Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease in which the delicate intervertebral pulp, which acts as a shock absorber between the vertebrae, turns into bone tissue, trapping roots and blood vessels. This change is hidden under various manifestations, where the main feature of cervical spine disease is pain in the cervical region, in the upper back, radiating to the head. Mandatory treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is required.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease is characterized by typical symptoms.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis feel:
- attacks of dizziness, nausea, hypotension, fainting;
- lack of air;
- language matching;
- angina attacks and other changes in the cardiovascular system.
All these symptoms motivate the patient to consult not only a neurologist, but also other doctors, such as cardiologists, therapists, orthopedists, which greatly complicates the correct diagnosis in the early stages of the disease. The dystrophic process of tissue deviations of the cervical vertebrae, as a rule, affects middle-aged people. This is due to the vertical position of the human skeleton and the separation of static and dynamic pressure.
Symptoms such as pain in the back of the head, shoulders, arms, sternum, and retrosternal area indicate that the nerve endings in the upper part of the spine are protruding and that the neck joints that hold the load are not moving. the skull is upright.
Effective treatment
Medicine does not stop there. The method of therapy is different, it is important to take into account the stage of pathology (weakening or crisis), the form of the disease (acute or chronic), the manifestation of symptoms - for example, the presence or absence. in pain.
You need to know how to treat cervical osteochondrosis and how long it takes to cure. Treatment includes:
- conservative therapy (drug or non-drug);
- surgical intervention;
- complex method of two methods.
Features of classical therapy
To make sure that osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be treated, you need to use simple methods - relaxation, exercise, massage, self-massage. This can improve the well-being of a patient with neck pain.
However, with a long course of degenerative processes, it would be better to be examined in a hospital or outpatient clinic. This will help you choose an adequate method of treatment.
If this is not possible, then it is important to use light methods - for example, to do exercises aimed at hydration (filling the interarticular space with fluids due to changes in blood supply to the neck and back of the head).
Improving physical education
You can achieve great results by performing therapeutic gymnastics exercises accurately. For example, there are many treatments for cervical osteochondrosis, but not all of them are based on increasing the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue.
The task of exercise therapy is to restore blood circulation in the affected area. You cannot turn or bend your head strongly during a visit to exercise therapy, you can only imitate such movements. Everything seemed very simple, but it works.
To properly perform exercise therapy, you should use physical exercises, except for:
- long-term stress on the neck joints (do not exercise for more than two minutes);
- turns, bends, neck rotations (such movements eliminate the development of pathology in the joints and intervertebral discs).
It is useful to bend the head slightly, which does not cause movement of all joints, but increases blood flow to them. Such movements are like light knots in the head in the form of consent. After half an hour, you can do something similar to the expression of disagreement.
It is also useful to do an exercise similar to moving the head forward, holding the front of the head and trying to hold the back of the head. All this can be done at home.
Massage
Massage the cervical region very carefully without applying too much force. Any incompetent action can lead to negative consequences. The movements cover the neck, collar area and upper back. During the massage, the patient lies or sits on his stomach.
Some features of the technique:
- Squeeze. At this stage, the upper layers of the skin are affected. Do this in the palm of your hand or with your fingertips from head to toe, descending to the upper third of the middle of the back. Stroking under the neck can be done in a zigzag pattern.
- squeezing. The masseur tries to have a more penetrating effect on the tissues of the upper third of the back. In this situation, the thumb and index finger are involved. They move along the neck, covering the skin like a squeeze. It is important to be extremely careful not to touch the tissues near the spine.
- Trituration. It affects deeper tissues at this stage. In order not to get worse, you should try not to overdo it.
From a relaxed position, you can massage yourself without lifting your head without watching your favorite movie. In this case, rubbing the neck and shoulders, circular rubbing is used. When massaging yourself, rubbing special ointments that can increase blood circulation and relieve pain in the massaged area will be an excellent result.
Applicator
The applicator is a plastic frame with spikes to affect a specific area of skin. Lying on it or simply applying it irritates the skin receptors responsible for physiological processes in the patient's body.
Many users have reported that the applicator is effective and temporarily relieves pain.
It should be noted that the use of the device increases the ability to work, has a positive effect on skin elasticity, sleep and blood flow, restores joint function. There are diseases that are worth refusing to use the applicator. These are infectious, tumor, skin and vascular diseases.
Before using the device, you should consult a doctor or test yourself by applying the applicator for a short time. When you observe, you can see the result in prosperity.
Use of orthopedic pillows
An excellent preventive measure in the fight against osteochondrosis is to sleep on orthopedic pillows. As a rule, the condition of osteochondrosis worsens by pressing on the cervical arteries and nerve roots while resting on an uncomfortable pillow.
Special substances allow a person to evenly distribute the position during sleep, which significantly improves the process of blood flow to the head.
To choose the perfect pillow, you need to take into account the characteristic anatomical features of a person, the volume and quality of the filler. If the pillow is chosen correctly, it will be of great benefit to a patient with cervical osteochondrosis.
Medications and drugs
These are not all treatments for cervical osteochondrosis. Medical treatment will also help here.
Medications for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine include:
- Analgesics are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, they are taken in tablets or capsules. It should be borne in mind that such drugs can irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive system;
- anti-inflammatory (steroids). A hormonal drug that eliminates inflammation and thus relieves pain. The most common medications are tablets and ointments containing Hydrocortisone, Prednidazole, Dexamethasone;
- Chondroprotectors - drugs that contain components that replace the action of elements of cartilage tissue. Taking it for a long time can get good results;
- Muscle relaxants are drugs that relieve muscle tension. They are often used in surgery and orthopedics as an additional tool to reduce pain. They are taken parenterally under the supervision of a physician. Glycerin and benzimidazole-based products should be used to treat osteochondrosis. They have a large list of contraindications;
- vitamins. As part of the treatment of the disease, vitamins have a positive effect on the peripheral nervous system and increase its permeability. B1, B6, B12 are water-soluble vitamins A, C, D, E, B. There is experience of using different medications together, prescribing vitamins and painkillers;
- ointments and gels for external use. One of the easiest ways to treat at home is gels and ointments. They have anti-inflammatory, warming and analgesic properties. You can hear about them on TV regularly. Because they can be easily purchased at a pharmacy, the drugs are used to self-medicate even when the symptoms of the disease are not confirmed. With cervical osteochondrosis, it is worth noting that they are ineffective.
It should never be forgotten that it is necessary to consult a doctor before starting any treatment, because self-medication often leads to bad results.
Preventive measures
It is easier to prevent or delay the disease than to treat it. Thus, the factors manifesting themselves in the course of pathology are minimized. The key to good health is a healthy lifestyle. This includes the use of moderate physical activity, weight control, and a systematic warm-up with a sedentary lifestyle.
It all depends on a person's own desires and habits formed in childhood. But different things can happen throughout a person's life. It can be a microtrauma of the spine or a congenital disease of the musculoskeletal system. If the patient has a tendency to develop osteochondrosis, then it is important to pay attention to activities that increase physical activity, as well as try not to move suddenly.
If you weigh more than 10 kilograms, then it can aggravate the load on the back. If you can't give up increased physical activity, you need:
- take turns carrying the load - now on one side of the body, then on the other;
- use a corset to protect your back;
- try to loosen the spine after finishing work. To do this, you must either take a horizontal position or hang on a horizontal bar.
It is important to try not to be exposed to sudden changes in temperature and humidity. An increase in humidity and a decrease in temperature have a negative effect. Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of osteochondrosis:
- It is recommended to use not only an orthopedic pillow for sleep, but also an orthopedic mattress, because it does not disrupt blood flow in the spine;
- systematic swimming;
- proper nutrition.
If you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine, then sports that increase the pressure on the spine and have a traumatic effect are not recommended. It is necessary to run, jump, give up weightlifting. In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, do not take a bath. By following these simple tips, you can use massage (in some cases) to live a quiet life with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine until retirement age.