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 after the age of 25, if treatment is not started, serious complications arise. An integrated approach is used in the treatment of the disease - drug therapy, diet therapy, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

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

Why does cervical osteochondrosis occur?

• overweight, sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• straight legs;
• VSD;
• poor nutrition.

Injuries, fractures of the spine, excessive physical activity and stress can lead to the development of deformation of the cervical vertebra. In women, osteochondrosis often occurs during pregnancy, menopause - against the background of hormonal changes, the amount of calcium decreases, bone tissue becomes fragile.

It is important! The tendency to osteochondrosis is inherited.

Common symptoms and signs

With the constant increasing load on the cervical vertebrae, muscle spasm occurs, the vessels of the cervical spine are compressed, blood circulation is disturbed, metabolic processes are disturbed - the structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are deformed and begin to protrude. outside the spine.

How does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifest itself:

• radicular syndrome - against the background of compression of nerve endings, pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder blades, forearms and covers the front 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, frequent attacks accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting;
• deterioration of vision and hearing, noise, ringing in the ears;
• numbness of limbs, tongue;
• frequent migraine;
• In women aged 45-65, pain, numbness and tingling appear in the upper limbs during sleep, the attacks can be repeated several times during the night.

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

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

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

The degree of development of the disease:

1. Grade 1 osteochondrosis - the initial stage occurs without particularly obvious symptoms, a person is worried about rare and small pains when turning and bending the head, back muscles get tired quickly.
2. Grade 2 osteochondrosis - the vertebrae become unstable, the nerve is compressed, unpleasant sensations are pronounced in the neck, spreading to the shoulder and arm. Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headaches in the occipital region, inattention.
3. Grade 3 osteochondrosis - the pain is chronic, covers the upper back, arms, severe muscle weakness is observed, the limbs become numb, intervertebral hernia develops, dizziness attacks occur frequently.
4. Grade 4 osteochondrosis - 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 are more frequent and tinnitus appears.

Acute osteochondrosis is the result of a chronic form of the disease characterized by a severe attack of sharp pain that occurs suddenly after waking up.

Which doctor should I see?

If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you need to visit a neurologist, some hospitals have a vertebrologist - a specialist who treats diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic methods

Advanced forms of osteochondrosis have a clear clinical picture, which makes it possible to make a preliminary diagnosis already during the initial examination. Instrumental diagnostic methods will help determine the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The main types of examination for osteochondrosis:

• x-ray- the method is effective only in the initial stages of the development of the pathology;
• MRI- the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of development of intervertebral hernias, 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 accurate information about the presence and size of hernias;
• duplex scanning- allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• electroneurography- indicates the presence of pinch, inflammation and other nerve damage;
• rheoencephalogram- prescribed for problems with blood supply to the brain.

For a purposeful and comprehensive 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 smallest changes in tissues and distinguish scar changes from tears.

Methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be treated without drugs, it is enough to review 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 complex of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physical procedures - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetic therapy, laser therapy. These methods help fight pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improve metabolic processes and blood circulation.

First aid

Painkillers will help relieve pain due to osteochondrosis. You can warm the affected area with mustard plaster or pepper plaster.

Drink rose water and other diuretics to reduce swelling of inflamed tissues. Massaging the inflamed area with an ice cube will help relieve severe pain in the neck, continue the procedure until the skin is slightly reddened.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy is prescribed during the recovery period, physical exercises are contraindicated during exacerbation of osteochondrosis; gymnastics is simple, you can do it at home and you should do it regularly.

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

1. In a standing position, lower your arms freely along the body. Bend your head forward, try to reach your chest with your chin, fix the position in the count of 3. Tilt your head back, chin up, count to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In a standing position, turn your head to the right and left and fix the position for a few seconds at each extreme point. Repeat 3 times on each side.
3. While standing, tilt your head to the right and left, try to reach your shoulder with your ear and hold the position for 30 seconds. Repeat 6 times in each direction.
4. Standing, hands on your belt, chin parallel to the floor, extended forward. Turn your head, put your chin on your shoulder, turn your body a little, hold for half a minute. Do 6 repetitions in each direction, a slight pain in the spine may occur.
5. In a sitting position, back straight, hands on knees. Extend your straight arms to the sides, pull back a little, at the same time tilt your head back, return to the starting position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a sitting 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 resting on your knee, return to the starting position. Repeat 6 times in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your arms above your head, join them well, bend your elbows a little, turn your head to the side until a slight pain appears, fix the position at the extreme point for a few seconds. Repeat 6 loops in each direction.

Take a 30-second break between exercises. Before starting gymnastics, you should take a warm shower and do a few smooth bends in different directions to warm up your muscles. A light stretch after completing your workout will help prevent discomfort the next day.

Drug treatment

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

How to treat osteochondrosis:

• NSAIDs– produced in the form of tablets and products for external use, relieves swelling and pain;
• corticosteroids- eliminate acute pain syndrome;
• B vitamins- restore metabolic processes in tissues;
• chondroprotectors- promoting cartilage tissue regeneration;
• drugs to improve blood flow and brain nutrition;
• nootropics- improve brain activity and memory;
• muscle relaxants- eliminate muscle spasms;
• Anti-inflammatory, warming ointments and gels are used for local treatment.

In order for drug therapy to be effective, it must be combined with exercise therapy and follow a diet, otherwise no drug will help to get rid of osteochondrosis.

It is important! If conservative treatment has no effect, surgery is prescribed.

Folk treatment

Traditional treatment should be used in addition to drug treatment and physical exercises, non-traditional methods will not help to completely get rid of the disease.

What to do for cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour boiling water on a fresh horseradish leaf, cool it a little, apply the inside to the neck, secure it with a thin natural cloth. Do the procedure before going to bed, leave the compress all night.
2. Grate raw potatoes on a fine grater and mix with warm liquid honey in equal proportions. Use the mixture for compresses, perform the procedure 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix the 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 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. Take 2 parts of sugar for 1 part of raw materials, put the medicine in a dark place for 2 weeks. Drink 5 ml of the mixture three times a day, do not swallow immediately, keep it in your mouth for 2-3 minutes. The duration of the course is 15-20 days, it is 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, add 800 ml of honey after 24 hours, mix. Take 5 ml medicine three times a day before meals.

A cabbage leaf smeared with honey will help to overcome 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 to strengthen muscle tone, improve blood circulation in tissues, in severe forms of osteochondrosis, sessions are performed by a specialist. In mild forms of the disease, self-massage will help in prevention - treatment is carried out at home.

Massage technique:

1. Warm up your muscles- intensively run from top to bottom along the back, side surface of the neck with both hands. Warm-up time: 2 minutes.
2. Press the edge of your palm under your neck,move to the area of hair growth with sliding movements, then to the shoulder joints.
3. Make circular rubbing movements with the fingertips of both handsin the occipital region from the hairline to the wrists - from the spine to the ears and back.
4. Squeeze the neck muscles from the bottom up, then in the opposite direction.
5. Hitting the back of the head to the shoulder blades- perform after each type of exercise.

It is important! Do not massage protruding vertebrae, lymph nodes, or carotid arteries.

Diet

The goal of the diet for osteochondrosis is to provide the body with collagen and proteins; these substances are involved in the synthesis of cartilage tissue; most of them are found in aspic, jelly fish and jelly.

Prohibited Products	Authorized products
any alcoholic beverages; fatty meat, refractory oils, smoked meats; soups with rich broths; hot, spicy dishes, preserves, 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 salt intake to 5 g per day.	diet meats; fish, seafood; fermented milk products; cereals; light soups; whole wheat bread; honey, jam, marmalade, lozenges, nuts, dried fruits, oatmeal cookies; fresh and cooked vegetables and fruits; eggs; vegetable oils; natural juices, green tea, fruit drinks.

It is important! To prevent dehydration of the intervertebral disc tissue, it is necessary 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, even with small degenerative changes in the bone tissue, various complications of osteochondrosis occur.

Why is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine dangerous?

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

It is important! With advanced osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal cord occurs, which can be fatal.

Contraindications for cervical osteochondrosis

In order to live a full life with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that can cause pain and exacerbation of the disease.

What not to do with cervical osteochondrosis:

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

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

Disease prevention

To maintain the health of the spine, it is enough to follow simple preventive rules.

How to prevent cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• do gymnastics, swimming, yoga, dance every morning;
• spending more time outdoors, morning walks are especially useful;
• eat right, control salt intake, follow a drinking regime;
• do neck warm-ups every hour while sitting and watch 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 pillow on the mattress, and a small pillow should be placed under your feet. It is better to sleep on the back or in the fetal position, in case of exacerbation of the disease, only on the side. Orthopedic mattress, medium hardness, rectangular pillow, orthopedic, height 15-20 cm. With the correct body position during sleep, the spine is straight, there is no bending in different parts, the muscles are relaxed.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic, slowly progressing disease, the symptoms of the disease are not immediately visible. 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 to prevent relapses of the pathology.