Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a result of a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. The first signs of the disease can appear as early as the age of 25; if treatment is not started, serious complications will occur. In the treatment of the disease, an integrated approach is used - drug therapy, diet therapy, physical therapy and physiotherapy.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs and joints, leading to reduced mobility of the neck and the appearance of severe pain. The main reason for the development of the disease is the violation of mineral metabolism, which causes the bones and joints to become less strong. ICD-10 code – M42, M50–54.

Why does cervical osteochondrosis occur?

• overweight, sedentary lifestyle.
• bad posture, scoliosis.
• rheumatism;
• flatfeet;
• VSD?
• poor nutrition.

Injuries, bruises of the spine, excessive physical activity and stress can cause the cervical vertebrae to develop deformities. In women, osteochondrosis often occurs during pregnancy, menopause - in the context of hormonal changes, the amount of calcium decreases, bone tissue becomes fragile.

Great! The predisposition to osteochondrosis is hereditary.

General symptoms and signs

With a constant increased load on the cervical vertebrae, muscle spasm occurs, the vessels of the cervical spine are compressed, blood circulation is disturbed, metabolic processes are disturbed - the structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are deformed and begin to protrude beyond the vertebralcolumn.

How does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifest itself:

• root syndrome - against the background of compression of nerve endings, pain appears that spreads from the neck to the shoulder blades, forearms and covers the anterior chest wall.
• muscle weakness in the hands, noticeable swelling of the neck.
• When you shake your head, you hear a characteristic trauma.
• weakness, chronic fatigue, changes in blood pressure.
• lack of coordination, often dizziness, seizures accompanied by nausea, vomiting.
• deterioration of vision and hearing, noise, ringing in the ears.
• numbness of the extremities, tongue;
• frequent migraines;
• In women aged 45–65 years, pain, numbness, and tingling in the upper extremities occur during sleep; attacks may recur several times during the night.

With cervical osteochondrosis, nutrition and blood supply to the brain are disturbed, neurotic disorders appear - anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disorders.

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

As osteochondrosis develops, it goes through several stages of development, each of which has characteristic features. You can see in the photo how the affected part of the spine looks in different stages.

Degree of development of the disease:

1. Osteochondrosis 1st degree - the initial stage occurs without particularly severe symptoms, the person is bothered by rare and small pain when turning and tilting the head, the back muscles tire quickly.
2. Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree - the vertebrae become unstable, a nerve is pressed, the unpleasant sensations in the neck become intense, radiating to the shoulder and arm. Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headaches in the occipital region, absent mind.
3. Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree - the pain becomes chronic, covers the upper back, hands, severe muscle weakness is observed, the limbs become numb, intervertebral hernia develops, and often there are bouts of dizziness.
4. Osteochondrosis of the 4th degree - complete destruction of the intervertebral discs occurs, they are replaced by connective tissue, the pathological process covers many parts of the spine. There is a lack of coordination, attacks of dizziness become more frequent and tinnitus appears.

Acute osteochondrosis is a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, characterized by an intense attack of sharp pain that occurs suddenly after waking up.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you need to see a neurologist; some hospitals have a spondologist - a specialist who treats diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic methods

Advanced forms of osteochondrosis have a strong clinical picture, which allows an initial diagnosis to be made already during the initial examination. Instrumental diagnostic methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

Main types of tests for osteochondrosis:

• x-ray– the method is effective only in the initial stages of the development of the pathology.
• MRI– the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of growth of intervertebral hernias and the condition of the spinal cord are clearly visible on the screen.
• CT– the method is less effective than MRI, as it does not provide accurate information about the presence and size of hernias.
• duplex scanning– allows you to see blood flow disorders.
• electroneurography– indicates the presence of pinching, inflammation and other nerve damage.
• rheoencephalogram– prescribed for problems with blood supply to the brain.

For a targeted and thorough study of the condition of certain vertebrae, discography is performed - a contrast agent is injected into the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see the slightest tissue changes and distinguish scar changes from a hernia.

Methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be treated without drugs, it is enough to revise the diet, daily routine and regularly perform a set of special exercises. In advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is possible only with the use of various drugs that help stop degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The complex of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physical procedures - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetic therapy, laser therapy. These methods help to deal with pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improve metabolic processes and blood circulation.

First aid

Painkillers will help relieve pain due to osteochondrosis. You can heat the affected area with mustard plaster or pepper.

To reduce the swelling of inflamed tissues, drink rosehip decoction and other diuretics. Massaging the inflamed area with an ice pack will help relieve severe neck pain; continue the process until the skin turns slightly red.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy is prescribed during the recovery period; during the exacerbation of osteochondrosis, physical exercise is contraindicated; gymnastics is simple, you can do it at home and you should do it regularly.

Bubnovsky's gymnastics for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. In a standing position, lower your arms freely along your body. Tilt your head forward, try to reach your chest with your chin, fix the position on the count of 3. Tilt your head back, chin looking up, count to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In a standing position, turn your head right, left and fix the position at each extreme point for several seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side.
3. In a standing position, tilt your head to the right, left, try to reach your shoulder with your ear and hold the position for 30 seconds. Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
4. Standing, hands on your belt, chin parallel to the floor, stretched forward. Turn your head, rest your chin on your shoulder, turn your torso a little, hold for half a minute. Do 6 repetitions in each direction, slight pain in the spine may occur.
5. In a sitting position, back straight, hands on knees. Stretch your straight arms to the sides, move them back a little, at the same time tilt your head back, return to the starting position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a sitting position, turn your head to the right, place the palm of your left hand on your right shoulder, elbow parallel to the floor, your right hand resting on your knee, return to the starting position. Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your hands above your head, connect them well, bend your elbows slightly, turn your head to the side until a slight pain appears, fix the position at the extreme point for a few seconds. Repeat 6 turns in each direction.

Take a 30-second break between exercises. Before starting exercise, you need to take a warm shower and make several smooth head tilts in different directions to warm up your muscles. After completing the exercise, light stretching will help prevent discomfort the next day.

Pharmaceutical treatment

Drug treatment for osteochondrosis is aimed at eliminating unpleasant sensations, restoring the mobility of the vertebrae and slowing down degenerative changes in the tissues. Acute pain attacks are relieved with injections of NSAIDs or corticosteroids, while the chronic form of the disease is treated with ointments and tablets.

How to treat osteochondrosis:

• NSAIDs– produced in the form of tablets and products for external use, eliminates swelling and pain.
• corticosteroids– relief from acute pain syndrome.
• B vitamins– restoration of metabolic processes in the tissues.
• chondroprotectors– promoting the restoration of cartilage tissue.
• drugs to improve blood flow and brain nutrition;
• nootropically- improvement of brain function and memory.
• muscle relaxants– elimination of muscle spasms.
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory, warming effects are used.

For medication to be effective, it is necessary to combine it with exercise therapy and follow a diet, otherwise no medication will help you get rid of osteochondrosis.

Great! If there is no result from conservative treatment, surgery is prescribed.

Folk remedies

Traditional treatment should be used as a supplement to drug therapy and physical exercise; unconventional methods will not help to completely get rid of the disease.

What to do for cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour boiling water over a fresh horseradish leaf, cool slightly, apply the inside to the neck, fix it with a thin natural cloth. Do the procedure before going to bed, leave the compress all night.
2. Grate the raw potatoes on a fine grater and mix in equal proportions with warm liquid honey. Use the mixture for compresses, perform the procedure 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix a raw egg with 100 ml of sunflower oil, 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g of flour, put the mixture in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the film from the surface. Apply the product to the inflamed area before going to bed and store it in the refrigerator.
4. In May, collect pine buds up to 2 cm long, cut into thin slices and place in a dark glass container. For 1 part of raw materials, take 2 parts of sugar, put the medicine in a dark place for 2 weeks. Drink 5 ml of the mixture three times a day, do not swallow it immediately, keep it in your mouth for 2-3 minutes. The duration of the course is 15-20 days, repeated 2-3 times a year.
5. Grind 150 g of peeled garlic and 400 g of cranberries, put the mixture in a glass container, after 24 hours add 800 ml of honey, mix. Take 5 ml of medicine three times a day before meals.

A cabbage leaf smeared with honey will help you cope with severe pain and remove unnecessary salts; fasten the compress to your neck with a warm scarf and leave it overnight.

Massage for cervical osteochondrosis

Massage helps to strengthen muscle tone, improve blood circulation in tissues; in severe forms of osteochondrosis, sessions are carried out by a specialist. In mild forms of the disease, self-massage will help in prevention - treatment is carried out at home.

Massage technique:

1. Warm up your muscles– with both hands, run intensively along the back, lateral surface of the neck from top to bottom. Warm-up time: 2 minutes.
2. Press the tip of your palm against the base of your neck,move with sliding movements to the hair growth area and then to the shoulder joints.
3. Rub in circular motions with the fingertips of both handsin the occipital region from the hairline to the forearms - from the spine to the ears and back;
4. Pinch the neck muscles from the bottom up, then in the opposite direction.
5. Stroking from the back of the head to the shoulder blades– perform after any type of exercise.

Great! Do not massage protruding vertebrae, lymph nodes or carotid arteries.

Diet

The purpose of the diet for osteochondrosis is to provide the body with collagen and proteins; these substances participate in the composition of cartilage tissue; most of them are found in aspics, jellies and jellies.

Prohibited Products	Authorized products
any alcoholic beverages; fatty meats, refractory fats, smoked meats. soups with rich broths; hot, spicy dishes, preserves, marinades. mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup; radish, radish, horseradish, onion, garlic. fast food, semi-finished products. fast carbohydrates - sweets, pastries, pasta from high-quality flour. potato; limit salt intake to 5 g per day.	dietary meats; fish Seafood? fermented milk products; cereals; light soups; wholegrain bread; honey, jam, marmalade, lozenges, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal cookies. fresh and cooked vegetables and fruits. eggs; vegetable oils; natural juices, green tea, fruit drinks.

Great! To avoid dehydration of the intervertebral disc tissue, you need to drink at least 2. 5 liters of pure water per day.

Possible consequences and complications

In the cervical region, the vertebrae are close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is small, so various complications of osteochondrosis appear even with small degenerative changes in the bone tissue.

Why is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine dangerous?

• frequent migraine attacks;
• heart rhythm disorders, atherosclerosis.
• protrusion, intervertebral hernia, bony growths of the vertebrae.
• serious pathologies of the brain.
• narrowing of the lumen of the vertebral artery, which leads to the development of VSD, cerebral hypertension and disability.
• spinal stroke.

Great! With advanced osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal cord occurs, which can be fatal.

Contraindications for cervical osteochondrosis

To live a full life with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that can cause pain and exacerbation of the disease.

What not to do with cervical osteochondrosis:

• sleep on a very hard or soft mattress, on a high pillow.
• lift weights, if you need to lift something heavy, you should do it with a straight back and bent knees.
• carry a bag over one shoulder.
• when the pathology worsens, make active movements of the head and neck.
• smoke, drink alcohol;
• walk without a scarf in cold weather, sit in a stream, near an air conditioner.
• stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, sitting.
• do they wear high heels?
• clear your throat

Thermal procedures - heating compresses, a visit to a bathhouse, warming up with a blue lamp - can be done only in the stage of remission of the disease. During an exacerbation, the heat will relieve the pain only for a short time, but soon the unpleasant sensations will return and the degree of their manifestation will increase.

Disease prevention

To maintain the health of the spine, it is enough to follow simple rules of prevention.

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• exercise every morning, go swimming, yoga, dance.
• spend more time outdoors, morning walks are especially helpful.
• eat right, control your salt intake, follow a drinking regime.
• When sitting, warm up your neck every hour and watch your posture.
• Keep your neck warm.
• get enough sleep, avoid physical, mental and emotional fatigue.

Sleep properly. Only your head, neck and shoulders should rest on the pillow on the mattress and a small pillow should be placed under your feet. It is best to sleep on your back or in the fetal position; in case of flare-ups, only on your side. The mattress is orthopedic, of medium hardness, the pillow is rectangular, orthopedic, 15–20 cm high. With the correct position of the body in sleep, the spine is straight, there are no deformations in various places, the muscles are relaxed.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic, slowly developing disease; signs of the disease do not appear immediately. A competent combination of traditional and folk methods of treatment, exercise and nutrition will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms, and simple preventive measures will help to avoid recurrences of the pathology.