Existing methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis are aimed at reducing symptoms, preventing complications, stopping further destruction of cartilage and bone tissue in the spine, and preventing the patient from becoming disabled.
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-destructive pathological process that first captures the intervertebral disc, and then the vertebra itself.
It is necessary to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical region immediately after the appearance of the first signs of the disease.
Mechanisms of development of osteochondrosis
The spine is made up of the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs between them. The intervertebral disc has a pulpy gel-like nucleus in the center, surrounded at the periphery by a dense fibrous ring. The nucleus pulposus is hydrophilic - saturated with moisture and is characterized by high elasticity. Due to the elastic properties of the intervertebral discs, cushioning and mobility of the spine are ensured.
In people over the age of 20, the discs already begin to gradually lose their elasticity. This is due to the obliteration of the vessels that supplied the discs, and additional blood supply is due to diffusion from the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae. In the cartilage tissue, against a background of lack of nutrients, regeneration processes slow down - the disc begins to "age". Initially, the nucleus pulposus dehydrates, loses its elasticity, becomes flat, which increases the load on the fibrous ring. Microcracks, areas of tension, breaks, delaminations appear in the structure of the ring.
The degenerated disc protrudes towards the spinal canal and irritates the nerve endings of the pain receptors located on the posterior longitudinal ligament.
Features of the pathological process of cervical osteochondrosis are associated with the anatomical structure of this spine: different structure and size of the cervical vertebrae, tighter jointing in the intervertebral joints and an underdeveloped muscular frame. With a prolonged static load on the cervical region (work at a computer), weak muscles do not hold the head well, and the main load falls on the spine.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in a specialized clinic is carried out using unique technology based on a combination of manual therapy, electrophoresis and photodynamic laser therapy under the supervision of doctors.
The main reasons leading to the development of osteochondrosis:
- Congenital or acquired abnormalities of the spine.
- Natural body aging processes.
- genetic predisposition.
- Long-term static and dynamic overload of the spine: forced posture, hypodynamia.
- Passion for sports dangerous for the spine: professional wrestling.
- Smoking.
- Autoimmune diseases with connective tissue damage - collagenoses.
- Poor nutrition with a predominance of carbohydrate and fatty foods, with a deficiency of proteins, vitamins, micro and macro elements.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Spinal injuries and diseases.
Osteochondrosis of the spine - is there such a diagnosis?
In English medicine, this term refers to a completely different group of diseases that have nothing to do with our "native" osteochondrosis. In the International Classification of Diseases - a book by which all neurologists should be guided when indicating a diagnosis - there are such terms as "osteochondrosis of the spine in adults", "juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine", "osteochondrosis of the spine, unspecified".
However, sometimes this diagnosis is not entirely justified, when in reality the doctor cannot fully understand what is happening to the patient. Under this term, diseases such as:
- Myofascial pain syndrome- a condition in which a spasm constantly occurs in the same muscles.
- Muscle injury.After an injury, the pain begins to bother, and after a while it passes on its own.
- OtolithiasisCondition in which calcium salt crystals accumulate in the inner ear. They lead to dizziness - sometimes they are confused with a manifestation of diseases of the spine.
- Headache.They are also often linked to degenerative changes in the cervical spine. In fact, they often have other causes.
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Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
The standard set of therapeutic measures for exacerbation of the disease looks like this:
- Anti-inflammatories and analgesics.The doctor can prescribe Voltaren, Movalis, ibuprofen and other drugs.
- If the pain is very strong and does not go away- use novocaine blockade. The doctor, armed with a needle and syringe, injects anesthetic into special places where it blocks the transmission of painful nerve impulses.
- Physiotherapy helps:drug electrophoresis with novocaine, ultrasound, ultraviolet irradiation, diadynamic currents.
- If the pain constantly makes you nervous,Prescribe medication to help you calm down.
- In the realm of painapply dry heat.
- In order to unload the spine,different types of traction are used. The patient can be placed on a special bed with a raised headboard and fixed with rings under the armpits. Underwater traction in the pool is also used.
- The doctor may recommendyou visit a chiropractor, acupuncture sessions.
- During an exacerbationwear special braces that help unload the muscles and support the spine - corsets, collar Shants.
When the exacerbation passes, you need to take measures that will help prevent a new one. Therapeutic exercises and massage help strengthen the muscles that support the spine. Appoint physiotherapy courses. Good for swimming. All methods of treating osteochondrosis have contraindications, they must be used wisely, so self-medication is not the best choice. See a doctor.
Sometimes the symptoms of the disease, despite treatment, continue to develop, the patient's condition worsens. In this case, the neurologist may ask the question of surgical treatment.
Why consult a doctor quickly? Firstly, "real" osteochondrosis is not such a harmless disease. Over time, this can render a person disabled if left untreated. Secondly, the symptoms can be caused by the same myofascial pain syndrome - a neurologist will be able to quickly detect the cause of the pain and eliminate it.
Back pain is a symptom that, according to statistics, more than 90% of people have experienced at least once in their life. Most often it is attributed to osteochondrosis. Not everyone with back pain goes to the doctor. Many are treated on their own with drugs that can be obtained without a prescription from a pharmacy, folk remedies. Sometimes such "treatment" brings temporary relief - and in the meantime the disease can continue to progress, and perhaps next time the back or lower back will "twist" much more.
An experienced neurologist will be able to correctly assess the symptoms of osteochondrosis, understand their causes and prescribe the correct treatment for osteochondrosis.
With pain - the main manifestation of osteochondrosis - you can struggle more or less effectively with the help of painkillers and anti-inflammatories, some folk remedies. But this does not solve the main problem, pathological changes in the spine continue to develop.
Over time, this results in compression of the spinal cord and the arteries that supply it, the development of serious neurological complications: severe weakening, up to complete loss, of movements and sensitivity, impaired controlbladder, rectum.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
In its development, cervical osteochondrosis, as a disease, passes through several stages:
I stage. The initial period is characterized by local pain in the neck, aggravated by turning and tilting the head. There is a smoothness of cervical lordosis and muscle tension. Morphological changes begin in the structure of the intervertebral discs: drying up of the nucleus pulposus, cracks in the fibrous ring.
II stage. Pain in the neck increases with irradiation of the arm, shoulder. Severe headaches, weakness, decreased efficiency join. The destruction of the fibrous ring continues, signs of pathological mobility and instability of the vertebrae appear.
Stage III. The pain in the neck is sharp, constant, radiating to the arms and shoulders. The muscles of the hands weaken, numbness of the upper limbs is noted. Patients have headaches, dizziness, spatial orientation disorders. At this stage, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. The gelatinous pulpy nucleus is not fixed, goes beyond the vertebrae and enters the spinal canal, forming a hernia. The hernial protrusion compresses the nerves and blood vessels, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the cervical spine.
stage IV. This is the final stage of the disease. The cartilage of the intervertebral discs is replaced by connective tissue, adjacent segments of the spine are involved in the pathological process. The joints grow together, become immobile (ankylosis). The patient's condition is serious: severe pain not only in the neck, but also in the arms, chest, between the shoulder blades, signs of stroke, disturbances in sensitivity. It is a life-threatening condition that can lead to stroke.
The success of treatment depends 90% on the experience and qualifications of the doctor.
Diagnostic
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is made on the basis of: complaints of the patient, characteristic clinical picture, anamnesis of the disease, data of a neurological and orthopedic examination of the patient using modern diagnostic methods: X-ray, computed tomography andcomputed tomography, and functional test results.
After making an accurate diagnosis, the doctor decides how to treat osteochondrosis of the neck in this patient, what technique should be applied in a particular case.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis is treated symptomatically, mainly by conservative methods, including:
- Drug therapy, which includes painkillers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, B vitamins.
- Physiotherapy methods: electrophoresis, laser therapy.
- Manual therapy.
- Acupuncture.
- Physiotherapy.
Surgical intervention is used extremely rarely when there is a real threat of developing a stroke, paralysis or violation of internal organs.
At this stage of the development of medical science, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine cannot be completely cured, but the progression of the pathological process can be prevented, and the condition of the affected spinal segment can be stabilized.
An integrated approach, sparing the nature of the applied therapeutic methods, allows you to effectively treat even advanced forms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The main methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis in a modern clinic
Manual therapy and osteopathy. This method of manual impact on problem areas of the spine, the purpose of which is to restore the normal physiological position of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. During the procedure, the pinching of the nerve roots of the spine is eliminated, the neck muscles relax in the area of pathological changes.
Electrophoresis is a method of delivering drugs directly to the area of the affected spinal segment. Prescribe drugs that improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation and muscle spasms.
Photodynamic phototherapy. The method is based on the ability of a photosensitive preparation to be activated by laser radiation. A layer of a medicinal substance is applied to the skin in the area of the affected segment, which, penetrating deep into the tissues by 10-13 cm, has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
The author's three-component technique, including manual therapy, electrophoresis and laser therapy, allows you to quickly relieve pain, eliminate swelling of surrounding tissues, improve blood supply to thearea of inflammation and activating the metabolic processes of damaged cartilage tissue. intervertebral discs. The goal of treatment is not only to reduce pain and improve the patient's condition, but also by acting on various parts of the pathological process, to stop the further destruction of the intervertebral discs and the destruction of the vertebrae themselves-same.
The techniques used for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck in modern clinics have been tested in the best manual therapy centers in Europe and the United States, they are safe, effective, have practically no contraindications and arewell tolerated by even older patients. groups.
Recommendations on what to do with cervical osteochondrosis, the patient will receive after consulting a neurologist, depending on the stage of the disease, the severity of symptoms, comorbidities and examination results.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease in which there is literally "premature aging", "wearing out" of the intervertebral discs, joints, vertebrae of the cervical spine.
Some facts about the disease:
- Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs in men and women about equally often.
- Most often, people between the ages of 30 and 60 get sick.
- As a rule, pathology occurs in people who at work constantly have to be in the same position and perform monotonous movements.
- The cervical spine has certain structural features, due to which the disease can have many different manifestations.
What features of the cervical spine cause the symptoms of osteochondrosis?
- There are openings in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - the carotid arteries pass through them to the right and left, which supply the brain with blood.
- In the cervical region passes the initial part of the spinal cord - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, provide movement, sensitivity. If there is compression of the spinal cord in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
- This section of the spine has high mobility, which predisposes to the appearance of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar region - it not only has high mobility, butalso undergoes the greatest stress).
- In the neck, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramina, forming the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses. They are responsible for the movements of the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, skin sensitivity, regulation of autonomic functions.
- The first vertebra does not have a massive front part - the body - it is a bone ring that is put on the tooth - a bony outgrowth on the second vertebra. This allows the head to turn from side to side.
Neck pain, headaches, a feeling of weakness, numbness in the hands are symptoms that should prompt you to turn to a neurologist. Examination by a specialist and examination with the help of modern equipment will help to understand the causes of the pathology and to take the most effective measures.
What happens to the vertebrae in cervical osteochondrosis?
The incomprehensible medical term "degenerative process" refers to the following pathological changes that occur in the cervical spine:
- First of all, the lesion of osteochondrosis covers the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae. In their outer part, small gaps, microcracks are formed. Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
- As a result of damage to the discs, the stability of the connection of the vertebrae is disturbed.
- Suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical and intervertebral joints - spondylarthrosis develops. It also promotes nerve root compression.
- The pathological process extends to the vertebrae themselves. Due to the fact that the functions of the intervertebral discs are impaired, their load increases. The spine tries to compensate for this violation, bone growths appear on it - osteophytes.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
During an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, traction is used (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headboard, and the head is fixed with a special buckle) to unload the intervertebral discs. For the same purpose, you should wear a Shants collar. To relieve pain, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. With severe pain that does not go away, the doctor can perform a blockade: inject an anesthetic solution into the area of the affected nerve roots. Physiotherapy is used: ultrasound treatment, novocaine electrophoresis.
When the exacerbation subsides, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes massage, physiotherapy, physiotherapy.
One of the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis is pain in the neck. Many people who are faced with this symptom do not go to the doctor, but prefer to treat "chondrosis" with home methods. There are at least two good reasons to refuse self-medication and consult a specialist doctor.
First, painkillers and traditional methods, although they help relieve pain for a while, do not solve the main problem. Pathological changes in the spine continue to grow. Over time, this threatens with more serious consequences. As surgery may be required.
Secondly, neck pain occurs not only with osteochondrosis. There are many other reasons. Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the right treatment.
Physiotherapy
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is a long processrequiring an integrated approach. Once you get rid of the main symptoms, you can proceed to use various physiotherapy procedures:
- UHF therapy.Exposure to a high frequency electromagnetic field. It has an anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect, and also promotes the launch of regenerative processes.
- Boost.Low frequency currents are applied to problem areas of the body. There is an expansion of blood vessels, getting rid of pain and spasms.
- Phonophoresis and electrophoresis.The introduction of drugs into deep tissues using ultrasound and direct current.
Massage procedures are also widely used, which is possible only after the elimination of the inflammatory process. Massage promotes muscle relaxation, getting rid of spasms.
Diet - complex treatment of osteochondrosis
With this disease it is necessary to act in a complex way, therefore changing the diet is quite an effective method of treatment. The diet is very much in line with the generally accepted understanding of the concept of healthy eating, so try adding the following types of foods to your diet:
- Citrus fruits (in the absence of allergies).
- Olive oil.
- Fresh herbs and vegetables.
- Mineral water.
- Fish and foods high in phosphorus, protein, magnesium and calcium.
- Dairy products and milk products.
An excellent auxiliary tool will be ready-made vitamin complexes, which can be found in a large assortment in pharmacy chains. Remember that all medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.
What symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should prompt you to see a doctor?
The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain. It can occur in different places, depending on the level at which the pathological process is localized: in the neck, in the shoulder girdle, in the arm, in the region of the heart. By nature, pain sensations are dull, can be burning, aching.
Other manifestations of the disease:
- Headache, dizziness, "flies in front of the eyes", noise, ringing in the ears.
- Weakness of the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle, arms.
- Violation of skin sensitivity.
- Shoulder-shoulder periarthritis: aching pains in the neck that pass to the arm, difficulty in raising the arm above 90°, weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
- Shoulder-hand syndrome: pain in the shoulder and hand, swelling and stiffness in the fingers, weakness and atrophy of the muscles in the hand.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. Bony growths appear on the vertebrae, which compress the nerves, leading to a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery, which takes part in the blood supply to the brain. To the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are added constant headaches that start from the back of the head, spread to the temple, crown, nausea, noises in the head, ringing in the ears, flickers of luminous points in front of the eyes.
- Anterior scalene syndrome. There is an anterior and middle scalene muscle on the neck - they are close, and between them there is a small gap through which nerves and blood vessels pass. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscle becomes tight and compresses them, leading to symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the forearm, shoulder, and fingers. Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head. The skin on the hand may become cold, pale, and numbness occurs.
- epicondylitis syndrome. In the lower part of the shoulder, on the sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions - the epicondyles. With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, pain occurs, which increases when pressed. Other symptoms also appear: pain in the neck, body aches when pressing certain points in the region of the cervical vertebrae.
If two sections of the spine are affected at once, with cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades, in the region of the heart.
With osteochondrosis, the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke increases. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor.
Conclusion
Now you know how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine without resorting to surgical intervention. The operation is the most radical method of treatment when the disease is already in progress and there is no other way out. But it is in your power to do so so as not to put your health in such a state.