Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a common degenerative disease, fraught with many complications and consequences. The pathology is characterized by slow but inexorable 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, herniated intervertebral discs: these diseases can cause damage and various functional disorders. The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a long, gradual and complex process that must be performed under the guidance of qualified specialists.
Causes and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has a number of important characteristics 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 must hold the head and interact with the musculoskeletal system of the neck.The more mobile the vertebrae, the higher the risk of degenerative diseases. Another feature is the presence in the cervical region of a large number of important nerve plexuses. In this section passes the spinal artery, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the brain and cerebellum. The compression of blood vessels caused by disc displacement in osteochondrosis leads to cerebral ischemia and this is fraught with strokes, impaired cognitive abilities, impaired hearing, vision, memory, attention and sleep disorders.
The compactness of this section is an additional risk factor for vertebral displacement. The slightest disturbance of the anatomical status of the spine causes muscle spasms, neurological and vascular symptoms. Swelling and inflammation in the nerve roots cause severe pain that cannot be relieved with analgesics, and compression of the spinal cord can cause sensory disturbances in the upper extremities.
Before you know how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, you need to understand what causes this disease. Most of the causes can be eliminated in a timely manner, preventing complications and the progression of degenerative processes.
The following factors influence the development of the pathology:
- Poor posture, prolonged exposure to one position;
- Sedentary work and tendency to passive rest;
- Injuries and injuries of the cervical spine;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Excess mass;
- Deficiency of some microelements;
- The presence of chronic foci of infection in the body;
- Dystrophic processes associated with age in the tissues of the spine;
- 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, several pathogenic factors affect the development of the disease at once - damage, nature of work, dietary errors.
Diagnostics
The success of treatment depends largely on the correct diagnosis. Diagnostic measures are aimed not only at determining the disease, but also at identifying the causes of it. The doctor should prepare a detailed history, taking into account the duration and intensity of symptoms, hereditary factors, lifestyle and nutritional status of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient.
The following procedures are set:
- 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) allow accurate determination of the location of degenerative processes, detection of compression of blood vessels and nerve endings. In some cases, cardiac tests 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, injury, and "salt deposition. "It should be understood that degenerative processes in the spine are irreversible and the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be.
Using folk techniques is also not a very smart option. Most non-traditional methods can only temporarily stop the symptoms of the disease without affecting the causes in any way. Only a specialist (orthopedist or vertebrologist) can prescribe therapy that is adequate for your current condition.
The main tasks of the treatment are to stop degenerative tissue transformations, relieve the patient from excruciating pain and restore the functional status of the spinal structures, strengthen the ligament-muscular apparatus. The therapeutic goal is to prevent complications of the disease.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis of the neck are divided into conservative and radical. Most clinical manifestations are eliminated with conservative therapy. For each patient, doctors develop an individual treatment regimen: there is no single therapeutic protocol for osteochondrosis.
In the first stage it is necessary to relieve the symptoms of pain, inflammation (if any), to improve blood circulation and nutrition. The recovery stage follows. Patients must be patient and strictly follow the recommendations of specialists: to achieve sustainable results, you must be prepared for long and varied therapy.
Methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis practiced in modern clinics:
- Medicinal effects;
- Physiotherapy;
- Manual therapy;
- Hardware massage;
- reflexology;
- Osteopathy;
- Psychosomatic relief;
- Surgical intervention.
Let's look at the most appropriate methods in more detail.
Medicine
The drugs are mainly used in the initial stage of treatment. The goals of medication use are to relieve pain, inflammation, stimulate blood circulation and metabolism, and establish healthy tissue nutrition. Mostly external drugs are used - ointments, gels. Pills and injections are less commonly used.
The main groups of drugs prescribed for osteochondrosis of the neck:
- Topical ointments containing analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids (administered as intramuscular or epidural injections);
- Muscle relaxants - relieve muscle spasms;
- Vitamins to stimulate metabolism and improve cell and tissue nutrition.
Occupational drug therapy is mandatory in the acute stage of the disease. Helps to stabilize the patient's condition and prepares him for further treatment.
Physiotherapy
Most professional vertebrologists believe that physiotherapy is the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis. Physiotherapy involves exposure to the body of natural factors and hardware.
Stable and pronounced healing effect is achieved through such methods of treatment as:
- Balneotherapy (exposure to mineral waters);
- Mud therapy;
- Paraffin and ozokerite applications;
- Kinesio gluing - applying special gluing 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 (amplipulse therapy).
Physiotherapy is used both to relieve pain and to rehabilitate the spine and restore the patient's activity.
Manual therapy and hardware massage
Professional massage is no less effective than physiotherapy. It is important that the manipulations are performed by a trained and competent specialist, as the risk of injury to the cervical spine 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, there is a psychosomatic discharge of the patient.
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
The action on certain biologically active points of the body also gives a therapeutic result in some situations. Reflexology (acupuncture) is performed with the help of acupuncture, moxibustion or acupressure. Prerequisite for performing such procedures is the participation of a certified specialist and strict compliance with sanitary standards.
exercise therapy
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis is mandatory at the stage of recovery. If patients do not want to allow recurrence and progression of the disease, they must strengthen ligaments and muscles and stimulate blood flow to the affected area. These results can be achieved with regular gymnastic exercises.
The complex of exercise therapy is developed by the instructor or directly by the attending physician: all nuances of the disease and the patient's condition must be taken into account. In the first stage, the loads must be minimal: the tissues must not be injured or overloaded. In the future, gymnastics of the cervical spine should become a kind of habit: exercises can be performed while doing work, relaxing in front of the TV.
Diet therapy
Nutrition is important for the condition of the spine and surrounding tissues. Patients with osteochondrosis should eat a varied and rational diet. It is necessary to exclude from the menu "fast" carbohydrates, fast food, canned food, fatty meats. Dishes with mucopolysaccharides - jelly meat, jelly, jelly should be present.
Radical treatment
Surgery for osteochondrosis is rarely used. Surgeries are performed if conservative treatment does not give any results or if there is a strong compression of the spinal cord, accompanied by the development of paralysis. Surgery is sometimes used to remove osteophytes - bone growths on the body of the vertebrae and discs.