Cervical osteochondrosis is the most common type of osteochondrosis, with this disease in the cervical vertebrae there is an overgrowth of bone tissue, which leads to compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine. As a result of such compression, there is a malnutrition of the tissues of the spine. Such osteochondrosis develops in people who keep the cervical spine in tension most of their time.
Treatment of this osteochondrosis with folk remedies or medications should be carried out already in the early stages of this disease.
And in order to determine the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to know well the symptoms of this type of osteochondrosis in order to begin timely treatment of this disease.
Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms of the disease
Usually, people begin to think about the treatment of osteochondrosis after the onset of pain. That's when we think about the question: how to treat cervical osteochondrosis with folk remedies or medications.
- Headaches appear, especially in the back of the head, pain in the neck when moving the head, difficulty in motor functions of the neck.
- A person periodically develops dizziness, a feeling of nausea may appear, it darkens in the eyes, and makes noise in the ears.
- Then these pain sensations can go down the body: to the arms and chest.
- Patients have numbness of the fingertips on the hands, pain in the heart.
- With the progression of osteochondrosis, painful pulsating sensations appear in the eyes, vision may deteriorate.
- If a crunch appears with a sharp movement of the neck, this is already a sign that you need to undergo an examination of the cervical spine.
- In the future, with the development of this type of osteochondrosis, you can make yourself a bunch of more serious diseases: ischemic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, atrophy of the hands.
Before starting the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, this disease should be diagnosed by a specialist - a doctor after the examination and on the basis of symptoms. You may be offered the following examination methods: MRI, radiography, tomography.
Cervical osteochondrosis: drug treatment
In order to reduce pain during exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, drugs are usually prescribed - analgesics.
The most appropriate drug will be prescribed by a specialist based on the results of the examination.
Osteochondrosis: treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies is even more common among people than the treatment of this disease with drugs. But to obtain the best result, these methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis must be combined in consultation with a specialist. Folk remedies that are used in the treatment of this disease are aimed primarily at reducing pain, at stopping the process of destruction of cartilage tissue.
Compresses are widely used in the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies.
- Mash hot boiled potatoes with a crush and add the same amount of honey. Put the prepared cake on the cervical spine, cover with a plastic bag and a cloth that will keep warm. Soak until the cake has cooled. This compress can be done several times a day.
- Mix aloe juice with the same amount of dry mustard, add propolis tincture and vodka. We put the resulting mixture on the cervical spine, and also cover it with a plastic bag and cloth on top. This compress is best done before bedtime and kept overnight.
- Knead the dough from rye flour and water, bake several cakes in the oven, which are hot applied to the neck and back of the head and covered with a thick cloth.
- When treating osteochondrosis with folk remedies, you can make compresses from a decoction of herbs such as leaves and burdock root, St. John's wort, dandelion root. In a decoction of these herbs, moisten a piece of thick cloth and attach to the cervical spine, cover with cellophane on top and hold the compress for about 30 minutes, then remove the compress, and wrap the neck with a scarf.
You can also treat osteochondrosis with such folk remedies that are taken orally:
- Mix aloe juice with the same amount of radish juice, add a little vodka and liquid honey. This mixture is taken on an empty stomach once a day.
- Prepare a decoction of oregano, chamomile, hops, pour boiling water over these herbs and keep in a dark place for about 3 days. The resulting product is taken 1 tablespoon twice a day.
- You can prepare a decoction of parsley roots: for 500 g of water, 3 tablespoons of herbs, boil for an hour. Take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day.
- Pour the red elderberry berries with alcohol and leave for 7 days. Tincture can rub the cervical region of the spine.
- You can prepare an ointment from pork fat and hop cones, which are mixed in a 1: 1 ratio. With this ointment, thoroughly rub the cervical spine and the back of the head and wrap these places with a scarf. Rubbing is best done before bedtime, and in the morning, wash and rub the scalp and neck skin with a towel.
Exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis
The exercises listed below are effective in treating osteochondrosis. These exercises are aimed at restoring muscle tone in the cervical spine, and these exercises help to improve blood circulation in the neck.
- With your hands in the lock, press on the frontal part of the head. At this time, as if resisting, press your head against your hands. Hold the pressure for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 5 to 10 times.
- The next exercise is similar to the first. Only it is necessary to press your hands not to the forehead, but to the left and right ears in turn.
- The exercise is aimed at relaxing the muscles in the neck. This exercise can be done, for example, if you work at the computer for a long time. Relax your neck muscles and lower your head to your chest. Try to feel how heavy your head is. Return to starting position. Repeat 5-10 times.
- This exercise is similar to the previous one. Lower your head to your chest, relax your muscles and roll your head from the bottom shoulder to the other. The exercise is done slowly.
- Straighten your neck, head straight. Turn your head to the right trying to reach your right shoulder, then turn your head to the left trying to reach your left shoulder. This exercise stretches the muscles in the neck.
All methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis should preferably be used in combination.
But! Before starting the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, make sure that you are sick with this particular disease, go through a full examination and get a doctor's opinion.
Diet for osteochondrosis
In the end, I would like to note that in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to follow a diet.
It is better to eat more often and in smaller portions.
The diet should contain as little salt as possible, less liquid, spicy and too salty foods, strong tea or coffee.
You will have to exclude baked goods from your diet, as well as sweets and carbonated drinks.
Don't eat mayonnaise. Do not include canned food in your diet. These products only clog the blood, but there is no benefit.
Your diet should contain the following foods:
- Milk, cottage cheese, hard cheese, rye bread (i. e. calcium).
- Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, green onions (i. e. manganese and vitamins A, B, and C).
- Meat, seafood, nuts, including seeds, liver (i. e. copper and vitamins B and D).
- Eggs, fish, and already marked meat and milk (i. e. phosphorus).
The diet is not complicated! We wish you health and successful treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.