Every year, diseases of the spinal column become younger and younger. The most common is osteochondrosis, which was recently considered a disease associated with aging. When the cervical region is affected, due to the degenerative-dystrophic nature of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias occur in the spine and severe neck and head pains occur, which significantly reduce the quality of life and lead to surgical intervention.
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 their treatment, before the bone tissue grows, salt deposits and growths form on the vertebrae, which irritate the muscles, which leads to their contraction.
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 to head movements. If left untreated, the disease has complications that cause discomfort, which can become a significant cause of dysfunction.
Injury to the blood arteries due to deformation when the vertebrae approach each other leads to vertebrobasilar syndrome. An insufficient amount of blood enters the brain, which becomes the main cause of dizziness, poor balance, visual impairment, loss of consciousness and tinnitus. The degree of compression of the cervical spine artery depends on the negative consequences that manifest in the body with different 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 is the cause of a headache that can radiate to the neck or temple. The most dangerous is a violation of the nerve processes of the spinal cord, whereby dysfunctions are observed with serious uncontrolled spastic coordination disorders in 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 it leads to the development of vascular diseases that cause damage to the brain even before the death of certain parts of it.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Traditional medicine considers osteochondrosis a disease with degenerative changes in the discs of the cervical spine, and alternative medicine, the osteopathy treatment system, considers it a manifestation of a disorder deep in the body.
There are several reasons why cervical osteochondrosis appears:
Postural disorder
Leaning, scoliosis, rounded back, kyphosis cause an imbalance of the spine, so the load is unevenly distributed on the discs, which leads to deformation and increased wear. At the same time, the vertebrae come closer to each other, begin to squeeze the nerve processes, due to which osteochondrosis develops.
Muscle cramps
Spasmodic muscle reactions lead to tension in parts of the body, causing a change in the natural position and deformation of the discs in the spinal column.
Violation of blood supply
The spinal discs are not connected to the circulatory system, so they are saturated with blood from the tissues of the body. Violation of the blood supply process in the neck leads to a lack of sufficient fluid to absorb moisture and restore the shape and repair of the cartilage. As a result, the wear of the vertebrae accelerates, the intervertebral distance decreases, which leads 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 by the patient due to the absence of pain.
Diseases of internal organs
The movement of internal organs, their lowering due to the deformity of the neck vertebrae leads to a violation of the position of the spine and balance in the body.
Improper nutrition
An unbalanced diet rich in carbohydrates and fatty foods with a lack of protein 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 above symptoms, it is possible to develop diseases and painful sensations due to long stay in an uncomfortable position, frequent tension of the muscle tissue of the back and neck, hypothermia of the neck and neck area.
Often the cause is nervous tension, frequent stress and sleep disturbance. Violations are often not noticed immediately, so cervical osteochondrosis sometimes progresses for a long time and leads to serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important to visit a doctor regularly in order to eliminate the underlying causes that led to 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, containing a jelly-like substance. Over time, discs can become dehydrated due to poor posture, a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, computer work, injuries and neck injuries and other factors.
As a result, the strength of the collagen fibers of the fibrous disc gradually decreases, its thickness decreases, which causes the development of osteochondrosis with characteristic signs:
- neck pain;
- pain in the head, dizziness, loss of consciousness, due to injury to the arteries passing through the vertebrae;
- blood pressure fluctuations;
- radicular syndrome with a violation of sensitivity and the appearance of suffocation and numbness of some areas on the skin of the back of the head, shoulders, hands, neck, as a result of pinching the roots of the spine. Accompanied by pain in the shoulders and arms, even in the fingers;
- reduced ability to turn and tilt the neck and stiffness due to severe pain;
- increased fatigue, reduced performance;
- occurrence of ENT pathologies, tinnitus, reduced vision;
- with the development of complications, nausea, vomiting, migraine attacks may appear.
There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine, osteochondrosis often affects the discs located between the 5th and 7th vertebrae. It is necessary to consult with a general practitioner or a neurologist who will prescribe the necessary diagnostics and perform a magnetic resonance MRI in order to establish a diagnosis and choose treatment.
Levels of development
There are four stages of osteochondrosis:
- Stage 1 - only pathological changes begin to appear on the disc, so the symptoms are mild and not always noticeable. 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.
- Stage 4 - the fibrous disc is so destroyed that movements in the spine are practically excluded due to injury to the intervertebral arteries, which leads to the development of radicular syndrome and severe pain not only in the neck, but also in the chest, arms, and lumbar.
Diagnostics
Only a qualified doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment. Usually this is a neurologist, but in some cases an additional examination by the following specialists may be required: vertebrologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, orthopedist, traumatologist or neurosurgeon.
When making an appointment, the doctor collects anamnesis - the main complaints and symptoms of patient distress, injuries, the presence of chronic diseases and accompanying additional information. Then the doctor determines the mobility of the neck, sensitivity and tension of the patient's muscles. In order to obtain more accurate information, the patient is assigned diagnostic tests using special equipment:
- radiography (X-ray);
- 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 on the discs between the vertebrae. Therefore, the treatment is always developed for the patient individually and is always aimed at solving the following problems:
- elimination of aggravation of symptoms;
- improvement of blood circulation;
- increase in metabolic processes;
- elimination of degenerative-dystrophic changes on 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 medication, manual therapy, use of orthopedic aids.
It must be understood that a complete change of degenerative-dystrophic processes is impossible, especially with the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of 2 or more stages. In these situations, it is necessary to improve well-being and prevent the progression of the disease with the help of treatment. Sometimes it is possible to correct the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, when the developmental pathology is rarely diagnosed. Because patients perceive slight discomfort in the neck as overload and do not go to the doctor.
In severe cases with cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, the treatment will be difficult and longer. Periodic examinations are carried out under the supervision of a neurologist in order to correct the treatment, which depends on ongoing changes in the patient's well-being.
Lifestyle Correction
All patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical region should increase physical activity, take breaks for sports training during sedentary work. If the patient, on the contrary, is actively involved in sports, then the physical load on the neck should be reduced, running, wrestling, jumping, and weightlifting should be avoided.
People who are overweight are advised to take additional measures to reduce it by adjusting their diet so that the diet is healthy and meets the body's needs. The menu should be designed so that the food is protein and half consists of vegetables and fruits.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with drugs
Drug therapy is mainly aimed at eliminating the symptoms of neck pain 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 anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. They can be in tablets and capsules, and in the form of creams, ointments and gels, as well as in case of severe pain, they are used intramuscularly for the application of solutions.
The disadvantage of the use of drugs is the irritation of the stomach and duodenal mucosa, which can impair the functioning of the organs due to gastritis and ulceration. To mitigate the risk with NSAIDs, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination.
Diclofenac sodium or piroxicam is used as an active ingredient to reduce pain and inflammation in osteochondrosis. They have a mild effect on the digestive tract. Medicines have now been developed that are characterized by selective action.
Corticosteroids and blockades
Corticosteroids are hormonal drugs that are prescribed in short courses for severe patients with complex inflammatory processes. With long-term use, they can cause unwanted effects, so they are used in the form of injections so that there are no side effects and they are easier to absorb.
Corticosteroids are often used together with anesthetics when performing blockades. To alleviate 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 it four times a year.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are drugs to eliminate muscle spasms that are caused by severe inflammation and pain in the neck as a result of osteochondrosis.
vitamins
Osteochondrosis causes compression of the spinal roots, so taking B vitamins, which are involved in nerve impulses, is indicated.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors - drugs for the restoration of cartilage tissue. In the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, it really positively affects the condition of the discs between the vertebrae, improving the patient's well-being. In later ones, they can only slow down the degenerative-dystrophic process in these discs.
Chondroprotectors are produced in capsules, powders, and also in the form of solutions when administered intramuscularly.
Medicines for local application
Gels, creams or ointments used at the initial appearance of osteochondrosis on the neck to act on the painful area. They are different according to the principle of action, they can be anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming, cooling. They often contain components such as NSAIDs, menthol, hot pepper, snake and bee venom extract.
Preparations for improving microcirculation
Medicines 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, headache, dizziness.
exercise therapy
Therapeutic exercise is the main method in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine. The complex of physiotherapy exercises is selected individually with a specialist, taking into account the patient's age, the presence of radicular syndrome and arterial compression, as well as the development of existing diseases and degenerative-dystrophic changes. Goals of physical therapy:
- strengthening of shoulder girdle and neck muscles;
- activation of blood circulation;
- normalization of muscle tone.
You have to do it daily with a specialist who will help you choose the load, develop an optimal program, 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 neck pain occurs, the exercise should be stopped immediately, and then contact the doctor to correct the treatment program.
Swimming has a positive effect on the state of the cervical spine, in which the class is not associated with physical stress on the intervertebral discs, but the neck muscles are actively working. As a result, the brace of muscles supporting the spine is strengthened. It has been shown that patients with osteochondrosis swim two to three times a week.
Manual therapy of cervical osteochondrosis
Manual therapy is an effective way of treating osteochondrosis, because 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
In order to improve their condition, patients can do 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 - electric current is used to ensure deep penetration of drugs.
- Magnetotherapy - to activate blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes. In addition, these sessions have an anti-pain and swelling effect.
- Laser therapy - works against the inflammatory process 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, remove inflammation.
Traction therapy
As a result of the flattening of the discs, the vertebrae move closer to each other, so traction therapy with a Glisson loop is recommended.
Iplicator
The iplicator is an affordable and simple tool for neck reflexology. The pricking of the spikes causes skin irritation, leads to active blood flow, increases the efficiency of the neck and improves sleep.
Orthopedic devices
In order to reduce the load on the neck, it is recommended to replace mattresses and pillows with orthopedic ones that maintain the correct position of the spine, reducing the progression of osteochondrosis. It is recommended that patients wear an orthopedic removable device - Shants collar, which allows you to stabilize the neck, reducing the load.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid cervical osteochondrosis, you need to warm up regularly, during which you change the position of your body, performing neck bends and turning your head. Maintain proper posture from an early age. Do sports, strengthening the muscles of the neck and joints, reducing the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis. Take care of your health!