Cervical osteochondrosis can be called one of the most common pathologies of the spine today. At the same time, according to statistics, it can be noted that more and more young people are suffering from this degenerative disease, previously it was thought that osteochondrosis occurs only in the elderly. It is worth knowing about the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and treatment at home, because the earlier the pathology is detected and therapy is started, the less likely it is to develop complications.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease of the cervical spine that destroys the intervertebral disc. The pathology progresses rather slowly, but it should be borne in mind that most degenerative changes are irreversible.
Stages of the disease
The following stages of cervical osteochondrosis differ from the initial changes, which cause virtually no pain and other symptoms, to the complete destruction of the intervertebral disc:
- Preclinical stage. At this stage there are no visible signs of degenerative changes, they occur at the biochemical level. The patient does not experience pain or other changes in his condition.
- The stage at which the degenerative changes in the pulpal nucleus increase. Changes in the pulpal nucleus lead to destabilization of the cervical spine, there are disorders in the structure of the fibrous disc. The patient begins to experience mild pain and other symptoms.
- The stage of complete destruction of annular fibrosis. There is a protrusion of the intervertebral disc - the nucleus pulposus begins to extend beyond the destroyed annular fibrosis, there are displacements and subluxations of the cervical spine. The pain syndrome and other symptoms of the disease increase significantly.
- The stage of tissue regeneration of the intervertebral disc. The nucleus pulposus begins to be replaced by fibrous tissue, the tissues of the intervertebral disc scar and adjacent structures of the spine are involved in degenerative processes. With the development of intervertebral disc fibrosis, the pain and instability disappear, but this condition does not mean recovery.
Important!Exacerbations of the disease with increased symptoms may occur periodically, usually after increased physical activity.
The earlier the treatment of the disease is started, the easier it is to stop degenerative changes. At the same time, the clinical manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis vary in their variety, it is often impossible to diagnose the disease without a complete diagnosis, X-ray, MRI or CT scan.
Symptoms
The main difficulty in identifying cervical osteochondrosis is insufficiently expressed and no obvious symptoms. In addition to the pain syndrome, there are many autonomic symptoms that can indicate diseases of the nervous or circulatory system, which often leads to the identification of osteochondrosis through misdiagnosis.
Vegetative symptoms in men are often considered less severe than pain. Perhaps this is due to the fact that men are less likely to visit a doctor with symptoms of neurological diseases. In women, the autonomic symptoms related to the emotional sphere are considered more pronounced.
In general, the following symptoms are usually the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and they should all be present at the same time:
- Pain syndrome. The pain appears in the neck and shoulders, spreads to the shoulders. It can also spread to the back of the head. Also, headache and dizziness may occur with osteochondrosis.
- Vegetative symptoms. Due to pinching of nerve endings and blood vessels in the cervical spine, they occur in the cervical spine. Headache, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, symptoms similar to those of a panic attack appear.
- Numbness, restricted mobility in the upper limbs, in the area of the shoulder blades. This symptom also occurs due to pinching of nerve endings in the cervical spine.
These are the main symptoms that appear in cervical osteochondrosis, often the pain syndrome is so weak that the cause of the illness begins to be sought in the field of neurology.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis at home
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home is possible in the early stages of the disease. Therapy should be comprehensive, including pain medication, therapeutic exercises, massage and a number of other procedures. Each component of therapy is essential for complete recovery.
Medicines
Painkillers are usually required, starting with non-steroidal over-the-counter medications. If such drugs do not help, they resort to the use of blockades - injections of anesthetics at the site of the lesion.
Topical corticosteroid ointments may also be used. Care must be taken with their use, because if used irrationally, they can be harmful. Such drugs are prescribed strictly on prescription; their own use is prohibited.
Also, in severe autonomic symptoms, agents can be used to improve the blood supply to the brain. They are prescribed in rare cases. Sometimes, in addition to them, daily tranquilizers are used, which help to suppress the depressive symptoms arising from pinching the nerve endings.
Massage
In osteochondrosis is important massage of the cervical spine, it helps to restore blood circulation, relieve tension from tense muscles. Several different massage techniques are used, self-massage is acceptable at home, to perform it, you need to tilt your head forward in a sitting position, put your hands on your neck on both sides.
Important!Under no circumstances should you put pressure on the spine, otherwise the pain syndrome may worsen.
With stroking movements you should move from the base of the head to the shoulders, trying to press, but not to cause pain. The procedure should last from 10 to 15 minutes.
Gymnastics
Exercise for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is extremely important for maintaining muscle tone and mobility of the cervical spine. In this disease, the muscles of the neck must be trained.
The simplest exercise - in a sitting position you should put your hands under your chin, lightly press them. At the same time you have to withstand the pressure of the head. The exercise should be performed for fifteen seconds, over time the duration should increase.
Diet
With osteochondrosis, it is recommended to start eating more properly, to include more fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. It is also recommended to eat more seafood and fermented dairy products to replenish the amount of substances needed for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Treatment with folk remedies
Folk remedies are not as effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis, but there are several recipes that will help with this disease. First of all, various compresses are recommended, one of the most effective is potato-based. Raw potatoes should be grated, add a spoonful of honey, put on the sore spot, cover with cling film.
Potatoes can be replaced with unleavened unleavened dough. In the absence of inflammation, the compress can be covered with a warm towel for greater effect. You can also lubricate the cervical area with honey during massage and arrange rubbing with it, honey provides the best effect.
With a combination of folk remedies and other methods of treatment you can achieve the best result.