Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

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

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative and dystrophic disease of one of the segments of the spine. With the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs in the neck suffer more, and the damage also extends to the articular 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 30 years of age, 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 to the spine, move to the upper limbs, deform into a severe headache. Below we will see which symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine it is better to start treatment, 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 upright acquired through evolution. When walking, the vertebrae put too much 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 greater the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region without the necessary treatment, the fewer the chances of stopping the degenerative processes. In old age, it is almost impossible to restore the connective tissue.

Cervical osteochondrosis in old age is a mainly natural process that is not related to the influence of external factors. If the problem begins to develop at a young age, if the pain intensifies very quickly, it is necessary to look for the cause of such a violation.

The development of cervical osteochondrosis at a young age is most often due to the following factors:

• Lack of physical activity in daily life. In the modern world, a person leads a mostly sedentary lifestyle - he works in the office all day, spends 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 takes an unnatural, tense position (a strong forward deviation when working at a computer).
• Excessive sports. The opposite reason is to play sports with uncontrolled loads. The problem is not only faced by ordinary citizens, but also by professional athletes.
• The reasons that cause the spine to be in the wrong position are flat feet, wearing 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 proper sleep at night.

Spinal syndrome

The cluster of symptoms is related to damage to the bones and cartilages of the spine. Includes:

• impaired 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

The symptoms are caused by a narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partly responsible for supplying blood to the brain. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• tinnitus;
• dizziness;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• nausea and vomiting?
• headache;
• vision problem;
• decrease in working capacity;
• drowsiness;
• faint.

Cardiac syndrome

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

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

radical syndrome

The condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) of nerve roots emerging 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;
• collarbone pain, difficulty swallowing, hiccups.
• discomfort in the shoulder area, aggravated by arm movements.
• pain in the shoulder blades and forearms.
• numbness of the index and middle finger.
• numbness of the finger and little finger.

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

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

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

Cervical osteochondrosis does not develop instantly, in the absence of proper 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 encountered by the patient directly depend on the current stage of the problem. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

• Discomfort in the neck extending to the shoulder area.
• The appearance of pain in the cervical region during sports.
• Stiffness when turning the neck.
• Private headaches not caused by external factors.
• When you change the position of the head, you can hear a characteristic trauma.
• Numbness and loss of sensitivity of certain areas on the skin of the back of the head, shoulders, hands, neck.
• Hypoxia of food-dependent organs.
• Development of pathologies of the circulatory system.
• Severe pain leads to complete immobilization of the upper shoulder girdle.

The further the disease has progressed, the more discomfort the patient experiences. In the last 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 sudden change in head position.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, it is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention. The sooner a problem is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be fully corrected. A neurologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.

After the patient's appeal, the neurologist will interview the patient and, based on his complaints, will come to the conclusion 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 perform a visual examination of the patient. They will be evaluated:

• correct posture;
• At what angle are the shoulder blades, shoulders, and hip bones?
• Locating the line of spinous processes along the spine.

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

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

Grades 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, since some symptoms may pass from one stage to another or not appear at all.

1 point

The initial stage of the problem, at this stage, if pain is felt, then it is often attributed to stress or other disorders (improper sleep, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position). The patient may experience slight stiffness and limitation of movements, especially sudden movements. If you seek 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 very fatty, fried, salty foods, prefer fermented dairy products, fruits and vegetables, foods with sufficient calcium and trace elements, necessary for the restoration of connective and cartilage tissue).

2 points

The pain intensifies, begins to become permanent. Sudden movements and turns bring discomfort, the patient experiences a severe headache, begins to notice that he is very tired from everyday activities. Often patients are distracted because they only think about the pain. Some experience numbness in certain areas of the face.

3 degrees

Herniations begin to develop in the area of the damaged discs, causing dizziness and weakness in the arms. Not only does the head and neck hurt, 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 pinched nerves, the pain becomes unbearable, it does not go away without taking special drugs. The patient feels dizzy, especially with sharp turns of the head and a change in the position of the body, ringing in the ears appears, sleep is disturbed, the quality of life deteriorates greatly, disability is possible if not treated.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The doctor chooses the appropriate method to treat 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 therapy

Most often it is based on taking certain medications. Medication helps reduce pain, relieve muscle tension, and localize inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, as well as pain relievers.

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

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

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy procedures have several goals at the same time:

• Identification of the inflammatory process.
• Muscle spasm removal?
• Pain relief?
• Initiation of regenerative processes.
• Increased general and local immunity.
• Restoration of the normal position of nerve fibers, elimination of compression and stinging.

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 begin, salt and calcium deposits are destroyed, which interfere with the normal movement of joints and vertebrae. The process is characterized by a cumulative effect, often the first results are felt 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 carried out only by a qualified doctor, otherwise you may not only experience a lack of effect, but also a worsening of the current condition. The essence of the procedure is that special needles are installed in 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 spine. With proper massage, the muscles acquire a lost tone, as a result of which the risk of recurrence of osteochondrosis in the future is eliminated. When visiting the first massage sessions, the patient experiences severe pain, it is important not to stop the treatment due to pain, but to go through all the procedures prescribed by the doctor.

Surgery

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

Modern surgical methods allow the patient to be discharged from the hospital after 3-5 days and to go to the outpatient treatment of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. In the next three months, the patient undergoes rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy

A properly selected set of exercises for osteochondrosis can not only improve the general condition of the patient, but also speed up the treatment process of the disease. There are many effective exercises:

1. Turns and tilts of the head in different directions. The exercise is performed in a sitting position, it is important not to jerk, all movements should be smooth with a gradual increase in the number of repetitions and the width of the incline.
2. The head tilts to the side with resistance. Body position - sitting on the table, one elbow is on the table, while the palm presses the temple. Tilt your head toward the hand while creating slight resistance.
3. Shoulder lift. Raise your shoulders as high as possible and fix in this position for a while.
4. Knead the back of the head and neck yourself with your fingers. It is important that the movements are gentle and do not cause pain. You can do 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 your doctor.

Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis

Manual therapy therapy relieves muscle tension and joint blockage, relieves pain and restores the capabilities of the musculoskeletal apparatus. The doctor evaluates the condition of the muscles, determines the pain points and the spring degree of the vertebral joint. Further, through active and passive hand movements, it affects 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 fine to minimize discomfort. The procedure relieves pain, activates microcirculation, normalizes metabolic processes, improves overall health and increases the effectiveness of drug therapy.

Kinesiology tape

It is the imposition of an elastic bandage in the form of the letter Y in the area of the neck zone of the collar while maintaining the mobility of the neck. Tapes for cervical osteochondrosis relieve pain, inhibit inflammation and provide support to the paraspinal muscles.

Orthopedic collars

A collar is needed for osteochondrosis of the cervical region in the acute period of the disease. It repairs bones and joints, reducing the load on the affected part. 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 various types:

• soft splint (Schanz collar). This product is made of dense, elastic polyurethane foam on a fabric cover with a fastener in the form of Velcro, buttons or plastic fasteners. With its help, you can adjust the tension of the collar. A soft tire is worn from 2 weeks to 4 months, after every two hours of use, you need to take a break.
• inflatable collar. It is made of dense, flexible material. The course of treatment depends on the stage of osteochondrosis. In the first days, it is recommended to wear the collar for five minutes twice a day, gradually increasing the time 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 clasp at the back. Compared to a soft splint, it fixes the neck more firmly. It comes in various sizes.
• rigid collar. Made of thermoplastic material with front and rear caliper. It is made according to individual sizes and is recommended to be used throughout the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis causes disruption 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 of the hand;
• difficulty swallowing;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• loss or significant reduction of visual acuity.

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

What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis

Many patients complain that their neck and head hurt at the same time. Patients should choose a specific position in which the pain subsides or seems less acute. This is not always comfortable, so performance is reduced.

As the disease progresses, disc protrusion develops, the intervertebral tissues are destroyed, and the spaces decrease. In the last stage of the disease, the disc is completely destroyed and connective tissue forms in its place. Because of this, the patient has limited mobility: for example, he cannot turn or tilt his head.

If time does not heal 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 comprehensive and observed on a continuous basis. Only in this way will they bring the expected result. Prevention is given to people who are at risk.

1. Watch your posture. The ideal position of the body - the head and the back are in the same line. Always make sure your shoulders are straight, your stomach pulled in and your chest lifted. The gait also plays a role - it must be elastic and even. Never indulge yourself, at the initial stage it is important to be disciplined, in the future, correct posture will become a habit.
2. Well organized workplace. When working, the shoulders should be relaxed, the continuous tension of the lumbar belt has a direct effect on the cervical spine. Basic requirements - a chair with a comfortable back and arms, a screen at eye level, a keyboard under the elbows (the angle between the shoulder and the forearm is about 120 degrees). While working, make it a habit to take a break every 40-50 minutes with basic stretching exercises.
3. Adjust the car seat correctly. Many motorists face osteochondrosis of the cervical spine due to the fact that they 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, 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 is important to hit the roads after 1. 5-2 hours and warm up.
4. Watch your diet. Problems with the cervical spine are often associated with the fact that the patient does not eat properly. Dangerous foods that increase the risk of osteochondrosis include: white bread, rich products, sweets, dishes with a high salt and sugar content, 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 vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. Low-fat fermented milk products - kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, natural yogurts - will also have a positive effect. If you have a problem with excess weight, see a nutritionist.
5. Daily physical activity. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home with the help of physical therapy is an excellent prophylactic against diseases of the spine. It is important to do exercises at an easy pace, without exceeding the permitted load. If there is no time for a full set of exercises, make it a rule to take daily walks.
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 performed independently.
7. Proper sleep. During the day, the intervertebral discs experience increased stress, complete relaxation and rest can only be achieved during a night's sleep. To prevent osteochondrosis, it is important to organize the right place to sleep and monitor the time (at least 8 hours).

Sanatorium treatment and its benefits

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

An integrated approach is applied - combination of medication with physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises. This approach helps to forget about the problem forever.

A positive effect on the treatment of symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical thoracic spine also shows mud therapy, manual massage and material massage, various physiotherapy.