burdened inheritance;
- low level of physical development, weakness of the muscular structure;
- excessive static charges;
- incorrect posture;
- foot deformities, flat feet;
- chronic intoxication;
- spinal injuries.
All these provoking factors are in one way or another a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle and physical inactivity.
Signs and symptoms
When exposed to the above reasons, pathological symptoms may gradually appear, indicating the manifestation of the disease.The first signs that 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 interruptions in the heart rhythm;
- numbness of the tongue;
- blurred vision;
- numbness of the hands, especially pronounced at night;
- limitation of limb movements;
- a tingling sensation in the hands.
Pay attention!The symptom of head drooping is pathognomonic of osteochondrosis.In this case, to relieve pain, the patient must support his head with his hands.
Home treatment
It is possible to qualitatively treat osteochondrosis 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:
- pain in the neck;
- muscle spasm;
- muscle weakness;
- destruction of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc;
- interruption of blood supply to the brain;
- numbness of the upper extremities.
Treatment with folk remedies makes it possible to stop the progression of destructive processes in tissues and prevent the appearance of exacerbations.
Many medicines, self-massage, compresses, ointments and homemade herbal decoctions are suitable for home use.Most experts confirm its effectiveness.Correct use of these remedies significantly speeds up recovery.In addition, they do not require special skills and are convenient to use at home.And this is extremely valuable, since osteochondrosis is a chronic disease and each patient should know how to quickly cope with painful symptoms.Home treatment has many advantages, as it is available to anyone and the cost of treatment is relatively low.The patient can use several different methods simultaneously and choose the most suitable and effective ones for him.
In the context of intensive treatment, it is necessary to reconsider the diet, enrich it with seafood, vegetables, fruits, green plants and dishes made from animal cartilage, such as, for example, the well-known gelatin.
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 medications will not help.If you spend at least a minimal amount of time on simple exercises, you will 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 long-lasting effect, it is recommended to train several times a day.A gymnastics specialist will select a suitable set of exercises, after which you can freely perform them at home.You need to do 8 to 10 repetitions with a short rest after each set.The most common physiotherapy exercises:
- Turn your head left and right.They should be performed slowly, gradually achieving maximum stretching and relaxation of the muscles.
- Tilt your head forward, back and to the sides, and it is recommended to stay in each position for a short time.When bending over, you should touch your chin to your chest, and then tilt your head back.
- Static exercises can be performed by overcoming the resistance of the hand with the head, and you can press the palm of your hand to the forehead, temple or nape of the neck.
- Good exercises to relax the muscles of the shoulder girdle.Raising and lowering the arms, circular movements of the shoulders and bringing them as high as possible to the ears help activate blood flow and ensure proper nutrition of the spine in the cervical region.
It is very important to remember that these warm-ups can only be performed during periods of remission, when there is no active inflammatory process.Sudden, sudden movements should not be performed, and if pain occurs, the activity should be ended quickly and a doctor consulted.
Advice!In case of exacerbation of pain, wearing a Shants necklace is indicated.It fixes the head and neck, providing peace of mind and avoiding pinching of the nerve roots.
self-massage
Massage is a quick and effective means of relieving pain attacks due to osteochondrosis and removing accumulations of salt deposits.You must follow some self-massage rules:
- massage movements should be performed with your fingers, without using the palm;
- all techniques must be gentle 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 begin to caress, rub and massage the muscles of your neck and neck.
Back massage should be done during a period when there is no inflammation;Otherwise, an increase in blood flow, on the contrary, will lead to activation of inflammation and aggravation of the disease.
Drug therapy
The use of medications on an outpatient basis is justified in case of severe pain.Additionally, doctors prescribe medications that stop degenerative processes in cartilage and can eliminate inflammation.
The main thing when taking medications at home is to strictly follow the specialist's recommendations regarding the regimen and frequency of use of medications.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 powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids can cause adverse reactions and have many contraindications.Therefore, most doctors prescribe the safest drugs of the new generations.
For external use, hot 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 including chondroitin and glucosamine.These medications must be taken for a long time as they work very slowly.But in mild cases they can completely restore damaged cartilage.
The treatment regimen also includes vitamin-mineral complexes and medications that help "feed" cartilage, improve spinal circulation and metabolic processes in tissues.
Applicator
The applicator is a cloth or rubber mat with needles.The tips of these needles are coated with a special compound that contains small doses of zinc, copper and iron.By acting on the skin receptors, the needles have an irritating effect and cause blood to flow to the inflamed area.By injecting many needles, a warming effect is produced that causes the muscles to relax.This is how the applicator helps relieve pain.
Popular remedies and recipes.
How can osteochondrosis be treated with traditional medicine methods?There are a large number of different recipes based on herbal ingredients.They effectively cope with the symptoms of the disease in the context of basic treatment.Healing compositions are prepared for oral administration, compresses, ointments and rubs.
For osteochondrosis, the following mixtures are taken orally:
- Wash young pine buds no more than 2 centimeters long and grind them well in a blender for several minutes.Add sugar at the rate of 100 grams per 200 grams of kidneys.Transfer the sugar mixture to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid and leave in the refrigerator for 12 to 14 days.When the dye is ready, it will take on a brown tint.Take 2-3 times a day, 1 teaspoon for three weeks.
- Pour warm water over the celery and leave for 8 hours.Take the tincture three times a day, 1 tsp.
Homemade rubs are also widely used.The most effective recipe is called grandma's dough.You need to take 10 analgin tablets and grind them well into a powder, add camphor, medicinal alcohol and iodine solution to them in equal proportions.Shake the resulting mixture vigorously until the tablets dissolve.Apply to areas where pain is located.Immediately after use, you may experience a slight burning and warm sensation, but the pain disappears very quickly.A contraindication to the use of this product is the presence of skin defects such as abrasions, cuts and scratches.
Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured, especially if you do not consult a doctor.However, the use of folk remedies will prevent the appearance of pain and stop degenerative processes in the cervical spine.Regular use of these methods will improve your quality of life and overall performance.