Most of humanity suffers from cervical osteochondrosis - this is a retribution for a sedentary lifestyle and improper back load.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. Such a lesion progressively spreads to all elements of the disc and over time the degenerative-dystrophic lesion reaches the adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral joints and ligaments.
Almost half of the world's adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. Often in everyday life, pain in the neck and joints is generally called "salt deposition", but this is a fundamentally incorrect definition. That's what people said, and of course people take that phrase literally. But in fact, salt is not deposited in the joints (except for such a disease as gout - in it, salts of uric acid accumulate in the joints).
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not pursue the goal of "salt resorption, deposits", etc. This misconception exists not only among patients but also among some doctors who prescribe a strict diet and frequent X-rays of control. osteochondrosis has "no salt deposits" but reactive ossification and, of course, no measures can lead to "resorption of deposits".
The degree and degree of development of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission. Such periods have different durations. Rapid treatment of the disease is possible if it is the first stage of the disease and it is noticed at an early stage.
The degree of development of the disease
| Power | Patient well-being, symptoms | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| I degree | Mild pain in the cervical spine, which may be aggravated by turning the head | Slight tension in the muscles in the neck |
| II degree | Pain of greater intensity with return to the shoulder or arm, which is exacerbated by turning the head and bending it. In terms of well-being, there is a decrease in working capacity, weakness, headache. |
Reducing the height of the intervertebral disc and gripping the nerve roots |
| III degree | Persistent pain in the cervical spine with return to the shoulder or arm. Feeling of tingling or weakness in the muscles of the arm. Weakness and dizziness in the patient's health | Restriction of mobility, pain when pressing on the joints of the neck. Development and formation of intervertebral disc herniation |
| IV degree | Severe dizziness and tinnitus, impaired coordination due to compression of the spinal artery that feeds the cerebellum and the back of the brain | The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and is replaced by connective tissue |
Stages of cervical osteochondrosis
| X-ray stage | Scene description |
|---|---|
| First stage | The cervical bend is smoothed, there are minor changes in the structure of the vertebrae |
| Second stage | Instability is expressed between the vertebrae, there may be displacement of one vertebra relative to another, a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc |
| Third stage | The height of the intervertebral disc is ¼ lower than that of the other disc, which is higher. The intervertebral joints are replaced. The appearance of bone growths. The intervertebral foramen and spinal canal are narrowed. |
| Stage four | The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced. The intervertebral joints are severely altered. Bone growths have become very large. The intervertebral foramen and spinal canal are significantly narrowed. |
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis occurs as a result of many factors. Let's list the main ones:
- The presence of scoliosis and improper posture.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work, low physical activity.
- History of spinal injuries.
- Impaired metabolism.
- Large amounts of physical activity.
- Nervous shocks, tension and stress.
- Heredity.
- Constant tension in the back during various activities (for drivers, programmers, etc. ).
The impact of these factors increases the load on the cervical spine, as a result of which the compensation of the excessive load on the muscles of the neck leads to their spasm and impaired blood circulation in this area. As a result, it leads to degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
These factors lead to changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical vertebrae, as a result of which their structure changes, their nutrition is disrupted. The changes also affect the small joints between the vertebrae, the bodies of the vertebrae are covered with bone growths.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- pain in the cervical spine. Pain may occur in the neck, and in the back of the head, and in the shoulder, or in the arm;
- feeling weak in the hands;
- decreased sensitivity in the hand;
- restriction of neck movements, crunch when turning and tilting the head occurs with growth of the bones of the vertebral bodies, with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, with damage to small joints between the vertebrae of the neck;
- dizziness, weakness, lack of coordination occur when blood flow to the spinal artery deteriorates, leading to a deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum;
- numbness of the tongue, decreased vision and hearing occur in very severe cases of impaired blood supply to the brain.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes regimen, use of drugs, blockades, orthopedic, physiotherapy and spa methods.
The treatment should consist of the following components:
- providing rest and unloading of the spine;
- fight against the pain syndrome;
- fight against muscle contracture and other reflex manifestations;
- combating reactive changes in nerve elements and other soft tissues surrounding the spine.
Some of these treatments can be done at home.
- It is easy to follow the regimen at home to ensure complete rest and relief of the cervical spine. The patient should lie on a firm bed, there should be a small soft pillow under the head, and a small bag of warm sand or a roller with a depression should lie under the neck.
- Traction used by doctors for conservative treatment can not be done at home, but there is an alternative - a horizontal band on which to hang, if possible, several times a day.
- Anesthetic blockade cannot be performed at home, but the pain can be quickly relieved with other painkillers - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include effective fast-acting ointments as well as good anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration. In this way, it is possible to quickly relieve pain at home in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Attention! All medications should be taken only after consultation with your doctor!
- B vitamins should be taken for home treatment. The vitamin should not be in the form of injections or tablets.
It is found in the following foods (foods with the highest vitamin B content are shown):
- Fruits and berries - in pineapple, dates, dried apricots, raisins, blueberries;
- Vegetables and herbs - in potatoes, spinach, asparagus, leeks, parsley, green peas, garlic, horseradish;
- In all meat products, vitamin B is contained in a fairly large dose, but especially useful are the by-products of beef and chicken (kidneys, liver, heart, tongue);
- Seafood is also very high in vitamin B. Of the fish, these are tuna, pink salmon and horse mackerel. It is especially found in sturgeon caviar and pollock roe deer. Squid also contain a high percentage of vitamin B;
- High content of vitamin B is found in the yolks of chicken eggs and quail eggs;
- Nuts and seeds also contain a lot of this vitamin - especially pine nuts and sunflower seeds, as well as pistachios, sesame seeds and peanuts.
- Massage and exercise therapy can be used at home. A masseur can come to your home to do a therapeutic massage, or a relative can learn the basic methods of massaging the cervical spine.
Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home
Horseradish leaf compress
Cervical osteochondrosis can be treated with horseradish leaves, as they have an anti-inflammatory effect on the joints of the neck in the treatment of the disease at home.
The procedure is performed in the form of applying a compress.
- It is necessary to take young and fresh horseradish leaves and put them in boiling water for a few seconds.
- The leaves should then be applied immediately to the cervical vertebrae.
- You need to put cellophane on top and cover the compress with a warm scarf or handkerchief.
- It is necessary to keep the compress from the leaves as much as possible, it is recommended to apply it at night.
Due to the healing properties of the leaf compress, the neck will start to move better and the unpleasant disease will not affect the well-being so much. Two large fresh sheets are enough to cover the neck and upper back.
Alcohol compress
Alcohol compress is also often used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home.
- You should take 300 ml of medical alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 tablets of crushed analgesic (powder) and 10 ml of camphor alcohol.
- Mix all this thoroughly and use as a compress on inflamed areas of the neck.
Potato and honey compress
- Grate 1 large raw potato and add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mashed mass.
- The resulting drug is spread on tissue and applied to the cervical spine for two hours.
Tincture of pine buds
Pine buds are used as a folk remedy in the treatment of the disease.
They should be harvested in early spring. Pine buds should be selected not larger than 2 cm and not less than 1, 5 cm.
- Collected pine buds should be well rinsed.
- Grind the kidneys in a meat grinder and add sugar to them in a ratio of 2 to 1, ie for two parts of the kidneys, you need to take one part sugar.
- Mix everything and leave in the fridge for two weeks.
- After two weeks the product is ready. It should be taken one teaspoon three times a day for three weeks.
- You can store pine buds in the refrigerator for 1 year.
Herbal teas
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to drink various herbal teas to strengthen the body:
- with chamomile;
- with blueberries and birch leaves;
- with lime blossom;
- with calendula and St. John's wort;
- with rose hips;
- with motherwort and horsetail.
Thus, with the simultaneous use of folk remedies and drugs prescribed by a doctor, it is possible to accelerate the relief of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, reduce the period of exacerbation and prolong the period of remission.