Vertebral osteochondrosis is the most common disease of the human musculoskeletal system. Degenerative processes in the cervical spine develop especially often: in about 30-40% of all cases of osteochondrosis, the disease affects this part of the spine.
Even with an inactive lifestyle, daily stress falls on the cervical region, which leads to the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs. The cervical vertebrae support the head, provide lateral movement, and bend back and forth. Both a sedentary lifestyle and excessive stress on the spine are equally harmful to cartilage tissue.
Osteochondrosis develops slowly, but almost always leads to painful manifestations and serious consequences. This article will discuss in detail how to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home, in what cases it is appropriate and expedient, what procedures should be applied to reduce painful symptoms and eliminate the root causes of the disease.
When can osteochondrosis be treated at home
Osteochondrosis rarely occurs suddenly - it is usually the initial stage before the disease, characterized by low back fatigue, rapid fatigue and decreased performance. When degenerative and dystrophic processes do not spread from cartilaginous tissues to nearby structures, it is important to take therapeutic measures at the first signs of the disease.
In the early stages of the disease, the task of treatment is to stop the pathological changes in the intervertebral discs. No therapy can reverse the destructive processes, but there is a chance to avoid dangerous and painful consequences.
You can apply treatment at home in the following cases:
- When the diagnosis is accurate and clinically confirmed;
- When the manifestations of the disease are mild or moderate;
- At home and when self-medication is approved or approved by a doctor;
- In the form of prevention of relapse in the recovery phase after full clinical treatment.
Diagnosis at the clinic and consultation with a specialist (orthopedist, vertebrologist or traumatologist) is a mandatory step in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Starting treatment without a proper diagnosis can cause irreparable damage to the spine. Even if you are absolutely sure that you have osteochondrosis, you need to study its stage, determine the degree of tissue destruction and identify co-morbidities.
The danger of cervical osteochondrosis lies in the various manifestations of this disease. As the most important nerves and blood vessels pass through this part, any displacement of the anatomical positions of the cartilage and bone structures, the transformation of the discs and spinal bodies, is fraught with compression of the nerve endings and arteries.
Compression causes headaches, impaired blood supply to the brain, and decreased intellectual ability. The most dangerous complication of compression is stroke: a sharp deterioration in the supply of oxygen to the brain, leading to the death of parts.
Treating cervical osteochondrosis at home with compression is irresponsible and dangerous. Massage procedures, manual therapy, exercise therapy should be carried out under strict medical supervision. During progressive degenerative changes, only professional massage therapists and therapists should exert manual and apparatus effects on the spine.
General rules for self-therapy
Some people believe that cervical osteochondrosis is a temporary disease that occurs after lying down in a restless state or working on a computer for a long time. People often overlook the symptoms of neck pain, which is caused by overwork, "salt deposits" and colds.
These factors can actually lead to the development of osteochondrosis, but they are not the causes, but the predisposing factors of the pathology. Eliminating them can alleviate the symptoms, but it cannot cure the disease itself.
The treatment of osteochondrosis should be approached scientifically and pragmatically. The sooner you start therapy, the better your chances of restoring cervical spine function. If you want to return your movement to your neck, get rid of the crush and fatigue in the waist, start treatment immediately at the first signs of degenerative changes.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a necessary and useful measure of impact if properly treated at home and allowed by specialists.
You can do the following at home:
- drug treatment;
- Self-massage;
- Apparatus massage using mechanical and electrical devices;
- Physiotherapy procedures;
- Physiotherapy.
Basically, any kind of conservative treatment can be applied at home. Traditional methods of exposure are popular among the population - various lotions, compresses and applications in the affected department. Such treatment options are sometimes very effective and really help with pain symptoms and other unpleasant manifestations of osteochondrosis.
The basic rules for self-medication are as follows:
- Analgesics and other medications should be taken only after a doctor's appointment;
- You should not do massage and physiotherapy exercises during severe pain and disc displacement;
- Suspicious and unconfirmed traditional medicine should not be used;
- At the slightest sign of deteriorating health, you should stop treatment at home and go to the clinic.
In general, experts even recommend self-treatment, because the clinic performs procedures that require only one specialist or a complex device. Only medical advice on home remedies should be strictly followed.
Before prescribing or prescribing any medication, a good doctor will always tell you how it is administered, what results should be expected, and when and how long the treatment should be performed. The main goal of any practice is not only to stop the symptoms, but also to prevent or eliminate the causes of the disease.
Home Remedies
There are many home remedies for cervical osteochondrosis. We will consider the most important of them - the most effective and affordable. We remind you again: only the full implementation of medical advice gives a chance for recovery.
Qualified doctors take into account all the influencing factors - from the position you hold during sleep, to the nature of the diet. The diet for osteochondrosis is based on the elimination of fatty, refined and overcooked foods and the mandatory inclusion of mucopolysaccharides in the compounds that nourish the tissue.
Almost all aspects of life should be adapted to the principles of competent and proper treatment.
Physiotherapy exercises
A full physical activity regimen is the basis of effective therapy. The set of exercises is selected individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, the patient's age and physical condition. Physical training is not an aid, but the most important therapeutic method for osteochondrosis of the neck.
Gymnastics exercises solve several problems at once:
- Develop and strengthen the corset of the muscles in the neck and shoulder girdle;
- Stimulates local blood flow by improving the nutrition of intervertebral discs and other tissues in the affected area;
- Accelerate metabolic processes, help restore physical activity;
- Eliminate muscle blocks and spasmodic events.
In the early stages of therapy, it is better to conduct several exercise therapy sessions under the guidance of an experienced trainer. Then you can do physical training at home. When exercising, make sure you wear comfortable clothing and that the area is regularly ventilated.
Indicators for the effectiveness of exercise therapy are the absence of pain, improved well-being, increased range of motion. If you have symptoms of acute and regular pain, you should stop training until the causes of this phenomenon are clarified. Pain usually occurs when the disc is dislocated and the nerve is constricted. To prevent this from happening, you should perform the movements smoothly, avoiding jumping and bending the spine.
Manual and apparatus massage
Self-massage reduces pain and stimulates local blood circulation. Self-massage techniques (rubbing, stroking, kneading) will be taught by your doctor or professional massage therapist. Strong pressure, shock, pinching should be avoided.
Proper self-massage is often superior to medication due to its effectiveness. A gentle hand effect not only relieves pain, but also relaxes muscles, speeds up blood flow and metabolism. It is recommended to perform the massage in a sitting position using only the fingers and directing the spine to the peripheral parts of the back.
A separate method is apparatus massage using mechanical devices and modern electronic devices. It is recommended to use massage products in the absence of severe pain and disc herniation. Cheap hand massagers and expensive computer-controlled devices are available at medical supply stores.
Another effective tool is an application that has a static effect on the affected areas. Devices such as the Lyapko applicator or Kuznetsov's applicator are proven and effective tools for treating pain symptoms and eliminating the causes of disease. The main rule in the use of such devices is legality. It is necessary to apply regular exposure sessions - only then it is possible to achieve a stable and clear result that improves health.
Applicators are based on reflexological principles - the effect on the active parts of the body and the activation of the body's self-healing mechanism. Exposure to home acupuncture with Lyapko devices and Kuznetsov's devices seemed to lift some patients.
Other orthopedic devices are also useful - special sleeping pillows, mattresses, pillows for cars and office chairs that ensure the correct position of the body to sleep at night.
Home Physiotherapy
Exposure to a magnetic field, ultrasound, light of a certain spectrum - all these are very effective methods in the treatment of moderate and mild osteochondrosis. Physiotherapy is generally used in outpatient clinics, but it is possible to use these methods at home.
Magnetotherapy devices, ultrasound and other devices for electrical nerve stimulation and treatment of spinal structures are sold in pharmacies and specialty stores. Such devices relieve pain, stimulate metabolism and blood flow, and relieve muscle spasms. These devices can be used only after appointment by a physiotherapist.
Compresses, rubs and other traditional medical procedures
The following alternative treatments are acceptable:
- Applications with healing clay;
- Squeeze out honey, vodka, agave;
- Honey and mustard compresses;
- Lotions from propolis, aloe juice and vodka;
- Treatment of bee venom;
- Rub with herbal preparations (the most popular option is a mixture of 2 peels of hot pepper with vegetable oil).
Phytopreparations can be used in the absence of allergies and after the method is approved by a doctor.
Modern medicine offers many natural, effective and safe remedies to relieve the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. Herbal and mixed creams, ointments and plasters are applied externally in the first manifestations of pain and in the phase of rehabilitation therapy.