It has already been written and said many times that osteochondrosis of the cervical, cervical and lumbar spine is not a disease in itself. This, if you will, is the "curse of the species. "Man, as a biological species, moves on two legs only for a few million years, and even less. This, in terms of evolution, is still the "middle of the road". It is not known in which new anatomical variants of spinal development we will reach a million years.
Osteochondrosis is currently the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system and is treated by doctors of various specialties. Most of the time, these are therapists and neurologists, as the complication of osteochondrosis can lead to various neurological syndromes, which will be discussed below.
Osteochondrosis - what is it?
You should not say the words "osteochondrosis is common", because this is not true. Osteochondrosis in its purest form is a process of normal aging and dehydration of the intervertebral discs, which, in its normal course, does not cause any complaints. This is possible in energetic elderly people who are mobile, have a good posture and are free of extra pounds. They exercise, swim, avoid heavy lifting and lead what might be called a "healthy lifestyle".
If we talk about osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, as a disease, then we always mean its complicated course, which causes various complaints and symptoms. And in this, the cervical spine is more vulnerable than other, underlying parts. Of course, the cervical region has the least load - only the head, but at the same time, the vertebrae of the cervical region are more mobile than the others and at the same time are less massive.
All this makes the lesions of the cervical region more intense with complications of osteochondrosis. The proximity of the head leads to the fact that headaches occur, which, of course, does not happen with lesions of the lumbar region. In addition, we must remember that it is in the central canal of the cervical vertebrae that the spinal cord passes, which has absorbed all the underlying pathways. Therefore, with central canal compression syndromes, the patient may suffer paralysis of the arms and legs, up to complete immobility, reduced skin sensitivity throughout the body, and pelvic organ dysfunction. All this can currently make a person disabled, for example, with a fracture of the cervical vertebrae (dive into the head in unknown small places).
Of course, such complex injuries are not related to osteochondrosis: patients are much more likely to be bothered by other symptoms. How to cure and cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine? It is impossible to cure him. To do this, from childhood, simply refuse to move on two legs and drag on all fours or live in the ocean like dolphins. Only then will the load on the intervertebral discs be minimal or completely absent.
Only exacerbations of osteochondrosis can be treated, so you need to know not only their signs and symptoms, but also their risk factors.
About risk factors
In the case of cervical spine, obviously, lifting weights on the shoulder will not play as important a role in the onset of pain syndrome as in the lower back. What conditions and diseases can contribute to the development of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis? Here are the most common situations:
- flatfoot, both longitudinal and transverse. The spine is a flexible, convex bar. If the arch of the foot does not get wet and during the step there is no "elastic" movement of the spine down, but a blow, then this blow with a "wave", like a whip, goes up, and goes outright in the cervical region, at the site of the craniocerebral transition. That's where all the energy goes. Therefore, flatfoot running leads to severe changes in the intervertebral discs.
- Chronic injury. These are, first of all, slipping on the ice in winter, falling on the back of the head, as well as the constant knocking on the head in low doors, which is often found in people above average height.
- Wearing heavy winter hats, high hairstyles and plenty of jewelry for women. All this leads to fatigue of the neck muscles, the appearance of chronic spasm, circulatory disorders, and the development of headaches and back pain.
- Sedentary lifestyle, "sedentary" work, presence of stiffness in the upper thoracic and cervical spine.
We will not list the specific risk factors that occur in sick patients. There are many reasons for the worsening of the condition found in ordinary, healthy people.
Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis
The signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are very multifaceted. Few doctors even know that general prolapse of the abdominal cavity (splanchnoptosis) or prolapse of the liver, which is often misdiagnosed as an enlargement, may be due to osteochondrosis of the cervical region. In this case, the phrenic nerve is irritated and the diaphragm dome, contracting, falls down.
As a result, the liver is "pushed" out of the hypochondrium. But there are other, more "common" symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis - pain and muscle tension. We will not talk about the symptoms of hernia and the protrusions of the cervical spine - a separate article is dedicated to this. Let's talk about the clinic that appears with "whole" intervertebral discs, especially since such conditions are much more common.
Cervical osteochondrosis causes pain in the neck itself. Muscle aches are manifested by constant, painful pain of low intensity. It worsens with the turning and tilting of the head. It is often accompanied by stiffness in the sublingual area.
Headaches in cervical osteochondrosis almost always have the nature of a tension headache. The attack lasts for many hours or even days in a row. The pain rises from the neck through the occiput to the temples and covers the skull like a helmet or helmet. With this pain, the ability to work does not suffer, but if the radical symptoms come together, then they acquire a shooting character and it becomes very painful to move the head.
Spinal Artery Syndrome.
Speaking of cervical osteochondrosis, we can not fail to mention this classic manifestation of cerebrovascular insufficiency caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Its symptoms are vomiting and nausea, dizziness and balance disorders. There is noise in the head and ears (tinnitus), in severe cases there is a speech disorder (dysarthria), swallowing disorders. Much more often there are various visual disturbances ("flies"), headache. Sometimes there are seizures, in which a person does not lose consciousness, but falls and then gets up quickly.
Compression of one of the two vertebral arteries can occur during sleep. If a person throws his head back at the same time and turns it to one side, then the vertebral artery is pressed to the first vertebra - the atlas unilaterally, ie from the opposite side.
If you lie like this for a while, then in the morning, when you try to get out of bed, there is intense dizziness, nausea, vomiting, gait disturbances and balance. In some cases, "upper class" disorders also develop - for example, global transient amnesia, in which the patient simply does not remember anything.
Numerous neurological syndromes and symptoms also occur, which we will list only briefly, indicating their diagnostic reference points, so that the reader of the article can imagine and "test" these symptoms on his own if he can not go to a neurologist:
- Lower oblique muscle syndrome of the head (often occurs in patients over 50 years of age, especially in postmenopausal women). There are pains, tenderness disorders in the back of the head, along the ear. Pain is pain, it breaks in nature, both in the neck and in the back of the head, constant and its intensity is associated with prolonged immobility. It grows by turning the head towards the side that is healthy.
- Anterior Scalenus syndrome - occurs in patients with additional "cervical ribs".
There are disorders in sensitivity and "crawling" in the hand, its whitening and cold, sometimes swelling of the hand, the appearance of weakness, scholarship of the muscles of the hand, as well as weakening of the pulse in the wrist. In severe cases, progressive paralysis or paralysis of the arm muscles may occur. Patients can not drive a car, sleep on a sore side, can not lift weights, and also work with their hands up (hanging curtains, plastering). There are also complaints of stiffness and neck pain, forced head position in the morning.
- Middle scapular muscle syndrome. Initially, there is pain in the shoulder, in the area of the shoulder and then the muscle scholarship begins. The mechanism is associated with damage to the long nerve of the trunk and the transverse artery of the neck.
- Shoulder-side syndrome (muscle lift syndrome that lifts the scapula). Initially there are aching pains, in the area of the shoulder, which "buzz". They give in the shoulder, there is also pain in the neck, which often hurts "in time". There is usually a tingling sensation when moving the shoulder.
Thus, it is clear that many processes that began in the neck or in the immediate vicinity of its structures occur "in the periphery", for example, in the area of the hand. This requires a careful and competent approach from the doctor. At present, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis complications has become much simpler, especially with the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging in clinical practice.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervix
Modern treatment of neck pain of vertebral origin and concomitant compression and muscle syndromes provides for short cycles of medication. Treatment of exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis quickly translates into a phase of exacerbation of the flare-up, against which the mainstays of treatment are kinesiotherapy and physiotherapy.
Ointments and medicines for flare-ups
As you know, "injections", ointments and even exclusions have not been canceled. But the neck is the focus of a large number of nerves, blood vessels, autonomic fibers, fascia. Therefore, blockades are performed less often here than with acute back or lower back pain. In addition, the thin skin on the neck allows gels, creams and ointments to be absorbed faster than in the lumbar spine.
Of the drugs, injectable forms of NSAIDs are used, preferably selective, centrally acting muscle relaxants, "B" group vitamins.
We must remember that if NSAIDs are used, then it is imperative to protect the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract by using antisecretory drugs during treatment.
In terms of topical treatment, there are currently many ointments, gels and creams that contain NSAIDs, bee and snake venom, as well as agents that cool and relieve pain. The main thing is not to use too hot ointments. They can cause high blood pressure, redness of the face, and even a hypertensive crisis in old age. Ointment treatment is desirable to carry out prophylactically, without waiting for the next flare-up.
About the Shants collar
In the early stages, in the acute stage, it is necessary to protect the neck from unnecessary movements. The Shants collar is great for that. Many people make two mistakes when buying this collar. They do not choose it according to its size, which is why it simply does not fulfill its function and causes a feeling of discomfort.
The second common mistake is to wear it for precautionary purposes for a long time. This leads to weakness in the neck muscles and only causes more problems. There are only two indications for the collar, in the presence of which it can be worn:
- The appearance of acute neck pain, stiffness and spread of headache.
- If you are going to do physical work in full health, in which there is a risk of "pulling" your neck and getting worse. This is, for example, repairing a car when you lie down under it or washing windows when you need to reach out and make awkward postures.
It is necessary to wear a collar for no more than 2-3 days, as greater use can cause venous stasis in the neck muscles, when it is time to activate the patient.
Patient activation
Kinesiotherapy (movement therapy) includes therapeutic exercises, swimming. Exercise for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not target the discs at all, but the surrounding muscles. Its task is to relieve tonic spasm, improve blood flow and also normalize venous outflow. This is what leads to a reduction in muscle tone, a reduction in the severity of the pain and stiffness in the back.
Along with massage, bathing, acupuncture sessions, the purchase of an orthopedic mattress and a special pillow is indicated. A cushion for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be made of a special material with "shape memory". Its task is to relax the muscles of the neck and subclavian area, as well as to prevent the disruption of blood flow at night in the spine.
Autumn is an important stage in the prevention and treatment of home physiotherapy products and devices - from infrared and magnetic devices to the most common needle applicators and ebonite discs, which are a source of weak currents during massage that have a beneficial effect onpatient.
What's next?
Statistics show that the people of the Mediterranean, who often and at any age swim in the sea, the situation with diseases of the musculoskeletal system is many times better.
However, the basis for the prevention of osteochondrosis, in addition to the elimination of risk factors, it is necessary to establish a healthy diet, which is based on sour milk, plant foods, seafood, fiber and plenty of fluids. This will slow down the age-related intervertebral disc dehydration process and maintain a healthy neck and back until more advanced years.