Osteochondrosis is one of the most insidious diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Its symptoms are often disguised as other diseases and bring a lot of uncomfortable and painful sensations. The appearance of pathological changes in the cervical spine is associated with the influence of various factors.
Symptoms
Cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms. Headache, tingling in the center of the chest or chronic fatigue - all these signs accompany dystrophic disorders of the cervical vertebrae.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- Dizziness, which sometimes leads to loss of consciousness or fainting.
- Crunch when trying to turn or turn your head.
- Drawing and tingling pains in the shoulders, elbows or neck.
- Tingling in the arms and legs, in the tips of the fingers and in the whole limb.
- Unreasonable appearance of apathy and drowsiness. The feeling of accumulated fatigue persists even after a long sleep or passive rest.
- Tinnitus (tinnitus with no apparent cause).
- Hearing loss or blurred vision.
- Pain in the sternum, with numbness in the hands or feet.
| Syndrome | Cause | Demonstration |
|---|---|---|
| Root | Compression of spinal nerves. | Sharp pain on movement. |
| Reflex | Pinched nerve. | Sharp pain radiating to the arm, headache. |
| spinal-compression | Pinching of blood vessels, intervertebral hernia. | Loss of feeling in the hands, pain in the shoulder girdle and neck. |
| Cerebral | Spinal cord circulatory disorders. | Fatigue, irritability and nervousness, disorientation and fainting, headaches and hearing loss. |
| vertebral artery | Compression of the artery. | stroke, cerebral ischemia. |
Important: the neck is one of the most important sections of the spine due to the accumulation of a large number of nerve trunks. Even a slight displacement of the vertebrae by 1-3 mm leads to a violation of the blood circulation of the brain and can cause hypertension, migraine. Less often with cerebral hypoxia, stroke.
Over the past 2 decades, doctors have noted the appearance of osteochondrosis in young people. If earlier in the risk group there were middle-aged and older representatives, now the disease is more and more common among people as young as 20-30 years old.
The danger of any symptoms of osteochondrosis lies in the fact that they are attributed to other diseases and late referral to specialized specialists. This allows the disease to become chronic and lead to irreversible damage to the anatomical structures of the cervical spine.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Each segment of the spine is built according to a unique principle: the soft pulp inside the vertebra absorbs all the structures of the segment, loses its elasticity and ossifies. The pathological process affects nerves and blood vessels.
To understand the causes of osteochondrosis, consider the problem from a medical point of view.
| Factors | The description |
|---|---|
| physiological process | Aging of cartilage tissue as a result of irreversible age-related changes. It is regulated by nervous and endocrine processes. |
| Pathological process | Destruction of spinal structures, nerve endings and blood vessels. |
| Physiological changes | The transformation of the pulp into fibrous tissue, caused by the aging of the organism. It does not manifest clinically if the nerve nodes are not irritated. |
| Pathological changes | Localized in the cartilage and beyond, irritates nerves, compresses blood vessels. Manifested by local pain and dyskalgia - a reflection of pain. |
Pathological changes in the vertebrae are accompanied by:
- Deposit of salts in the nucleus pulposus.
- Penetration of spinal structures into neighboring segments (hernia formation).
- Erasure and wear of segments of the cervical spine.
- Ossification of the soft tissues of the joints.
Causes of osteochondrosis:
- Autoimmune - diseases lead to degenerative processes in the cartilage tissue.
- Infectious - the presence of pathogenic microorganisms leads to metabolic disorders in the tissues and can trigger pathological processes in the joints.
- Involutive - the body's natural aging process.
- Traumatic - the development of pathologies as a result of injuries.
- Endocrine - hormonal disorders.
- Metabolic disorders - degenerative processes resulting from metabolic failures.
- Heredity - congenital pathologies of the development of joints, cartilage. anatomical disorders.
- Stay in the same position for a long time.
- Excess weight - increases the load on the cervical region and can cause metabolic disorders.
- Nervous tension and prolonged exposure to a stressful situation.
- Rheumatism.
Folk methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis
In addition to conservative medical methods, folk methods are very effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
herbal treatment
Herbal medicine is widely used in osteochondrosis of the neck for many reasons: a small number of contraindications, availability, high efficiency, the cumulative effect of the use of tinctures and decoctions.
Preparation of decoctions
1 liter of water should be brought in an enamel bowl and add 5-6 tablespoons of the collection. Put the broth on low heat and cook for about 15 minutes.
Alcohol tinctures of herbs such as wild rosemary, burdock, mountaineer, elecampane, sage, yarrow are used both for external use and for oral consumption. The principle of preparation of dyes is as follows:
- 2-3 tablespoons of crushed plants are placed in a 250 ml container and medical alcohol is added
- the infusion is aged in a dark, cool place for at least 14 days. All of the above herbs are suitable for cooking.
Preparation of the infusion: pour 4 to 6 tablespoons of crushed vegetable raw materials into a 1 liter jar and pour boiling water over it. Cover the jar and leave for 24 hours in a dark place.
Compress
The simplest method of treatment is the use of bischofite saline compresses. the high effectiveness of the method has proven itself, the main principle of treatment is regularity and long-term impact. Soft fabric bandages or a bandage are applied to the neck for a long time.
Salt compress: Prepare a 10-11% salt solution (100g per 1000ml of water). Moisten the gauze folded in several layers in the resulting solution and apply to the neck. Put the polythene on top and wrap it with a warm scarf. The compress should be done daily for about 10-14 days 1-2 times a day.
Ointments
You can fight cervical osteochondrosis with homemade ointments. For their preparation are used: herbs, plant roots, vegetable oils and animal products - fats, poisons, bile, eggs.
Ointment recipe:
- In equal proportions, mix the grass of yarrow, lavender, horsetail, dandelion roots (previously crushed).
- Pour 2-3 tablespoons of the collection with boiling water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- After cooling, mix the mixture obtained with 75 g of any vegetable oil and 75 g of animal fat until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Rub into the neck for 4-5 minutes 2-3 times a day.
Friction
Rubbing will help relieve pain in the neck with osteochondrosis. The effectiveness of this method lies in the fact that it has a complex effect. Rubbing the neck with the use of tinctures and ointments is effective in exacerbations and complex therapies. Biologically active substances easily penetrate the tissues due to the mechanical effect on the skin.
Rubbing the ointment (the recipe is given above): take a small amount of ointment and rub it into the palms. Then, with intense stroking movements, rub the ointment into the neck, after which it is necessary to insulate with a woolen scarf. Perform the procedure for at least two consecutive weeks 1-2 times a day.
warming up
This method of exposure is used in cervical osteochondrosis in order to get rid of accumulated toxins in the cartilage tissue, improve blood and lymphatic microcirculation. Herbal baths, sauna, special heating pads, baked or boiled potatoes (in the form of mashed potatoes and honey cakes), bags of salt or sand are suitable for warming. After warming up, the application of tinctures, ointments and compresses is more effective.
To warm up you will need sea salt and a bag of dense natural fabric - better than linen. Salt should be heated in a saucepan and pour the bag. Apply to the affected area 2-3 times a day. After the procedure, wrap your neck with a warm scarf and do not go outside, especially in the cold season.
Massage
This method is used only during the period of remission - in the absence of sharp pains and other acute symptoms of osteochondrosis.
The healing properties of massage have long been known and are one of the best ways to eliminate osteochondrosis of the neck. Different massage techniques can relieve spasms of the muscles surrounding the segments of the spine:
- acupressure;
- classic;
- box;
- empty;
- Thai;
- self-massage.
Such an effect leads to an improvement in local blood circulation, relieves swelling, eliminates pain in the cervical region, improves tissue metabolism, restores mobility in the cervical region and reanimate atrophied muscles.
Self-massage for osteochondrosis is performed sitting or standing, the back is even, the feet are shoulder width apart. You can use one or two hands for the following techniques:
- Rub neck and collar with palms to warm up.
- Grasp your neck with your hands so that the thumbs are in front and the rest behind. In this position, hold four fingers from the spine to the periphery along the entire neck and collar area for 2-3 minutes.
- Circular movements with the fingers with pressure, covering the surface of the neck as much as possible. Continue 1-3 minutes.
- Vertical rubbing along the spine with fingertips - 1-2 minutes.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
It is almost impossible to quickly cure osteochondrosis, but special exercises will help speed up the recovery process.
A set of exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes:
- Head rotations left and right - perform 5-6 repetitions in both directions, gradually increasing the amplitude.
- Raising and lowering the shoulders - 10-15 times.
- The head tilts left and right - 10-12 times in both directions.
- Stretch the head forward - while standing, stretch the head as far forward as possible, then return to its original position. Perform 10 to 15 reps.
- Cobra: Get on all fours and gently stretch your head forward, aligning your legs and raising your head. Try to lower your hips to the ground. Lock this position for a few seconds and slowly come back. Repeat 4-9 times.
The last exercise helps to relax the muscles of the cervical region, restore blood supply and eliminate pinching of blood vessels and nerve endings.
All exercises are performed slowly, smoothly and with constantly increasing amplitude. The number of repetitions and approaches is determined individually.
Nutrition for cervical osteochondrosis
With damage to the joints, nutrition should be balanced and fractional - 5-6 times a day in small portions.
Limit your intake of salt, simple carbohydrates, spicy and fried foods.
Foods with a high content of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus should be included in the diet - these are green vegetables, fish, meat, vegetables in the form of stew or baked.
To effectively combat cervical osteochondrosis, increase your consumption of clean water (at least two liters per day).
Prevention
The disease is easier to prevent than to cure. To reduce the risk of osteochondrosis, take the following preventive measures:
- use a comfortable place to sleep - orthopedic mattresses and pillows;
- engage in regular physical activity;
- work in a properly organized place under sedentary working conditions;
- with a static position of the body, take breaks for gymnastics;
- do not overeat;
- do not carry bags over one shoulder.
Contraindications
The main contraindications are:
- physical overload due to a long stay in a static position;
- deliberate cracking of the neck joints;
- consumption of a large number of sweets and starchy foods;
- bodybuilding;
- sleep on a soft mattress and a big pillow;
- hypothermia of the cervical region.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be complex. The combination of various means and methods of therapy, subject to recommendations on nutrition and physical activity, can relieve chondrosis of the neck. Despite the effectiveness of alternative treatment methods, seek help from an orthopedist or osteopath in time, as self-treatment can pose a health risk.