Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is more common than all others - it does not spare the elderly or young people over 20 years. People around him complain about his manifestations every day, writing off their feelings either towards magnetic storms, or towards energy vampires, or towards more prosaic, but still far from the truth, explanations.
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 drying and destruction much faster leads to pinching of nerves and abrasion of the vertebral bones - after all, the distance between the bones is already small. It is also influenced by the poor development of the neck muscles, which modern man uses minimally.
Alas, the non-inflammatory process in the spine goes unnoticed for a long time, until the degeneration of the intervertebral discs passes into the second stage and the pain becomes a constant companion. But even this alarming sign is often ignored by people, attributing it to fatigue or even getting used to it as an everyday "background". Let's find out why you can't ignore the headache, was your mother 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
Discomfort from cervical osteochondrosis extends to the head, neck and limbs of the shoulder girdle. In the initial stages, there are no special complaints - usually patients just start to feel tingling in the neck more often, which does not seem at all surprising while working in the office. Gradually the gap between the vertebrae decreases, the load on the ligament apparatus, the 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 them is a good reason to visit a doctor.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical spine
Signs of early-stage cervical osteochondrosis include:
- local muscle tension;
- stiffness of movements and reduction of their amplitude (when turning the head, turning the shoulders) after a long stay in one position;
- the need to constantly support the head with one hand while sitting to avoid fatigue and discomfort;
- fatigue and frequent headaches;
- increased irritability and chronic fatigue;
- inability to fall asleep quickly due to attempts to calm down, crush the pillow in a comfortable way;
- darkening of the eyes, appearance of "flies" after loading the cervical spine or during the morning / sudden rise;
- crunching and other external 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 the fingertips, tingling sensation in the hands;
- unusual feeling of weakness in the hands, decreased endurance and muscle strength;
- high blood pressure - hypertension;
- change in voice, hoarseness for no apparent reason, snoring, heaviness, "swelling" in the head.
Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the cervical spine
- Chronic pain syndrome - head, neck or shoulder may have pain continuously for 2-3 days or more;
- sleep problems - difficulty falling asleep or waking up, often waking up in the middle of the night due to nightmares caused by lack of oxygen;
- high weather sensitivity;
- 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;
- inability to press the chin to the chest and tilt the head back without pain;
- falling head syndrome - clearly noticeable pain when trying to sit without supporting your head;
- numbness of the hands ("hands do not obey"), the appearance of neck pain with minimal stress on the upper extremities;
- tinnitus and blackheads, dizziness and even fainting; parentheses
- ; appear
- heart disorders;
- migraines;
- constant nausea;
- overgrowth of connective tissue ("thick skin") in the neck and collar area.
The neglect of the signs of cervical osteochondrosis is fraught with nerves and large vessels located near the spine, which are pinched when the vertebrae are displaced. Complications of the disease include:
- paresis (restriction, weakness of movements) and even paralysis of the hands - one or both sides;
- intervertebral hernia - a common cause of injury and damage, to the need for a wheelchair;
- spinal artery syndrome, which causes dizziness and noise in the head, 25% leads to ischemic stroke;
- rapid impairment of memory, cognition, vision and hearing;
- impaired coordination of movements, which causes difficulties even when traveling in transport.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
For the fight against osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, pharmacological and physiotherapy, as well as massage and hydromassage of the cervical clavicle, therapeutic exercises, swimming, balneological and mud treatments, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, acupuncturelaser, etc. UFOs, magnetic and other types of hardware therapy. The symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis 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 the acute period, it is important to restore blood circulation and tissue nutrition, relieve spasm and improve the patient's quality of life. Therapy aimed at the regeneration of cartilage and osteophytes is carried out exclusively in remission.
Surgery is used extremely rarely - mainly to eliminate concomitant pathologies, such as hernias, vertebral displacement.
Grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis responds well to treatment and may even progress to permanent remission with mild acute episodes. Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes, maintenance of the muscular and ligament apparatus with the help of therapeutic exercises. Grade 2 disease has a less optimistic prognosis: in this case, treatment is aimed at relieving severe negative symptoms, preventing further destruction of the spine.
In some cases, therapy 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 disorders, metabolic disorders, insomnia, depression, alcohol and nicotine dependence, overweight, hereditary diseases.
Timely treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine improves motor function, prevents macrotrauma to the vertebrae, adjacent tissues, nerves, large vessels and organ systems. If you follow medical recommendations and daily maintenance therapy, the development of osteochondrosis may be delayed and the mobility of the spine is preserved until old age.
Medications for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
At the beginning of the disease, it was shown that patients received chondroprotectors, rehydration and nutrient saturation of cartilage tissue. Vitamin-mineral and antioxidant complexes are actively used, incl. natural origin. Preparations for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are used mainly externally or orally - in the form of warming, locally irritating, anti-inflammatory ointments, tablets, capsules. In the case of stage 2 osteochondrosis, analgesics, antispasmodics (muscle relaxants), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in addition to the above. The treatment lasts a lifetime, but some drugs (painkillers, glucocorticosteroids, etc. ) are prescribed in courses due to their safety.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors in medicine are drugs that contain glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfates. In household use, the names "glucosamine" and "chondroitin" are more common. As the structural basis of cartilage, they act as "building blocks" that the body uses to repair intervertebral discs. The intake of chondroprotectors is complex - they have a beneficial effect on all joint surfaces in the body and inhibit the development of not only cervical but also other types of osteochondrosis, as well as osteoarthritis and other degenerative cartilage diseases. These drugs must be taken for life and constantly - because the cartilage is devoid of blood vessels, their nutrition is diffuse. This means that the growth of new cells is very slow - the first results are observed only after 3-6 months of taking chondroitin-containing drugs.
Ointments for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Ointments with vasodilating, anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis. To improve blood circulation, bee or snake venom is often added to their composition, and propolis and natural essential oils are used to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. In mild pain syndrome, topical analgesic 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 a supporting role. In tablet form, analgesics with a complex action are usually prescribed, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. Antispasmodics may be prescribed to relieve acute pain.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is especially important to take medications that strengthen blood vessels and improve blood microcirculation. This helps to control the negative effect that this disease has on the brain, which leads to its hypoxia and malnutrition.
Injections
Injections for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are performed topically to eliminate a local inflammatory process that is insensitive to other methods of exposure. In severe pain syndrome, lidocaine and novocaine blockades are also indicated. They represent the introduction of an anesthetic cocktail (may contain over a dozen components - NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids, decongestants, hyaluronic acid and other ingredients to nourish and rehydrate cartilage). Spinal blockades should only be performed 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 carbohydrates helps to prolong the effect of medications. The inclusion of sea fish, mussels and other foods rich in gelling agents, calcium and vitamin D3 in the menu has a positive effect on the resistance to remission.
Exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The first physical therapy (SLE) sessions are conducted under the supervision of a physician. He also chooses a mini set of daily exercises.
For the prevention and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, do a simple warm-up:
- Sitting in 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 turn it clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Raise your shoulders as high as possible and lock them in this position for a few seconds, then return to starting position and repeat.
- Place the palm of your hand on your forehead and, as you resist light, try to lower your head slowly. After 10 repetitions, place your palm on your temple and repeat with side bends.
- With your shoulders raised, try to make a circle around your lower neck.
- Complete the set of exercises with a strong self-massage, feeling the vertebrae and muscles well and warming the skin. Avoid pain when doing this.
You are free to add to this list of exercises for general tone.
In addition to exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is important to follow an orthopedic regimen. It is designed to relieve the spine during household chores and during sleep. For patients with osteochondrosis from the 1st degree, special orthopedic pillows and mattresses, car and other headrests and road pillows are very desirable. The workplace must also be renovated in accordance with physiological needs - for example, to buy a chair with a high back and armrests, which follows the anatomical curves of the back, to adjust the height of the table and seat, to provide a comfortable position for the monitor, etc.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, sit with your back straight against the back of the furniture. The position of the legs is just as important - your shins should be straight perpendicular to the floor and your legs should be completely flat on the floor. Bend (about 75 degrees) hands should lie still, without constant tension, on the counter. It is inadmissible to spend your free time lying on a laptop. When using the computer in bed, use a stand.