Thanks to healthy intervertebral discs, which play the role of shock absorbers in the spine, one's movements are easy and relaxed.He doesn't have to think about his movements and calculate them to get the least amount of pain.
Over time, as well as under the influence of several other factors, intervertebral discs wear out and become deformed, causing diseases such as osteochondrosis.The disease is divided into spreading zones depending on the location of the disc deformation.The most common is cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms, treatment at home - this is the topic of this article, material that does not conflict with official medicine.
Destructive changes in the intervertebral disc are observed after the age of 20, when the natural hydration of tissues and organs begins to decrease.As a result of the gradual loss of moisture, the disc decreases in volume and the distance between the vertebrae decreases.
When this reduction in distance reaches such a level that the vertebrae begin to touch each other, causing pain, they speak of osteochondrosis ("osteo" - bone, "chondro" - connective tissue), that is, a disease of the connective tissue between the vertebrae.The process of pathological development takes years and even decades.
It may be facilitated (or perhaps accelerated) by the following factors:
- characteristics of professions that require fixing the body in a certain position for a long time: assembly line workers, drivers, painters;
- sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work;
- long-term fixation of the body in a certain position: wrong posture while sitting at the table, wrong posture while sleeping;
- excessive physical activity exposed to athletes, dancers, acrobats and loaders;
- frequent hangovers, which also have a damaging effect on the intervertebral disc.These include frequent colds, bad habits;
- flat feet;
- Back injuries that result in disruption of the integrity of the intervertebral disc.
symptoms
Cervicothoracic spine symptoms are conventionally divided into three groups:
- A painful sensationmanifested as pain in the upper back, neck and back of the head.The pain can either be clearly localized or radiate to the arm.Depending on which vertebra the disc is damaged between, radiation (spread) of pain can occur in the left or right arm - both in the forearm area and along the entire arm to the fingertips.Pain can be constant or occur occasionally under the influence of certain factors, especially movement.
- Movement disorders.After a long period of living with osteochondrosis, a person develops motor stereotypes, resulting in the formation of movement disorders.For example, if the pain occurs when turning the head to the left, then the patient will try to turn the head to the left as little as possible, which is a mistake.Over time, turning your neck to the left becomes as impossible as bending your knees in the opposite direction.Additional symptoms appear in the form of numbness in the fingers, hands, and lateral surfaces of the forearm.
- Vegetovascular manifestationsOsteochondrosis occurs due to spasm of blood vessels or even carotid arteries compressed by vertebrae, causing migraines and dizziness."floating" in the eyes, noise or congestion in the ears.From the central nervous system, asthenia, low mood, weakness, drowsiness, and chronic fatigue are observed.And if the vertebral artery syndrome is pronounced in cervical osteochondrosis, then it is accompanied by increased blood pressure and headaches, often severe.
If osteochondrosis itself progresses slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient, then exacerbation (intervertebral hernia, sciatica) causes the patient great physical suffering, limits movement and worsens the quality of life.Due to severe pain during an exacerbation, a basic visit to a medical facility can be an impossible task.
If you call an ambulance at home, the patient will be given an injection of painkillers, given a notice sheet with an inaccurate and ambiguous diagnosis: "vertebral sciatica" and will be recommended to visit a neurologist at the clinic.You still have to go to the clinic!
At present, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine cannot be cured, like osteochondrosis of other areas of the spine, but preventive measures and folk remedies, combined with traditional treatment, stop the progression of the disease, extend the period of remission, and reduce symptoms during exacerbations.
The approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, combining traditional medical methods and folk methods.Examination in the clinic is necessary to accurately determine osteochondrosis, and no other diseases.After all, shoulder pain can occur not only with osteochondrosis, but also with heart disease that requires other treatment, often emergency.
Drug treatment
The most effective way to relieve acute back pain is to block it with anesthetic.But first, it is necessary to conduct an MRI examination of the upper spine, which is the most informative diagnostic method today.Depending on the results of the study, the specialist prescribes medication and physiotherapy.
Drug treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of injections, tablets or ointments.
Chondroprotective drugs are prescribed to support therapy.
Vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to relieve symptoms such as numbness, tingling under the skin, shivering and to enhance the effect of drugs from the above groups.
Therapeutic gymnastics
As part of the physical procedure, the patient will be prescribed therapeutic exercises, which can be done at home.Initially, it is recommended to visit him in a medical institution.This is necessary to remember the exercises and methods of performing them.Not all exercises can be done with osteochondrosis.A properly selected set of exercises helps to strengthen the muscles of the back and neck and stabilize the function of the spine.
The exercise is to stretch the back: hang on a horizontal bar, freeze in a certain pose.Back stretching releases nerve roots pinched by vertebrae, thereby relieving pain.Jerking exercises, strength exercises, running, and side bending are prohibited.
Swimming is another form of physical activity that brings quick and long-term results.Crawling or chest crawling is the most appropriate method for patients with cervical or thoracic spine osteochondrosis.You can master it by purchasing a gym membership.During the summer, you can train at the local reservoir.
During the period of acute pain, doing gymnastics is prohibited!It is allowed only after waking up in the morning to hang on a horizontal bar or bar with your arms spread wide;it is in the morning, after sleep, after staying for a long time in one position, that the worst pain is felt.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
There is no special diet for osteochondrosis, but some foods help to improve metabolic processes in the cartilage that forms the layer of the intervertebral disc.
These products include: meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy products, eggs.
During an exacerbation, it is recommended to exclude:
- sweet,
- flour and limit the use of grains,
- salt and spices.
You need to drink at least 2 liters of clean water every day.Water cannot be replaced with coffee, juice, carbonated drinks and types of alkaline mineral water.It is very useful to add dandelion syrup to water in the amount of 1 teaspoon per glass.
Preparing the syrup is not difficult: add 350 grams of dandelion flowers and two chopped lemons with water (just to cover) and boil for half an hour.Then filter and pour one kilogram of sugar into the resulting soup, dissolve it over low heat, stir.The amount received is enough for the full course.Dandelion syrup helps retain moisture in the body's cartilage tissue.
The beneficial effects of cinquefoil on the musculoskeletal system are known because it relieves inflammation.
Sabelnik is sold in herbal pharmacies.Fill a glass bottle 2/3 with grass, pour alcohol or vodka under the lid.Infuse and then store in a dark place for 2 weeks.
Take 10-15 drops with water in the morning.within a month or two.You can repeat the course 2 times a year.The same cinquefoil tincture can be used to compress the sore neck area.
There is a known connection between the poor condition of the intervertebral disc and excess body weight, which increases the load on it.Therefore, if you are overweight, it is wise to choose a low-calorie diet for weight loss.
massage
For osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, especially if it is caused by physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, massage helps.The patient lies on the sofa with his stomach down so that his chin hangs over the edge of the sofa.Another family member kneaded his back muscles with circular motions of his fingers.He should feel the muscles rolling under his fingers.Then the massage therapist places his right palm on the spine, and with his left palm he applies light pressure from above and carefully slides along the spine from the base of the skull to the coccyx.
The last stage of the massage will rub the back skin with a special composition.To prepare it in ancient times, people used vegetable oil (raw, cold pressed) and sea salt, taken in equal quantities by volume.The components were stirred periodically for three days, keeping the mixture at room temperature.On the third day the composition is ready for use.When buying sea salt, it is important to pay attention to the composition: there should be no dyes, flavors or other additives.
Rubbing the back using this composition is done every day, starting from three minutes.Session duration increases by one minute each day and reaches twenty.After the massage, rinse the mixture as usual using any detergent.Therefore, the course will take two weeks.As a result, the condition of the back canal and tissue adjacent to the spine will improve.This method will especially help when vertebral artery syndrome is observed in cervical osteochondrosis with increased blood pressure and migraine.
Application and compression
With osteochondrosis, the damaged disc is often subject to calcification and salt accumulation.Adjacent tissues are also exposed to this process, which causes severe pain with unsuccessful or sudden movements.Application according to folk recipes will help dissolve this salt.
The dough is mixed from rye flour, pharmaceutical turpentine, and oleoresin until it reaches the consistency of pie dough.It should sit for two days at room temperature.After two days, the patient should drink a glass of milk and apply the cake from the resulting dough to the sore spot, secure it with cellophane, and wrap it with a towel.Leave it all evening.Repeat the application 2-3 times a week.
Another recipe for a mixture for application is softer and does not irritate the skin, but the disadvantage is that the onset of the therapeutic effect is not as fast: a spoonful of flour, 100 grams of ghee and a spoonful of 9% vinegar are mixed.Flatbreads are made from this dough in the same way and applied to the sore spot.
For osteochondrosis, compresses are often and successfully used in folk medicine:
- a glass of honey,
- 2 glasses of carrot juice,
- half a glass of alcohol,
- mix it all and use it to compress on the sore spot.
The above recipe for cinquefoil tincture is also good to use for this purpose.
During an exacerbation, you should not use to heat the sore spot, but after the inflammation has subsided, a sauna with a broom consolidates the results.First, the body must be coated with a mixture of honey and sea salt in equal parts.With osteochondrosis, fluid often accumulates in the tissues around the source of inflammation, and this method removes excess fluid from the body.
The best treatment for any disease is prevention.This hackneyed truth fully applies to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.To prevent the pain from appearing again, you should strengthen your immune system, organize physical activity with visits to the swimming pool, gym, organize your sleeping and working space easily, and take steps to reduce excess weight if you have it.It may even be wise to leave a job if it requires excessive physical effort, because health is more important!