Ubiquitous statistics claim that more than 80% of the population is diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at various stages. Meanwhile, doctors warn of the very dangerous consequences of neglected forms, which can become a threat not only to health, but also to the life of the patient.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region: what is it?
In itself, the disease of osteochondrosis is an irreversible degenerative-dystrophic destruction of the spinal discs and vertebrae. It is characterized by a violation of the integrity of the intervertebral component, which leads to intervertebral herniation and protrusion, and further destruction of the bones of the vertebrae. These changes give rise to complex processes in the body and, in addition to causing severe pain, affect the functioning of the body as a whole.
The process is irreversible, it is impossible to restore damaged cartilage and discs, you can only slow down their destruction.
The danger of such a process in the cervical region is multiplied due to the presence of a large number of nerve fibers and blood vessels connecting the brain and the human body, as well as the proximity of the location of the vertebrae (there are 7 of in one small space).
Attention! The slightest compression of the arteries, nerve fibers or blood vessels of the cervical spine will lead to a series of symptoms, the severity of which will depend on which roots or vessels are being compressed.
The reasons
There are many reasons for this dangerous disease, although it is not yet known exactly why osteochondrosis occurs in a particular area. Among the factors provoking cervical osteochondrosis will be:
Lifestyle
This is the most voluminous factor both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Must include:
- sedentary work mode;
- prolonged stay in a tense or uncomfortable position for significant periods of time;
- small physical loads on the spine (this contributes to the weakening of the muscular corset);
- too much stress on the spine.
Today, a large number of people are subject to the listed factors of the occurrence of this disease due to the prevailing model of social life and social behavior.
injuries
Spinal cord injuries in 90% of cases are accompanied by cervical osteochondrosis. Often, it does not occur immediately after the injury, but after a certain time. Here, the main component of the occurrence will be the broken integrity of the ridge.
hormonal alterations
This factor can arise already in adolescence, during the restructuring of the child's body. This type of osteochondrosis can be treated successfully.
If osteochondrosis occurs against the background of menopause or diseases that change the hormonal context (diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis), treatment will be symptomatic.
genetic predisposition
This reason is almost always presented as a concomitant of others. Since in itself the genetic predisposition is not the basis of the disease, but it is of great importance in the event that other factors concur.
Symptoms
The manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are very similar to many diseases, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Its manifestations depend on which nerve roots are compressed, in addition, many symptoms are associated with poor blood circulation in the brain. Despite the wide range of symptoms, some of the most common can be distinguished. Its appearance and strengthening will depend on the degree of development of the disease. Here they are listed by frequency of occurrence.
Headaches in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
One of the first, most persistent and most frequent symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is a migraine-like headache. It will stop well with painkillers, but as the disease develops, its intensity increases and it becomes more and more difficult to stop.
The pain can be displayed by a pulsation in the temples and the back of the head, can affect the parietal region, give to the parietal bone.
Pain in the neck
Usually weak at first, the pain in the neck appears only when you touch the affected area; in the future, the pain may radiate to the back of the head, shoulder and arm (this depends on the pinched nerve endings). At the same time, it appears when turning or tilting the head, a sudden movement of the body, it remains constant, has an increasing intensity.
Limited range of motion, crunch
Another symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is restriction of movement of the head and neck, it is difficult for the patient to turn his head, there is no way to turn it completely, it is impossible to tilt the head forward or backward. When turning, there is a characteristic creak.
hand weakness
If the nerve roots responsible for the innervation of the upper limbs are damaged, weakness appears in the arms and, in severe cases, paralysis can occur.
Numbness of the hands or body
When squeezing the roots responsible for sensitivity, there is a loss of sensitivity in the hands, fingers, or numbness of individual areas. With advanced forms of the disease, paralysis (complete or partial) of the hands and the whole body is possible. Again, this depends on which nerves are affected.
Decreased hearing, vision
This disease is characterized by signs such as hearing loss and vision loss, numbness of the lips and tongue. These organs are in close proximity and are the first to suffer from insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis
With cervical osteochondrosis, one of the most unpleasant symptoms will be dizziness, sometimes it can be accompanied by a loss of coordination, in some cases there are fainting, nausea. These symptoms are associated with impaired cerebral circulation as a result of compression of the arteries and blood vessels.
About diagnostic methods
If one or several symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur, it is best to see a doctor for a diagnosis. There are several methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis, the most informative of them will be:
- computed tomography;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- dopplerography of blood vessels;
- The most used is radiography.
For the diagnosis of osteochondrosis in the early stages, radiography will be of little information. Dopplerography of the vessels is carried out in difficult cases, when severe symptoms occur: loss of sensitivity in large areas, paralysis, fainting.
Successful treatment is possible only in the early stages of the disease and depends on the correct diagnosis.
disease stages
The disease is characterized by an increase in symptoms and their severity, there are 4 stages.
- I-I - this is pain in the neck when touching the affected nerve endings. The pain occurs when turning the head or neck. At the level of the spine, no damage is detected, only violations of the intervertebral space.
- II-I - this is the appearance of a stabbing pain, which can radiate to the arm, shoulder, and intensifies when turning the head. Migraine-type headaches. The pain is caused by minor destructive changes in the spinal discs.
- III-I - increased pain, which becomes constant, numbness occurs, stiffness appears in head movements, weakness in the hands, attention and memory are disturbed. At this stage, there are violations of the integrity of the discs (cracks, protrusion of the articular bag), intervertebral hernia.
- IV-I - characterized by destruction of discs and vertebrae, violation of the integrity of the bones. At this stage, surgery is often required, as hernias can cause paralysis and immobilization of the upper extremities or the entire body.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck at home is possible and necessary at stages 1 and 2, the third stage requires medical treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
home treatment
Before starting treatment at any stage, it is necessary to consult a vertebrologist who will make the correct diagnosis and conduct the necessary examinations. Osteochondrosis can have symptoms similar to heart failure (hypertension, shortness of breath, attention and memory problems).
Attention! With incorrect or untimely treatment, cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke, spinal cord compression, radiculopathy are possible, and these complications of the disease often threaten the patient's life.
With a correct and timely diagnosis, home treatment should include the following components:
- drug treatment;
- massage;
- special physical exercises.
All three components are very important, they must necessarily undergo complex treatment, which will guarantee a good result for a long time.
Massage
Traditional massages will give a very good effect after relieving acute pain. It is recommended to take your courses at least once every 6 months. Today there is a large selection of techniques aimed at the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, which will allow you to choose the most suitable option.
- There are high quality manual techniques that allow to obtain a good result.
- A new direction is osteopathy, aimed at dealing with the hands, but considering the human body as a unit of the musculoskeletal, nervous and mental systems.
- A good solution would be a professional acupuncture course conducted by an experienced specialist.
- With success, massage is replaced by hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches), not without reason it is equated with acupuncture.
Exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
One of the factors in the occurrence of this disease is small loads on the muscle corset. We lead a sedentary lifestyle, we spend a lot of time in the same position, often uncomfortable. Therefore, 10 simple exercises to strengthen the neck muscle corset should be included in your daily exercises for everyone. It is especially important to treat them for those who have the first signs of this disease.
Exercises should be performed only when acute pain is relieved. When exacerbated, it is undesirable to do them.
- Perform standing 5-7 times: your feet shoulder-width apart, your stomach is contracted, your shoulders are straight. Raise your arms out to the sides and up, then connect them at the top and bring them back, trying to connect your shoulder blades. Then stand up straight again.
- It's good to do it standing up, but you can also sit down 7-10 times. Wrap your arms around yourself (as if you were hugging yourself), try to do it as tightly as possible (elbows forward), then bring your hands back and connect them, palms touching your elbows. Try to contract your stomach.
- It is better to do it standing up, but if you feel very dizzy, you can sit down, each movement 3-5 times. The neck is straight, the shoulders are straight. Turn your head to the left and try to touch your shoulder with your chin, do not raise your shoulder. Repeat this, turning your head to the right, perform twists alternately.
- Do the same exercise, tilting your head as far back and forth as you can. Try to reach your chest with your chin. Do the slopes slowly.
- Then very slowly and carefully make a half circle from the left shoulder to the right, tilting your head forward. Do not make circular movements, just a semicircle. Repeat the movement in the opposite direction.
Do this exercise with your head thrown back as far as possible. Remember that you have to do it slowly and only in semicircles.
- It's also best to do it standing up, but you can also sit for 5 seconds. 3-4 times. Clench your fists and rest your chin on them. Press the fists hard with your chin for 5 seconds, then place them on the back of the occipital bone and press again. This exercise trains the neck muscles well.
- Perform 7-10 laps seated in each direction. Place your hands on your hips, tilt your head as far forward as possible, it's good if you can rest your chin on your chest. Now turn your head left and right alternately, keeping your chin on your chest.
- Perform sitting in a chair with a low back, try to do this at least 3-4 times. With your shoulders back, try to look at the wall behind you.
- Perform sitting on a chair, placing your hands between your knees 5-7 times. As you inhale, lean to one side; As you exhale, sit up straight. Do it alternately to the left and to the right.
- Lie on your stomach, lean up. Try to do this 5-6 times. Get as high as you can and stay as long as you can.
Advice! Do the exercise at a convenient time, perhaps during a break or when your neck gets tired from a tense posture. There can't be many here. The main thing is not to do a large number of times at once.
Treatment with folk remedies.
Treating spinal problems with home remedies mainly involves heating the affected area. When using recipes for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to be careful, since the proximity to the brain can make too intense heating more harmful than beneficial.
You should use recipes that have a mild effect, not giving strong irritation.
grandma's ointment
For its preparation you will need:
- 10 ml of iodine;
- 10 ml of camphor oil;
- 10 tablets of analgin (500 mg);
- 300 ml of alcohol.
Tablets must be crushed into powder and mix all the ingredients. The resulting composition is applied in a thin layer on the neck.
compresses
- Dad. It is good to apply a compress of grated potatoes with honey at night.
- Horseradish. Fresh horseradish leaves should be held over steam, cooled and applied for 10-15 minutes. to the neck
- Skip. Grind unsalted lard (1 tablespoon) and add fresh or dry ground hop cones (1 teaspoon), apply the resulting mixture to the back of the head as a compress for the whole night.
- Aloe. Take 1 part ground aloe leaves, 2 parts honey and 3 parts vodka. Mix everything and let stand for 12 hours. Apply the compress for no more than 15 minutes.
Medical treatment
Traditional treatment should consist of anti-inflammatory drugs that are needed periodically to relieve severe pain, and drugs aimed at mobilizing the body to fight the disease: vitamins, neuroprotectors, chondroprotectors.
Also, depending on the problems that have arisen, drugs are prescribed that relieve the symptoms that have arisen when a certain part of the nerve roots is damaged, these can be drugs:
- pressure reduction;
- to improve vision;
- to relieve numbness.
anti-inflammatory drugs
In the initial stages, severe pain can be stopped with the help of painkillers.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed during an exacerbation to relieve inflammation. These medications are available as tablets, capsules, or injectable solutions. Some are in the form of ointments for external use. The course of treatment should be determined by the doctor.
Long-term use of drugs from a number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead even in a healthy person to irritation of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment with analgesics provokes an exacerbation.
vitamins
Be sure to take B vitaminsa,A6,A12). They help improve the functioning of the brain, have a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system, improve the transmission of nerve impulses, which has an impact on the improvement of the general condition.
These vitamins can be taken as injections intramuscularly, according to the scheme or in combination, which will significantly enhance their effect. In the early stages of the disease, they are shown as tablets (vitamin complexes) or dietary supplements (not recognized by official medicine).
Drugs that improve cerebral circulation
Neuroprotectants are drugs that affect the functioning of the brain. These include a large group of drugs that affect various processes, among nootropics that improve memory and concentration.
Medications are prescribed in cases of insufficient blood supply to the brain as a result of compression of the blood vessels.
Attention! Neuroprotectors must be prescribed by a neurologist.
Chondroprotectors
A special place is occupied by chondroprotectors - drugs that improve the nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the spine (glucosamine and chondroitin), which should slow down their destruction. Clinically, their positive effect has not yet been proven, but they are used as dietary supplements and are allowed by medical and health examinations.
These drugs may be useful in stages I and II. In the future, they are unlikely to have the desired effect.
About diet and nutrition.
With cervical osteochondrosis, it is important to eat foods and herbs that contain B vitamins, this can be:
- bird meat;
- porridge, chamomile;
- mint, coltsfoot;
- celery.
Showing fresh vegetables and fruits. It is undesirable to use salt, its amount should be reduced to a minimum. This is due to impaired cerebral circulation. It is not necessary to increase the intake of calcium and potassium.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is an insidious disease that can lead to complex pathologies that lead to disability. At the same time, the correct behavior, moderate physical activity and systemic treatment can slow down its development, and even stop it for a long time. Live happy and be healthy!