How much time do we spend sitting in transportation or sitting at the dinner table!So we pay the price for this with various diseases, the first of which is cervical osteochondrosis.So, what should we do with it?
It's different for everyone
Cervical osteochondrosis is not a sudden "attack" of the flu: the lesions in the vertebrae slowly develop, "mature" and intensify.And, often we don't pay attention to the initial signals because we don't know anything about them.Experts say if you suddenly feel uncomfortable sleeping on a high pillow, or if your hands start to feel numb or cold for no apparent reason, it's time to see your doctor.
Since we are all different, everyone has their own "specific" presentation of the disease.But if "the process has begun", most commonly the following symptoms "indicate" that the problem has begun:
- Paroxysmal, painful headaches that usually start at the back of the head and spread to the top of the head and temples;
- Shoulder, forearm, hand pain;
- Numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs;
- Dizziness or even fainting when you turn your head suddenly;
- tinnitus;
- Sometimes tenderness occurs over the heart and radiates to the shoulder blades and forearms.Osteochondrosis differs from angina in that it can persist or even worsen for several days.
Don't step on the same rake!
We must learn to live with any chronic disease, and cervical osteochondrosis is no exception: periods of relative calm are replaced by exacerbations that we often trigger ourselves.So let’s learn to “stand our ground”—avoiding situations that might trigger another attack.
Which ones specifically?Do not lie in bed reading or watching TV to avoid overloading the cervical spine.Be careful with chores that require you to raise your head for a long time or, conversely, tilt it down: for example, gluing wallpaper or weeding flower beds with your favorite flowers is not for you.
When sitting in front of the computer, take breaks every half hour to give your neck a chance to rest.Don't turn your head all the way while driving.In general, avoid sudden, impulsive movements of the head and neck whenever and wherever possible.
The Fantastic Five
No matter what effective treatments you are promised, it is impossible to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever.But it is entirely possible to minimize "visits" from unpleasant guests.
To prevent attacks and exacerbations, perform special exercises twice a day.This will take very little time.Here are five simple exercises that can be performed while sitting in a chair with your back straight.
- Tilt your head slightly forward and place your palms on your forehead.Put your head in your hands.Hold this position for 10 seconds.Repeat the same operation, pressing your fingers to your temples.Now - to the back of the head.
- Sit in a chair, place your arms across your body, pull your head back, and slowly turn to the left.Hold this position for 30 seconds.Turn your head to the right and repeat the exercise.
- Lift your shoulders and try to reach your ears.Maintain this position for 10 seconds.Lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, and relax for 10-15 seconds.Repeat the same movement, raising one shoulder and lowering the other.
- Lower your head and try to press your chin toward your chest.Repeat 5 times.
- Smoothly tilt your head backward, forward, left, and right.Repeat this action three times in each direction.
Let's stroke it and keep it warm, shall we?
Self-massage also helps to activate the neck muscles, improving their blood supply and metabolic processes.It’s not difficult at all, it doesn’t take more than five minutes, and the main thing is to massage it every day.So shall we begin?
Take a comfortable position in the chair and relax.Place the four fingers of your palm on the back of your neck and stroke it from top to bottom.Repeat 3-4 times.
Do the same thing but with more pressure, massaging the back of your neck with just your thumbs.
Using a circular, rotating motion (again, using only four fingers on each palm), rub your neck along the sides of your occipital bone, moving down a line parallel to your spine.
Stretch the neck muscles: First, on the right side, with your left hand, grab the muscle with your thumb and four other hands, pinch it gently, and then move it toward your palm with your thumb.Repeat the same action on the left side of your neck with your right hand.
Finally, gently stroke the neck from top to bottom to complete the massage.
Don't just rely on yourself
Prevention methods are excellent, but with osteochondrosis, you have to wrap your neck around your doctor's attention.Especially if you are in your forties.Time not only changes our appearance, but also changes our hearts - pathological changes in the cervical spine are accelerating, and the first task here is to "monitor" its condition.
The arteries that supply blood to the brain pass through the cervical spine.Disturbances in the blood supply caused by compression of blood vessels can lead to unpleasant complications.The most common one involves changes in the hypothalamus, a specialized department "responsible" for emotional states, metabolism, blood pressure, activity of the cardiovascular system, and more.
This can lead to insomnia, irritability, memory loss, severe migraines, and increased stress.
If you want to help yourself, get tested.X-rays of the cervical spine allow you to monitor for adverse changes; to confirm the diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrovascular Doppler imaging, and other tests are performed.