Cervical osteochondrosis

Spine diseases are getting younger every year.One of the most common remains osteochondrosis, which until recently was considered an exclusively age-related disease.If it affects the cervical spine, quite intense pain can occur in the neck, arms and head, significantly reducing the quality of life.This is usually accompanied by a number of other disorders and, if left untreated, leads to the formation of intervertebral hernias, the large volume of which requires surgical intervention.Therefore, it is important to diagnose cervical osteochondrosis as early as possible and start treatment depending on the situation.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease in which degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral discs.Initially, the discs, which are cartilaginous rings containing gelatinous content, dehydrate.In most cases, this is the result of a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work in front of the computer, poor posture, neck injuries and several other factors.

This leads to a decrease in the strength of the collagen fibers that form the annulus fibrosus of the disc.As a result, its thickness gradually decreases, which becomes the main cause of the development of characteristic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

• neck pain of varying degrees of intensity;
• headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness caused by infringement of the cervical vertebral arteries that pass directly through the vertebrae, that is, the development of vertebral artery syndrome;
• fluctuations in blood pressure levels;
• radicular syndrome, caused by pinching of the spinal roots, which is accompanied by radiation of pain from the neck to the arms, to the hands and fingers, to the head, shoulders, sensory disturbances in these areas, the appearance of goosebumps, numbness, etc.;
• a decrease in the range of motion of the neck, the appearance or intensification of pain when performing certain movements;
• increased fatigue, decreased performance;
• tinnitus, decreased visual acuity, development of otorhinolaryngological pathologies that are difficult to treat.

There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the discs located between the fifth and sixth, as well as the sixth and seventh vertebra.

In such situations, you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe an MRI.The results of this examination make it possible to accurately identify osteochondrosis at any, even the earliest, stage of development and select treatment.

Development stages

In general, 4 stages of development of osteochondrosis are distinguished:

• Grade 1: Pathological changes are just beginning to appear in the intervertebral disc, so symptoms are mild and observed only occasionally.In such situations, the treatment will be as effective and simple as possible.
• 2nd degree: changes in the discs become more pronounced, which leads to the appearance of pain in the neck, which arises and intensifies when performing head movements.
• Grade 3: The pain becomes almost constant and can be complicated by the development of vertebral artery syndrome, as well as the formation of intervertebral bulges and hernias.
• Fourth degree: the disc is so destroyed that the possibility of movement in the affected spinal segment is almost completely excluded.In this case, severe pain is observed, radicular syndrome often develops, and one or both vertebral arteries are pinched, which leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

Therefore, the tactics of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis depend on the severity of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, the age of the patient and his individual characteristics.Therefore, it is always developed separately for each patient, but always aims to solve the following problems:

• elimination of unpleasant symptoms that worsen the patient's quality of life;
• improve the quality of blood circulation in the neck;
• improvement of metabolic processes in the affected area;
• eliminate the causes of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs;
• reduce the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, that is, protrusions, intervertebral hernias, spondylosis, etc.

In general, at each stage of the development of the disease, the use of different therapeutic measures is indicated.If in the first stage it will be enough to adjust your lifestyle and carry out exercise therapy, then in the second stage a broader impact will be necessary, which also includes taking a number of medications, conducting manual therapy sessions, using orthopedic devices, etc.

But patients should understand that it is impossible to achieve reverse regression of degenerative-dystrophic changes that have already occurred, especially if osteochondrosis is diagnosed at stage 2 or higher.In such situations, treatment will aim to improve the patient's well-being and stop further progression of the disease.Sometimes it is possible to completely correct the situation only at the first stage of osteochondrosis, but at this stage of development the pathology is diagnosed very rarely, since patients perceive a small discomfort in the neck only as a sign of fatigue and do not consult a doctor.

In more severe cases, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will be even more complex and prolonged.In any case, it is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist with periodic follow-up examinations and adjustment of therapy based on changes in the patient's well-being.

Lifestyle correction

All patients diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis are recommended to make certain changes in their lifestyle.In each case, these recommendations vary depending on the characteristics of the person's professional activity and many others.

The vast majority are advised to increase their level of physical activity and take a break from work at least every hour to warm up if this involves sitting.In cases where the patient is actively involved in sports, it is recommended to reduce the load on the cervical spine.Therefore, he will be shown to stop running, jumping, lifting weights and wrestling.

Additionally, overweight people are recommended to take steps to reduce their weight and adjust their diet.When osteochondrosis has already occurred, it is important that the diet meets the body's daily needs as much as possible.Therefore, it is worth abandoning fast food and semi-finished products and bringing your diet closer to rational.This means that it is worth creating a menu so that half of the diet consists of vegetables and fruits, and also contains a sufficient amount of protein.

Pharmacological treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

Drug therapy is primarily aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.As a rule, it is complex and includes the use of drugs from different groups, each of which solves specific problems.Therefore, it is also developed separately for each patient.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are a broad group of drugs that not only have anti-inflammatory but also analgesic properties.They are available in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, ointments, gels and creams, as well as solutions for intramuscular administration.NSAIDs should be used only when required, that is, when severe neck pain occurs.

For severe pain, NSAIDs can be administered intramuscularly.

The disadvantage of oral drugs from the NSAID group is their irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.This can lead to a worsening of the course of diseases of these organs, in particular gastritis and peptic ulcers.To reduce such risks, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination with them.

There are drugs that have a milder effect on the gastrointestinal tract, therefore they are widely prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation in osteochondrosis.In addition, more advanced drugs have already been developed, characterized by a selective effect, which are often also prescribed for osteochondrosis, but they are more expensive and not available to all patients.

Corticosteroids and injections (blockades)

Corticosteroids are hormonal medications prescribed for patients with severe inflammatory processes.They can cause a number of undesirable consequences with prolonged use, which is why they are prescribed in short courses in the most difficult cases.As a rule, the use of injectable solutions is indicated, since with this method of administration these drugs are much easier to tolerate by the body and are less likely to cause side effects.

Corticosteroids are often used in combination with local anesthetics when performing blocks, that is, to quickly relieve very intense pain by introducing the prepared mixture into special points near the passage of the spinal nerves.The procedure requires certain skills and dexterity and therefore can only be performed in medical institutions by specially trained medical personnel.Otherwise, the probability of developing undesirable consequences and complications is very high.

It is recommended to carry out blockages no more than 4 times a year.

muscle relaxants

Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that are used to eliminate reflex muscle spasms caused by an acute inflammatory process.This often occurs with cervical osteochondrosis and causes severe pain in the neck, which further aggravates the situation.

vitamins

Since osteochondrosis creates important preconditions for compression of the spinal roots, it is often indicated to take vitamin complexes containing mainly vitamin B. They are directly involved in the transmission of nerve impulses, which is especially important in the development of radicular syndrome.

Chondroprotectors

Chondroprotectors are drugs around which much controversy arises.They are based on substances used by the body to restore damaged cartilage tissue, which determines the indications for their use in cervical osteochondrosis.But at the same time, there is no convincing evidence of its effectiveness in advanced forms of the disease.In the early stages of osteochondrosis, in fact, they have a positive effect on the state of the intervertebral discs, which leads to an improvement in the patient's well-being.And in later stages, they can only help inhibit the progression of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.

Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of powders for the preparation of solutions, capsules, products for topical use and solutions for intramuscular administration.The greatest positive effect was observed in the latter.

Topical products

These are precisely the medications, available in the form of a gel, cream or ointment, that patients usually start using when signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear.They have different effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming or, on the contrary, cooling and local irritants.

Often these products contain NSAIDs, so they help reduce pain, but they are effective mainly in the early stages of osteochondrosis.Also, the components of such drugs can be menthol, hot pepper extract, snake or bee venom.

Local irritants act on the principle of irritating the nerve endings in the skin, resulting in a decrease in pain intensity and an increase in blood flow to the area of application.But such remedies are effective only in the initial stages of the development of cervical osteochondrosis.

Preparations to improve microcirculation.

Medicines in this group are used to improve the quality of blood circulation, which is especially necessary in vertebral artery syndrome.Various drugs have a vasodilating effect, which improves brain nutrition and helps eliminate tinnitus, headaches and dizziness.But without effectively removing the factor that puts pressure on the vertebral artery, such treatment will only provide temporary results.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is the basis for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Today, there are many different patented and generally accepted methods of exercise therapy for cervical osteochondrosis, but patients should understand that there are no universal exercises.A specialist should select a set of exercises individually, taking into account not only the stage of development of degenerative-dystrophic changes, but also the age of the patient, the nature of existing concomitant diseases, the presence of radicular syndrome or compression of the vertebral arteries.Therefore, different exercises may be indicated for the same patients with approximately the same changes in the intervertebral discs.

In general, physiotherapy has the following objectives:

• strengthen the muscles of the neck and upper shoulder girdle;
• activation of blood circulation in the affected area, which will contribute to the restoration of the fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs;
• Normalization of muscle tone.

It is necessary to do exercise therapy every day.At first, it is best to attend special groups or work individually with a physical therapy instructor.This will allow you to 100% master the technique of performing each proposed exercise so that its implementation provides maximum benefit.The specialist will help you select the optimal load and develop a program to increase it, taking into account the patient's level of physical development.

In the future, patients will be able to practice exercise therapy independently at home.At the same time, it is important to approach this with full responsibility, perform the exercises slowly, without haste and in comfortable conditions.But if the pain appears at any time during exercise, it is advisable to immediately stop performing the exercise that caused it to appear and consult your doctor to determine the causes and correct the physical therapy program for cervical osteochondrosis.

When performing physiotherapy, it is prohibited to make sudden and strong movements, rotate the head or perform exercises through pain.In such situations, there is a high risk of exacerbating existing changes in the discs instead of obtaining the expected benefit.

Swimming has a very positive effect on the state of the spine.This is exactly the type of sport that does not involve tension on the discs, but actively involves the muscles of the back and neck.As a result, the muscle corset is effectively strengthened and acts as a natural support for the spine.Therefore, if possible, patients are recommended to visit the pool 2-3 times a week.

Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis.

Manual therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis, since it allows you to influence not only the muscles and soft tissues, but also the spine itself.But it is very important to take a responsible approach when choosing a chiropractor, since incorrect or too strong influence can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition and even the development of complications.Such a specialist must not only have higher medical training and a license to practice manual therapy, but also have in-depth knowledge of the peculiarities of anatomy and osteochondrosis and have sufficient experience.

Do not confuse manual therapy and therapeutic massage.The differences between these types of manual therapy are significant, since therapeutic massage involves only the soft tissues, while during manual therapy the doctor also works on the spine.

So each manual therapy session begins with a caress, allowing you to prepare the skin for more active subsequent effects.In the future, rubbing, kneading and squeezing techniques are used, which activate blood flow in the neck, neck and upper back area.As soon as the skin and muscles are sufficiently warmed and the patient relaxes, the doctor begins to perform mobilization and manipulation techniques.They involve the implementation of twists with oscillatory movements, pushes in the direction of the most pronounced restriction of movement, which leads to increased mobility of the spine and the elimination of functional blockages.

Thus, thanks to qualified manual therapy, it is possible:

• normalize the position of the vertebrae, thereby eliminating increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and creating favorable conditions for their restoration;
• eliminate pain caused by cervical osteochondrosis and its complications;
• bringing overly relaxed muscles to normal tone and relaxing spasmodic muscles;
• increase neck mobility;
• eliminate pressure on the vertebral arteries and thus normalize blood flow to the brain;
• eliminate compression of the spinal roots and thus normalize the conduction of bioelectric impulses to those organs for whose innervation they are responsible, as well as reduce pain.

Particularly noteworthy is the author's manual therapy method.It involves the use of special and patented impact techniques that allow you to obtain a pronounced result after the first session, not only on the part of the neck affected by osteochondrosis, but also on the entire body.As a result, not only pain and other symptoms of the disease disappear, but also the functioning of all organs improves and the immune system is strengthened.The second and subsequent sessions enhance the positive effect and consolidate it, which guarantees that if other medical recommendations are followed, the period of remission will last as long as possible.

self-massage

To improve their well-being, patients can periodically perform neck self-massage to relieve feelings of fatigue and reduce pain.To do this, sit in a comfortable position and try to relax your neck muscles.Then perform stroking movements with your palms, gradually moving to circular rubbing, capturing the shoulder area.All movements are performed from the spine without strong and sudden pressures.In this case, you can use local anti-inflammatory medications recommended by your doctor.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapy is indicated outside the acute inflammatory process.It allows you to consolidate the treatment results obtained and further improve the patient's condition.As a rule, a course of 10-15 procedures is prescribed, selected separately for each patient.Could be:

• Electrophoresis: involves the use of electrical current to ensure deeper penetration of the indicated medications.
• Magnetotherapy: helps activate blood circulation in the area of influence and stimulates the course of metabolic processes.In addition, magnetotherapy sessions have an analgesic effect and help eliminate swelling.
• Laser therapy has an anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effect, which leads to a decrease in pain intensity.
• Ultrasound therapy is a physiotherapy method based on the positive effect of ultrasonic waves on the body.They help reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings and also have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
• Diadynamic currents - procedures reduce pain, improve tissue nutrition, have a positive effect on muscles and help eliminate inflammation.

Traction therapy

When the vertebrae come together due to flattening of the intervertebral discs, Glisson loop traction therapy is indicated.The essence of the method is to apply a precisely adjusted tensile load to the cervical spine using a special device that fixes the head and has a load on the opposite side.Such procedures help to increase the distance between the vertebrae, which leads to a decrease in pressure on the discs and creates favorable conditions for their recovery.But such therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor.

needle applicator

The iplicator is a simple and affordable means of reflexology in the neck area.It could be a spiked plate that must be placed under the neck, or a similar device, but in the form of a roller.Thanks to the tingling of the spines, the skin receptors are irritated, which causes more active blood flow to the affected area.

Some patients notice a decrease in neck pain after using the applicator, as well as increased performance, better sleep quality, and regained neck mobility.But if you have skin lesions in the affected area or vascular diseases, you should not use a needle applicator.

Orthopedic devices

To reduce the load on the cervical spine, it is recommended to change the mattress and pillow to orthopedic ones, since sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow causes additional compression of the vertebral arteries and nerve trunks during sleep.Orthopedic products are free from this drawback and ensure the maintenance of the physiologically correct position of the spine along its entire length and thus reduce the rate of progression of existing osteochondrosis.

But it is important to choose the right pillow and mattress so that they fit the patient's individual characteristics and contain the right filling.Thanks to them, it will also be possible to improve the quality of sleep and wake up in the morning happy and rested.

Additionally, some patients are recommended to wear a Shants necklace.It is a removable orthopedic device that allows you to fix the neck and significantly reduce the load on the cervical spine, for example, when working at a computer or after suffering an injury.The collar is placed before the expected load on the neck, but should be removed during sleep and rest.They differ in design, height and degree of fixation, so only the treating doctor can choose the optimal one.

Therefore, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be quite long and complex.You must be prepared for this, because there is no other way to stop the development of changes in the intervertebral discs, avoid the development of complications and the need for surgery.But in most cases, the patients' condition improves already within the first weeks of treatment.At the same time, it is important not to self-medicate, but to contact a neurologist, since only a qualified specialist will be able to determine the degree of osteochondrosis and select the most suitable treatment for a particular patient's disease.