Cervical osteochondrosis in recent years has become one of the main health problems of mankind. 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 diagnosed in very young people, even adolescents.
Who can get cervical osteochondrosis?
A computer and a TV set have entered almost every home. Prolonged work and games at the computer, many hours of watching television do not in the best way affect the cervical spine.
Those who spend a lot of time driving a car are also susceptible to this ailment. Heavy physical labor or, conversely, inactivity (physical inactivity), overweight and some diseases, for example, metabolism, can also 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.
Also, with a long course of the disease, the vessels and spinal 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 discomfort in the neck, recurrent pain or crunching. As a rule, most patients at this stage do not go to the doctor.
Later, 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:
- Pain. Pain occurs most often in the neck, sometimes in the clavicle, shoulder and upper limb. The pain may be accompanied by impaired sensitivity (feeling of numbness, "creeping creeps", and so on).
- Cracking on any movement of the neck.
- Dizziness.
- Headaches. They usually do not respond to conventional pain relievers.
- Imbalance and other symptoms.
These and other manifestations of the disease make the sick person still seek help from 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. A large 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, you should periodically take breaks.
During these breaks, it is very useful to do a gentle warm-up of the cervical muscles and self-massage of this area. Choose the right mattress and pillow for your night's sleep.
What if the disease has 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. Compliance with them will maximize the frequency of exacerbation of the disease:
- 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 of working at the computer, watching TV, and so on.
- Maintain correct posture.
- Use orthopedic mattresses and pillows for sleeping.
- The car must have hard seats with an adjusted headrest and a comfortable backrest recline.
- 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.
- Do not carry heavy bags on your shoulder. A backpack should be used to carry things.
- You should get rid of excess weight.
- Avoid hypothermia and drafts.
In case of acute pain in the neck, sharp heat effects (baths, saunas, etc. ) are contraindicated. Swimming is helpful, especially on your back in a pool or open water body.
Neck gymnastics complex
This or a similar set of exercises is recommended to be performed regularly during 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. Perform five times in each direction.
- Raising your chin a little, turn your head in each direction. Repeat five times.
- 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 with both hands at 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 with your forehead on motionless palms for seven seconds. Repeat three more times.
- Place your right palm on your right temple and press your head on 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 tense cervical muscles. Repeat five times.
- Tilting your head back, try to pull your chin up. Repeat five times.
- Interlace the fingers and place them under the chin. Press them on motionless hands, straining the cervical muscles for seven seconds. Repeat three more times.
Breathe easily, evenly and calmly when exercising. Do not overexert yourself. If you experience the slightest signs of discomfort (pain or numbness, dizziness, etc. ), you should stop exercising and inform your doctor about it.
How to sleep properly?
In a dream, we spend on average a third of our lives. Therefore, it is important to dwell on these nuances in more detail. Ideally, you need to purchase an orthopedic mattress and especially a pillow.
If this is not possible, then below are some tips for choosing them:
- The mattress must be firm and resilient. In the acute phase 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 outside her. In case of an exacerbation of the disease, a special roller or a small bag containing warm sand inside can be placed under the neck. If the patient has signs of damage to the vertebral artery, then a high and rigid pillow should be used. The height of the pillow also depends on the width of the patient's shoulders. Patients with cervical osteochondrosis should not sleep without a pillow at all. 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, a small flat pillow should be placed under the ribcage.
Modern methods of treatment
All methods of treatment of 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 phase of cervical osteochondrosis
With an exacerbation of the disease, mainly drug treatment is used. Its main goal is to reduce the intensity of pain in the cervical spine.
In the presence of dizziness, headaches and other symptoms indicating 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 carried out. This should not be neglected. 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.
- Physical therapy 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 physician.
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 trouble for the patient. And, of course, all of us are 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 pain in the neck for a long time, and sometimes even forever.