A common disease is cervical spine osteochondrosis, which affects people of all ages, especially the working population between the ages of 30 and 50. Some people suffer from this disease, sometimes do not know the cause of the disease, because degenerative changes in the cervical spine are not felt. Timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will return a person to excellent health and will give him health in the future.
Symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis may not appear at the beginning of the disease. The disease often feels neglected with headaches and neck pain when moving. When there is a violation of cerebral circulation with cervical osteochondrosis, a person develops the following symptoms:
- regular headaches;
- impaired sensitivity of facial muscles;
- increased fatigue;
- noise at the beginning;
- ringing in the ears;
- high blood pressure;
- loss of coordination;
- frequent dizziness;
- vibrating gait.
If osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae becomes chronic, the pain is permanent and head movements are difficult due to the tension in the neck muscles. The patient begins to suffer from cervical migraine, and the headache is sometimes accompanied by vomiting, nausea and even loss of consciousness. If cervical osteochondrosis is not treated in time, a person may experience pharyngeal symptoms: difficulty swallowing, dryness in the throat, itching and itching. Over time, this disease can cause a herniated disc.
Treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis consists of a number of tools and methods aimed at relieving pain and combating the inflammatory process in the tissues. An effective method is daily exercise for spinal elasticity. As a rule, an individual training program is selected by the doctor after diagnosis and assessment of the stage of the disease using MRI or computed tomography. Let's see how cervical lumbar osteochondrosis is treated.
Medications: pills, medications and injections
Drug treatment is already prescribed at the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis. If the first pain can be relieved with an ordinary anesthetic pill, then it will no longer help. Medical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out with a new generation of chondroprotectors - drugs that stimulate the regeneration of spinal cartilage tissue. The best therapeutic effect is provided by a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The course of treatment with these drugs can take several months, after which cervical spine mobility improves.
However, if acute pain in cervical osteochondrosis needs to be treated, doctors prescribe novocaine blockade or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are ointments, capsules, tablets and injections that rapidly improve the general condition of the patient. However, if there are no contraindications to the long-term use of chondroprotectors, there are serious NSAIDs, so their use should be agreed with the attending physician.
Topical medicines: gels and ointments
Special gels or ointments, which begin to act 10 minutes after application, will help to quickly anesthetize the cervical spine during osteochondrosis. There are several types:
- Updates that allow you to repair damaged cartilage tissue between the vertebrae.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, pain reliever.
- Painkillers that affect the nerve endings quickly dull the pain.
- Massage ointments.
Manual therapy
The oldest, but no less effective method of treatment of osteochondrosis is manual treatment. Specialists have developed many techniques that have a beneficial effect on the vertebrae, tissues and joints of the affected area. Only a chiropractor should be a good specialist in his field so as not to take the patient in a wheelchair. The main methods of manual therapy of cervical spine osteochondrosis are:
- segmental massage that relieves muscle tension;
- joint performance accompanied by recovery manipulation crises;
- mobilization, recovery by extending damaged joints.
Acupuncture
With the help of acupuncture, you can completely cure the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, as well as eliminate the symptoms of pain. Needle technique came to Russian medicine from the East. The wise Chinese, guided by the philosophy and knowledge of the human body, learned to regulate the energy in the body using metal needles. Acupuncture is now recognized by doctors as an extremely effective method with osteochondrosis.
But before you go to acupuncture, you should consult a doctor, because this procedure is not suitable for everyone. You cannot use this technique:
in the presence of infectious diseases- ;
- pregnancy;
- any tumor;
- skin or blood diseases;
- old age or infancy.
Homeopathic medicines
Cervical osteochondrosis is successfully treated with homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies contain beneficial trace elements and biologically active substances. These correspond exactly to the concentration of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Homeopathic remedies contain plant extracts, plant extracts taken from environmentally friendly samples and, most importantly, are completely natural. The principle of action in osteochondrosis:
- Activate the immune system.
- Restore cartilage tissue.
- Improves blood circulation in the neck.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home
Complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home is now possible. If you follow a proper diet and lead an active lifestyle, it is possible to achieve better health and eliminate the symptoms of pain alone. The daily diet for cervical osteochondrosis should include foods that help restore cartilage tissue, including:
- legumes, cereals, vegetables, fruits;
- contains proteins: nuts, eggs, lean poultry, fish;
- unsaturated fatty acids: flaxseed, oily sea fish;
- Calcium-rich foods: milk, cottage cheese, leafy vegetables.
Massage and self-massage
Successful treatment at home is with massage or self-massage. This procedure reduces tension by relaxing tight neck muscles. After the massage, the blood circulation in the intervertebral discs improves, which gives the patient rapid relief. The self-massage procedure is performed while sitting and is performed by rubbing, stroking and kneading movements on the back of the head. But it is better to invite a qualified massage therapist to get a greater effect.
Wellness gymnastics
Rehabilitation gymnastics is no less effective than drug treatment of osteochondrosis and is the basis for recovery. Exercise will not take long, especially since it is easy to do at home. Gymnastics aims to relieve pain in cervical spine osteochondrosis, lengthen ligaments and relax the neck muscles. However, you should do the exercises only after consulting a doctor and be very careful not to harm the body.
Traditional medicine recipes
When asked how to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home, folk remedies are usually considered. Herbal remedies are economical, effective and, most importantly, safe. There is no need to buy expensive painkillers, which can have negative side effects. Natural remedies for cervical spine osteochondrosis include:
- Horseradish leaves. You should tie the sheet around the back of your neck and straighten it overnight. The pain will disappear by morning.
- Potatoes. It should be rubbed with honey in equal proportions so that the mixture resembles an ointment with consistency. Use the product as a compress at least once a week.
- Compresses made of vodka (1 l) with the addition of freshly squeezed aloe juice (1 tablespoon), mustard powder (1 tablespoon) and propolis (50 g) are effective. The mixture is soaked in a cloth and applied to the neck, fixed with a woolen cloth, the procedure is performed 1-2 times a week at night.
Methods of disease prevention
Prevention of osteochondrosis is easier than long-term treatment. Prevention includes adherence to posture, fitness training, sports equipment, racing, yoga, swimming. You need to sit properly at the table and computer, you can not throw your head back for a long time or bend while lifting weights. It is not recommended to lean down on the table surface when writing or reading, and it is recommended to use an orthopedic pillow during sleep.