Cervical osteochondrosis is a more dangerous disease than osteochondrosis of the chest and lumbar region. This fact is explained by the fact that the neck is in close proximity to the head. Therefore, when the structures of the neck are damaged, various disorders begin in the work of the brain, organs of sight, hearing and speech.
Therefore, doctors recommend starting treatment as soon as the disease is diagnosed. Especially when it's in the early stages.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home may even be recommended. Just before starting treatment, you need to receive detailed instructions and recommendations from your doctor.
The reasons for the development of the disease
It is necessary to know the reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, so that the treatment is not in vain. If the factors that contributed to the development of the pathology are not eliminated, eventually osteochondrosis can come back.
The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Age - pathology in the elderly often develops due to the physiological aging processes of the body. However, in the last few decades the disease has become "younger" and is diagnosed in 30-year-old patients. This is due to modern lifestyles, occupational factors, and changing eating preferences.
- Job or hobby - in most cases, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the tissue of the ODA begin in people who overload the cervical spine or, conversely, do not provide normal stress. For example, professional heavyweight athletes overload their bodies with weight training. And people who work at the computer or generally in a sitting position are, on the contrary, "underworked". In the latter case there are no dynamic loads, but static loads during a long period of immobility are very severe.
- Injuries, hypothermia of the neck or surgery in this area.
- inheritance.
- Metastases in tumor diseases of the spine or other organs.
- Wrong mattress (too tight or not firm enough), unsuitable pillows, lying down or sitting for a long time (on a bed, sofa).
The reason for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can even be improper diet. Or there could be multiple reasons. The factors that contributed to the development of the pathology are determined by the doctor as part of the diagnosis. And during and after treatment, it is necessary to eliminate these factors or try to reduce their pathological influence.
Symptoms and possible complications
Cervical osteochondrosis can initially develop asymptomatically. Or discomfort in the neck and other signs are attributed to other illnesses, fatigue, stress and atmospheric conditions.
However, if there are multiple symptoms at the same time, this should be the reason for immediate medical treatment:
- Neck pain that eventually spreads to the head, face, shoulders, shoulder blades and arms. The pain may pass or worsen when the head is turned in a certain position.
- Tears in the neck, limited mobility.
- Dizziness, fainting.
- nausea, vomiting.
- Impaired motor skills, coordination of movements, trembling hands.
- Violation of sensitivity in the face, in the limbs or vice versa, the appearance of unusual sensations - goose bumps, tingling.
- Problems with the function of the organs of vision, hearing and speech.
- The occurrence of high blood pressure or increased intracranial pressure without objective causes from the cardiovascular system.
The appearance of these symptoms is directly related to the dystrophic processes even in the cervical spine. And even with stenosis of the vertebral artery and compression of the nerve tissue, these structures pass through the spinal canal and are damaged by the vertebrae.
If the disease is left untreated, dangerous complications will arise sooner or later. First, the patient loses the ability to move freely - this is a disability, a permanent loss of the ability to work. Second, the progression of pathology is reflected in the functioning of the brain, which can lead to trauma in the event of a fall, stroke, coma, or death.
Treatment at home
All methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis can be roughly divided into:
- Etiotrope and pathogenetic- those that affect the real cause of the development of the disease, as well as the mechanism of its development. These are some types of medication, physical therapy, exercise therapy, gymnastics that wear a special collar.
- Symptomatic or palliative- those that eliminate the symptoms of the disease or help to reduce their severity and intensity. They are aimed at alleviating the patient's condition, improving the quality of life for the duration of treatment, and are used in addition to the first group of methods. These are novocaine blocks, other anesthetics, ointments, massages.
However, most methods of osteochondrosis therapy are both etiotropic and symptomatic to one degree or another. In order to cure osteochondrosis quickly, you need to try to use all available methods. That is, the therapy should be as complete, comprehensive and complex as possible.
Nowadays, surgical methods for treating osteochondrosis are widely used. However, in the case of a mild form of the disease, its use is not justified.
Therefore, for home treatment, you need to focus on the following conservative methods:
- Change in lifestyle and diet.
- Receipt or external application of medication.
- Treatment with home procedures - gymnastics, exercise therapy, massage (in case you call a masseur at home).
- Wearing a special collar or kinesio bands.
- Treatment with folk remedies.
Points 1, 3, 4 can also be used during rehabilitation after an illness and as a preventive measure (to prevent future relapse).
It is desirable that the treatment program has been drawn up or at least agreed with a doctor. Failure to do so can cause even more damage to the health of the ODA, which has a significant impact on the patient's condition and the cost of treatment.
Lifestyle and Diet
Without normalization of lifestyle, physical activity and revision of the daily menu, the treatment makes little sense.
What needs to be changed:
- Quality of the sleeping place- Buy an orthopedic mattress. It is also advisable to buy an orthopedic pillow.
- Loads on the cervical spine- they should be moderate. It is advisable to give up heavy sports and switch to hard physical work to another type of activity. With passive loads, you can also change the work. If this is not possible, then you need to straighten your neck regularly during the work day and keep moving your head as you work.
You have to eat right too. After all, food is supplied with all the elements necessary to restore muscle, nerve, cartilage and bone tissue of the vertebrae. Accordingly, foods should be rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals (calcium, iron, vitamins C, E, A, group B).
Medicines
The main groups of pharmacological drugs prescribed by doctors:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process in tissues.
- Preparations for the relief of pain syndrome (including anti-inflammatory, warming effects). These include injections, corticosteroid pills, ointments, and creams.
- Means for tissue regeneration ODA - chondroprotectors.
- Antispasmodic and muscle relaxants to relax the muscle tissue of the neck.
- Vitamins and minerals, vitamin and mineral complexes.
All drugs except vitamins and pain relievers should be drunk in courses. Regular admission on a case-by-case basis will not produce results that affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
Procedures
At home, the ability to perform physical therapy is limited. For example, the only way to massage or stretch the spine is by calling a specialist to your home, and not everyone can afford it. However, self-massage and elementary physical exercises are very real and do not require any financial cost.
Self-massage can be done with the hands as the neck area is easy to reach. The technique of self-massage is simple - you need to make gentle stroking and wrinkling movements. It is helpful to use a lubricant such as petroleum jelly. The main thing is that the procedure does not cause pain.
You can also massage with a towel, rubbing the neck or a jet of warm water in the shower. Another good option is to use a stick like a shovel handle - a round one. Such a stick is placed on the back of the shoulders, grasping the ends and driving it across the surface of the neck like a rolling pin. If possible, you can buy massage equipment. The Lyapko roller massager is very useful, it is inexpensive, and its effectiveness has been proven.
Neck exercises are pretty easy too. You need to do a variety of turns and head tilts smoothly. However, if the osteochondrosis worsens, there is no need to do any exercise, as the pain can simply be unbearable. This can lead to spasms in the neck muscles.
Wearing orthopedic structures is an effective treatment method
There are many advantages to wearing a custom collar:
- Support of the spine and relief of the muscle tissue.
- More efficient tissue regeneration.
- Improvement of the blood circulation, also in the vertebral artery. In cervical osteochondrosis, this is one of the main tasks.
- Neck fixation reduces mobility and pain.
- Protection of the neck area from possible additional injuries and injuries.
However, the collar has its disadvantages. It is not always appropriate to wear it in the company of other people. It can also be difficult to review and perform the required household chores or work manipulation. However, for the duration of treatment, you should try to wear a collar according to the schedule set by the doctor.
Collar as a treatment method also has many advantages:
- Aesthetically acceptable, with the tape you can appear freely "in public". Colored ribbons, if unsuitable in a particular situation, can be hidden by high-collared clothing.
- Do not limit physical activity.
- Moisture resistant, does not need to be removed before showering.
- Improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, relieves pain and inflammation and edema.
- Relieve the muscle tissue.
- Massage, stimulate metabolic processes in the muscles, their regeneration.
There is only one drawback to kinesio tapes - their price, but many patients can afford to pay 100 rubles for a 5-meter roll.
Folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis
For oral treatment you can use:
- Water infusion of bay or cranberry leaves.
- Parsley root boiling.
- Aqueous solution of celery juice.
- Eat sesame seeds.
- Herbal teas - own fees or bought (chamomile, nettle, oregano, hops).
- Alcoholic infusion of chopped pine nuts.
For treatment with compresses and rubbing, it is useful to use burdock, horseradish, red pepper (infusions, decoctions) and tar or clay, which are sold in pharmacies.
Treating cervical osteochondrosis at home is very effective in most cases. If degenerative-dystrophic changes are already very advanced, it is recommended to combine home therapy with other treatment methods. For example, take advantage of the services of a physiotherapist, massage therapist and chiropractor.
And if the disease has only just developed, then drugs, home procedures and folk methods allow a quick result. That is, to heal the spine without resorting to the services of specialists.