Cervical osteochondrosis in recent years has become one of the main health problems of humanity. A few decades ago, this disease was considered the lot of the elderly due to age-related changes in the intervertebral cartilage. Now, osteochondrosis of the neck is increasingly being diagnosed in very young people, even teenagers.
Who can get cervical osteochondrosis?
A computer and a television have entered almost every home. Prolonged work and computer games, many hours of television do not affect the cervical spine in the best way.
Those who spend a lot of time driving a car are also prone to this ailment. Heavy physical work or, conversely, inactivity (physical inactivity), overweight and some diseases, for example, metabolism, can provoke the appearance of osteochondrosis of the neck.
How and why does this disease appear?
With cervical osteochondrosis, there is a gradual destruction of the intervertebral cartilage. Due to this, there is a violation of the normal position of the vertebrae relative to each other.
In addition, with a long course of the disease, the spinal vessels and nerves located in the bone canals of the cervical vertebrae are involved in the pathological process.
The main manifestations of osteochondrosis of the neck
For a long time, the disease may not manifest itself in any way. Only occasionally can there be neck discomfort, recurring pain or crunching. As a rule, most patients at this stage do not go to the doctor.
Subsequently, as the progression of the disease develops, the manifestation of the disease appears in the cervical spine. Most often, osteochondrosis of the neck is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Ache. Pain most often occurs in the neck, sometimes in the collarbone, shoulder and upper limb. The pain may be accompanied by reduced sensation (feeling of numbness, "crawling chills" and so on).
- Cracking on any movement of the neck.
- Dizziness.
- Headache Usually unresponsive to conventional pain relievers.
- Imbalance and other symptoms.
These and other manifestations of the disease cause the sufferer to still seek the help of a neuropathologist. However, they already indicate an active degenerative process in the cervical spine.
How to prevent the development of osteochondrosis of the neck?
First of all, you should lead an active lifestyle. It is necessary to play sports or at least do daily exercises in the morning. An important role in the prevention of the disease is assigned to the correct organization of work and rest regimes.
When working, which is associated with a long forced position of the body, it is necessary to periodically take breaks.
During these breaks, it is very useful to do a gentle warm-up of the cervical muscles and self-massage this area. Choose the right mattress and pillow for your night sleep.
What if the disease had already appeared?
In addition to following the doctor's recommendations for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck, several simple rules should be followed in everyday life. Their observance will allow to minimize the frequency of exacerbation of the disease as much as possible:
- Daily implementation of the recommended complex of physiotherapy exercises.
- During sedentary work, change the position of the body every 30-50 minutes, take breaks for gymnastics for the neck.
- If possible, limit the time you work on the computer, watch TV, and so on.
- Maintain good posture.
- Use orthopedic mattresses and pillows for sleeping.
- The car should have hard seats with an adjusted headrest and a comfortable reclining backrest.
- Try not to do heavy physical work, not to make sudden movements.
- If you need to lift a heavy thing, you should first sit down and then pick it up.
- Don't carry heavy bags on your shoulder. A backpack should be used for carrying things.
- You should get rid of the excess weight.
- Avoid hypothermia and drafts.
In case of acute neck pain, acute heat effects are contraindicated (baths, saunas, etc. ). Swimming is useful, especially on the back in the pool or in open water.
Neck gymnastics complex
It is recommended that this or a similar set of exercises be performed regularly during work breaks. And not only for patients with osteochondrosis of the neck, but also for the prevention of the disease. After all, such exercises can not only remove tension in the cervical muscles, but also significantly increase efficiency, concentration and improve the state of memory:
- Lowering your chin to your neck, slowly turn your head in both directions. Run five times in each direction.
- Raising his chin slightly, he turns his head in all directions. Repeat five times.
- By tilting your head to the right side, try to reach the corresponding shoulder with your ear. Do the same for the opposite side. Repeat five times.
- The chin is straight, both hands are pressed to the back of the head. Press the back of the head on the hands, overcoming the resistance of the cervical muscles, for seven seconds. Repeat three more times.
- Press your forehead onto the immobile palms for seven seconds. Repeat three more times.
- Place your right palm on your right temple and press your head against it, straining your neck muscles for seven seconds. Do the same on the opposite side. Repeat three times.
- The head is straight. Try to tilt your head forward, overcoming the resistance of the tense cervical muscles. Repeat five times.
- By tilting your head back, try to lift your chin. Repeat five times.
- Interlace your fingers and place them under the chin. Press them on motionless hands, tensing the cervical muscles for seven seconds. Repeat three more times.
Breathe easily, evenly and calmly during exercise. Don't try too hard. If the slightest signs of discomfort occur (pain or numbness, dizziness, etc. ), you should stop exercising and tell your doctor about it.
How to sleep properly?
In a dream, we spend on average a third of our life. Therefore, it is important to dwell on these nuances in more detail. Ideally, you need to buy an orthopedic mattress and especially a pillow.
If that's not possible, here are some tips for choosing them:
- The mattress should be firm and strong. In the acute stage of the disease, it is advisable to put an additional shield or wide boards under the mattress.
- The pillow should be small and moderately soft. It should only support the head and neck. The shoulders are out of her. In case of exacerbation of the disease, a special roller or a small bag containing hot sand can be placed under the neck. If the patient has signs of damage to the vertebral artery, a high, firm pillow should be used. The height of the pillow also depends on the patient's shoulder width. Patients with cervical osteochondrosis should not sleep completely without a pillow. This recommendation is only valid for disease prevention.
- The sleeping position for osteochondrosis of the neck should be chosen on the back or on the side. Sleeping on your stomach is highly undesirable. If this is not possible, place a small flat pillow under the rib cage.
Modern methods of treatment
All methods of treating osteochondrosis of the neck are aimed at improving the anatomical functioning of the intervertebral discs and joints, as well as the ligaments and bone tissue of the vertebrae. Symptomatic treatment is used, which is aimed at reducing the severity of the manifestations of the disease.
Acute stage of cervical osteochondrosis
With an exacerbation of the disease, drug treatment is mainly used. Its main goal is to reduce the intensity of pain in the cervical spine.
In the presence of dizziness, headache and other symptoms that indicate the involvement of the vertebral arteries in the pathological process, appropriate corrective therapy is applied.
Treatment in remission
After the acute manifestations subside, perhaps the main treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is performed. This shouldn't be overlooked. Indeed, it is precisely the careful implementation of the recommendations of the attending physician in this period that will reduce the frequency and intensity of exacerbations of the disease in the future. To do this, apply:
- Massage.
- Manual therapy.
- Physiotherapy.
- Reflexology.
- Physiotherapy and special gymnastics.
- Restorative drug treatment: drugs that improve the condition of the cartilage of the intervertebral discs (chondroprotectors); vitamin therapy.
Of course, the complex of therapeutic effects should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
Is it possible to get rid of osteochondrosis of the neck?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a long-term disease that causes a lot of problems for the patient. And, of course, we are all interested in the main question - how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis?
Unfortunately, changes in the intervertebral cartilage and other anatomical structures of the cervical spine are irreversible.
However, careful adherence to all medical recommendations and a complete change in lifestyle will allow you to forget about neck pain for a long time, and sometimes even forever.