Cervical osteochondrosis is a so-called disease of civilization.Modern people spend most of the day sitting in front of computer monitors.Such a sedentary lifestyle puts a lot of strain on the neck muscles and vertebrae.This causes the structure of the intervertebral discs to change pathologically and the spinal nerve roots become pinched.Today it is difficult to find a person who has never suffered from manifestations of this disease in his life.That is why the question remains relevant for many: how and how to cure cervical osteochondrosis yourself at home?
Reasons for the development of pathology
Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative processes in the intervertebral cartilage are activated.They become atrophic, inelastic and lose their functionality.Depending on which part of the spine the damage occurred, a distinction is made between cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis.This pathology is by no means uncommon.Medical statistics indicate that 90% of the population experience symptoms of varying degrees, with the average age of onset being 30-35 years old.In the event of unfavorable influences and after serious injuries, the manifestation of osteochondrosis can begin at an earlier age.Pregnant women who are carrying a large child or multiple fetuses at the same time are also susceptible.
The main cause of osteochondrosis is malnutrition of cartilage tissue.The following negative factors can contribute to this:
- poor nutrition with insufficient supply of micro and macro elements;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- congenital and acquired metabolic disorders;
- obesity;
- bad habits, especially alcohol consumption and smoking;
- constantly recurring stressful situations;
- burdened heredity;
- low physical development, weakness of the muscular frame;
- excessive static loads;
- incorrect posture;
- deformities of the feet, 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 the above reasons occur, 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 throughout the day;
- severe feeling of weakness, loss of strength;
- feeling of cardiac arrhythmia;
- 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 a falling head is pathognomonic for osteochondrosis.In this case, the patient must support his head with his hands to relieve pain.
Home treatment
High-quality 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 course of treatment prescribed by a vertebral doctor, as well as additional methods of traditional medicine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home is not isolated.It simply complements the main therapy and helps to eliminate the following manifestations of the disease:
- pain in the neck;
- muscle cramp;
- muscle weakness;
- Destruction of intervertebral disc cartilage;
- disruption 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 the occurrence of exacerbations.
Many medications, self-massages, compresses, ointments and homemade herbal decoctions are suitable for home use.Most experts confirm their effectiveness.The correct use of such funds significantly speeds up recovery.In addition, they do not require any special skills and can be used conveniently at home.And this is extremely valuable, since osteochondrosis is a chronic disease and every patient should know how to quickly cope with painful symptoms.Home treatment has many advantages as it is accessible to everyone and the cost of treatment is relatively low.The patient can use several different methods at the same time and choose the most suitable and effective method for him.
Against the background of intensive treatment, it is necessary to reconsider the diet and enrich it with seafood, vegetables, fruits, green plants and dishes made from animal cartilage, such as the well-known jellied meat.
It is very important that the head is in the correct position while sleeping 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 don't help.If you devote at least a minimum 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 train several times a day.A suitable set of exercises will be selected by a gymnastics specialist and can then be performed freely at home.It is necessary to perform 8-10 repetitions with a short break after each approach.The most common exercise therapy exercises:
- Turns the head right and left.They must be done slowly, gradually achieving maximum stretching and relaxation of the muscles.
- Tilt your head forward, back and side and it is recommended to stay in each position for a short time.When bending, you need to 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 pressing the palm of the hand on the forehead, temple or back of the head.
- Good exercises to relax the shoulder girdle muscles.Raising and lowering the arms, circular movements of the shoulders and placing the ears as high as possible help to activate blood circulation and ensure adequate nutrition for the spine in the neck area.
It is very important to remember that such warm-ups can only be performed during periods of remission, when there is no active inflammatory process.You should not make sudden, jerky movements and if pain occurs, stop the activity quickly and seek medical attention.
Advice!If the pain worsens, wearing a Shants collar is indicated.It fixes the head and neck, ensures peace and prevents the nerve roots from being pinched.
Self-massage
Massage is a quick and effective way to relieve attacks of pain caused by osteochondrosis and eliminate salt deposits.You must follow some rules of self-massage:
- Massage movements should be performed with the 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 need to sit on a flat, hard surface with your legs crossed.Place your elbow on your knee and, with your other hand, begin stroking, rubbing and kneading the muscles of your neck and back of your head.
Back massage should be carried out in a period when there is no inflammation, otherwise increased blood circulation will, on the contrary, lead to activation of inflammation and exacerbation of the disease.
Drug therapy
If the pain is severe, the use of medication on an outpatient basis is justified.In addition, doctors prescribe medications that can stop degenerative processes in cartilage and eliminate inflammation.
When taking medication at home, the most important thing is to strictly adhere to the specialist's recommendations regarding dosage and frequency of intake.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 used strictly in a certain amount no more than three times a day.
Pay attention!In addition to the strongest anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids can cause side effects and have many contraindications.Therefore, most doctors prescribe the safest new generation drugs.
For external use, warming ointments containing bee or snake venom are used.The patch has similar effects.It quickly relieves pain and swelling of the tissues.
The restoration of cartilage tissue is carried out using drugs that include chondroitin and glucosamine.These medications must be taken over a long period of time because they work very slowly.However, in mild cases, they are able to completely restore damaged cartilage.
The treatment regimen also includes vitamin-mineral complexes and drugs that help “nourish” the cartilage, improve vertebral blood circulation and metabolic processes in the tissues.
applicator
The applicator is a fabric or rubber mat with needles.The tips of these needles are coated with a special compound that contains small amounts of zinc, copper and iron.By acting on skin receptors, needles have an irritating effect and cause blood flow to the inflammatory area.By inserting many needles, a warming effect is achieved, which leads to relaxation of the muscles.This is how the applicator helps to relieve pain.
Folk remedies and recipes
How can osteochondrosis be treated using conventional medicine methods?There are a variety of different recipes based on herbal ingredients.They effectively manage the symptoms of the disease against the background of basic treatment.Remedies for oral administration, compresses, ointments and liniments are produced.
For osteochondrosis, the following mixtures are taken orally:
- Wash young pine buds no longer than 2 centimeters and grind them thoroughly in a blender for a few minutes.Add sugar at the rate of 100 grams per 200 grams of kidneys.Pour the sugar mixture into a glass container with a tight lid and refrigerate 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 let it sit for 8 hours.Take the tincture three times a day, 1 teaspoon each time.
Homemade rubs are also often used.The most effective recipe is called Grandma's Rub.You need to take 10 Analgin tablets and grind them well into a powder and add camphor, medicinal alcohol and iodine solution 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 and warm feeling, but the pain will disappear 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 a doctor is not consulted.However, the use of folk remedies prevents the occurrence of pain and stops degenerative processes in the cervical spine.Regular use of these methods will improve your quality of life and your overall performance.