Most of humanity suffers from cervical osteochondrosis - this is repayment for a sedentary lifestyle and undue stress on the back.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. Such a lesion increasingly spreads to all elements of the intervertebral disc, and over time the degenerative-dystrophic lesion reaches the adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral joints and the ligamentous apparatus.
Almost half of the world's adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. In everyday life, pain in the neck and joints in general is often referred to as "salt deposition". However, this is a fundamentally wrong definition. This is what people said and of course people take this phrase literally. In fact, no salt is deposited in the joints (with the exception of a disease like gout - this is how uric acid salts build up in the joints).
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not aim at "resorption of salts, deposits" etc. This wrong view exists not only in patients but also in some doctors who prescribe a certain strict diet and frequent x-rays. In osteochondrosis there is "no salt deposits", but reactive ossification, and of course no measures can lead to "resorption of deposits".
Degree and stage of development of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission. Such periods have different durations. Rapid treatment of the disease is possible if it is the first degree of the disease and it is noticed early.
The degree of development of the disease
| power | The patient's well-being, symptoms | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| I am graduating | Mild pain in the cervical spine, which may be aggravated by turning your head | Slight muscle tension in the neck |
| II degree | Pain of greater intensity returning to the shoulder or arm, worsening as the head rotates and bends. In terms of well-being, there is a decrease in the ability to work, weakness, headache. |
Decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and entrapment of the nerve roots |
| III degree | Constant pain in the cervical spine returning to the shoulder or arm. Feelings 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 on the neck joints. Development and formation of herniated discs |
| IV degree | Severe dizziness and tinnitus, impaired coordination due to compression of the vertebral artery that supplies the cerebellum and the occipital lobes 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 curvature of the neck is smoothed, there are minor changes in the structure of the vertebrae |
| Second floor | 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 section | The height of the intervertebral disc is 1/4 lower than that of the other intervertebral discs, which is higher. The intervertebral joints are changed. The appearance of bone growth. The intervertebral foramen and the spinal canal are narrowed. |
| Level four | The height of the intervertebral disc is greatly reduced. The intervertebral joints are greatly changed. The bone growth has become very large. The intervertebral foramen and the spinal canal are significantly narrowed. |
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis occurs due to many factors. Let's list the main ones:
- The presence of scoliosis and improper posture.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, sedentary work, low physical activity.
- History of spinal injuries.
- Metabolic disorder.
- Large amounts of physical activity.
- Nerve shock, tension and stress.
- Inheritance.
- Constant back strain during various activities (for drivers, programmers, etc. ).
The influence of these factors increases the stress on the cervical spine, so compensating for the excessive stress on the neck muscles leads to their spasms and impaired blood flow in this area. 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 disrupted. Changes also affect the small joints between the vertebrae, the vertebral bodies are covered with bone growth.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- Pain in the cervical spine. Pain can occur in the neck, back of the head, shoulder, or arm.
- Feeling of weakness in the hands;
- decreased sensitivity in the hand;
- Restrictions on neck movements, a crunch when turning and tilting the head occur with bone growth on the vertebral bodies, decreasing the height of the intervertebral disc and damaging small joints between the cervical vertebrae;
- Dizziness, weakness, and lack of coordination occur when blood flow in the vertebral artery deteriorates, resulting in a deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum.
- Numbness of the tongue, decreased vision and hearing occur in very severe cases of impaired blood supply to the brain.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes a regimen, the use of drugs, blockages, orthopedic, physical therapy and spa methods.
Treatment should consist of the following components:
- Ensuring rest and relief of the spine;
- Fight against pain syndrome;
- Fight against muscle contractures and other reflex manifestations;
- Fight against reactive changes in nerve 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 for complete rest and relief of the cervical spine. The patient should lie on a firm bed, under the head there should be a small soft pillow, and under the neck there should be a small bag of warm sand or a roller with a recess.
- The traction used by doctors for conservative treatment cannot be done at home, but there is an alternative - a horizontal bar, which, if possible, you will have to hang several times a day.
- Anesthesia block cannot be done at home, but other pain relievers - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - can provide rapid pain relief. These include effective fast-acting ointments as well as good anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration. So, at home, it is possible to quickly relieve pain in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Attention! All medication should only be taken in consultation with your doctor!
- Group B vitamins should be taken for home treatment. The vitamin does not have to be in the form of injections or tablets.
It is found in the following foods (the foods with the highest vitamin B content are shown):
- Berries and fruits - in pineapples, dates, dried apricots, raisins, cranberries;
- Vegetables and herbs - in potatoes, spinach, asparagus, leek, parsley, peas, garlic, horseradish;
- Vitamin B is found in fairly large doses in all meat products, but by-products of beef and chicken (kidneys, liver, heart, tongue) are especially useful.
- Seafood is also very high in vitamin B. The fish are tuna, pink salmon and horse mackerel. It is particularly common in sturgeon caviar and pollock roe. Squid is also high in vitamin B;
- A high level of vitamin B can be found in the yolks of hen's eggs and quail eggs;
- Nuts and seeds are also high in 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 to give therapeutic massage or a relative can learn the basic methods of cervical spine massage.
Traditional methods of home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis
Horseradish leaf compress
Cervical osteochondrosis can be treated with horseradish leaves because, when treating the disease at home, they have anti-inflammatory effects on the neck joints.
The procedure is carried out in the form of a compress.
- It is necessary to take young and fresh leaves of horseradish and put them in boiling water for a few seconds.
- After that, the leaves must be immediately applied to the cervical spine.
- At the top you need to put cellophane and cover the compress with a warm scarf or handkerchief.
- It is necessary to keep the compress away from the leaves as much as possible. It is advisable to place them at night.
Due to the healing properties of the leaf compress, the throat begins to move better, and the unpleasant disease does not affect well-being as much. Two large fresh sheets are enough to cover your neck and upper back.
Alcohol compress
Alcohol compress is also widely used in home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis.
- You need to take 300 ml of medicinal alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 tablets of crushed analgesic (powder) and 10 ml of camphor alcohol.
- Mix all of this thoroughly and use it as a compress on sore spots on the neck.
Potato and honey compress
- On a grater, rub 1 large raw potato and add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mashed mass.
- The resulting drug is spread on a tissue and applied to the cervical spine for two hours.
Pine bud tincture
Pine buds are used as folk remedies in treating the disease.
They should be harvested in early spring. Pine buds should be chosen no larger than 2 cm and no smaller than 1. 5 cm.
- The collected pine buds need to be rinsed thoroughly.
- Grind the kidneys in a meat grinder and add sugar in a ratio of 2 to 1, i. e. H. For two parts of the kidneys you need to take one part of sugar.
- Mix everything and store in the refrigerator for two weeks.
- The product is ready after two weeks. One teaspoon should be taken three times a day for three weeks.
- You can store pine buds in the refrigerator for 1 year.
Herbal teas
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to drink various herbal teas to generally strengthen the body:
- with chamomile;
- with cranberry and birch leaves;
- with linden color;
- with marigold and St. John's wort;
- with rose hips;
- with feverfew and horsetail.
So, with the simultaneous use of folk medicines and drugs prescribed by a doctor, it is possible to accelerate the relief of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, shorten the period of exacerbation and extend the period of remission.