Pain occurs when you least expect it.Even the most self-confident person can become confused and scared in such cases.The cause of pain is often osteochondrosis.How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home and how effective will this treatment be?Let's find out more.
What is osteochondrosis
Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc, affecting adjacent vertebrae and joints.The elasticity of the intervertebral joint is impaired - and the disc becomes thinner.It is necessary to understand how nutrition and metabolic processes take place in the intervertebral discs.This structural element is formed by cartilage tissue;there are no blood vessels here.Nutrition takes place diffusely, like a pump.When pressure is applied, the lubricating fluid is released and then reabsorbed.If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appears, it is necessary to prescribe exercise therapy, massage and a whole series of therapeutic techniques 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 its shape;
- loses elasticity;
- changes color;
- it dries;
- turns yellow;
- loses resistance to damage.
The result is a violation of synchrony of movement in adjacent segments of the spinal column, pinching of nerve roots.The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limited mobility and some forms of paresthesia ("pins and needles", tingling).
All these changes indicate the presence of osteochondrosis.Next, we will talk about how osteochondrosis of the neck or any other spine is treated.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
Causes of the disease include anything that disrupts disc nutrition:
- Stagnation caused by static load.
- Long-term holding 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 annulus fibrosus.
The usual reasons are an unbalanced diet, physical inactivity and insufficient development of the deep muscles that form the muscular corset.The stability of the spine is a consequence of the complex interaction of the bone, muscle and nerve structures of the skeleton.Abdominal and back muscles are antagonists, balancing each other.Therefore, the postulate "movement is life" remains relevant as never before.Exercises can effectively affect osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Exercise therapy is used both in the clinic and at home.Since the spine consists of several parts, the disease can occur in any of them.Cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected.
How is cervical osteochondrosis manifested?
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of different localizations are combined into syndromes:
- cervicalgia syndrome (impaired mobility of the shoulder joint, various types of pain);
- cervicocranialgia (occipital pain, neck discomfort, tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea may occur);
- cervicobrachialgia or scapulohumeral syndrome (pain in the neck, which spreads to the shoulder and arm).
If you suffer from pain, often at night, along with numbness, the diagnosis will most likely be confirmed - osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine.The pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.
Therapeutic exercise at home
How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with drugs is described in many reference books.But in most cases, the effect of the drug is short-lived.This is where exercise therapy can help.
- We stand against the wall and lean against it.We try to press the wall with maximum force for a few seconds.Then let's relax.
- We sit at the table and put our elbows on it.We rest our chin on our hands, trying to put pressure on our palms, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
- Rest your head on your hands at the back of your head.Alternately press them with the back of your head, then relax.Perform several repetitions, hold for up to 10 seconds.
- Grab your head with your palms, alternately pressing one hand or the other.
During exacerbations, exercises are performed for no longer than 3-4 seconds, with moderate tension.Exercises will help slow down osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.You can start the exercises at home after making sure that they are performed correctly in a medical facility.
Massage without the help of an expert
If the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical spine" is confirmed, massage will be one of the necessary methods of treatment.In this case, this is not only a useful, but also an indispensable procedure.At first, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple techniques yourself at home.These techniques include the post-static muscle relaxation technique.The specialty of the method is the passive stretching of muscles from the position of overstrain in combination with massage elements.The technique should be applied after warming up the cramping muscles (bath, warm compress, kneading, stroking).
Self-massage uses the same techniques as professional massage.These are caressing, kneading, acupressure, patting, shaking.The massage is performed with warm, warm hands.Use massage oil to improve gliding.The order of techniques is as follows:
- caressing;
- trituration;
- kneading;
- vibrations (tapping, shaking).
Affecting osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the massage begins and ends with stroking.
A little manual therapy
- We are sitting on a chair with a high back.We grab the head with our hands, placing our thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the hills below the eye sockets).We raise our eyes, inhale and press the back of our head on our fingers.We hold for a quarter of a minute, and then, with an exhalation, lean on the back of the chair and relax the neck muscles, tilting the head down.We repeat the technique several times.Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, closer to its upper part, and slightly tilt the head forward.We press our fingers into the base of the skull, making a slow rotational movement with them.Gradually lower your fingers lower and lower, approaching the trapezius muscle.How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with manual therapy can be seen in the following manipulations.
- Lie on your back, pulling your shoulders back as much as possible.Place your hand on the painful side under the buttock, palm up.Put your other hand under your head, grasp the back of your head and tilt your head in the opposite direction of the problem.While inhaling, press your head on your toes for 15 seconds.As you exhale, relax and pull your head a little harder, stretching the sore muscle.
A set of measures for the treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely overcome osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive.This includes using:
- pain relievers;
- muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasms;
- drugs with chondroprotective action;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- a balanced diet.
By studying the medical literature, certain conclusions can be drawn about how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, but without professional treatment it is a crime against health.