About 80% of people around the world sooner or later become familiar with a disease such as cervical osteochondrosis.Symptoms and treatment at home may differ in each case, so you still cannot do without medical help.The disease is not fatal, but it is quite difficult to cure, so the best option would be to use all possible methods, both folk and traditional medicines, to forget about pain forever.
Causes of the disease
Sad statistics show that the number of people affected by this disease increases every year.This is due to an unhealthy lifestyle, difficult working conditions and lack of proper attention to one's own health.Despite the high incidence, few know how to treat cervical osteochondrosis.
If the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the neck are ignored, a generalized form of the disease develops, affecting the entire spine.However, the most common location is that it remains within the cervical and thoracic vertebrae.
If cervical osteochondrosis is not quickly treated at home, progression can lead to complete immobilization of the patient.
In order to create an effective treatment plan, it is necessary to pay attention to the basic anatomy of the neck.One of the most important and largest vessels, the vertebral artery, passes through this section of the human body.It is through this blood flow that vital nutrients, including oxygen, reach all parts of the brain.
Osteochondrosis is a consequence of deformation of cartilage and intervertebral discs, which places an additional load on the vertebral body.The disease causes degenerative changes in the disc, inhibiting physiological functions and reducing its height.As the disease progresses, a reaction occurs in the vertebral plate.As a result of this process, the spinal canal narrows and the spine curves.
At first, cervical osteochondrosis does not cause any alarming signs.As the disease progresses, the nerve roots become compressed and the space for the spinal cord narrows.The following symptoms appear:
- stiff neck, severe pain;
- tingling and numbness of the extremities;
- constant and specific headache, which intensifies with any movement and does not go away after taking painkillers;
- dizziness;
- lack of coordination;
- emotional instability;
- memory loss;
- Noises and ringing in the ears.
What else causes neck pain?
The back and neck can hurt not only from osteochondrosis.This is just one of the reasons.This symptom may be a sign of other diseases that require adequate treatment:
- hypothermia;
- great tension in the muscles;
- constant forced posture;
- infections;
- joint pathologies;
- vertebral fracture;
- spinal canal stenosis;
- diseases of internal organs;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- radiculopathy or nerve root compression.
Osteochondrosis has a distinctive feature.The presence of the disease can be determined by pain in the right half of the chest, in the area of the right arm and forearm.The pain is acute and, in most cases, short-lived.Attacks of crushing pain may also occur, which can be relieved by taking pain relievers and NSAIDs.
Since all symptoms in each case may differ and other diseases can be treated absolutely, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is best left to professionals.Once the diagnosis is established and treatment is prescribed, therapy can be complemented with traditional medicine.However, treatment with homemade ointments and tinctures alone may not produce results.
Traditional medicines
The intensity and duration of therapy depends directly on the extent of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.Treatment should aim to maintain spinal mobility, relieve pain, and prevent injury to the nerves and spinal cord.
Depending on the form and stage of the disease, specialists usually prescribe the following medications for cervical osteochondrosis:
- hormonal medications that help relieve pain and inflammation;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve inflammation and relieve pain;
- muscle relaxants that quickly relieve neck muscle spasms;
- medications that relieve seizures and dull pain due to nerve damage;
- antidepressants;
- hot ointments;
- anti-inflammatory ointments.
All these drugs together help eliminate osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Home treatment also involves special exercises that warm up the muscles and affect damaged tissues.
Physiotherapy at home
When visiting a clinic, a patient with osteochondrosis consults a therapist.The doctor can advise you which medications are best to take and, if necessary, refer you to specialized specialists - a neurologist or physiotherapist.The latter will teach the patient special therapeutic exercises that he can perform independently at home.The therapy helps strengthen and stretch the muscles in the shoulders and neck.
Regular training under the supervision of a doctor or relatives will allow the patient to recover quickly and prevent recurrence of the disease.
special massage
Often the patient's condition is so serious and the concomitant diseases are so serious that it is impossible to perform physiotherapy exercises.In this case, one of the relatives can give the patient a special relaxing massage.
It is advisable to use pharmacy or homemade medicinal oil in the process.The best effect can be achieved if you use a relaxing agent with herbal extracts that have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Principles of massage:
- Don't push!The neck muscles are already suffering and additional intense pressure can trigger another attack of pain.Therefore, it is necessary to work with your hands gently so as not to cause discomfort to the patient.Only the fingers should participate in the massage.
- Don't make sudden movements!All manipulations must be carried out without problems.
- Follow the direction!An important rule of massage for osteochondrosis is to follow the direction from the spine, and not towards it.This is how blood will saturate the appropriate areas.
Many experts recommend using massage cups to improve blood circulation.Before the procedure, the skin should be lubricated with Vaseline or massage oil.Once the jar is attached to the body, you should wait no more than 6 to 7 minutes.At the end of the procedure, the area is covered with a warm towel to preserve the effect for longer.
Traditional medicine suggests using common bee honey to warm the skin and muscles.Before the procedure, you need to warm your neck with a heating pad, and then apply a tablespoon of honey to the skin.With light massaging and patting movements, the honey is beaten into a white mass directly on the affected area.At the end of the procedure, the skin will be red and tender;It should be covered with film and a warm towel or wool scarf.White honey is washed off only in the morning.After the first such procedure, the patient will feel significant relief.
Popular medicines
We cannot rule out simple but effective popular recipes.Alternative medicine advises using combinations of various poisons, fats, essential oils and herbs for neck pain.
- Medicine with celery.The root of the vegetable is grated on a fine grater or rubbed through a sieve.After that, squeeze the resulting juice.It is recommended to take this medicine every day to maintain its freshness and beneficial properties.You should drink a tablespoon of juice before meals three times a day.
- Decoction of bay leaves.Pour 15 g of dried bay leaf into a small enamel saucepan and fill it with 300 ml of water at room temperature, boiling for 5-7 minutes.After the broth has infused for 2 to 3 hours, it needs to be strained and cooled.Drink in small sips between meals throughout the day.The only thing left is to drink before going to bed.The course lasts 4 days and after a week of rest it is recommended to repeat the therapy.
- Collection of medicinal herbs.Mix parsley, chamomile, oregano, hops, nettle and burdock root in equal proportions, 100 g each.Pour 1.5 liters of boiling water into a thermos with the dry mixture and leave for 3 days.Take the strained drink one tablespoon 2-3 times a day.The medicine should be stored in the refrigerator.
Effective rubbing
Special home massages will help to enhance the effect of therapeutic massage.They contain only natural ingredients: oils and herbs.
- Remedy with red pepper.Finely chop two hot red peppers and place them in a tightly closed container.Pepper should be poured with a glass of vegetable oil.The medicine should be closed tightly with a rubber cap and left to infuse in a warm, dark place for a week.When the homemade ointment is ready, it should be rubbed into the neck area with light movements twice a day.It is not recommended to apply a large amount of the product, as the warming effect will suddenly turn into a burning effect and instead of improving blood circulation, it will burn.
- butter cream.Mix a raw egg with a tablespoon of flour and the same amount of vinegar.Add 100 g of softened butter.After mixing all the ingredients well, the product should be left for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.A film will appear on the surface of the medicine, which must be removed and the treatment should be started by rubbing the ointment into the skin with a massage.This homemade cream cannot be stored for more than 3 days.
- burdock compress.A mixture of horseradish and burdock has proven effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Finely chopped roots should be doused with boiling water, wrapped in cotton cloth and applied to the sore area 10 times a day.After a week, the illness will stop bothering you.
Special recommendations
Treatment of osteochondrosis using complex therapy quickly produces results.The influence of traditional medicines and traditional medicine has a beneficial effect on the restoration of intervertebral discs and the preservation of cartilage integrity.However, only a doctor should make the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the neck.
A specialist should also tell you how to treat this disease at home, since improper treatment can lead to disease progression and even disability.
It is worth noting that not all methods of home treatment of this disease show positive results.Acupuncture, apitherapy, deep massage, and spinal stretching can cause damage.Even if the doctor recommends carrying out such procedures at home, this will only worsen the situation.These therapies are performed only by specialists in a clinical setting.