Symptoms
Loss of the upper spine can occur in a range of symptoms, depending on the location and severity of the dystrophic process, as well as how severely the root structures of the cervical region are affected. Often, patients' complaints are reduced to symptoms that at first glance are unrelated to each other, which can complicate the diagnosis and further treatment of the disease.
In general, the clinic for cervical spine osteochondrosis is the following series of syndromes:
- Vertebral, is characterized by different types of neck and neck pain.
- Spinal, in which symptoms of impaired motor and sensory nerves are observed, in addition, disturbed trophism of the cervical area causes gradual atrophy of the muscles of the arm girdle and arms.
- Radicular, expressed in symptoms of pain in the peritoneal and thoracic organs, which requires additional careful diagnosis to differentiate osteochondrosis and diseases of the internal organs.
- Vertebral artery syndrome in cervical osteochondrosis - vestibular disorders manifested by headache, hearing impairment, dizziness, up to loss of consciousness.
These phenomena occur when the cause of cerebral ischemia is due to damage to the vertebral artery and weakening of the blood supply.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment develops gradually and patients usually seek treatment already at the stage of clinical manifestations that interfere with quality of life, during periods of deterioration. How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, decides only the doctor after proper diagnosis, self-medication in this case is unacceptable.
Treatment of neck osteochondrosis aims to eliminate pain, inflammation, partial or complete restoration of affected tissue structures, and prevent complications.
Treatment should be mainly outpatient, any home procedure can only be about medical prescriptions, after instrumental and laboratory diagnosis.
In advanced cases, in severe stages of development of neurological lesions and accompanying pathologies, hospital treatment of cervical osteochondrosis may be indicated with the possibility of surgical intervention.
Remedies for cervical osteochondrosis
It consists of prescribing medication courses that relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation. In the acute period, the medication is indicated in the form of injection, after the pain subsides, the patient takes pills, local agents acting in the form of oils and continues to receive injections.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are considered the drugs of choice in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis to relieve pain and inflammation. These are drugs based on diclofenac and indomethacin, available in various dosage forms. They reduce soft tissue swelling, thus reducing pain, local agents have a warming effect, which improves blood flow to the affected region of the cervix. These drugs are used for 5-10 days, sometimes up to 2 weeks. In the acute period, NSAIDs are prescribed in the form of injections, after a few days the patient switches to the form of tablet administration. It is worth remembering that long-term treatment with NSAIDs adversely affects the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, the course of treatment usually does not exceed 10 days.
Calming tranquilizers, glycation, valerian tincture, peony, herbal teas are recommended for prolonged pain and to reduce the risk of patient neuroticism, which contributes to the effectiveness of treating cervical osteochondrosis. Local irritants. These are ointments, gels, rubs that act instead that have a warming, irritating and distracting effect. They are not used in the treatment of the acute phase. They contain biologically active substances of plant and animal origin, for example, bee venom or snake venom. This group includes viprosal, apizartron, menovazin, nayatoks. In the presence of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and with a high irritating effect, it is better not to use them, so as not to provoke even greater edema. Vitamins. During the period of treatment and further rehabilitation, multivitamin complexes are recommended for use. Usually this is a group of B vitamins, whose representatives are involved in ensuring normal nerve conduction, as well as vitamins A and C, to strengthen blood vessel walls and improve blood flow. Taking vitamins reduces vestibular disorders - motion sickness syndrome, dizziness, hearing loss.
Chondroprotectors. These are substances that contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue of the vertebral discs of the cervical segment. These include glucosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfate. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with chondroprotectors is carried out for a long time, 6-12 months.
Orthopedic Treatments
Unpleasant symptoms in the cervical spine are often provoked and exacerbated by inappropriate body position during sleep, a long stay in a forced position or trauma. Therefore, the treatment complex also includes methods such as:
Neck collar, or Shants collar. It is prescribed individually for each patient, after a medical consultation, as it comes in several types. The collar is a dense frame roller that is fixed around the neck and adjusts the beads to the required position. The neck, therefore, does not bend and the head does not turn sideways, which ensures the immobilization of the diseased area, which is important in acute periods. Shants neck collar can also be made in the form of two rolls with an inflatable layer, in which air is injected with a rubber bulb. Inflammation of the intermediate layer between the rolls stretches the spine, which makes it possible to increase the inter-articular gaps in the cervical spine. The degree of elongation is determined by the doctor, it is not recommended to resolve this issue yourself, in order to avoid damage to the neurovascular bundles of the neck. During the recovery period, a fully inflated collar is used, which maintains some mobility of the neck and head.
The collar can be worn at home, no more than 3 hours a day, the overall dressing rate is about a month. The final dressing regulations are determined by the doctor, depending on the severity of the condition and the symptoms.
Correct posture. During sleep, it is necessary to keep the body in an anatomically correct position, when the nerves and vessels of the cervical spine are not compressed, this can be done using orthopedic mattresses and pillows. During awakening, the patient should check the position of his body and correctly choose a table and chair with a suitable height. Stretching. The treatment procedure consists of stretching the ligaments of the spine to increase the distance between the vertebrae by 1-3 mm. Pulling helps reduce or completely eliminate compression of the root disc herniation or vertebral bone outgrowth. The procedure removes intervertebral displacements, reduces muscle contractures. Withdrawal should be performed in an inpatient setting by a physician and after the procedure, the cervical spine is adjusted with a collar or similar device for several hours. The course of extraction treatment is on average 10-20 sessions.
Massage
Massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is an important and mandatory part of treatment, along with medication courses. It is prescribed during periods of remission, to speed healing and prevent relapse. Massage is used as a classic manual as well as its types by the methods of oriental medicine.
A well-done massage stimulates blood circulation in the neck and neck area, improves the trophism of damaged tissues, relieves muscle and blood vessel spasm, and gives relief to the patient. The general course of massage treatment is 10-14 procedures, every day or every day, every 3-6 months. In the presence of a strong pain, massage treatment of osteochondrosis is not performed. At home, you can do self-massage of the diseased cervical area.
Physiotherapy exercises
Exercise therapy is always performed, except during periods of painful exacerbation. Exercises for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed at home, although it is advisable to do this under the supervision of an instructor until correct execution is achieved. The group of exercises consists of:
Turn your head sideways. The head tilts forward and backward. Raise your shoulders with your hands fixed or relaxed, holding for 15-20 seconds in this position. Static loads, when the flexor and extensor muscles of the cervical region are tense on the other hand, the head does not move.
The total number of repetitions is 5-7 times, one session lasts 15-20 minutes. As part of a treatment complex, exercise therapy helps to speed healing and increase remission.
Physiotherapy and reflexology
In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, NSAID electrophoresis, anesthetics, hormonal preparations, diadynamic currents, laser therapy and shock waves are also effective. Physiotherapy in the initial stage of development can lead to a full recovery, and in difficult cases - to increase the time of remission. These treatment methods are used during periods of rehabilitation after treatment of exacerbations.
Reflexology as a method of affecting certain points on the skin of the body, where the internal organs are projected, is also used during periods of recovery and helps soothe inflammation, improve blood flow, relieve tissue congestion andreducing muscle spasms. Of the treatment methods, acupuncture, acupressure and hirudotherapy are the most commonly used - placement of medicinal caterpillars on the skin of the cervical region.
Using these methods can shorten the time and amount of medication taken and promote healing.
Things to do at home
If the patient's condition allows, the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis can be treated at home. For example, therapeutic exercises can be performed at home if there are no contraindications and the constant supervision of a specialist is not required. It should be remembered that the appearance of pain and pressure in the neck is a reason to stop and seek qualified treatment.
Furthermore, it is possible to treat at home using some physiotherapy equipment - for magnetotherapy and ultraviolet radiation, and reflexology equipment.The application of medicines that act locally in the form of oils, gels, medicinal pieces is also performed at home, exactly according to the medical prescription.
Folk remedies are also used in the form of compresses and wraps in the injured region of the cervix from mashed potatoes, horseradish leaves, propolis, aloe and other herbal ingredients. Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis are palliative, temporarily relieving pain, edema, warming the affected area and you should not limit yourself to them.
All treatment tools for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should complement each other and be performed in consultation with the physician, after a comprehensive diagnosis.
Medical treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis involves the use of conservative methods in order to provide adequate pain relief and there is no threat of significant disruption of the patient's daily activities.
Symptoms of the disease
Continuous bending, lifting, turning and twisting over many years of life, of course, negatively affects the health of the neck and the quality of its structural components. With all of these recurring neck stresses, it is not surprising that approximately two-thirds of people experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Pain sensations can be alarming symptoms of a disease such as osteochondrosis.
Attention! Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered one of the most common pathologies. This disease most often affects people of working age, leading a sedentary lifestyle.
The disease is initially asymptomatic. However, in the case of symptoms such as persistent headaches as well as pain in the heart and under the shoulder, this disease requires immediate and effective treatment.
Degenerative processes can lead to the following manifestations:
- acute pain;
- double vision;
- dizziness;
- numbness in the shoulder area;
- weakness in shoulders, arms.
This disturbance and loss of mobility can have a significant impact on career, family and quality of life.
The cervical spine consists of seven bones called vertebrae, which are separated from each other by discs filled with a cushion-like substance. This structure provides the ability to stabilize the neck, turn it smoothly from side to side and tilt it back and forth.Over time, these natural shock absorbers wear out and may begin to degrade. The space between the vertebrae narrows and the nerve endings are caught. This process is known as cervical osteochondrosis. Of particular note is that research shows that about 25% of asymptomatic people under the age of 40 and 60% over the age of 40 have some degree of osteochondrosis. As osteochondrosis progresses, the neck becomes less flexible, the feeling of pain in it increases, there is a feeling of stiffness, especially towards the end of the day. Fist for these reasons that osteochondrosis develops.
Attention! Its complications can be life threatening.
Diagnosis and treatment features
Diagnosis of the disease involves the following general manipulations:
- initial inspection;
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
- X-ray examination.
Drug therapy is the basis for treating cervical osteochondrosis in combination, along with massage. Effective treatments include the following:
- reflexology;
- electrostimulation;
- manual therapy.
Physical therapy can also help reduce pain over a long period of time. The most commonly used methods include:
- acupuncture;
- electrophoresis;
- electrical current stimulation;
- laser therapy.
Usually, the course of this treatment for cervical osteochondrosis lasts about 14 days.
Simultaneously with the application of ice or heat, with the help of a special medicine, it will be possible to achieve pain relief and control pain and inflammation. In addition, exercises for the neck and shoulder girdle area, performed independently, or with the help of a professional, will also help. Exercise helps maintain flexibility. Exercise, especially stretching the neck as much as possible, is essential to maintaining flexibility in the neck area. A specific set of exercises should be developed individually by a physician or physiotherapist.
Medications that may provide relief include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers.
Steroids and muscle relaxants may also be used.Attention! You should not use these medications for more than seven days without consulting your doctor, as kidney failure can be among the serious unwanted side effects they can cause.
Treatment during a deterioration
In the acute phase of the disease, when excruciating pain predominates in the clinical picture, the main goal of medical therapy is pain relief. In such situations, for a limited period of time, very carefully and competently, and only under the supervision of a doctor you can take analgesics (for example, tramadol, oxadol, orthophene), or more complex drugs (arcoxia). They are able to relieve muscle pain and tension.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are mainly taken as pain relievers, can also eliminate the cause of pain - inflammatory edema, which narrows blood vessels and nerves.
The use of muscle relaxants allows you to relieve muscle spasm, normalizing the condition of the cervical vertebrae, nerve endings and blood vessels. The use of vitamins is very important.
For severe compression of nerve endings, doctors recommend anticonvulsants. If the pain is not relieved by other means, then it is blocked with novocaine.
If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is in an acute stage and is accompanied by severe pain, specialists also prescribe local administration of lidocaine, corticosteroids in order to relieve muscle tension in the spinal movement segment and reduce pain.
In the treatment of acute pain, medications are administered using injections, then it will be possible to continue treatment in the form of tablets and further alleviate the health condition by using oils.
Antidepressants are prescribed as a supplement in certain cases. These medications help to psychologically endure the attacks of very severe pain and the specifics of the disorders associated with the cervical spine.
Recommendations for pardon treatment
The light phase treatment period suggests:
- activation of blood circulation both in large vessels and in the periphery;
- improving metabolism;
- restoration and renewal of bone tissue and cartilage structures.
For this purpose, the most suitable:
- anti-inflammatory gels and ointments containing steroids and analgesics;
- oils, the action of which is directed to the point heating of the diseased area, capable of increasing blood flow to the diseased area, improving tissue nutrition.
Chondroprotectors (chondroxide oils and tablets) help restore cartilaginous intervertebral discs.
Massage creams and ointments with bee venom and plant extracts have a regenerative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. A therapeutic massage that, if done properly, can be done at home to relieve discomfort. In order not to harm the body, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- do not press hard on the neck and back;
- all movements must be from top to bottom.
Local anesthetic creams include capsaicin. Creams are also effective in treating pain associated with osteochondrosis. It is necessary to apply the cream to the area in which the feeling of pain is most present.
Attention! Be sure to wash your hands after rubbing in the cream, especially capsaicin, as the cream may provoke irritation on the skin of the hands or other parts of the body that will touch the hands.
An unpleasant symptom such as dizziness, with osteochondrosis, occurs due to vasospasm and inflammation of nerve tissue. To cope with this help vasodilators and tools to improve blood circulation in the vestibular apparatus.
Vitamin B is also included in the complex therapy of cervical osteochondrosis, as it has the following properties:
- restores tissue sensitivity;
- reduces neurological damage.
You should be very careful about the fact that, although there is a very variable range of quality medicines that help with osteochondrosis, taking many of them is often associated with tangible side effects. It happens that the condition of the spine improves, but the difficulties appear in different organs. It follows that medicines are only intended to supplement the complex of other methods to combat this disease.
Thanks to an integrated approach to treatment, it will be possible to achieve positive dynamics of the healing process only if the whole spectrum of therapeutic measures is carried out on a consistent, regular and systematic basis.
Often, patients do not pay attention to the pain in the neck area, which causes complications.
Treatment with surgery
If the pain persists after six months, during which time the competent medication was administered and daily activities become more difficult, doctors may recommend that you have surgery. The operation will aim to stop the movement of the affected cervical spine. This will result in the removal of the disc as well as the insertion of a metal device or graft to help maintain or restore the normal disc height and stability and neck alignment. Special plates can be used to ensure the desired fixation between the two beads.
Attention! Patients should be aware that surgery that results in severe neck pain is much less reliable than surgery to relieve osteochondrosis pain in another part of the body. Thus, if the only or predominant symptom is neck pain, surgery should be recommended only as a last resort, and after all other proven treatment options have failed.
Prevention
Preventive methods for neutralizing relapses are formed by complexes of physiotherapy exercises and therapeutic massages. Proper prevention is an important step towards success.
It will also be very important to pay attention to the fact that you should adhere to a regular daily diet that minimizes, if not completely eliminates, the intake of salty and spicy foods in order to minimize swelling and improve metabolism. It will also be helpful to do yoga and swimming. Among unconventional methods, acupuncture and hirudotherapy are often used.