Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the most common and frequent diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Everything happens because modern living conditions create the most favorable conditions for the development of this disease. Poor posture from early childhood is considered the main harbinger of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Most modern professions are associated with prolonged sitting in front of the monitor. People for hours, days and years lead a sedentary lifestyle and, as a result, get osteochondrosis. How to recognize this disease, what are the symptoms?
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- Pain in the cervical spine. Painful sensations are quite long and aching. The pain usually gets worse when you are lying down.
- If the disease is left untreated, the pain becomes so severe and intrusive that the person becomes incapacitated. Painful sensations practically do not subside, only weaken or, conversely, become stronger.
- The pain can be accompanied by weakness, dizziness, nausea, and even vomiting. In advanced cases, osteochondrosis can cause loss of consciousness.
- One of the symptoms of the disease is tinnitus and a feeling of vibration. Osteochondrosis also affects blood pressure.
- Tremors in the body and dark circles before the eyes are not uncommon with osteochondrosis.
- Sometimes the pain can go to the forearms or hands. Painful sensations turn into tingling and even numbness of the limbs.
How to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degeneration of the articular cartilage. When the intervertebral discs become thinner, they affect the nerve endings, which, in turn, cause the vessels to spasm. The vessels narrow and do not allow the sufficient volume of blood that the brain needs to pass through. Oxygen starvation occurs, which leads to serious consequences. Therefore, you should not delay treatment, even if you have minor symptoms. The sooner the treatment begins, the more effective the result will be. To get rid of osteochondrosis, an integrated approach is needed. It includes medication, physical education, massage, manual therapy procedures, physiotherapy and compliance with some dietary rules.
To get rid of this disease, you need to contact an experienced and professional neuropathologist. The treatment is long enough, it requires discipline and diligence from the patient himself, but this is the only way to get relief and release from this obsessive pain.
Drug treatment consists in the appointment of vasodilator drugs. They help oxygenate the brain and improve blood circulation in the body. It is possible to reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, the patient is prescribed vitamins to restore tissues in the body. Well, and, of course, painkillers, because it is simply impossible to live with such sensations. As a relief of local pain, various ointments and gels are prescribed, which have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic nature of action.
Exercises against osteochondrosis
- Tilt your head back and forth slowly and until it stops. Leaning forward, try to touch your chin to your chest. Repeat this movement 10 times.
- Perform circular movements with your head. First, 5 times in one direction, then 5 times in the other.
- Tilt your head slightly forward and place your forehead against your open palms. Press your head to your hands and lock in this position for a few seconds. Repeat this exercise with the back of your head.
- Take a chair and sit on it. Tilt your head back. Slowly turn your head to the right and return to the starting position. Then turn your head to the left. Do at least 10 reps on each side. Movements should not be abrupt, do everything smoothly.
- Tilt your head to the right and left, trying to reach your shoulder with your ears. Then, on the contrary, raise your shoulders to the motionless head, first together, and then alternately - then the right shoulder, then the left.
Massage in the fight against cervical osteochondrosis
A professional massage gives amazing results after the first session. It is best to consult a specialist - chiropractor. He will stretch the muscles and put the vertebrae in order. After manual therapy sessions, the spinal muscles will tone up, blood circulation will improve, and the patient's motor abilities will improve.
But to alleviate the condition, you can do the massage yourself at home.
- Sit on a chair or sofa and press your fingers against the back of your neck, along the vertebral column. Rub the area up and down until you feel warm and even burning.
- Do the same in a circular motion. Stretch out not only the neck, grab the back of the head to improve blood permeability in this area.
- Use your fingertips to tap the back of the neck.
- There is another effective remedy that doctors advise. Fill a plastic bottle with water and place it under your neck. On your own or with help, try to roll this bottle with your neck, no hands.
I would like to note that massage and manual therapy procedures cannot be performed with exacerbations of a pain symptom.
Physiotherapy in the treatment of osteochondrosis consists in the use of a special apparatus that improves the patency of nerve endings. Electrophoresis is also used.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
To get rid of pain forever, you need to try to change your life for the better. Go in for sports, go out into nature more often. Get in the habit of running regularly in the morning or walking in the evening. Quitting smoking is also harmful to the discs of the spine. Eat right, eliminate salt from your intake, or at least keep it to a minimum.
To get rid of bouts of pain, you need to learn not to strain your neck. This means that you cannot read and watch TV while lying down. When driving a car, do not twist your head too much to the side. If your work involves sitting for a long time at papers or a monitor, take regular breaks - get up, walk, do neck exercises. Pay attention to your workplace. The height of the table and chair should be matched so that you don't have to slouch and bend over papers while sitting.
A properly chosen place to sleep will help you to ensure yourself a normal life without pain. The bed should be flat and the mattress should be orthopedic. It is important to choose your pillow wisely - it should not be soft. The height of the pillow is determined by the distance from the neck to the shoulder. Only such a pillow will ensure the correct position of the body during sleep.
Osteochondrosis is not a disease that needs to be treated at home on your own. It is very important to classify the disease and exclude other deviations. This can only be done by a doctor. Therefore, when pain in the neck area appears, you can not pull with a trip to a specialist. And then you can suppress the disease at its root, in its very germ.