Cervical osteochondrosis is common, accompanied by pain in the head, neck, shoulder girdle and impaired cerebral circulation. The peculiarity of the localization of the pathological process and contradictory manifestations force patients to turn to specialists for help. Lack of timely treatment threatens disability.
Cervical osteochondrosis often affects young people (up to 40 years old), contributes to the development of incorrect posture (long sitting at the computer, the habit of holding the phone with your shoulder), vibration, poor posture, physical inactivity, uncomfortable bedding, heredity.
Possible reasons
The disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes affecting the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine. This is caused by metabolic disorders in the neck area, as a result of which the structure of the intervertebral discs and your body changes.
The main causes of the disease:
- high salt content in the lymph and blood (in active people there is a constant exchange between bone and muscle tissues, with a static lifestyle blood flow slows down, less salt gets into muscle tissues, they accumulate in places that do not work physically - joints, spine, kidneys, liver);
- irreversible phenomena occurring in the cartilage tissue (salt deposition causes changes in the shock-absorbing properties in the vertebrae, the flexibility and elasticity of the cartilage tissue is lost);
- a long stay in a position that leads to an overload of the muscles of the neck and back (work at the table with a twisted neck and tilted head), there is a squeezing of the vessels supplying the spine, which leads to degeneration of the intervertebral cartilage;
- with obesity, due to high loads, the spine and intervertebral discs deform, the muscular corset of the back weakens;
- As a result of defective metabolism, the balance of minerals in bone tissue is disturbed.
Characteristic Symptoms
The main manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis:
- pain in the back of the head, neck, shoulder, arm, difficulty moving your head, grinding when turning or tilting your head;
- drawing pain in the chest area on the left with irradiation of the left hand, a burning sensation in the area between the shoulder blades;
- recurrent headaches, fatigue, weakness, difficulty turning your head;
- Pain in neck spreading to shoulder and arm, numbness in fingers;
- There may be deterioration in hearing and vision, numbness of the tongue and face, dizziness, impaired pulmonary and cardiac activity.
Conventionally, the symptoms are divided into groups:
- I - neurological manifestations (persistent pain in the neck, pain in the muscles, chest, joints);
- II - pathological effect on the spinal cord (weakness in arms and legs, involuntary twitching, myelopathy);
- III - associated with processes in the brain (cerebral manifestations due to insufficient blood supply: blurred vision, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, noise and ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, unsteadiness when walking, fainting, fatigue, irritability, disturbed sleep, memory loss).
General recommendations
In the absence of indications for hospitalization, outpatient treatment is prescribed (most of the time the patient is at home and visits a neurologist on the indicated days). Of the drugs used:
- NSAID course 7 - 14 days (daily 2 - 3 times);
- Sedatives protect the nervous system from the effects of pain, course 1 - 3 weeks;
- diuretics to reduce swelling in the inflamed area;
- B vitamins to improve metabolic processes in nervous tissue, normalize musculoskeletal conduction;
- muscle relaxants for relieving muscle spasms;
- Means that improve the structure and functions of cartilage tissue (ATP, chondroprotectors);
- topical - creams, gels, ointments as a warming, analgesic or distraction.
With increased pain, bed rest is recommended, a physiological position (to relieve the load on the spine) for 1-2 days, after which the patient should move.
In the acute stage, it is necessary to perform breathing exercises and exercises to relieve muscle spasms (slight tilting and turning of the head, circular movements), gradually increasing the load. You should not make any sudden movements.
With muscle spasms, a massage is prescribed (you can do a self-massage of the neck). For prevention, a massage treatment should be carried out twice a year. A neck brace or Glisson loop is used (after prior consultation with a doctor) to relieve the spine.
Diet should be adjusted by excluding foods that increase muscle tone (smoked and spicy, alcohol, coffee, tea). For cartilaginous tissues are useful:
- foods rich in calcium (fermented milk, cottage cheese, mineral water, dark green leafy vegetables);
- unsaturated fatty acids (oily fish, flaxseed, nuts);
- Proteins (lean poultry, dairy, eggs, nuts);
- Foods high in fiber and antioxidants (legumes, grains, fruit).
In the absence of an exacerbation, it is recommended to drink enough water (30 ml per 1 kg of body weight), strengthen the spine and back muscles with physical exercises. If you work sitting for a long time, you need to take a break every hour and relax the back muscles with the help of exercises.
How to treat folk remedies?
With cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to take herbal infusions or decoctions and rub the ointment in problem areas.
| components | Crowd | type of application |
|---|---|---|
| pine needles | 250 g | Brew needles with a liter of boiling water, insist. Drink twice a day. |
| garlic, ginger | 1: 1 | Add garlic and some butter to grated ginger. Rub into the sore spots on the neck. |
| lemon, garlic | 4 things. and 5 pcs. | Pass lemons and garlic through a meat grinder, pour 2 liters of boiling water. Drink ½ cup twice a day. |
| Fresh potatoes, honey | 1: 1 | Mix gruel from grated potatoes with honey, apply to the neck. |
| horseradish leaf | 1pc. | Dip the horseradish leaf in boiling water for a few seconds and remove. Cool the liquid, use it for compresses. |
| horseradish root | 2 Tea spoons | Put grated horseradish root on a bandage, fasten it on the neck, cover with plastic wrap and wrap. Hold for 1 - 1. 5 minutes, then rinse with water. |
| Treasure | 1 dessert spoon | Preheat the neck, self-massage with honey for 5 minutes. After that, wrap your neck. |
What is not recommended?
With cervical osteochondrosis, you can not:
- lifting weights (if necessary, perform actions with a straight back, without tilting your head forward);
- You can not crunch the vertebrae (these movements violate the integrity of the contact surfaces of the spine);
- Sleeping on a high pillow, soft bed (causes tension in the back muscles);
- lead a sedentary lifestyle (jogging, swimming, walking are useful);
- independently diagnose and prescribe treatment.
preventive measures
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended:
- Get rid of hypodynamia (move more, do Nordic walking, dance, swim);
- Monitor body weight, avoid excess weight (it leads to impaired blood circulation, nutrition of the collar zone);
- Monitor posture (when injured, the load on the spine is unevenly distributed);
- prevent microtrauma in the neck area (lift and carry weights correctly);
- Treatment of chronic foci of infection (ENT organs, etc. ), reducing the body's resistance, lymph and blood circulation in the ligaments and tissues of the neck.
A good result in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be achieved with complex treatment. Treatment at home will be effective only if all the prescriptions and their daily use are carefully observed.