A common disease is cervical spine osteochondrosis, which manifests itself in people of all ages, and especially in the working population aged 30 to 50 years. Some people suffer from this disease, sometimes unaware of the cause of the disease, because degenerative changes in the cervical spine occur invisibly. Timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will return a person to excellent health and give him health in the future.
Symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervix at the onset of the disease may not occur at all. The disease makes itself felt already in a neglected form with frequent headaches and neck pain when moving. When there is a violation of cerebral circulation with osteochondrosis of the cervix, a person develops the following symptoms:- regular headaches;
- violation of facial muscle sensitivity;
- added fatigue;
- noise in the head;
- tinnitus;
- high blood pressure;
- loss of coordination;
- frequent dizziness;
- rocking.
If osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae takes a chronic form, then the pain is permanent and any movement of the head is difficult due to the tension of 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, then the person may be accompanied by pharyngeal symptoms: difficulty swallowing, feeling of dryness in the throat, itching and tickling. Over time, this disease can lead to a disc herniation.
Methods for treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a whole range of tools and methods aimed at eliminating pain and combating the inflammatory process in tissues. An effective method is daily exercise for spinal flexibility. As a rule, an individual exercise program is chosen by a physician after diagnosis using MRI or computed tomography and assessment of the stage of the disease. Let's see how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated.
Medicines: pills, medicines and injections
Drug therapy is already prescribed at the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis. If the first pain can be eliminated with a regular anesthetic pill, then later it will no longer help. Medical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is performed with new generation chondroprotectors - drugs that stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue in the spine. The best therapeutic effect is provided by a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The course of treatment with these drugs can be several months of admission, after which the mobility of the cervical spine improves.
But if you need to relieve acute pain in cervical osteochondrosis, then doctors prescribe a novocaine blockade or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These are oils, capsules, tablets and injections that quickly improve the overall condition of the patient. But if chondroprotectants are not contraindicated even with prolonged use, then NSAIDs have serious ones, so their use must necessarily be agreed with the attending physician.
Local remedies: gels and oils
To quickly anesthetize the spine in case of osteochondrosis, special gels or oils that start acting 10 minutes after application will help. There are several types of them:
- Regeneration, allowing the restoration of damaged cartilage tissue between the vertebrae.
- Anti-inflammatory, based on non-steroidal substances, eliminating pain.
- Pain relievers that affect nerve endings, quickly relieve pain.
- Massage ointments.
Manual therapy
The oldest method, but no less effective than modern methods of treating osteochondrosis, is manual therapy. 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 lead the patient in a wheelchair. The main methods of manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- segmental massage that relieves muscle tension;
- recovery manipulation joint performance, accompanied by their crisis;
- mobilization, restoring damaged joints by stretching them.
Acupuncture
With the help of acupuncture, you can not only remove the symptoms of pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, but also completely cure it. The needle technique came to Russian medicine from the East. The wise Chinese, guided by the philosophy and knowledge of the human body, have learned to regulate energy in the body using metal needles. The acupuncture procedure today is recognized by doctors as an extremely effective method to fight osteochondrosis.
But before using acupuncture, you should consult a doctor, as this procedure is not suitable for everyone. You can not use this technique:
- in the presence of infectious diseases;
- pregnancy;
- any tumor;
- skin or blood diseases;
- old age or infancy.
Homeopathic remedies
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is successfully treated with homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies contain beneficial trace elements and biologically active substances. They fully correspond to the concentration of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Homeopathic preparations contain plant extracts, plant extracts taken from environmentally friendly samples, and most importantly, they are completely natural. Principle of their action in osteochondrosis:- Activate the immune system.
- Restore cartilage tissue.
- Improves blood circulation in the neck area.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis at home
It is now possible to treat complex cervical osteochondrosis at home. Quite possibly it is quite possible to achieve better health and alleviate the symptoms of pain yourself if you adhere to the correct diet and lead an active lifestyle. The daily diet for cervical osteochondrosis should include foods that promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue, these include:
- legumes, cereals, vegetables, fruits;
- containing proteins: nuts, eggs, lean poultry, fish;
- unsaturated fatty acids: flax seeds, oily sea fish;
- calcium rich foods: milk, cottage cheese, leafy vegetables.
Massage and self-massage
Successful home treatments are performed with massage or self-massage. This procedure relieves tension by relaxing the tight neck muscles. After the massage, the blood circulation in the intervertebral discs is improved, which gives quick relief to the patient. The self-massage procedure is performed while sitting and is performed by rubbing, tapping and moving the dough on the back of the head. But in order to get a greater effect, it is better to hire a qualified massage therapist.
Gymnastics Wellness
Healing gymnastics has no less effect than drug treatment of osteochondrosis and is the basis of recovery. Exercises will not take much time, especially since they are easy to do at home. Gymnastics aims to relieve pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, stretch the ligaments and relax the neck muscles. But you should do the exercises only after consulting a doctor and very carefully so as not to harm the body.
Traditional Medicine Prescriptions
When you ask how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home, as a rule, folk remedies are intended. Herbal treatment is economical, effective and most importantly - safe. There is no need to buy expensive painkillers, which can also have negative side effects. Natural remedies for traditional medicine that help with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine include:
- Horseradish leaves. You need to attach the sheet to the back of your neck and fix it overnight. By morning the pain will be gone. Potatoes. It should be rubbed with honey in the same proportion so that the mixture resembles a stable oil. Use the product as a compress at least once a week.
- Compresses made from vodka (1 l) with the addition of freshly squeezed aloe juice (1 tbsp. l. ), mustard powder (1 tbsp. l. ) and propolis (50 g) are effective. The mixture is impregnated with a cloth and applied to the neck, fixing with a woolen cloth, the procedure is performed 1-2 times a week at night.
Disease prevention methods
It is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to treat it for a long time. Prevention includes posture, fitness exercises, exercise equipment, walking, yoga, swimming. It is necessary to sit correctly on the table and the computer, you can not throw your head back for a long time or tilt when lifting weights. When writing or reading, it is not recommended to bend down over the table surface and during sleep it is advisable to use an orthopedic pillow.