Pain occurs when you do not expect it. Even the most reliable 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 it be? Let's find out more.
What is osteochondrosis
Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc with involvement of 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 intervertebral discs. This structural element forms the cartilaginous tissue, there are no blood vessels here. The power is diffuse, like a pump. When moving to squeeze, the lubricating fluid is released and then reabsorbed. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, exercise therapy, massage and a whole range of therapeutic techniques 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;
- sushi;
- yellow;
- loses resistance to damage.
The consequence is a violation of the synchronization of movement in the adjacent segments of the spine, injury to the nerve roots. The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limited mobility, some forms of paresthesia ("creeping", tingling).
All these changes indicate the presence of osteochondrosis. How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other is treated, we will discuss further.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
Causes of the disease include anything that disrupts the strength of the disc:
- Congestion caused by static loads.
- Prolonged retention of unfavorable positions, especially sitting. There is a good proverb: "If you can stand - do not sit, if you can lie - do not stand. "
- Traumatic effects on end plates, annular fibers.
Common reasons include unbalanced diet, physical inactivity, insufficient development of the deep muscles that make up the muscular corset. The stability of the spine is due to the complex interaction of the skeletal, muscular, and neural structures of the skeleton. The abdominal and back muscles are antagonists, balancing each other. Therefore, the postulate "movement is life" remains more relevant than ever. Exercise can effectively affect degenerative disc disease 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 at any time. The cervical and lumbar regions are more frequently exposed.
How does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifest itself?
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of different localization are combined into syndromes:
- cervical pain syndrome (reduced mobility of the shoulder joint, pain of various natures);
- cervicocranialgia (pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the neck, tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea);
- cervicobrachialgia or shoulder-scapular syndrome (pain in the neck that flows into the shoulder and arm).
If you are worried about painful pain, often at night, with numbness, the diagnosis will probably be confirmed - osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.
Physiotherapy 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. Here, exercise therapy can come to the rescue.
- We stand against the wall and lean against it with the back of our heads. We try to press the wall with maximum force for a few seconds. Then we relax.
- We sit at the table, put our elbows on it. We lean our chin on our hands, trying to press our palms, trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
- Rest your head on your hands on the back of your head. Alternately, then press them with the back of your head, then relax. Perform several repetitions with a hold of up to 10 seconds.
- Hold your head with your palms, pressing one or the other hand alternately.
During exacerbations, exercises are performed for a maximum of 3-4 seconds and with moderate effort. Classes will slow osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. You can start exercising at home after making sure they are performed properly in a health environment.
Massage without the help of experts
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 irreplaceable procedure. In the beginning, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple techniques at home on your own. These techniques include the technique of poststatic muscle relaxation. The peculiarity of the method consists in the passive stretching of the muscles from an overstrained position in combination with the elements of massage. The technique should be applied after warming up the cramping muscles (bath, warm compress, kneading, caressing).
When using self-massage, the same techniques are used as in professional. These are caressing, kneading, precise strokes, clapping, shaking. The massage is performed with warm, warm hands. Use massage oil to improve glide. The sequence of techniques is as follows:
- ironing;
- trituration;
- kneading;
- vibrations (tapping, shaking).
Acting on osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the massage begins and ends with caressing.
A little manual therapy
- We sit in a high-backed chair. We embrace the head with our hands, placing our thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the protrusions under the eye sockets). We raise our eyes upwards, inhale and press the nape of our neck to our toes. We hold for up to a quarter of a minute, then as we exhale we lean back in our chair and relax the neck muscles, tilting our head down. We repeat the technique several times. Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, closer to its upper part, slightly tilting the head forward. We press our fingers into the base of the skull, making them with slight rotational movements. Gradually lower your fingers lower and lower, approaching the trapezius muscle. How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated using manual therapy can be seen in the following manipulations.
- We lie on our backs, shrugging our shoulders as much as possible. Place your hand on the painful side below the buttocks, palm facing up. Put your other hand under your head, fold the back of your head and tilt your head to the side opposite to the problem. Inhale, press your head to your fingers for 15 seconds. As you exhale, relax and pull your head a little harder, stretching the aching muscle.
A set of measures in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely defeat cervical osteochondrosis. Treatment at home or in a health facility should be comprehensive. This includes the use of:
- painkillers;
- muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasm;
- drugs with chondroprotective action;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- massage;
- Exercise therapy;
- balanced diet.
By studying the medical literature, certain conclusions can be drawn about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated, but rejecting professionally prescribed treatment is a crime directed against health.