Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms and treatment

Spine diseases are serious pathologies that change the normal physiology of both the axial skeleton and the whole organism as a whole.Damage to just one cervical region leads to disorders of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, organs of vision and hearing, shoulder and elbow joints.Therefore, every person who cares about his health must know the reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, its main symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention.

What is cervical osteochondrosis

The human cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae connected by elastic discs.Normally, the vertebrae are located close to each other, securely hold the head and participate in movement.The first signs of the disease appear in a person aged 25-45.Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra develops - a degenerative-dystrophic change in the intervertebral discs.Their reduction leads to compression and displacement of nerves and blood vessels.If osteochondrosis is not treated, the disease begins to progress rapidly.

Causes of the development of cervical osteochondrosis

Let's consider the main causes of cervical osteochondrosis:

• lack of physical activity, or vice versa, excessive stress;
• sedentary life, sedentary work;
• poor posture such as scoliosis;
• constant stress, nervous tension.

Other causes of cervical osteochondrosis are injuries, hereditary diseases: genetic predisposition, intrauterine trauma.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are very diverse and depend on the degree of development of the disease:

1st degree	The symptoms are mild, sometimes a little lumbago, sleep disorders and headache occur.But minor first signs do not cause much concern, so people do not consult a doctor.
2nd degree	Photographs show bulging and reduction in the height of the intervertebral discs.The pain becomes constant, stiffness and numbness appear in the areas of the face and head.A cough appears.Migraine pain occurs, nausea and dizziness intensify.Sleep is disturbed and fatigue increases.Disturbances in cardiovascular activity are observed.
3rd degree	The development of intervertebral hernias in cervical osteochondrosis leads to compression of nearby tissues - vessels, nerves.Severe, aching pain in the back of the head and neck, dizziness and nausea appear.Patients feel weakness and numbness in their hands.Muscle tone changes, tension appears in the neck muscles.Patients experience the development of sclerosis.
4th degree	The appearance of osteophytes leads to narrowing of intervertebral openings, pinching of nerves and joint damage.All symptoms intensify and become permanent.At this stage, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine decrease, due to the fact that the vertebrae practically grow together, and mobility decreases.Lack of treatment at this stage can lead to disability.

Since nerves approach specific organs from each vertebra, the localization of the damage can be determined by the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Cervical osteochondrosis syndrome

In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there is compression and pinching of the spinal nerve root.This pathology is rare.This is due to the fact that the cervical ligaments are strong, and the hernial protrusions practically do not come out of the intervertebral openings.

Radicular syndromes

Radicular syndromes are caused by oxygen starvation of the latter.

Irritative-reflex syndromes

Irritative-reflex syndromes are characterized by burning, sharp occipital or cervical pain.It occurs when moving the head after long-term tension caused by a long, immobile state of the neck.Also, unpleasant sensations occur in the chest and shoulder joints.

Cardiac syndrome

Cardiac syndrome resembles angina pectoris.Patients complain of pain in the heart that occurs during physical or emotional stress.But when examining the functioning of the heart, no pathology is revealed, and heart medicines do not bring relief.Cardiac syndrome develops in suspicious persons with a tendency to phobias.Such patients may need the help of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist for treatment.

Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is an insidious disease.One of the biggest dangers is the narrowing of the heart (coronary) vessels, which can lead to a heart attack.

Severe headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine lead to a decrease in a person's memory and performance, and the inability to perform professional duties.

Changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs cause numbness of the roots, accompanied by dysfunction of the corresponding organs or lead to disability.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

If you have neck problems, consult a neurologist or orthopedist.The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made based on the patient's complaints, life history, examination, examination.

To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out X-rays, computed tomography or magnetic resonance to identify protrusions or hernias.For symptoms of cerebral circulation disorders, ultrasound of the neck vessels, encephalography of the brain and fundus examination are performed.If there are various symptoms affecting other organ systems, additional diagnostics prescribed by a cardiologist or rheumatologist are carried out.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should always be carried out comprehensively.All measures are aimed not only at the removal of pain, but also at the removal of other pathological symptoms.Treatment is carried out using methods and means such as:

• drug therapy;
• massage;
• physical therapy;
• unconventional methods;
• surgical intervention.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at reducing pain in the cervical spine, restoring vascular blood flow and maintaining motor and mental activity.Main groups of drugs:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Medicines relieve inflammation, remove pain and have an antipyretic effect. Attention: You cannot take these drugs for a long time, because they can cause side effects - liver damage, peptic ulcer, hematopoietic disorders and increased thrombus formation.
Muscle relaxants	Reduce muscle tone and spasm.
Vascular drugs	They improve the blood flow in the blood vessels, relieve headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, flickering "sights" and help restore memory.
Venotonics	Venotonics are prescribed when there is a violation of the venous blood flow of the head.
Antispasmodics	Reduces cerebral vascular spasms.
General tonics: ginkgo biloba, ginseng	It is prescribed for hypotension.
Serotonin receptor agonists	It increases the tone of the arteries.
Neurotropics	It is prescribed for dizziness and tinnitus.
Diuretics	Reduce swelling in pinched tissues.
Chondroprotectors	It prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue and intervertebral discs.
Sedatives and antidepressants	Reduce nervous tension, anxiety, depression, depression and increased fatigue.
B vitamins, complex vitamin preparations	Improves trophism (nutrition) of cartilage and nerve tissue.It is prescribed in the form of tablets or injections (during exacerbation).

Attention: Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis, in addition to their therapeutic effect, can have side effects and serious contraindications.Therefore, do not self-medicate under any circumstances.Only a specialist, a neurologist, can prescribe the necessary drugs, individually select the dose and determine the duration of taking the drugs.

First aid for the disease in the phase of severe exacerbation is therapeutic and medicinal blockades, which only a specialist has the right to carry out.

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis

Surgical treatment is prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis only in extreme cases, for example, with the formation of osteophytes (border growths of bone tissue of the vertebrae), spondylolisthesis (displacement of the vertebrae) or stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal.Surgery is prescribed only if all other methods of treatment have not given a positive effect.

Operations are as gentle as possible, with the use of microsurgical instruments and microscopes.Surgeons most often perform endoscopic operations or microdiscectomy.During the operation, the ligaments are cut, the affected vertebral fragments are removed, and the hernial protrusions are excised.The postoperative period is usually long, but the prognosis for rehabilitation is favorable.

Massage

Massage performed outside the period of exacerbation is prescribed to consolidate the therapeutic effect or for preventive purposes.It is usually prescribed in the course of 10-14 sessions, several times a year.Purpose of massage:

• improve lymph flow;
• normalize blood circulation;
• relax the neck muscles, collarbone area;
• improve cartilage tissue nutrition;
• prevent further development of the disease;
• reduce the risk of relapse.

Which massage to choose - manual or mechanical, which also helps well with cervical osteochondrosis, is decided only by the doctor.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures complement other types of treatment and have a beneficial effect on the health of the cervical spine.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed in the remission phase, relieve pain, muscle spasms, strengthen muscles and restore motor activity.In osteochondrosis, the following are most often used:

• balneotherapy;
• detensor therapy;
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• UV therapy.

Unconventional methods of treatment

Non-traditional methods of treatment complement the official ones and help to quickly solve problems in the cervical spine.

1. Acupuncture.Insertion of needles into specific, painful points along the spine relieves muscle tension, relieves pain, reduces inflammation and improves blood circulation.
2. Dry or underwater extraction.It is prescribed to lift the vertebrae and increase the distance between them.Thanks to this procedure, the pain subsides, blood circulation is restored and the load on the joints is reduced.
3. Needle Applicator.The needle spikes of the applicator affect the active points of the cervical spine, restoring function and reducing inflammatory processes in muscle and cartilage tissue.
4. Leeches.Not very presentable in appearance, but medical leeches have a unique saliva, the components of which relax muscles, improve trophism in affected tissues, reduce swelling and relieve pain.
5. Hydrotherapy.Water showers, saunas and baths with medicinal herbs complement traditional forms of treatment.
6. Foot massage.It has an effective effect on the whole organism, relieves fatigue, pain, improves metabolic processes in the spine.

Therapeutic exercise

This disease does not like movement, therefore, in order to get rid of such a serious scourge, it is necessary to firmly establish physical activity in our lives.Therapeutic gymnastics can be performed daily, except during periods of exacerbation.A doctor can help you choose the right exercises, and the first sessions can be done in a physical therapy room under the supervision of a medical professional.

The task of a physical therapy specialist is to show how to perform exercises correctly, to help choose the correct rhythm, amplitude and duration of exercises.In the future, you have to do physical therapy at home, not forgetting that the load must be increased gradually, and all movements must be performed smoothly.

Daily exercises help strengthen the neck muscles, reduce the load on the intervertebral discs and serve as a good prevention of osteochondrosis.

Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis

It's no secret that prevention is the best treatment.And the sooner you do it, the less health problems there will be in the future.

When to start preventive measures?Of course, it's better than childhood.If you are a parent of a preschool child, do not limit your child's natural desire for physical activity.It is not necessary to enroll him in the sports section - let him run, jump on the street, buy a rope, a hoop, a bicycle, a scooter.Set up a sports corner at home, come up with or find interesting exercises on the Internet, turn them into a game and have fun doing it yourself.

If your child is already a schoolboy, pay attention to how he sits at the desk, whether he is comfortable and whether he has to bend too much over notebooks and textbooks.Remember that when you sit on the chair, the knees of the child should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees?The same degree should be between the hips and the spine.If the angle is not maintained, then you need to adjust the height of the chair or table.The chair should have a comfortable seat, arm rests and a high back on which you can rest your elbows while relaxing.

Pay attention to the height of the monitor - when you are sitting, your eyes should be looking at the top of the monitor, and the keyboard should be below the level of your elbows.Check how comfortable you and your child are sitting at your table.Are you comfortable with a sitting job at an office desk?If not, think about how you can help yourself.Perhaps you can change the height of your chair, raise your monitor or invest in a stylish footrest.

Watch your posture while working.No offense, remember how animals sit, for example your favorite dog, resting the entire surface of the buttocks on the floor, stretch the lower back without bending like a doughnut.After 15-20 minutes, it is necessary to take a short rest.While you're at home, it's easier to warm up - you can get up, stretch with pleasure, do a few dance moves to music and stretch your neck.

What can you do in the office if the natural desire to leave the desk often is not welcome?You can use a seated warm-up:

1. Smooth turning of the head left-right, up-down, rotation in a circle, clockwise and counter-clockwise (be careful not to get dizzy);
2. Press the chin to the neck, then to the chest and turn the head left and right;
3. Place your palm on your forehead and press it as hard as possible (10 seconds), then move your palm to the right, left temple and the back of your head.Do you feel the muscles in your neck tense?Amazing;
4. Massage the neck, starting from the occipital opening to the shoulders, kneading the shoulders, then gently pass the fingers several times from the occipital to the shoulders to ensure an even flow of blood.

The warm-up will be incomplete if you do not take care of the condition of the lower spine and arms:

1. Rotate your shoulders: 10 times back and forth, up and down;
2. Gather your shoulder blades and spread them, feel your back muscles tense up pleasantly and give thanks.These muscles are involved in static work, supporting our body in an upright position.But they also get tired faster than others, especially children.This is why children tend to change their sitting position so often.And there's no need to scold them for it;
3. To help relax the pelvic spine, tense and relax the gluteal muscles several times;
4. Move to the legs, tense and relax the muscles of the thighs, then the lower legs, toes, repeat this exercise several times;
5. Squeeze your hands in a lock, make a "wave" several times, including your hands, elbows and shoulders in the work;
6. Make a fist with four fingers and rotate the thumbs several times clockwise and counterclockwise;
7. Work with your hand - make a firm fist, then straighten your arm strongly and spread your fingers wide.

These exercises, depending on the number of repetitions, can last from 3 to 5 minutes.You can do several approaches per day.You may wonder why you need to do full body exercises if only your cervical spine is bothering you.The fact is that usually the entire spine suffers, so generally preventive warming will bring only benefits.

Interesting: Estonian healer Luule Viilma writes that every disease is given to man so that he has time to understand his life.And the faster a person realizes his mistakes in life, the faster he will recover.According to L. Viilma, the cause of this disease is fear of guilt, accusation, excessive demands on oneself and others.Understanding why the illness occurred, forgiving yourself and others is the way to get rid of everything bad and restore health.

Physical activity and simple exercises must be included in your daily routine.You don't have to study for hours, especially if you don't have time for it.You can find short warm-up videos online.In order to lose weight and reduce the load on the problematic part of the spine, you should pay attention to the system of exercises according to the Tabata method, which suggests performing exercises at a high pace, with certain intervals of rest and load.

Attention: Before performing such physical activity, it is necessary to consult with experts and choose optimal exercises.You cannot practice using such a system in periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

To ease the load on the neck vertebrae, it is good to take care of the comfortable position of the body while sleeping.For your neck and head, using the perfect orthopedic pillow is an ideal option.

What else can be said about prevention?Of course, we are talking about a reasonable diet, monitoring the body mass index, exercising, walking in nature and, most importantly, the desire to be healthy.Our health is in our hands and every person should take advantage of this gift.