Pain can appear when you least expect it.In such situations, even the most confident people can become confused and frightened.The cause of the pain is usually osteochondrosis.How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home and how effective is the treatment?Let us know more.
What is osteochondrosis
Official medical information explains osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease affecting the intervertebral discs, involving adjacent vertebrae and joints.The elasticity of the intervertebral joints is impaired - the intervertebral discs become thinner.It is necessary to understand how nutritional and metabolic processes occur in the intervertebral disc.This structural element is formed from cartilage tissue; there are no blood vessels here.Nutrition occurs dispersedly like a pump.When pressure is applied, the lubricating fluid is released and then reabsorbed.If cervical osteochondrosis occurs, exercise therapy, massage and a full range of treatment techniques should be initiated as soon as possible.
What changes occur in the spine and their symptoms
The following processes occur in the affected joint:
- The nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc loses physiological water;
- Cartilage loses shape;
- loss of elasticity;
- change color;
- to dry out;
- turn yellow;
- Loss of resistance to damage.
The consequence is to disrupt the movement synchrony of adjacent segments of the spine and squeeze the nerve roots.The main symptoms of degenerative changes are pain, limited mobility and some forms of paresthesia ("tingling", tingling).
All these changes indicate the presence of osteochondrosis.We will discuss further how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other spine.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
The causes of the disease include all factors that destroy the nutrition of the disk:
- Stagnation caused by static loads.
- Maintaining unfavorable postures for long periods of time, especially sitting.There is a saying that goes well: "Don't sit if you can stand, don't stand if you can lie down."
- Traumatic effects on endplates and annulus fibrosus fibers.
Common causes include nutritional imbalance, lack of physical activity, and insufficient development of the deep muscles that form the muscular corset.The stability of the spine depends on the complex interaction of the bony, muscular and neural structures of the skeleton.The abdominal and back muscles are antagonistic and balance each other.Therefore, the hypothesis that "movement is life" remains more relevant than ever.Exercise can effectively affect cervical osteochondrosis.Exercise therapy can be used in clinics and at home.Because the spine is made up of multiple parts, the disease can occur in any one of them.The neck and lumbar areas are most commonly affected.
What are the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis?
The manifestations of osteochondrosis in different parts are combined into syndromes:
- Neck pain syndrome (impaired mobility of the shoulder joint, various types of pain);
- Neck and cranial pain (pain in the back of the head, neck discomfort, tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, and nausea may occur);
- Cervicobrachial pain or scapulohumeral syndrome (pain in the neck that spreads to the shoulders and arms).
If you experience frequent nighttime pain along with numbness, you may have a diagnosis of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis.The pain syndrome associated with disease in this department is called chest pain.
Therapeutic exercises at home
Many reference books describe how to treat cervical osteochondrosis with medications.But in most cases, the effects of the drug are short-term.This is where exercise therapy can help.
- We stood against the wall, leaning our heads against it.We try to press the wall with maximum strength for a few seconds.Then we relax.
- We sat at the table and put our elbows on it.We put our chin on our hands and try to apply pressure on the palms, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to one side.
- Rest your head behind your head and support it with your hands.Alternately press them with the back of your head, then relax.Repeat several times, holding for up to 10 seconds.
- Grasp the head with the palm of your hand and alternate pressure with one hand or the other.
During an exacerbation, practice for no more than 3-4 seconds and with moderate tension.Exercise can help slow cervical osteochondrosis.Once you are confident that you are doing the exercises correctly in a medical facility, you can start exercising at home.
Get a massage without the help of a professional
If "cervical osteochondrosis" is diagnosed, massage will be one of the necessary treatments.In this case, this is not only a useful but also an irreplaceable program.Initially, it is better to take professional courses and then practice simple techniques at home on your own.These techniques also include static muscle relaxation techniques.The method is characterized by incorporating massage elements to passively stretch muscles from overworked positions.This technique can only be applied after the spasmodic muscles have been warmed (bath, hot compress, kneading, stroking).
When using self-massage, use the same techniques as professional massage.These are stroking, kneading, acupressure, tapping, and shaking.Massage is done with warm hands.To improve glide, use massage oil.The sequence of techniques is as follows:
- caress; caress;
- grind; grind
- knead; knead;
- Vibration (slapping, shaking).
For osteochondrosis affecting the cervical spine, massage begins and ends with caressing.
A little manual therapy
- We sat on a high-backed chair.We hold our head with our hands and place our thumbs on our cheekbones (more precisely, on the mounds below our eye sockets).We raise our eyes, take a deep breath, and press the back of our head onto our fingers.We hold for up to a quarter of a minute, and then, as we exhale, we lean back in the chair, relax our neck muscles, and lower our heads.We repeated this technique several times.Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, close to its upper part, and tilt the head slightly forward.We press our fingers into the base of the skull and slowly rotate them.Gradually lower your fingers closer to the trapezius muscle.How to treat cervical osteochondrosis through manipulation, please refer to the following manipulations.
- Lie on your back and pull your shoulders down as far as possible.Place your hand on the painful side below your hip, palm up.Place your other hand under your head, clasp the back of your head, and tilt your head in the opposite direction to the problem.While inhaling, press your head onto your fingers for 15 seconds.As you exhale, relax and pull on your head to stretch any sore muscles.
A set of measures to treat osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely overcome cervical osteochondrosis.Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive.This includes using:
- painkillers;
- Muscle relaxants to help relieve muscle spasms;
- Medications with chondroprotective effects;
- physical therapy procedures;
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- Eat a balanced diet.
After studying the medical literature, one can draw certain conclusions on how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, but without professional prescription treatment, it is a crime against health.