Most of humanity suffers from cervical osteochondrosis - this is revenge for a sedentary lifestyle and inadequate load on the back.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. This lesion spreads progressively to all elements of the disc and, over time, the degenerative-dystrophic lesion reaches the adjacent vertebrae, the intervertebral joints and the ligamentous apparatus.
Almost half of the adults in the world suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. Often, in everyday life, pain in the neck and joints is often referred to as a "salt deposit, " but this is a fundamentally incorrect definition. That's what people said and, of course, people take that phrase literally. But in reality, salt is not deposited in the joints (with the exception of a disease such as gout - with it, uric acid salts accumulate in the joints).
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is not aimed at the objective of "resorption of salts, deposits" etc. This misconception exists not only among patients, but also among some doctors who prescribe a certain strict diet and frequent radiographs of control. In osteochondrosis, "there are no salt deposits", but reactive ossification and, of course, no measure can lead to "deposit resorption".
The degree and stage of development of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission. These periods have different durations. Rapid treatment of the disease is possible if it is the first degree of the disease and is perceived at an early stage.
The degree of development of the disease
| Power | The patient's well-being, symptoms | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| I grade | Mild pain in the cervical spine, which can get worse when turning the head | Mild muscle tension in the neck |
| Grade II | Pain of greater intensity with return to the shoulder or arm, which intensifies with the turning of the head and with its flexion. In terms of well-being, there is a decrease in work capacity, weakness, headache. |
Decreased height of the intervertebral disc and entrapment of nerve roots |
| III degree | Constant pain in the cervical spine with return to the shoulder or arm. Sensation of numbness or weakness in the arm muscles. Weakness and dizziness in the patient's health status | Mobility restriction, pain when pressing on the neck joints. Development and formation of herniated intervertebral discs |
| Grade IV | Intense dizziness and tinnitus, impaired coordination due to compression of the vertebral artery that feeds the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain | The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and has been replaced by connective tissue |
Stages of cervical osteochondrosis
| X-ray stage | Stage description |
|---|---|
| First step | The cervical curvature is smoothed, there are small changes in the structure of the vertebrae |
| Second stage | Instability is expressed between the vertebrae, there may be a displacement of one vertebra in relation to another, a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc |
| Third stage | The height of the intervertebral disc is ¼ less than that of the other disc, which is larger. The intervertebral joints are altered. The appearance of bone growths. The intervertebral foramen and the spinal canal are narrowed. |
| Stage four | The height of the intervertebral disc is greatly reduced. The intervertebral joints are severely altered. Bone growth has become very large. The intervertebral foramen and the vertebral 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 inadequate posture.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, low physical activity.
- History of spinal injuries.
- Metabolism interrupted.
- Lots of physical activity.
- Nervous shocks, tension and stress.
- Heredity.
- Constant back tension during various activities (for drivers, programmers, etc. ).
The impact of these factors increases the load on the cervical spine, so that the compensation of the excessive load by the neck muscles leads to its spasm and decreased blood circulation in this area. As a consequence, this leads to degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
These factors lead to changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, as a result of changes in their structure, their nutrition is disturbed. The changes also affect the small joints between the vertebrae, the vertebral bodies are covered by bony protuberances.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- cervical spine pain. The pain may appear in the neck and the back of the head and in the shoulder or in the arm;
- feeling of weakness in the hands;
- decreased sensitivity in the hand;
- restrictions on neck movements, clicking when turning and tilting the head appear with bone growth in the vertebral bodies, with decreased height of the intervertebral disc, with damage to small joints between the neck vertebrae;
- dizziness, weakness, lack of coordination occur when blood flow in the vertebral artery deteriorates, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum;
- tongue numbness, impaired vision and hearing occur in very severe cases of insufficient blood supply to the brain.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a regimen, the use of medications, blocks, orthopedic, physiotherapeutic and spa methods.
Treatment must consist of the following components:
- ensuring rest and discharge from the spine;
- fight against pain syndrome;
- fight against muscle contracture and other reflex manifestations;
- fight reactive changes in nerve elements and other soft tissues around 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 down on a firm bed, there should be a small soft pillow under the head and a small bag of hot sand or a roll with a depression under the neck.
- The traction used by doctors for conservative treatment cannot be performed at home, but there is an alternative - a horizontal bar, on which you should hang, if possible, several times a day.
- Anesthetic block cannot be performed at home, but pain can be quickly relieved with other analgesics - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among them are effective ointments with fast action, as well as good anti-inflammatories for oral administration. Thus, at home, it is possible to quickly relieve pain in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Attention! All medications should only be taken in consultation with your doctor!
- For home treatment, group B vitamins should be taken. The vitamin does not have to be in the form of injections or pills.
It is found in the following foods (foods with the highest vitamin B content are shown):
- Berries and fruits - in pineapple, dates, dried apricots, raisins, cranberries;
- Vegetables and herbs - in potatoes, spinach, asparagus, leeks, parsley, green peas, garlic, horseradish;
- In all meat products, vitamin B is contained in a very large dose, but the by-products of beef and chicken (kidneys, liver, heart, tongue) are especially useful;
- Seafood is also very rich in vitamin B. Fish include tuna, pink salmon and horse mackerel. It is especially abundant in sturgeon caviar and pollock roe. Squid also contains a high percentage of vitamin B;
- A high content of vitamin B is found in the yolks of chicken 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 therapeutic exercises can be used at home. A massage therapist can come to your home for a massage therapy, or a relative can learn the basic methods of massage of the cervical spine.
Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home
Horseradish compress
Cervical osteochondrosis can be treated with horseradish leaves, because they have an anti-inflammatory effect on the neck joints when treating the disease at home.
The procedure is performed in the form of a compress application.
- It is necessary to take the new and fresh horseradish leaves and place them in boiling water for a few seconds.
- Then, the sheets should be applied immediately to the cervical spine.
- On top it is necessary to put cellophane and cover the compress with a handkerchief or a warm handkerchief.
- It is necessary to hold the compress of the leaves as much as possible, it is advisable to place it at night.
Due to the healing properties of the compress of leaves, the neck will start to move better and the unpleasant disease will not affect well-being so strongly. Two large new leaves are sufficient to cover the neck and the upper back.
Alcohol pack
The alcohol swab is also often used to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home.
- You need to take 300 ml of medicinal alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 crushed painkiller tablets (powder) and 10 ml of camphor alcohol.
- Mix it all up and use it as a compress on the painful areas of the neck.
Potato and honey compress
- On a grater, grate 1 large raw potato and add 2 tablespoons of honey to the puree.
- The resulting medication is spread on a tissue and applied to the cervical spine for two hours.
Pine bud tincture
Pine buds are used as a folk remedy in the treatment of the disease.
They must be harvested in the early spring. Pine buds must be chosen with a maximum of 2 cm and a minimum of 1. 5 cm.
- The collected pine buds must be rinsed well.
- Grind the kidneys in a meat grinder and add sugar to them in a ratio of 2 to 1, that is, for two parts of the kidneys, you need to ingest a part of the sugar.
- Mix everything and refrigerate for two weeks.
- After two weeks, the product is ready. One teaspoon should be taken three times a day for three weeks.
- You can store pine buds in the refrigerator for 1 year.
Herbs tea
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to drink several herbal teas for the general strengthening of the body:
- with chamomile;
- with blueberry and birch leaves;
- with linden color;
- with marigold and St. John's wort;
- with rose hips;
- with motherwort and ponytail.
Thus, with the simultaneous use of folk remedies and medications prescribed by the doctor, it is possible to accelerate the relief of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, decrease the period of exacerbation and prolong the period of remission.