Most of humanity suffers from cervical osteochondrosis - it is a return to 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. Such a lesion progressively spreads to all elements of the disc, and over time the degenerative-dystrophic lesion reaches the adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral joints, and ligament apparatus.
Nearly half of the world's adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. In everyday life, neck and joint pain is often referred to as "salt deposition", but this is basically an incorrect definition. That’s what people said and, of course, people literally understand this phrase. But in fact, salt does not accumulate in the joints (except for such a disease as gout - with it, uric acid salts accumulate in the joints).
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not pursue the goal of "resorption of salt, deposits", etc. This misconception exists not only among patients, but also among some physicians who prescribe a certain strict diet and frequent radiographs. In osteochondrosis there are "no salt deposits", but reactive ossification and, of course, no measures can lead to "resorption of deposits".
Stage and stage of disease development
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a chronic disease with periods of worsening 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 at an early stage.
Degree of disease development
| Power | Patient well-being, symptoms | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| I degree | Mild pain in the cervical spine, which may be aggravated by turning the head | Slight neck muscle tension |
| II degree | Pains of greater intensity with return to the shoulder or arm, which are intensified by turning the head and bending it. In terms of well-being, there is a decrease in work ability, weakness, headaches. |
Decreased intervertebral disc height and nerve root involvement |
| III degree | Constant pain in the cervical spine with return to the shoulder or arm. Feeling of numbness or weakness of the arm muscles. Weakness and dizziness in the patient's health | Restriction of mobility, pain when pressing on the neck joints. Development and formation of intervertebral disc herniation |
| IV degree | 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 replaced with connective tissue |
Stages of cervical osteochondrosis
| X-ray phase | Scene description |
|---|---|
| The first phase | The cervical bandage is smoothed, there are minor changes in the structure of the vertebrae |
| Second phase | Instability is pronounced between the vertebrae, there may be movement of one vertebra relative to the other, a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc |
| The third phase | The height of the intervertebral disc is less than the height of the other disc, which is higher. The intervertebral joints are altered. Occurrence of bony outgrowths. The intervertebral foramen and spinal canal are narrowed. |
| Phase four | The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced. The intervertebral joints are severely altered. Bone growth has become very large. The intervertebral foramen and spinal canal are significantly narrowed. |
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis occurs as a result of many factors. Here are 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.
- Impaired metabolism.
- Large amounts of physical activity.
- Nervous shocks, tension and stress.
- Heredity.
- Constant back strain during various activities (for drivers, developers, etc. ).
The influence of these factors increases the load on the cervical spine, as a result of which the compensation of excessive load on 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, their diet is disrupted. The changes also affect the small joints between the vertebrae, the bodies of the vertebrae are covered with bone growths.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- pain in the cervical spine. Pain may occur in the neck, nape of the neck, shoulder, or arm;
- feeling weak in the hands;
- decreased hand sensitivity;
- restrictions on the movement of the neck, crunch when turning and tilting the head occurs with the growth of bones on the bodies of the vertebrae, with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, with damage to the small joints between the vertebrae of the neck;
- dizziness, weakness, lack of coordination occur when blood flow in the vertebral artery worsens, leading to a deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum;
- numbness of the tongue, decreased vision and hearing occur in very severe cases of damage to the blood supply to the brain.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes regimen, use of medications, blockades, orthopedic, physiotherapeutic and spa methods.
The treatment should consist of the following components:
- providing rest and unloading of the spine;
- combating pain syndrome;
- combating muscle contracture and other reflex manifestations;
- combating reactive changes in nerve elements and other soft tissues surrounding 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 of the cervical spine. The patient should lie on a firm bed, have a small soft pillow under his head, and under his neck should lie a small bag of warm sand or a roller with a recess.
- Towing used by doctors for conservative treatment cannot be performed at home, but there is an alternative - a horizontal bar on which you must hang, if possible, several times a day.
- Anesthetic blockade cannot be reported at home, but the pain can be quickly relieved by other painkillers - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among them are effective fast-acting ointments, as well as good anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration. Thus, 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 a doctor!
- 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 (foods with the highest vitamin B content are shown):
- Berries and fruits - in pineapple, dates, dried apricots, raisins, cranberries;
- Vegetables and herbs - in potatoes, spinach, asparagus, leeks, parsley, green peas, garlic, horseradish;
- In all meat products, vitamin B contains quite large doses, but beef and chicken by-products (kidneys, liver, heart, tongue) are especially useful;
- Seafood is also very rich in vitamin B. Of the fish, these are tuna, pink salmon and horse mackerel. It is especially rich in sturgeon caviar and Polish caviar. Squid also contain a high percentage of B vitamins;
- The high content of vitamin B is found in the yolks of chicken eggs 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 you for a therapeutic massage or a relative can learn the basic methods of neck massage.
Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home
Horseradish leaf compress
Cervical osteochondrosis can be treated with horseradish leaves, they act anti-inflammatory on the neck joints in the treatment of the disease at home.
The procedure is performed in the form of coating.
- It is necessary to take young and fresh horseradish leaves and put them in boiling water for a few seconds.
- After that, the leaves must be applied immediately to the cervical spine.
- You need to put cellophane on top and cover the wrap with a warm scarf or handkerchief.
- It is necessary to keep the compress of leaves as much as possible, it is desirable to put it at night.
Due to the healing properties of the leaf wraps, the neck will start to move better and the nasty disease will not affect the well-being as strongly. Two large fresh sheets are enough to cover the neck and upper back.
Alcohol coating
Alcohol dressings are also often used to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home.
- You need to take 300 ml of medical alcohol, 10 ml of iodine, 10 tablets of crushed analgesic (powder) and 10 ml of camphor alcohol.
- Mix all this thoroughly and use as a compress on painful areas of the neck.
Potato and honey compress
- Grate 1 large raw potato on a grater and add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mashed mass.
- The resulting drug is spread on the tissue and applied to the cervical spine for two hours.
Tincture of pine buds
Pine buds are used as a folk remedy in the treatment of diseases.
They should be harvested early in the spring. Pine buds should be selected not larger than 2 cm and not less than 1. 5 cm.
- Collected pine buds must be thoroughly rinsed.
- Grind the kidneys in a meat grinder and add sugar in a ratio of 2 to 1, ie. for two parts kidney you need to take one part sugar.
- Stir everything and leave in the fridge for two weeks.
- After two weeks the product is ready. It should be taken one teaspoon three times a day for three weeks.
- You can store pine buds in the refrigerator for 1 year.
Herbal teas
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to drink various herbal teas for general strengthening of the body:
- with chamomile;
- with cranberry and birch leaves;
- with lime color;
- with marigold and St. John's wort;
- with bar;
- with lemon balm and horsetail.
Thus, 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.