Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease associated with the cervical spine.
The first symptoms of this disease usually appear from 25 to 40 years. The disease in 30% of cases is the cause of headache. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is not treated, the disease can lead to a vertebral hernia. If you were looking for symptoms of osteochondrosis, methods of treatment, then you are in the right place.
Symptoms, causes, types of osteochondrosis
Of all parts of the spine, the cervical, consisting of seven vertebrae, between which there are intervertebral discs, making the spine simultaneously flexible, strong and the most mobile. All the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine consist of a fibrous ring with a nucleus pulposus inside. Due to the disease, the discs lose elasticity and strength. Due to the resulting loads, the fibrous ring protrudes, cracks are formed on it.
There are usually several reasons for the onset of the disease, among which the most common are: unhealthy nutrition; a sedentary lifestyle associated, for example, with computer work or constant driving of a car; salts in the spine; exchange of incorrect material; poor or unbalanced diet. Osteochondrosis can occur due to a hereditary predisposition; in relation to injuries of the vertebra, in particular of its cervical spine; due to hypothermia or hormonal disorders. The causes of the disease can be systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatism.
The main symptoms of the disease include pain localized in the neck, back of the head, arm or shoulder. They increase with a light load on the hand, sneezing, coughing. When turning or tilting the head, there is a pain in the neck, a creaking can be heard. Burning between the shoulder blades, tingling in the legs or arms, numbness are the symptoms of the disease. Often, the ailment is accompanied by a headache, which the patient feels in the back of the head, in the temples, in the crown. Due to a sharp rotation of the head in patients with osteochondrosis, dizziness occurs, there are even fainting. Patients often complain of decreased performance, severe fatigue and weakness. Less often, there is noise in the ears, deterioration of vision, hearing, aching pains in the heart region.
There are several stages of the disease. At the 1st stage, patients have high instability of the spinal segments, the manifestation of which is a violation of the disc. The second stage of the disease is expressed by poor fixation of the vertebrae, which is associated with the protrusion of the intervertebral discs. The space between the vertebrae is reduced. In the third stage, severe crest deformations appear. They are associated with the destruction of the structure of the fibrous ring and the formation of intervertebral hernias. Symptoms and pain syndromes largely depend on the shape, location and size of the hernia. The last stage is associated with acute pain during movement. Occasionally, the painful sensations decrease, in connection with which the patient's condition improves, however, this is an apparent relief. At the 4th stage, bone tissue grows between the vertebrae, connecting the two vertebrae together.
Traditional methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
As you have seen, cervical osteochondrosis is very dangerous to health. Perhaps you will be interested in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies? Indeed, each folk recipe is associated with warming the affected area of the spine. Herbal ingredients can also provide additional relief. A wool scarf or pepper patch works well. This is a very effective method. It is worth noting that the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is not always safe. For example, if you search the net for the cervical spine for treatment, you can find a method by which it is proposed to treat the disease with horseradish leaves, which should first be immersed in boiling water for a few seconds, then applied to the areaaffected, wrapped in a scarf, while you notice that the patient will feel a burning sensation. It is recommended to perform the procedure at least five times! It is worth explaining that if a person experiences an unbearable burning sensation, the heat is no longer "dry". The patient runs the risk of severe burns and the disease will only get worse.
Warming compresses
A medical compress is a very common way to deal with an ailment such as osteochondrosis. You can often find many recipes for warming compresses on the net. Here is one:
dissolve 1 g in 0, 5 l of vodka. propolis, 50 gr. aloe extract, mustard powder; soak the bandage with a ready-made solution, put it on the neck, fix it with some warm element of the wardrobe; leave the compress overnight.
There is a good option:
soak in kerosene, squeeze the canvas fabric; rub it with soap, press it on the sore spot with a damp edge; the fabric must be wrapped in polyethylene for several hours; feeling a strong burning sensation, the process should be stopped, rinse the application site with water.
Comfrey and sour cream
Of course, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies is not limited to the above warming compresses. For the treatment of the disease, you can use sour cream, comfrey. Wash the comfrey under running hot water and chop it with a meat grinder or grater. Mix the root with sour cream in a 1: 1 ratio. The finished mixture should be infused. It usually takes a couple of hours. Store the finished product in the refrigerator. Apply as a strip up to 3 centimeters thick. Overlap time: up to 20 minutes. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
Honey
Proponents of traditional medicine can recommend honey compresses for the treatment of osteochondrosis. This method has a very strong side: it is multifunctional. The honey pack acts simultaneously on the painful areas of the lower back and neck. Below are the optimal recipes.
- Grate the potatoes on a grater, mix the resulting mass with honey. To have the maximum effect on the pain site, honey must be warm. Wrap the rubbed area with a scarf or towel, having previously covered it with plastic. Leave on the neck, lower back for several hours. To prepare the product, you will need one potato, two tablespoons of honey.
- Pour the liquid, boil the eucalyptus for 5 minutes. Ready mixture, adding honey to the composition. Apply on painful areas, keep the body for 2 hours. To prepare this remedy, you will need eucalyptus (1 tablespoon), honey (1 tablespoon), half a glass of water.
Mountain wax (ozokerite)
Heat the wax in the bottom of a cup or glass. You should first put a piece of oilcloth into the container. The melted wax together with the oilcloth is applied to the neck. The procedure can be repeated 20 times. This type of treatment belongs to preventive methods, therefore it is recommended to carry out the procedure described above for several months. If work is associated with weight lifting, you have shoulder pain, you know, maybe this is a symptom of osteochondrosis, which means this pack is ideal!
Herbal ointments
Gels, ointments are effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. The products are intended for outdoor use. What to choose, an ointment or a gel, depends only on personal preferences, since useful medicinal substances can be contained in both forms. It is worth noting, however, that the ointment is slightly more effective, as it stays on the surface of the epidermis longer and acts gradually.
Ginger ointment
To prepare this product, you will need ginger juice and a pharmacy calendula tincture. For sensitive skin, a mixture diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio is suitable. Rub sore spots with the resulting product. Calendula extract will reduce inflammation, while ginger will improve local blood circulation. After the procedure, be sure to do some warm-up for maximum effect.
Butter and eggs
To prepare the medicine, you will need 1 tbsp. flour and half a pack of butter. Mix the butter and flour with the egg. Then add 1 tbsp. vinegar. The tool is insisted for several days in a dark place. Above a film is formed which must be removed and discarded. The finished composition must be rubbed into the sore spot. The remedy is usually used for acute pain in the event of an exacerbation of the disease.
Decoctions and infusions
A decoction of yarrow flowers. The remedy is known for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and sedative properties. It is particularly effective for lower back pain. To prepare the broth, pour 2 tablespoons of yarrow with boiling water. Let it brew for 30-40 minutes. Drink 1 tbsp. 3 times a day.
Common agrimony broth. Take 3 tbsp. spoons of burdock, chop them, pour boiling water (250 ml). The finished product should be infused for at least two hours, filtered with gauze, you can add a spoonful of honey. Drink 1/4 cup 4 times before meals.
Herbs
For thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis, a complex is very effective: mix St. John's wort, sage, burdock root, coltsfoot (1: 1: 2: 1). Pour boiling water on 1 tbsp. L. blends. Put the compress with the mixture on the neck, wrapping it in a scarf.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with leeches
Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches) has been known to man since time immemorial. This is the oldest branch of medicine. Many are disgusted by the mention of these creatures. This type of therapy is effective in treating many diseases. Treatment with leeches and osteochondrosis is very popular. The use of leeches helps improve the blood supply to the cells in osteochondrosis sufferers. The regeneration of the intervertebral discs is much faster thanks to the improvement of blood circulation. The substances contained in the saliva of these worms relieve swelling and congestion, which allows you to replace the use of drug preparations with hirudotherapy.
Exercise to combat osteochondrosis
If you have searched for the net for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis for gymnastics or, perhaps, you are interested in the methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home with exercises, read carefully. There are a number of effective physical exercises that will become reliable companions in the fight against the ailment.
"Turtle". Gently tilt your head back. Try to touch the back of the head with your back, pull your head in the shoulders, being in this position. Gently lower your head forward, pull it inward. Try tucking your chin against your chest.
The head tilts to the sides with straight shoulders. The lesson is performed like this: keep the ridge straight. Lock your shoulders, take care of the fluidity of movement. Tilt your head alternately left and right, try touching your shoulder with your ear.
"Dog". Imagine that the nose is connected to the back of the head by a straight line. Rotate your head around this line. Point your chin to the side.
"Owl". The head should be level with the back. Look around slowly. Try to turn your head as far as possible, as if watching what is happening from behind.
Prevention of the development of cervical osteochondrosis
One of the main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis is a sedentary lifestyle, so you should walk in the fresh air as often as possible, play sports. This will help keep the spine flexible. Beware of injuries.
Properly equip the workplace from a physiological point of view. Visit the pool, do medical gymnastics. Proper nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of osteochondrosis. Consume foods that contain proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Losing excess weight. Regular preventive examinations by a vertebrologist will not be superfluous, which is especially important for those who have a hereditary predisposition to osteochondrosis or those who are already over 40 years old. Consultations with a specialist and manual therapy courses are recommended.