Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine using the latest highly effective techniques, using modern equipment and under the guidance of experienced specialists.
Diseases of the spine can bring a lot of unpleasant sensations to a person, especially if they affect the cervical region - there is a danger of damaging the spinal cord and brain. In addition, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often leads to headaches, causes disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, contributes to the deterioration of blood circulation. Fortunately, today several therapeutic techniques have been developed that allow to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore a healthy state 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 can choose the most effective way to deal with this ailment and avoid radical surgery.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease in which the soft pulp ossifies, serving as a cushioning function between the vertebrae. At the same time, blood vessels and nerve roots are involved in the mechanism of development of the disease.
A characteristic feature of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the appearance of pain in the shoulders, occiput, neck and head. In addition, patients note the appearance of dizziness, increased blood pressure, lack of oxygen, loss of sensitivity on one side of the tongue and other symptoms characteristic of cardiovascular pathologies. This becomes the reason for contacting doctors from other specialties and significantly slows down the process of diagnosing the disease.
Very often, people of the middle and old age categories are prone to ossification of the tissues of 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 itssymptomThey were diagnosed in people older than 45-50 years, but now the age of patients suffering from this ailment is significantly younger. Today it affects young people between the ages of 20 and 40, which is associated with a deterioration in diet and physical inactivity.
Currently, there is a double 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 unavoidable 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 an improper lifestyle.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The problems with the diagnosis of this ailment are due to the absence of pain in some situations and the implicit nature of the symptoms. Also, a person may not feel the signs of the disease while taking strong pain relievers regularly to minimize general discomfort. All this can cause serious disorders in the area of the cervical joints.
Among the obvious symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, which provoke the need fortreatment,include: headache, high blood pressure, frequent dizziness. We will talk more about them.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis.
Dizziness may not always manifest itself in the context of cervical spine problems. In some cases, it indicates disorders of the brain, malfunction of blood vessels and the heart, inflammatory processes in the ear and nasopharynx, the presence of malignant neoplasms or any pathological condition of the nervous system.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis and the need for its treatment can have a systemic or non-systemic etiology.
In the first case, a person may manifest a feeling of light-headedness, uncertainty while standing, and some fainting. At the same time, there is no sense of circular rotation.
As for systemic dizziness, then, most often, it is evidence of any vestibular disorders, malfunctions of visual analyzers, and other changes that have arisen in the context of osteochondrosis. In this case, the patient can feel the circular rotation of the body or nearby objects.
If there is dizziness and the patient simultaneously develops symptoms such as acute pain in the head, numbness 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 indicate the presence of a wide variety of ailments. Most often, it occurs in women against the background of hormonal disturbances, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, spasms in the brain, pinched nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
it can signal the presence of a wide variety of ailments. Most often, it occurs in women against the background of hormonal disturbances, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, spasms in the brain, pinched nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
Pain andhead noisewith cervical osteochondrosis, causing the need for treatment, it is often mistaken for symptoms of acute disturbance of the blood supply to the brain, high blood pressure or coronary heart disease. Most often, these signs occur in older people suffering from the above diseases.
To determine the exact cause of headaches, you need to consult an experienced specialist. In this case, it is recommended to undergo an ECG and exclude the presence of cardiovascular disorders.
Pain from another location, characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis.
Pain in the back of the head and head is not always a sign of cervical osteochondrosis. In some cases, the discomfort can extend from the neck to the arms and shoulders. Such symptoms are sudden in nature and can occur against the background of sudden movements, after a sharp sneeze, or staying in one position during a night's sleep.
If the cause of the pain syndrome is chondrosis of the cervical spine, it usually disappears after a certain time or disappears after manual therapy in the cervical spine.
It should be noted that massage in this area is carried out 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, up to and including her disability.
If we are talking about osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the need for its treatment, patients note the following pain sensations:
- The appearance of a cracking noise during the rotation of the head;
- The presence of pain syndrome within the neck;
- Impaired sensation and the appearance of muscle weakness in various areas of the body.
Increased blood pressure with cervical spine problems.
Since the cervical vertebrae are directly connected to blood vessels and nerve endings, any disruption in this area can trigger an increase in blood pressure. However, these jumps are temporary in nature, manifest as short-lived 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. These include:
- The appearance of pain in the head area;
- Loss of sensation in the collar;
- Pain in the chest, arms and legs;
- A sharp rise in blood pressure after stressful situations, prolonged staying in one position, excessive muscle tension, and other similar situations.
A sharp deterioration in the patient's condition and a sharp increase in pressure indicate an urgent need to see a doctor.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis.
As it develops, the above ailment goes through several stages, accompanied by specific symptoms. We will talk about them in more detail below.
Early stage osteochondrosis
As a general rule, if the first degree of the disease occurs, patients may experience only minor 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 at the initial stage does not involve takingdrugs. . . To recover, the patient only needs to performgymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis and change the 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 when bending and turning the head. The reasons for the increased discomfort include: a reduction in the size of the height of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, pinching of the nerve endings. In this case, the patient notices a deterioration in the ability to work, the appearance of distraction, increased fatigue and the appearance of pain in the head.
Third degree osteochondrosis
It is accompanied by increased pain with radiation in the area of the upper extremities, as well as in the shoulders and neck. In this case, numbness in the muscles of the hands can be observed, which is associated with the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. Also, patients may complain of severe weakness and dizziness.
The last stage of the disease.
In the final stage, deep degenerative processes are felt in the area of the intervertebral discs and their replacement by pathological tissue. The need for treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.in the exacerbation stageit may be due to the defeat of various segments of the spine. In this case, patients manifest 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 in the chair, and his head is constantly tilted forward. The same can be said of a prolonged stay of the head in a thrown-back state, which is typical for employees of construction specialties, when performing repair activities.
As a general rule, excessive stress on the cervical spine inevitably leads to degenerative disorders in the area of the vertebral discs. In addition, cervical-vertebral osteochondrosis, the symptoms of this ailment and the need for its treatment may be due to the following factors:
- Violation of calcium metabolism;
- Causes of a genetic nature;
- Thermal irritants;
- When practicing extreme sports (treatment of sports injuries);
- Hypodynamic;
- Long stay of a person in a position by professional affiliation;
- Obesity;
- Prolonged stressful situations;
- Injury to the neck and back of the head;
- Autoimmune processes that can cause 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
Syndromes are represented by the simultaneous manifestation of several symptoms of the disease at the same time. As for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is characterized by the following syndromes: vertebral, vertebral arteries, cardiac and radicular. It is about them that will be discussed below.
What is vertebral syndrome?
In the presence of the above syndrome, degenerative processes directly affect 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;
- Inability to rotate the neck;
- The presence of a disorder in the intervertebral region or in the vertebral body, which are morphological in nature (to determine this symptom, X-rays are taken).
If the patient lacks at least one of the above signs, then there is no point talking about spinal syndrome.
Characteristics of vertebral artery syndrome
The essence of the above syndrome is damage to the vertebral arteries that provide blood supply to the brain. It is characterized by the simultaneous manifestation of the following symptoms:
- Against the background of compression of the artery, the patient may feel dizzy, increased blood pressure, the appearance of tinnitus, nausea, etc. ;
- Due to irritation of the nerve roots, loss of sensation, appearance of "flies" in the eyes, sharp pain in the head and numbness may be observed;
- Lack of oxygen can lead to severe pain in the head area, 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 in the presence of cardiac syndrome also arises. Many patients report a condition that is characteristic of coronary heart disease or resembles the symptoms of myocardial infarction. In this case, the following signals occur:
- A burning sensation and sharp pain syndrome in the sternum area;
- Tachycardia;
- The appearance of severe weakness, excessive fatigue and shortness of breath.
Root syndrome: characteristics
It is characterized by impaired neuromuscular conduction. In the presence of radicular syndrome, the patient may feel loss of sensitivity or, conversely, severe pain syndrome. Furthermore, its features include:
- Pain in the back of the head or, conversely, numbness in this area;
- Difficulty chewing food, numbness in the area behind the ear, feeling of fullness on the tongue;
- The appearance of symptoms of a sore throat, hiccups, pain in the clavicle;
- Difficulty moving the upper limbs, discomfort in the shoulder area;
- Violations in the area of the forearm and shoulder blades;
- Loss of sensation in the area of the fingers.
Diagnostics
The main and most informative methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Highly detailed MRI images reflect the state not only of the bone tissue in the spine, but also of the soft tissue: muscles, cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and intervertebral discs. If there are contraindications to MRI (the presence of metal prostheses, pacemakers), a CT scan is prescribed, but the information content of the method is much less in terms of the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
Is it possible to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
When it comes to cervical osteochondrosis, effective treatment of this ailment is possible only with a comprehensive lifestyle review, constant prevention and recovery from 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, it can significantly alleviate your condition, even in the most advanced cases, and lengthen the periods of remission.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
In the first stage of osteochondrosis, the patient will benefit from conservative drug-free treatment. You need to correct your posture, pay attention to workplace equipment, interrupt work for a few minutes every day to get the job done smoothly.recovery gymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis, which can be done directly on the office desk. Swimming, increased physical activity and the intake of vitamin-mineral complexes will have a positive effect on the entire musculoskeletal system.
Benefits 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 stands out for its affordable cost. Also, if a medical institution 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 minimal likelihood of side effects;
- Reduce the need for invasive treatments.
- Reduce the need for medication.
Medications for cervical osteochondrosis.
If you have cervical osteochondrosis and are interested in treatmentmedicinalYeffective,you can find information about suitable medicines on the Internet. However, despite the variety of medications and the lack of prescription, self-medication is not recommended. Most medications 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 also prescribed to alleviate 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 first aid kit, as neck pain can return when the weather changes, overexertion and stress.
Physiotherapy approaches
In cases where drug therapy is contraindicated or does not have the desired effect, and sometimes for a complex effect, physiotherapy methods are used, which are available both in classical and alternative medicine. All of them are intended to relieve muscle spasms, inflammation, and pain.
Acupuncture. The essence of the method is to "awaken" biologically active points by inserting special fine needles into them to a depth of several centimeters. The procedure is painful in itself, but it helps relieve pain in the spine. Several sessions are required.
Manual therapy. This method is effective if the patient haslarcenynerves of the cervical spine, the corresponding symptoms were diagnosed and the need for treatment was identified. Nerves and blood vessels trapped by deformed vertebrae can be released by manually stretching the spine.
Hirudotherapy (leeches). Relieves inflammation and swelling due to biologically active substances secreted 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, it can be prescribed as part of a complex non-invasive therapy and during the rehabilitation period after surgery. It has a number of contraindications and is used only after a complete examination by various specialists, including a neurologist, cardiologist, and vertebrologist.
Exercises for cervical osteochondrosis.
If a person has cervical osteochondrosis, dailytraining,developed for the treatment of this ailment, it will help to strengthen the muscular corset, which means: reducing 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 series of exercises should be performed with caution.
Typical exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- head turns sideways;
- head tilts back and forth;
- lift your shoulders with your hands relaxed or fixed, keeping them in this position for 15-20 seconds;
- alternating tension of the neck flexors and extensors with a stationary head position.
Exercises need to be repeated 5-7 times. The duration of the lesson is 15 to 20 minutes.
Surgical intervention
In the absence of a positive effect after 6 months of conservative treatment, spinal fusion may be indicated. The objective of the procedure is to immobilize the affected vertebral segment. It includes 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, spinal fusion can lead to vertebral disability. That is why surgical intervention is indicated only in extreme cases.
Nutrition and lifestyle
After surgical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, in the early rehabilitation period, the use of a fixation collar is required. During conservative treatment and in the late rehabilitation period, a diet rich in calcium and vitamins, correction of habitual postures and posture in general, a daily series of therapeutic exercises for the neck, orthopedic pillows is recommended.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
If you are diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis and its symptoms, and you want to undergohome treatment,It should be remembered that such an independent intervention can only be practiced in combination with the procedures prescribed by a specialist.
Some experts recommend usingOrthopedic pillowwith cervical osteochondrosis, and use warming agents such as pepper plaster, mustard plaster and alcohol compresses. According to others, only specialtrainingfor treatment andprevention. . .
You can also resort to the help of traditional medicine recipes, which are based on the use of compresses and honey-potato dressings with natural ingredients. You can find more information about these tools 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 the treating physician is required once a year. A course of shock wave therapy may be prescribed. Hypothermia and infectious diseases, prolonged work at the computer in one position should be avoided. If you are traveling on a long plane or bus, use a neck support pillow to help relieve muscle tension and prevent congestion. For daily sleep, use special orthopedic pillows that ensure the correct position of the head.