Cervical hernia is one of the most dangerous pathologies caused by a sharp uneven force load on the body. Symptoms of this disease in all patients are almost the same. A person begins to feel pain in the neck, head and upper limbs, starting from the forearms, ending with the fingers on the hands.
Signs of a hernia
First of all, patients develop symptoms of tingling and numbness all over the back. A hernia in the cervical spine can make itself felt suddenly. The pains characteristic of the disease are often attributed to cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine. But, unfortunately, a hernia has more serious consequences.
How not to miss a herniated cervical spine
First of all, a person has headaches, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, loss of orientation, frequent dizziness, up to fainting, slowness. The patient becomesinactive due to pain in the cervical spine.
As a result of a rupture of the disc (intervertebral cartilage), inflammation of the soft tissues occurs, which is why pain and tingling are felt. Due to the pressure on the blood vessels of the bursting intervertebral disc, blood circulation slows down. Blood enters the brain rather slowly, which can even lead to a stroke. The most terrible complication of a hernia of the cervical spine is paralysis of the upper and lower extremities.
Cervical hernia treatment
Treatment of this disease can be not only conservative (the use of drugs to relieve inflammation and muscle tension, to improve muscle trophism (nutrition), exercise, various methods of physiotherapy, etc.), but also operational (surgical interference).
Surgical treatment of a hernia of the cervical spine is carried out only in complex cases of the disease, when nothing else helps and paralysis of the limbs begins.
Basics of conservative treatment, exercises
Exercises for a hernia of the cervical spine must be slow, smooth, without any sudden movements. Otherwise, the pain may increase.
At the first moment after the onset of the disease, the main measures are aimed at returning the cervical disc to its place, that is, it is important to return the spine to the correct position. This should only be done by a specialist, otherwise there may be unforeseen complications.
All exercises for a herniated cervical spine should be carried out under the watchful supervision of a physiotherapist or exercise therapy instructor. Gymnastics, first of all, should be aimed at strengthening the muscular corset. At the beginning of treatment, it is very important to bring the muscles into tone, dosing the load. And only after a certain recovery period, you can complicate the exercises by adding new elements. The instructor himself must monitor how the patient is engaged, and only with his permission can you continue gymnastics on your own at home.
Exercises for cervical hernia are very diverse. They can be performed sitting on a chair and on the floor or lying on a hard couch, as well as standing. In no case should you exercise on a soft sofa or bed. This position can lead to increased pain.
Exercises for herniated cervical spine
The first movements are performed in a sitting position on a chair at the table. A prerequisite should be the position of the hands. They should lie on the table, supported by elbows.1. Raise the shoulders up and slowly pull the muscles of the neck, forearms, head behind them, then also slowly lower the shoulders and, accordingly, pull the same muscles behind them. The number of repetitions each time will depend on the strength of the pain that occurs (if it is sharp, then 2-3 repetitions will be enough, if there is practically no discomfort, then at least 10-15 repetitions should be done).
2. Pull your shoulders forward, feeling muscle tensionforearms and neck, and then slowly take the shoulders back to the feeling of "reduction" of the shoulder blades. The number of repetitions in all exercises is based on the rule of "light pain". The person should feel a pleasant warmth in the muscles.3. We start with circular rotations of the shoulders. Very slowly we make a circle forward, then a circle back. After that, you can increase the tension and pace with which the patient does the exercise. Slowly, then quickly, then slowly again - and so on 4 repetitions in each direction.
4. We raise the outstretched arms as high as possible, trying to bend back, but without touching the back of the chair. It is best to use a chair without a back, so that there is no desire to relax and unwind. The back should be straight throughout the session. During this exercise, the patient should pull up the neck and head, creating additional tension in the muscles of the cervical region.
5. Tilt your head down and then lift it up. Here, the neck muscles do not need to be pulled. The head should rise and fall freely, without effort.
6. Turn your head to the right as much as possible. Then turn it to the left. At the same time, we try to pull and strain the muscles of the neck. Please note that in case of a hernia of the cervical region, in no case should you make circular rotations of your head. This can complicate an already dangerous situation.
Complex of exercises in the prone position
1. The patient lies on his stomach. Hands must be collected in the lock and put under the chin. We spread our elbows to the sides. Straighten your arms andforces to stretch your head up, while pulling your chin down with force. Try not to raise your body and stomach.
2. Put your hands on your belt, then raise your head and shoulders. Without lifting your stomach from the floor, hold out in this position for a few seconds.3. Hands from the belt as slowly as possible to move to the sides, and then also slowly move them to the shoulders.
In exercises for a hernia of the cervical spine, it is necessary to include walking along the paths, which must first be very wide, and then gradually narrow. At this moment, it is necessary to lower your head down and, tensing the muscles of your back and neck, follow the narrowing of the track. You can also use a narrow bench for these purposes.
How to avoid complications
Gymnastics for a hernia of the cervical spine, along with massage and other therapeutic agents, will help prevent the further development of this dangerous disease.
Due to a timely diagnosis, surgery can be avoided. We can say with confidence that exercise therapy for a hernia of the cervical spine helps to cope not only with the hernia itself, but is also one of the best methods of dealing with any diseases of the spine. These exercises increase the elasticity of the vertebrae, so that the risk of developing complications during exercise is significantly reduced.
