Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms and treatment. Than to treat low back pain

Osteochondrosis is a loss of intervertebral disc degenerative nature, and cervical spine - the most vulnerable part of the spinal column, which has a different structure is anatomically very close to one another adjacent vertebrae and weak muscle corset. Therefore, even with a small additional load on the neck can occur displacement of the vertebrae, leading to compression of blood vessels and nerves.

And since the through holes in the transverse processes of the vertebrae in this department tested vertebral arteries, involved in brain blood supply, a pinched vertebrae in this department or squeezing holes overgrown osteophytes is fraught with very serious consequences.

What it is?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - polietiologic is a progressive disease, which manifests itself by degeneration of intervertebral disc degeneration and spinal ligamentous apparatus.

Causes of

The main reasons and assumptions of degenerative disc disease of the cervical vertebrae are:

1. Curvature of the spine scoliosis.
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2. Stress and tension adversely affect the general condition of the body, can cause the appearance of cervical degenerative disc disease.
3. Infectious diseases are often the root cause.
4. Improper, awkward body position during sleep (eg, uncomfortable pillow).
5. Congenital problems or the presence of the cervical spine of hereditary diseases.
6. Violation of posture in young and teenage years.
7. Overweight, obesity varying degrees. Extra weight increases the strain on the vertebrae and discs, which leads to degenerative processes.
8. A back injury, which may have occurred in childhood or adolescence.
9. Metabolic disorders.
10. Work related to the physical labor that can provoke diseases of the spine in its different departments.
11. Inactive lifestyle, sedentary work, improper performance of any exercise.

For successful treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is first necessary to establish the cause of the occurrence, the premise that triggered its development, and to eliminate them. The disease occurs Until recently, only people aged 45 years. Now she is exposed to the youth, the age range - 18-25 years.

Features of the cervical spine

Consider what the cervical spine is different from the rest of the spine, and that is a prerequisite to the development of these syndromes in the development of osteoarthritis.

• In the cervical region are located important ganglia (nodes) of the autonomic nervous system.
• The transverse processes of the vertebrae has openings which define a channel through which the vertebral artery, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the brain, the cerebellum, the organs of hearing, as well as the spinal nerve. This premise terminals to frequent artery and nerve.
• The cervical spine is the most mobile. He is characterized by all kinds of movement in its entirety. This preconditions for frequent strangulated and subluxation!
• Intervertebral foramen the lower three vertebrae are not circular and triangular in shape. This background to the infringement of the nerve roots by bony growths that form in osteochondrosis.
• Intervertebral discs are located between the vertebral bodies are not all over. In front of them there instead of protruding edges of the vertebrae, which are interconnected joints. This preconditions for the emergence of subluxations of the joints.

Here are the key features on which we will build, examining the symptoms and complications of osteochondrosis. But first, I will tell you how to develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, to you vividly imagine the whole picture.

developmental stage

Degree of osteochondrosis defined clinical and patient complaints. Should not be confused with the notion of degree stages of osteoarthritis. Stages will be discussed below.

1. First degree. clinical manifestations are minimal, the patient may complain of pain in the cervical spine low intensity, it may be increased by turning the head. On physical examination, can be detected a slight tension in your neck.
2. Second degree. the patient feeling pain in the cervical spine, the intensity is much greater, the pain may be radiating to the shoulder and arm. This occurs due to the reduction of the intervertebral disc height and infringement of nerve roots. Pain aggravated by tilting and turning your head. The patient can observe decrease in efficiency, weakness, headache.
3. Third degree. symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease worse, the pain becomes constant radiating to the arm or shoulder. There is numbness or weakness in the muscles of the hand, as herniated discs are formed (see. symptoms of spinal herniation of the lumbar). Worried about weakness, dizziness. On examination revealed limitation of motion of the cervical spine, pain on palpation of the cervical spine.
4. Fourth degree. there is a complete destruction of the intervertebral disc and its replacement by connective tissue. Enhanced dizziness, tinnitus appears, loss of coordination, since the process involves the vertebral artery that feeds the cerebellum and occipital brain share.

symptoms

The severity of symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease depends on the degree of destruction of the structures of the vertebrae. The symptoms are aggravated by the growth of bone tissue with the formation of osteophytes, radicular syndrome (Radicular pain with a pinched nerve), intervertebral hernia (protrusion into the spinal disc channel).

The first signs of the disease - Periodic headache in occipital region, pain in the neck, the crunch and clicks in the vertebrae at the turn of the head, sometimes a slight tingling shoulders. Over time, the symptoms increases, and the intensity of pain increases.

Pain syndrome - the main manifestation of osteochondrosis. Neck pain is a constant dull or sharp with lumbago below the neck when turning head. It can hurt the entire cervical spine or the area of ​​the projection of a modified vertebra, and clavicle, shoulder, shoulder blade area of ​​the heart. Not excluded irradiation of pain in the jaw, teeth, arm, ear, eye area. The muscles of the neck and shoulders are tense, painful on palpation. Difficult show of hands from the defeat - as soon as there is a chamber in the shoulder or neck. Limitation of movement of the head of the pain often occurs in the morning after sleeping in an awkward position.

Illness leading to compression of the peripheral nerve root (radicular syndrome) and causes pain along these nerves. Perhaps numbness of hands or fingers, violation of the sensitivity of certain areas of skin innervated by a pinched nerve.

According to some characteristic symptoms can suggest what kind of bells struck:

• C1 - disturbance sensitivity in the occipital region;
• C2 - a pain in the occipital and parietal regions;
• C3 - a decrease in sensitivity and pain in one half of the neck, where there was an infringement of the spinal nerve, may impair the sensitivity of language, speech disorder due to loss of control over the language;
• C4 - violation of the sensitivity and pain humeroscapular area, lowering the tone of the head and neck muscles, there may be respiratory problems, pain in the liver and heart;
• C5 - pain and sensitivity breach in the outer surface of the shoulder;
• C6 - pain extending from the neck to the shoulder blade, upper arm, the outer surface of the shoulder, the radial forearm to the surface of the thumb;
• C7 - pain extending from the neck to the shoulder blade, the rear surface of the shoulder, upper arm to the II-IV fingers of the hand, a violation of the sensitivity in this area.
• C8 - the pain and the sensitivity of the violation subject of the neck to the shoulder, forearm to the little finger.

Cervical osteochondrosis is always accompanied by a headache. Strong, persistent pain intensifies when turning neck or sudden movements. Some patients complain of heaviness in the head. Compression of the vertebral artery leading to bouts of dizziness, nausea. There is noise, tinnitus, flickering black spots before his eyes. Deterioration of cerebral blood flow provokes a progressive hearing loss and vision, numbness of the tongue, change in taste.

Clicks or crackle when moving neck is almost always accompanied by a cervical osteochondrosis, observing each patient. The crunch comes when a sharp turn of the head or tilting it backward.

Syndromes due to cervical osteochondrosis

Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease develop in certain groups called syndromes. Their presence and severity may indicate pathology of the cervical spine with refined localization.

Group common syndromes:

1. Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. Subluxation of the first vertebra of the cervical spine offset may lead to the development of vascular dystonia. A definite diagnosis of the IRR is not, as it has no pronounced symptoms. Can be neurologic signs, symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow, the intracranial pressure jumps, muscle spasms. As a result, the patient's complaints are reduced to dizziness, decreased visual acuity, loss of consciousness, headache, nausea.
2. Irritative-reflex. Burning and sharp pain in the back of the head and neck, sometimes with the impact in the chest and shoulder, occurring at the time of the change of position of the head and neck, sneezing and a sharp turn of the head.
3. Radicular. Otherwise called cervical sciatica, it combines the symptoms associated with infringement of the nerve roots of the cervical vertebrae. Characterized by "goose bumps" in the affected area, tingling in the fingers, forearms, skin pasty, covers the determination of his fingers.
4. Cardiac. Almost the same picture with angina often leads to misdiagnosis and treatment. The syndrome appears due to the irritation of receptors of the phrenic nerve, partly exciting the pericardium and the pectoralis major muscle. Thus, cramping in the cardiac region are greater reflex as feedback on the irritation of the cervical nerves.
5. vertebral artery syndrome. It develops directly as in the compression itself artery and during stimulation of the sympathetic nervous plexus, which is arranged around it. Pain in this pathology stinging or throbbing in the occipital region with the spread of temples, eyebrows, top of the head. It appears as one or both sides. Aggravation of the patients is usually associated with the condition after waking up in the non-physiological position, travel in public transport, walk. In severe symptoms possible hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, elevated blood pressure.

Nonspecific and a wide variety of symptoms associated with the disease, difficult diagnosis and further treatment, as some of them may be a sign of very different diseases.

Diagnostics

As with any diagnosis in medicine, degenerative disc disease diagnosis is based on patient complaints, medical history, clinical examination and ancillary methods. Performed radiography of the cervical spine in the frontal and lateral projections, if necessary, in special positions (open mouth). At the same time experts are interested in the height of the intervertebral discs, the presence of osteophytes.

Of modern research methods used NMR and CT studies that allow most accurately verify the diagnosis. In addition to these methods further investigation may be required consultations related specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist, neurosurgeon), and examination by a neurologist simply vital. Treatment of osteoarthritis has been a neurologist, and after examination of the patient he is at his discretion appoint the required minimum inspection.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteoarthritis may comprise the following conventional and unconventional techniques: medication, massage, acupressure, chiropractic, physiotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, folk means, etc.

Basic treatment regimen with osteochondrosis same for all sites of disease:

• You must first remove the pain.
• Then comes off edema.
• At this stage it is necessary to normalize the blood circulation.
• Strengthening of the muscle corset.
• Improving nutrition and tissue regeneration.

List of drugs and medicines for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease at home is quite extensive:

1. Anti-inflammatory (steroidal). This hormonal agents that relieve inflammation and, thereby, eliminate the sensation of pain. Most often in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine used pills and ointments based on hydrocortisone, prednisone or dexamethasone;
2. Analgesics (non-steroidal drugs, pain relieving). They are usually administered in the form of tablets or capsules. It should be remembered that most of these drugs cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Among modern drugs used to relieve pain in osteochondrosis - diclofenac, piroxicam;
3. Muscle relaxants - this medication, relaxing muscle tone. They are used in surgery and orthopedics, as aids for relief of pain. Such drugs are administered parenterally, and therefore always under medical supervision. For treating osteochondrosis use preparations of two pharmacological groups: glycerol and benzimidazole. There is an extensive list of contraindications;
4. Chondroprotectors - is preparations containing substances replacing cartilage components - chondroitin, hyaluronic acid. To achieve a stable positive effect of such drugs must be taken for a very long time;
5. Ointments and gels for topical application. It is the most accessible for use at home a group of drugs. They are divided into relieving inflammation and pain relievers warming. Such funds are often advertised, the most popular: Voltaren Emulgel, Nurofen, Fastum gel. When cervical osteochondrosis not all ointments are effective, in addition, because of the availability they are sometimes used unnecessarily and without taking into account the features of the pathogenesis.
6. Vitamins. When osteochondrosis appointed vitamins, beneficial effects on the peripheral nervous system and improves conductivity. Water-soluble vitamins B1, B6, B12, liposoluble vitamins: A, C, D, E. In recent years it became increasingly a combination of drugs that contain both painkillers and vitamin components. One of these drugs - Milgamma compositum. Effective drug comprises vitamin B based on thiamine and pyridoxine, as well as an anesthetic comprises lidocaine.

To choose the most appropriate therapy can only be a good team of experts, which includes a neurologist, physiotherapist, massage therapist, the surgeon, vertebronevrolog.

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy in cervical osteochondrosis should be conducted out of an acute exacerbation. The maximum efficiency of this technique in the recovery period. During the execution of the complex should not be discomfort and pain!

• Exercise №1 Lying on your stomach, place your hands on the floor, lift your head and torso, the back should be straight. Remain in this position for 1-2 minutes. Slowly lower to the floor. Repeat 2-3 times.
• Exercise №2 Lying on your stomach, stretch your arms along the body, head turned to the left, try to touch the floor with his ear, then turn the head to the right. Repeat 6-7 times on each side.
• Exercise №3 in the sitting position on the inhale lean forward and try to touch your head chest, then exhale, lean back and zaprokinte head. Repeat 10-15 times.
• Exercise №4 Sitting put his hand to his forehead, apply pressure with his hands on his forehead, and his forehead on his hand. Continue this exercise for 30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times.
• Exercise №5 Slowly roll your head to one side, then the other. 10 rotations in each direction. Be careful not to appear dizziness. When he appeared, the exercise is stopped.

Massotherapy

Massage can be done at home, but very carefully, so as not to aggravate and do no harm to the patient. The patient must take the prone position, forehead put on hands and pull your chin to your chest. In this case, the neck muscles must be completely relaxed.

1. Stroking. It is necessary to start the massage with these movements: stroking the neck area in the direction of the lymph to the axillary and supraclavicular nodes. Then apply two-dimensional and comb strokes.
2. Squeezing. To perform push-therapist puts his hand across the neck (the thumb and fingers at the same time have to be together), and moves down the spine. Also squeezing can be carried out side of his hand to the shoulder joint.
3. Trituration. Grindings are carried out in order to warm up the muscles, relax them and improve blood flow in that area. Massage should start from the base of the skull, fingers performing circular and straight movements. You can also perform the sawing movement by setting palm parallel to the ribs.
4. Kneading. On the neck should be carried out kneading in a circular motion.
5. Vibration. Finish the massage strokes and vibration, which is performed by means of shaking and tapping.

Massage is needed to strengthen muscle tone and relieve pain. Depending on what stage of osteochondrosis, chosen massage technique. However, doing a neck massage, specialists apply all the techniques of classical massage: rubbing, stroking, kneading, etc. In cases where the patient's pain on one side only, massage begins in a healthy part of the neck, gradually moving to the part of the neck area, where there are painful Feel.

manual therapy

Chiropractic helps to cope with both the acute and chronic pain and increases range of motion and well corrects posture. The basic techniques of manual therapy in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

1. Relaxing and segmental massage. It is used to warm up muscles and relieve tension.
2. Mobilization. Exposure to restore joint function. by stretching.
3. Manipulation. Sharp boost aimed at the patient's pathological zone. The procedure is accompanied by a characteristic crunch (joint return to its normal position).

Skilled practitioner manipulation should possess these techniques to perfection. Otherwise, any mistake can lead to injury.

orthopedic pillows

Orthopedic pillows for sleep is an effective means of prevention. In many cases, low back pain exacerbated by additional kinked neck artery and nerve roots while sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow. Orthopedic products provides uniform horizontal position of the person during sleep and thereby ensures physiologically high-grade cerebral blood flow.

When choosing a pillow should take into account individual anatomical features of human and correlate them with the volume and characteristics of the filler. Correctly matched pillow brings tangible benefits to patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

1. Electrophoresis. It is applied using anesthetics (anesthetic agents) are introduced into the skin by means of electronic pulses
2. Ultrasound. A positive effect on metabolic processes in the tissues of the cervical spine, thus eliminating swelling, pain go away.
3. Magnetic therapy. A safe method of treatment, which consists in exposing the damaged cells of the low-frequency magnetic field. This gives an anesthetic effect, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
4. Laser therapy. It improves blood circulation in the affected area, reduces swelling of tissues, pain.

Physiotherapy treatments favorably affect the discs and vertebrae in the cervical osteochondrosis. Together with medication, combination treatment helps relieve symptoms. Carry out the procedure in a hospital or specialized offices at polyclinics. Before starting the course you must go through a consultation with a doctor to determine the duration of physiotherapy species. Strongly zaprescheetsya pass it during an exacerbation.

Schantz collar

Schantz collar - soft and comfortable device that fastens with Velcro and is used for cervical osteochondrosis. But not for treatment, and to temporarily relax and relieve fatigue. It can not be worn without removing, or neck muscles will stop working soon, and atrophy. If the collar Schanz chosen correctly, the patient feels comfortable and protected.

Collar selected strictly on the size of the pharmacy or orthopedic shop. Better in the store, because the people who work there are generally well aware of his work and the characteristics of the product and, therefore, can help in each case.

Folk remedies

If the pain from degenerative disc disease of the spine becomes intolerable and regularly, you will agree to anything to stop it, and here the traditional comprehensive treatment successfully complement traditional methods.

• We insist celeriac (5 c. 1 l.kipyatka) 4 hours drink tablespoon before each meal intake;
• honey compress, for which we take 2 tsp honey and 1 tablet mummy. Heated components in a water bath, smear on the cloth and apply to the cervical spine, ie neck, at night;
• acute pain helps me growing in the country to hell. Its just my sheet, pour over boiling water, slightly cooled, is applied to the neck and a thin handkerchief primatyvayu at night - in the morning it is already possible to live and work;
• camomile flowers insist on vegetable oil for two days previously heated to boiling (500 ml oil plants need 30 grams), rubbed into diseased sites;
• It helps and honey-potato poultice, for this you need to root grate and mix with honey in the same amount, to apply to a large neck at night, use regularly, at least once a week.

prevention

As usual, proper preventive maintenance will help prevent degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, but, of course, Exercise should be used regularly, otherwise the benefits of "periodic" sessions will not a lot of.

It remains to remember a simple rule:

• eat more food with a large amount of calcium and magnesium. This fish, peas, beans, nuts, cheese, herbs, but from sugar, flour, smoked, spicy better to abstain.
• exercise regularly, especially swimming, water aerobics, are also suitable for the prevention of osteoarthritis gymnastics stretching and flexibility of the vertebrae that can be practiced at home.
• sitting at work at least a couple times a day to perform a special exercise program, an example of which is on the video.
• choose a good orthopedic mattress and pillow, perfect for the neck, supporting the head in his sleep the correct anatomical position (yes, loved the huge feather pillows in case of problems with the spine is no longer pass!).

If you already have a diagnosis, the patient should spare your spine, namely:

1. Be very careful with lifting and carrying heavy loads, it is better to go to the store twice, than pull very heavy bags in both hands, incredibly straining the neck and shoulder girdle;
2. Not supercool, avoid drafts and cold air flow from the air conditioner (some like it cool on a hot day, becoming the back-to-fan);
3. When tilting the torso forward - remember osteochondrosis;
4. Avoid local overheating of muscles that can happen in the amateurs too hot tub;
5. Do not forget to occasionally break away from the monitor, change the position of the body, not to linger for hours and sometimes for days;
6. To rest his neck, which need to purchase collar Schanz;
7. Whenever possible, if the conditions allow the cardiovascular system, soared in the bath.

In conclusion, I want to say that a child who is facing osteochondrosis (his father and mother have already) and an adult who acquired the disease during life, We are obliged to take preventive measures to avoid becoming disabled and not be on the operating table, because this operation is quite complex and requires a long-term rehabilitation. In addition, it is not always possible, because there are cases of inoperable, so it is best to protect the health of his youth, and while the wheels are intact, and the unnecessary proliferation of do not compress the blood vessels.