To the question: how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there is one answer: to influence the cause of this disease yourself, if you are not an acute period.
Medicine treats the investigation - symptoms of the disease, not the cause.Therefore, do not hope for doctors, do not throw money in vain on ointments, teas, injections, physiotherapy, simulators, massage.None of the funds listed will help you.
So it is categorically to say that my personal experience in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, which I will be happy to share, in the hope that it will help one of you cope with this problem.
However, success in treatment will depend on several conditions:
- your desire to help yourself;
- readiness to understand the true cause of cervical osteochondrosis;
- Compliance with the strictest self -discipline in treatment.
What you need to know about osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
To answer the question:how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine,It is necessary to understand the cause of the disease well.To understand it, you will have to turn to the anatomy of the spine.
Our spine is a strong, but flexible case for vital blood vessels and nerve trunks.Supporting the spine in good condition means not to have health problems.
But we, out of ignorance or due to a frivolous attitude to health from a young age, carelessly treat the spine: overly load it, take uncomfortable poses, sitting for hours at the computer or at the table during sitting work, we spend a lot of time driving a car in a tense state, we have overweight, incorrect posture, etc.
The cervical spine is the most mobile.It consists of seven vertebrae, between which there are elastic intervertebral discs.They are clearly visible in the figure.The discs make the spine flexible and at the same time give it strength.
Each intervertebral disk consists of a fibrous ring, inside which there is a pulpoose nucleus.
In the cervical spine, the cerebrospinal nerve and vertebral artery pass, which, through the branched nerves and blood vessels, feed not only the head along with the brain, but also the organs of the shoulder girdle.
Cervical osteochondrosis is changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine as a result of physical, inflammatory or mental exposure.The elasticity and strength of the intervertebral discs decreases, while their height also decreases.
In the future, if you do not treat the disease, the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc is squeezed and deformed, which can lead to protrusion.In more severe cases, the fibrous ring of the disk breaks, and the pulpic nucleus protrudes in the form of a hernia, while squeezing the nerve endings emerging from the vertebral holes, as shown in the figure.
So, the cause of cervical osteochondrosis is a change in the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine against the background of weak muscles.Moreover, even a slight muscle tension can lead to a displacement of the vertebrae, as a result of which the nerve endings are compressed, and pain occurs.
But there are a lot of factors, as a result of which there are a change in disks.This is a sedentary lifestyle, and a hereditary predisposition, and metabolic disorders, and injuries, and the deposition of salts in the cervical spine and others.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest?All symptoms indicate that as a result of changes in the intervertebral discs, innervation and blood supply to the brain, head, neck and shoulder girdle are impaired.Therefore, symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are headache in the back of the head and temples,
Dizziness with a sharp turn of the head, noise in the ears, a decrease in visual acuity, hearing deterioration, pain in the neck, shoulders, shoulder blades, hands, and sometimes in the heart.
If cervical osteochondrosis is not treated, then due to impaired cerebral circulation, diseases develop such as: migraine, hypertension, vegetovascular dystonia, hearing problems, eyes, coordination, with cardiovascular and respiratory systems.In advanced cases, brain ischemia and stroke may develop.
Personal experience in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
The diagnosis is cervical osteochondrosis, I was given a neuropathologist at the age of 45.Having looked at the X-ray picture of my neck, he wrote on the card next to the diagnosis: the height of the discs between the C5-C6 and C6-C7 vertebrae was significantly reduced.I was tormented by frequent headaches, ringing in my ears, pain in my neck.
The question arose:How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The doctor calmly “reassured” me that osteochondrosis is impossible to completely cure, as the intervertebral discs were deformed.He prescribed me not cheap, at those prices, ointment and advised me to directly sit at the table.It was the 90s, I bought the ointment according to the recipe for a neuropathologist at some left pharmacy.But the ointment of relief did not bring, the pain poisoned my life.
On the recommendation of acquaintances, I turned to the services of a paid specialist in manual therapy with higher medical education.After he, having felt the cervical vertebrae, turned my head, it seemed to be 180 degrees, it became easy, enlightened and not painful.However, the procedure was clearly dangerous.The manoalist warned that for three days you need to sit at the table directly, and not in a favorite pose.
I followed the recommendations for two days, and then I forgot.A few days later, my condition again became the same as before visiting a doctor - a manualist.This experience told me how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Having re -read all the literature about osteochondrosis, I realized that I had to independently affect the cause of the disease.Doctors here are not assistants.It is impossible to change the deformation of the discs, but you can stretch the cervical spine, and thereby reduce the pressure on the nerve endings and blood vessels.
In the house we always had a horizontal bar, in the morning, hanging on it, you get a good stretch of the entire spine, except for the neck.I tried many ways to stretch the neck, and developed my own system for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Changed her posture.It was not easy and not immediately happened, but self -discipline and motivation helped me, to feel healthy.I often looked in the mirror at my posture, checked it, going close to the wall: my head should touch the wall, that is, to be on the same line with heels.I always try to hold my head and shoulders straight. Today, when I am 60, I have a posture better than it was twenty years ago.
- Daily in the morning and evening I do the exercise "Turtle" from the Tao revitalization system.Sometimes I do it more often if I feel tensions or hardening in the neck, upper back or shoulders. Do the turtle of the turtle with sitting as in the figure:
- Lower your chin on your chest, pulling your head up your back with your head.Inhale slowly.At this time, the back of the neck stretches up, and the shoulders drop down;
- Slowly exhale, take the back of the head down, as if you want to touch them to the back of the neck.The chin stretches up, the throat stretches slightly.The shoulders rise on both sides of the head, as if about to touch the ears;
- Repeat this cycle 10-12 times, trying to do everything slowly.
The exercise of the turtle contributes to the safe stretching of the cervical spine, strengthens the muscles of the neck and shoulders, eliminates fatigue, hardening and pain, improves metabolism and rejuvenates the body.
- In addition to the "turtle" I do an exercise to relax the entire shoulder girdle, also sitting:
- Raise and lower your shoulders 10 times;Tilt your head slowly to the left - to the right 10 times to each shoulder;
- Tilt your head slowly forward - back 10 times;
- Tilt your head first to the right (the right ear to the right shoulder), then slowly, stretching out the neck and throwing your head, roll it to the spine and left shoulder.Then from the left shoulder - to the right.Make 10 rifts to each shoulder;
- Relax, straighten the spine again, balance the weight of the body on the tailbone, and begin to slowly make circular movements with a torso from left to right, then 10 times from right to left.At the same time, the head, shoulders, hands are relaxed in rotation.
This exercise, in addition to relaxation, awakens the healing forces of the body, normalizing the energy nutrition of all cells and organs.
- When I work at the computer for a long time, I put on a neck collar (it can be purchased at a pharmacy).I am not sitting in it for long, an hour or two.This allows you to keep your head straight.
- If I noticed that from an awkward pose, for example, sitting by the TV or working in the country, I had a ringing in my ears or headache, I immediately relax (as read here), after which I do the exercise of the turtle.Calling and pain pass within 5-10 minutes.
Relaxation and stretching of the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle should become part of your daily life, then you will feel great, having such a diagnosis as cervical osteochondrosis.
Before starting exercises, consult your doctor.
Here I want to note that such treatment of the disease is possible outside of exacerbation.If you have an acute period of cervical osteochondrosis with infringement of nerves from hypothermia or any infection, then see a doctor and take the prescribed blockade, injections, etc.As soon as the exacerbation passes, you can apply my method.
You are also a note: you can relax your neck muscles by taking a hot shower on your neck or getting caught in the bath.
Lead a mobile lifestyle, but avoid sharp turns of the head, heavy burden, since the shoulder muscles are strained, the spasm of which will shift the vertebrae and infringe on the roots of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck.
Sleep on a small pillow, often in the fresh air, change negative thoughts to positive so that your stresses do not strain the cervical and shoulder zones, and do not exacerbate the symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Adhere to proper nutrition.Exclude sugar and white bread, bakery products from your diet.Eat more vegetables, fruits and grain.
Now, I hope you understand how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Trust yourself and live without pain with your cervical osteochondrosis!