Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms and treatment

Spinal diseases are a serious pathology that alters the normal physiology of the axial skeleton and the entire organism.Damage to only one cervical region leads to rupture of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, organs of vision and hearing, shoulder and elbow joints.Therefore, every person who cares about their health needs to know the reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, its main symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention.

What is cervical osteochondrosis

The human cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae connected by elastic discs.Normally, the vertebrae are located close to each other, securely hold the head and participate in movement.The first signs of the disease appear in people aged 25 to 45.Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra develops - a degenerative-dystrophic change in the intervertebral discs.Its decrease leads to compression and displacement of nerves and blood vessels.If osteochondrosis is not treated, the disease begins to progress rapidly.

Causes of the development of cervical osteochondrosis

Let's consider the main causes of cervical osteochondrosis:

• lack of physical activity, or vice versa, excessive stress;
• sedentary life, sedentary work;
• poor posture, such as scoliosis;
• constant stress, nervous tension.

Other causes of cervical osteochondrosis are injuries, hereditary diseases: genetic predisposition, intrauterine trauma.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are very diverse and depend on the stage of development of the disease:

1st degree	Symptoms are mild, sometimes there are minor low back pains, sleep disturbances and headaches.But the first minor signs do not cause much concern, so people do not consult a doctor.
2nd degree	The photographs show protrusions and decreased height of the intervertebral discs.The pain becomes constant, stiffness and numbness appear in areas of the face and head.A cough appears.Migraine pain develops, nausea and dizziness intensify.Sleep is disturbed and fatigue increases.Deficiencies in cardiovascular activity are observed.
3rd degree	The development of intervertebral hernias in cervical osteochondrosis leads to compression of nearby tissues - vessels, nerves.Strong, aching pains appear in the back of the head and neck, dizziness and nausea.Patients feel weakness and numbness in their hands.Muscle tone changes, tension appears in the neck muscles.Patients experience the development of sclerosis.
4th degree	The appearance of osteophytes leads to narrowing of the intervertebral foramina, compression of nerves and damage to joints.All symptoms intensify and become permanent.At this stage, signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine decrease, due to the fact that the vertebrae practically grow together and mobility decreases.Lack of treatment at this stage can lead to disability.

Since from each vertebra the nerves approach certain organs, the location of the damage can be determined by the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Cervical osteochondrosis syndrome

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, compression and pinching of the spinal nerve roots occurs.This pathology is rare.This is due to the fact that the cervical ligaments are strong and the hernial protrusions practically do not come out of the intervertebral foramina.

Radicular syndromes

Radicular syndromes are caused by a lack of oxygen in the latter.

Irritant reflex syndromes

Irritant reflex syndromes are characterized by burning, acute occipital or neck pain.It occurs when moving the head after prolonged tension caused by a long, immobile state of the neck.In addition, unpleasant sensations occur in the chest and shoulder joints.

cardiac syndrome

Cardiac syndrome resembles angina pectoris.Patients complain of pain in the heart that appears during physical or emotional stress.But when examining the work of the heart, no pathology is detected, and heart medications do not bring relief.Cardiac syndrome develops in people suspiciously prone to phobias.For treatment, these patients may need the help of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is an insidious disease.One of the biggest dangers is the narrowing of the heart (coronary) vessels, which can lead to a heart attack.

Severe headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine lead to a decrease in a person's memory and performance and the inability to perform professional duties.

Changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs cause numbness of the roots, accompanied by dysfunction of the corresponding organs or leading to disability.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

If you have neck problems, see a neurologist or orthopedist.The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made based on the patient's complaints, life history, examination, examination.

To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to perform x-rays, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to identify protrusions or hernias.For symptoms of cerebral circulatory disorders, ultrasound of the neck vessels, cerebral encephalography and fundus examination are performed.If there are a variety of symptoms affecting other organ systems, additional diagnostics are performed, prescribed by a cardiologist or rheumatologist.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should always be carried out comprehensively.All measures are aimed not only at eliminating pain, but also at eliminating other pathological symptoms.Treatment is carried out using methods and means such as:

• drug therapy;
• massage;
• physiotherapy;
• unconventional methods;
• surgical intervention.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at reducing pain in the cervical spine, restoring vascular blood flow and maintaining motor and mental activity.Main groups of medicines:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Medicines relieve inflammation, eliminate pain and have an antipyretic effect. Attention: You cannot take these medications for a long time, as they can cause side effects - liver damage, peptic ulcers, hematopoietic disorders and increased thrombus formation.
Muscle relaxants	Reduces muscle tone and spasm.
Vascular drugs	They improve blood flow in the vessels, relieve headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, flashes of “vision” and help restore memory.
Venotonics	Venotonics are prescribed when there is a violation of venous blood flow in the head.
Antispasmodics	Reduces cerebral vascular spasms.
General tonics: ginkgo biloba, ginseng	Prescribed for alcoholic hypotension.
Serotonin receptor agonists	Increases arterial tone.
Neurotropics	Prescribed for dizziness and tinnitus.
Diuretics	Reduce swelling in compressed tissues.
Chondroprotectors	Prevents the destruction of cartilaginous tissue and intervertebral discs.
Sedatives and antidepressants	Reduce nervous tension, anxiety, depression, depression and increased fatigue.
B vitamins, complex vitamin preparations	Improves the trophism (nutrition) of cartilage and nervous tissue.Prescribed in the form of tablets or injections (during an exacerbation).

Attention: Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis, in addition to their therapeutic effect, may have side effects and serious contraindications.Therefore, do not self-medicate under any circumstances.Only a specialist, a neurologist, can prescribe the necessary medications, individually select the dose and determine the duration of taking the medications.

The first aid for a disease in the phase of severe exacerbation is therapeutic and medication blocks, which only a specialist has the right to carry out.

Surgical treatment for osteochondrosis

Surgical treatment is prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis only in extreme cases, for example, with the formation of osteophytes (marginal growths of bone tissue of the vertebrae), spondylolisthesis (vertebral displacement) or stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal.Surgery is prescribed only if all other treatment methods do not produce a positive effect.

Operations are as gentle as possible using microsurgical instruments and a microscope.Surgeons usually perform endoscopic operations or microdiscectomy.During the operation, ligaments are excised, affected vertebral fragments are removed, and hernial protrusions are excised.The postoperative period is usually long, but the prognosis for rehabilitation is favorable.

Massage

Massage carried out outside the period of exacerbation is prescribed to consolidate the therapeutic effect or for preventive purposes.It is usually prescribed in a course of 10 to 14 sessions several times a year.Massage purpose:

• improve lymphatic flow;
• normalize blood circulation;
• relax the muscles of the neck, collar area;
• improve the nutrition of cartilaginous tissue;
• prevent the development of the disease;
• reduce the risk of relapse.

Which massage to choose - manual or mechanical, which also helps well with cervical osteochondrosis, is up to the doctor alone.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures complement other types of treatment and have a beneficial effect on the health of the cervical spine.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed in the remission phase, they relieve pain, muscle spasms, strengthen muscles and restore motor activity.For osteochondrosis, the following are most often used:

• balneotherapy;
• detensor therapy;
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• UV therapy.

Unconventional treatment methods

Non-traditional treatment methods complement official ones and help to quickly deal with problems with the cervical spine.

1. Acupuncture.Inserting needles into special painful points along the spine relieves muscle tension, relieves pain, reduces inflammation and improves blood circulation.
2. Dry or underwater extraction.It is prescribed to elevate the vertebrae and increase the distance between them.Thanks to this procedure, pain decreases, blood circulation is restored and the load on the joints is reduced.
3. Needle applicator.The needle-shaped tips of the applicator affect active points of the cervical spine, restore function and reduce inflammatory processes in muscle and cartilage tissue.
4. Leeches.Not very presentable in appearance, but medicinal leeches have unique saliva, the components of which relax muscles, improve trophism in affected tissues, reduce swelling and relieve pain.
5. Hydrotherapy.Water showers, saunas and baths with medicinal herbs complement traditional forms of treatment.
6. Foot massage.Effectively affects the entire body, relieves fatigue, pain, improves metabolic processes in the spine.

Therapeutic exercise

This disease does not like movement, therefore, to get rid of such a serious scourge, it is necessary for physical exercise to become firmly established in our lives.Therapeutic gymnastics can be done daily, except during periods of exacerbation.A doctor can help you choose the right exercises, and the first few sessions can be done in a physical therapy room under the supervision of a medical professional.

The physiotherapist's task is to show how to perform the exercises correctly, to help choose the correct pace, amplitude and duration of the exercises.In the future, it will be necessary to do physiotherapy at home, without forgetting that the load must be increased gradually and all movements must be carried out smoothly.

Daily exercises help to strengthen the neck muscles, reduce the load on the intervertebral discs and serve as a good prevention of osteochondrosis.

Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis

It's no secret that prevention is the best treatment.And the sooner you do this, the fewer health problems there will be in the future.

When to start preventive measures?Of course, it's better from childhood.If you are the parent of a preschooler, don't limit your child's natural desire for physical activity.It is not necessary to enroll him in the sports section - let him run, jump in the street, buy a skipping rope, hoop, bicycle, scooter.Set up a sports corner at home, invent or find interesting exercises on the Internet, turn them into a game and have fun doing them yourself.

If your child is already school-aged, pay attention to how he sits at his desk, whether he feels comfortable and whether he needs to bend over notebooks and textbooks a lot.Remember that when sitting in a chair, the child's knees must be bent at a 90-degree angle?The same degree should be between the hips and the spine.If the angle is not maintained, you will need to adjust the height of the chair or table.The chair should have a comfortable seat, armrests and a high back where you can rest your elbows while relaxing.

Pay attention to the height of the monitor - when sitting, your eyes should be facing the top of the monitor, and the keyboard should be located below elbow level.Make sure it is comfortable for you and your child to sit at your desk.Are you comfortable having a sedentary job at an office desk?If not, think about how you can help yourself.Maybe you can change the height of your chair, raise your monitor, or invest in a stylish footrest.

Watch your posture while working.No offense, remember how animals sit, for example your favorite dog, resting the entire surface of their buttocks on the floor, stretching their lower back, without bending over like a donut.After 15-20 minutes you need to rest a little.At home, it's easier to warm up - you can get up, stretch with pleasure, do some dance movements to the music and stretch your neck.

What can you do in the office if the natural desire to leave your desk frequently is unwelcome?You can use a seated warm-up:

1. Smooth turns of the head to the left and right, up and down, rotation in a circle, clockwise and counterclockwise (be careful not to get dizzy);
2. Press your chin to your neck, then your chest and turn your head left and right;
3. Place your palm on your forehead and press as hard as you can (10 seconds), then move your palm to the right, left temple and back of the head.Do you feel your neck muscles tense?Incredible;
4. Massage the neck, starting from the occipital opening to the shoulders, knead the shoulders, and then gently run your fingers several times from the occipital region to the shoulders to ensure an even flow of blood.

The warm-up will be incomplete if you do not take care of the condition of the lower spine and arms:

1. Rotate your shoulders: 10 times back and forth, up and down;
2. Bring your shoulder blades together and spread them apart, feel how your back muscles become pleasantly tense and be grateful.These muscles are involved in static work, supporting our body in an upright position.But they also get tired faster than others, especially children.This is why children often struggle to change their sitting position.And there's no need to scold them for it;
3. To help relax your pelvic spine, tense and relax your gluteal muscles several times;
4. Move on to your legs, tense and relax your thigh muscles, then your shins, your toes, repeat this exercise several times;
5. Clasp your hands into a strand, make a “wave” several times, including hands, elbows and shoulders in work;
6. Make a fist with four fingers and rotate your thumbs clockwise and counterclockwise several times;
7. Work with your hand - make a fist tightly, then stretch your hand tightly and spread your fingers wide.

These exercises, depending on the number of repetitions, can last from 3 to 5 minutes.You can do several approaches per day.You may ask why you need to do full-body exercises if only your cervical spine bothers you.The fact is that the entire spine often suffers, so a general preventive warm-up will only benefit.

Interesting: Estonian healer Luule Viilma writes that any illness is given to a person so that he has time to understand his life.And the faster a person realizes his mistakes in life, the faster recovery will occur.According to L. Viilma, fear of guilt, accusations, excessive demands on oneself and others are the causes of this disease.Understanding why the illness occurred, forgiving yourself and others is a way to get rid of everything bad and restore health.

Physical activity and simple exercises should be part of your daily routine.You don't need to study for hours, especially if you don't have time for it.On the internet you can find videos with brief warm-ups.To lose weight and reduce the load on the problematic part of the spine, you should pay attention to the exercise system using the Tabata method, which suggests performing exercises at a fast pace, with certain intervals of rest and load.

Attention: Before carrying out such physical activity, it is necessary to consult experts and choose the ideal exercises.You cannot practice using such a system during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

To ease the load on the cervical vertebrae, it is a good idea to take care of a comfortable body position during sleep.For your neck and head, using the perfect orthopedic pillow is the ideal option.

What else can be said about prevention?Of course, this is a reasonable diet, monitoring body mass index, exercise, walks in nature and, most importantly, the desire to be healthy.Our health is in our hands and each person needs to take advantage of this gift.