Osteochondrosis can develop anywhere in the spine, but most often it affects the neck and lower back. This disease is inflammatory-dystrophic in nature and proceeds, as a rule, in a chronic form. Cervical osteochondrosis is most often diagnosed in women, while men are more susceptible to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
General description
Most people spend the day in a sitting position: at school, university, at the office, driving a car or at home in front of the computer. Over time, many begin to experience discomfort first and then pain after a long session. Posture deteriorates, a curve appears, it is difficult to straighten or turn around.
This is what 1, the initial stage of osteochondrosis looks like, in which it is easier to cope with the disease. If you do not take measures, then in the future it threatens to turn into a chronic form with regular exacerbations. In some cases, the case ends in disability.
REFERENCE: Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine accounts for half of all types of pathology.
The clinical picture of cervical chondrosis includes:
- pain syndrome caused by compression of the nerve roots. Depending on which vertebrae and discs are damaged, the pain can spread to the shoulder, forearm, or the entire arm. Characterized by headache, pressure surges;
- sensory disturbance, mainly in the hands and fingers. Possible numbness, burning sensation, or crawling chills;
- decreased strength and tone of the muscles on the affected side, sometimes muscle twitching and cramps;
- increased sweating, skin discoloration - paleness, redness;
- chest pain;
- Vertebral artery syndrome occurs when one of the two arteries is pinched, accompanied by severe headache, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, less often - swallowing disorder.
There are no drugs that can completely eliminate the cause of osteochondrosis. But you can get rid of its symptoms and prevent possible relapses using the simplest methods.
How is chondrosis treated?
In the acute phase, rarely does anyone go without pain medication. The most popular and effective are inexpensive drugs based on sodium metamizole, as well as NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
For severe pain, the attending physician can prescribe analgesic injections, but more often they are prescribed in tablets and supplemented with ointments. Complex therapy also includes physiotherapy, massage and physical therapy. Massage sessions and therapeutic exercises are usually started after relief of acute symptoms.
What you can do yourself at home
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home is a prerequisite that most doctors insist on. It is impossible to cope with the disease with drugs and physiotherapy alone, they only temporarily eliminate the symptoms. The period of remission can be prolonged by regular and dosed physical activity, by the use of self-massage techniques, therapeutic compresses and strengthening infusions.
By following the instructions exactly and following the medical advice, impressive results can be achieved. Self-massage allows you to significantly save finances, the use of decoctions and infusions of herbs instead of some medicines reduces the negative effect of medicines on the body.
Home therapy, like traditional treatment, helps to quickly stop the pain syndrome, normalize cerebral circulation and improve sleep. With the help of available products, you can remove nervousness and irritability, stabilize blood pressure, restore normal sensitivity of the neck-collar region.
physical therapy
Therapeutic exercises are included in the main standard of treatment for chondrosis of the neck and are selected by a physical therapy instructor. The first 1-2 sessions take place in a clinic or health center, so the patient can train at home.
Exercise 1. PI (starting position) - standing, feet shoulder-width apart. Tilt your head left, right, back and forth. All movements should be slow and smooth, you should bring your head back with particular attention, do not throw it back abruptly.
Exercise 2. From the same PI, turn the head to the side. At the extreme point, look behind your back. Sometimes at first it's not possible to turn your head too much and you shouldn't force events. Over time, the "block" limiting movement will disappear.
Exercise 3. Bring your shoulders back, bringing your shoulder blades together as much as possible. Hold this position for a few seconds, then bring your shoulders forward and around your back. The movement is similar to the famous "cat", but is performed in a standing position.
Another effective set consists of the following exercises:
- Standing or sitting, place your palms on your forehead and press your head on them, overcoming the resistance of your hands. Hold this position for 15-20 seconds.
- Placing the hands on the back of the head, press with the back of the head on the hands and with the hands on the back of the head.
- Place your palm over your right ear and apply mutual pressure, trying to tilt your head towards your right shoulder. Then switch sides and tilt your head towards your left shoulder, keeping your left hand on your left ear.
- Turn your head to the side, placing your palm on your left or right cheekbone. First, the hand rests on the right cheekbone and the head tries to turn to the right, overcoming the resistance of the hand. Then the palm rests on the left cheek and the head turns to the left. The pressing time is 15-20 seconds.
- Grab the bottom of the head so that the thumbs are on the chin and the rest on the back of the head. Carefully lift the head, it is allowed to swing from side to side like "pulling the cork out of the bottle". You can not turn your head, the spine in the cervical spine must be straightened. The duration of the exercise is 15-20 seconds.
- Spread your arms out to the sides and rotate first with the left, then with the right and then with both shoulders. This exercise is particularly useful for those who feel tension in the neck and shoulder area.
- Standing or sitting with your back straight, "turn" your head from left to right and in the opposite direction, tilting it as far down in the center as possible and trying to reach your chest with your chin. The number of repetitions is 10-12.
It is not necessary to complete the above complex if certain exercises cause pain and severe discomfort. In agreement with the doctor, you can also hang on a horizontal bar or a crossbar, swim, water aerobics and other permitted sports.
Self-massage
Self-massage helps to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home. Thanks to the slight pressure on the neck, salt deposits are prevented, the blood supply and tissue nutrition are improved and the intensity of pain is reduced. During the procedure, the muscles are relaxed, metabolic processes are accelerated and blood pressure is stabilized.
If you wish, you can visit a massage therapist at the clinic or perform the procedures at home. However, it is convenient to massage the neck yourself, having studied the basic techniques and determined those points that need to be worked out. It is also important to know which areas are best avoided or to act carefully.
The massage technique is quite simple and it is quite possible to master it. The basic rules are:
- direction of movement - from the center to the periphery, that is, from the spine to the shoulders and back of the head;
- it is allowed to massage the cervical area only with the help of the fingers, without using any device;
- strong pressure is excluded: it is necessary to act delicately and delicately;
- the muscles of the back and sides of the neck are caressed, massaged and stretched;
- the massage is performed in a sitting position;
- the session begins with stroking, continues with rubbing and kneading movements, also ends with stroking;
- duration of the procedure - 5-10 minutes.
In the absence of contraindications and the approval of the attending physician, the Kuznetsov applicator can be used. This inexpensive and effective device is a roller made of fabric or tarpaulin with embossed elements - round or square pin plates.
The applicator is easy to use: just put it under your head and lie on it. The soft needles bite the skin, increasing blood flow and acting on the biologically active points of the neck. The duration of the procedure starts from a few minutes and gradually increases.
First aid in case of exacerbation
If low back pain occurs suddenly, a visit to the doctor or a home specialist is the ideal solution. If help is delayed, it is necessary to take a number of measures to relieve pain and protect the vertebral structures from possible injury.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
First of all, it is necessary to provide the cervical spine and limit as much as possible (it is better to completely exclude) physical activity. You should lie down on a flat, moderately hard bed or a thick blanket on the floor. A floor that's too hard, like a bare plank floor or an airy feather bed, won't work.
In case of acute neck pain caused by osteochondrosis, it is recommended to wear a Shants collar, which will prevent the neck from moving or turning freely. Due to this, the load on the cervical muscles will decrease and local blood circulation will improve.
If there is no Shants collar, you can make a homemade tire from cardboard and cotton wool, fixing the neck with it.
REFERENCE: Before visiting a doctor, do not use warming gums and ointments, massage the neck. Such actions in some cases can provoke very unpleasant complications.
LOCAL FUNDS
In the first hours of an attack it is allowed to apply ice or a cold pack, but there must be a layer of cloth or gauze between it and the body. This will avoid hypothermia and increased pain.
It is allowed to use anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments and gels based on diclofenac, ibuprofen, nimesulide and indomethacin. It is forbidden to use such products as Finalgon, Viprosal, Capsicam and other preparations with burning components in the composition.
Warming ointments and rubbing have a local irritating effect, increase blood flow to the neck, which can increase swelling and compression of nerve endings. In the cervical spine, special attention is required, since improper actions are fraught with a sharp increase in blood pressure.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, massage is not performed due to the risk of increased pain and reflex muscle spasms. Additionally, the cervical vertebrae are hypermobile and any inaccurate movement can aggravate the condition.
DRUGS
Medicines can help fight pain, but remember that pain is a defense mechanism. With its forced elimination, nothing will prevent you from making a sharp head movement, which will worsen the condition. Therefore, after taking an analgesic, it is necessary to observe a gentle bed rest and preferably for at least 2-3 days.
Severe pain, which does not lend itself to interrupting with pills and intramuscular injections, is removed with the help of novocaine blockade. This procedure is performed strictly in a hospital setting: a local anesthetic is injected near the damaged vertebra and blocks the pain. Blocks are carried out only according to the indications and can cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions and infectious complications.
Prohibited actions
Severe pain in the neck is a good reason for a doctor's consultation and a comprehensive examination. Only after an accurate diagnosis has been established, the treatment tactics and methods that are most effective in a particular case are determined.
It is categorically impossible to remove the pain in any way: for example, try to correct a broken vertebra on your own or seek similar help from a friend who is not a specialist. Do not take large doses of pain relievers uncontrollably. Folk remedies can also be harmful if the diagnosis is not yet known.
The correct movement regime is very important: if in the exacerbation phase the movements are to be as limited as possible, then after a few days the physical activity should be expanded. Exercise from the physical therapy complex will help improve blood circulation, reduce the intensity of pain and smooth out the inflammatory process. In addition, properly selected exercises will help strengthen the muscular corset that supports the spine.
How to cure osteochondrosis forever
Complex drug treatment consists of several drug groups:
- NSAIDs and analgesics during an exacerbation; muscle relaxants to relax the muscles;
- chondroprotectors, restoring the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs;
- vitamin and mineral complexes containing B vitamins
Various ointments, gels and patches, for example the Nanoplast patch, effectively complement the treatment. Pharmacies today have a wide range of local remedies that can be used both during exacerbations and in the recovery phase:
- anti-inflammatory;
- chondroprotective;
- homeopathic.
When acute symptoms have subsided, warming agents may be used.
Traditional methods
The Honey Potato Wrap is made with raw grated potatoes and honey. Both components are taken in equal quantities, mixed and spread on a cloth or gauze. The compress is applied to the neck for about 45 minutes. The procedure is carried out twice a week.
The wax or paraffin must be dissolved and applied to the painful spot, avoiding contact with the spine itself. It is recommended to carry out such applications once every two days.
Knead the dough of water and medium density rye flour, roll out the cake and attach it to the neck. Lubricate the skin with turpentine before application. Cover the compress with polyethylene and a warm cloth, hold until a burning sensation appears, but no more than 15 minutes. You can carry out the procedure every other day.
The herbal preparation for oral administration is prepared from the following ingredients, taken in equal proportions:
- chamomile;
- yarrow;
- St. John's wort;
- calendula;
- thyme;
- dandelion leaves.
2 st. L. bake the mixture in a thermos, pouring it with a liter of boiling water. Take 3 times a day before meals for ¼ of a glass.
So, at home, you can do a lot to get rid of such an unpleasant disease as osteochondrosis. When carrying out all medical appointments, including taking medications, visiting physical and massage procedures, performing therapeutic exercises, there are all possibilities to avoid its progression and prevent relapses.
What to do now
The statistics are such that over 45% of people over the age of 35 have joint disease! It all starts small: somewhere they tried too hard, somewhere they lifted weights, somewhere they just blew their necks. The joint is designed in such a way that the main problems begin with inflammation of the joint fluid, then softening of the cartilage and, consequently, disability.
One important thing to keep in mind: joint disease will get you in a wheelchair in less than 3 years! The disease progresses several times faster if you are overweight, as in this case there is a double load on the joints.