Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the result of a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. The first signs of the disease can appear from 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 treatment, diet therapy, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis consists of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs and joints, which lead to a decrease in neck mobility and the appearance of severe pain. The main reason for the development of the disease is a violation of mineral metabolism, which weakens bones and joints. ICD-10 code – M42, M50-54.

Why does cervical osteochondrosis appear?

• overweight, sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• flat foot;
• VSD;
• bad nutrition.

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

Important! The predisposition to osteochondrosis is hereditary.

General symptoms and signs

With constant and increased load on the cervical vertebrae, muscle spasms occur, the vessels of the cervical spine are compressed, blood circulation is disrupted, disturbances in metabolic processes occur - the structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are deformedand begin to protrude. beyond the spine.

How does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifest:

• radicular syndrome - against the background of compression of the nerve endings, pain appears 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, seizures 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; seizures may repeat 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 development of the disease:

1. Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree - the initial stage occurs without particularly pronounced symptoms, the person is bothered by rare and minor 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 and 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 intervertebral discs occurs, they are replaced by connective tissue, the pathological process covers several segments 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 a severe attack of acute pain that occurs suddenly after waking up.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you need 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 an initial diagnosis at the first examination. Instrumental diagnostic methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

Main types of examinations for osteochondrosis:

• x-ray– the method is only effective in the early stages of the development of the pathology;
• MRI– the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of development of intervertebral hernias as well as the condition of the spinal cord are clearly visible on the screen;
• CT– the method is less effective than MRI, because it does not provide precise information on the presence and size of hernias;
• double-sided scanning– allows you to visualize blood circulation 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 in-depth study of the condition of certain vertebrae, discography is carried out - a contrast agent is injected into the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see the slightest changes in the tissues and distinguish scar changes from ahernia.

Methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis

At the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medications, 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 set of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physical procedures - drug electrophoresis, 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 will help relieve pain due to osteochondrosis. You can warm the affected area with mustard plaster or pepper plaster.

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 alongside 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 raised, 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 several seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side.
3. While standing, 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. Stand with your hands on your belt, your 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 seated position, back straight, hands on your knees. Extend your outstretched 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 seated position, turn your head to the right, place the palm of your left hand on your right shoulder, elbow parallel to the floor, right hand placed on your knee, return to the starting position. Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your arms 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 rounds in each direction.

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

Medical treatment

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

How to treat osteochondrosis:

• NSAIDs– products 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;
• drugs to improve blood circulation and brain nutrition;
• nootropics– improve brain functions and memory;
• muscle relaxers– eliminate muscle spasms;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory and warming effects are used.

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

Important! If conservative treatment has no effect, surgical intervention is prescribed.

Folk remedies

Traditional treatment should be used in addition to drug treatment and physical exercise; unconventional methods will not help completely eliminate the disease.

What to do with cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour boiling water over a fresh leaf of horseradish, cool slightly, apply the insides to the neck, secure with a thin natural fabric. Do the procedure before going to bed, leave the compress to act overnight.
2. Grate 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 in the refrigerator.
4. In May, collect pine buds up to 2 cm long, cut them into thin slices and place them 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, stir. 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 excess salts; attach the compress to your neck with a warm scarf and leave it overnight.

Massage for cervical osteochondrosis

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

Massage technique:

1. Warm up your muscles– with both hands, run intensely along the back, the sides of the neck from top to bottom. Preheating time: 2 minutes.
2. Press the edge of your palm to the bottom of your neck,move in sliding motions 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. Squeeze the neck muscles from bottom to top, then in the opposite direction.
5. Stroking from the back of the head to the shoulder blades– perform after each type of exercise.

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

Diet

The diet for osteochondrosis aims to provide the body with collagen and protein; these substances participate in the synthesis of cartilaginous tissue; most of them are found in jellies, jellies and jellies.

Prohibited products	Authorized products
any alcoholic beverage; fatty meats, refractory fats, smoked meats; soups with rich broths; hot and spicy dishes, preserves, marinades; mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup; radishes, radishes, horseradish, onion, garlic; fast food, semi-finished products; fast carbohydrates - sweets, baked goods, pasta made from premium flour; potato; limit salt consumption to 5 g per day.	dietary meats; fish, seafood; fermented milk products; cereals; light soups; whole wheat bread; honey, jam, marmalade, pastilles, nuts, dried fruits, oatmeal cookies; fresh and baked fruits and vegetables; eggs; vegetable oils; natural juices, green tea, fruit drinks.

Important! To avoid dehydration of the tissues of the intervertebral disc, 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 close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is low, so 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, bony growths 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 to cervical osteochondrosis

To lead a full life with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that can provoke 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;
• lifting weights ; if you have to lift something heavy, you should do it with your back straight and your knees bent;
• carry a bag on one shoulder;
• when the pathology worsens, perform active movements of the head and neck;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• walk without a scarf in cold weather, sit in a draft, near an air conditioner;
• stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, sitting;
• wears high heels;
• break your neck.

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

Disease prevention

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

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• do gymnastics every morning, go swimming, do yoga, dance;
• spend more time outdoors, morning walks are particularly useful;
• eat well, control salt intake, follow a drinking regime;
• when working sedentary, do a neck warm-up every hour and monitor 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 mattress pillow, and a small cushion should be placed under your feet. It is best to sleep on your back or in a fetal position; in case of exacerbation of the disease, only on the side. The mattress is orthopedic, moderately hard, the pillow is rectangular, orthopedic, 15-20 cm high. With the correct position of the body during sleep, the spine is straight, there are no deviations in different parts, the muscles are relaxed.

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