Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a common degenerative disease, fraught with many complications and consequences. The pathology is characterized by the slow but relentless destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs and the further involvement of ligaments, muscles and bone structures in destructive processes.
Without adequate and timely therapy, osteochondrosis leads to bulges, herniation of intervertebral discs: these diseases can cause disability and various functional disorders. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a long, gradual and complex process that should be carried out under the guidance of qualified professionals.
Causes and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has a number of significant features based on the purely anatomical properties of this section. The vertebrae of the neck are much smaller and more mobile than the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The cervical spine has a constant load, even when the body is at rest: the vertebrae need to hold the head and communicate with the musculoskeletal system of the neck.
The more mobile the vertebrae, the higher the risk of degenerative diseases. Another characteristic is the presence of a large number of important nerve plexuses in the cervical area. In this part passes the spinal artery which supplies the brain and brain with little oxygen and nutrients. Compression of blood vessels caused by displacement of discs in osteochondrosis leads to cerebral ischemia, which is overwhelmed by strokes, impaired cognitive abilities, impaired hearing, vision, memory, attention and sleep.
The compactness of this section is an additional risk factor for moving spinal structures. The slightest injury to the anatomical status of the spine causes muscle cramps, neurological and vascular symptoms. Edema and inflammation in the nerve roots cause severe pain that cannot be relieved with analgesics, and spinal cord compression can cause sensory disturbances in the upper extremities.
Before you understand how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, you need to understand what causes this disease. Most causes can be eliminated in time, preventing complications and the progression of degenerative processes.
The following factors influence the development of pathology:
- Poor posture, prolonged exposure to one position;
- Sedentary work and a tendency to passive rest;
- Injuries and trauma to the cervical spine;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Excess weight;
- Lack of some trace elements;
- Presence of chronic foci of infection in the body;
- Age-related dystrophic processes in spinal tissues;
- Exposure to toxins and certain drugs;
- Sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow or too soft a surface; Hypothermia.
In rare cases, the causes of cervical osteochondrosis are systemic autoimmune diseases - lupus erythematosus, systemic polyarthritis. In most clinical situations, the development of the disease is suddenly influenced by several pathogenic factors - impairment, nature of work, dietary errors.
Diagnostics
The success of treatment largely depends on the correct diagnosis. Diagnostic measures are not only aimed at identifying the disease, but also at discovering its causes. The physician should prepare a detailed history taking into account the duration and intensity of symptoms, hereditary factors, lifestyle and nutritional status of the patient, and the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient.
The following procedures are assigned:
- radiography (including using contrast);
- Blood test; MRI, CT and ultrasound;
- Spinal cord puncture for bacteriological examination (in rare cases);
- Motor tests.
Modern imaging techniques (MRI and CT) enable precise determination of the localization of degenerative processes, detection of compression of blood vessels and nerve endings. In some cases, heart studies are prescribed.
Modern methods of therapy
How exactly to treat osteochondrosis of the spine, the doctor decides based on the diagnosis and the current condition of the patient. Some people believe that osteochondrosis is a temporary disease and goes away on its own. People deliberately ignore back pain, believing that it is caused by fatigue, injuries, "salt deposits". It should be understood that the degenerative processes in the spine are irreversible, and the earlier the treatment is started, the more effective it will be.
Using folk techniques is also not a very smart option. Most unconventional methods can only temporarily stop the symptoms of the disease, without any effect on the causes. Only a specialist (orthopedist or vertebrologist) can prescribe therapy that suits your current condition.
The main tasks of treatment are to stop degenerative tissue transformations, to release the patient from unbearable pain and to restore the functional status of the spinal structures, to strengthen the ligament-muscular apparatus. The therapeutic goal is the prevention of complications of the disease.
Methods for treating osteochondrosis of the neck are divided into conservative and radical. Most clinical manifestations can be removed with conservative therapy. For each patient, doctors develop an individual treatment regimen: there is no single therapeutic protocol for osteochondrosis.
In the first phase, it is necessary to alleviate the symptoms of pain, inflammation (if any), improve blood circulation and nutrition. The recovery phase follows. Patients should be patient and strictly adhere to the recommendations of specialists: to achieve sustainable results, you must be ready for a long and varied therapy.
Methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, which are used in modern clinics:
- Medicinal effects;
- Physiotherapy;
- Manual therapy;
- Hardware massage;
- Reflexology;
- Osteopathy;
- Psychosomatic relief;
- Surgical intervention.
Let's look at the most relevant methods in more detail.
Medications
Medications are mainly used in the initial phase of treatment. The goals of medication use are to relieve pain, inflammation, stimulate blood circulation and metabolism, and establish a healthy tissue diet. Mainly external drugs are used - ointments, gels. Tablets and injections are used less frequently.
Main groups of drugs prescribed for neck osteochondrosis:
- Topical ointments containing analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids (given as intramuscular or epidural injections);
- Muscle relaxants - relieve muscle cramps;
- Vitamins to boost metabolism and improve cell and tissue nutrition.
In the acute phase of the disease, professional drug therapy is mandatory. It helps to stabilize the patient's condition and prepare him for further treatment.
Physiotherapy
Most professional vertebrologists believe that physiotherapy is the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis. Physiotherapy involves the impact on the body of natural factors and hardware.
Stable and pronounced healing effect is given by such methods of treatment as:
- Balneotherapy (exposure to mineral waters);
- Blatotherapy;
- Paraffin and ozokerite applications;
- Kinesio gossip - imposing special sticky years on the affected areas; Hypothermia;
- Exposure to bee and snake venom;
- Hirudotherapy (leech therapy);
- Shock wave therapy;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Electro and phonophoresis;
- Laser therapy; UHF;
- Magnetotherapy;
- CMT (pulse therapy).
Physiotherapy is used both to relieve pain and to rehabilitate the spine and restore the patient's activity.
Manual therapy and instrumental massage
Professional massage is no less effective than physiotherapy. It is important that the manipulations are performed by a trained and competent specialist, because the risk of cervical spine injuries is very high. Massage improves blood circulation, improves nutrition, relieves fatigue, stimulates lymph flow, removes muscle tension, relaxes ligaments and accelerates soft tissue regeneration. In addition, the patient undergoes psychosomatic unloading.
At home it is allowed to use the simplest massage equipment - hand massagers, applicators. Electric massagers produce a good therapeutic effect - they can also be used for preventive purposes.
Reflexology
Acting on certain biologically active points of the body in some situations gives a therapeutic result. Reflexology (acupuncture) is performed using acupuncture, moxibustion or acupressure. A prerequisite for performing such procedures is the participation of a certified expert and strict adherence to sanitary standards.
exercise therapy
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis is mandatory in the recovery phase. If patients do not want to allow recurrence and progression of the disease, they must strengthen the ligaments and muscles and stimulate blood flow in the affected area. These results can be achieved with regular gymnastic exercises.
The exercise therapy kit is developed by the instructor or directly by the treating physician: all nuances of the disease and the patient's condition should be taken into account. In the first stage, the load should be minimal: the tissue should not be injured and overloaded. In the future, cervical spine gymnastics should become a kind of habit: exercises can be performed while working out, relaxing in front of the TV.
Diet therapy
Nutrition is not of little importance for the condition of the spine and surrounding tissues. Patients with osteochondrosis should eat a varied and rational diet. It is necessary to exclude "fast" carbohydrates, fast food, canned food, fatty meat from the menu. A dish with mucopolysaccharides must be present - jelly meat, jelly, jelly.
Radical treatment
Surgery for osteochondrosis is rarely used. Operations are performed if conservative treatment does not give any results or there is serious compression of the spinal cord, full of the development of paralysis. Sometimes surgery is used to remove osteophytes - growths of bones on the body of the vertebrae and discs.