Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the result of an inactive lifestyle and poor nutrition. The first signs of this disease can appear as early as the age of 25, if treatment is not started, severe complications will arise. In the treatment of the disease, an integrated approach is used - drug treatment, diet therapy, physical therapy and physiotherapy.

Causes of cervical spine osteochondrosis

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

Why does cervical osteochondrosis occur?

• overweight, inactive lifestyle;
• poor posture, scoliosis;
• joint pain;
• Flat feet;
• VSD;
• poor nutrition.

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

Important! The tendency to osteochondrosis is inherited.

Common symptoms and signs

With a constant increase in the load on the cervical vertebrae, muscle spasms occur, the cervical spinal canal is compressed, blood circulation is disturbed, disturbances in metabolic processes occur - the structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they become deformed, and begin to protrude. outside the spinal column.

How osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests itself:

• radicular syndrome - against the background of compression of the nerve endings, pain occurs that spreads from the neck to the shoulder blades, forearms, and covers the anterior wall of the chest;
• muscle weakness in the arms, significant swelling of the neck;
• when you move your head, you will hear a buzzing sound;
• weakness, chronic fatigue, changes in blood pressure;
• lack of coordination, often dizziness, attacks accompanied by nausea, vomiting;
• impaired vision and hearing, noise, ringing in the ears;
• numbness of limbs, tongue;
• frequent migraines;
• in women aged 45-65, pain, numbness, and tingling in the upper part of the leg appear during sleep; attacks can be repeated 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 disorders.

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

When 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.

Stages of disease progression:

1. Osteochondrosis stage 1 - the initial stage occurs without significant symptoms, the person is disturbed by rare and small pain when turning and tilting the head, the back muscles quickly tire.
2. Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree - vertebrae become unstable, nerves are pinched, unpleasant sensations in the neck become noticeable, radiating to the shoulders and arms. Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headaches in the occipital region, loss of consciousness.
3. Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree - the pain becomes chronic, covers the upper back, arms, severe muscle weakness is observed, the limbs become numb, intervertebral hernia develops, and frequent bouts of dizziness occur.
4. Osteochondrosis of the 4th degree - complete destruction of the intervertebral disc occurs, it is replaced by connective tissue, the pathological process covers several segments of the spine. There is a lack of coordination, dizziness attacks become more frequent, and tinnitus appears.

Acute osteochondrosis is a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, which is characterized by severe attacks of sharp pain that occur suddenly after waking up.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you should visit a neurologist; some hospitals have vertebrologists - specialists who treat diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic method

The advanced form of osteochondrosis has a clear clinical picture, which allows an early diagnosis to be made during the initial examination. Instrumental diagnostic methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The main types of examination for osteochondrosis:

• x-ray– this method is effective only in the early stages of pathological development;
• MRI– the structure of the bone structure, the size and direction of development of the intervertebral hernia, and the condition of the spinal cord are clearly visible on the screen;
• CT– this method is less effective than MRI, because it does not provide accurate information about the presence and size of the hernia;
• duplex scanning– allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• electroneurography– indicates the presence of pinching, inflammation, and other nerve damage;
• rheoencephalogram– prescribed for problems with blood supply to the brain.

For a targeted and comprehensive study of a specific vertebral condition, discography is performed - a contrast agent is injected into the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see slight changes in the tissue and distinguish scar changes from hernias.

Methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis

In the early stages of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medication, 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 only possible 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. This method helps overcome pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improves metabolic processes and blood circulation.

first aid

Painkillers will help relieve pain caused by osteochondrosis. You can heat the affected area with a mustard plaster or a pepper plaster.

To reduce swelling of inflamed tissue, drink rosehip decoction and other diuretics. Massaging the inflamed area with ice cubes will help relieve severe pain in the neck; continue the procedure until the skin becomes slightly red.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy is prescribed during the recovery period; during exacerbation of osteochondrosis, physical exercise is contraindicated; gymnastics is easy, you can do it at home, and you need to do it often.

Bubnovsky gymnastics for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. In a standing position, lower your arms freely along your body. Tilt your head forward, try to reach your chest with your chin, fix the position on 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, left, and fix the position at each extreme point for a few seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side.
3. In a standing position, tilt your head to the right, left, try to reach your shoulders with your ears, and hold that position for 30 seconds. Do 6 repetitions in each direction.
4. Stand, hands on your belt, chin parallel to the floor, extended forward. Turn your head, put your chin on your shoulder, turn your body slightly, hold for half a minute. Do 6 repetitions in each direction; slight pain in the spine may occur.
5. In a sitting position, back straight, hands on knees. Extend your straight arm to the side, move it slightly back, tilt your head back at the same time, return to the starting position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a sitting position, turn your head to the right, place your left palm on your right shoulder, elbow parallel to the floor, right hand resting on your knee, return to the starting position. Do 6 repetitions in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your hands above your head, connect them well, bend your elbows a little, turn your head to the side until a little 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 do several smooth head tilts in different directions to warm up your muscles. After completing a workout, light stretching will help prevent discomfort the next day.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis aims to eliminate unpleasant sensations, restore vertebral mobility, and slow down degenerative changes in tissues. Acute pain attacks are relieved with injections of NSAIDs or corticosteroids, while chronic forms of the disease are 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- relieve acute pain syndrome;
• B vitamins- restoring metabolic processes in tissues;
• chondroprotectors- promote the recovery of cartilage tissue;
• medicine to increase blood flow and brain nutrition;
• nootropics- improve brain function and memory;
• muscle relaxant- relieves muscle spasms;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory effects, heating are used.

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

Important! If there is no effect of conservative treatment, surgery is prescribed.

People's recovery

Traditional treatment should be used as a complement to drug therapy and physical exercise; Unconventional methods will not help to completely get rid of this disease.

What to do for cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour boiling water over fresh radish leaves, cool slightly, apply the inside to the neck, secure 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 in equal proportions with warm liquid honey. Use the mixture to compress, carry out the procedure 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix raw eggs 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 shoots up to 2 cm long, cut into thin slices, and place in a dark glass container. For 1 part of raw material, 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 immediately, hold 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.

Cabbage leaves rubbed with honey will help you overcome severe pain and remove excess salt; put a compress on your neck with a warm scarf and leave it overnight.

Massage for cervical osteochondrosis

Massage helps strengthen muscle tone, improves blood circulation in tissues; in severe forms of osteochondrosis, the session is performed by a specialist. In the form of a mild illness, self-massage will help for prevention - treatment is carried out at home.

Sequencing techniques:

1. Warm up your muscles– with both hands, run intensively along the back, side surface of the neck from top to bottom. Warm-up time: 2 minutes.
2. Press the edges of your palms to the bottom of your neck,move with a sliding movement to the hair growth area, then to the shoulder joint.
3. Make a circular rubbing motion with the fingertips of both handsin the occipital region from the hairline to the forearm - from the spine to the ears and back.
4. Pinch the neck muscles from the bottom up, then in the opposite direction.
5. Rubbing from the back of the head to the shoulder blades– do after every type of exercise.

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

Diet

The purpose of the diet for osteochondrosis is to provide the body with collagen and protein; these substances participate in the synthesis of cartilage tissue; mostly found in aspic, jelly fish, and jelly.

Prohibited Products	Authorized products
any alcoholic beverages; fatty meat, refractory fat, smoked meat; soup with rich broth; hot, spicy dishes, canned food, marinades; mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup; radish, turnip, horseradish, onion, garlic; fast food, semi-finished products; fast carbohydrates - sweets, baked goods, pasta made from premium flour; potatoes; limit salt intake to 5 g per day.	dietary meat; fish, seafood; fermented milk products; cereals; light soup; Wheat bread; honey, jam, marmalade, pastille, nuts, dried fruits, oat biscuits; fresh and baked vegetables and fruits; eggs; vegetable oil; natural juices, green tea, fruit drinks.

Important! To avoid dehydration of intervertebral disc tissue, you need to drink at least 2. 5 liters of pure still water every 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, so various complications of osteochondrosis occur even with minor degenerative changes in the bone tissue.

Why is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine dangerous?

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

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

Contraindications for cervical osteochondrosis

To live 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;
• weight lifting; if you need to lift something heavy, you need to do this with a straight back and bent knees;
• carry 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 an air conditioner;
• staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, sitting;
• wearing high heels;
• crack your neck.

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

Disease prevention

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

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• do gymnastics every morning, go swimming, yoga, dance;
• spending more time outside, morning walks are very useful;
• eat right, control salt intake, follow a drinking regime;
• when working inactively, warm up the neck every hour and pay attention to your posture;
• keep your neck warm;
• get enough sleep, avoid physical, mental and emotional fatigue.

Sleep properly. Only your head, neck and shoulders should be placed on pillows on the mattress, and a small cushion should be placed under your feet. It is best to sleep on your back or in the fetal position; if the disease worsens, only by your side. The mattress is orthopedic, medium hard, the pillow is rectangular, orthopedic, 15-20 cm high. With the correct position of the body in sleep, the spine is straight, there is no deflection in different parts, the muscles are relaxed.

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