Thanks to healthy intervertebral discs, which play the role of shock absorbers in the spine, a person's movements are easy and relaxed.He doesn't have to think about his movements and calculate them to get as little pain as possible.
Over time, as well as under the influence of several other factors, the intervertebral discs wear out and deform, causing a disease such as osteochondrosis.The disease is divided into areas 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 the 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 an extent that the vertebrae begin to come into contact with each other, causing pain, they speak of osteochondrosis ("osteo" - bone, "chondro" - connective tissue), that is, a disease of the connective tissue between the vertebrae.The process of development of the pathology takes years and even decades.
It can be facilitated (or accelerated) by the following factors:
- features of an occupation that requires fixing the body in a certain position for a long time: assembly line workers, drivers, painters;
- sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work;
- long-term fixation of the body in certain positions: wrong posture when sitting at the table, wrong posture while sleeping;
- excessive physical activity to which athletes, dancers, acrobats and weightlifters are exposed;
- frequent intoxications of the body, which also have a destructive effect on the intervertebral discs.These include frequent colds, bad habits;
- flat feet;
- back injuries resulting in disruption of the integrity of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms
Cervicothoracic spine symptoms are conventionally divided into three groups:
- Painful sensationsmanifest as pain in the upper back, neck and back of the head.The pain may be either clearly localized or radiate to the arm.Depending on which vertebra the disc is damaged, radiation (spread) of pain can occur in the left or right arm - both in the area of the forearm and along the length of the entire arm up to the fingertips.The pain can be constant or appear from time to time under the influence of several factors, mainly movements.
- Movement disorders.After a long period of living with osteochondrosis, a person develops motor stereotypes, resulting in the formation of movement disorders.For example, if the pain occurs when turning the head to the left, then the patient will try to turn the head to the left as little as possible, which is a mistake.Over time, turning the neck to the left becomes as impossible as bending the 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 appears as a result of spasm of the vessels or even of the carotid arteries compressed by the vertebrae, causing migraine and dizziness."floats" in the eyes, noise or congestion in the ears.From the central nervous system, asthenia, low mood, weakness, drowsiness and chronic fatigue are observed.And if the vertebral artery syndrome is pronounced in cervical osteochondrosis, then it is 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 the patient great physical suffering, limit movement and significantly worsen the quality of life.Because of the intense pain during an exacerbation, even a basic visit to a medical facility can become an impossible task.
If you call an ambulance at home, the patient will be given a sedative injection, will be given a notice sheet with an incorrect and vague diagnosis: "vertebral sciatica" and will be recommended to visit a neurologist at the clinic.You still have to go to the clinic!
Currently, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine cannot be cured, like osteochondrosis of other areas of the spine, but preventive measures and folk remedies, together with traditional treatment, stop the development of the disease, extend periods of remission and relieve symptoms during exacerbations.
The approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, combining the 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 with osteochondrosis, but also with heart diseases that require other, often urgent, treatment.
Drug treatment
The most effective way to relieve acute back pain is to block it with anesthetics.But first, it is necessary to conduct 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 medication and physiotherapy.
Drug treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of injections, tablets or ointments.
Chondroprotective drugs are prescribed to support therapy.
Vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed to relieve symptoms such as numbness, lumps under the skin, chills and to increase the effect of drugs from the above groups.
Therapeutic gymnastics
As part of the physical procedures, the patient will be prescribed therapeutic exercises, which can be performed at home.At first, it is recommended to visit him 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 set of properly chosen exercises helps to strengthen the muscles of the back and neck and stabilizes the functions of the spine.
The exercises will be stretching the back: hanging on the horizontal bar, freezing in certain poses.Stretching the back frees the nerve roots trapped by the vertebrae, thus relieving the pain.Crunching exercises, strength exercises, running and side bending are prohibited.
Swimming is another form of physical activity that brings quick and long-term results.Swimming crawl or breast stroke are the most suitable methods for patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine.You can own them by purchasing a gym membership.During the warm season, you can practice in local reservoirs.
During periods of acute pain, gymnastics is prohibited!It is allowed only after waking up in the morning to hang on a horizontal bar or crossbar with arms spread wide;It is in the morning, after sleep, after a long stay in one position, that the strongest pain is felt.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
There is no special diet for osteochondrosis, but certain foods help improve metabolic processes in the cartilage that makes up the inner layer 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 should drink at least 2 liters of clean water a day.Water cannot be replaced with coffee, juice, carbonated drinks and alkaline types of mineral water.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 grated lemons with water (enough to cover) and boil for half an hour.Then strain and pour a kilogram of sugar into the resulting liquid, dissolve it over low heat, stirring.The amount received is sufficient for a full course.Dandelion syrup helps retain moisture in the cartilage tissue of the body.
The beneficial effect of cinquefoil on the musculoskeletal system is known in that it relieves inflammation.
Sabelnik is sold in herbal pharmacies.Fill a glass bottle 2/3 with grass, pour alcohol or vodka under the cap.Inject and then 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 in the neck pain area.
There is a known connection 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 wise to choose a low-calorie diet for weight loss.
Massage
For osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, especially if it is caused by physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, massage helps.The patient lies on the couch with his stomach down so that his chin hangs over the edge of the couch.Another family member flexes the back muscles with circular motions of the fingers.He should feel the muscles rolling under his fingers.Next, the massage therapist places the right palm on the spine and with the left palm applies light pressure from above and carefully slides along the spine from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
The last stage of the massage will be rubbing the skin of the back with a special composition.To prepare it in the old days, people used vegetable oil (raw, cold) and sea salt, taken in equal amounts by volume.The components are periodically mixed for three days, keeping 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 should not contain colors, flavors or other additives.
Rubbing the back using this composition is carried out every day, starting from three minutes.The duration of the session increases by one minute every day and reaches twenty.After massaging, rinse off the mixture as usual using any detergent.Thus, the course will last two weeks.As a result, the condition of the back vessels and tissues adjacent to the spine will improve.This method will help especially when the vertebral artery syndrome is observed in cervical osteochondrosis with high blood pressure and migraine.
Applications and compresses
With osteochondrosis, damaged discs often undergo calcification and salt accumulation.Adjacent tissues are also sensitive to this process, which causes severe pain with unsuccessful or sudden movements.Applications according to folk recipes will help dissolve these salts.
The dough is mixed from rye flour, pharmaceutical turpentine and oleoresin until it reaches the consistency of pie dough.It should keep for two days at room temperature.After two days, the patient should drink a glass of milk and put cakes from the resulting dough on the sore points, fix with cellophane and wrap with a towel on top.Leave it all evening.Repeat the application 2-3 times a week.
Another recipe for a mixture for application is gentler and does not irritate the skin as much, but its disadvantage is that the onset of the therapeutic effect is not so fast: mix a tablespoon of flour, 100 grams of ghee and a tablespoon of 9% vinegar.Flatbreads are made from this dough in the same way and applied to the injured area.
For osteochondrosis, compresses are often and successfully used in folk medicine:
- a glass of honey
- 2 cups radish juice,
- half a glass of alcohol,
- mix everything and use for compresses on the injured area.
The above recipe for tincture of cinquefoil is also good to use for these purposes.
During an irritation, you should not use the heating of the sore spots, but after the inflammation has eased, a sauna with a broom consolidates the results.First, the body should be smeared with a mixture of honey and sea salt in equal parts.With 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 strange truth fully applies to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.To prevent the recurrence of pain, you should strengthen your immune system, organize physical activity with a visit to the pool, gym, easily organize your sleeping and working space and take measures to reduce excess weight if you have it.It may even be wise to quit a job if it requires excessive physical effort, because health is more important!