Pain appears when you don't expect it.Even the most confident person in such cases can become confused and scared.The cause of pain is often osteochondrosis.How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home and how effective will the treatment be?Let's find out more.
What is osteochondrosis
Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc, involving 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 occur in the intervertebral discs.This structural element is formed by cartilage tissue; there are no blood vessels here.Nutrition occurs diffusely, like a pump.When the pressure is applied, a lubricating fluid is released and then reabsorbed.If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appears, exercise therapy, massage and the entire range of therapeutic techniques should be prescribed as quickly 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 its shape;
- loses elasticity;
- changes color;
- dries out;
- turns yellow;
- loses resistance to damage.
The consequence of this is a violation of the synchrony of movement in adjacent segments of the spinal column, pinching of the nerve roots.The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limited mobility, and some forms of paresthesia (“pins and needles”, tingling).
All of these changes suggest the presence of osteochondrosis.We will talk further about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other spine is treated.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
The causes of the disease include everything that disrupts the nutrition of the disk:
- Stagnation caused by static loads.
- Prolonged retention of unfavorable positions, especially sitting.There is a good proverb: “If you can stand, don’t sit; if you can lie down, don’t stand.”
- Traumatic effects on endplates, fibers of the fibrous ring.
Common reasons include unbalanced nutrition, physical inactivity, and insufficient development of deep muscles that form the muscular corset.The stability of the spine is due to the complex interaction of bone, muscle and nerve structures of the skeleton.The abdominal and back muscles are antagonists, balancing each other.Therefore, the postulate “movement is life” remains relevant as never before.Exercises can effectively influence osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Exercise therapy is used both in a clinic and at home.Since the spine consists of several sections, the disease can occur in any of them.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest?
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of various localizations are combined into syndromes:
- cervicalgia syndrome (impaired mobility of the shoulder joint, pain of various types);
- cervicocranialgia (pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the neck, tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea may occur);
- cervicobrachialgia or scapulohumeral syndrome (pain in the neck, spreading to the shoulder and arm).
If you are bothered by aching pain, often at night, with numbness, the diagnosis will most likely be confirmed - osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine.Pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.
Therapeutic exercise at home
How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with medications is described in many reference books.But in most cases, the effect of the drug is short-term.This is where exercise therapy can come to the rescue.
- We stand against the wall and rest our heads against it.We try to press on the wall with maximum force for several seconds.Then we relax.
- We sit down at the table and put our elbows on it.We rest our chin on our hands, trying to put pressure on our palms, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
- Rest your head on your hands on the back of your head.Alternately press on them with the back of your head, then relax.Perform several repetitions, holding for up to 10 seconds.
- Grasp your head with your palms, alternately pressing on one hand or the other.
During exacerbations, exercises are performed for no more than 3-4 seconds, and with moderate tension.Exercises will help slow down osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Exercises at home can be started after you are convinced that they are performed correctly in a medical facility.
Massage without the help of a professional
If the diagnosis of “osteochondrosis of the cervical spine” is confirmed, massage will be one of the necessary treatment methods.In this case, this is not only a useful, but also an irreplaceable procedure.Initially, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple techniques at home on your own.These techniques also include the technique of poststatic muscle relaxation.The peculiarity of the method is the passive stretching of the muscle from a position of overexertion in combination with elements of massage.It is necessary to apply the technique after the spasming muscles have been warmed (bath, hot compress, kneading, stroking).
When using self-massage, the same techniques are used as in professional massage.These are stroking, kneading, acupressure, patting, shaking.The massage is performed with warm, warm hands.To improve glide, use massage oil.The sequence of techniques is as follows:
- stroking;
- trituration;
- kneading;
- vibrations (patting, shaking).
Influencing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the massage begins and ends with stroking.
A little manual therapy
- We sit on a chair with a high back.We clasp our heads with our hands, placing our thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the mounds under the eye sockets).We raise our eyes up, take a breath and press the back of our head onto our fingers.We hold for up to a quarter of a minute, then, as we exhale, we lean back on the back of the 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, and tilt our head forward a little.We press our fingers into the base of the skull, making a slow rotational movement with them.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.
- Lie on your back, pulling your shoulders down as much as possible.Place the hand on the painful side under the buttock, palm up.Place your other hand under your head, clasping the back of your head and tilting your head in the direction opposite to the problem.While inhaling, press your head against your fingers for 15 seconds.As you exhale, relax and pull your head a little harder, stretching the sore muscle.
A set of measures for the treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely overcome osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive.This includes the use of:
- painkillers;
- muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasms;
- drugs with chondroprotective effects;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- balanced diet.
Having studied the medical literature, one can draw certain conclusions about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated, but doing without professionally prescribed treatment is a crime against one’s health.