And how much time do we spend sitting in the car or at the dinner table!Therefore, we have to pay the price for this with many different diseases, the foremost of which is cervical spondylosis.Well, what should we do about it?
It's different for everyone
Cervical spondylosis is not a sudden "attack" of the flu: pathological changes in the vertebrae develop slowly, "mature", and are healthy.And, as a rule, we do not pay attention to the first signals because we do not know anything about them.Experts say that if you suddenly feel uncomfortable sleeping on a high pillow or, for unknown reasons, your hands begin to feel numb and cold, it's time to see a doctor.
Because we are all different, each person has their own "characteristic" manifestations of this disease.But if “the process has already begun,” the following symptoms are often “signals” that the problem has begun:
- paroxysmal, painful headache, often starting in the back of the head and then spreading to the top of the head and temples;
- pain in the shoulder, forearm, hand;
- numbness, burning, tingling in the arms or legs;
- dizziness, even fainting when turning your head suddenly;
- tinnitus;
- Sometimes the pain in the heart area spreads to the shoulder blades and forearms.With osteoarthritis, unlike angina, it can persist and become even more intense for several days.
Don't step on the same rake!
We have to learn to live with any chronic disease, and cervical spondylosis is no exception: periods of relative calm are replaced by exacerbations that we often cause ourselves.So learn to “hold the line” - to avoid situations that could provoke another attack.
Which ones are correct?Do not read books or watch TV while lying in bed to avoid overloading the cervical vertebrae.Be careful with household chores that require you to raise your head or, conversely, bend down for long periods of time: for example, pasting wallpaper or weeding a flower bed with your favorite flowers is not for you.
When sitting in front of the computer, take a break every half hour to give your neck a chance to rest.Don't turn your head all the way while driving.And in general, always and everywhere avoid sudden, impulsive movements of the head and neck.
Great year
It is impossible to get rid of cervical spondylosis forever, no matter what effective treatment is promised to you.But minimizing the number of "visits" by an annoying guest is entirely possible.
To prevent attacks and exacerbations, perform special exercises twice a day.It will take very little time.Below are five simple exercises, do them while sitting in a chair with your back straight.
- Tilt your head slightly forward and place your palm on your forehead.Press the tip into your hand.Stay in this position for 10 seconds.Repeat the same, pressing your fingers to your temples.And now - to the back of the head.
- Sit on a chair, lower your arms along your body, pull your head back and slowly turn to the left.Stay in this position for 30 seconds.Repeat the exercise by turning your head to the right.
- Raise your shoulders, trying to reach your ears.Hold this position for 10 seconds.Lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, and relax for 10-15 seconds.Repeat, raising one shoulder and lowering the other.
- Lower your head, try to press your chin to your chest.Repeat 5 times.
- Gently tilt your head back, forward, left, right.Repeat the movement in each direction three times.
Caress it, warm it?
Self-massage also helps activate the neck muscles, improving blood supply and metabolism.It is not difficult at all and takes no more than five minutes, the main thing is to do the massage daily.So shall we begin?
Choose a comfortable position in the chair and relax.Press four fingers of your palm to the back of your neck, stroking from top to bottom.Repeat 3-4 times.
Do the same but more vigorously, massaging the back of your neck with just your thumb.
Using a circular motion (again, using only four fingers of each palm), rub the neck along both sides of the occipital bone, moving down along lines that run parallel to the spine.
Stretch the neck muscles: first, on the right side, use your left hand to grasp the muscle with your thumb and the other four fingers, pinch it slightly and move it towards the palm with your thumb.Repeat on the left side of the neck, using the right hand.
Finally, complete the massage process by gently stroking your neck from top to bottom.
Don't rely only on yourself
Prevention is great, but with osteoarthritis, you will have to wrap your neck with your doctor's attention.Especially if you're over forty.Time changes us not only externally, but also internally - pathological changes in the cervical spine are increasing, and here the number one task becomes "monitoring" its condition.
The arteries that supply blood to the brain pass through the cervical spine.Blood supply disorders due to compression of blood vessels lead to unpleasant complications.One of the most common is associated with changes in the hypothalamus, a special part responsible for emotional state, metabolism, blood pressure, cardiovascular system activity and much more.
This leads to insomnia, irritability, memory loss, severe migraines and increased pressure.
If you want to help yourself, get tested.X-rays of the cervical spine allow you to monitor for unfavorable changes;To clarify the diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral Dopplerography and some other tests are performed.