How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home?

Pain appears when you don't expect it. Even the most confident person in such cases can get confused and frightened. The cause of the pain syndrome is often osteochondrosis. How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treated at home and how effective will the treatment be? Let's find out more.

What is osteochondrosis

Official medical sources interpret osteochondrosis as a degenerative disease that affects the intervertebral disc with the involvement of adjacent vertebrae and joints. The elasticity of the intervertebral joint is impaired - and the disc becomes thinner. It is necessary to understand how nutrition and metabolic processes occur in the intervertebral discs. This structural element is formed by cartilaginous tissue; blood vessels are absent here. Power is diffuse, like a pump. When moving for squeezing, a lubricating fluid is released and then absorbed again. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appears, exercise therapy, massage and the whole range of therapeutic techniques should be prescribed as soon as possible.

What changes occur in the spine and their symptoms

The following processes occur in the affected joint:

  • the nucleus pulposus of the disc loses physiological moisture;
  • cartilage loses its shape;
  • loses its elasticity;
  • changes color;
  • dries up;
  • turns yellow;
  • loses resistance to damage.
spinal lesion with cervical osteochondrosis

The consequence of this is a violation of the synchronization of movement in the adjacent segments of the spinal column, infringement of the nerve roots. The main symptoms of degenerative changes will be pain, limitation of mobility, some forms of paresthesia ("crawling", tingling).

All of these changes suggest the presence of osteochondrosis. How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or any other treated, we will talk further.

Why does osteochondrosis occur?

The causes of the onset of the disease include everything that disrupts the power of the disk:

  • Congestion caused by static loads.
  • Prolonged retention of unfavorable positions, especially sitting. There is a good proverb: "If you can stand - do not sit, if you can lie down - do not stand. "
  • Traumatic effects on the endplates, fibers of the annulus fibrosus.
pinched artery with cervical osteochondrosis

Common reasons include unbalanced nutrition, physical inactivity, insufficient development of the deep muscles that form the muscle corset. The stability of the spine is due to the complex interaction of bone, muscle and nerve structures of the skeleton. The muscles of the abdomen and back are antagonists, balancing each other out. Therefore, the postulate "movement is life" remains relevant as never before. Exercises can effectively affect the degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. Exercise therapy is used both in a polyclinic and at home. Since the spine consists of several parts, the disease can occur in any of them. The cervical and lumbar regions are more often exposed.

How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifested?

The manifestations of osteochondrosis of various localization are combined into syndromes:

  • cervicalgia syndrome (impaired mobility of the shoulder joint, pain of a different nature);
  • cervicocranialgia (pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the neck, there may be tinnitus, dizziness, palpitations, nausea);
  • cervicobrachialgia or shoulder-scapular syndrome (neck pain flowing into the shoulder and arm).
neck pain with osteochondrosis

If you are worried about aching pain, often at night, with numbness, the diagnosis is likely to be confirmed - osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The pain syndrome associated with disorders of this department is called thoracalgia.

Physiotherapy at home

How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with medications is described in many reference books. But in most cases, the effect of the drug is short-lived. Here exercise therapy can come to the rescue.

physiotherapy exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
  1. We stand against the wall and rest against it with the back of our head. We try to press on the wall with maximum force for a few seconds. Then we relax.
  2. We sit down at the table, put our elbows on it. We rest our chin on our hands, trying to press on the palms, while trying to tilt our head or turn it to the side.
  3. Lean your head on your hands on the back of your head. Alternately, then press on them with the back of your head, then relax. Perform several repetitions with a hold of up to 10 seconds.
  4. Clasp your head with your palms, alternately pressing on one or the other hand.

During exacerbations, exercises are performed with a duration of no more than 3-4 seconds, and with moderate exertion. Classes will slow down the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Exercises at home can be started after you are satisfied that they are performed correctly in a healthcare setting.

Massage without the help of a professional

If the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is confirmed, massage will be one of the necessary treatment methods. In this case, it is not only useful, but also irreplaceable procedure. Initially, it is better to take a professional course, and then perform simple techniques at home on your own. These techniques include the technique of post-static muscle relaxation. The peculiarity of the method consists in the passive stretching of the muscle from the overstrain position in combination with massage elements. It is necessary to apply the technique after the spasmodic muscles are warmed up (bath, hot compress, kneading, stroking).

neck hurts with cervical osteochondrosis

When using self-massage, the same techniques are used as in a professional one. These are stroking, kneading, pinpoint impacts, patting, shaking. The massage is performed with warm, warm hands. Use massage oil to improve glide. The sequence of techniques is as follows:

  • stroking;
  • trituration;
  • kneading;
  • vibration (patting, shaking).

Influencing the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, massage begins and ends with stroking.

A bit of manual therapy

  1. We sit on a chair with a high back. We clasp the head with our hands, placing our thumbs on the cheekbones (more precisely, on the bumps under the eye sockets). We raise our eyes up, take a breath and press the back of the head on our fingers. We hold it for up to a quarter of a minute, then on exhalation we lean back on the back of the chair and relax the neck muscles, tilting our head down. We repeat the technique several times. Then we wrap our fingers around the neck, closer to its upper part, slightly tilt our head forward. We press our fingers into the base of the skull, making them a slow rotational movement. Gradually lower the fingers lower and lower, approaching the trapezius muscle. How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated with the help of manual therapy can be seen in the following manipulations.
  2. pain in the neck with osteochondrosis
  3. We lie on our back, pulling our shoulders down as much as possible. Place the hand on the sore side under the buttock, palm up. Place your other hand under your head, clasping the back of your head and tilting your head to the side opposite to the problem one. Inhaling, press your head on your fingers for 15 seconds. As you exhale, relax and pull your head a little harder, stretching the sore muscle.

A set of measures in the treatment of osteochondrosis

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely defeat cervical osteochondrosis. Treatment at home or in a medical facility should be comprehensive. This includes the use of:

  • pain medications;
  • muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasm;
  • drugs with chondroprotective action;
  • physiotherapy procedures;
  • massage;
  • Exercise therapy;
  • balanced diet.

Having studied the medical literature, one can draw certain conclusions about how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated, but dispensing with professionally prescribed treatment is a crime directed against one's health.