Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine, but most commonly affects the neck and lower back. This disease is of an inflammatory-dystrophic nature and persists, as a rule, in a chronic form. Osteochondrosis of the cervix is more often diagnosed in women, while men are more susceptible to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
General Description
Most people spend their day in a sitting position: at school, college, office, driving a car, or at home on a computer. Over time, many begin to feel discomfort at first, and then bitterness after a long sitting. Body posture deteriorates, a curvature appears, it is difficult to correct or reverse.
Thus appears 1, the initial stage of osteochondrosis, in which it is easier to cope with the disease. If you do not take action, 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 the suppression of nerve roots. Depending on the damaged vertebrae and discs, the pain can spread to the shoulder, forearm or across the arm. Characterized by headaches, hypertension;
- sensory disorder, mainly in the hands and fingers. Perhaps numbness, burning sensation, or crawling;
- decrease in muscle strength and tone on the affected side, sometimes muscle tremors and cramps;
- increased sweating, skin discoloration - pallor, redness;
- chest pain;
- vertebral artery syndrome occurs when one of the two arteries is compressed, which is accompanied by severe headaches, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, less commonly - swallowing disorder.
There are no medications 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, one rarely passes without pain medication. The best known and most effective are inexpensive drugs based on metamizole sodium, as well as NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
For severe pain, your doctor may prescribe analgesics in injections, but more often they are prescribed in tablets and supplemented with oils. Complex therapy also includes physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy. Massage sessions and therapeutic exercises usually begin after the relief of acute symptoms.
What you can do at home
Treating cervical osteochondrosis at home is a prerequisite that most doctors insist on. It is impossible to cope with the disease only with medication and physiotherapy, they only temporarily eliminate the symptoms. The remission period can be extended by regular physical activity, with dosing, 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 significantly saves finances, the use of decoctions and herbal infusions instead of some medicines reduces the negative effect of medicines on the body.
Home therapy, like traditional treatment, helps to quickly stop pain syndrome, normalize cerebral circulation, and improve sleep. With the help of available products, you can remove irritability and irritability, stabilize blood pressure, restore normal sensitivity of the cervical region.
exercise therapy
Therapeutic exercises are included in the main standard of neck chondrosis treatment and are chosen by an exercise therapy instructor. The first 1-2 sessions are held in a clinic or health center and then the patient can train himself at home.
Exercise 1. PI (starting position) - standing, feet shoulder-width apart. Tilt your head right, left, forward and backward. All movements should be slow and smooth, you should turn your head especially carefully, not throwing it back suddenly.
Exercise 2. From the same PI, turn your head to the sides. At the extreme point, direct your gaze behind your back. Sometimes at first it is not possible to turn your head too much, and you should not force events. Over time, the restrictive movement of the "block" will disappear.
Exercise 3. Get your shoulders back, joining the shoulder blades as much as possible. Hold in this position for a few seconds, then bring your shoulders forward and round your back. The movement is similar to the famous "cat", but done in the standing position.
Another effective set consists of the following exercises:
- Standing or sitting, place your palms on your forehead and press your head against them, overcoming the resistance of your hands. Hold this position for 15-20 seconds.
- Putting your hands on the back of your head, press with the back of your head in your hands and your hands on the back of your head.
- Place your palm on your right ear and apply mutual pressure, trying to tilt your head towards your right shoulder. Then switch sides and tilt your head to your left shoulder, keeping your left hand on your left ear.
- Turn your head sideways, placing your palm on the 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. Pressure time is 15-20 seconds.
- Grasp the bottom of the head so that the thumbs are on the chin and the rest on the back of the head. Gently pull the head up, allowing it to swing from side to side as "pulling the cap out of the bottle". You can not turn your head, the spine in the cervical spine should be straight. The duration of the exercise is 15-20 seconds.
- Spread your arms sideways and rotate first with your left, then with your right, and then with both shoulders. This exercise is especially useful for those who feel tension in the neck and shoulder area.
- Standing or sitting with a straight back, "roll" your head from left to right and in the opposite direction, tilting it as far as possible at the midpoint and trying toreach the chest with the chin. The number of repetitions is 10-12.
It is not necessary to complete the above complex if some exercises cause severe pain and discomfort. As agreed with the doctor, you can also hang on a horizontal bar or a crossbar, go for swimming, water aerobics and other permitted sports.
Self-massage
Self-massage helps treat osteochondrosis of the cervix at home. Thanks to gentle pressure on the neck, salt deposits are prevented, blood supply and tissue nutrition are improved, and pain intensity is reduced. During the procedure, the muscles relax, metabolic processes are accelerated and blood pressure stabilizes.
If you wish, you can visit a massage therapist at the clinic or have the procedure done at home. However, it is convenient to massage the neck yourself, after you have studied the basic techniques and determine those points that need to be worked out. It is also important to know which areas are best to avoid or treat with caution.
The massage technique is quite simple and it is quite possible to master it. The basic rules are:
- the direction of movement is from the center to the periphery, i. e. from the spine to the shoulders and the back of the head;
- is allowed to massage the cervical area only with the help of your fingers, without using any equipment;
- strong pressure is excluded: you must act with delicacy and gentleness;
- the muscles of the back and side of the neck are caressed, rubbed and stretched;
- 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 approval of the attending physician, you can use the applicant Kuznetsov. This affordable and effective device is a roller made of cloth or oil cover with raised elements - round or square topped plates.
The launcher is easy to use - just place it under your head and lie on it. Soft needles bite the skin, increasing blood flow and affecting the biologically active points of the neck. The duration of the procedure starts from a few minutes and gradually increases.
First aid for deterioration
If a cervical lumbago occurs suddenly, an ideal solution is a visit to the doctor or a home specialist. If help is delayed, a number of measures must be taken to relieve the pain and protect the vertebral structures from possible damage.
Convenient position
First of all, you need to secure the cervical spine and limit physical activity as much as possible (it is better to exclude it completely). You should lie on a flat and medium firm bed or on a thick blanket on the floor. A very hard floor, such as bare plank floor or a ventilated bed with feathers, will not 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. This will reduce the load on the cervical muscles and improve local blood circulation.
If there is no Shants collar, you can make an indoor tire from cardboard and cotton wool, fixing the neck with it.
REFERENCE: before visiting a doctor, you should not use rubber bands and heating oils, massage the neck. In some cases, such actions can provoke very unpleasant complications.
LOCAL FUNDS
In the first hours of an attack, it is permissible to put ice or a cold compress, but there should be a layer of cloth or gauze between it and the body. This will avoid hypothermia and added pain.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic oils and gels based on diclofenac, ibuprofen, nimesulide and indomethacin may be used. The use of products such as Finalgon, Viprosal, Capsicam and other preparations with spicy ingredients is prohibited.
Heating ointments and rubs have a local irritating effect, increasing blood flow to the neck, which can increase swelling and compression of nerve endings. In the back of the cervix, special care is needed, as improper actions are fraught with a sharp rise in blood pressure.
In case of worsening osteochondrosis, the massage is not performed due to the increased risk of pain and reflex muscle spasms. In addition, cervical vertebrae are hypermobility, and any careless movement can worsen the condition.
MEDICAL
Medications can help fight pain, but remember that pain is a defense mechanism. With its forced elimination, nothing will stop you from making a sharp movement of your head, which will worsen the condition. Therefore, after taking an analgesic, you should observe a gentle and preferably bed rest for at least 2-3 days.
Severe pain, which does not allow to be stopped with tablets and intramuscular injections, is relieved 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. Blockades are performed only according to indications and can cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions and infectious complications.
Prohibited actions
A severe neck pain is a good reason for a doctor consultation and a comprehensive examination. Only after an accurate diagnosis is established are the treatment tactics and methods most effective in a particular case determined.
categorically it is categorically impossible to remove the pain in any way - for example, try to correct a displaced vertebra yourself or seek similar help from a friend who is not a specialist. Do not take large doses of pain reliever uncontrollably. Even folk remedies can be harmful if the diagnosis is not yet known.
The correct movement regime is very important: if in the deterioration phase the movements should be as limited as possible, then after a few days the physical activity should be expanded. Exercises from the complex of exercise therapy will help improve blood circulation, reduce the intensity of pain and calm 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 groups of drugs:
- NSAIDs and analgesics during a deterioration; muscle relaxants to relax muscles;
- chondroprotectors, restoring the cartilaginous tissue of intervertebral discs;
- B vitamin and mineral complexes containing B vitamins
Various ointments, gels and scraps - for example, Nanoplast scraps - effectively complement the treatment. Today, pharmacies 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
Honey-potato packaging is made from raw mashed potatoes and honey. Both ingredients are taken in equal amounts, mixed and spread on a cloth or gauze. The compress is applied to the neck for about 45 minutes. The procedure is performed twice a week.
Wax or paraffin should be melted and applied to the injured area, avoiding contact with the spine itself. It is recommended to make such applications once in two days.
Knead the dough of water and rye flour on medium density, spread the cake and stick it on the neck. Lubricate the skin with turpentine before applying. Cover the compress with polyethylene and a warm cloth, hold until the burning sensation appears, but not more than 15 minutes. You can perform the procedure every other day.
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 rr. lcreat the mixture in a thermos, pouring a liter of boiling water. Take 3 times daily before meals for. Glass.
Thus, at home, you can do a lot to get rid of such an unpleasant disease as osteochondrosis. When you perform all medical appointments, including taking medication, attending physical procedures and massage, performing therapeutic exercises, there are all chances to avoid its progression and prevent relapses.
What to do now
Statistics show that over 45% of people over the age of 35 have joint disease! It all starts a little: somewhere they overcame themselves, somewhere they lifted weights, somewhere they just broke their necks. The joint is designed so that the main problems start with inflammation of the joint fluid, then softening of the cartilage and, as a result, disability.
One important thing to keep in mind: Joint diseases will keep you in a wheelchair for less than 3 years! The disease progresses many times faster if you are overweight, as in this case there is a double load on the joints.