Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, symptoms

A therapist with 50 years of experience once noted: "When I started, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis on the floor. And today, almost every second 30-year-old has this problem. "

Osteochondrosis - a disease caused by the deposition of salts in the spine

Wrong. The intervertebral disc consists of the nucleus pulposus, the annulus fibrosus, and the hyaline cartilage that surrounds it above and below.

The destruction of these elements disrupts the balance between the load on the spine and its ability to carry it. As a result, the vertebra begins to compress the neighboring nerve and muscle tissues, grows along the edges, the so-called formation. osteophytes, which leave a characteristic crunch when moving (patients mistakenly explain this as "salt deposition").

If the back and neck ache, it is only osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of back pain. This diagnosis is often made by patients themselves. However, in addition to this pathology, which is included in the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also arthrosis and osteoporosis, and it is possible to distinguish them only after a comprehensive examination.

• Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in 30-40-year-olds, in 75-100% of cases in people over 40 years old.
• These pathological processes account for 20. 4% of total disability from osteoarticular system diseases.
• Long walks are bad for the spine

On the contrary. Motor activity has a beneficial effect on the activity of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, maintains intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism. In the development of the disease, hypodynamia and staying in one place for a long time, especially an uncomfortable situation, are "guilty".

Another thing, if an overweight person walks a lot, wears heavy things, the spine experiences an increased load.

Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis

Right. The arches of the foot, as well as the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads during walking, running, and jumping. If the foot does not provide the necessary protection when interacting with the support, it receives an additional load that significantly disrupts the nutrition and activity of the spinal column structures and accelerates the development of the disease.

Back pain is the only symptom of the disease.

Not in this way. As a rule, patients complain of constant aching pain in the back, often accompanied by numbness and pain in the limbs. Over time, if not treated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, muscle spasms appear.

Such an acute condition occurs due to arterial spasm in response to the effect of bone growths, as well as disc herniation, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, reflex reaction to irritation of spinal receptors.

1. If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, then vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
2. With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, the pain in the chest is uncomfortable (it feels as if a stake is stuck there) - in the region of the heart and other internal organs; with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (radiation to the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes pelvic organs).
3. If complications of osteochondrosis develop (ruptured intervertebral discs, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondylarrosis), then damage to the nerve root is noted - pain turns into fever, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the intensity of reflexes decreases.
4. Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of various organs and tissues.

With osteochondrosis, the risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellar, trunk and occipital regions of the brain increases.

A constant headache appears - first at the back of the head, then spreading to the crown and temples, aggravated by neck movements (more often in the morning).

Elderly people with a sharp turn of the head may lose consciousness. Before that, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea, vomiting.

Sometimes there is pain in the region of the heart - long, oppressive, dull. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in the elderly and old age, soft tissues often change - they become denser.

Degenerative processes in the spine can lead to obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is full of inflammation and other diseases.

Vegetovascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis

Not in this way. Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons for the development of these diseases (so far it is not the only one).

When the intervertebral discs are "erased" and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina, the channel of the vertebral artery narrows and deforms, which leads to the disruption of various structures.

In particular, when the nerve roots are compressed, symptoms of intercostal neuralgia appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, the same symptoms as vegetative-vascular dystonia appear.

Osteochondrosis cannot be cured

Indeed, the structures of the spinal column that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored. Nevertheless, adequate complex treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of the pathology and avoid complications.

When there are problems with the intervertebral discs, it is useful to heat the painful areas

Wrong. Changes in temperature, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's visit to the bathhouse), can cause a serious flare-up. Average heat procedures are used in complex treatment, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you make circular head movements with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, your health will deteriorate.

Right. These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain range of motion in the intervertebral joints. Careless circular movements with severe osteochondrosis can cause vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are important for treatment

Not really. During the period of remission or if the pain is not strong, conservative therapy is carried out (physio-, reflex- and manual); physical therapy, stretching techniques are used. Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injection).

Among the most effective agents are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain; with severe pain, novocaine blockades are used; steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injection); NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritant effects; muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms; B vitamins - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).

Osteochondrosis can cause serious consequences

Yes. Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteochondrosis can cause paralysis, and if the vertebral artery is damaged, it can cause loss of consciousness.

Exercises to "stretch" the spine help to improve the condition

Stretching or traction allows to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine. However, the individual load must be properly calculated. "Busting" can lead to reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.

Only a traumatologist-orthopedic has the right to treat osteochondrosis

Wrong. Most patients are seen by a neurologist, with a significant severity of the pathology - by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic vertebrologist.

A local therapist can also prescribe medication to relieve the exacerbation.

Spinal osteochondrosis: causes and treatment

Up to 76% of people experience back pain each year. This statistic affects people of all ages and occupations. The causes of pain can be different, one of them is osteochondrosis of the spine.

Due to a sedentary lifestyle, osteochondrosis of the spine is more common, and it is not always possible to defeat it alone. Let's talk about why this happens and how to deal with it.

What is spinal osteochondrosis?

There are several different views on the definition. Some experts believe that it is more correct to use the general name - dorsalgia or non-specific back pain.

Difficulties in definition are also associated with the work of different specialists - neurologists, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and general practitioners.

Sometimes a person diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine consults a cardiologist, because the manifestations of the disease are very similar to pain in the heart.

The term "osteochondrosis of the spine" was proposed by Hildebrandt in 1933 as a multifactorial degenerative disease of the motion segment of the spine (defined by Popelyansky). What is the motion segment of the spine? These are two vertebrae located on top of each other, with an intervertebral disc between them.

Thanks to this articulation, the human spine can bend and unfold, bend and twist. But as a result of various reasons, the intervertebral discs lose their properties, undergo degeneration, and then gradual changes affect the vertebrae themselves.

That is, the essence of osteochondrosis of the spine is the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs.

Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine.

Due to the heavy load, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common. The symptoms are:

• lower back pain, which may be sharp or dull, constant, may increase with movement;
• pain can be given to the legs, pelvic organs, sacrum;
• in severe cases, there may be impaired sensitivity or mobility, atrophy of the muscles of the lower extremities.

The second most common is cervical osteochondrosis, which is associated with a long-term uncomfortable position of the head, for example, when working on a computer or with documents. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is manifested by the following symptoms:

• headache and dizziness, migraine;
• visual or hearing disorders, flashing "flies" before the eyes;
• pain can spread to the back of the head, shoulders, collarbones;
• possible violation of sensitivity in the hands.

Less often, osteochondrosis affects the thoracic spine, because the vertebrae are passively connected to each other. A lesion in this area can masquerade as heart or lung disease. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine:

• chest pain in the back at the level of the shoulder blades, which may increase during bending, turning, inhalation or exhalation;
• disorders of skin sensitivity.

Regardless of the level of damage, pain in osteochondrosis of the spine can increase with pressure on the vertebrae involved in the process.

With the defeat of several departments, we can immediately talk about widespread osteochondrosis of the spine.

Risk factors and causes of the disease

The spine has high strength, and the development of the disease requires the action of several inciting factors at once. It is important to understand that most, if not all, of these factors can be controlled by the patient, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing the disease.

• lack of movement - this worsens the blood supply and therefore the nutrition of all elements of the spine;
• excessive physical activity is also harmful and can damage the intervertebral discs;
• not physiological, staying in the wrong position for a long time - the inappropriate height of the desk or chair causes a person to constantly have to bend his head, stoop;
• stress - excessive tension in the muscles can cause compression of the vessels feeding the spinal column;
• overweight;
• smoking disrupts microcirculation in all tissues of the body;
• insufficient intake of water and protein, among other things, affects the condition of the intervertebral discs.

The immediate causes of osteochondrosis of the spine are not always clear, but the following options can be distinguished:

• hereditary predisposition - genetically programmed characteristics of cartilage and bone tissue, where the wear process is faster;
• spinal injuries - various complications can develop at the injury site, including osteochondrosis;
• occupational hazards such as vibration;
• exposure to infections or chemicals;
• natural aging of the body.

Various professions are at risk for the development of osteochondrosis of the spine. These are builders and athletes, surgeons and office workers.

Stages of osteochondrosis and possible complications

The description of four stages of osteochondrosis of the spine was proposed by Osna in 1971. They are not used to make a diagnosis, but allow us to understand how the disease progresses.

1. Intervertebral discs become less elastic. The disc may be slightly deformed, with displacement of the internal nucleus pulposus within the disc. This stage is either not manifested at all, or there are small pains.
2. In the second stage, cracks may appear on the disc, the surrounding ligaments may weaken. The connection of the vertebrae becomes unstable. There are acute pain attacks with disability.
3. The third stage is characterized by complete damage to the intervertebral disc. A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus pulposus separates from the disc. Spinal deformity or nerve root compression may occur.
4. In the fourth stage, surrounding tissues are affected - vertebrae, ligaments, spinal membranes. As a result, the vertebral segment can completely lose its mobility.

As a result of osteochondrosis of the spine, various complications occur in some cases. Intervertebral disc problems, herniations, and protrusions can cause narrowing of the spinal canal, compression of the spinal cord, and disability.

Depending on the level of the lesion, various problems with the involvement of nerve roots are possible. These are intercostal neuralgia, disturbance of sensitivity and motor function of upper and lower limbs, disturbances in the work of internal organs. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve or sciatica not only causes severe pain, but can also cause pelvic diseases and infertility.

In addition to nerve roots, osteochondrosis can compress vertebral vessels. If the blood flow in the vertebral arteries that pass through the cervical region and feed the brain is disturbed, brain disorders, problems with vision or hearing, breathing or heart function may occur.

Approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis: traditional and alternative methods

In the framework of official medicine, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes an examination by a neurologist to determine the degree of damage to the nerve roots, to check reflexes and sensitivity.

The following instrumental methods can be used:

• Vascular ultrasound, for example, allows determining the degree of circulatory disorders in the vertebral arteries;
• X-ray of the spine;
• CT also uses radiological methods, but allows to build a three-dimensional image of the studied area, to determine even small displacements of the vertebrae;
• MRI specializes in the study of soft tissues, allows to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, visualize the internal structure of the intervertebral disc.

Laboratory tests, general blood and urine tests, indicators of calcium metabolism are used for differential diagnosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis is complicated.

• The first and very important tool in the treatment of osteochondrosis is lifestyle. Normalization of working conditions, moderate and regular exercise, as well as healthy sleep significantly improve the condition of patients.
• A neurologist or general practitioner can prescribe drugs for drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed - this is the standard treatment for spinal osteochondrosis. They relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Muscle relaxants help reduce muscle spasm. Vitamins and antioxidants are prescribed to protect nerve tissue from damage. However, any drug has side effects, for example, NSAIDs can have a negative effect on the stomach.
• In addition to drugs, physiotherapy is used, for example, massage for osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as manual therapy. In severe complications of osteochondrosis, surgical intervention may be required, but it is prescribed only if long-term conservative treatment does not have an effect.

Treatment of osteochondrosis in classical medicine is in most cases a long process and can have a negative impact on human health.

Thus, a number of drugs, especially analgesics and muscle relaxants (especially with a sedative effect), can be addictive, and some drugs have a negative effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Alternatively, you can consider methods used in, for example, traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine is very popular all over the world, with special centers and training courses in many countries. Treatment approaches and methods in the Heavenly Empire differ from the conventional, European view of disease diagnosis and treatment.

All diseases are considered as disturbances in the balance and movement of Qi energy in the body, and therapeutic measures are aimed at restoring this balance. In China, various medicinal plants, animal components, minerals, as well as various external methods such as acupuncture and acupressure are used.

These methods have a wide range of indications and a minimum number of side effects.

Acupuncture

The synonymous names of this method are acupuncture, reflexology. The principle of acupuncture treatment is the insertion of needles into bioactive points. Each point is associated with the organ on which the effect is carried out.

Reflexology allows you to relieve tension and muscle spasms, has an anesthetic effect, helps reduce pain. The method is safe because most doctors use disposable sterile needles.

If gold or silver-plated needles are used, they must be sterilized. Sensations during the procedure depend on individual sensitivity, the patient may feel tingling or numbness.

It is important that the procedure is carried out by a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Incorrect needle placement will be useless or even harmful. In some cases, acupuncture is combined with low-dose electric current exposure.

Moxibustion

This is a special method of influencing active points with the help of special wormwood cigars. The principle of action is similar to acupuncture and is often used in combination. While the active points are heated, a burning cigar is installed on the body in a special wooden house. Wormwood has a disinfecting, calming and relaxing effect.

This method is safe because the glowing part of the cigar does not come into contact with the skin, although in some parts of China direct methods that affect the skin are used.

Massage

In China, massage therapy is practiced by several different schools. They use rotation techniques, one-finger pressure, and manual therapy techniques. Traditional massage methods allow you to exercise muscles and joints, and also indirectly affect other organs and tissues and help to increase the body's defenses.

qigong

Traditional Chinese gymnastics, like massage, has several schools. Qigong movements, smooth, stretching and twisting, are excellent as exercises for the spine with osteochondrosis.

Qigong technique does not require special equipment and can be performed at home.

But before that, it is better to choose the right exercises with your doctor, and also to prepare the right execution technique under the guidance of a qualified specialist.

The level of science and medicine in China is very high, the combination of tradition and innovation produces amazing results. Examples of the achievements of Chinese science include DNA therapy techniques and DNA vaccines - which are currently used in the treatment of cancer and the fight against HIV.

Osteochondrosis of the spine in the elderly. Features of rehabilitation

People age differently: some remain clear-headed, optimistic about life situations, and cheerful. Others pass retirement age and lose interest in life.

• The rate at which the body ages depends on many factors, including:
• 1) genetic program for the development and decay of the organism;
• 2) the impact of various, negative life events on a person.
• Bad housing conditions, harmful working conditions, living in an unfavorable climate, not being able to receive full medical and social assistance in time, unhealthy lifestyle (nutrition, bad habits, long-term emotional stress) create a negative impact on a person. ).
• When organizing treatment and rehabilitation measures for the elderly, it is necessary to take into account age-related and functional changes during this period of life.
• With aging, the volume of muscle mass decreases, muscle contractility weakens, and changes occur in all parts of the spine.

Cervical osteochondrosis. The initial stage of the disease does not require special treatment. Standard preventive measures are able to cope with the pathology at this stage.

The greatest danger is a violation of the blood circulation of the brain, which leads to a general impairment of functions and the formation of numerous necrosis foci of brain tissues.

Prevention

Regardless of the selected treatment methods, the prevention of osteochondrosis plays an equally important role. What can be done for the health of the spine:

• drink enough water;
• control weight, do not overeat;
• choose the right shoes, if necessary - orthopedic insoles;
• choose a good mattress for sleeping that is not too soft and provides enough support for the spine;
• eat foods rich in collagen (fish, turkey, aspic, various jellies);
• exercise regularly;
• adjust the height of the desk and chair, taking into account growth.

When it comes to alternative methods of prevention, massage, qigong and acupuncture have all worked well for reasons that are quite understandable and described above.

It is important to remember that back pain can and should be treated. You don't have to wait for the first symptoms of the disease to change your lifestyle.

Now you can get up from the computer, stretch your neck, add walks or massages to your to-do list.

If osteochondrosis of the spine has become a problem that prevents you from living in peace, the joint efforts of science and traditional medicine will help restore health and joy of movement.