Most of humanity suffers from cervical osteochondrosis - this is a reward for a sedentary lifestyle and an improper load on the back.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. This injury progressively spreads to all elements of the disc and, over time, the degenerative-dystrophic injury reaches the adjacent vertebrae, the intervertebral joints and the ligamentous apparatus.
Almost half of the world's adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. Often in everyday life, pain in the neck and joints in general is called "salt deposition", but this is a fundamentally incorrect definition. This is what people said and, of course, people understand this phrase literally. But in fact, salt is not deposited in the joints (with the exception of a disease such as gout, with it, salts of uric acid accumulate in the joints).
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not pursue the objective of "reabsorption of salts, deposits", etc. This erroneous view exists not only among patients, but also among some doctors who prescribe a strict diet and frequent check-up X-rays. With osteochondrosis, "there are no salt deposits", but a reactive ossification and, of course, no measures can lead to a "resorption of deposits".
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 lengths. Rapid treatment of the disease is possible if it is the first degree of the disease and it is noticed at an early stage.
The degree of development of the disease.
| Energy | The well-being of the patient, the symptoms. | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| I grade | Mild pain in the cervical spine, which may be worse when turning the head. | Mild muscle tension in the neck. |
| II degree | Pain of greater intensity with return to the shoulder or arm, which intensify with the turn 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. Sensations of numbness or weakness in the muscles of the arm. Weakness and dizziness in the patient's state of health. | Restriction of mobility, pain when pressing the neck joints. Development and formation of herniated intervertebral discs. |
| Grade IV | Severe 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 stage | The cervical curvature is smoothed, there are minor changes in the structure of the vertebrae. |
| Second stage | Instability is expressed between the vertebrae, there may be a displacement of one vertebra relative to another, a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. |
| Third stage | The height of the intervertebral disc is ¼ lower than that of the other disc, which is taller. The intervertebral joints are changed. The appearance of bone growths. The intervertebral foramen and the spinal canal narrow. |
| Stage four | The height of the intervertebral disc is greatly reduced. The intervertebral joints are severely impaired. The bone growths have become very large. The intervertebral foramen and the spinal 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 incorrect posture.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Lead a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work, low physical activity.
- History of spinal injuries.
- Altered metabolism.
- Large amounts of physical activity.
- Nervous shocks, tension and stress.
- Inheritance.
- Constant back strain during various activities (for drivers, programmers, etc. ).
The impact of these factors increases the load on the cervical spine, as a result of which compensation for the excessive load by the neck muscles leads to their spasm and impaired 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 which their structure changes and their nutrition is disturbed. The changes also affect the small joints between the vertebrae, the vertebral bodies are covered with bony growths.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- pain in the cervical spine. The pain can appear in the neck and the back of the head and in the shoulder or arm;
- feeling of weakness in the hands;
- decreased sensitivity in the hand;
- restrictions in neck movements, a cracking noise appears when turning and tilting the head with bone growth in the vertebral bodies, with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, with damage to the small joints between the neck vertebrae;
- dizziness, weakness, incoordination occur when the blood flow in the vertebral artery deteriorates, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum;
- numbness of the tongue, decreased vision and hearing occur in very severe cases of poor blood supply to the brain
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a regimen, the use of drugs, blocks, orthopedic, physiotherapeutic and spa methods.
Treatment should consist of the following components:
- ensuring the rest and discharge of the spine;
- fight pain syndrome;
- fight against muscle contracture and other reflex manifestations;
- fight against reactive changes in the nervous elements and other soft tissues that surround 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 for the cervical spine. The patient should lie on a firm bed, there should be a small soft pillow under the head and a small bag of warm sand or a roller 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 it should be hung, if possible, several times a day.
- Anesthetic blockade cannot be done at home, but pain can be quickly relieved with other pain relievers - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among them are effective fast-acting ointments, as well as good anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration. Therefore, at home, it is possible to quickly relieve pain in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Attention! All medications should be taken only in consultation with your doctor!
- For home treatment, B vitamins should be taken. The vitamin does not have to be in the form of injections or tablets.
It is found in the following foods (foods with the highest vitamin B content shown):
- Berries and fruits: in pineapple, dates, dried apricots, raisins, blueberries;
- Vegetables and herbs: in potatoes, spinach, asparagus, leeks, parsley, peas, garlic, horseradish;
- In all meat products, vitamin B is contained in a fairly 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. Of fish, these are tuna, pink salmon and horse mackerel. It is especially abundant in sturgeon caviar and haddock 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 exercise therapy can be used at home. A massage therapist can come to your home for a therapeutic massage, or a family member can learn the basic methods of cervical spine massage.
Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home.
Horseradish leaf 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 carried out in the form of applying a compress.
- It is necessary to take fresh young leaves of horseradish and put them in boiling water for a few seconds.
- After that, the sheets should be applied immediately to the cervical spine.
- On top you should put cellophane and cover the compress with a warm scarf or handkerchief.
- It is necessary to hold the compress from the leaves as much as possible, it is advisable to put it at night.
Due to the healing properties of the leaf compress, the neck will begin to move better, and the unpleasant disease will not so powerfully affect well-being. Two large fresh sheets are enough to cover the neck and upper back.
Alcohol compress
Alcohol compress is also often used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home.
- You need to take 300 ml of medical alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 tablets of crushed painkiller (powder) and 10 ml of camphor alcohol.
- Mix all of this thoroughly and use it as a compress on the sore areas of the neck.
Potato and honey compress
- On a grater, grate 1 large raw potato and add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mashed dough.
- The resulting drug is spread on tissue and applied to the cervical spine for two hours.
Pine bud tincture
Pine shoots are used as a folk remedy in treating the disease.
They should be harvested in early spring. Pine shoots should be chosen no larger than 2 cm and no less than 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 take one part of 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 shoots in the refrigerator for 1 year.
Herbal teas
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to drink various herbal teas for the general strengthening of the body:
- with chamomile;
- with cranberry and birch leaves;
- with linden color;
- with calendula and St. John's wort;
- with rose hips;
- with motherwort and horsetail.
Therefore, with the simultaneous use of folk remedies and drugs prescribed by a doctor, it is possible to accelerate the relief of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, reduce the period of exacerbation and prolong the period of remission.