Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine, but most often affects the neck and lower back. This disease is inflammatory dystrophic and is usually chronic. Cervical osteochondrosis is more commonly diagnosed in women, while men are more prone to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
General description
Most people spend their day sitting down: at school, in college, in the office, while driving a car or at home on the computer. Over time, many feel uncomfortable at first and then sore after long periods of sitting. Posture deteriorates, a bend appears, it is difficult to stretch or turn.
This is how 1 appears, the initial stage of osteochondrosis, when it is easiest to deal with the disease. If you do not take action, in the future it threatens to become a chronic form with regular exacerbations. In some cases the case ends with a disability.
REFERENCE: Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine accounts for half of all types of pathology.
The clinical picture of cervical chondrosis includes:
- Pain syndrome due to compression of the nerve roots. Depending on which vertebrae and intervertebral 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. Possibly numbness, burning sensation, or creeping creeps;
- decreased strength and muscle tone on the affected side, sometimes muscle twitches and cramps;
- increased sweating, discoloration of the skin - pallor, redness;
- chest pain; The
- vertebral artery syndrome occurs when one of the two arteries becomes pinched, which is associated with severe headaches, tinnitus, nausea, dizziness and, less often, difficulty swallowing.
There are no drugs that can completely eliminate the cause of osteochondrosis. However, the simplest methods can help you get rid of the symptoms and prevent possible relapses.
How is chondrosis treated?
In the acute phase, rarely anyone can do without pain medication. The most popular and effective are inexpensive sodium metamizole-based drugs, as well as NSAIDs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If the pain is severe, the attending physician can prescribe analgesics in injections, but these are more often prescribed in tablet form and supplemented with ointments. The complex therapy also includes physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy. Massage and therapeutic exercises are usually started after acute symptoms are relieved.
What you can do yourself at home
Treating cervical osteochondrosis at home is a requirement that most doctors insist on. It is impossible to cope with the disease with drugs and physical therapy alone, they only temporarily eliminate symptoms. The remission period can be prolonged through regular, dosed physical activity, the use of self-massage techniques, therapeutic compresses and strengthening infusions.
If you follow the directions carefully and follow medical advice, impressive results can be achieved. Performing a self-massage significantly saves money, the use of decoctions and herbal teas instead of some drugs reduces the negative effect of drugs on the body.
Home therapy, like traditional treatment, helps to quickly stop pain syndrome, normalize brain circulation, and improve sleep. With the help of the products available, you can eliminate nervousness and irritability, stabilize blood pressure and restore the normal sensitivity of the neck and collar region.
Movement therapy
Therapeutic exercises belong to the main standard of treatment for chondrosis of the neck and are selected by a movement therapist. The first 1-2 sessions take place in a clinic or health center, and then the patient can exercise at home.
Exercise 1. PI (starting position) - standing, feet shoulder width apart. Tilt your head to the right, left, forward, and backward. All movements should be slow and gentle. You should be extra careful when you pull your head back and not throw it back suddenly.
Exercise 2. Turn the head of the same PI to the side. In extreme cases, direct your gaze behind your back. Sometimes it is not possible to turn your head too hard at first and you shouldn't force events. Over time, the "block" limiting movement disappears.
Exercise 3. Put your shoulders back and bring your shoulder blades together as much as possible. Hold this position for a few seconds, then pull your shoulders forward and around your back. The movement is similar to the famous "cat", but is performed while standing.
Another effective set consists of the following exercises:
- Stand or sit, placing your palms on your forehead and pressing your head on them to overcome the resistance of your hands. Hold this position for 15-20 seconds.
- Put your hands on the back of your head, press the back of your head on your hands and your hands on the back of your head.
- Place your palm on your right ear and apply pressure to each other, trying to tilt your head toward 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 one side and place your palm on your left or right cheekbones. First the hand rests on the right cheekbone and the head tries to turn to the right to overcome the resistance of the hand. Then the palm rests on the left cheek and the head turns to the left. The printing time is 15-20 seconds.
- Grasp the underside of the head so that the thumbs are on the chin and the rest on the back of the head. Gently pull your head up, allowing you to swing from side to side, like "pulling the cork out of the bottle". You cannot turn your head, the spine in the cervical spine needs to be stretched. The duration of the exercise is 15-20 seconds.
- Spread your arms to the side and twist 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.
- Stand or sit with your back straight, "roll" your head from left to right and in the opposite direction, tilting your head down as far as possible in the middle 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 some exercises cause pain and severe discomfort. In consultation with the doctor, you can also hang on a horizontal bar or cross bar, swim, do aqua aerobics and other permitted sports.
Self-massage
Self-massage will help treat cervical osteochondrosis at home. Applying slight pressure on the neck prevents salt build-up, improves blood supply and tissue nutrition, and reduces pain intensity. During the procedure, the muscles relax, metabolic processes are accelerated and blood pressure stabilizes.
If you want, you can visit a massage therapist in the clinic or perform interventions at home. However, it is convenient to massage the neck yourself after studying the basic techniques and identifying the points that need to be worked out. It is also important to know which zones are best to avoid or respond carefully to.
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, ie from the spine to the shoulders and the back of the head.
- It is allowed to massage the neck area only with the help of the fingers without the use of devices.
- strong pressure is excluded: you have to act carefully and gently;
- The muscles of the back and the side of the neck are caressed, rubbed and stretched.
- The massage is performed in a sitting position.
- The session begins with stroking and continues with rubbing and kneading movements. also ends with petting;
- Duration of the procedure - 5-10 minutes.
If there are no contraindications and no approval from the attending physician, you can use the Kuznetsov applicator. This affordable and effective device is a roller made of fabric or oilcloth with raised elements - round or square spiked plates.
The applicator is easy to use - just place it under your head and lie on it. Soft needles bite into the skin, increase blood flow and act on biologically active points on the neck. The duration of the procedure starts from a few minutes and gradually increases.
First aid in case of exacerbation
If lumbago suddenly occurs, a visit to the doctor or a home call is the ideal solution. If help is delayed, various measures must be taken to relieve pain and protect the vertebral structures from possible injury.
USEFUL POSITION
First of all, you need to provide the cervical spine and limit physical activity as much as possible (it is better to completely exclude it). You should lie on a flat and moderately hard bed or a thick blanket on the floor. A floor that is too hard, like a bare plank floor or an airy feather bed, won't work.
For acute neck pain due to osteochondrosis, it is recommended to wear a shants collar that prevents the neck from moving or rotating freely. This reduces the strain on the neck muscles and improves local blood circulation.
If there is no shants collar, you can make a homemade tire from cardboard and cotton and use it to fasten the neck.
REFERENCE: Before you consult a doctor, you must not use warming gums and ointments. Massage the neck. Such actions in some cases can provoke very unpleasant complications.
LOCAL FUNDS
During the first hours of an attack, ice or a cold compress may be applied, but there must be a layer of cloth or gauze between this and the body. This avoids 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 products such as Finalgon, Viprosal, Capsicam and other preparations with burning ingredients in the composition.
Warming ointments and rubbing are locally irritating, increase blood flow to the throat and can increase swelling and compression of the nerve endings. Special care should be taken in the cervical spine, as improper actions are fraught with a sharp rise in blood pressure.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, massage is not performed due to the risk of increased pain and reflex muscle spasms. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are characterized by hypermobility, and any careless movement can make the condition worse.
DRUGS
Pain can be treated with medication, but remember that pain is a defense mechanism. If it is forcibly removed, nothing will prevent you from making a sharp movement of your head, which will worsen the condition. Therefore, after taking an analgesic, you should maintain a gentle and preferably bed rest of at least 2-3 days.
Severe pain that cannot be stopped with tablets and intramuscular injections is relieved with the help of novocaine blockade. This procedure is carried out exclusively in a hospital: a local anesthetic is injected next to the damaged vertebra, which blocks the pain. Blockages are carried out only according to indications and can cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions and infectious complications.
Prohibited actions
A sharp neck pain is a good reason for medical advice and a comprehensive examination. Only after an exact diagnosis has been made, the treatment tactics and the most effective methods in each individual case are determined.
It is categorically impossible to get rid of pain in any way. For example, try correcting a dislocated vertebra yourself, or seek similar help from a friend who is not a specialist. Do not take large doses of pain medication uncontrollably. Even folk remedies can be harmful if the diagnosis is not yet known.
The right regimen of exercise is very important: If at the stage of exacerbation, movements should be as limited as possible, physical activity should be increased after a few days. Training with the exercise therapy complex will help improve blood circulation, reduce pain intensity and relieve the inflammatory process. In addition, properly selected exercises strengthen the muscle corset that supports the spine.
How to cure osteochondrosis forever
The complex drug treatment consists of several groups of drugs:
- NSAIDs and analgesics during an exacerbation; Muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation;
- chondroprotectors that restore the cartilage tissue of intervertebral discs;
- Vitamin and mineral complexes that contain B vitamins
Various ointments, gels and plasters - for example the Nanoplast plaster - effectively complement the treatment. Nowadays pharmacies have a wide range of local medicines that can be used in both exacerbations and recovery:
- anti-inflammatory;
- chondroprotective;
- homeopathic.
When the acute symptoms have subsided, warming agents can be used.
Traditional methods
Honey and Potato Wrap is made from raw, grated potatoes and honey. Both components are taken in equal amounts, mixed and laid out 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 must be melted and applied to the sore area to avoid contact with the spine itself. It is recommended that such requests be made every two days.
Knead the dough from water and rye flour to medium thickness, roll out the cake and attach it to the neck. Before applying, smear the skin with turpentine. Cover the compress with polyethylene and a warm cloth and hold it until you feel a burning sensation, but no more than 15 minutes. You can do the procedure every other day.
The herbal preparation for oral administration is made from the following ingredients in equal proportions:
- chamomile;
- yarrow;
- St. John's wort;
- marigold;
- thyme;
- dandelion leaves.
2 st. l. brew the mixture in a thermos and pour a liter of boiling water over it. Take for ¼ glass 3 times a day before meals.
So there is a lot you can do at home to get rid of such an unpleasant ailment as osteochondrosis. When conducting all medical appointments, including taking medication, attending physical procedures and massages, as well as performing therapeutic exercises, there is every opportunity to avoid their progression and relapses.
What to do now
Statistics show that over 45% of those over 35 years of age suffer from joint diseases! Everything starts small: Somewhere they overwhelmed themselves, somewhere they lifted weights, somewhere they just blown their necks. The joint is designed so that the main problems begin with inflammation of the synovial fluid, softening of the cartilage and, as a result, disability.
One important thing to consider: joint diseases will get you to a wheelchair in less than 3 years! If you are overweight, the disease runs many times faster, as in this case the joints are put under double stress.