A common disease is cervical osteochondrosis, which is manifested in people of any age, especially in working people between 30 and 50 years old. Some people suffer from this disease, and sometimes do not know the cause of the disease, because the degenerative changes of the cervical spine are not obvious. Timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will restore good health and provide health in the future.
Symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis at the onset of the disease may not appear at all. This disease makes one feel neglected and often has head and neck pain when moving. When cervical osteochondrosis invades the cerebral circulation, a person will have the following symptoms:
- Often headache;
- Violates the sensitivity of facial muscles;
- Increased fatigue;
- Head noise;
- ringing in your ears;
- Hypertension;
- Loss of coordination;
- Often dizzy;
- Shaking gait.
If cervical osteochondrosis is in a chronic form, the pain will be permanent and any head movement will become difficult due to the tension of the neck muscles. The patient started suffering from neck migraine, sometimes headache accompanied by vomiting, nausea and even loss of consciousness. If cervical osteochondrosis is not treated on time, the person may have pharyngeal symptoms: difficulty swallowing, dry throat, itching and itching. Over time, this disease can cause a herniated disc.
Methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes a series of tools and methods designed to eliminate pain and combat inflammatory processes in tissues. An effective method is to exercise daily to improve the flexibility of the spine. Usually, after using MRI or computed tomography to diagnose and assess the stage of the disease, the doctor will choose a separate exercise program. Let us see how to treat cervical osteochondrosis.
Medicines: pills, drugs and injections
The first signs of cervical osteochondrosis have prescribed medications. If conventional anesthetics can be used to eliminate the initial pain, it will no longer be helpful in the future. A new generation of cartilage protective agents-drugs that stimulate the recovery of spinal cartilage tissue can treat cervical osteochondrosis. The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can provide the best therapeutic effect. The course of treatment with these drugs may take several months, after which the mobility of the cervical spine will improve.
However, if you need to relieve the acute pain of cervical osteochondrosis, your doctor can create a new nocaine blocker or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These are ointments, capsules, tablets and injections that can quickly improve the overall condition of the patient. However, if there are no contraindications even if the chondroprotective agent is used for a long time, then the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are very serious, so the method of use must be agreed with the attending doctor.
Local remedies: gels and ointments
The special gel or ointment starts to work after 10 minutes of use and will help to quickly anesthetize the cervical spine in the case of osteochondrosis. There are several types:
- Regeneration can restore the damaged cartilage tissue between the vertebrae.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs, based on non-steroidal substances, can eliminate pain.
- Painkillers can affect nerve endings and quickly relieve pain.
- Massage cream.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is the oldest method to treat osteochondrosis, but its efficacy is not lower than modern methods. Experts have developed many techniques that have beneficial effects on the vertebrae, tissues and joints of the affected area. Only the chiropractor should be a good expert in this field, lest the patient is in a wheelchair. The main method of manual treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is:
- Segmented massage to relieve muscle tension;
- Resumption of operation and joint performance, accompanied by their tightening;
- Mobilize and restore damaged joints by stretching them.
Acupuncture
With the help of acupuncture, not only can the pain symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis be eliminated, but also can be completely cured. Acupuncture technology was introduced into Russian medicine from the East. Under the guidance of the philosophy and knowledge of the human body, the wise Chinese learned to use metal needles to regulate the energy in the body. Today, acupuncture surgery has been recognized by doctors as an extremely effective method to combat osteochondrosis.
But before proceeding with acupuncture, you need to consult a doctor because this procedure is not suitable for everyone. You cannot use this technique:
- There is an infectious disease;
- pregnancy;
- Any tumor;
- Skin or blood disease;
- Old age or baby.
Homeopathy
Cervical osteochondrosis has been successfully treated with homeopathy. Homeopathic preparations contain useful trace elements and biologically active substances. They correspond exactly to the concentration of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Homeopathic preparations contain plant extracts, herbal extracts taken from environmentally friendly samples, and most importantly, they are completely natural. Their role in osteochondrosis:
- Activate the immune system.
- Restore cartilage tissue.
- Improve blood circulation in the neck.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home
Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is now available at home. If you stick to the right eating habits and live an active lifestyle, you may improve your health and relieve pain symptoms alone. The daily diet of cervical osteochondrosis should contain foods that help cartilage tissue regeneration, including:
- Beans, grains, vegetables, fruits;
- Contains protein: nuts, eggs, lean poultry, fish;
- Unsaturated fatty acids: flaxseed, oily sea fish;
- Foods rich in calcium: milk, cheese, leafy vegetables.
Massage and self-massage
Successful home therapy can be done through massage or self-massage. This process can relieve tension by relaxing the tight muscles in the neck. After the massage, the blood circulation in the intervertebral disc is improved, so that the patient is relieved quickly. The self-massage process is carried out while sitting, by rubbing, stroking and kneading movements on the back of the head. But to get a greater effect, it is best to hire a qualified massage therapist.
Health Gymnastics
Traditional Medicine Recipes
Usually, when asked how to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home, it refers to folk remedies. Herbal treatment is economical, effective, and most importantly safe. There is no need to buy expensive painkillers, which may also have negative effects. Traditional medical natural treatments that help treat cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Horseradish leaves. You need to stick the sheet to the back of your neck and fix it overnight. In the morning, the pain will disappear.
- Potatoes. It should be wiped with the same proportion of honey to give the mixture a consistency similar to that of an ointment. Use this product as a compress at least once a week.
- Compresses made of vodka (1 liter), freshly squeezed aloe vera juice (1 tablespoon), mustard powder (1 tablespoon) and propolis (50g) are effective. The mixture is impregnated with fabric and applied to the neck, fixed with wool cloth, and the procedure is performed 1-2 times a week at night.
Disease prevention methods
Preventing osteochondrosis is easier than long-term treatment. Prevention includes adherence to postures, fitness exercises, exercise equipment, race walking, yoga, and swimming. It is necessary to sit at the table and computer correctly, and not to lean back or lean for a long time when lifting weights. When writing or reading, it is recommended not to bend too low on the table surface. It is recommended to use orthopedic pillows during sleep.