Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical spine osteochondrosis is the result of a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition.The first signs of the disease may appear at age 25, if you do not start treatment, serious complications will occur.In disease therapy, an integrated approach is used - drug treatment, therapeutic diet, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

The causes of cervical spine osteochondrosis

Dystrophic degenerative changes of cervical osteochondrosis in intervertebral discs, joints, which leads to a decrease in neck mobility, the appearance of severe pain syndrome.The main reason for the development of the disease is a violation of mineral metabolism, because bones and joints become less strong. 

Why there is cervical osteochondrosis:

• Sedentary and overweight lifestyle;
• Violation of posture, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• Smooth feet;
• VSD;
• Inadequate nutrition.

Investments in the deformation of cervical vertebrae can cause lesions, spine bruises, excessive physical activity, stress.In women, osteochondrosis usually occurs during pregnancy, menopause - against the hormonal change bottom, the amount of calcium decreases, bone tissue becomes fragile.

Symptoms and General Signs

With an increased constant load in cervical vertebrae, muscle spasm occurs, the vessels of the cervical spine are compressed, the circulatory process is disturbed, employees occur in metabolic processes - the structure of intervertebral disc alteration, they are deformed, begin to project beyond the spinal column.

As osteochondrosis in the cervical region is manifested:

• ROOK SYNDROME - Against the bottom of the compression of nerve endings, pain occurs, which spreads from the neck to the omplates, forearms, covers the front wall of the chest;
• Muscle weakness in the hands, noticeable edema of the neck;
• When the head moves, a characteristic crisis is heard;
• Weakness, chronic fatigue, changes change;
• Violation of coordination, the often dizzy head, the attacks are accompanied by nausea, vomiting;
• vision of vision and hearing, noise, touching the ears;
• limb numbness, language;
• Frequent migraines;
• In women from 45 to 65 years old, pain appears during sleep, numbness, tingling in the upper limbs, attacks can be repeated several times a night.

With cervical osteochondrosis, nutrition and blood supply for the brain are disturbed, neurotic disorders - anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbance occur.

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

As osteochondrosis develops, several stages of development pass, each of which has characteristics characteristics.As is the affected pimple at different stages, you can see in the photo.

The degree of disease development:

1.  1st degree osteochondrosis - The early stage continues without particularly pronounced symptoms, a person is concerned about rare and small pain as he turned and tilting his head, the rear muscles quickly get tired.
2.  2nd degree osteochondrosis - vertebrae become unstable, tight nerve, unpleasant feelings in the neck acquire a pronounced character, delivery to the shoulder.Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headaches in the occipital region, distraction.
3.  3rd degree osteochondrosis - Pain acquires a chronic character, covers the upper back, arms, pronounced muscle weakness is observed, limbs are numb, intervertebral hernia develops and dizziness usually occurs.
4.  4th degree osteochondrosis - There is a complete destruction of intervertebral discs, they are replaced by connective tissue, the pathological process covers several segments of the spine.There is a coordination violation, dizziness attacks are quick to increase and noise appears in the ears.

Acute Osteochondrosis - A consequence of the chronic form of the disease is characterized by a strong attack of marked pain, which occurs suddenly after awakening.

Which doctor gets in touch?

When signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to visit a neuropathologist, in some hospitals, there is a more vertebrologist - the expert is treating exactly the diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic methods

The performed forms of osteochondrosis have a pronounced clinical image, which allows an initial diagnosis already during the initial exam.Instrumental diagnostic methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in vertebrae.

The main types of exams for osteochondrosis:

• X -Ray - The method is effective only in the early stages of pathology development;
• Magnetic Resonance imaging - on the screen, the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of the development of intervertebral hernias, the condition of the spinal cord;
• CT - The method is less effective than magnetic resonance imaging, as it does not provide accurate information about the presence and size of the hernias;
• Scanning Duplex - Allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• Electroneurography - shows the presence of tweezers, inflammation, other nerve damage;
• Reoencephalogram - prescribed by violation of blood supply to the brain.

For a targeted and complete study of the condition of certain vertebrae, discography is performed - a contrast medium is introduced to the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see the lowest changes in tissues to distinguish scar changes from hernia.

Ways for the treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis

At the early stage of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medications, it is sufficient to review the diet, the daily regime and regularly perform a special exercise complex.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is possible only if the use of various medications that help suspend degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The therapeutic measures complex necessarily includes physical therapy - electrophoresis with medications, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.These methods help deal with pain, inflammation, swelling of tissues, improve metabolic processes and blood circulation.

Medical Physical Education

The LFK is prescribed during recovery, during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, exercise are against -indication, gymnastics is simple, this can be done at home, you need to do regularly.

Bubnovsky gymnastics for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. In standing position, lower your hands freely along the body.Include your head forward, try your chest with a chin, fix the position in account 3. Include your head back, the chin looks up, counts 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In standing position, turn your head to the right, left, at each extreme point to fix the position for a few seconds.Repeat 3 times in each string.
3. In a standing position, tilt your head to the right, left, try to reach the shoulder with the ear, keep the position for 30 seconds.Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
4. Standing, hands on the belt, the chin is parallel to the floor, stretched forward.Turn your head, chin to live on your shoulder, turn your body a little, take a half minute.Make 6 repetitions in each direction, slight pain in the spine may occur.
5. In a sitting position, the back is straight, with their hands on the knees.Dilute the straight arms to the sides, slightly backwards, lean your head back, return to its original position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a position sitting on the head to turn right, the left palm to live on the right shoulder, the elbow parallel to the floor, the right hand is in the knee and returns to its original position.Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, lift your hands over your head, ok to connect, bend some of the elbows, turn your head to the side until it looks like a light pain, repair the position at the extreme point for a few seconds.Repita 6 voltas em cada direção.

Among the exercises, take a break of 30 seconds.Before the beginning of the gymnastics, it is necessary to take a hot shower, make several gentle inclinations of the head in different directions to heat the muscles.Upon completion of loading, a light stretch will help to avoid the appearance of unpleasant sensations the next day.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis aims to eliminate unpleasant sensations, restoring the mobility of vertebrae, reducing degenerative changes in tissues.Sterring attacks of pain are removed with injections of NSAIDs or corticosteroids, the chronic form of the disease is treated with ointments, pills.

How to treat osteochondrosis:

• NSAIDs, they are produced in the form of tablets and means for external use, eliminated edema, pain;
• Corticosteroids - Stop acute pain syndrome;
• Vitamins B, restore metabolic processes in tissues;
• Condropoprotectors - contribute to the restoration of the cartilage tissue;
• Drugs to improve blood flow, brain nutrition;
• Nootropic - Improve brain function, memory;
• MUSORELAXANTS - eliminate muscle spasm;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels are used with anti -inflammatory and heating effects.

For drug therapy to be effective, it is necessary to combine it with exercise therapy, adhere to a diet, otherwise no medicine will help get rid of osteochondrosis.

Popular remedies

Popular treatment should be used as an addition to drug therapy and physical education, non -traditional methods will not completely get rid of the disease.

What to do with cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour the fresh rabban sheet with boiling water, cool a little, secure the neck inside, repair it with a thin natural cloth.Do the procedure before bedtime, leave the compress all night.
2. Grate raw potatoes in thin grater, mix equal proportions with hot liquid honey.Use the mixture for compresses, the procedure is performed 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix a raw egg with 100 ml sunflower oil, 20 ml vinegar and 20 g flour, remove the mixture in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the surface movie.A means of staining the inflamed area before bed, keep in the refrigerator.
4. In May, collect pine shops up to 2 cm long, cut into thin circles, fold into a dark glass container.For 1 part of the matter -take 2 parts of sugar, remove the medicine in a dark place for 2 weeks.Drink 5 ml of a mixture three times a day, do not swallow immediately, hold for 2-3 minutes in the mouth.The duration of the course is 15 to 20 days, repeat 2-3 times a year.
5. Moa 150 g of peeled garlic and 400 g of cranberries, fold the mixture in a glass container, add 800 ml of honey after 24 hours, mix.Take 5 ml of medicine three times a day before meals.

To deal with intense pain, to stretch excess salts will help a honey -greased cabbage sheet, a compaction to fix the neck with a hot handkerchief, to get out all night.

Massage with cervical osteochondrosis

Massage helps strengthen muscle tone, improve blood circulation in tissues and an expert holds sessions in serious forms of osteochondrosis.With light forms of disease, self -massage will help prevent - treatment is performed at home.

Massage Technique:

1. Heat the muscles - with both hands, spending intensely along the back surface of the neck from top to bottom.Heating time - 2 minutes.
2. Press the edge of the palm of the neck, moving movements to the hair growth area and then to the shoulder joints.
3. The fingertips of both hands make circular motions in the occipital region, from the hair growth line to the forearm - from the spine to the ears and the back.
4. Tighten the cervical muscles from the bottom up and then in the opposite direction.
5. Caressing from the back of the head to the shoulder blades - perform after each type of exercise.

Possible consequences and complications

In the cervical region, the vertebrae are located near each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is small;Therefore, various complications of osteochondrosis occur even with insignificant degenerative changes in bone tissue.

What is dangerous osteochondrosis of the cervical region:

• Frequent migraine attacks;
• cardiac rhythm, atherosclerosis;
• protuberance, intervertebral hernia, the bone of the river;
• severe brain pathologies;
• narrowing the lumen of the vertebral artery, which leads to the development of VSD, brain hypertension, deficiency;
• Strike of the spine.

Against -Indications for Cervical Osteochondrosis

To carry a lifestyle complete with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that may cause the appearance of pain, exacerbation of the disease.

Which cannot be done with cervical osteochondrosis:

• Sleep in a very hard or soft mattress, on a high pillow;
• Raise weights if you need to create something heavy, you will need to do this with straight back with double knees;
• Use a bag in one shoulder;
• With the exacerbation of the pathology, make active movements of the head, neck;
• Smoking, drink alcohol;
• Walk without a scarf in cold climate, you feel in a draft, near the air conditioner;
• For a long time to be in an uncomfortable position, a sitting position;
• Wear high smelling shoes;
• Crying your neck.

Heat Procedures - HEATING COMPLEMENT, visiting a bath, warming with a blue lamp, can only be done at the stage of remission of the disease.With exacerbation, heat will only relieve pain for a short period of time, but soon the unpleasant sensations will return, the degree of its manifestation will increase.

Disease prevention

To maintain the health of the spine, simply observe simple prevention rules.

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• Free of overweight;
• Every morning they do gymnastics, swim, yoga, dance;
• More time to spend fresh air, morning walks are especially useful;
• Eat properly, control salt intake, observe the drink regime;
• When sitting every hour, make a hot neck, monitor the posture;
• Keep your neck hot;
• Farm, avoid physical, mental and emotional excess.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic and slowly progressive disease, signs of the disease do not manifest immediately.A competent combination of traditional and folkloric methods of treatment, gymnastics and diet will help deal with unpleasant symptoms, and simple preventive measures can prevent pathology relapse.