Osteochondrosis of the cervix is asymptomatic until the intervertebral discs cope with their cushioning duties. As soon as their thickness begins to decrease, instability occurs. The body compensates for this with the growth of osteophytes, as a result of which a person feels tightness in the neck area and over time other unpleasant symptoms appear, which significantly worsens the quality of life. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be comprehensive.
This means that medication alone (injections, tablets, ointments) is not enough. In addition, it is necessary to do special therapeutic exercises, massage, hirudotherapy courses (treatment with leeches), as well as do elementary exercises at home. As an addition to the main treatment, the use of folk remedies is allowed.
Drugs
The physician's priority is to relieve the patient of pain. The whole set of drugs is used for these purposes:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Anesthetic and hormonal (during blocking);
- Muscle relaxants;
- Chondroprotectors;
- Sedatives and antidepressants;
- B vitamins.
The groups of drugs listed in the complex play the role of a powerful anesthetic complex in osteochondrosis, as well as nourish the intervertebral discs and restore the nerves:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve mild or severe inflammation and pain.
- Anesthetics and hormonal remedies are applied to the pain site (parvertebral or vagosympathetic) - the pain syndrome stops instantly. The patient is then placed on the neck bracket for a while so that the head cannot move sharply.
- Muscle relaxants are used to relax spasmodic muscles.
- Chondroprotectors improve the nutrition of the intervertebral discs. They are taken in parallel with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Usually the use of chondroprotectors is long lasting and difficult. This means that your doctor can prescribe oral medications as well as injections with external agents.
- Sedatives and antidepressants help the patient cope with stress, prevent depression, which in turn helps to cope with muscle tension.
- Complex preparations of B vitamins B1, 6 and 12 have a negative effect on nerve fibers and neuronal conduction. First the drugs are prescribed in the form of injections in a short course, then they switch to adjuvant therapy and take pills.
On the note. Most nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and chondroprotectants come in a variety of forms - tablets, ointments, injections, as well as rectal suppositories (NSAIDs) and varnishes (NSAIDs).
Therapeutic gymnastics and massage
As soon as the pain syndrome subsides, it is necessary to gradually increase the motor activity of the cervical spine. If the patient had a blockade, then the bandage will be removed after about a week.
Some doctors believe that movement is always necessary. When a patient is prescribed bed rest, it is believed that it helps to cope with the disease, but in reality the person gets the opposite effect - on one side of the neck, spasmodic muscles, if not used muscle relaxants, remain limited. On the other hand, on the other hand, their slow weakening (falling or loss of tone) is observed. As a result, after returning to a working rhythm, in a fairly short time a patient with cervical osteochondrosis will inevitably again experience pain, restriction of movement, and muscle spasm. If you engage in physical education in a dosed and slow but steady manner, you can achieve pain with minimal use of painkillers.
The same view is shared by physiotherapists and chiropractors. Their technique is based on movement rather than lying in bed, leading to 90% of doctors trying to relieve pain in a patient with cervical osteochondrosis.
Exercises for acute pain
This is a static gymnastics in which the cervical spine does not perform any movement. Your physiotherapist recommends the following 3 exercises for headaches, tinnitus, and neck pain:
- Sit on a chair, straighten your back, look straight ahead. Put your hands on each other and place under your chin. Start holding the chin in your hands as if you want to lower yourself. At this point the spine is not involved in any way, but the muscles in the front of the neck are tense. Press your hands for 3 to 5 seconds, then lower your arms and relax. Repeat several times.
- Continue to sit with your back straight and look forward. Place the back of your right hand on your cheek. Begin to turn your head to the right while resisting with your hand. The head is motionless. Press for 3 to 5 seconds, then remove your hand and relax. Repeat several times. Repeat Exercise # 2 with the other hand.
- Place the brushes on top of each other on the back of your head. Imagine throwing your head back. Resist with your hands. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds at the moment of pressure. Then lower your arms and relax. Repeat several times.
No need to put pressure on the hands with full force. This will backfire - the pain will intensify. Every movement is as smooth, slow, without fuss. The number of approaches is 2-3 times a day.
On the note. Static exercises are similar to micro-movement techniques. As a result, the muscles relax, the pain gradually disappears.
Universal set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Gymnastics can be performed independently, at home, both during remission and during exacerbations.
The universal complex consists of 6 exercises:
- Stand up straight, feet shoulder width apart, chest extended. Put your hands on your shoulders. Perform symmetrical circular motions backwards (at least 10 times), then forwards (10 times). The body and neck are immobile. After finishing the exercise, lower your arms and shake your shoulders, relax.
- Keep standing. Spread your hands parallel to the floor on the sides, fold your arms into fists. Now imagine swinging dumbbells. At the same time, bend your elbows and touch your shoulders with your fists, then straighten. Repeat 10-15 times. After completing the exercise, remove your hands from your shoulders and relax.
- Stay in the starting position. Exercise is static. Connect your fingers and place your hands on your forehead. Start, as if to lower yourself forward. Resist with your hands. Hold the pressure position for 3-5 seconds, then relax. The back muscles of the neck work.
- Do Exercise Number 3 Complex with Exacerbation of Cervical Osteochondrosis.
- Without moving the neck from the starting position, lift the shoulders forward, hold for 3-5 seconds, then straighten and connect the shoulder blades and relax. Repeat several times.
- From the starting position: Take a deep breath through your nose - raise your hands to the sides and up, lower yourself forward - exhale completely through your mouth. During the hot period, raise your hands down - parallel to the floor.
On the note. For complete healing of the cervixOsteochondrosisThese exercises are not enough. However, they are suitable for relieving severe pain and restoring spinal mobility.
Micromotions
The chiropractor has developed a system to help patients with cervical osteochondrosis:
- Sit on a chair and lean on your back. Now imagine that you agree with someone - shake your head slightly. You can do this until you get bored. As soon as the free minute had passed, they sat down and did. Free replenishment.
- The starting position is exactly the same as in Exercise 1. Only now do not agree with the interlocutor - barely noticeably move your head left and right. Do as much as convenient. Free replenishment.
On the note. A set of exercises can be combined with each other. This will give a noticeable effect in a short time - the pain will subside.
ᲛMassage
It is best to entrust a cervical spine massage to a specialist. However, in case of severe pain, if it is possible to painlessly raise your hands and put your head back, you can try to help yourself. There are many self-massage techniques.
The simplest self-massage is done as follows:
- Sit on a chair. Lift and place your hand on the opposite side of the back pain.
- Start coloring the neck in the area of inflammation. Do this from the beginning gently, with almost no pressure. Then increase the intensity slightly.
- Come down on the shoulder. Usually when the torticollus is present, it hurts not only the neck on one side but also the arm. Stretch your shoulders. This should be done actively so that the spasmodic muscles warm up, but there should be no strong pain from self-massage.
- Repeat this process on the other side of the neck. This must be done because, on the one hand, the muscles are spasmodic and on the other hand they are relaxed - they need to equalize their tone.
- Place both hands on the back of your head and place your fingers along the spine (along the spinous processes). Be careful but active enough in this area. Do not apply excessive pressure. The neck is the most delicate part of the spine. One awkward move can hurt yourself and make the situation worse.
- Apply any anesthetic gel or ointment you have on the heated cervical spine in the medicine cabinet.
Do not use warming ointments for self-massage. The skin on the neck is very delicate, especially around the arteries and on the front. If the heater gets there, it may burn out.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis, especially of the cervical spine, with puppies is very effective. Hirudotherapy helps:
- Pain reduction;
- Improve blood circulation in the affected area - normalizes arterial blood flow to the brain and venous blood flow;
- Relieve swelling;
- Enhance the effect of drugs;
- Improve sleep;
- Removal of psychological stress;
- Significantly reduces headaches and dizziness.
Not everyone has the right to such treatment. Do not forget to undergo a thorough examination before handling the puppy. If there are no contraindications, 7-10 procedures are performed. To confirm the result in a month, you can still consult a hirudotherapist.
Folk remedies
Try the following recipes:
- Rub a slice of Indian onion on the back of the neck, cover with something warm from the top and go to sleep;
- Self-massage with honey - Massage the neck and shoulder girdle with honey, then apply a towel soaked in warm water, after 10 minutes remove the honey residue (if any) and sleep covered with a blanket;
- Take a steam bath, but not during aggravation, then do a honey massage and drink herbal tea;
- Use a needle applicator - place a plate of needles around the seventh cervical spine, if the sensations are tolerable, then lie down on the needles - you will notice significant relief in the morning.
There are many ways to treat cervical osteochondrosis. In addition to the described, an effective method of therapy is acupuncture, yoga, Pilates, exercises on fitball. Remember, self-medication is dangerous. Schedule an appointment with your doctor and undergo a full examination. The specialist will individually select the treatment and tell you which exercises can be done and which can not, whether self-massage is possible, whether the worms will help, or maybe you can recommend one of the alternative medicine methods, for example, bee stings.