Many negative factors cause negative changes in the intervertebral discs - chondrosis develops. If left untreated, the disease progresses, degenerative and dystrophic processes affect bone tissue, osteophytes grow, osteochondrosis develops and pain appears in the neck.
Home treatment is a complex of different measures. It is important to stop the destruction of discs, eliminate inflammation and pain syndrome, and begin the processes of regenerating the elastic cushion between the vertebrae. A good effect is given by a combination of chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs with exercise therapy, massage and other methods of influencing weakened structures.
Causes and symptoms of osteochondrosis
The disease is getting newer every year. Decades ago, with signs of spinal osteochondrosis, patients after the age of 40-50 turned to a vertebrologist for help, now many young people have a diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis in their medical records. What is the reason?
Physical inactivity, prolonged use of little or no computer, combined with endocrine pathology, smoking, poor nutrition, and poor ecology increase the risk of damage to intervertebral discs and bone structures. Cartilage destruction begins much earlier than nature intended.
If earlier the main cause of cervical osteochondrosis was the natural aging process (the cushioning pad between the vertebrae got less nourished with age, became less elastic, thinner), now there are many other negative factors.
Increase the risk of degenerative and dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies:
- heavy loads on the backbone during hard work, in professional athletes, when carrying heavy bags, improper lifting technique;
- overweight;
- previous injuries of the spine and cervix;
- endocrine diseases, hormonal disorders during menopause, pregnancy;
- improper mineral metabolism, chronic pathology associated with salt deposition, such as gout; inheritance
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- lack of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus;
- excessive consumption of strong coffee for a long period, dependence on alcohol, narcotics, smoking;
- improper diet, lack of vitamins: lack of nutrients reduces the speed and quality of cartilage nutrition during diffusion;
- unwillingness to exercise: the worse the flexibility of the spine, the weaker the muscular corset, the higher the risk of touching all the structures of the supporting spine.
Important facts about cervical osteochondrosis:
- the disease continues with periods of remission and worsening. The more carefully the patient fulfills the doctor's recommendations, the lower the rate of degenerative processes, which slows down the transition of mild and moderate stages of pathology to more severe ones;
- at an early stage, a person does not suspect that a degeneration process has begun in the pillowcase. The more negative factors act, the more actively the intervertebral discs are destroyed;
- Doctors warn:Overweight often occurs against the background of endocrine diseases and low physical activity, which increases the risk of cartilage damage. If an obese person smokes a lot, often drinks coffee, does hard work, or sits at a computer / TV for a long time, then with almost 100% certainty we can say: fast enough, chondrosis will turn into osteochondrosis, extension and intervertebral hernia will appear.
Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
- first stage - with a lack of nutrients, the elasticity of the cartilaginous lining decreases, the height of the disc decreases slightly, with stress, weak pains appear in the back and neck;
- the more active the deformation of the intervertebral structures, the more often the concerns are disturbed, the higher the risk of disc destruction. When the fibrous ring ruptures, the friction of the bone structures increases, the nerve roots are compressed, and pain appears. Stuck blood vessels negatively affect the nutrition of important parts of the brain. When sensitive structures and vessels are compressed, brain nutrition deteriorates, headaches bother, vision decreases, dizziness, nausea appear;
- in the third stage of osteochondrosis, the integrity of the annulus fibrosus is violated, the friction of the bone elements increases, frequent pains bother, hernias develop (disc elongation occurs). Without the use of NSAIDs and analgesics, pain syndrome complicates the patient’s life;
- if you do not consult a doctor, then osteochondrosis will pass into fourfold, the most severe stage The cushioning pad is practically destroyed, the mobility of the spine is reduced. The body is trying to compensate for the almost complete absence of elastic discs, osteophytes grow - growths that reduce the pressure force on the vertebrae and nerve roots. Stabilization of the supporting spine occurs, the pain weakens, but at the same time the mobility of the spine in the cervical area decreases, it is difficult for a person to move, bend, turn, bend the head. Often the patient receives a disability group. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to fix the weak vertebral structures using special plates.
Note!In the first to third degree of cervical osteochondrosis, therapy can be performed without hospitalization. In advanced cases, acute pain syndrome is required in patients with stage IV disease, observation at the vertebrological center, or surgery in the neurosurgery department.
Home treatment
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis? Therapy will be successful if the following rules are followed:
- start therapy only after visiting an orthopedic vertebrologist or traumatologist;
- take medication prescribed by your doctor;
- perform an exercise therapy complex;
- massage and self-massage problem areas;
- use doctor-approved folk remedies;
- properly equip your workplace and sleeping area: an orthopedic stand or a shield under a regular mattress, a low pillow.
Important points to increase the effect of therapy:
- do not overload the spine;
- do not make sudden movements in the back of the cervix;
- change profession, if in the workplace you have to constantly deal with lifting and moving heavy loads or prolonged static loads;
- patients with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis should not work for long periods in their summer villa, over-extending the lower back. With cervical osteochondrosis, the profession of a seamstress, working on an assembly line, at a construction site is not suitable. It is necessary to choose the type of activity in which it will be possible to alternate loads and rest;
- walk more in the air, move, do not spend too much time in one position: long-term dynamic and static loads are harmful;
- combine oral medications with local agents. To relieve active pain use transdermal patches, which should be fixed to the painful area: neck, shoulder girdle. Thin bands impregnated with an analgesic or a compound of the NSAID group reduce anxiety and exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect. The transdermal patch is invisible under clothes, the validity period is from 8 to 24 hours (depending on the type);
- With cervical osteochondrosis and disease prevention, you should do simple exercises every day to prevent blood stasis, improve cartilage elasticity and vertebral flexibility. Curves, head tilts, circular rotations of moderate amplitude, doctors advise to do two to three times a day. The movements are smooth, without movement, otherwise you can damage the cervical vertebrae quite thin;
- be sure to take chondroprotectors for four to six months or longer to restore the height and quality of the intervertebral disc. In 1-3 degrees of osteochondrosis, tablets and oils with chondroprotective properties give a good result, in 4 degrees the compounds are ineffective;
- take NSAIDs as directed by your doctor, preferably with selective action. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds that suppress only one type of cyclooxygenase enzyme do not have a pronounced negative effect on the body. Drugs are more expensive than traditional NSAIDs, but the negative effect on the central nervous system, heart and digestive tract is several times lower; The
- diet for cervical osteochondrosis reduces the rate of cushioning of the pillow, in combination with medication, accelerates the regeneration processes. Be sure to eat dishes with gelatin, leafy greens, goldfish, vegetable oils, bran, turkey meat, dairy products, hard cheeses. It is necessary to strictly limit strong coffee, animal fats, sweets, carbonated drinks, smoked meats, purine foods, sour fruits and berries. It is important to give up alcohol and smoking.
Medications
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a complex of drugs is needed. Chondroprotectors are taken in the first or third stage of pathology. With the destruction of the intervertebral disc, the rupture of the annulus fibrosus, it is not worth spending a lot of money on a long course of therapy to buy this type of medication: chondroprotectors are effective only if a sufficient volume of the hyaline pillow is maintained.
Effective groups of medicines:
- analgesics;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds;
- neurotropic B vitamins;
- chondroprotectors;
- transdermal patches;
- heating oils with hot pepper, camphor, snake and bee venom;
- medicines to activate blood circulation.
Other treatments:
- turpentine bathsin the treatment of osteochondrosis. After a course of procedures, nutrition of the hyaline cartilage and intervertebral joints improves, pain syndrome is reduced, and mobility of the problem area is improved. Baths with a white and yellow turpentine emulsion or a mixture of two types of natural products made from processed pine resin are most often used in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis. But with cervical spine injury, the technique also benefits. The procedure has a beneficial effect on the whole body and the supporting pillar, which makes it possible to recommend a useful, affordable technique for home physiotherapy;
- gymnasticsfor cervical osteochondrosis. Exercises should be performed slowly, with a minimum amplitude in the first lessons. Gradually, tilts, head turns, rotations may become more active, but jerks and pain should not be allowed during exercise. Osteochondrosis exercises for the cervical area, the doctor chooses individually, based on the severity of osteochondrosis. Moreover, you can massage the neck and shoulder area: the effect is moderate, without strong pressure.
The best option is to combine home treatment with a visit to the physiotherapy room. Magnetic fields, amplipulus, ozokerite applications, mud therapy, turpentine baths increase the effectiveness of home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis. To prevent degenerative and dystrophic changes, it is necessary to avoid exposure to adverse factors, monitor the loads on the neck and shoulder girdle.