Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative and dystrophic disease of one of the sections of the spine. With the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs in the neck suffer more, and the damage also extends to the joint surfaces, ligaments and vertebrae.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative and dystrophic disease of one of the sections of the spine. With the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs in the neck suffer more, and the damage also extends to the joint surfaces, ligaments and vertebrae. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depends on the current stage of the disease. The pathology occurs mainly in patients over the age of 30, but cases are also recorded in young people, especially if a person leads an unhealthy lifestyle and is at risk.

The most common symptom is severe pain in the neck area, which can spread along the spine, move to the upper limbs, deform into a severe headache. Below we will examine which symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are best to start treatment, we will find out the causes of the disease and the methods used to combat the problem.

Causes and risk factors

The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis in humans is the ability to walk in an upright position acquired with evolution. When walking, the vertebrae exert excessive pressure on each other. Every year this leads to the fact that the amount of intervertebral fluid and connective tissue between the vertebrae decreases, as a result, the bones begin to rub against each other, causing severe pain.

The longer osteochondrosis of the cervical region develops without the necessary treatment, the lower the chances of stopping the degenerative processes. In old age, it is almost impossible to restore connective tissue.

Cervical osteochondrosis in old age is a predominantly natural process that is not associated with the influence of external factors. If the problem begins to develop at an early age, if the pain intensifies too quickly, it is necessary to look for the cause of such a violation.

The development of cervical osteochondrosis at an early age is often due to the following factors:

• Lack of physical activity in daily life. In the modern world, a person leads a predominantly sedentary lifestyle: he works in the office all day, spends his time in the evening sitting on the sofa or at the computer, often drives a car;
• In the process of performing work tasks, the human body often assumes an unnatural and tense position (a strong forward bias when working at the computer);
• Excessive sports. The opposite reason is to play sports with uncontrolled loads. The problem is faced not only by ordinary citizens, but also by professional athletes;
• The reasons that provoke the incorrect position of the spine are flat feet, the use of uncomfortable shoes with heels, scoliosis, arthritis, etc. ;
• Abuse of junk food, obesity;
• Severe hypothermia of the cervical spine;
• Nervous strain - frequent stress in everyday life and at work, lack of adequate sleep at night.

Vertebral syndrome

The symptom complex is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spine. Includes:

• reduced mobility in the cervical region;
• pain when turning the head;
• Radiographic signs of damage to the vertebrae themselves and the space between them.

vertebral artery syndrome

Symptoms are caused by narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partially responsible for the blood supply to the brain. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• noise in the ears;
• dizziness;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• nausea and vomit;
• headache;
• visual impairment;
• decrease in working capacity;
• drowsiness;
• fainting.

Cardiac syndrome

It resembles a condition with damage to the heart muscle and includes:

• pain or burning sensation behind the breastbone;
• weakness and fatigue;
• rapid pulse.

radicular syndrome

The condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) of the nerve roots that emerge from the spine in the cervical region. Depending on the level of damage, a person may experience:

• numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• numbness of the tongue;
• pain in the collarbone, difficulty swallowing, hiccups;
• discomfort in the shoulder area, aggravated by hand movements;
• pain in the shoulder blades and forearms;
• numbness of the index and middle fingers;
• numbness of the ring finger and little finger.

Most often, several nerve roots are involved in the pathological process at the same time, as a result of which several characteristic symptoms are observed at the same time.

Cervical osteochondrosis symptoms

All these risk factors and lifestyle features lead to the fact that the intervertebral discs in the cervical region are undernourished. If the problem is not identified and eliminated, the discs will begin to gradually collapse, the distance between them will decrease, as a result, this will lead to constant friction of the bones against each other. When the connective tissue is depleted, bone growths begin to form on the spines, which are prone to uncontrolled growth. In advanced cases, the growths begin to put pressure on the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, nerves that are located in the cervical spine.

Cervical osteochondrosis does not develop instantly, in the absence of adequate treatment of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the problem worsens. The entire course of the disease can be divided into 4 stages. The symptoms that the patient encounters directly depend on the current stage of the problem. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

• Discomfort in the neck that extends to the shoulder area
• The appearance of pain in the cervical region during sports;
• Stiffness when turning the neck
• Private headaches that are not caused by external factors;
• When changing the position of the head, a characteristic crunch is heard;
• Numbness and loss of sensation of some areas of the skin on the back of the head, shoulders, arms, neck
• Hypoxia of the trophodependent organs;
• Development of pathologies of the circulatory system;
• Severe pain leads to complete immobilization of the upper shoulder girdle.

The more advanced the disease is, the more the patient experiences the discomfort. In the later stages of the problem, the patient's quality of life deteriorates significantly. Common symptoms for all stages of the problem include headache, ringing or noise in the ears, visual defects, nausea and vomiting with a sharp change in head position.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

If any of the symptoms listed above occur, it is advisable to see a doctor immediately. The earlier a problem is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be resolved completely. A neurologist is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis of the spine.

After the patient's appeal, the neurologist will interview the patient and, based on his complaints, conclude that the disease is present. Most often, patients complain of pain, discomfort, problems with the movement of the upper limbs. After the interview, the doctor will conduct a visual examination of the patient. Will be evaluated:

• correct posture;
• At what angle are the shoulder blades, shoulders and iliac bones;
• Location of the line of spinous processes along the length of the spine.

A visual examination allows you to determine which pathological processes began in the spine, how much they affected the spine and surrounding tissues.

The final diagnosis is not made solely on the basis of examination and questioning of the patient. Further examinations are needed. Most often, the patient is sent for x-rays, computed tomography. If for one reason or another it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis, the patient is sent for MRI. Additional examinations include dopplerography, the procedure allows you to find out in what state the circulatory system is in the cervical region.

Degrees of cervical osteochondrosis

The choice of methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of the disease, which is diagnosed in a particular patient. It is customary to subdivide 4 stages of osteochondrosis, the division is conditional, as some symptoms can pass from one stage to another or not appear at all.

1 degree

The initial stage of the problem, at this stage, if pain is felt, then it is often attributed to stress or other ailments (improper sleep, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position). The patient may feel a slight stiffness and limitation in movements, especially sudden ones. If you are looking for treatment for cervical osteochondrosis at this stage, you can eliminate the symptoms at home. To completely get rid of the problem, it will be possible to limit yourself to special exercises and visits to physiotherapy procedures. For prevention, it will be useful to start an active lifestyle (it is enough to take 20 minutes of daily walks in the fresh air), adjust the diet (exclude too fatty, fried, salty foods, give preference to fermented milk products , fruits and vegetables, foods with sufficient calcium and trace elements, necessary for the restoration of connective and cartilage tissue).

2 degrees

The pain intensifies, begins to become permanent. Abrupt movements and turns bring discomfort, the patient faces a severe headache, he begins to notice that he is very tired of daily activities. Patients often get distracted, because they only think about pain. Some experience numbness in certain areas of the face.

3 degrees

In the area of damaged discs, hernias begin to develop, which cause dizziness and weakness in the arms. It hurts not only in the head and neck, the pain gradually spreads to the entire shoulder girdle.

4 degrees

A characteristic process is the destruction of the intervertebral discs, the replacement of "empty places" with connective tissue. This leads to pinching the nerves, the pain becomes unbearable, does not go away without taking special medications. The patient experiences dizziness, especially with sudden turns of the head and a change in the position of the body, a ringing in the ears appears, sleep is disturbed, the quality of life worsens noticeably, disability is possible if not treated.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The doctor selects the appropriate method for treating the patient, depending on the stage of the disease. The most commonly used drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in combination with a visit to physiotherapy. In advanced cases, surgery may be required to remove overgrown connective tissue and bone processes.

Conservative treatment

Most often based on taking certain medications. Drug treatment helps reduce pain, get rid of muscle tension and localize inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers are used.

Often, the doctor also includes chondroprotectors in the prescription. This group of drugs activates the restoration of destroyed tissues in the region of the intervertebral discs.

These drugs are prescribed in the form of injections or tablets. A good therapeutic result is shown by ointments based on NSAIDs. They are rubbed into the damaged area, relieving pain within 10-20 minutes. The main advantage of ointments is a local effect on the painful area and a minimal effect on other organs.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures have a number of objectives at once:

• Localization of the inflammatory process;
• Removal of muscle spasm;
• Pain syndrome relief;
• Starting regenerative processes;
• Increased general and local immunity;
• Restoration of the normal position of nerve fibers, elimination of compression and pinching.

Most often, with cervical osteochondrosis, the following procedures are prescribed:

1. Shock wave therapy. With the help of a special device, an acoustic wave is directed directly to the cartilage tissue of the spine, which has been damaged. As a result, metabolic processes are started, salt and calcium deposits are destroyed, which interfere with the normal movement of joints and vertebrae. The procedure is characterized by a cumulative effect, often the first results become noticeable only 2-3 months after the start of treatment.
2. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is often used to treat and prevent cervical osteochondrosis. It is important that the procedure is performed only by a qualified doctor, otherwise you may not only experience a lack of effect, but also an aggravation of the current condition. The essence of the procedure is that special needles are installed on biologically active points, forcing the body to start metabolic processes, stimulating the production of natural painkillers.
3. Massage. The main goal is to reduce pain and improve blood circulation in the damaged area of the cervical segment of the spine. With proper massage, the muscles acquire a lost tone, as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of relapse of osteochondrosis in the future. When visiting the first massage sessions, the patient is faced with severe pain, it is important not to stop treatment because of pain, but to follow all the procedures prescribed by the doctor.

Surgery

It is prescribed mainly in the advanced stages of the disease, when the use of drugs and visits to physiotherapy procedures do not bring any results. The indication for surgery is catastrophic narrowing of the spinal canal.

Modern methods of surgery allow the patient to be discharged from the hospital after 3-5 days and to move to outpatient treatment of the symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis. Over the next three months, the patient undergoes rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy

Correctly chosen set of exercises for osteochondrosis can not only improve the general condition of the patient, but also speed up the process of treating the disease. There are several effective exercises:

1. Turn and tilt your head in different directions. The exercise is performed in a sitting position, it is important not to flinch, all movements must be smooth with a gradual increase in the number of repetitions and the amplitude of the slope.
2. The head tilts to the side with resistance. Body position: sitting at the table, one elbow is on the table, while the palm presses on the temple. Tilt your head towards your hand, creating a slight resistance.
3. Shoulder lift. Raise your shoulders as high as possible and stay in this position for a while.
4. Self-knead the back of the head and neck with your fingertips. It is important that the movements are smooth and do not cause pain. You can perform self-massage in any comfortable position.

It is important not to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home without consulting a neurologist, a set of exercises must be agreed with the doctor.

Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis

The manual therapy treatment relieves muscle tension and joint block, relieves pain and restores the capabilities of the musculoskeletal system. The doctor assesses the condition of the muscles, determines the painful points and the degree of elasticity of the spinal joint. In addition, through the active and passive movements of the hands, it affects the damaged tendons, ligaments and muscles. Manual therapy treatment is contraindicated during acute inflammation and instability of the vertebrae.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture for cervical osteochondrosis is performed using sterile needles, which are inserted into pre-selected points at different depths and left for a certain time. The needles are chosen very thin to minimize discomfort. The procedure relieves pain, activates microcirculation, normalizes metabolic processes, improves general health and increases the effectiveness of drug treatment.

Kinesiological taping

It involves the imposition of an elastic bandage in the shape of the letter Y on the area of the cervical-collar area while maintaining the mobility of the neck. Cervical osteochondrosis tapes relieve pain, inhibit inflammation and provide support for the paravertebral muscles.

Orthopedic collars

A collar for osteochondrosis of the cervical region is needed in the acute period of the disease. It fixes the bones and joints, reducing the load on the affected segment. The collar also corrects the position of the deformed vertebrae and bones of the skeleton and relieves pain.

Depending on the degree of fixation, orthopedic collars are of several types:

• soft splint (Schanz collar). This product is made of dense and elastic polyurethane foam in a fabric cover with Velcro shaped closure, buttons or plastic closures. With its help, you can adjust the volume of the collar. A soft rubber is worn from 2 weeks to 4 months, after every two hours of use it is necessary to take a break;
• inflatable collar. It consists of dense and flexible material. The course of treatment depends on the stage of osteochondrosis. In the first few days, it is recommended to wear the collar for five minutes twice a day, gradually increasing the time up to 30 minutes. An inflatable collar is worn to prevent cervical osteochondrosis;
• semi-rigid collar. A semi-rigid neck corset is made of polyurethane with a buckle on the back. Compared to a soft splint, it fixes the neck more firmly. It is available in different sizes;
• stiff collar. Made of thermoplastic material with front and rear caliper. It is made according to individual size and it is recommended to use it during the entire course of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis causes the breakdown of the most important structures: blood vessels and nerves. Without treatment, the disease can lead to the following complications:

• ischemic stroke;
• loss of sensation or motor function in the hand;
• difficulty swallowing;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• loss or significant reduction in visual acuity.

In addition, damage to the intervertebral discs and joints leads to a significant limitation of the mobility of the neck.

What is dangerous osteochondrosis of the cervix

Many patients complain that the neck and head hurt at the same time. Patients must choose a certain position where the pain subsides or seems less acute. This isn't always comfortable, so performance is reduced.

As the disease progresses, disc protrusion develops, intervertebral tissues are destroyed, and gaps diminish. In the last stage of the disease, the disc is completely destroyed and connective tissue is formed in its place. For this reason, the patient has a limitation of mobility: for example, he cannot turn or tilt his head.

If time does not cure osteochondrosis in the cervical region, it can lead to spinal cord compression, disability and paralysis.

Prevention

The main rule of preventive measures is that they must be complete and observed on an ongoing basis. Only in this way will they bring the expected result. Prevention is shown to people at risk.

1. Watch your posture. The ideal body position: the head and back are on the same line. Always make sure your shoulders are straightened, stomach pulled in and chest lifted. Gait also plays a role - it should be supple and even. Never indulge in indulgences, in the initial phase it is important to discipline yourself, in the future the correct posture will become a habit.
2. Well organized workplace. When working, the shoulders must be relaxed, the constant tension of the lumbar belt has a direct effect on the cervical spine. Basic requirements: a chair with a comfortable backrest and armrests, a monitor at eye level, a keyboard under the elbows (the angle between the shoulder and the forearm is about 120 degrees). While working out, make it a habit to take a break every 40-50 minutes with basic stretching exercises.
3. Correctly adjust the car seat. Many motorists are faced with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine due to the fact that they have set up the driver's seat not according to the rules, but in a way that suits them. The correct position of the body in the chair: the entire spine touches the back and not just the shoulders. It is recommended to purchase special lumbar pillows that will help support the body in the desired position. With a long ride, it's important to get out on the street after 1. 5-2 hours and warm up.
4. Watch your nutrition. Problems with the cervical spine are often associated with the patient not eating properly. Dangerous foods that increase the risk of osteochondrosis include: white bread, rich products, sweets, dishes rich in salt and sugar, fried and fatty foods. The main danger is refined sugar - the substance contributes to the leaching of calcium from the body. Include legumes and nuts, high protein foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Low-fat fermented milk products - kefir, fermented cooked milk, cottage cheese, natural yogurt - will also have a positive effect. If you have a problem with being overweight, visit a nutritionist.
5. Daily physical activity. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home with the help of physical education is an excellent prophylaxis against diseases of the spine. It is important to do exercises at an easy pace, without exceeding the permissible load. If there is no time for a full set of exercises, take daily walks as a rule.
6. Massage. Correct techniques restore muscle tone, relieve tension, start metabolic and regenerative processes in the body. It is not necessary to visit specialists, the correct massage of the cervical spine can be done independently.
7. Correct sleep. During the day, the intervertebral discs experience increased stress, complete relaxation and rest can only be achieved during night sleep. For the prevention of osteochondrosis, it is important to organize the right place to sleep and keep track of the time (at least 8 hours).

Sanatorium treatment and its benefits

The sanatorium specializes in identifying the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including osteochondrosis of various localization. The procedures are selected individually for each individual patient, taking into account the degree of damage to the tissues of the spine, the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the patient and possible contraindications.

An integrated approach is practiced: a combination of drug treatment with physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy exercises. This approach helps to forget the problem forever.

A positive effect in the treatment of symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine also proves mud therapy, manual and hardware massage, physiotherapy varies.