Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

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

Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

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

Why does cervical osteochondrosis occur?

• overweight and sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• flat foot;
• DSV;
• Poor nutrition.

Injuries, bruises on the spine, excessive physical activity and stress can provoke the development of deformities in the cervical vertebrae. In women, osteochondrosis often occurs during pregnancy, menopause - against the background of hormonal changes, the amount of calcium decreases, bone tissue becomes fragile.

Important! The predisposition to osteochondrosis is hereditary.

General symptoms and signs

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

How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests itself:

• radicular syndrome - against the background of compression of nerve endings, pain occurs that spreads from the neck to the shoulder blades, forearms and covers the anterior wall of the chest;
• muscle weakness in the arms, noticeable swelling in the neck;
• when you move your head, you hear a characteristic crunch;
• weakness, chronic fatigue, changes in blood pressure;
• lack of coordination, often dizziness, attacks accompanied by nausea, vomiting;
• deterioration of vision and hearing, noise, ringing in the ears;
• numbness of limbs, tongue;
• frequent migraines;
• in women aged 45 to 65 years, pain, numbness and tingling in the upper extremities appear during sleep; attacks may be repeated several times during the night.

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

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

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

Degree of disease development:

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

Acute osteochondrosis is a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, characterized by a strong attack of acute pain that occurs suddenly upon awakening.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to consult a neurologist, some hospitals have a vertebrologist - a specialist who treats diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic methods

Advanced forms of osteochondrosis have a pronounced clinical picture, which makes it possible to make the initial diagnosis 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 pathology;
• MRI– the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of development of intervertebral hernias and the condition of the spinal cord are clearly visible on the screen;
• TC– the method is less effective than magnetic resonance imaging, as it does not provide accurate information about the presence and size of hernias;
• duplex scanning– allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• electroneurography– shows the presence of pinching, inflammation and other nerve damage;
• rheoencephalogram– prescribed for problems with blood supply to the brain.

For a targeted and complete 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 changes in tissues and distinguish cicatricial changes from a hernia.

Methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis

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

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

First aid

Pain relievers help relieve pain caused by osteochondrosis. You can warm the affected area with mustard poultice or pepper poultice.

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

Physiotherapy

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

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

1. While standing, lower your arms freely along your body. Tilt your head forward, try to reach your chest with your chin, fix the position for a count of 3. Tilt your head back, chin facing up, count to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. While standing, turn your head to the right, left and fix the position at each extreme point for a few seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side.
3. Standing, tilt your head to the right, to the left, try to reach your shoulder with your ear and hold the position for 30 seconds. Do 6 reps in each direction.
4. Standing, hands on belt, chin parallel to the floor, extended 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 your knees. Extend your straight arms to the sides, move them back a little, tilt your head back at the same time, return to the starting position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a sitting position, turn your head to the right, place your left palm on your right shoulder, elbow parallel to the floor, right hand resting on your knee, return to the starting position. Do 6 reps in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your arms above your head, connect them tightly, bend your elbows slightly, turn your head to the side until 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 gymnastics, you need to take a warm shower and do several gentle tilts of your head in different directions to warm up your muscles. After completing the exercise, light stretching will help avoid discomfort the next day.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at eliminating unpleasant sensations, restoring spinal mobility and slowing down degenerative changes in tissues. Acute attacks of pain 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:

• Ines– produced in the form of tablets and products for external use, eliminate swelling and pain;
• corticosteroids– relieve acute pain syndrome;
• B vitamins– restore metabolic processes in tissues;
• chondroprotectors– promote the restoration of cartilaginous tissue;
• medications to improve blood flow and brain nutrition;
• nootropics– improve brain function and memory;
• muscle relaxants– eliminate muscle spasms;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory and warming effects are used..

In order for drug therapy to be effective, it is necessary to combine it with exercise therapy and follow a diet, otherwise no medication will help eliminate osteochondrosis.

Important! If there is no effect from conservative treatment, surgery is prescribed.

Folk remedies

Traditional treatment should be used as a complement to drug therapy and physical exercise, as unconventional methods do not help to completely eliminate the disease.

What to do for cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour boiling water over a fresh horseradish leaf, cool slightly, apply the inner part to the neck, secure with a thin natural fabric. Do the procedure before bed, leave the compress on all night.
2. Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater and mix in equal proportions with hot liquid honey. Use the mixture for compresses, do the procedure 1 to 2 times a week.
3. Mix a raw egg with 100 ml of sunflower oil, 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g of flour, place the mixture in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the film from the surface. Apply the product to the inflamed area before 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, place the medicine in a dark place for 2 weeks. Drink 5 ml of the mixture three times a day, do not swallow it immediately, hold it in your mouth for 2 to 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, place the mixture in a glass container, after 24 hours add 800 ml of honey, stir. Take 5 ml of the medicine three times a day before meals.

A cabbage leaf smeared with honey will help you deal with severe pain and extract excess salts; fix the compress on 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 and in severe forms of osteochondrosis, sessions are carried out by a specialist. In mild forms of the disease, self-massage helps with prevention - treatment is carried out at home.

Massage technique:

1. Warm up your muscles– with both hands, run intensely along the back, lateral surface of the neck, from top to bottom. Heating time: 2 minutes.
2. Press the tip of your palm on the lower part of your neck,move with sliding movements to the hair growth area and then to the shoulder joints.
3. Make circular rubbing movements with the fingertips of both handsin the occipital region, from the hairline to the forearms - from the spine to the ears and back.
4. Tighten your neck muscles from the bottom up, then in the opposite direction.
5. Caressing from the back of the neck to the shoulder blades– perform after each type of exercise.

Important! 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 synthesis of cartilaginous tissue, most of them are found in formaldehyde, jelly and jelly.

Prohibited Products	Authorized products
any alcoholic beverages; fatty meats, refractory fats, smoked meats; soups with rich broths; hot and spicy dishes, canned foods, marinades; mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup; radish, radish, horseradish, onion, garlic; fast food, semi-finished products; fast carbohydrates - sweets, baked goods, pasta made from premium flour; potato; Limit your salt intake to 5 g per day.	dietary meats; fish, seafood; fermented dairy products; cereals; light soups; whole grain bread; honey, jam, marmalade, pastille, nuts, dried fruits, oatmeal cookies; fresh and baked vegetables and fruits; eggs; vegetable oils; natural juices, green tea, fruit juices.

Important! To prevent dehydration of intervertebral disc tissue, you need to drink at least 2. 5 liters of pure still water per day.

Possible consequences and complications

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

Why is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine dangerous?

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

Important! In advanced osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal cord occurs, which can be fatal.

Contraindications for cervical osteochondrosis

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

What not to do with cervical osteochondrosis:

• sleep on a very hard or soft mattress, on a high pillow;
• to lift weights; If you need to lift something heavy, do so with your back straight and your knees bent;
• carry a bag on your shoulder;
• when the pathology worsens, make active head and neck movements;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• walking without a scarf in cold weather, sitting in a draft, near an air conditioner;
• staying in an uncomfortable position, sitting for a long time;
• wear high heels;
• break your neck.

Thermal procedures - warming compresses, visiting the bathhouse, warming up with a blue lamp - can only be done in the remission phase of the disease. During an exacerbation, heat will relieve pain only for a short time, but soon the discomfort will return and the degree of its manifestation will increase.

Disease prevention

To maintain spinal health, simply follow simple prevention rules.

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• do gymnastics every morning, swim, do yoga, dance;
• spend more time outdoors, morning walks are especially useful;
• eat well, control your salt intake, follow an alcohol consumption regime;
• when working sedentary, 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 the head, neck and shoulders should rest on the mattress pillow, and a small pillow should be placed under the feet. It is better to sleep on your back or in the fetal position, in case of worsening of the disease, just on your side. The mattress is orthopedic, of medium hardness, the pillow is rectangular, orthopedic, 15 to 20 cm high. With the correct position of the body during sleep, the spine is straight, there are no deflections in different parts, the muscles are relaxed.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic and slowly progressive disease; Signs of the disease do not appear immediately. A competent combination of traditional and folk treatment methods, gymnastics and diet will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms, and simple preventive measures will help avoid relapses of the pathology.