Effective methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home

Many negative factors cause negative changes in the intervertebral discs - a 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.

Treatment at home is a complex of various measures. It is important to stop the destruction of the intervertebral discs, eliminate inflammation and pain syndromes, and start the regeneration processes of the elastic cushion between the vertebrae. A good effect is achieved 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 younger every year. A few decades ago, after 40-50 years of age, patients with signs of osteochondrosis of the spine turned to a vertebrate for help. Today, many young people have a diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis in their medical records. What is the reason?

Physical inactivity, prolonged use of the computer with little or no movement, combined with endocrine pathologies, smoking, poor nutrition and poor ecology increase the risk of damage to the intervertebral discs and bone structures. The destruction of the cartilage begins much earlier than nature intended.

If earlier the main cause of cervical osteochondrosis was the natural aging process (the pad between the vertebrae received less nourishment, became less elastic, became thinner with age), there are now many other negative factors.

Increase the risk of degenerative and dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies:

• high loads on the support post during hard work, professional athletes, when carrying heavy bags, improper lifting technology;
• overweight;
• back and cervical injuries;
• endocrine diseases, hormonal disorders in menopause, pregnancy;
• improper mineral metabolism, chronic pathologies related to salt deposition, e. g. B. Gout;
• inheritance;
• lack of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus;
• excessive consumption of strong coffee over a long period of time, dependence on alcohol, narcotics, smoking;
• improper diet, lack of vitamins: lack of nutrients reduces the speed and quality of cartilage nutrition during diffusion;
• Reluctance to move: the worse the mobility of the spine, the weaker the muscle corset, the higher the risk of impairing all structures of the support column.

Important facts about cervical osteochondrosis:

• The disease progresses with periods of remission and exacerbation. The more carefully the patient follows the doctor's recommendations, the lower the rate of degenerative processes that slow down the transition from the mild and moderate stages of the pathology to the more severe.
• At an early stage, a person has no idea that a degeneration process has started in the pillow cushion. The more negative factors act, the more actively the intervertebral discs are destroyed;
• Doctors warn:Obesity 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 in front of a computer / TV for a long time, we can say with almost 100% certainty that chondrosis will quickly turn into osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias will appear.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

• the first stage - with a lack of nutrients, the elasticity of the cartilage mucosa decreases, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases slightly, during exercise there is a slight pain in the back and neck;
• The more active the deformation of the intervertebral structures, the more frequent the complaints, the higher the risk of destruction of the intervertebral disc. When the fibrous ring tears, the friction of the bone structures increases, the nerve roots become pinched, and pain occurs. Pinched blood vessels negatively affect the nutrition of important parts of the brain. When sensitive structures and blood vessels are compressed, the nutrition of the brain deteriorates, headaches interfere, eyesight 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 pain interferes, hernias develop (disc protrusion occurs). Without the use of NSAIDs and analgesics, pain syndrome makes the patient's life difficult.
• If you do not consult a doctor, osteochondrosis occurs in four times, the most severe stage. The cushion is practically destroyed and the mobility of the spine is restricted. The body tries to make up for the almost complete lack of elastic intervertebral discs, osteophytes grow - growths that reduce the pressure on the vertebrae and nerve roots. Stabilization of the support column occurs, the pain weakens, but at the same time the mobility of the spine in the cervical zone decreases, it is difficult for a person to move, bend, twist, bend his head. The patient is often given a disability group. In severe cases, surgery may be required to fix the weakened vertebral structures with special plates.

Note!In the first to third degree of cervical osteochondrosis, the therapy can be carried out without hospitalization. In advanced cases, acute pain syndrome in patients in the fourth stage of the disease, observation in the vertebrological center or surgery in the neurosurgical department is required.

Treatment at home

How do you treat cervical osteochondrosis? Therapy is successful if the following rules are followed:

• start therapy only after a visit to a vertebrate or an orthopedic traumatologist;
• Take the medication prescribed by your doctor.
• performs a complex of exercise therapy;
• perform massage and self-massage of problem areas;
• use medically approved folk remedies;
• properly equips the work and sleeping place: an orthopedic base or a shield under a normal mattress, a low pillow.

Important points for improving the therapeutic effect:

• Do not overload your spine.
• do not make sudden movements in the cervical spine;
• change jobs if you constantly have to deal with lifting and moving heavy or prolonged static loads at work;
• Patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis should not work in their summer house for a long time and should overstretch their lower back. If you have cervical osteochondrosis, the job of a seamstress who works on the assembly line at a construction site is not suitable. It is necessary to choose the type of activity during which it will be possible to switch loads and rest.
• walking more in the air, moving around, not spending a lot of time in one position: prolonged dynamic and static loads are harmful;
• combine oral medications with topical agents. For active pain relief, use transdermal patches that must be attached to the painful area: neck, shoulder girdle. Thin strips impregnated with an analgesic or a composition of the NSAID group reduce discomfort and show an anti-inflammatory effect. The transdermal patch is invisible under clothing and is valid for 8 to 24 hours (depending on the type);
• With cervical osteochondrosis and to prevent the disease, you need to do simple daily exercises to prevent blood stasis, improve the elasticity of the cartilage and the flexibility of the vertebrae. Twists, head tilts, circular rotations with moderate amplitude, doctors advise two or three times a day. The movements are gentle, without jerking, otherwise you can damage the rather thin cervical vertebrae;
• Take chondroprotectors for at least four to six months to restore the height and quality of the intervertebral disc. At 1-3 degrees of osteochondrosis, tablets and ointments with chondroprotective properties give a good result, at 4 degrees the compositions are ineffective;
• Take NSAIDs as directed by a doctor, preferably with selective effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds, which suppress only one type of cyclooxygenase enzyme, do not have a pronounced negative effect on the body. The drugs are more expensive than conventional NSAIDs, but the negative effects on the central nervous system, heart and digestive tract are many times less.
• Diet against cervical osteochondrosis reduces the rate of destruction of the shock-absorbing pad in combination with medication and accelerates the regeneration processes. Be sure to eat dishes made with gelatin, leafy vegetables, red fish, vegetable oils, bran, turkey meat, dairy products, and hard cheese. It is necessary to severely limit strong coffee, animal fats, sweets, carbonated drinks, smoked meats, foods with purines, sour fruits and berries. It is important to refrain from alcohol and smoking.

Medicines

The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an active ingredient complex. Chondroprotectors are taken at the first or third stage of the pathology. With the destruction of the intervertebral disc and the rupture of the annulus fibrosus, it is not worth spending a lot of money on long therapy to buy this type of drug: chondroprotectors are effective only if a sufficient volume of the hyaline pad is maintained.

Effective drug groups:

• analgesics;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds;
• neurotropic B vitamins;
• chondroprotectors;
• transdermal patches;
• warming ointments with paprika, camphor, snake and bee venom;
• Medicines to activate blood circulation.

Other treatments:

• Turpentine bathsin the treatment of osteochondrosis. After a series of procedures, the nutrition of the hyaline cartilage and intervertebral joints improves, the pain syndrome decreases, and the mobility of the problem area improves. In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest and lumbar spine, baths with a white and yellow turpentine emulsion or a mixture of two types of natural substances made from processed pine resin are often used. However, if the cervical spine is damaged, the technology also benefits. The procedure has a positive effect on the entire body and the support post, which may suggest a useful, affordable technique for home physiotherapy.
• Gymnasticsfor cervical osteochondrosis. The exercises should be done slowly and with a minimal amplitude in the first few lessons. Gradually, inclinations, head twists and rotations can be performed more actively, but jerks and pain should not be allowed during exercise. Exercises for osteochondrosis for the neck zone are selected by the doctor individually, based on the severity of the osteochondrosis. You can also massage the neck and shoulder area: the effect is moderate, without excessive pressure.

The best option is to combine home treatment with a visit to the physical therapy room. Magnetic field, amplipulse, ozokerite applications, mud therapy, and turpentine baths all improve the effectiveness of home treatment for cervical osteochondrosis. To prevent degenerative and dystrophic changes, it is necessary to avoid negative factors and monitor the load on the cervical and shoulder girdle.