Osteochondrosis - degenerative changes in the articular cartilage, accompanied by partial destruction of the discs between the vertebrae. Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by a slow, developing over the years, tissue destruction between the vertebrae that support the head. If in the last century the disease was diagnosed mainly in people of thirty years and older, then today orthopedists make such a diagnosis even for schoolchildren. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is long. Even during remission, maintenance therapy should be taken.
Symptoms of the disease in the early stages
The size of the cervical vertebrae is smaller than in the thoracic and lumbar. But the load on them is significant: every day a person’s neck performs many complex movements. 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 vertebrae. Treatment in this case involves not only the removal of pain, but also a mandatory change in lifestyle. Sitting inactive for many hours at the monitor is a big 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 incorrect position of the body during sleep.
Orthopedics and neurology distinguish four stages of the disease. In the first two, the disease does not cause severe pain, but it cannot be ignored.
At the first stage, the disease manifests itself as frequent headaches, a slight pulling sensation 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 an analgesic tablet.
Over time (sometimes this process can drag on for several years), the disease inevitably flows into 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 a pinched nerve endings in the cervical vertebrae. After that, many other pathologies join the headache. This is a deterioration in vision and hearing, impaired functioning of the vestibular apparatus, unbearable migraine with and without aura, numbness of the hands.
As a rule, patients go to the doctor only after manifestations of radicular syndrome. Most of all they are concerned only with its symptoms. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae and the necessary rehabilitation will not be able to neutralize all the consequences that the radicular syndrome carries with it. 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, which is simply impossible not to notice. Even patients who have a surprisingly disregard for their own health sound the alarm and go to see a doctor.
The third stage of cervical osteochondrosis, if it is not accompanied by radicular syndrome, brings the patient a frequent excruciating headache. Characterized by the appearance of pain directly in the neck and shoulders. The patient is forced to use ointments with a warming and analgesic effect on an ongoing basis. Massage helps very well in the third stage. It is important to understand that it will not work to get rid of the disease completely. Only long-term remission can be achieved - this is the goal of treatment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae in the fourth stage: a noticeable skewness of the spinal column 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 he makes one or another sharp physical movement. Depending on where and how severely the nerve ending was pinched, a serious deterioration in vision or hearing is possible.
In the later stages, the appearance of an irritative-reflex syndrome is also possible, in which there are frequent severe pains in the back of the head of a pulsating nature, as well as pains that descend to the thoracic spine. They can reach such strength that the patient cannot fall asleep or perform the usual body movements. Such symptoms are also possible with a strong displacement of the vertebrae. Cervical osteochondrosis in the later stages in 90% of cases is accompanied by either irritative-reflex or radicular syndrome.
There are cases when the disease is complicated by two of these pathologies at once. In this case, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies will not work. An integrated approach is important, which involves the use of 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 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. Once every six months, it is necessary to inject preparations of vitamins of group B.
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, thoracic region. Treatment - massage of the cervical-collar zone and those parts of the body that become numb. The regular use of B vitamins on an ongoing basis is shown (at least once every six months, optimally once a quarter). Physiotherapy is also effective.
Osteochondrosis of the 6th cervical vertebra is accompanied by pain in the shoulders and neck. Frequent headaches. Vision may begin to deteriorate - myopia and astigmatism develop. The principles of treatment are the same as in the case when other vertebrae are affected. Only with concomitant symptoms - deterioration of vision and hearing - you need to pay attention to it too. Regularly engage in visual hygiene, do eye exercises, instill special drops that relax the optic nerve.
Osteochondrosis of the 7th cervical vertebra is accompanied by damage to the nerve ending in the region of the fifth, sixth and seventh vertebrae. It occurs in both men and women at any age. 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, up to the lumbar.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis: which doctor to contact
To diagnose and prescribe a course of treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, you should sign up for a consultation with a neuropathologist and orthopedist. A neurologist can prescribe remedies for the manifestations of the disease, which 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 spinal column and diagnose the presence of additional diseases: scoliosis, lordosis, etc.
For the diagnosis and accurate assessment of the condition of the intervertebral discs, the following research methods are used:
- Radiography.
- CT scan.
- Magnetic tomography.
- Ultrasound scanning of neck vessels.
Each of them is completely safe for health and does not carry any threat of excessive exposure. Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, the treatment of which will be carried out throughout 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 there are no visible pathologies of the cervical region.
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 will have to regularly monitor the condition of the neck. Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. After some time, the symptoms will definitely make themselves felt again, and their intensity will directly depend on the patient's attitude to their own health.
Here is a list of the most effective measures to get rid of the symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- physiotherapy;
- massage of the cervical-collar zone;
- taking analgesics;
- a course of vitamins of group B;
- physiotherapy;
- swimming.
The patient must remember that he should not engage in athletics (running, jumping, plyometric exercises), strength fitness. This will inevitably provoke an aggravation of the condition. You can not sit in one position for a long time. Even if office work involves long hours spent at the monitor, once an hour you need to get up and give yourself a ten-minute warm-up of the neck-collar zone, light stretching.
Complex of physiotherapy 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 performed daily, otherwise a noticeable result can not be expected.
- Stand up straight, on the line. Raise your hands up, take a breath, rise on your toes and stretch up as much as possible. Perform several repetitions.
- Starting position - standing on your feet, back straightened, arms freely lowered along the body. Touch the left shoulder with the left ear, the right shoulder with the right ear. Perform ten times in each direction at a slow pace, without making 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 abandoned.
- Sit on a chair or on a hard floor with your back straight. You can cross your legs in the lotus position. Perform circular rotations of the head - first clockwise, then counterclockwise.
- Lie on the hard floor on your stomach. The arms and legs are extended. Exercise "boat": tear off the surface of the head, arms and legs and try to raise them as high as possible. Stay in this position for as long as possible. This exercise is useful not only for the cervical spine, but also for the thoracic and lumbar.
Physical therapy exercises should be performed carefully, at a slow pace. Sudden movements can lead to increased pain.
If it is possible to perform exercises after a therapeutic warming 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 that are used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with displacement of the vertebrae are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Moreover, in relation to cervical osteochondrosis, local use 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, one-time strong analgesics can be used. Sometimes osteochondrosis is exacerbated by colds. In this case, to remove all the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections and chondrosis, drugs based on the active substance paracetamol will help.
The use of B vitamins in 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. With radicular syndrome, nerve endings suffer, and vitamins are the easiest way to support their functioning. The most effective form of application is intramuscular injection. When taken orally, B vitamins are only partially absorbed. When administered intramuscularly, they almost instantly enter the bloodstream.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae at home
For complex treatment, it is not at all necessary to go to the hospital. It is quite possible to achieve remission at home. It is very good if the patient is able to independently inject. Then you can not be daily in the clinic.
Methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies:
- Baths with salt and soda bring a reduction in pain, relaxation of the whole body. This is especially good before bed. You should take a full bath of moderate temperature water and dissolve a kilogram of salt and about 500 grams of soda in it.
- 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 take a decoction of herbs. You need to mix 1 tbsp. l. flowers of St. John's wort, chamomile, marigold and yarrow. To them add 1 tbsp. l. thyme and dandelion leaves. Now you should take 2 tbsp. l. the resulting mixture and pour one 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 prepare an ointment for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. You will have to take coriander fruits, birch buds, dandelion roots, peppermint grass in equal parts. Grind three tablespoons of the mixture into powder, pour 1/2 cup boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. To the resulting mass add 75 g of vegetable oil and pork fat. Cool and rub into the affected 4 times a day. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
- Good help with osteochondrosis and compresses. For example, from honey and potatoes. Grate one 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.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, massage is the No. 1 remedy for reducing tension and pain. In order to do 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 to massage.
Patient feedback on the result of therapy
According to numerous reviews of orthopedic and neurologist patients, the optimal method of treatment is the use of all procedures in combination. It is futile to use only methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies.
Some patients note that a course of procedures with a good massage therapist literally brought them back to life, their working capacity increased.
Some patients respond positively exclusively to physiotherapy exercises. They began to exercise regularly at home, purchased a subscription to the pool for therapeutic swimming courses. Yoga and regular exercises to stretch the spinal column have helped some. Feelings after such asanas: lightness in the body, absence of pain, stress relief.
If you regularly load your body with this kind of activity, you can enter a long-term remission and forget about the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.