Every year, diseases of the spine become younger. The most common is osteochondrosis, which has recently been considered an age-related disease. When the cervical region is affected, due to the degenerative-dystrophic nature of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias form in the spine and severe pain in the neck and head occurs, which significantly reduces the quality of lifeand led to surgery.
The danger of cervical osteochondrosis
It is important to diagnose diseases of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine in the early stages in order to immediately begin its treatment, until the bone tissue has grown, salt deposits and growths have not formedon the vertebrae, which irritates the muscles, causing them to contract.
Osteophytes increase pressure on the vertebrae, pinch arteries and squeeze nerve endings when turning the head. Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious and dangerous disease. Symptoms of pain in the cervical region are not limited only to head movement. If left untreated, the disease leads to complications that cause discomfort, which can become a significant cause of dysfunction.
Violation of the blood arteries due to deformation when the vertebrae come together leads to vertebrobasilar syndrome. Insufficient amount of blood enters the brain, this becomes the main cause of dizziness, poor balance, visual impairment, loss of consciousness and tinnitus. The degree of compression of the artery of the cervical spine depends on the negative consequences that manifest themselves in the body with varying degrees of severity. Cervical osteochondrosis disrupts the process of blood supply to brain regions and causes complications in the brain with oxygen starvation.
A pinched nerve in the back of the head causes headaches that can radiate to the neck or temples. The most dangerous is the violation of the nervous processes of the spinal cord, in which malfunctions are observed with severe uncontrolled spastic disorders of the coordination of the lower extremities, a decrease in the sensitivity of the bladder and intestines.
If osteochondrosis is not treated, complications arise, for example, protrusions and herniations of the cervical discs. Sometimes this leads to the development of vascular diseases that cause brain damage even before the death of its individual sections.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Traditional medicine considers osteochondrosis as a disease with degenerative changes in the discs of the cervical spine, and the treatment system of alternative medicine, osteopathy, considers it a manifestation of deep disordersin the body.
There are several reasons why cervical osteochondrosis appears:
Postural disorder
Stoop, scoliosis, rounded back, kyphosis cause an imbalance of the spine, so that the load is unevenly distributed on the discs, leading to deformation and increasing their wear. At the same time, the vertebrae come together, beginning to pinch the nervous processes, because of this, osteochondrosis develops.
Muscle spasms
The spasmodic muscle reactions lead to tension in certain parts of the body, leading to a change in the natural position and deformation of the discs of the spine.
Violation of blood supply
Spinal discs are not connected to the circulatory system, so they are saturated with blood from body tissues. Violation of the blood supply process in the neck leads to a lack of sufficient fluid to absorb moisture and restore the shape and renewal of cartilage. As a result, the wear of the vertebrae accelerates, the intervertebral distance decreases, leading to osteochondrosis of the cervical region.
Violation of innervation
Due to the reduced sensitivity of the nerve roots during displacement and deformation of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region, pathological changes remain unnoticed for the patient due to the absence of pain.
Diseases of internal organs
Displacement of internal organs, their lowering due to deformities of the cervical vertebrae leads to a violation of the position of the spine and balance in the body.
A poor diet
An unbalanced diet rich in carbohydrates and fatty foods with a deficiency of proteins and microelements can lead to unpleasant difficulties.
Cervical osteochondrosis develops due to external factors that negatively affect the balance of the spine and the natural development of body systems as a whole. In addition to the listed symptoms, the development of diseases and painful sensations is possible due to a long stay in an uncomfortable position, frequent tension of the muscle tissues of the back and neck, hypothermia of the neck andthe collar area.
Also often the cause is nervous tension, frequent stress and sleep disturbances. Often, violations are not immediately noticeable, so sometimes cervical osteochondrosis progresses for a long time and leads to serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important to visit the doctor regularly to correct the underlying causes that cause osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, and not to treat its symptoms.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease that occurs in discs with degenerative-dystrophic changes. Initially, the intervertebral discs are cartilage, which contains a gelatinous substance. Over time, discs can become dehydrated due to poor posture, sedentary and sedentary lifestyles, computer work, neck injuries, and other factors.
As a result, the strength of the collagen fibers of the fibrous disc gradually decreases, its thickness decreases, which provokes the development of osteochondrosis with characteristic signs:
- neck pain;
- pain in the head, dizziness, loss of consciousness, due to damage to the arteries that cross the vertebrae;
- fluctuations in blood pressure;
- radicular syndrome with a violation of sensitivity and the appearance of goosebumps and numbness of certain areas of the skin on the back of the head, shoulders, arms, neck, as a result of pinchingroots of the spine. Accompanied by pain in the shoulders and arms, even in the fingers;
- decreased ability to turn and tilt the neck and stiffness due to severe pain;
- increased fatigue, decreased performance;
- the appearance of ENT pathologies, tinnitus, loss of vision;
- with the development of complications, nausea, vomiting, migraine attacks may occur.
There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine, osteochondrosis often affects the discs, which are located between the 5th and 7th vertebrae. It is necessary to consult a general practitioner or a neurologist who will prescribe the necessary diagnoses and perform MRI magnetic resonance imaging to establish a diagnosis and choose a treatment.
Degrees of development
There are four stages of osteochondrosis:
- Grade 1 - only pathological changes begin to appear in the disc, so the symptoms are mild and not always observed. The treatment will be quick and effective.
- Grade 2 - changes in the intervertebral discs become pronounced, which leads to aching pain in the cervical region, which is aggravated by head movements.
- Grade 3 - constant pain is complicated by the development of a protrusion and the formation of a hernia between the vertebrae.
- Grade 4 - the fibrous disc is so destroyed that movements of the spine are practically excluded due to violation of the intervertebral arteries, which leads to the development of radicular syndrome and severe pain not only in the neck, but alsoin the chest, hands, and lumbar.
Diagnostic
Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. This is usually a neurologist, but in some cases an additional appointment with the following specialists may be necessary: vertebrologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, orthopaedist, traumatologist or neurosurgeon.
During the appointment, the doctor collects an anamnesis - the main complaints and symptoms of disturbing patients, injuries, the presence of chronic diseases and related additional information. Then the doctor determines the mobility, tenderness and muscle tension of the patient's neck. To obtain more accurate information, the patient is assigned diagnostic tests using special equipment:
- radiography (x-rays);
- computed tomography (CT);
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis depends on the age characteristics of the patient, as well as the degree of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs between the vertebrae. Therefore, the treatment is always developed for the patient individually and always aims to solve the following problems:
- elimination of worsening symptoms;
- improvement of blood circulation;
- increase in metabolic processes;
- elimination of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs;
- reduction of complications of cervical osteochondrosis.
At each stage of the development of the disease, its own treatment measures are applied:
- 1st stage - it is enough to do physiotherapy exercises, adjust your lifestyle;
- 2nd stage - it is necessary to additionally include taking medication, manual therapy, the use of braces.
It should be understood that a complete change in degenerative-dystrophic processes is impossible, especially with a diagnosis of stage 2 or higher osteochondrosis. In these situations, it is necessary to improve well-being with the help of treatment and to prevent the progression of the disease. It is possible to correct, sometimes, the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, when developmental pathology is rarely diagnosed. Because patients perceive mild neck discomfort as overwork and do not go to the doctor.
In severe cases of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, treatment will be difficult and longer. Periodic examinations are carried out under the supervision of a neurologist to correct the treatment, which depends on the continued progress of the patient's well-being.
Lifestyle fix
All patients with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical region should increase their physical activity, taking breaks for sports training during sedentary work. If the patient, on the contrary, is actively involved in sports, then he should reduce the physical load on the neck, giving up running, wrestling, jumping, weightlifting.
People who are overweight are advised to take additional steps to reduce it by adjusting their diet so that it is healthy and meets the needs of the body. The menu should be designed so that the food consists of protein, and half consists of vegetables and fruits.
Drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Drug therapy is primarily aimed at eliminating the symptoms of pain in the neck due to osteochondrosis of the spine. The complex nature of the therapy is developed for the patient individually and consists in the use of different groups of drugs that solve their problems.
NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of drugs with properties against inflammation and pain. They can be both in the form of tablets and capsules, and in the form of creams, ointments and gels, as well as for severe pain they are used intramuscularly for the administration of solutions.
The disadvantage of the use of drugs is irritation of the stomach and duodenal mucosa, which can impair the functioning of organs due to gastritis and ulceration. For the relief of NSAID-related risks, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination.
To reduce pain and inflammation in osteochondrosis, diclofenac sodium or piroxicam is used as the active ingredient. They have a mild effect on the digestive tract. Now drugs have been developed that are distinguished by selective action.
Corticosteroids and blockages
Corticosteroids are hormonal drugs that are prescribed in short courses for severe patients with complex inflammatory processes. They can cause side effects with long-term use, so they are used in the form of injections so that there are no side effects and they can be absorbed more easily.
Corticosteroids are often used with anesthetics when performing blockages. To relieve severe pain syndromes, the prepared mixture is injected into points near the spinal nerves. The procedure is performed in clinics by medically trained workers. Blockade doctors recommend doing this four times a year.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are drugs intended to eliminate muscle spasms caused by severe inflammation and pain in the neck resulting from osteochondrosis.
vitamins
Osteochondrosis creates compression of the roots of the spine, therefore it is indicated to take B vitamins, which are involved in nerve impulses.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors - drugs for the restoration of cartilage tissue. In the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, they really have a positive effect on the condition of the discs between the vertebrae, thereby improving the patient's well-being. In the latter, they can only slow down the degenerative-dystrophic process of these discs.
Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of capsules, powders, and also in the form of solutions when administered intramuscularly.
Topical drugs
Gels, creams or ointments that are used during the initial appearance of osteochondrosis in the neck to act on the painful area. They are different in their principle of action, which can be anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming, cooling. Often in their composition there are components such as NSAIDs, menthol, hot pepper, extract of snake and bee venom.
Preparations for improving microcirculation
Drugs of this group improve the quality of blood circulation, which is especially necessary for vertebral artery syndrome. They promote vasodilation, improve brain nutrition and eliminate tinnitus, headaches, dizziness.
exercise therapy
The main method of treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine is therapeutic exercise. The complex of physiotherapy exercises is selected individually with a specialist, taking into account the age of the patient, the presence of radicular syndrome and compression of the arteries, as well as the development of existing diseases and degenerative changes-dystrophic. Objectives of physiotherapy:
- strengthen the muscles of the shoulder girdle and neck;
- activation of blood circulation;
- normalization of muscle tone.
You need to do this daily with a specialist who will help you choose the load, develop an optimal schedule, taking into account the physical condition of the patient.
It is important to perform all physical education exercises slowly, without sudden head movements and in comfortable conditions. If there is pain in the neck, the exercise should be stopped immediately, and then consult a doctor to correct the treatment program.
Swimming has a positive effect on the condition of the cervical spine, in which classes are not associated with physical stress on the intervertebral discs, but the neck muscles are actively working. As a result, the corset of muscles that supports the spine is strengthened. It has been shown that patients with osteochondrosis swim two to three times a week.
Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis
Manual therapy is an effective way to treat osteochondrosis, as it affects the muscles and the spine. The specialist must have a higher education, a medical license for manual therapy and must have experience, understand the anatomy and characteristics of osteochondrosis.
Self-massage
To improve their well-being, patients can perform neck massage themselves, to relieve fatigue and pain.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy is indicated if there is no inflammatory process. Assign a course consisting of 10-15 procedures, which are selected individually.
- Electrophoresis - an electric current is used to ensure deep penetration of drugs.
- Magnetotherapy - to activate the process of blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes. In addition, these sessions act against pain and eliminate swelling.
- Laser therapy - acts against the process of inflammation and dilates blood vessels, which reduces pain.
- Ultrasound therapy is a method that reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings and has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Diadynamic currents - reduce pain, improve tissue nutrition, eliminate inflammation.
traction therapy
Due to the flattening of the discs, the vertebrae come together, so traction therapy with Glisson's loop is recommended.
applicator
Iplicator is an affordable and simple tool for cervical reflexology. The tingling of the tips causes skin irritation, leads to active blood circulation, increases neck efficiency and improves sleep.
Orthopedic appliances
In order to reduce the load on the neck, it is recommended to replace the mattress and pillow with orthopedic mattresses that maintain the correct position of the spine, thereby reducing the progression of osteochondrosis. Patients are recommended to wear a removable brace - the Shants collar, which allows you to fix the neck, thereby reducing the load.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid cervical osteochondrosis, you need to perform a regular warm-up, during which you change the position of your body, performing neck tilts and head twists. Maintain correct posture from an early age. Play sports, strengthen the muscles of the neck and joints, reducing the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis. Take care of your health!