Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the latest highly effective techniques, with the use of modern equipment and under the guidance of experienced experts.
Spinal diseases can provide a lot of unpleasant sensations to a person, especially if they affect the cervical region: there is a danger of damage to the spinal cord and brain. In addition, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often leads to headaches, causes disorders of the internal organs and contributes to the deterioration of blood circulation. Fortunately, several therapeutic techniques have been developed today that allow you to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore a healthy spine.
In this article we will tell you in detail about the features of cervical osteochondrosis and describe the main methods of its treatment. We hope that after reading you will be able to choose the most effective way to deal with this disease and avoid radical surgery.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease in which the soft pulp ossifies and serves as an amortization 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, neck, neck and head. In addition, patients notice the appearance of dizziness, high blood pressure, oxygen starvation, loss of sensitivity on one side of the tongue and other symptoms characteristic of cardiovascular pathologies. This becomes a reason to contact doctors of other specialties and significantly slows down the process of diagnosing the disease.
Middle-aged and older people are most often prone to ossification of the tissue of the upper part of the spine. This is due to the improper distribution of dynamic and static loads on the human skeleton.
However, if there is cervical osteochondrosis in the pastsymptomsthey were diagnosed in people older than 45-50 years, but now the age of patients suffering from this disease is much younger. Today, it affects young people aged 20-40, which is associated with deteriorating diet and physical inactivity.
There is currently a two-pronged approach to the cervical spine problem: it is considered 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
Problems with the diagnosis of this disease are due to the absence of pain in some situations and the implicit nature of the symptoms. In addition, a person may not feel signs of illness while regularly taking strong painkillers to reduce overall discomfort. All this can lead to serious disorders in the area of the cervical joints.
Among the obvious symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, which causes the need fortreatment,include: headache, high blood pressure, frequent dizziness. We will talk about them further.
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis
Dizziness may not always manifest in the background of cervical spine problems. In some cases, it indicates disorders of the brain, malfunctions of blood vessels and heart, inflammatory processes of the ear and nasopharynx, the presence of malignant neoplasms or any pathological condition of the nervous system.
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis and the need for its treatment may have a non-systemic or systemic etiology.
In the first case, the person may express a feeling of astonishment, insecurity while standing and somewhat unconscious. At the same time, there is no sense of circular rotation.
As for systemic vertigo, then it is most often evidence of any vestibular disorders, malfunction of visual analyzers and other changes that occurred in the background of osteochondrosis. In this case, the patient can feel the circular rotation of the body or objects nearby.
If dizziness is present and the patient simultaneously develops symptoms such as acute headache, numbness of the upper chest, fainting, or impaired coordination of movement, he must be hospitalized immediately.
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The appearance of a headache can signal the presence of a wide range of diseases. It most often occurs in women in the background of hormonal disorders, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, cramps in the brain, compressed nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
can signal the presence of a wide range of diseases. It most often occurs in women in the background of hormonal disorders, stressful situations, increased intracranial pressure, cramps in the brain, compressed nerve endings, inflammatory processes and other diseases.
Hurtsnoise in the headwith cervical osteochondrosis, which causes the need for treatment, is often confused with symptoms of acute disturbance of blood supply to the brain, arterial hypertension, or coronary heart disease. Most often, such signs occur in older people who suffer from the above diseases.
To determine the exact cause of the headache, you need to consult an experienced specialist. In this case, it is recommended to undergo an ECG and rule out the presence of cardiovascular disorders.
Pain of 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 in nature and can occur in 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 of the cervical spine.
It should be noted that massage in this area is carried out only after a thorough examination of the patient. With an unprofessional approach, there is a high risk of worsening the patient's condition, including his disability.
If we talk about osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the need for its treatment, then patients notice the following feelings of pain:
- Occurrence of crunch during head rotation;
- Presence of neck pain syndrome;
- Deterioration of sensitivity and the appearance of muscle weakness in different parts of the body.
Increased blood pressure in cervical spine problems
Because the cervical vertebrae are directly connected to blood vessels and nerve endings, any disorder in this area can trigger an increase in blood pressure. However, such jumps are temporary in nature, manifest as short-term seizures, 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:
- Occurrence of pain in the head area;
- Loss of sensitivity on the collar;
- Chest, arm and leg pain;
- A sudden rise in blood pressure after stressful situations, prolonged stay in one position, excessive muscle tension and other similar situations.
A sharp deterioration in the patient's condition and a sudden rise in pressure indicate an urgent need to see a doctor.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
As it develops, the above-mentioned disease goes through several stages, accompanied by specific symptoms. We will talk about them in more detail below.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis
As a rule, if grade 1 disease occurs, patients may feel only minor discomfort. I can only show pain with sudden movements, tilting and turning my 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 phase does not include taking itdrugs. . . To recover, the patient only needs to undergo surgerygymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis and change your daily diet.
Second stage of the disease: characteristics
The second phase of the pathology is characterized by more intense sensations of pain radiating to the upper extremities and increasing with bending and turning of the head. Reasons for increased discomfort include: a decrease in the size of the height of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, constriction of the nerve endings. In this case, the patient notices a deterioration in work ability, the appearance of absence, increased fatigue and the appearance of headaches.
Third degree osteochondrosis
It is accompanied by increased pain with radiation to the area of the upper extremities, as well as the shoulders and neck. In this case, numbness of the arm muscles may be noticed, 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
In the final stage, deep degenerative processes in the area of intervertebral discs and their replacement by pathological tissue are felt. The need for treatment of cervical osteochondrosisin the exacerbation phasemay be due to the defeat of several segments of the spine. In that 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 a consequence of daily sedentary work, in which the 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 for the extended stay of the head in a remote state, which is typical for employees in construction specialties, when they perform repairs.
As a rule, excessive stress on the cervical spine inevitably leads to degenerative disorders in the area of the spinal discs. In addition, cervico-vertebral osteochondrosis, the symptoms of this disease 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 you do extreme sports (treatment of sports injuries);
- Hypodynamics;
- Long stay of a person in one position due to professional affiliation;
- Obesity;
- Prolonged stressful situations;
- Neck and nape injury;
- Autoimmune processes that can cause destruction of cartilage tissue.
Switching to a healthy diet and moderate physical activity can reduce the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
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: spine, spinal arteries, cardiac and radicular. These 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;
- Impossibility of door rotation;
- The presence of disorders in the intervertebral region or in the body of the vertebrae that are morphological in nature (X-rays are taken to determine this symptom).
If the patient is missing at least one of the above signs, then there is no sense in talking about vertebral syndrome.
Characteristics of vertebral artery syndrome
The essence of the above syndrome is damage to the spinal arteries that supply the brain with blood. It is characterized by the simultaneous manifestation of the following symptoms:
- In the background of constriction of the artery, the patient may feel dizzy, increase in blood pressure, tinnitus, nausea, etc. ;
- Due to nerve root irritation, loss of sensitivity, the appearance of "flies" in the eyes, acute headaches and numbness may be observed;
- Lack of oxygen can cause severe pain in the head area, excessive drowsiness, decreased activity and decreased concentration.
Signs of heart syndrome
In addition to the symptoms of the spinal artery in cervical osteochondrosis, the need for treatment of the patient also occurs in the presence of cardiac syndrome. Many patients report a condition that is characteristic of coronary heart disease or resembles the symptoms of myocardial infarction. In this case, the following characters are present:
- Burning sensation and acute sternal pain syndrome;
- Tachycardia;
- Occurrence of severe weakness, excessive fatigue and difficulty breathing.
Radicular syndrome: features
It is characterized by deterioration of neuromuscular conduction. In the presence of radicular syndrome, the patient may experience loss of sensitivity or, on the other hand, severe pain syndrome. Also, its features include:
- Neck pain or, conversely, numbness in this area;
- Difficulty chewing food, numbness in the area behind the ear, feeling full in the tongue;
- Occurrence of symptoms of sore throat, hiccups, pain in the collarbone;
- Difficulty moving upper limbs, discomfort in shoulder area;
- Violations in the forearm and shoulder blades;
- Loss of sensitivity in the area of the fingers.
Diagnosis
The main and most informative methods for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI images with a high degree of detail reflect the condition of not only the bone tissue of the spine, but also the soft tissue - muscles, cartilage, blood vessels, nerves and intervertebral discs. If there are contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging (presence of metal prostheses, pacemakers), computed tomography is prescribed, but the content of information about the method is much lower in terms of diagnosing osteochondrosis.
Is it possible to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
When it comes to cervical osteochondrosis, effective treatment of this disease is possible only with a comprehensive revision of lifestyle, constant prevention and sanatorium recovery. In practice, this is achieved only by a few, 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 phase of osteochondrosis, conservative treatment without medication will help the patient. You should correct your posture, pay attention to workplace equipment, interrupt work for a few minutes every day to do uncomplicatedcorrective gymnasticswith cervical osteochondrosis, which can be done right at the desk in the office. Swimming, increased physical activity and intake of vitamin-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 significant in terms of affordable costs. In addition, if the health facility has special equipment, you can attend a UHT course completely free of charge.
The benefits of UHT include:
- Maximum efficiency;
- Lack of discomfort during the procedure;
- Minimal likelihood of side effects;
- Reducing the need for invasive treatments
- Reducing the need to take medication.
Medications for cervical osteochondrosis
If you have cervical osteochondrosis and are interested in treatmentmedicinaliefficiently,information on appropriate medications can be found on the Internet. However, despite the variety of medications and the lack of need for prescriptions, self-medication is not recommended. Most medications have side effects and contraindications, it is also important not to overdose.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are used to relieve swelling and pain.
Muscle relaxants, sedatives
They are additionally prescribed to alleviate the general condition of the patient and reduce the dose of NSAIDs. By simultaneously relieving muscle cramps and nervous tension, you can achieve the best therapeutic effect.
At the end of the course of treatment, doctors usually recommend buying nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for home first aid, as neck pain can return when the weather changes, excessive strain and stress.
Physiotherapeutic 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 that are available in both classical and alternative medicine. They are all aimed at relieving muscle cramps, inflammation and pain.
Acupuncture. The essence of the method is to "wake up" biologically active points by introducing special thin needles to a depth of a few centimeters. The procedure is painful in itself, but it helps relieve back pain. It takes a few sessions.
Manual therapy. This method is effective if the patient haspinchingnerves of the cervical spine, appropriate symptoms were diagnosed and the need for treatment was determined. Nerves and blood vessels trapped by deformed vertebrae can be released by manual stretching of the spine.
Hirudotherapy (leeches). Relieves inflammation and swelling due to biologically active substances secreted by leeches. Strengthens blood circulation.
Shock wave therapy. It 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 comprehensive examination by several specialists, including neurologists, cardiologists and vertebrologists.
Exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
If a person has cervical osteochondrosis, dailyexercises,developed to treat this disease, will help strengthen the muscular corset, which means - reduce the load on the cervical spine. Exercise therapy is indicated in all stages of the disease, as well 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:
- the head turns to the sides;
- the head is tilted back and forth;
- lifting the shoulders with relaxed or fixed arms, holding them in this position for 15-20 seconds;
- alternating tightening of the neck flexors and extensors with a fixed head position.
The exercises must 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 segment of the spine. It involves the removal of the intervertebral disc, the decompression of the nerve root and the placement of implants or the creation of a physiological height of the disc space. Surgery has a lot of contraindications and side effects. For example, spinal fusion can lead to spinal disability. Therefore, surgical intervention is indicated only in extreme cases.
Diet and lifestyle
After surgical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to wear a fixation necklace in the early period of rehabilitation. During conservative treatment and in the late period of rehabilitation, a diet rich in calcium and vitamins, correction of normal posture and posture, daily set of therapeutic exercises for the neck, orthopedic pillows are recommended.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
If you have been diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis and its symptoms and want to undergo ithome treatment, it should be borne in mind that such independent intervention can only be carried out in combination with procedures prescribed by an expert.
Some experts recommend useorthopedic pillowin cervical osteochondrosis and use warming agents such as pepper plaster, mustard and alcohol compresses. According to others, just specialexercisesfor treatment andprevention. . .
You can resort to and help traditional medical recipes based on the use of honey potato wraps and wraps with natural ingredients. More information on such tools can be found on the Internet. However, only an experienced and highly qualified doctor can diagnose cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, recognize its symptoms and prescribe the most effective treatment.
Preventive measures for cervical osteochondrosis
A doctor's examination 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 travel by long plane or bus, use a neck support cushion to relieve muscle tension and prevent congestion. For everyday sleep, use special orthopedic pillows that ensure the correct position of the head.