Hondrostrong Official site
Share this

BACK Effective methods for treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

In the modern world, almost all people over the age of 25 have this disease.Cervical osteochondrosis occurs much more often than in other parts of the spine.The relevance of this topic is difficult to overestimate.In this article, we will look at why this disease occurs, how it manifests itself, how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, what drugs are effective in treating it, what non-drug methods exist, and also find out the answers to the most common questions of patients with a similar diagnosis.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion (progressive) of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine.

pain

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

As a result of the action of the factors listed below, there is an increase in the load on the cervical spine, the neck muscles try to compensate for the excess load, their spasms occur, the blood circulation in this area is disturbed, which causes degenerative changes.Due to a number of factors, changes occur in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, their structure changes, their nutrition is disturbed, changes occur in small joints between the vertebrae, bone growth in the vertebral bodies appears due to the increased load on the changed intervertebral discs.Click to enlarge - exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine.Factors contributing to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

  • Poor posture and scoliosis
  • Obese
  • Physical inactivity, sedentary work
  • Previous spinal cord injuries
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Great physical activity
  • Stress and constant nervous tension
  • Low level of physical fitness
  • Hereditary disposition
  • Common incorrect body postures, such as holding a telephone receiver with your shoulder
  • Constant tension in the back and neck due to the nature of the work (strained condition in a sitting position) among drivers and office workers.
  • Developmental anomalies of the cervical spine

Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis

The degree of osteochondrosis is determined by the clinical picture and patient complaints.The concept of degree should not be confused with the stages of osteochondrosis.The phases will be discussed below.

First degree

clinical manifestations are minimal, the patient may complain of low-intensity pain in the cervical spine, which may intensify when the head is turned.Physical examination may reveal slight tension in the neck muscles.

Second degree

The patient is worried about pain in the cervical spine, its intensity is much greater, the pain can radiate to the shoulder or arm.This happens due to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and pinching of the nerve roots.The pain intensifies when the head is tilted and turned.The patient may notice decreased performance, weakness and headache.

Third degree

the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify, the pain becomes constant, radiates to the arm or shoulder.Numbness or weakness occurs in the muscles of the arm when herniated intervertebral discs form (see symptoms of lumbar prolapse).I am worried about weakness and dizziness.Examination reveals limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain on palpation of the cervical spine.

Fourth degree

The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced with connective tissue.Dizziness increases, tinnitus occurs and coordination is impaired, as the vertebral artery supplying the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain is involved in the process.

Symptoms depending on the damaged vertebra

Separately, we can distinguish radicular syndromes that lead to certain sensory and motor disorders.They differ depending on which vertebra compresses the spine:

  • C1: leads to numbness and loss of sensitivity in the back of the head;
  • C2: pain in the parietal region and the back of the head;
  • C3: reduced speech, sensitivity in the tongue, pain and reduced sensitivity in the side where the spinal nerve is pinched;
  • C4: pain in the heart, left hypochondrium, shoulder, scapula, respiratory disorders, decreased neck muscle tone;
  • C5: shoulder pain in the outer region;
  • C6: pain radiating from the forearm to the thumb, as well as from the neck to the shoulder blade;
  • C7: pain in the back of the shoulder, from the neck to the shoulder blade, radiating to the forearm up to 2-4 fingers;
  • C8: pain from neck to shoulder, from forearm to little finger.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

Basic diagnostic methods:

  • X-ray of the cervical spine.It is a low-informative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
  • Computed tomography.It shows changes in the vertebrae better, but it is difficult to determine the size and presence of intervertebral hernias, as well as the presence of disc-medullary conflict (compression of a herniated spinal cord).
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.The most informative method.Not only bone structures are clearly visible, but also intervertebral discs, hernias, their size and their direction of growth.
  • If a violation of the blood flow in the vertebral arteries is suspected, ultrasound duplex scanning is used.This method allows you to accurately determine whether there is a decrease in the speed of blood flow or whether there are obstacles to normal blood flow.

X-ray stages of cervical osteochondrosis.

  • Stage 1 - minimal changes in the configuration of the vertebrae, leveling of the cervical lordosis (curvature).
  • Stage 2 – instability between the vertebrae, possible displacement of one vertebra relative to another, torsion (rotation around the axis of the spinal column), slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.
  • Stage 3 – reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc by ¼ relative to the disc located above it, changes in the intervertebral joints, posterior osteophytes (bone outgrowths), narrowing of the intervertebral foramina and narrowing of the spinal canal in which the spinal cord with its membranes is located.
  • Stage 4 – significant reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc, significant changes in the intervertebral joints, huge posterior osteophytes, significant narrowing of the intervertebral foramina and significant narrowing of the spinal canal with the formation of myelopathy.

Symptoms

Damage to the upper spine can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms, depending on the location and severity of the dystrophic process, as well as on how seriously the radicular structures of the cervical spine are affected.Often, patient complaints are reduced to symptoms that at first glance are unrelated, which can complicate the diagnosis and further treatment of the disease.In general, the clinical picture of cervical osteochondrosis consists of the following series of syndromes:

  • Vertebral, characterized by different types of pain in the back of the head and neck.
  • Spinal, in which symptoms of impaired motor and sensory innervation are observed, in addition, impaired trophism of the cervical zone causes gradual atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder girdle and arms.
  • Radicular, expressed in pain symptoms in the area of the peritoneal and chest organs, which requires additional thorough diagnostics to differentiate osteochondrosis and diseases of the internal organs.
  • Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis is a vestibular disorder manifested by headache, hearing loss, dizziness, even loss of consciousness.These phenomena occur due to cerebral ischemia due to violation of the vertebral artery and weakening of the blood supply.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment develops gradually, and patients usually seek treatment already at the stage of clinical manifestations that interfere with the quality of life, during periods of exacerbation.How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is determined only by a doctor after appropriate diagnosis;self-medication in this case is unacceptable.Treatment of neck osteochondrosis is aimed at eliminating pain, inflammation, partial or complete recovery of affected tissue structures and preventing complications.Treatment should predominantly be outpatient;any procedure at home can only be performed in connection with medical prescriptions after instrumental and laboratory diagnostics.In advanced cases, in severe stages of development of neurological lesions and concomitant pathologies, inpatient treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with the possibility of surgical intervention may be indicated.

Medicinal treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

It consists of prescribing medication that relieves symptoms of pain and inflammation.In the acute period, drugs in injection form are indicated;after some pain subsides, the patient takes tablets, locally acting agents in the form of ointments, and continues to receive injections.

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They are considered the drugs of choice for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis to relieve pain and inflammation.Available in different dosage forms.They reduce soft tissue swelling and thereby reduce pain;local remedies have a warming effect which improves blood flow in the affected cervical area.These drugs are used for 5-10 days, sometimes up to 2 weeks.In the acute period, NSAIDs are prescribed in the form of injections;after a few days the patient switches to the tablet form.It is worth remembering that long-term treatment with NSAIDs adversely affects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, for this reason the course of treatment usually does not exceed 10 days.
  • Hormones.If NSAIDs are ineffective, the patient may be prescribed paravertebral anesthetic blocks in the cervical spine with glucocorticosteroids for pain management, most commonly an injection of dexamethasone or hydrocortisone in the affected area or tablets.Drugs of this group are prescribed to patients with cervical radicular syndrome to relieve swelling of the nerve fiber.
  • Anesthetics.They are prescribed in the form of local neuromuscular blockades, which eliminates severe pain symptoms.The blockade can be intradermal, subcutaneous, muscular, perineural or radicular, depending on where the injection is given.To prolong the pain-relieving effect, anesthetics are given together with hormones.Treatment of neck osteochondrosis is carried out every other day, a total of 5-7 such procedures are prescribed.Anesthetics can also be administered by injection into specific biologically active points;this treatment technique is a form of acupuncture and is called pharmacopuncture.
  • Antispasmodics and medications that improve microcirculation in the cervical and collar areas.To treat muscle tension in the affected area, nicotinic acid and others may be prescribed.By relieving neck muscle spasms and improving blood flow, the blood flow in the diseased area is stimulated and the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and inflammation are alleviated.During the period of exacerbation, diuretics are also taken to reduce vascular spasm and thereby improve microcirculation in the affected area.
  • Calming agents, such as tincture of valerian, peony and herbal tea are recommended for prolonged pain and to reduce the risk of developing neuroticism in the patient, which contributes to the effectiveness of the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
  • Local irritants.These are locally acting ointments, gels, rubbings that have a warming, irritating and distracting effect.They are not used to treat the acute stage.They contain biologically active substances of plant and animal origin, for example bee or snake venom.If you have hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, and if its irritating effect is high, it is better not to use them, so as not to provoke even greater swelling.
  • Vitamins.During the treatment period and further rehabilitation, multivitamin complexes are recommended for use.Typically, this is a group of vitamins B, whose representatives are involved in ensuring normal nerve conduction, as well as vitamins A and C, to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood flow.Taking vitamins reduces vestibular disorders - motion sickness syndrome, dizziness, hearing loss.
  • Chondroprotectors.These are substances that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue of the vertebral discs of the cervical segment.Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with chondroprotectors is carried out over a long period, 6-12 months.

Orthopedic treatment methods

Unpleasant symptoms in the cervical spine are often caused and aggravated by incorrect body position during sleep, prolonged exposure to a forced position or injury.When treating the disease, a method such as a cervical collar or Shant's collar is therefore often used.It is prescribed individually for each patient after a doctor's consultation, as it is available in several variants.The collar is a framed tight roll that is fastened around the neck and fixes the vertebrae in the desired position.The neck therefore does not bend and the head does not turn to the side, which ensures immobilization of the diseased area, which is important in acute periods.Shant's neck collar can also be made in the form of two rolls with an inflatable layer, into which air is pumped with a rubber bulb.Inflating the layer between the rollers stretches the spine, which makes it possible to increase the inter-articular spaces of the cervical spine.The degree of extension is determined by the doctor;it is not recommended to solve this problem on your own to avoid damage to the neurovascular bundles in the neck.During the recovery period, a fully inflatable collar is used, which preserves some mobility in the neck and head.

The collar can be worn at home, no more than 3 hours a day, the total course of use is about a month.The final wearing rules are determined by the doctor, depending on the severity of the condition and existing symptoms.