cervical osteochondrosis

Spinal cord diseases are decreasing every year.One of the most common is osteochondrosis, which until recently was considered an exclusively age-related disease.If it affects the cervical spine, it can cause severe pain in the neck, arms, and head, significantly reducing quality of life.It often occurs with many other disorders and, if not treated, leads to the formation of intervertebral hernias, the large majority of which require surgical intervention.Therefore, it is important to diagnose cervical osteochondrosis as early as possible and start treatment according to 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 a jelly-like material, become dehydrated.This is often the result of a sedentary lifestyle, long hours of working at a computer, poor posture, neck injuries and many other factors.

This reduces the strength of the collagen fibers that make up the annulus fibrosus disc.As a result, its thickness gradually decreases, which becomes the main reason for the development of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

• Neck pain of varying degrees of intensity;
• Headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness due to infringement of the cervical vertebral arteries passing directly through the vertebrae, i.e. the development of vertebral artery syndrome;
• Fluctuations in blood pressure levels;
• Radicular syndrome, caused by compression of the spinal nerve roots, with radiation of pain from the neck to the arms, through the hands and fingers to the head, shoulders, sensory disturbances, goosebumps, numbness, etc. in these areas;
• Decrease in range of motion of the neck, appearance or intensification of pain when performing certain activities;
• increased fatigue, decreased performance;
• Tinnitus, decreased visual acuity, development of ENT pathology that is difficult to treat.

The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the discs located between the 5th and 6th, as well as the 6th and 7th vertebrae.

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

stages of development

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

• Grade 1 – Pathological changes in the intervertebral discs have just begun to appear, so symptoms are mild and observed only from time to time.Treatment in such situations will be as effective and simple as possible.
• Second degree – changes in the disc become more pronounced, causing neck pain, which occurs and intensifies when moving the head.
• Grade 3 – pain becomes almost constant and can be complicated by the development of vertebral artery syndrome, as well as the formation of protrusion and intervertebral hernia.
• Fourth degree - the disc has been so destroyed that the possibility of movement in the affected segment of the spinal cord is almost completely eliminated.In this case, severe pain is observed, radicular syndrome often develops, and one or both vertebral arteries are compressed, causing characteristic symptoms.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Thus, the tactics of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis depends 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 it is always aimed at solving the following problems:

• Elimination of unpleasant symptoms that worsen the patient's quality of life;
• Improves the quality of blood circulation in the neck;
• Improvement of metabolic processes in the affected area;
• Elimination of the causes of degenerative-dystrophic changes in intervertebral discs;
• Reducing the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, i.e. bulge, intervertebral hernia, spondylosis, etc.

In general, at each stage of the development of the disease, the use of different therapeutic measures is indicated.If at the first stage it will be enough to adjust your lifestyle and engage in exercise therapy, then the second stage will require a more comprehensive impact, additionally including 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 of stage 2 or more is diagnosed.In such situations, treatment will be aimed at improving the patient's well-being and preventing further disease progression.Sometimes it is possible to completely correct the condition only at the first stage of osteochondrosis, but the pathology is very rarely diagnosed at this stage of development, since patients perceive minor 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 longer.In any case, it is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist with periodic follow-up examinations and adjustment of therapy depending on changes in the patient's well-being.

lifestyle improvements

All patients suffering from cervical osteochondrosis are advised to make some changes in their lifestyle.In each case, these recommendations vary depending on the characteristics of the individual's professional activity and many others.

The vast majority are advised to increase their physical activity levels and, if sitting, take breaks from work at least every hour to warm up.In cases where the patient is actively involved in sports, he is advised to reduce the load on the cervical spine.Thus, running, jumping sports, weightlifting and wrestling will be shown.

People who are overweight are advised to take measures to reduce it as well as adjust their diet.When osteochondrosis has already occurred, it is important that the diet meets the daily needs of the body as much as possible.Therefore, it is worth giving up fast food and semi-finished products and rationalizing your diet.This means that it is worth creating a menu so that half of the diet is vegetables and fruits, and also contains a sufficient amount of protein.

Drug 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 involves the use of drugs from different groups, each of which solves specific problems.Therefore, it is also developed separately for each patient.

NSAID

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are a broad group of drugs that have not only 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 on demand, i.e. when there is severe neck pain.

For severe pain, NSAIDs may be administered intramuscularly.

The disadvantage of oral drugs of the NSAID group is their irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.It can worsen diseases of these organs, especially gastritis and peptic ulcers.To reduce such risks, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination with them.

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

Corticosteroids and injections (blockade)

Corticosteroids are hormonal drugs that are given to patients with severe inflammatory processes.With long-term use they can cause a number of undesirable consequences, so they are prescribed in short courses in the most difficult cases.As a rule, the use of injection 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 blockades, that is, quickly relieving very severe pain by introducing prepared mixtures into special points near the pathways of the spinal nerves.This procedure requires some skill and dexterity, and hence it can be performed only by specially trained medical personnel in medical institutions.Otherwise, the likelihood of developing undesirable consequences and complications is very high.

It is advisable to do the blockade 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 the 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 prerequisites for compression of the spinal roots, it is often indicated to take vitamin complexes containing primarily B vitamins.They are directly involved in the transmission of nerve impulses, which is especially important in the development of radicular syndrome.

Chondroprotectors

Chondroprotectors are drugs about which there is a lot of controversy.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 solid evidence of their effectiveness in advanced forms of the disease.In the early stages of osteochondrosis, they really have a positive effect on the condition of the intervertebral discs, improving the patient's well-being.And in the later stages, they can only help prevent further progression of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.

Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of solutions, capsules, products for topical use, as well as powders for preparing solutions for intramuscular administration.The most positive effects were seen from the latter.

topical products

These are exactly the drugs available in the form of gel, cream or ointment, which patients often begin to use when symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear.They have different effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming or, conversely, cooling and local irritation.

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

Local irritation works on the principle of irritating the nerve endings of the skin, causing a reduction in the severity of pain and increased blood flow in the area of application.But such measures are effective only in the early stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis.

Preparation to improve micro circulation

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

exercise therapy

Physical therapy is the basis of treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Today, there are many different proprietary and generally accepted methods of exercise therapy for cervical osteochondrosis, but patients should understand that there are no universal exercises.A set of exercises should be selected by a specialist on an individual basis, taking into account not only the stage of development of degenerative-dystrophic changes, but also the patient's age, the nature of existing concomitant diseases, the presence of radicular syndrome or compression of the vertebral arteries.Therefore, different exercises may be indicated for similar patients with almost identical changes in the intervertebral discs.

In general, physical therapy has the following goals:

• Strengthening 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 disc;
• 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 an exercise therapy instructor.This will allow you to 100% master the technique of performing each proposed exercise so that there is maximum benefit from its implementation.The specialist will help you select the optimal load and develop a program for increasing it, taking into account the level of physical development of the patient.

In the future, patients can practice exercise therapy independently at home.At the same time, it is important to approach it with full responsibility, doing the exercises slowly, without haste and in comfortable conditions.But if pain appears at any time during exercise, you should immediately stop performing the exercise that provoked its appearance and consult your doctor to determine the causes and correct the exercise therapy program for cervical osteochondrosis.

When doing exercise therapy, it is forbidden to make sudden, sharp movements, turn your head, or exercise through pain.In such situations, there is a greater risk of aggravating existing changes in the disk rather than achieving the expected benefits.

Swimming has a very positive effect on the condition of the spine.This is exactly the type of sport in which there is no stress on the discs, but instead the muscles of the back and neck are actively involved.As a result, the muscle corset is effectively strengthened, serving as a natural support for the spine.Therefore, patients are advised to visit the pool 2-3 times a week, if possible.

Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis

Manual therapy is one of the most effective methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis, as it allows you to influence not only muscles and soft tissues, but also the spine.But it is very important to take a responsible approach to choosing a chiropractor, because wrong or too strong impact can worsen the patient's condition and even lead to the development of complications.Such a specialist must have not only higher medical education and a license to practice manual therapy, but also a good understanding of the anatomy and features of osteochondrosis and sufficient experience.

Don't confuse manual therapy and therapeutic massage.The differences between these types of manual therapy are important, because therapeutic massage involves only soft tissues, whereas during manual therapy the doctor also works on the spine.

Therefore, each manual therapy session begins with stroking, which allows you to prepare the skin for more active subsequent effects.In the future, rubbing, kneading and squeezing techniques are used, which allows you to activate blood flow in the collar area, neck and upper back.As soon as the skin and muscles are sufficiently warmed up and the patient is relaxed, the doctor begins to perform mobilization and manipulation techniques.They imply the implementation of rotations with oscillatory movements, pushing in the direction of the most pronounced restriction of movement, thereby increasing the mobility of the spine and eliminating functional blocks.

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

• Normalizing 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;
• Bring excessively relaxed muscles back to normal tone and relax spasmed muscles;
• Increase neck mobility;
• Eliminate pressure on the vertebral arteries and thereby normalize blood flow in the brain;
• Eliminate compression of the spinal roots and thereby normalize the conduction of bioelectric impulses in the organs for which they are responsible, as well as reduce pain.

It is especially worth highlighting the author's methodology of manual therapy.It involves the use of special, patented effect technologies, which make it possible to achieve a visible result after the first session not only on the part of the neck affected by osteochondrosis, but 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 self-massage the neck to relieve the feeling of fatigue and reduce pain.To do this, sit in a comfortable position and try to relax your neck muscles.Then make stroking movements with the palms, gradually moving towards circular rubbing, capturing the shoulder area.All movements are performed without sudden and strong pressure on the spine.In this case, you can use local anti-inflammatory medications recommended by your doctor.

physiotherapy treatment

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

• Electrophoresis – involves the use of electric current to ensure deep penetration of the indicated medications.
• Magnetotherapy - helps to activate blood circulation in the area of influence and stimulates the course of metabolic processes.Additionally, magnetic therapy sessions have an analgesic effect and help eliminate inflammation.
• Laser therapy has anti-inflammatory, vasodilating effects, reducing the severity of pain.
• Ultrasound therapy is a method of physiotherapy 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, traction therapy using a Gleason loop is indicated.The essence of the method is to apply precisely adjusted tensile loads to the cervical spine using a special device that fixes the head and exerts the load on the opposite side.Such procedures help to increase the distance between the vertebrae, thereby reducing pressure on the discs and creating favorable conditions for their recovery.But such therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor.

injector

The Iplicator is a simple, affordable means of reflexology on the neck area.This can be a plate with spikes that should be placed under the neck, or a similar device, but in the form of a roller.Due to the tingling sensation of the thorns, skin receptors are irritated, causing more active blood flow to the affected area.

Some patients note a reduction in neck pain after using the Applicator, as well as increased performance, improved sleep quality, and restoration of neck mobility.But if you have skin lesions or vascular disease in the affected area, you should not use the needle Applicator.

orthopedic equipment

To reduce the load on the cervical spine, it is recommended to change the mattress and pillows to orthopedic, since sleeping on uncomfortable pillows exerts additional pressure on the vertebral arteries and nerve trunks during sleep.Orthopedic products are free from this drawback and ensure the maintenance of the anatomically correct position of the spine along the entire length and thereby reduce the rate of progression of existing osteochondrosis.

But it is important to choose the right pillow and mattress so that they match the individual characteristics of the patient and have a suitable filler.Thanks to them, it will be possible to improve the quality of sleep and also wake up cheerful and rested in the morning.

Additionally, some patients are advised to wear a shunt collar.This 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 an injury.The collar is worn before expected load is placed on the neck, but should be removed during sleep and rest.They differ in design, height, degree of fixation, so only the attending physician can choose the optimal one.

Thus, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be quite long and complex.You should be prepared for this, because there is no other way to prevent the development of changes in the intervertebral discs, avoid the development of complications and the need for surgery.But in most cases, patients' condition improves 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 the disease for a particular patient.