Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of the latest highly effective techniques, with the help of modern equipment and under the guidance of experienced specialists.
Diseases of the spine can deliver a lot of unpleasant sensations to a person, especially if they affect the cervical region: there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord and brain. In addition, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often leads to headaches, causes dysfunction of internal organs and contributes to the deterioration of blood circulation. Fortunately, several therapeutic techniques have been developed today that allow you to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms and restore the health of the spine.
In this article we will tell you in detail about the characteristics of cervical osteochondrosis and describe the main methods of its treatment. We hope that after reading it, you will be able to choose the most effective way to deal with this disease and you will be able to avoid radical surgery.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease in which the soft pulp ossifies, which serves as a cushioning function between the vertebrae. At the same time, blood vessels and nerve roots are involved in the mechanism of disease development.
A characteristic feature of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the appearance of pain in the shoulders, nape, neck and head. In addition, patients report dizziness, high blood pressure, oxygen starvation, loss of sensitivity on one side of the tongue, and other symptoms characteristic of cardiovascular disease. This causes contact with doctors from other specialties and significantly slows down the process of diagnosing the disease.
Most often, people in the middle and older categories are prone to ossification of tissues in the upper part of the spine. This is due to the incorrect distribution of dynamic and static loads on the human skeleton.
However, if previously cervical osteochondrosis and itssymptomshave been diagnosed in people over 45-50 years, but now the age of patients suffering from this disease is significantly younger. Today, this affects young people aged 20-40, which is associated with deteriorating diet and physical inactivity.
There is currently a dual approach to the problem of the cervical spine: it is considered as a combination of physiological and pathological factors. In the first case we are talking about the aging of the body under the influence of inevitable natural phenomena, in the second it is assumed that the destruction of intervertebral formations occurs against the background of inflammatory and dystrophic processes caused by improper lifestyle.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The problems with the diagnosis of this disease are due to the lack of pain in some situations and the implicit nature of the symptoms. In addition, a person may not feel the signs of the disease while regularly taking strong painkillers to minimize general discomfort. All this can lead to serious disorders in the neck joints.
Among the obvious symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, causing the need fortreatment,include: headache, high blood pressure, frequent dizziness. We will talk about them later.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis
Dizziness may not always occur with problems with the cervical spine. In some cases, this indicates disorders of the brain, malfunctions of blood vessels and the heart, inflammatory processes in the ear and nasopharynx, the presence of malignant neoplasms or any pathological conditions of the nervous system.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis and the need for its treatment may have a non-systemic or systemic etiology.
In the first case, one may express a feeling of stupor, insecurity when standing up and some kind of semi-consciousness. At the same time there is no feeling of circular rotation.
As for systemic dizziness, it is most often evidence of vestibular disorders, malfunction of visual analyzers and other changes that occur against the background of osteochondrosis. In this case, the patient may feel the circular rotation of the body or nearby objects.
If there is dizziness and the patient simultaneously develops symptoms such as acute headache, tingling in the upper chest, fainting or impaired coordination of movements, he should be hospitalized urgently.
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The appearance of a headache can signal the presence of a wide variety of diseases. It is most common in women against the background of hormonal disorders, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, brain spasms, compressed nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
can signal the presence of a wide variety of diseases. It is most common in women against the background of hormonal disorders, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, brain spasms, compressed nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
Pain andnoise in the headwith cervical osteochondrosis causing the need for treatment is often confused with symptoms of acute cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, or coronary heart disease. Most often such signs occur in older people suffering from the above diseases.
To determine the exact cause of a headache, you should consult an experienced professional. In this case, it is recommended to make an ECG and rule out the presence of cardiovascular disorders.
Pain with another localization, characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis
Neck and head pain is not always a sign of cervical osteochondrosis. In some cases, the discomfort can spread from the neck to the arms and shoulders. Such symptoms are sudden and may occur against the background of sudden movements, after a sharp sneeze or stay in one position during a night's sleep.
If the cause of the pain syndrome is chondrosis of the cervical spine, then it usually disappears after a certain time or disappears after manual therapy in the cervical spine.
It should be noted that the massage in this area is performed only after a thorough examination of the patient. With a non-professional approach, there is a high risk of deterioration of the patient's condition, including injury.
If we talk about osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the need for its treatment, then patients note the following pain sensations:
- The appearance of a crisis during the rotation of the head;
- The presence of neck pain syndrome;
- Deterioration of sensitivity and the appearance of muscle weakness in various areas of the body.
High blood pressure with problems with the cervical spine
Because the cervical spine is directly connected to blood vessels and nerve endings, any disorder in this area can cause an increase in blood pressure. However, such jumps are temporary, manifest as short-term spasms and are not symptoms of hypertension.
Also, if there is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, in addition to increased pressure, the patient may experience other symptoms and treatment in this case includes the use of special anesthetic drugs. They include:
- The appearance of pain in the head;
- Loss of sensitivity in the collar;
- Chest, arm and leg pain;
- A sharp rise in blood pressure after stressful situations, prolonged stay in one position, excessive muscle tension and other similar situations.
Severe deterioration of the patient's condition and a sharp increase in pressure indicate an urgent need to see a doctor.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
With its development, the above disease goes through several stages, accompanied by specific symptoms. We will talk about them in more detail below.
Initial stage of osteochondrosis
As a rule, if grade 1 disease occurs, patients may experience only mild discomfort. They can show pain only with sudden movements, tilting and turning the head. Many patients report increased fatigue in the lumbar spine and back and a constant feeling of tension. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the initial stage does not include admissiondrugs. . . To recover, the patient only needs to performGymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis and change your daily diet.
The second stage of the disease: characteristics
The second stage of the pathology is characterized by more intense pain sensations that radiate to the upper extremities and increase with bending and rotation of the head. Causes of increased discomfort include: a decrease in the size of the height of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, pinching of the nerve endings. In this case, the patient notes a deterioration in performance, the appearance of distraction, increased fatigue and the appearance of headaches.
Third degree osteochondrosis
It is accompanied by increased pain with radiation in the upper extremities, as well as the shoulders and neck. In this case, numbness of the muscles of the arms may be observed, which is associated with the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. In addition, patients may complain of severe weakness and dizziness.
The last stage of the disease
At the last stage, the deep degenerative processes in the area of the intervertebral discs and their replacement by pathological tissue are felt. The need for treatment of cervical osteochondrosisin the acute stagemay be due to the defeat of several segments of the spine. In this case, patients report the presence of tinnitus, increased pain syndrome, the appearance of severe dizziness and impaired coordination of movements.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Most often, the development of this pathology is due to daily sedentary work, in which a person does not control the correct position of the body of the chair, and his head is constantly tilted forward. The same can be said for a long stay of the head in a thrown back state, which is typical for employees of construction specialties, when performing repair work.
As a rule, excessive strain on the cervical spine inevitably leads to degenerative disorders in the area of the spinal discs. In addition, cervical-vertebral osteochondrosis, the symptoms of this disease and the need for treatment may be due to the following factors:
- Disorder of calcium metabolism;
- Causes of a genetic nature;
- Thermal irritants;
- When practicing extreme sports (treatment of sports injuries);
- Hypodynamia;
- Long stay per person in one position due to professional affiliation;
- Obesity;
- Prolonged stressful situations;
- Neck and nape injuries;
- Autoimmune processes that can provoke the destruction of cartilage tissue.
The transition to a healthy diet and moderate physical activity can minimize the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis.
Syndromes in cervical osteochondrosis
The syndromes are represented by the simultaneous manifestation of several symptoms of the disease at once. As for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is characterized by the following syndromes: vertebral, vertebral arteries, cardiac and radicular. They will be discussed below.
What is vertebral syndrome?
In the presence of the above syndrome, the degenerative processes directly affect the cartilage and bone tissue. In this case, the simultaneous manifestation of the following three signs is observed:
- Painful sensations when it is necessary to turn the neck;
- Impossibility to turn the door;
- The presence of a disorder in the intervertebral region or in the body of the spine, which have a morphological nature (to determine this symptom, X-rays are made).
If the patient lacks at least one of the above symptoms, then there is no point in talking about vertebral syndrome.
Characteristics of vertebral artery syndrome
The essence of the above syndrome is damage to the spinal arteries, which provide blood supply to the brain. It is characterized by the simultaneous manifestation of the following symptoms:
- Against the background of squeezing the artery, the patient may experience dizziness, increased blood pressure, tinnitus, nausea and more. ;
- Due to irritation of the nerve roots, loss of sensitivity, the appearance of "flies" in the eyes, acute headache and tingling;
- Lack of oxygen can provoke severe pain in the head, excessive drowsiness, decreased activity and decreased concentration.
Signs of heart syndrome
In addition to the symptom of the vertebral artery in cervical osteochondrosis, the need for treatment of the patient arises in the presence of cardiac syndrome. Many patients report a condition that is characteristic of coronary heart disease or resembles the symptoms of a myocardial infarction. In this case, the following signs are observed:
- Burning sensation and acute pain syndrome in the sternum;
- Tachycardia;
- The appearance of severe weakness, excessive fatigue and shortness of breath.
Radicular syndrome: characteristics
It is characterized by deterioration of neuromuscular conduction. In the presence of radicular syndrome, the patient may experience loss of sensitivity or, conversely, severe pain syndrome. Also its features include:
- Neck pain or, conversely, tingling in this area;
- Difficulty chewing food, tingling in the area behind the ear, a feeling of fullness in the tongue;
- The appearance of symptoms of sore throat, hiccups, clavicle pain;
- Difficulty moving the upper limbs, discomfort in the shoulders;
- Disorders of the forearm and shoulder blades;
- Loss of sensitivity in the fingers.
Diagnosis
The main and most informative methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI scan with a high degree of detail reflects the condition not only of the bone tissue of the spine, but also of the soft tissues - muscles, cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and intervertebral discs. If there are contraindications for MRI (presence of metal prostheses, pacemakers), computed tomography is prescribed, but the information content of the method is much lower in terms of diagnosing osteochondrosis.
Is it possible to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
As for cervical osteochondrosis, effective treatment of this disease is possible only with a complete revision of lifestyle, constant prevention and restoration of the sanatorium. In practice, only a few achieve this, especially in the climate of our country, when it is almost impossible to completely avoid hypothermia and new inflammatory processes. However, you can significantly alleviate your condition, including in the most advanced cases, and prolong periods of remission.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
In the first stage of osteochondrosis, the patient will be assisted by conservative treatment without drugs. You need to adjust your posture, pay attention to the equipment in the workplace, take a break for a few minutes every day to perform uncomplicatedtherapeutic gymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis, which can be done right on the desk in the office. Swimming, increased physical activity and intake of vitamin and mineral complexes will have a positive effect on the entire musculoskeletal system.
Advantages of shock wave therapy
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and its symptoms, a new method of treatment is considered the most effective - with the help of shock waves. This procedure is distinguished by its affordable price. In addition, if a medical facility has special equipment, you can take the UHT course completely free of charge.
The advantages of UHT include:
- Maximum efficiency;
- Lack of discomfort during the procedure;
- The minimum probability of side effects;
- Reducing the need for invasive treatment
- Reducing the need for medication.
A cure for cervical osteochondrosis
If you have cervical osteochondrosis and are interested in treatmentmedicinalandeffectively,you can find information on suitable medicines on the Internet. Despite the variety of drugs and the lack of need for prescriptions, self-medication is not recommended. Most drugs have side effects and contraindications, it is also important not to overdose.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They are used to relieve swelling and pain.
Muscle relaxants, sedatives
They are additionally prescribed to relieve the general condition of the patient and reduce the dose of NSAIDs. By simultaneously relieving muscle spasms and nervous tension, you can achieve the best therapeutic effect.
At the end of the course of treatment, doctors usually recommend buying non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the home medicine cabinet, as neck pain may return when the weather changes, overexertion and stress.
Physiotherapeutic approaches
In cases where drug therapy is contraindicated or does not have the desired effect, and sometimes for a complex effect, physiotherapeutic methods are used, which are offered in both classical and alternative medicine. They are all aimed at relieving muscle spasms, inflammation and pain.
Acupuncture. The essence of the method is to "wake up" the biologically active points by inserting special thin needles into them at a depth of several centimeters. The procedure itself is painful, but helps relieve back pain. Several sessions are required.
Manual therapy. This method is effective if the patient haspinchingnerves of the cervical spine, the relevant symptoms were diagnosed and the need for treatment was identified. Nerves and blood vessels caught by deformed vertebrae can be released by manually stretching the spine.
Hirudotherapy (leeches). Relieves inflammation and swelling due to biologically active substances released by leeches. Strengthens blood circulation.
Shock wave therapy. Restores blood circulation and destroys osteophytes, helps cartilage tissue to return to its normal structure. The patient already after 1-2 sessions feels a decrease in pain and swelling. The course of shock wave therapy includes up to ten procedures, can be prescribed as part of complex non-invasive therapy and during the rehabilitation period after surgery. It has a number of contraindications and is used only after a thorough examination by several specialists, including a neurologist, cardiologist and vertebrologist.
Exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
If a person has cervical osteochondrosis, every dayexercises,developed to treat this disease, will help strengthen the muscular corset, which means - to reduce the load on the cervical spine. Exercise therapy is indicated at all stages of the disease, as well as as a preventive measure. During exacerbations, a set of exercises should be performed carefully.
Typical exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- the head is turned to the side;
- the head is tilted back and forth;
- lifting the shoulders with relaxed or fixed arms, holding in this position for 15-20 seconds;
- alternate the tension of the neck flexors and extensors with the head still.
The exercises should be repeated 5-7 times. The duration of the lesson is 15-20 minutes.
Surgical intervention
In the absence of a positive effect after 6 months of conservative treatment, spinal fusion may be indicated. The procedure is aimed at immobilizing the affected vertebral segment. It involves removing the intervertebral disc, decompressing the nerve root and placing an implant or creating a physiological height of the disc space. The operation has many contraindications and side effects. For example, a spinal cord can lead to spinal injuries. Therefore, surgery is indicated only in extreme cases.
Nutrition and lifestyle
After surgical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, in the early period of rehabilitation it is necessary to wear a fixative collar. During conservative treatment and in the late period of rehabilitation is recommended a diet rich in calcium and vitamins, correction of habitual postures and posture in general, daily set of therapeutic exercises for the neck, orthopedic pillows.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
If you have been diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis and its symptoms and want to have itHome treatment,it should be remembered that such independent intervention can only be practiced in combination with procedures prescribed by a specialist.
Some experts recommend using itorthopedic pillowwith cervical osteochondrosis and use such warming agents as pepper plaster, mustard and alcohol compresses. According to others, only specialexercisesfor treatment andprevention. . .
You can also resort to the help of recipes of traditional medicine, which are based on the use of honey-potato compresses and bandages with natural ingredients. More information about such tools can be found on the Internet. However, only an experienced and highly qualified doctor can diagnose cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, identify its symptoms and prescribe the most effective treatment.
Preventive measures for cervical osteochondrosis
An examination by a doctor is required once a year. A course of shock wave therapy may be prescribed. Hypothermia and infectious diseases, prolonged operation of the computer in one position should be avoided. If you travel by long plane or bus, use a neck pillow to relieve muscle tension and prevent congestion. For daily sleep, use special orthopedic pillows that ensure the correct position of the head.