Cervical osteochondrosis

Spinal diseases are getting younger every year.One of the most common remains osteochondrosis, which was only recently considered an exclusively age-related disease.If the cervical spine is affected, quite intense pain in the neck, arms and head can occur, significantly reducing quality of life.This is often accompanied by a number of other disorders and, if left untreated, leads to the formation of intervertebral hernias, large volumes of which require surgical intervention.It is therefore important to diagnose cervical osteochondrosis as early as possible and start treatment depending on the situation.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease characterized by degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.Initially, the discs, which are cartilaginous rings containing gelatinous contents, become dehydrated.This is most often the result of a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work at the computer, poor posture, neck injuries and a number of other factors.

This leads to a reduction in the strength of the collagen fibers forming the annulus fibrosus of the disc.As a result, its thickness gradually decreases, which becomes the main reason for the development of symptoms characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis:

• neck pain of varying intensity;
• headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness caused by damage to the cervical vertebral arteries passing directly through the vertebrae, i.e. the development of vertebral artery syndrome;
• fluctuations in blood pressure levels;
• radicular syndrome, caused by pinching of the spinal roots, which is accompanied by radiation of pain from the neck to the arms, to the hands and fingers, to the head, shoulders, sensory disturbances in these areas, the appearance of goosebumps, numbness, etc.
• a decrease in the range of movements of the neck, the appearance or intensification of pain when performing certain movements;
• increased fatigue, decreased performance;
• tinnitus, reduction in visual acuity, development of ENT pathologies that are difficult to treat.

There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the discs located between the 5th and 6th vertebra, as well as the 6th and 7th vertebra.

In such situations, you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe an MRI.The results of this examination make it possible to accurately identify osteochondrosis at any, even the earliest, stage of development and select treatment.

Development stages

In general, there are 4 stages of development of osteochondrosis:

• Grade 1 – pathological changes are just beginning to appear in the intervertebral disc, so the symptoms are mild and are observed only occasionally.In such situations, treatment will be as effective and simple as possible.
• 2nd degree - changes in the discs become more pronounced, which leads to the appearance of aching pain in the neck, which arises and intensifies during head movements.
• Grade 3 – pain becomes almost constant and can be complicated by the development of vertebral artery syndrome, as well as the formation of intervertebral protrusion and hernia.
• 4th degree - the disc is so destroyed that the possibility of movement in the affected spinal movement segment is almost completely excluded.In this case, severe pain is observed, radicular syndrome often develops, and one or both vertebral arteries are pinched, which leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

So, the treatment tactics of cervical osteochondrosis depend on the severity of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, the age of the patient and his individual characteristics.Therefore, it is always developed separately for each patient, but always aims to solve the following problems:

• elimination of unpleasant symptoms that worsen the patient's quality of life;
• improve the quality of blood circulation in the neck;
• improvement of metabolic processes in the affected area;
• eliminate the causes of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs;
• reduce the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, that is, protrusions, intervertebral hernias, spondylosis, etc.

In general, at each stage of development of the disease, the use of different therapeutic measures is indicated.If in the 1st stage it is enough to adjust your lifestyle and undergo exercise therapy, then in the 2nd stage a more extensive impact will be required, additionally including taking a number of medications, conducting manual therapy sessions, using orthopedic devices, etc.

But patients should understand that it is impossible to achieve reverse regression of degenerative-dystrophic changes that have already occurred, especially if osteochondrosis of stage 2 or higher is diagnosed.In such situations, treatment will be aimed at improving the patient's well-being and stopping the progression of the disease.Sometimes it is possible to completely correct the situation only at the 1st stage of osteochondrosis, but at this stage of development the pathology is diagnosed extremely rarely, since patients perceive slight discomfort in the neck area only as a sign of fatigue and do not consult a doctor.

In more severe cases, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will be even more complex and lengthy.In all cases, it is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist with periodic follow-up examinations and adjustment of treatment according to the evolution of the patient's well-being.

Lifestyle correction

All patients diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis are advised to make certain lifestyle changes.In each case, these recommendations vary depending on the characteristics of the person's professional activity and several others.

The vast majority are advised to increase their level of physical activity and take time off work at least every hour to warm up if this involves sitting down.In cases where the patient actively participates in sports activities, it is recommended to reduce the load on the cervical spine.Thus, it will be shown that he will give up running, jumping sports, weightlifting and wrestling.

People who are overweight are also recommended to take measures to reduce it and adjust their diet.When osteochondrosis has already occurred, it is important that the diet meets the body's daily needs as fully as possible.Therefore, it is worth abandoning fast food and semi-finished products and bringing your diet closer to rational.This means that it is worth creating a menu so that half of the diet consists of vegetables and fruits, and it also contains a sufficient amount of protein.

Drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Drug treatment is aimed primarily at eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.As a rule, it is complex and includes the use of drugs belonging to different groups, each of which solves specific problems.This is why it is also developed separately for each patient.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are a large group of medications that have not only anti-inflammatory but also analgesic properties.They are available in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, ointments, gels and creams, as well as solutions for intramuscular administration.NSAIDs should only be used on demand, i.e. in cases of severe neck pain.

In case of severe pain, NSAIDs can be administered intramuscularly.

The disadvantage of oral drugs from the NSAID group is their irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.This can cause a worsening of the course of diseases of these organs, including gastritis and peptic ulcers.To reduce these risks, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination with them.

There are drugs that have a milder effect on the gastrointestinal tract, therefore they are widely prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation associated with osteochondrosis.In addition, more advanced drugs have already been developed, characterized by a selective effect, which are also often prescribed for osteochondrosis, but they are more expensive and are not available to all patients.

Corticosteroids and injections (blockages)

Corticosteroids are hormonal drugs prescribed to patients with severe inflammatory processes.They can lead to a number of undesirable consequences with long-term use, therefore they are prescribed in short courses in the most difficult cases.As a rule, the use of injection solutions is indicated, since with this method of administration these drugs are much easier to tolerate by the body and are less likely to cause side effects.

Corticosteroids are often used in combination with local anesthetics during blockages, that is, to quickly relieve very severe pain by introducing the prepared mixture into special points near the passage of spinal nerves.The procedure requires certain skills and dexterity and therefore can only be performed in medical institutions by specially trained medical personnel.Otherwise, the risk of developing unwanted consequences and complications is very high.

It is recommended to do blocks no more than 4 times a year.

Muscle relaxers

Muscle relaxants are a group of drugs used to eliminate reflex muscle spasms caused by an acute inflammatory process.This often occurs with cervical osteochondrosis and causes severe neck pain, which further aggravates the situation.

Vitamins

Since osteochondrosis creates significant prerequisites for compression of the spinal roots, it is often indicated to take vitamin complexes containing mainly B vitamins. They are directly involved in the transmission of nerve impulses, which is especially important in the development of radicular syndrome.

Chondroprotectors

Chondroprotectors are drugs around which many controversies arise.They are based on substances used by the body to restore damaged cartilage tissue, which determines the indications for their use in cervical osteochondrosis.But at the same time, there is no convincing evidence of their effectiveness in advanced forms of the disease.In the early stages of osteochondrosis, they actually have a positive effect on the condition of the intervertebral discs, which leads to an improvement in the patient's well-being.And at later stages they can only help inhibit the progression of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.

Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of powders for the preparation of solutions, capsules, products for topical use, as well as solutions for intramuscular administration.It is in the latter case that the most significant positive effect was observed.

Topical products

It is precisely these drugs, available in the form of gel, cream or ointment, that patients often begin to use when signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear.They have different effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming or, conversely, cooling and local irritants.

These products often contain NSAIDs, so they help reduce pain, but are effective mainly in the early stages of osteochondrosis.Also, the components of these drugs can be menthol, chili pepper extract, snake or bee venom.

Local irritants act on the principle of irritating the nerve endings in the skin, which leads to a decrease in pain intensity and an increase in blood flow to the area of application.But such remedies are effective only in the early stages of the development of cervical osteochondrosis.

Preparations to improve microcirculation

Medicines in this group are used to improve the quality of blood circulation, which is especially necessary in cases of vertebral artery syndrome.A number of drugs have a vasodilator effect, which improves brain nutrition and helps eliminate tinnitus, headaches and dizziness.But without effectively eliminating the pressure factor on the vertebral artery, such treatment will only give temporary results.

Exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is the basis of treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Today there are many exclusive and generally accepted methods of exercise therapy for cervical osteochondrosis, but patients should understand that there are no universal exercises.A set of exercises should be selected by a specialist on an individual basis, taking into account not only the stage of development of degenerative-dystrophic changes, but also the age of the patient, the nature of existing concomitant diseases, the presence of radicular syndrome or compression of the vertebral arteries.Therefore, different exercises may be indicated for the same patients with approximately the same changes in the intervertebral discs.

In general, physiotherapy pursues the following objectives:

• strengthen the muscles of the neck and upper shoulder girdle;
• activation of blood circulation in the affected area, which will contribute to the restoration of the fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs;
• normalization of muscle tone.

It is necessary to do exercise therapy every day.At first, it is better to participate in special groups or work individually with an exercise therapy instructor.This will allow you to 100% master the technique of performing each proposed exercise so that its implementation brings maximum benefit.The specialist will help you select the optimal load and develop a program for increasing it, taking into account the level of physical development of the patient.

In the future, patients will be able to practice exercise therapy independently at home.At the same time, it is important to approach this with all responsibility, to perform the exercises slowly, without haste and in comfortable conditions.But if pain appears at any time during exercise, you should immediately stop performing the exercise that caused its appearance and consult your doctor to determine the causes and correct the exercise therapy program for cervical osteochondrosis.

During exercise therapy, it is prohibited to make sharp and strong movements, turn the head or perform painful exercises.In such situations, there is a high risk of exacerbating existing disk changes instead of obtaining the expected benefit.

Swimming has a very positive effect on the condition of the spine.This is exactly the kind of sport that does not involve stress on the discs, but actively involves the muscles of the back and neck.As a result, the muscular corset is effectively reinforced, acting as a natural support for the spine.Therefore, if possible, patients are advised to visit the swimming pool 2-3 times a week.

Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis

Manual therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis, as it allows you to influence not only muscles and soft tissues, but also the spine itself.But it is very important to take a responsible approach to choosing a chiropractor, because incorrect or too strong influence can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition and even the development of complications.Such a specialist must not only have higher medical education and a license to practice manual therapy, but also have a keen understanding of the features of anatomy and osteochondrosis and have sufficient experience.

Do not confuse manual therapy and therapeutic massage.The differences between these types of manual therapy are significant, since therapeutic massage only involves soft tissues, while during manual therapy the doctor also works on the spine.

Thus, each manual therapy session begins with caresses, which helps prepare the skin for subsequent, more active effects.In the future, rubbing, kneading and compression techniques will be used, which will allow you to activate blood circulation in the collar area, neck and upper back.As soon as the skin and muscles are sufficiently warmed up and the patient is relaxed, the doctor begins to perform mobilization and manipulation techniques.They involve the implementation of turns with oscillatory movements, thrusts in the direction of the most pronounced restriction of movement, which leads to increased mobility of the spine and the elimination of functional blocks.

Thus, thanks to qualified manual therapy, it is possible to:

• normalize the position of the vertebrae, thereby eliminating increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and creating favorable conditions for their restoration;
• eliminate pain caused by cervical osteochondrosis and its complications;
• return overly relaxed muscles to normal tone and relax spasmodic muscles;
• increase neck mobility;
• eliminate pressure on the vertebral arteries and thus normalize blood flow to the brain;
• eliminate compression of the spinal roots and thereby normalize the conduction of bioelectric impulses to the organs for which they are responsible for innervation, as well as reduce pain.

Particularly noteworthy is the author's method of manual therapy.This involves the use of special, patented impact techniques, which allow you to achieve a pronounced result from the 1st session, not only on the part of the neck affected by osteochondrosis, but also on the entire body.As a result, not only do pain and other symptoms of the disease disappear, but the functioning of all organs also improves and the immune system is strengthened.The second and subsequent sessions strengthen the positive effect and consolidate it, which ensures that if other medical recommendations are followed, the remission period will last as long as possible.

Self-massage

To improve well-being, patients can periodically perform neck self-massage to relieve the feeling of fatigue and reduce pain.To do this, sit in a comfortable position and try to relax your neck muscles.Then perform stroking movements with the palms, gradually moving to circular rubbing, capturing the shoulder area.All movements are performed from the spine without sudden strong pressure.In this case, you can use local anti-inflammatories recommended by your doctor.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapy is indicated outside the acute inflammatory process.It allows you to consolidate the results obtained from treatment and further improve the patient’s condition.Typically, a series of 10-15 procedures is prescribed, selected separately for each patient.This could be:

• Electrophoresis – involves the use of electric current to ensure deeper penetration of indicated medications.
• Magnetotherapy – helps activate blood circulation in the zone of influence and stimulates the course of metabolic processes.In addition, magnetotherapy sessions have an analgesic effect and help eliminate swelling.
• Laser therapy has an anti-inflammatory and vasodilator effect, which leads to a reduction in pain intensity.
• Ultrasound therapy is a method of physiotherapy based on the positive effect of ultrasound waves on the body.They help reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings and also have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
• Diadynamic currents – procedures lead to a reduction in pain, improve tissue nutrition, have a positive effect on muscles and help eliminate inflammation.

Traction therapy

When the vertebrae move closer together due to flattening of the intervertebral discs, traction therapy using a Glisson loop is indicated.The essence of the method consists in applying a precisely adjusted tensile load to the cervical spine using a special device that fixes the head and exerts a load on the opposite side.Such procedures help to increase the distance between the vertebrae, which leads to a reduction in pressure on the discs and creates favorable conditions for their recovery.But such therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Needle applicator

The applicator is a simple and affordable way of reflexology on the neck.It can be a plate with spikes that should be placed under the neck, or a similar device, but in the form of a roller.Through the tingling of the spines, the skin receptors are irritated, resulting in more active blood flow to the affected area.

Some patients experience a reduction in neck pain after using the applicator, as well as an increase in performance, improvement in sleep quality and restoration of neck mobility.But if you have skin lesions in the affected area or vascular diseases, you should not use a needle applicator.

Orthopedic devices

In order to reduce the load on the cervical spine, it is recommended to replace the mattress and pillow with orthopedic ones, since sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow causes additional compression of the vertebral arteries and nerve trunks during sleep.Orthopedic products are free from this drawback and ensure the maintenance of the physiologically correct position of the spine along the entire length and thereby reduce the rate of progression of existing osteochondrosis.

But it is important to choose the right pillow and mattress, so that they correspond to the individual characteristics of the patient and contain appropriate padding.Thanks to them, it will also be possible to improve the quality of sleep and wake up in the morning happy and rested.

Some patients are also recommended to wear a Shants collar.This is a removable orthopedic device that allows you to fix the neck and significantly reduce the load on the cervical spine, for example, when working at a computer or after an injury.The collar is put on before the expected load on the neck, but should be removed during sleep and rest.They differ in design, height and degree of fixation, so only the attending physician can choose the optimal one.

So, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be quite long and complex.You need to prepare for this, because there is no other way to stop the development of changes in the intervertebral discs, to avoid the development of complications and the need for surgical intervention.But in most cases, patients' condition improves within the first weeks of treatment.At the same time, it is important not to self-medicate, but to contact a neurologist, because only a qualified specialist will be able to determine the degree of osteochondrosis and select the most suitable treatment for a particular patient's disease.