Pain comes when you don't expect it. Even the most confident person in such cases can be confused and scared. The cause of the pain syndrome is often osteochondrosis. How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home and how effective will the treatment be? Learn more.
What is osteochondrosis
Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc with the involvement of neighboring vertebrae and joints. The elasticity of the intervertebral joint is broken - and the disc becomes thinner. It is necessary to understand how nutrition and metabolic processes occur in the intervertebral discs. This structural element is formed by cartilage tissue, there are no blood vessels here. Nutrition occurs diffusely, like a pump. Lubricating fluid is released during compression movement and then reabsorbed. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appears, exercise therapy, massage andthe whole complex of treatment methods should be prescribed as soon as possible.
What changes occur in the spine and their symptoms
The following processes occur in the affected joint:
– the nucleus pulposus of the disc loses physiological moisture;
– cartilage loses shape;
– loses elasticity;
– changes color;
– dries up;
– turning yellow;
– Loses resistance to damage.
The consequence of this is a violation of the synchronism of movement in neighboring segments of the spinal column, infringement of the nerve roots. The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limitation of mobility, some forms of paresthesias ("crawling", tingling).
All of these changes suggest the presence of osteochondrosis. How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other, we will talk further.
Why osteochondrosis occurs
The causes of the disease include everything that disrupts the nutrition of the disk:
– Stagnation caused by static loads.
– Prolonged retention of unfavorable positions, especially sitting. There is a good proverb: “If you can stand, don’t sit; if you can lie down, don’t stand.”
– Traumatic effects on the endplates, fibers of the fibrous ring.
Common causes include unbalancednutrition, physical inactivity, insufficient development of deep muscles that form the muscular corset. The stability of the spine is due to the complex interaction of bone, muscle and nerve structures of the skeleton. The muscles of the abdomen and back are antagonists, balancing each other. Therefore, the postulate “movement is life” remains relevant as never before. Exercises allow you to effectively influence osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Exercise therapy is used both in the clinic and at home. Since the spine consists of several sections, the disease can occur in any of them. The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest itself
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of various localization are combined into syndromes:
– cervicalgia syndrome (impaired mobility of the shoulder joint, pain of a different nature);
– cervicocranialgia (pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the neck, there may be tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea);
– cervicobrachialgia or scapulohumeral syndrome (neck pain radiating to the shoulder and arm).
If you are worried about pain of a aching nature, often at night, with numbness, the diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed - osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.
Therapeutic exercise at home
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with medicaldrugs, described in many reference books. But in most cases, the effect of drug exposure is short-lived. This is where exercise therapy can come to the rescue.
1. We become to the wall and rest against it with the back of the head. We try to press on the wall with maximum effort for several seconds. Then relax.
2. We sit down at the table, put our elbows on it. We lean our chin on our hands, trying to put pressure on our palms, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
3. Lean your head on the hands that lie on the back of the head. Alternately, then press on them with the back of your head, then relax. Perform several repetitions with a hold of up to 10 seconds.
4. Grab your head with your palms, alternately pressing on one or the other hand.
During exacerbations, exercises are performed with a duration of no more than 3-4 seconds, and with moderate tension. Classes will slow down osteochondrosis of the cervical region. You can start exercising at home after you make sure that they are performed correctly in a medical facility.
Massage without the help of a professional
If the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is confirmed, massage will be one of the necessary methods of treatment. In this case, it is not only useful, but also an indispensable procedure. Initially, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple tricks at home on your own. These techniques include the technique of post-static muscle relaxation. Feature of the methodconsists in passive stretching of the muscle from a position of overstrain in combination with massage elements. It is necessary to apply the technique after the spasmodic muscles are warmed up (bath, hot compress, kneading, stroking).
When applying self-massage, the same techniques are used as in professional massage. These are stroking, kneading, acupressure, patting, shaking. Massage is performed with warm, warm hands. Use massage oil to improve glide. The sequence of techniques is as follows:
– stroking;
– rubbing;
– kneading;
– vibrations (pats, shakes).
Influencing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, massage begins and ends with strokes.
A little manual therapy
1. We sit on a chair with a high back. We clasp the head with the hands, placing the thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the tubercles under the eye sockets). Raise your eyes up, take a breath and press the back of your head on your fingers. Hold for up to a quarter of a minute, then as you exhale, lean back on the back of the chair and relax the neck muscles, tilting your head down. We repeat the reception several times. Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, closer to its upper part, tilt our head forward a little. We press our fingers into the base of the skull, making a slow rotational movement with them. Gradually lower the fingers lower and lower, approaching the trapezius muscle. How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated withmanual therapy, can be seen in the following manipulations.
2. Lie on your back, pulling your shoulders down as far as possible. Place the hand on the affected side under the buttock, palm up. Place your other hand under your head, clasping the back of your head and tilting your head in the direction opposite to the problematic one. Inhaling, press your head on your fingers for 15 seconds. Exhaling, relax and pull your head a little harder, stretching the sore muscle.
Complex of measures in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely defeat cervical osteochondrosis. Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive. This includes application:
–Painkillers;
– muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasm;
– preparations with chondroprotective action;
– physiotherapy treatments;
– massage;
– exercise therapy;
– a balanced diet.
After studying the medical literature, one can draw certain conclusions about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated, but doing without professionally prescribed treatment is a crime against one's he alth.
