The spine keeps us in an upright position, lifts our head and enables us to perform everyday activities. However, in order for it to perform its function well, all ligaments and muscles attached to it must be strong and efficient. If the muscles on both sides of the spine do not work equally, they are weakened, overstretched or tense, the spine becomes unstable, posture deteriorates, vertebrae and discs wear out quickly.

An overloaded spine sends more signals:migraine , tinnitus,heart painor kidney pain, leg numbness … myself at my own request. Most of us lead a sedentary lifestyle, and we don't feel like sports or the time.

We carry heavy bags on one shoulder, stand, walk, sit carelessly. In addition, we live under stress and constant rush. As a result, we overload the spine, which leads to various ailments: from headache to numbness in the feet.

You can deal with many on your own. It is enough to remember a few rules and follow them in everyday life. There is no better cure for the spine than exercise. Lack of exercise causes the muscles to lose flexibility and stop supporting the spine. Baths, compresses and relaxation will also bring relief.

Pains in the area of ​​the sternum

They are deceptively similar to coronary pains. They appear in the area of ​​the sternum and radiate to the neck, left shoulder and back. Pain increases with inhalation, coughing and walking. May be accompanied by shortness of breath, bronchospasm (similar to asthma), circulatory disturbances with too high or too low pressure. It happens to professionally active 35-45-year-olds, exhausted, living in constant stress and is the result of overloading the thoracic spine.

What to do?First you need to see a doctor to rule out coronary artery disorders and heart problems. Pain will be relieved by rest. Yoga and meditation work well on the nerves. Take a warm bath with the addition of s alt or aromatic oil. When carrying something heavy, hold it as close to you as possible in both hands. Avoid bending down on straightened legs - this helps to overload the thoracic spine.

Deterioration of sight and hearing

Eye pain, visual impairment, tinnitus and ringing in the ears are sometimes the result of irritation of the nerve roots responsible forsight and hearing. Due to the pressure on the nerves, it may also be difficult to swallow.

What to do?Change position. When you are sitting down, take a short break every half an hour to stretch your bones. Place the monitor at a suitable distance (no less than half a meter) in front of your face to look up, to the side or stretching your head forward, without putting too much strain on your neck muscles.

Neck numbness

This is the result of sleeping in the wrong position or sitting for many hours with your head bowed, especially when it is accompanied by fatigue and stress. A typical example is reading a book before an exam or on an urgent project at work. It usually starts with innocent neck pain that spreads to the neck and shoulders. The pressure on the nerve roots makes the neck tingle.

What to do?Regardless of what you are doing: solving crosswords or sewing, raise your head every few minutes and look straight ahead, slightly tucking your chin. Do not support the receiver with your shoulder while talking on the phone. You can give yourself a massage: use your fingertips to gently knead the sides of the neck with circular movements. Sleep on a special orthopedic pillow - it enables the best positioning of the neck for the spine.

Migraine, dizziness

Many people complain of migraine-like headaches. The pain covers the back of the neck and radiates towards the back, affecting half of the head (some people experience pain on both sides of the head). It may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, smells and sounds, scotomas. It occurs mainly in the morning and in certain positions, such as when your head is tilted forward or when you suddenly turn to the side. Dizziness, sometimes even a momentary loss of consciousness, indicates disturbed blood supply to the brain due to pressure on vertebral arteries.

What to do?Try to compress the temporal arteries with your fingers, release it for a while after a few minutes. Repeat until you feel relieved. Don't make jerky head movements as this will aggravate the pain. You can relieve nausea with a small snack, tea with ginger. A good remedy for a headache is to rest in silence. You can save yourself with a pill with parace-tamol, ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid.

Abdominal discomfort

Sometimes it feels like a stomach ache or a kidney. The distressing pain can also radiate towards the anus. It is often confusingly reminiscent of the pain accompanying menstruation or gynecological problems. All these signals can be sent by the lumbar spine (it is the most loaded next to the neck) as a result of staying in one position for a long time.

What to do?Sleep comfortably - the bed must be even, not too hard, but also not too soft,because then the spine bends incorrectly, elastic. It is worth lying on different mattresses to choose the most comfortable one. If you are ironing or doing other work while standing, periodically shift your weight from one leg to the other. It will be a relief to exercise: lying on your back on the floor, bend your right and left leg alternately, pulling it firmly against your stomach with your hands.

Intercostal neuralgia

Most often, as a result of prolonged sitting in the wrong position (e.g. sideways, leaning on the arms, slouching), sudden twisting of the torso or performing work with raised hands, pain occurs between the shoulder blades and radiates semicircularly around the cage through the intercostal nerves . Then we have the impression that our ribs are sore. Pain may be symmetrical or on one side of the body. When it appears on the right, we think it is the liver; when it appears on the left, it is the heart. It often affects people with spine curvature and tense.

What to do?A session in the sauna will bring relief. You can gently rub an analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointment, peppermint oil, herbal arnica tincture into your skin. Avoid lifting your hands up: hanging curtains or reaching from top shelves.

Tingling in legs

An overload in the lumbar spine is usually seen as pain in the lower back or waist, which may radiate to one or both legs, or to one or both buttocks. Often, the only sign is tingling and numbness in one or both legs. The ailment may be the result of pressure on the nerves and large blood vessels as a result of long sitting in a wrong position, e.g. on a chair with too short a seat, or on a tucked leg.

What to do?Choose a chair and desk according to your height (feet should rest on the floor, hip and knee joints should be bent at right angles, and both hands should be on the elbow table top). Adjust the seat in the car so that your thighs are horizontal to the ground. During your journey, take breaks to stretch your legs. On the plane, take off your shoes, put on comfortable socks, take a walk from time to time and do a few exercises with your feet. Wear low-heeled shoes on a daily basis. Swim, especially on your back. This way you will strengthen your muscles, improve circulation and relax.

Important

We cannot deal with every spine disease ourselves. In addition, the same symptoms as those sent by the spine can be caused by other diseases, even in a distant part of the body. Therefore, when disturbing symptoms persist or recur, you should always consult a doctor. Only he can tell the reason for them.

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Category:

Spine, bones, joints