Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is more common than any other - it does not spare the elderly or those over the age of 20. People around him complain about his manifestations every day, noting their feelings to either magnetic storms, energy vampires, or more prosaic explanations, but still far from the truth.
The localization of the disease in the cervical spine, which includes 7 vertebrae, is explained by the fact that the intervertebral discs in this area are the thinnest. Therefore, their much faster drying and destruction leads to pinching of the nerves and abrasion of the vertebral bones - after all, the distance between the bones is already small. It is also affected by the poor development of the cervical muscles, which a modern person uses minimally.
Alas, the non-inflammatory process in the spine remains unnoticed for a long time, until the degeneration of the intervertebral discs passes to the second stage, and pain becomes a constant companion. But even this alarming sign is often ignored by people, attributing it to fatigue, or even getting used to, as a daily “background”. Let's see why you can't ignore the headache, was your mom right when she said "don't turn your head" and how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine to bring the chronic disease into permanent remission.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The discomfort caused by cervical osteochondrosis extends to the head, neck and limbs of the shoulder girdle. At first, special complaints are not observed - usually, patients just begin to feel numbness in the neck more often, which does not seem at all surprising during office work. Gradually, the gap between the vertebrae decreases, the load on the ligamentous apparatus, muscles of the neck, shoulders and back increases, and the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord deteriorates. This leads to a whole chain of non-specific symptoms; a combination of several of these is a good reason to see a doctor.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical spine
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis at the initial stage include:
- local muscle tension;
- stiffness of movements and reduction in their amplitude (when turning the head, rotating the shoulders) after a long stay in one position;
- the need to constantly support the head with one hand while seated to avoid fatigue and discomfort;
- fatigue and frequent headaches;
- increased irritability and chronic fatigue;
- inability to fall asleep quickly due to attempts at comfort, padding pillow comfortably;
- darkening of the eyes, appearance of "flies" after a load on the cervical spine or in the morning / strong increase;
- crunch and other extraneous sounds when tilting the head;
- the appearance of the so-called "Lumbago" in the area from the back of the head to the shoulder blades;
- decreased sensitivity of fingertips, tingling sensation in hands;
- unusual feeling of weakness in the arms, decreased endurance and muscle strength;
- increased blood pressure - high blood pressure;
- change of voice, hoarseness for no apparent reason, snoring, feeling of heaviness, "swelling" of the head.
Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the cervical spine
- chronic pain syndrome - the head, neck or shoulder may experience continuous pain for 2-3 days or more;
- difficulty sleeping - difficult to fall asleep or wake up, often waking up in the middle of the night due to nightmares caused by oxygen deprivation;
- high meteosensitivity;
- the appearance of pain and spasms in the muscles and internal organs, especially if it is necessary to maintain the same position for a long time or to change it;
- inability to press chin against chest and tilt head back painlessly;
- falling head syndrome - clearly noticeable pain when trying to sit without supporting the head;
- numbness of the hands ("the hands do not obey"), onset of pain in the neck with minimal stress on the upper limbs;
- tinnitus and blackheads in front of the eyes, dizziness and even fainting;
- pliers appearing;
- heart trouble;
- migraines;
- constant nausea;
- overgrowth of connective tissue ("thick skin") in the neck area of the neck.
Ignoring the signs of osteochondrosis Cervical is loaded with nerves and large vessels located next to the spine, which are pinched when the vertebrae are moved. Complications of the disease include:
- paresis (limitation, weakness of movements) and even paralysis of the arms - one or both sides;
- intervertebral hernia - a common cause of disability and incapacity, including the need for a wheelchair;
- vertebral artery syndrome which causes dizziness and noise in the head, 25% results in ischemic stroke;
- rapid impairment of memory, cognition, vision and hearing;
- impaired coordination of movements, which leads to difficulty even when moving in transport.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
To combat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy are used, as well as massage and hydromassage of the cervical neck area, therapeutic gymnastics, swimming, balneology and spa treatmentsmud, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, acupuncture, ultrasound, shock waves, laser, UFO, magnetic and other types of therapy devices. Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine differ significantly for the stages of remission and exacerbation. So, for example, massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during the inflammatory process is strictly contraindicated - to begin with, topical ointments and creams are used. In an acute period, it is important to restore blood circulation and tissue nutrition, relieve spasms and improve the patient's quality of life. Therapy, aimed at the regeneration of cartilage tissue and osteophytes, is carried out exclusively in remission.
Surgical intervention is used extremely rarely - mainly to eliminate concomitant pathologies, such as hernia, displacement of the vertebra.
1st degree cervical osteochondrosis responds well to treatment and can even go into permanent remission with minor acute episodes. Typically, treatment involves changes in lifestyle, maintaining the muscle and ligament apparatus with the help of therapeutic exercises. The 2nd degree of the disease has a less optimistic prognosis: in this case, the treatment is aimed at relieving the pronounced negative symptoms, preventing further destruction of the spine.
In some cases, treatment is needed for diseases that have become a kind of catalyst for degenerative changes in cartilage. These include curvature of the spine, problems with the endocrine system, incl. hormonal disturbances, metabolic disorders, insomnia, depression, alcohol and nicotine dependence, overweight, hereditary diseases.
Timely treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine improves motor functions, prevents macrotrauma of vertebrae, adjacent tissues, nerves, large vessels and organ systems. If medical recommendations are followed and daily maintenance treatment is followed, the development of osteochondrosis can be slowed down and spinal mobility is maintained until old age.
Medication for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
At the onset of the disease, patients are given chondroprotectors, rehydration and nutrient saturation of cartilage tissue. Vitamin-mineral and antioxidant complexes are actively used, incl. natural origin. Drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are mainly used externally or orally - in the form of warming ointments, local irritants, anti-inflammatory drugs, tablets, capsules. In case of osteochondrosis of the 2nd stage, in addition to the above, analgesics, antispasmodics (muscle relaxants), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. The treatment is carried out for life, but certain drugs (analgesics, glucocorticosteroids, etc. ) are prescribed as a cure because of their harmlessness.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors in medicine are drugs that contain glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfates. In home use, the names “glucosamine” and “chondroitin” are more common. As the structural backbone of cartilage, they act as “building blocks” that the body uses to repair intervertebral discs. Reception of chondroprotectors is complex - they have a beneficial effect on all joint surfaces of the body and inhibit the development of not only cervical osteochondrosis, but also other types of osteochondrosis, as well as osteoarthritis and othersdegenerative diseases of the cartilage. These drugs need to be taken for life and continuously - since the cartilage has no blood vessels, they are fed by a diffuse method. This means that the growth of new cells is very slow - the first results are observed only after 3-6 months of taking drugs containing chondroitin.
Ointments for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
For the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, ointments with vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effect are used. To improve blood circulation, bee or snake venom is often included in their composition, and propolis and natural essential oils are used to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. With mild pain syndrome, local pain relieving creams or irritating ointments may be prescribed to distract the patient from the discomfort. Warming ointments activate trophic and metabolic processes in tissues, preventing their destruction and limiting the degenerative process.
Tablets for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, tablets play an auxiliary role. In the form of tablets, analgesics with a complex action are usually prescribed, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. Antispasmodics may be prescribed to relieve acute pain.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is especially important to take drugs that strengthen the blood vessels and improve the blood microcirculation. This helps to contain the negative effect of this disease on the brain, leading to its hypoxia and malnutrition.
Injections
Injections for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are given locally to eliminate a local inflammatory process insensitive to other modes of exposure. With severe pain syndrome, blockages of lidocaine and novocaine are also indicated. They represent the introduction of an anesthetic cocktail (it can contain more than ten components - NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids, decongestants, hyaluronic acid and other ingredients to nourish and rehydrate the cartilage). Spinal blockages should only be placed by specialists due to the high risk of damage to the spinal cord and nerve endings during the injection, as well as the possible presence of contraindications.
A diet high in protein and moderate in carbohydrate helps to prolong the effect of drugs. The inclusion in the menu of sea fish, shellfish and other dishes rich in gelling agents, calcium and vitamin D3, has a positive effect on the stability of remission.
Exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The first sessions of physiotherapy (exercise therapy) are performed under the supervision of a physician. He also selects a mini set of daily exercises.
For prevention and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, perform a simple warm-up:
- Sitting on a chair, turn your head left and right, trying to describe it in a 180 degree semicircle. If the disease has not yet been felt or is in the first stage, you can throw your head back and slowly rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Lift your shoulders as high as possible and lock them in that position for a few seconds, then return to the starting position and repeat.
- Put your palm on your forehead and, resisting the light, try to slowly lower your head. After 10 reps, place your palm on your temple and repeat with the side bends.
- With your shoulders up, try making a circle around the bottom of your neck.
- Complete the series of exercises with a powerful self-massage, feeling good about the vertebrae and muscles and warming the skin. Avoid the pain by doing this.
You can freely complete this list with general tone exercises.
In addition to exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is important to observe the orthopedic regimen. It is designed to provide relief to the spine while performing household chores and while sleeping. For patients with already 1st degree osteochondrosis, special orthopedic pillows and mattresses, automobile and other headrests and travel pillows are highly desirable. The workplace should also be renovated according to physiological needs - for example, buying a chair with a high backrest and armrests that follow the anatomical curves of the backrest, adjusting the height of the table and the seat, ensuring a comfortable position of themonitor, etc.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, sit with your back straight, leaning on the back of the furniture. Equally important is the position of the legs - your shins should be straight perpendicular to the ground and your feet should be completely flat on the ground. The bent arms (approximately 75 degrees) should be relaxed, without constant tension, on the table. Spending free time lying down with a laptop is unacceptable. When using the computer in bed, use a stand.