How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home

Pain appears when you don't expect it.Even the most confident person in these cases can feel confused and scared.The cause of pain is often osteochondrosis.How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home and how effective will the treatment be?Let's find out more.

What is osteochondrosis

Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc, involving the vertebrae and adjacent joints.The elasticity of the intervertebral joint is impaired and the disc becomes thinner.It is necessary to understand how nutrition and metabolic processes occur in the intervertebral discs.This structural element is made up of cartilaginous tissue;there are no blood vessels here.Nutrition occurs diffusely, like a pump.When pressure is applied, a lubricating fluid is released and then reabsorbed.If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appears, it is necessary to prescribe physical therapy, massage and the whole range of therapeutic techniques as quickly as possible.

What changes occur in the spine and their symptoms

The following processes occur in the affected joint:

• the nucleus pulposus of the disc loses physiological humidity;
• cartilage loses its shape;
• loses elasticity;
• change color;
• it dries out;
• turns yellow;
• loses resistance to damage.

The consequence of this is a violation of the synchrony of movement in adjacent segments of the spine, pinching the nerve roots.The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limited mobility and some forms of paresthesia (“pins and needles”, tingling).

All these changes suggest the presence of osteochondrosis.We will talk further about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other spine is treated.

Why does osteochondrosis occur?

The causes of the disease include anything that interrupts the nutrition of the disc:

• Stagnation caused by static loads.
• Prolonged maintenance of unfavorable positions, especially sitting.There is a good proverb: "If you can stand, don't sit; if you can lie down, don't stand."
• Traumatic effects on endplates, fibers of the fibrous ring.

The most common reasons include unbalanced nutrition, physical inactivity and insufficient development of the deep muscles that form the muscle corset.The stability of the spinal column is due to the complex interaction of the bone, muscle and nervous structures of the skeleton.The abdominal and back muscles are antagonists and balance each other.Therefore, the postulate “movement is life” remains relevant as never before.Exercises can effectively affect osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Physical therapy is used both in the clinic and at home.Since the spine is made up of several sections, the disease can manifest itself in any of them.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected.

How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest itself?

Manifestations of osteochondrosis of various localizations are combined into syndromes:

• cervicalgia syndrome (reduced mobility of the shoulder joint, various types of pain);
• cervicocranialgia (pain in the back of the head, neck discomfort, tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea may occur);
• cervicobrachialgia or scapulohumeral syndrome (pain in the neck, spread to the shoulder and arm).

If you are bothered by aching pain, often at night, with numbness, the diagnosis will most likely be confirmed: osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine.The pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.

Therapeutic exercise at home

How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with drugs is described in many reference books.But in most cases the effect of the drug is short-term.This is where physical therapy can come to the rescue.

1. We stand against the wall and rest our heads against it.Let's try to press on the wall with maximum force for several seconds.Then we relax.
2. We sit at the table and rest our elbows on each other.We rest our chin on our hands, trying to apply pressure on the palms of our hands, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
3. Rest your head on your hands behind your head.Alternatively, press them with the back of your head, then relax.Perform several repetitions, holding the position for up to 10 seconds.
4. Grab your head with your palms, alternately pressing on one hand or the other.

During flare-ups, exercises are performed for no more than 3-4 seconds and with moderate tension.Exercises will help slow down osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Home exercises can be started after being convinced that they are performed correctly in a medical facility.

Massage without the help of a professional

If the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical spine" is confirmed, massage will be one of the necessary treatment methods.In this case, this is not only a useful procedure, but also irreplaceable.Initially, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple techniques yourself at home.These techniques also include the post-static muscle relaxation technique.The peculiarity of the method is the passive stretching of the muscle from a position of excessive effort in combination with massage elements.It is necessary to apply the technique after warming up the spasming muscles (bath, hot compress, kneading, stroking).

When using self-massage, the same techniques as professional massage are used.These are stroking, kneading, acupressure, stroking, shaking.The massage is performed with warm, warm hands.To improve smoothness, use massage oil.The sequence of techniques is as follows:

• caress;
• shredding;
• knead;
• vibrations (packets, shaking).

Influencing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, massage begins and ends with stroking.

A little manual therapy

1. We sit on a high-backed chair.We squeeze our heads with our hands, placing our thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the mounds under the eye sockets).We raise our eyes, take a breath and press the back of the head on the fingers.We hold the position for up to a quarter of a minute, then, as we exhale, we lean back in the chair and relax the neck muscles, tilting our head downwards.We repeat the technique several times.Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, closer to its upper part, and tilt the head slightly forward.We press our fingers at the base of the skull, making a slow rotational movement with them.Gradually lower your fingers lower and lower, getting closer to the trapezius muscle.How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated by manual therapy can be seen in the following manipulations.

2. Lie on your back, lowering your shoulders as much as possible.Place your hand on the painful side under your buttock, palm facing up.Place your other hand under your head, grabbing the back of your head and tilting your head in the direction away from the problem.As you inhale, press your head against your fingers for 15 seconds.As you exhale, relax and pull your head a little tighter, lengthening the sore muscle.

A set of measures for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely overcome osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive.This includes the use of:

• painkillers;
• muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasms;
• drugs with chondroprotective effects;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• massage;
• physical therapy;
• balanced diet.

After studying the medical literature, some conclusions can be drawn about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated, but doing without professionally prescribed treatment is a crime against health.