A common disease is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which occurs in people of any age, and especially among the active population aged 30 to 50. Some people suffer from this disease, sometimes unaware of the cause of the ailments, because the degenerative changes in the cervical spine occur imperceptibly. Timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will return a person to excellent health and give health in the future.
Symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis at the onset of the disease may not appear at all. The disease makes itself felt already in its advanced form, with frequent pains in the head and neck during movement. When there is a violation of cerebral circulation with cervical osteochondrosis, a person has the following symptoms:
- regular headaches;
- violation of the sensitivity of the facial muscles;
- increased fatigue;
- noise in the head;
- ringing in the ears;
- arterial hypertension;
- loss of coordination;
- frequent dizziness;
- wobbly gait.
If osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae takes a chronic form, 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, the person may be accompanied by pharyngeal symptoms: difficulty swallowing, a feeling of dry throat, itching and tickling. Over time, this disease can lead to a herniated disc.
Methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a whole range of means and methods aimed at eliminating pain and fighting the inflammatory process in the tissues. An effective method is the daily exercise for the flexibility of the spine. As a rule, an individual exercise program is selected by a doctor after diagnostics using MRI or computed tomography and assessment of the stage of the disease. Let's see how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated.
Drugs: pills, drugs and injections
Drug therapy is prescribed already at the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis. If the first pain can be eliminated with a regular anesthetic pill, then it will no longer help. Medical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out 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 last several months after admission, after which the mobility of the cervical spine improves.
But if you need to relieve acute pain in cervical osteochondrosis, doctors prescribe a novocaine blockade or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are ointments, capsules, tablets and injections that quickly improve the general condition of the patient. But if chondroprotectors have no contraindications even with prolonged use, then NSAIDs have serious ones, so their use must necessarily be agreed with the attending physician.
Local remedies: gels and ointments
To quickly anesthetize the cervical spine with osteochondrosis, special gels or ointments will help, which begin to act 10 minutes after application. There are several types:
- Regenerating, which allows to restore the damaged cartilage tissue between the vertebrae.
- Anti-inflammatory, based on non-steroidal substances, which eliminates pain.
- Pain relievers that act on nerve endings, quickly relieving pain.
- Massage ointments.
Manual therapy
The oldest, but no less effective method 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 carry the patient in a wheelchair. The main methods of manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- segmental massage that relieves muscle tension;
- manipulations aimed at recovering joint performance, accompanied by their crunch;
- mobilization, restoration of 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. Chinese sages, guided by philosophy and knowledge of the human body, learned to regulate the energy in the body using metal needles. The acupuncture procedure is now recognized by doctors as an extremely effective method of fighting osteochondrosis.
But before resorting to acupuncture, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as this procedure is not suitable for everyone. You cannot use this technique:
- in the presence of infectious diseases;
- pregnancy;
- any tumor;
- diseases of the skin or blood;
- old age or childhood.
Homeopathic remedies
Cervical osteochondrosis is successfully treated with homeopathy. Homeopathic preparations contain useful 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, herbal extracts taken from environmentally friendly samples and, above all, they are completely natural. The principle of their action in osteochondrosis:
- Activates the immune system.
- Restores cartilage tissue.
- Improves blood circulation in the neck area.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis at home
Now complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home is possible. It is quite possible to achieve better health and relieve pain symptoms on your own if you follow a proper diet and lead an active lifestyle. The daily diet for cervical osteochondrosis should contain foods that promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue, these include:
- legumes, cereals, vegetables, fruit;
- containing proteins: nuts, eggs, lean poultry, fish;
- unsaturated fatty acids: linseed, oily sea fish;
- foods rich in calcium: milk, cottage cheese, leafy vegetables.
Massage and self-massage
Successful home treatments are performed with massage or self-massage. This procedure releases tension by relaxing the tense neck muscles. After the massage, blood circulation in the intervertebral discs improves, which gives the patient quick relief. The self-massage procedure is performed while seated and is done by rubbing, stroking and kneading movements in the back of the head. But to achieve greater effect, it is better to invite a qualified massage therapist.
Wellness gymnastics
Corrective gymnastics has no less effect than the drug treatment of osteochondrosis and is the basis of recovery. The exercises won't take long, especially since they're easy to do at home. Gymnastics is aimed at relieving pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, stretching the ligaments and relaxing the neck muscles. But you need to do the exercises only after consulting a doctor and very carefully so as not to harm the body.
Traditional medicine recipes
When asked how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home, as a rule, folk remedies are meant. Herbal treatment is cheap, effective, and most importantly, safe. There is no need to buy expensive pain medications, 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 the neck and fix it overnight. In the morning the pain will go away.
- Potatoes. It should be rubbed with honey in the same proportion so that the mixture resembles an ointment in consistency. Use the product as a compress at least once a week.
- Vodka-based tablets (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 fabric and applied to the neck, fixed with a woolen cloth, the procedure is carried out 1-2 times a week at night.
Disease prevention methods
It is easier to prevent osteochondrosis than to cure it for a long time. Prevention includes adherence to posture, fitness exercises, exercise equipment, walking, yoga, swimming. It is necessary to sit correctly at the table and at the computer, it is not possible to throw your head back for a long time or tilt when lifting weights. When writing or reading, it is not recommended to lean low on the surface of the table, and it is advisable to use an orthopedic pillow while sleeping.