Cervical osteochondrosis can be called one of the most common diseases of the spine today. At the same time, according to statistics, it can be noticed that more and more young people are suffering from this degenerative disease. Previously, it was believed that osteochondrosis only occurred in the elderly. It is worthwhile to understand the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and treat it at home, because the earlier the pathology is discovered and treatment is started, the less likely it is for complications.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease of the cervical spine in which the intervertebral disc is destroyed. Pathology progresses quite slowly, but it should be borne in mind that most degenerative changes are irreversible.
Stage of disease
The following stages of cervical osteochondrosis are different from the initial changes. They actually do not cause pain and other symptoms and completely destroy the intervertebral discs:
- Preclinical stage. At this stage, there are no obvious signs of degenerative changes, they occur at the biochemical level. The patient will not feel pain or any other changes in his condition.
- The stage of increased degenerative changes in the nucleus pulposus. The changes in the nucleus pulposus lead to instability of the cervical spine and disorder of the fibrous disc structure. The patient began to experience mild pain and other symptoms.
- The stage of complete destruction of the annulus fiber. Intervertebral disc herniation-the nucleus pulposus begins to extend beyond the damaged annulus fibrosus, causing cervical displacement and subluxation. The symptoms of pain syndrome and other diseases are significantly worsened.
- Intervertebral disc tissue regeneration stage. The nucleus pulposus begins to be replaced by fibrous tissue, and the scar tissue of the intervertebral disc and adjacent structures of the spine participate in the degenerative process. With the development of intervertebral disc fibrosis, pain and instability disappear, but this condition does not mean recovery.
important!The deterioration of the disease may occur periodically as symptoms increase, usually after increased physical exertion.
The earlier treatment of the disease starts, the easier it is to stop the degenerative changes. At the same time, the clinical manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are also very different. If there is no complete diagnosis, X-ray, MRI or CT, the diagnosis is often impossible.
symptom
The main difficulty in identifying cervical osteochondrosis is insufficient expression and unobvious symptoms. In addition to pain syndrome, there are many plant symptoms that can indicate diseases of the nervous system or circulatory system. Therefore, misdiagnosis is often used to identify osteochondrosis.
Autonomic symptoms in men are generally considered less severe than pain. Perhaps this is because men are less likely to see a doctor with symptoms of neurological disease. In women, autonomic symptoms related to the emotional domain are considered more pronounced.
Generally speaking, the following symptoms are usually referred to as the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, and they should exist at the same time:
- Pain syndrome. The pain occurs in the neck and shoulders and spreads to the shoulder blades. It can also spread to the back of the head. In addition, for osteochondrosis, headaches and dizziness may occur.
- Plant symptoms. Due to the compression of cervical nerve endings and blood vessels, they appear in the cervical spine. Symptoms similar to panic attacks such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and palpitations appear.
- Numbness, restricted upper limb movement, scapula area. This symptom also occurs due to compression of the cervical spine nerve endings.
These are the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. Usually the pain syndrome is so weak that the neurology field begins to look for the cause of the discomfort.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home
In the early stages of the disease, it is possible to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home. Treatment should be comprehensive, and it includes taking painkillers, therapeutic exercises, massage, and many other procedures. Every component of treatment is essential for complete recovery.
drug
Analgesics are usually needed, starting with non-steroidal over-the-counter medications. If these drugs do not help, they will turn to blockers-injecting anesthetics into the lesion.
Topical corticosteroid ointments can also be used. They must be used with care, because if they are used unreasonably, they can cause harm. Such funds are strictly in accordance with the prescriptions, and self-use is prohibited.
In addition, for severe vegetative symptoms, measures can be used to improve the blood supply to the brain. They are prescribed in rare cases. Sometimes, in addition to this, daytime sedatives are used, which can help suppress depressive symptoms caused by compression of nerve endings.
massage
For osteochondrosis, cervical massage is very important, it helps restore blood circulation and relieve muscle tension. Several different massage techniques are used. Self-massage is possible at home. To perform self-massage, you need to tilt your head forward in a sitting position and place your hands on both sides of your neck.
important!Under no circumstances should pressure be placed on the spine, otherwise the pain syndrome will worsen.
By stroking, you need to move from the bottom of the head to the shoulders, try to press, but do not cause pain. This process should last 10 to 15 minutes.
gymnastics
Exercise for cervical spine osteochondrosis is very important to maintain the muscle tension and mobility of the cervical spine. For this disease, neck muscles should be trained.
The simplest exercise-sitting, you need to put your hands under your chin and gently press upwards. At the same time, you need to resist head pressure. The exercise should be performed for fifteen seconds, and the duration should increase over time.
diet
For osteochondrosis, it is recommended to start a more appropriate diet and add more fresh vegetables and fruits to the diet. It is also recommended to eat more seafood and fermented dairy products to supplement the material required for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Treat with folk remedies
Folk remedies are not effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis, but there are some recipes that can help treat this disease. First of all, various dressings are recommended, the most effective one is potato based. Raw potatoes need to be grated, add a spoonful of honey, put it on the sore area, and cover with plastic wrap.
Potatoes can be replaced with unleavened unleavened dough. In the absence of inflammation, you can cover the dressing with a warm cloth for better results. You can also use honey to lubricate the cervical spine and rub it during massage. Honey has the best effect.
Combining folk remedies and other treatment methods can achieve the best results.