Effective methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis at home

Many negative factors cause negative changes in the intervertebral discs - the development of chondrosis. 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 the discs, eliminate inflammation and pain syndrome and start the regeneration processes of the elastic cushion between the vertebrae. A good effect is achieved by a combination of chondroprotectants, 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. Several decades ago, with signs of osteochondrosis of the spine, patients after 40-50 years of age sought help from a vertebrologist, now many young people are diagnosed with 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 disorders, smoking, malnutrition and poor ecology increase the risk of damage to intervertebral discs and bone structures. The destruction of the cartilage begins much earlier than nature intended.

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

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

• high loads on the support post during hard work, in professional athletes, when carrying heavy bags, inappropriate lifting technique;
• overweight;
• previous back and neck injuries;
• endocrine disorders, hormonal disorders during menopause, pregnancy;
• improper mineral metabolism, chronic pathologies associated with the deposition of salts, such as gout;
• heredity;
• deficiency of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus;
• excessive consumption of strong coffee for a long period, alcohol dependence, narcotics, smoking;
• inadequate diet, lack of vitamins: lack of nutrients reduces the rate and quality of cartilage nutrition during diffusion;
• reluctance to practice physical education: the worse the flexibility of the spine, the weaker the muscle corset, the greater the risk of affecting all supporting column structures.

Important facts about cervical osteochondrosis:

• the disease continues with periods of remission and exacerbation. The more carefully the patient follows the doctor's recommendations, the lower the rate of degenerative processes, which slows down the transition from the mild and moderate stages of the pathology to the more severe ones;
• at an early stage, the person does not suspect that a degeneration process has started on the pillow. The more negative factors act, the more actively the intervertebral discs are destroyed;
• Doctors warn:Overweight often appears in the context of endocrine disorders and low physical activity, which increases the risk of damage to cartilage. If an obese person smokes a lot, often drinks coffee, works hard or sits at a computer / TV for a long time, then with almost 100% certainty we can say: very quickly, chondrosis turns into osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias appear.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

• the first phase - with a deficiency of nutrients, the elasticity of the cartilaginous lining decreases, the height of the disc decreases slightly, weak pains in the back and neck appear during exercise;
• the more active the deformation of the intervertebral structures, the more often the discomfort is concerned, the greater the risk of disc destruction. When the fibrous ring breaks, the friction of the bone structures increases, the nerve roots are pinched and pain arises. Compressed blood vessels negatively affect the nutrition of important parts of the brain. When sensitive structures and vessels are compressed, the brain's nutrition deteriorates, headaches disturb, vision decreases, dizziness, nausea appear;

• in the third stage of osteochondrosis, the integrity of the fibrous ring is violated, the friction of bone elements increases, frequent pain disturbs, hernias develop (disc protrusion occurs). Without the use of NSAIDs and analgesics, pain syndrome complicates the patient's life;
• If you don't see a doctor, osteochondrosis will go to the quadruple stage, the most severe. The cushion pad is practically destroyed, the mobility of the column is reduced. The body is trying to compensate for the almost complete absence of elastic discs, osteophytes are growing - growths that reduce the pressure on the vertebrae and nerve roots. There is stabilization of the support column, the pain weakens, but at the same time the mobility of the spine in the cervical area decreases, it is difficult for the person to move, bend, turn, bend the head. The patient often receives a disability group. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct weakened vertebral structures using special plates.

Note!In the first third degree of cervical osteochondrosis, therapy can be performed without hospitalization. In advanced cases, acute pain syndrome in patients with the fourth stage of the disease, observation in a vertebrological center or an operation in the neurosurgery department is necessary.

Home treatment

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis? Therapy will be successful if the following rules are followed:

• start therapy only after visiting a vertebrologist or orthopedic traumatologist;
• take medicines prescribed by your doctor;
• perform an exercise therapy complex;
• does massage and self-massage in problem areas;
• use folk remedies approved by doctors;
• adequately equip the workplace and sleeping: an orthopedic base or a shield under a normal mattress, a low pillow.

Important points to increase the effect of therapy:

• does not overload the column;
• do not make sudden movements in the cervical spine;
• change jobs if in the workplace you constantly have to deal with lifting and moving heavy objects or prolonged static loads;
• Patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis should not work for a long time in their summer huts, extending the lower back too much. With cervical osteochondrosis, a seamstress profession, working on an assembly line, at a construction site is not appropriate. It is necessary to choose the type of activity in which it will be possible to alternate loads and rest;
• walking more in the air, moving, not staying in the same position for a long time: prolonged static and dynamic loads are harmful;
• combining oral medications with topical agents. For active pain relief, use transdermal patches, which should be attached to the painful area: neck, shoulder girdle. Thin strips impregnated with an analgesic or a NSAID composition reduce discomfort and exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect. The transdermal patch is invisible under clothing, the shelf life is 8 to 24 hours (depending on the type);
• with cervical osteochondrosis and for disease prevention, you need to do simple exercises every day to prevent blood stasis, improve cartilage elasticity and the flexibility of vertebrae. Twists, tilts of the head, circular rotations of moderate amplitude, doctors advise to do two to three times a day. The movements are smooth, without spasms, otherwise, you can damage the very thin cervical vertebrae;
• it is imperative to take chondroprotectors for four to six months or more 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 the 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. Medicines are more expensive than traditional NSAIDs, but the negative effect on the central nervous system, heart and digestive tract is several times less;
The
• diet for cervical osteochondrosis reduces the rate of destruction of the shock absorption pad, in combination with medications, accelerates the regeneration processes. Be sure to eat dishes with gelatin, green leaves, red fish, vegetable oils, bran, turkey meat, fermented dairy products, hard cheeses. It is necessary to drastically limit strong coffee, animal fats, sweets, soft drinks, smoked meats, foods with purines, sour fruits and berries. It is important to give up alcohol and smoking.

Medicines

In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a complex of drugs is needed. Chondroprotectors are administered in the first or third stage of the pathology. With the destruction of the intervertebral disc, rupture of the fibrous ring, it is not worth spending a lot of money on a long course of therapy to acquire this type of medication: chondroprotectors are effective only if sufficient volume of the hyaline pad is preserved.

Effective drug groups:

• pain relievers;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds;
neurotropic B vitamins;
• chondroprotectors;
• transdermal patches;
• heating ointments with pepper, camphor, snake venom and bee;
• drugs to activate blood circulation.

Other treatments:

• turpentine bathsin the treatment of osteochondrosis. After a course of procedures, the nutrition of the hyaline cartilage and intervertebral joints improves, the pain syndrome decreases and the mobility of the problem area improves. Baths with white and yellow turpentine emulsion or a mixture of two types of natural products based on processed pine resin are most used in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis. But with damage to the cervical spine, the technique also benefits. The procedure has a beneficial effect on the whole body and on the support pole, which allows to recommend a useful and accessible technique for home physiotherapy;
• gymnasticsfor cervical osteochondrosis. The exercises should be performed slowly, with minimal amplitude in the first classes. Gradually, inclinations, head turns and rotations can be done more actively, but spasms and pains should not be allowed during exercise. The doctor selects osteochondrosis exercises for the cervical area individually, based on the severity of the osteochondrosis. In addition, you can massage the neck and shoulders: the effect is moderate, without strong pressure.

The best option is to combine home treatment with going to the physiotherapy room. Magnetic fields, amplipulse, 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 negative factors, monitor the loads on the neck and shoulder girdle.