Osteochondrosis - degenerative changes in articular cartilage accompanied by partial destruction of intervertebral discs. Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by slow, destructive tissue destruction over the years between the vertebrae holding the head. If in the last century the disease was diagnosed mainly in people over the age of thirty, today orthopedists make such a diagnosis even in school-age children. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is long. Even during remission, maintenance therapy should be given.
Symptoms of the disease in the early stages
The size of the cervical vertebrae is smaller than that of the chest and lumbar region. But the load is significant: a person’s neck performs many complex movements every day. Office workers who are forced to sit in front of a computer for several hours in a row often develop osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae. Treatment in this case includes not only the elimination of pain, but also a mandatory lifestyle change. Sitting idly by the monitor for many hours 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;
- cervical spine anomalies;
- permanent 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.
In the first stage, the disease manifests itself as a common headache, a mild tightening sensation in the neck. Almost not all patients attach importance to such mild symptoms. The headache can be attributed to fatigue or lack of sleep. Most patients prefer to take a painkiller.
Over time (sometimes this process can take several years), the disease inevitably goes into the second stage. The danger of osteochondrosis is that it often develops a so-called radical syndrome. It most often occurs in the second stage and worsens as the osteochondrosis progresses. Radical syndrome is a pinching of the nerve endings in the cervical vertebrae. After that, many other pathologies are associated with headaches. This is impaired vision and hearing, impaired functioning of the vestibular device, intolerable migraine with and without aura, numbness of the hands.
Usually, patients only go to the doctor after the onset of radical syndrome. They mostly deal only with the symptoms. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae and the necessary rehabilitation are unable to neutralize all the consequences of radical syndrome. It can only temporarily stop the disease from developing and prevent even greater complications.
Manifestation of the disease in later stages
The disease also has a third and fourth stage that is simply impossible not to notice. Even patients who surprisingly ignore their own health will sound the alarm and go to the doctor.
The third stage of osteochondrosis of the neck, if not accompanied by radical syndrome, causes frequent painful headaches in the patient. It is characterized by the appearance of pain directly in the neck and shoulders. The patient is forced to use ointments that have a warming and analgesic effect at all times. The massage helps very well in the third stage. It is important to understand that complete eradication of the disease will not work. Only long-term remission is possible - this is the goal of treatment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae in the fourth stage: noticeable skewness of the spine with the naked eye and severe pain in this area. If you also have radical syndrome, the patient often experiences very severe dizziness and may faint after performing a sharp physical movement. Depending on where and how strongly the nerve ending is pinched, severe vision or hearing loss is possible.
In the later stages, irritable-reflex syndrome is also possible, in which pulsating, severe pain in the back of the head and pain descending on the thoracic spine are common. They can achieve such a force that the patient cannot fall asleep and cannot perform normal exercise. Such symptoms are also possible with strong movement of the vertebrae. In the later stages of cervical osteochondrosis, 90% of cases are accompanied by irritant reflex or radicular syndrome.
There are cases where the disease is complicated by two such pathologies at the same time. In this case, treating osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies will not work. An integrated approach is important, which includes both the use of special methods (injections, massage, physiotherapy, taking painkillers) and general (swimming, exercise therapy, lifestyle).
Symptoms depending on damaged nerve roots
Osteochondrosis of the 1st cervical vertebra is accompanied by numbness of the occipital region in the early stages of the disease. In later stages - the appearance of severe pain in this area. The best treatments are warming and anesthetic ointments, as well as massage. Group B vitamin preparations should be administered every six months.
Osteochondrosis of the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae is accompanied by a violation of the tenderness of the limbs and the appearance of pain in the forearm, in the chest region. Treatment - massage of the neck-collar zone and numb body parts. Continuous, regular intake of B vitamins is visible (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 shoulder and neck. Common headache. Vision can begin to deteriorate - myopia and astigmatism develop. The principles of treatment are the same as if other vertebrae were involved. Only the accompanying symptoms - impaired vision and hearing - should be considered. Participate in visual hygiene regularly, perform eye exercises, instill 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 at any age. This is the most common osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae. Symptoms of pinching of the C6 and C7 nerve endings include intermittent numbness in the fingers and hands, pain in the neck, forearms and lower shoulder blades, back and waist.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis: which doctor to go to
To diagnose and prescribe osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, you must register with a neuropathologist and orthopedic consultation. The neurologist may prescribe treatments for the manifestations of the disease that affect the condition of the nerve endings. This makes sense if the disease is accompanied by radical syndrome. The orthopedist assesses the condition of the spine and diagnoses the presence of other diseases: scoliosis, lordosis, etc.
The following research methods are used to diagnose and accurately assess the condition of intervertebral discs:
- Radiography.
- CT scan.
- Magnetic tomography.
- Ultrasound examination of the cervical vessels.
All are completely safe for health and do not threaten overexposure. Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, which is treated for the rest of life, can be made after a simple visual examination. This can be easily done by any orthopedist. An exception is the first stage of the disease, when no visible pathologies of the cervical region are detected.
Methods of treatment of traditional medicine
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae? Whatever method you choose, keep in mind that you will need to check your neck regularly to achieve remission. Osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. After a while, the symptoms will certainly be felt again, and their intensity will depend directly 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;
- neck-collar zone massage;
- taking painkillers;
- Vitamin B cure;
- physiotherapy;
- swimming.
The patient should remember not to engage in athletics (running, jumping, plyometric exercises), endurance. This inevitably causes the condition to worsen. You cannot sit in a position for long periods of time. Even if office work involves long hours at the monitor, you should stand up once an hour and warm up for ten minutes in the neck-collar zone with a slight stretch.
A complex of physiotherapy practices for cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae at home can be done using special exercises. These should be done daily, otherwise no noticeable results are expected.
- Stand straight on the line. Raise your hands, take a breath, rise to your toes, and stretch them as far as possible. Perform more repetitions.
- Starting position - standing on legs, back straightened, arms down freely along body. Touch the left tab to the left shoulder and the right tab to the right shoulder. Perform ten times in all directions, at a slow pace, without 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 on a chair or hard floor with your back straight. In the lotus position, you can cross your legs. Rotate the head in a circular motion, first clockwise and then counterclockwise.
- Lie on your hard floor on your stomach. Arms and legs outstretched. Exercise "boat": tear off the surface of the head, arms and legs and try to raise it as high as possible. Stay in this position for as long as possible. This exercise is beneficial not only for the cervical spine but also for the chest and groin.
Physiotherapy exercises should be performed carefully at a slow pace. Sudden movements can cause increased pain.
If it is possible to do exercises after the therapeutic warm-up massage of the neck-collar zone - it is wonderful. This way of combining the two treatment methods at the same time is very good.
Blockade of pain syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main group of drugs used to treat cervical osteochondrosis associated with vertebral dislocation is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition, for cervical osteochondrosis, topical use of NSAIDs in gels and ointments is preferred.
Ointments and creams containing snake and bee venom are effective in this regard. Devices for local external use include local irritants and chondroprotectors.
If the pain is too severe, one-time strong painkillers can be used. Sometimes osteochondrosis is aggravated by a cold. In this case, drugs based on the active ingredient paracetamol help to eliminate acute respiratory viral infections and all the symptoms of chondrosis.
The use of B vitamins in the traditional therapy of the disease
Why do neuropathologists always prescribe group B vitamins as part of a complex treatment for cervical osteochondrosis? The explanation is very simple. In radical syndrome, nerve endings suffer and vitamins are the easiest to support. 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
It is not necessary to go to the hospital at all for complex treatment. It is entirely possible to achieve remission at home. It is very good if the patient can give the injection on their own. Then you can't be at the clinic every day.
Methods for treating osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae with folk remedies:
- Baths made with salt and soda reduce pain and relax the whole body. This is especially good before going to bed. Take a full bath of medium-temperature water and dissolve one kilogram of salt and about 500 grams of soda in it.
- Paraffin applications are excellent. Melt the paraffin or wax, cool to a comfortable temperature and apply to the affected area. Such compressions can be performed twice a week.
- You can take herbal decoctions to reduce the inflammatory process. Mix 1 tablespoon. l. flowers of St. John's wort, chamomile, calendula and yarrow. Add 1 tbsp. l. thyme and dandelion leaves. Now you need to take 2 tablespoons. l. the resulting mixture and pour a liter of boiling water, insist. For 3 weeks it is enough to take 1/4 part glass of decoction three times a day.
- If you do not trust the medications, you can make an ointment to treat cervical osteochondrosis. You should take an equal proportion of coriander fruit, birch buds, dandelion roots, peppermint grass. Grind three tablespoons of the mixture into a powder, pour in 1/2 cup boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 75 g of vegetable oil and lard to the resulting mass. Cool and rub the affected area 4 times a day. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
- Good help in osteochondrosis and compresses. For example, from honey and potatoes. Grate a large tuber on a fine grater and mix with honey 1: 1. The resulting mixture was applied to the affected area for 45 minutes.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, massage is the number one cure for reducing tension and pain. To do massage therapy yourself, you need good flexibility. Older people are often unable to raise their arms to the desired height. But they find a way out of the situation: they ask one of their younger relatives to massage.
Patient feedback on the outcome of therapy
Numerous reviews of orthopedic and neurologist patients suggest that 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 procedures performed by a good massage therapist have literally brought them back to life, increasing their ability to work.
Some patients respond positively only to physiotherapy practices. They started training regularly at home, buying a subscription to therapeutic swimming courses in the pool. Regular yoga and spine stretching exercises have helped some. Feelings after such asanas: lightness in the body, lack of pain, stress relief.
If you regularly strain your body with such activities, you may enter into long-term remission and forget about the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.