Thanks to healthy intervertebral discs, which play the role of shock absorbers in the spine, a person's movements are easy and relaxed.He does not need to think about his movements and calculate them to get the least pain.
Over time, as well as under the influence of some other factors, the intervertebral discs wear out and become deformed, causing a disease such as osteochondrosis.The disease is divided into zones of spread depending on the location of the disc deformation.The most common is cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms, home treatment - this is the topic of this article, the materials of which do not contradict official medicine.
Destructive changes in intervertebral discs 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 discs decrease in volume and the distance between the vertebrae decreases.
When the reduction of this distance reaches such a point that the vertebrae begin to come into contact with each other, causing pain, it is called osteochondrosis (“osteo” - bone, “chondro” - connective tissue), that is, a disease of the connective tissue between the vertebrae.The process of development of pathology lasts years and even decades.
It can be facilitated (or accelerated) by the following factors:
- characteristics of a profession that requires fixing the body in a certain position for a long time: assembly line workers, vehicle drivers, painters;
- sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work;
- prolonged fixation of the body in certain positions: incorrect posture when sitting at the table, incorrect posture when sleeping;
- excessive physical activity to which athletes, dancers, acrobats and porters are exposed;
- frequent intoxications of the body, which also have a destructive effect on intervertebral discs.These include frequent colds, bad habits;
- flat feet;
- back injuries resulting in rupture of the integrity of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the cervicothoracic spine are conventionally divided into three groups:
- Painful sensationsThey manifest as pain in the upper back, neck and neck.The pain may be clearly localized or radiate into the arm.Depending on which vertebrae the disc is damaged, irradiation (spread) of pain can occur in the left or right arm - both in the forearm area and along the entire arm to the fingertips.The pain can be constant or occur occasionally under the influence of certain factors, mainly movements.
- Movement disorders.After a long period of living with osteochondrosis, a person develops motor stereotypes, resulting in the formation of motor disorders.For example, if pain occurs when turning the head to the left, 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 knee in the opposite direction.Additional symptoms appear in the form of numbness in the fingers, hands and lateral surface of the forearm.
- Vegetovascular manifestationsOsteochondrosis occurs as a result of spasm of vessels or even carotid arteries compressed by the vertebrae, causing migraines and dizziness.“floaters” in the eyes, noise or congestion in the ears.From the central nervous system, asthenia, bad mood, weakness, drowsiness and chronic fatigue are observed.And if the vertebral artery syndrome is pronounced in cervical osteochondrosis, it will be accompanied by increased blood pressure and headaches, often severe.
If osteochondrosis itself proceeds slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient, then its exacerbations (intervertebral hernia, sciatica) cause great physical suffering to the patient, limit movement and significantly worsen the quality of life.Due to the intense pain during an exacerbation, even a basic visit to a medical center can become an impossible task.
If you call an ambulance at home, the patient will be injected with painkillers, given a warning sheet with an imprecise and vague diagnosis: “vertebral sciatica” and will be recommended to see a neurologist at the clinic.You still need to go to the clinic!
Currently, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine has no cure, as does osteochondrosis of other areas of the spine, but preventive measures and folk remedies, combined with traditional treatment, stop the development of the disease, prolong periods of remission and alleviate symptoms during exacerbations.
The approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, combining methods of traditional medicine and folk methods.An examination in a clinic is necessary to accurately determine osteochondrosis and no other disease.After all, shoulder pain can occur not only in osteochondrosis, but also in heart diseases that require other, often emergency, treatment.
Drug treatment
The most effective way to relieve acute back pain is to block it with anesthetics.But first it is necessary to undergo 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 medications and physiotherapy.
Drug treatment includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of injections, tablets or ointments.
Chondroprotective medications are prescribed to support therapy.
Vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to relieve symptoms such as numbness, goosebumps under the skin, chills and to enhance the effect of medications from the above groups.
Therapeutic gymnastics
As part of physical procedures, the patient will be prescribed therapeutic exercises, which can be performed at home.At first, it is recommended to visit her in a medical institution.This is necessary to remember the exercises and how to perform them.Not all exercises can be performed with osteochondrosis.A properly selected set of exercises helps to strengthen the back and neck muscles and stabilize the functions of the spine.
The exercises will be stretching the back: hanging from the horizontal bar, freezing in certain postures.Stretching the back releases nerve roots compressed by the vertebrae, thereby relieving pain.Exercising with pushing, strength exercises, running and bending to the sides are prohibited.
Swimming is another form of physical activity that brings quick and lasting results.Crawl or breaststroke swimming are the most recommended methods for patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine.You can master them by purchasing a gym membership.During the warm season, you can practice on local reservoirs.
During periods of acute pain, gymnastics is prohibited!It is only allowed when waking up in the morning to hang from a horizontal or cross bar with your arms wide open;It is in the morning, after sleeping, after a long stay in the same position, that the strongest pain is felt.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
There is no special diet for osteochondrosis, but some foods help to improve the metabolic processes of the cartilage that forms the lining of the intervertebral disc.
These products include: meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, herbs, dairy products, eggs.
During exacerbations, it is recommended to exclude:
- sweet,
- flour and limit the consumption of cereals,
- salt and spices.
You need to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day.Water cannot be replaced with coffee, juices, soft drinks and alkaline mineral waters.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 strain and pour a kilogram of sugar into the resulting broth, dissolve over low heat, stirring.The amount received is enough for a full course.Dandelion syrup helps retain moisture in the cartilaginous tissues of the body.
The beneficial effect of cinquefoil on the musculoskeletal system is known to alleviate inflammation.
Sabelnik is sold in herbal pharmacies.Fill a glass bottle 2/3 with grass, pour alcohol or vodka under the lid.Make the infusion and 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 for compresses on the painful neck area.
There is a known link between the poor condition of the intervertebral discs and excess body weight, which increases the load on them.Therefore, if you are overweight, it is advisable to choose a low-calorie diet to lose weight.
Massage
With osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, especially if it is caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a sedentary lifestyle, massage helps.The patient lies on the sofa face down, so that the chin hangs over the edge of the sofa.Another family member massages the back muscles with circular finger movements.He should feel the muscles rolling beneath his fingers.Next, the massage therapist places his right palm on the spine and, with his left palm, applies light pressure from above and carefully slides it along the spine, from the base of the skull to the coccyx.
The last stage of the massage will be rubbing the skin on the back with a special composition.In the past, to prepare it, vegetable oil (raw, cold pressed) and sea salt were used, taken in equal quantities by volume.The components are stirred periodically for three days, storing 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: it must not contain dyes, flavors or other additives.
Rubbing the back with this composition is carried out daily, starting from three minutes.The session duration increases by one minute every day and reaches twenty.After the massage, rinse the mixture normally with any detergent.Therefore, the course will last two weeks.As a result, the condition of the vessels of the back and tissues 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 migraines.
Applications and compresses
In osteochondrosis, damaged discs are often subject to calcification and salt accumulation.Adjacent tissues are also susceptible to this process, which causes severe pain with sudden or unsuccessful movements.Applications according to popular recipes help dissolve these salts.
The dough is mixed with rye flour, pharmaceutical turpentine and oleoresin until it reaches the consistency of pie dough.It must remain at room temperature for two days.After two days, the patient should drink a glass of milk and apply cakes of the resulting mass to the wounds, secure with cellophane and wrap with a towel on top.Leave it on all night.Repeat the application 2 to 3 times a week.
Another mixture recipe for application is gentler and does not irritate the skin as much, but has the disadvantage that the onset of the therapeutic effect is not as quick: mix a tablespoon of flour, 100 grams of ghee and a spoon of 9% vinegar.Flatbreads are made from this dough in the same way and applied to the wound.
For osteochondrosis, compresses are often and successfully used in folk medicine:
- a glass of honey,
- 2 glasses of radish juice,
- half a glass of alcohol,
- mix everything and use to make compresses on the painful area.
The above recipe for cinquefoil tincture is also good for these purposes.
During an exacerbation, heating the wounds should not be used, but after relieving the inflammation, a sauna with a broom consolidates the results.First, the body must be covered with a mixture of honey and sea salt in equal parts.In 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 banal truth fully applies to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.To prevent pain from recurring, you must strengthen your immune system, organize physical activity such as going to the pool or gym, organize your sleeping and working space properly and take measures to reduce excess weight, if you have any.It may even be wise to quit your job if it requires excessive physical effort, because health is more important!