Osteochondrosis - degenerative changes in articular cartilage, accompanied by partial destruction of the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae. Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by slow, evolving tissue destruction over years between the vertebrae that support the head. If in the last century the disease was diagnosed mainly in people over 30 years old, today orthopedists make such a diagnosis even for schoolchildren. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is long. Maintenance therapy should also be carried out during the remission phase.
Symptoms of the disease in the early stages
The size of the cervical vertebrae is smaller than in the thoracic and lumbar spine. But the load on them is significant: the neck of a person performs many complex movements every day. Office workers who are forced to sit in the same position at the computer for many hours in a row often develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Treatment in this case involves not only getting rid of pain, but also mandatory lifestyle changes. Sitting idle in front of a monitor for many hours is a major test for the spine.
The following causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae can be distinguished:
- heredity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- extreme physical activity;
- neck injuries;
- anomalies of the cervical spine;
- Constant wrong posture of the body during sleep.
Orthopedics and neurology distinguish between four stages of the disease. In the first two, the disease does not cause severe pain, but it cannot be ignored.
In the first stage, the disease manifests itself in frequent headaches, a slight pulling in the neck. Almost all patients do not attach importance to such mild symptoms. Headaches are attributed to fatigue or lack of sleep. Most patients prefer to simply take a painkiller pill.
Over time (sometimes this process can drag on for several years), the disease inevitably progresses to the second stage. The danger of osteochondrosis is that the so-called radicular syndrome often develops. Most often it manifests itself in the second stage and further aggravates as osteochondrosis progresses. Radicular syndrome is pinched nerve endings in the cervical vertebrae. After that, many other pathologies join the headache. This is a deterioration in vision and hearing, dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus, unbearable migraines with and without aura, numbness in the hands.
As a rule, patients only go to the doctor after manifestations of a radicular syndrome. Most of the time they only deal with the symptoms. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the necessary rehabilitation will not be able to neutralize all the consequences that radicular syndrome entails. You can only temporarily stop the development of the disease and prevent even greater complications.
Manifestations of the disease in the later stages
There is also a third and fourth stage of the disease that simply cannot be ignored. Even patients who surprisingly disregard their own health raise the alarm and go to the doctor.
The third stage of cervical osteochondrosis, if not accompanied by radicular syndrome, often brings the patient an excruciating headache. Characterized by the appearance of pain directly in the neck and shoulders. The patient is forced to constantly use ointments with a warming and analgesic effect. Massage helps very well in the third phase. It is important to understand that getting rid of the disease completely will not work. Only long-term remission can be achieved - that is the goal of treatment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae in the fourth stage: a noticeable crookedness of the spine with the naked eye and severe pain in this area. If there is also a radicular syndrome, then the patient often experiences very severe dizziness, may faint after doing one or another sharp physical movement. Depending on where and how badly the nerve endings were pinched, a serious deterioration in vision or hearing is possible.
In later stages, the occurrence of irritable reflex syndrome is also possible, in which there are often severe pains in the back of the head of a pulsating nature, as well as pains up to the thoracic spine. They can reach such strength that the patient cannot fall asleep or perform usual body movements. Such symptoms are also possible with a sharp displacement of the vertebrae. Cervical osteochondrosis in the later stages is accompanied by either an irritable reflex or a radicular syndrome in 90% of cases.
There are cases when the disease is complicated by two of these pathologies at once. In this case, treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies will not work. An integrated approach is important, using both specialized methods (injections, massage, physiotherapy, taking analgesics) and general ones (swimming, exercise therapy, lifestyle).
Symptoms depending on the damaged nerve roots
Osteochondrosis of the 1st cervical vertebra is accompanied by numbness in the occipital region in the early stages of the development of the disease. In the later stages - the appearance of severe pain in this area. The best treatment is the use of ointments with a warming and anesthetic effect, as well as massage. Group B vitamin preparations need to be injected once every six months.
Osteochondrosis of the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae is accompanied by a violation of the sensitivity of the limbs and the appearance of pain in the forearms and chest area. Treatment - massage of the cervical collar area and numb parts of the body. Regular use of B vitamins on an ongoing basis is demonstrated (at least every six months, ideally quarterly). Physiotherapy is also effective.
Osteochondrosis of the 6th cervical vertebra is accompanied by pain in the shoulders and neck. Regular headaches. Vision can deteriorate - myopia and astigmatism develop. The principles of treatment are the same as for other vertebrae. Only with accompanying symptoms - deterioration of vision and hearing - you also need to pay attention to it. Regularly do visual hygiene, do eye exercises and put special drops that relax the optic nerve.
Osteochondrosis of the 7th cervical vertebra is accompanied by damage to the nerve endings in the region of the fifth, sixth and seventh vertebrae. It occurs in both men and women of all ages. This is the most common osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae. Symptoms of pinched nerve endings C6 and C7 are periodic numbness of the fingers and hands, pain in the neck, forearm and lower shoulder blade, back to the lumbar spine.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis: which doctor to contact?
To diagnose and prescribe treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, you should register for a consultation with a neuropathologist-orthopedist. A neurologist can prescribe remedies for the manifestations of the disease that affect the state of the nerve endings. This makes sense if the disease is accompanied by radicular syndrome. The orthopedist will assess the condition of the spine and diagnose the presence of additional diseases: scoliosis, lordosis, etc.
To diagnose and accurately assess the condition of the intervertebral discs, the following research methods are used:
- radiography.
- CT scan.
- magnetic tomography.
- Ultrasound examination of neck vessels.
Each of them is absolutely safe for health and does not pose a risk of excessive exposure. Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, the treatment of which is carried out for the rest of life, can be carried out after a simple visual examination. Any orthopedist can easily do this. An exception is the first stage of the disease, when no visible pathologies of the neck region are noticed.
Treatment methods of traditional medicine
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae? Whatever method is chosen, it should be remembered that in order to achieve remission, you need to regularly monitor the condition of the throat. Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. After some time, the symptoms will definitely make themselves felt again, and their intensity directly depends on the patient's attitude to his own health.
Here is a list of the most effective measures to get rid of the symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- Physical therapy;
- massage of the cervical collar zone;
- taking analgesics;
- a course of vitamins of group B;
- Physical therapy;
- To bathe.
The patient must remember that he should not engage in athletics (running, jumping, plyometric exercises) and weight training. This will inevitably provoke a deterioration in the condition. You cannot sit in one position for long. Even if office work involves many hours in front of the screen, you have to get up once an hour and treat yourself to a ten-minute warm-up of the neck-collar zone and gentle stretching.
Complex of physiotherapeutic exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae at home can be done with the help of special exercises. They must be carried out daily, otherwise no noticeable result can be expected.
- Stand tall on the line. Raise your hands, inhale, stand on your tiptoes and stretch as far as you can. Do several repetitions.
- Starting position - standing on your feet, back straight, arms lowered free on the body. Touch the left ear on the left shoulder, the right ear on the right shoulder. Perform ten times in each direction at a slow pace without making any sudden movements.
- The starting position is the same as in the previous exercise. Touch your chin to your sternum, then gently and gently tilt your head back. If the movement is accompanied by pain or discomfort, it should be stopped.
- Sit in a chair or on a hard floor with your back straight. You can cross your legs in the lotus position. Perform circular turns of the head - first clockwise, then counterclockwise.
- Lie face down on the hard floor. The arms and legs are stretched. Exercise "Boat": Tear off the surface of the head, arms and legs, trying to raise them as high as possible. Stay in this position for as long as possible. This exercise is not only good for the cervical spine, but also for the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Physical therapy exercises should be done carefully and at a slow pace. Sudden movements can lead to increased pain.
If it is possible to do exercises after a therapeutic heat massage of the cervical collar zone - wonderful. This way of combining two treatment methods at once is very good.
Blockade of pain syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main group of drugs used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with displacement of the vertebrae are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition, with regard to cervical osteochondrosis, local application of NSAIDs in gels and ointments is preferable.
In this regard, ointments and creams with snake and bee venom in the composition are effective. Among the means for local external use, local irritants and chondroprotectors are shown.
If the pain is too severe, strong analgesics can be used once. Sometimes osteochondrosis is aggravated by colds. In this case, drugs based on the active substance paracetamol will help to eliminate all the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections and chondrosis.
The use of B vitamins in the traditional therapy of the disease
Why do neuropathologists invariably prescribe vitamins of group B as part of the complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae? The explanation is very simple. In radicular syndrome, the nerve endings suffer and vitamins are the easiest way to support their function. The most effective form of administration is intramuscular injection. When taken orally, B vitamins are only partially absorbed. When administered intramuscularly, they enter the bloodstream almost immediately.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae at home
For complex treatment it is not necessary to go to the hospital at all. It is quite possible to achieve remission at home. It is very good if the patient can inject independently. Then you can't be in the clinic every day.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies:
- Baths with salt and soda bring pain relief, relaxation of the whole body. This is especially good before bed. You should take a full bath of moderately warm water and dissolve in it a kilogram of salt and about 500 grams of soda.
- Paraffin applications are excellent. Melt paraffin or wax, cool to a comfortable temperature and apply to the damaged area. Such compresses can be done 2 times a week.
- To reduce the inflammatory process, you can decoction herbs. You need to mix 1 tbsp. l. Flowers of St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula and yarrow. Add them 1 tbsp. l. Thyme and dandelion leaves. Now you should take 2 tbsp. l. the resulting mixture and pour a liter of boiling water, insist. For 3 weeks it is enough to take a decoction of 1/4 part of a glass 3 times a day.
- If you do not trust pharmaceutical preparations, you can make an ointment for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. You need to take equal parts of coriander fruit, birch buds, dandelion roots and peppermint grass. Grind three tablespoons of the mixture into a powder, add 1/2 cup of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 75 g of vegetable oil and pork fat to the resulting mass. Cool and massage into the affected areas 4 times a day. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
- Good help with osteochondrosis and compresses. For example honey and potatoes. Grate a large tuber on a fine grater and mix with honey in a 1: 1 ratio. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected area for 45 minutes.
In the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, massage is the No. 1 means of reducing tension and pain. To perform massage therapy for yourself, you need good flexibility. Older people are often not even able to raise their arms to the desired height. But they find a way out of the situation: they ask one of the younger relatives for a massage.
Patient feedback on the outcome of therapy
According to numerous reviews of orthopedic and neurological patients, the optimal method of treatment is the combined use of all procedures. It is useless to use only methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies.
Some patients note that a procedure with a good massage therapist literally brought them back to life, their working capacity has increased.
Some patients respond positively to physical therapy exercises alone. They began to exercise regularly at home, bought a subscription to the pool for therapeutic swimming courses. Yoga and regular spinal stretching exercises have helped some. Feelings after such asanas: lightness in the body, freedom from pain, reduction of stress.
Regularly loading your body with this type of activity, you can go into long-term remission and forget about the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.