Thanks to healthy intervertebral discs, which play the role of shock absorbers in the spine, a person’s movements are easy and relaxed.He does not have to think about his movements and calculate them to obtain the least pain.
Over time, as well as under the influence of some other factors, intervertebral discs wear out and become deformed, causing a disease such as osteochondrosis.The disease is divided into zones of spread depending on the location of the disc deformation.The most common is cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms, treatment at home - this is the topic of this article, the materials of which do not contradict official medicine.
Destructive changes in the intervertebral discs are observed after the age of 20, when the natural hydration of tissues and organs begins to decrease.As a result of gradual loss of moisture, the discs decrease in volume and the distance between the vertebrae decreases.
When the reduction in this distance reaches such an extent that the vertebrae begin to come into contact with each other, causing pain, they speak of osteochondrosis (“osteo” - bone, “chondro” - connective tissue), that is, a disease of the connective tissue between the vertebrae.The process of development of pathology lasts for years and even decades.
It may be facilitated (or may be accelerated) by the following factors:
- features of a profession that requires fixing the body in a certain position for a long time: assembly line workers, vehicle drivers, painters;
- sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work;
- long-term fixation of the body in certain positions: incorrect posture when sitting at a table, incorrect posture while sleeping;
- excessive physical activity to which athletes, dancers, acrobats, and loaders are exposed;
- frequent intoxications of the body, which also have a destructive effect on the intervertebral discs.These include frequent colds, bad habits;
- flat feet;
- back injuries resulting in disruption of the integrity of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the cervicothoracic spine are conventionally divided into three groups:
- Painful sensationsmanifest themselves as pain in the upper back, neck and back of the head.The pain can be either clearly localized or radiate to the arm.Depending on which vertebrae the disc is damaged between, irradiation (spread) of pain can occur in the left or right arm - both in the forearm area and along the length of the entire arm down to the fingertips.The pain can be constant or occur occasionally under the influence of certain factors, mainly movements.
- Movement disorders.After a long period of living with osteochondrosis, a person develops motor stereotypes, resulting in the formation of movement disorders.For example, if pain occurs when turning the head to the left, then the patient will try to turn the head to the left as little as possible, which is a mistake.Over time, turning your neck to the left becomes as impossible as bending your knee in the opposite direction.Additional symptoms appear in the form of numbness in the fingers, hands, and lateral surface of the forearm.
- Vegetovascular manifestationsOsteochondrosis occurs as a result of spasm of vessels or even carotid arteries compressed by the vertebrae, causing migraines and dizziness.“floaters” in the eyes, noise or congestion in the ears.From the central nervous system, asthenia, low mood, weakness, drowsiness, and chronic fatigue are observed.And if the vertebral artery syndrome is pronounced in cervical osteochondrosis, then it is accompanied by increased blood pressure and headaches, often severe.
If osteochondrosis itself proceeds slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient, then its exacerbations (intervertebral hernia, sciatica) cause the patient great physical suffering, limit movement and significantly worsen the quality of life.Due to severe pain during an exacerbation, even a basic visit to a medical facility can become an impossible task.
If you call an ambulance at home, the patient will be given an injection of painkiller, given a notice sheet with an inaccurate, vague diagnosis: “vertebral sciatica” and will be recommended to visit a neurologist at the clinic.You still have to go to the clinic!
Currently, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine cannot be cured, like osteochondrosis of other areas of the spine, but preventive measures and folk remedies, coupled with traditional treatment, stop the development of the disease, lengthen periods of remission, and alleviate symptoms during exacerbations.
The approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, combining methods of traditional medicine and folk methods.An examination in a clinic is necessary to determine precisely osteochondrosis, and no other disease.After all, shoulder pain can occur not only with osteochondrosis, but also with heart diseases that require other treatment, often emergency.
Drug treatment
The most effective way to relieve acute back pain is to block it with anesthetics.But first, it is necessary to conduct an MRI examination of the upper spine, which is the most informative diagnostic method today.Depending on the results of the study, the specialist prescribes medication and physiotherapy.
Drug treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of injections, tablets or ointments.
Chondroprotective drugs are prescribed to support therapy.
Vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to relieve symptoms such as numbness, goosebumps under the skin, chills and to enhance the effect of drugs from the above groups.
Therapeutic gymnastics
As part of the physical procedures, the patient will be prescribed therapeutic exercises, which can be performed at home.At first, it is recommended to visit her in a medical institution.This is necessary in order to remember the exercises and the method of performing them.Not all exercises can be performed with osteochondrosis.A set of properly selected exercises helps strengthen the muscles of the back and neck and stabilizes the functions of the spine.
The exercises will be to stretch the back: hanging on the horizontal bar, freezing in certain poses.Stretching the back releases nerve roots pinched by the vertebrae, thereby relieving pain.Exercises with jerks, strength exercises, running, and bending to the sides are prohibited.
Swimming is another way of physical activity that brings quick and long-term results.Swimming crawl or breaststroke are the most suitable methods for patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine.You can master them by purchasing a gym membership.During the warm season, you can practice in local reservoirs.
During periods of acute pain, doing gymnastics is prohibited!It is allowed only after getting up in the morning to hang on a horizontal bar or crossbar with your arms spread wide; it is in the morning, after sleep, after a long stay in one position, that the most severe pain is felt.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
There is no special diet for osteochondrosis, but some foods help improve metabolic processes in the cartilage that makes up the lining of the intervertebral disc.
These products include: meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy products, eggs.
During exacerbations, it is recommended to exclude:
- sweet,
- flour and limit the consumption of cereals,
- salt and spices.
You need to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day.Water cannot be replaced by coffee, juices, carbonated drinks and alkaline types of mineral waters.It is very useful to add dandelion syrup to water in the amount of 1 teaspoon per glass.
Preparing the syrup is not difficult: add 350 grams of dandelion flowers and two chopped lemons with water (just to cover) and boil for half an hour.Then strain and pour a kilogram of sugar into the resulting broth, dissolve over low heat, stirring.The amount received is enough for a full course.Dandelion syrup helps retain moisture in the cartilage tissues of the body.
The beneficial effect of cinquefoil on the musculoskeletal system is known in that it relieves inflammation.
Sabelnik is sold in herbal pharmacies.Fill a glass bottle 2/3 with grass, pour alcohol or vodka under the cap.Infuse and then store in a dark place for 2 weeks.
Take 10-15 drops with water in the morning.within a month or two.You can repeat the course 2 times a year.The same cinquefoil tincture can be used for compresses on the sore neck area.
There is a known connection between the poor condition of intervertebral discs and excess body weight, which increases the load on them.Therefore, if you are overweight, it is wise to choose a low-calorie diet for weight loss.
Massage
For osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, especially if it is caused by physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, massage helps.The patient lies down on the sofa with his stomach down so that his chin hangs over the edge of the sofa.Another family member kneads his back muscles with circular movements of his fingers.He should feel the muscles rolling under his fingers.Then the massage therapist places his right palm on the spine, and with his left palm he applies light pressure from above and carefully slides along the spine from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
The last stage of the massage will be rubbing the skin of the back with a special composition.To prepare it in the old days, people used vegetable oil (raw, cold pressed) and sea salt, taken in equal quantities by volume.The components are stirred periodically for three days, storing the mixture at room temperature.On the third day the composition is ready for use.When buying sea salt, it is important to pay attention to the composition: there should be no dyes, flavors or other additives.
Rubbing the back using this composition is carried out daily, starting from three minutes.The duration of the session increases by one minute every day and reaches twenty.After the massage, rinse the mixture as usual using any detergent.Thus, the course will take two weeks.As a result, the condition of the vessels of the back and tissues adjacent to the spine will improve.This method will especially help when vertebral artery syndrome is observed in cervical osteochondrosis with increased blood pressure and migraines.
Applications and compresses
With osteochondrosis, damaged discs are often subject to calcification and accumulation of salts.Adjacent tissues are also susceptible to this process, which causes severe pain with unsuccessful or sudden movements.Applications according to folk recipes will help dissolve these salts.
The dough is mixed from rye flour, pharmaceutical turpentine, and oleoresin until it reaches the consistency of pie dough.It should sit for two days at room temperature.After two days, the patient should drink a glass of milk and apply cakes from the resulting dough to the sore spots, secure with cellophane, and wrap with a towel on top.Leave it on all evening.Repeat application 2-3 times a week.
Another recipe for a mixture for application is gentler and does not irritate the skin as much, but its disadvantage is that the onset of the therapeutic effect is not as quick: a tablespoon of flour, 100 grams of ghee and a tablespoon of 9% vinegar are mixed.Flatbreads are made from this dough in the same way and applied to the sore spot.
For osteochondrosis, compresses are often and successfully used in folk medicine:
- a glass of honey,
- 2 glasses of radish juice,
- half a glass of alcohol,
- mix everything and use for compresses on the sore spot.
The above recipe for cinquefoil tincture is also good to use for these purposes.
During an exacerbation, you should not use warming up the sore spots, but after the inflammation has been relieved, a sauna with a broom consolidates the results.First, the body must be coated with a mixture of honey and sea salt in equal parts.With osteochondrosis, fluid often accumulates in the tissues around the source of inflammation, and this method removes excess fluid from the body.
The best treatment for any disease is prevention.This hackneyed truth fully applies to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.To prevent pain from appearing again, you should strengthen your immune system, organize physical activity with a visit to the pool, gym, conveniently organize your sleeping and working space, and take measures to reduce excess weight if you have it.It may even be wise to leave a job if it requires excessive physical exertion, because health is more important!