Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine treatment, symptoms

A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked, "When I started working, there wasn't a single young patient with osteochondrosis at the site. And today, almost every second of those in their thirties has this problem. "

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

Wrong. The intervertebral disc is made up of the nucleus pulposus, the fibrous ring and the hyaline cartilage that covers it from above and below.

With the destruction of these elements, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to carry it is disturbed. As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress adjacent nerve and muscle tissues, grow along the edges, forming the so-called. osteophytes, which emit a characteristic creak when moving (patients mistakenly explain this as "salt deposition").

If the back and neck hurt, then this is exclusively osteochondrosis

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

• Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in people aged 30 to 40 years, in 75-100% of people over 40 years of age.
• These pathological processes account for 20. 4% of the total disability from diseases of the osteoarticular system.
• The long walk is bad for the spine

Vice versa. Motor activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism. In the progression of the disease, hypodynamy and a long stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are "culprits".

Another thing is if an overweight person walks a lot, wears heavy objects, the spine experiences a greater 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 when walking, running, jumping. If the foot does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, the spine receives an additional load, which significantly impairs the nutrition and functioning of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.

Back pain is the only symptom of the disease.

Certainly not that way. As a rule, patients complain of constant aching pain in the back, often accompanied by numbness and pains in the limbs. Over time, if left untreated, the limb muscles atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, muscle spasms appear.

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

1. If a person has coronary or cardiovascular disease, the vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
2. With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, chest pain is disturbing (feeling as if a stake is stuck there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs; with lumbosacral injuries - in the lower back (irradiation to the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes to the pelvic organs).
3. If complications of osteochondrosis develop (herniated intervertebral disc, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), nerve root damage is noted: pain becomes excruciating, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases .
4. Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of various organs and tissues.

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

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

Older people with a sharp turn of the head can lose consciousness. This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea, vomiting.

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

Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other disorders.

Vegetovascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis

Certainly not that way. Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons (by far not the only one) for the development of these diseases.

When the intervertebral discs are "erased" and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina, the vertebral artery canal are narrowed and deformed, and this leads to the violation of various structures.

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

It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis

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

In case of intervertebral disc problems, it is useful for warming the painful points

Wrong. Temperature fluctuations, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathroom), can cause a severe exacerbation. Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatments, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you perform circular movements of the head 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. With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate the vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are essential for treatment

Not really. During the period of remission or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy is carried out (physical, reflex and manual); physical therapy, traction techniques are used. Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, relieving the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).

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

Osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences

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

Exercises to "stretch" the spine help improve the condition

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

Only an orthopedic-traumatologist has the right to cure 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 may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve an exacerbation.

Spinal osteochondrosis: causes and treatment

Up to 76% of people suffer from back pain every year. This statistic applies to people of all ages and professions. 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 becoming more common and it is not always possible to defeat it on your own. Let's talk about why it occurs and how to deal with it.

What is Spinal Osteochondrosis

There are several points of view on the definition. Some experts believe that it is more correct to use the general name: back pain or non-specific back pain.

Difficulties of definition are also associated with the fact that a variety of specialists work with this disease: neurologists, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and general practitioners.

Sometimes a person diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine turns to a cardiologist, since 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 spinal motion segment (as defined by Popelyansky). What is the spinal motion segment? These are two vertebrae located one above the other and between them is an intervertebral disc.

Thanks to this joint, the human spine can bend and stretch, bend and twist. But due to various reasons, the intervertebral discs lose their properties, undergo degeneration, and then gradually the 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 anywhere in the spine.

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

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

The second most common is cervical osteochondrosis, which is most often associated with prolonged 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 disturbances, "flies" flashing in front of the eyes;
• pain can radiate to the back of the head, shoulders, collarbones;
• possible violation of sensitivity in the hands.

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

• back pain in the shoulder blades, chest, which may increase when bending, turning, when inhaling or exhaling;
• skin sensitivity disorders.

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

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

Risk factors and causes of the disease

The spine has a high resistance, and the development of the disease requires the action of several provoking factors at the same time. It is important to understand that most, if not all, of these factors can be influenced by the patient and thus reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

• lack of movement - 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;
• long stay in the wrong, non-physiological position - inappropriate height of the desktop or chair leads to the fact that a person is forced to constantly tilt his head, stoop;
• stress: excessive tension in the muscles can lead to compression of the vessels that feed the spine;
• overweight;
• smoking impairs microcirculation in all body tissues;
• insufficient water and protein intake affects, among other things, the condition of the intervertebral discs.

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

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

People of various professions are at risk for the development of osteochondrosis of the spine. These are builders and athletes, surgeons and employees.

Stages of osteochondrosis and possible complications

The description of the four stages of osteochondrosis of the spinal column was proposed by Osna in 1971. They do not serve to formulate a diagnosis, but allow us to understand how the disease proceeds.

1. The intervertebral discs become less elastic. The disc may be slightly deformed, there is a displacement of the internal nucleus pulposus within the disc. This phase either does not manifest itself in any way or there are small pains.
2. In the second stage, cracks may appear in the disc and the surrounding ligaments may weaken. The connection of the vertebrae becomes unstable. There are acute pain attacks with disabilities.
3. The third stage is characterized by complete damage to the intervertebral disc. When the nucleus pulposus leaves the disc, a herniated disc occurs. Spinal deformities or nerve root entrapment may occur.
4. In the fourth stage, the surrounding tissues are affected: vertebrae, ligaments, spinal membranes. As a result, the vertebral segment can completely lose mobility.

As a result of spinal osteochondrosis, various complications occur in some cases. Problems with the intervertebral discs, hernia and protrusion can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal, compression of the spinal cord, and disability.

Depending on the level of the injury, various problems with nerve root involvement are possible. These are intercostal neuralgia, violations of sensitivity and motor function of the upper and lower extremities, disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or sciatica, not only causes severe pain, but can also lead to pelvic organ disease and infertility.

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

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

In the context of mainstream medicine, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes an examination by a neurologist to determine the degree of damage to the nerve roots, checking reflexes and sensitivity.

Among the instrumental methods can be used:

• Ultrasound of the vessels allows you to identify the degree of circulatory disorders, for example, in the vertebral arteries;
• X-ray of the spine;
• CT also uses radiological methods, but allows the construction of a three-dimensional image of the area under study, to identify even small displacements of the vertebrae;
• MRI specializes in the study of soft tissues, allows you to assess the condition of the spinal cord, visualize the internal structure of the intervertebral disc.

For differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, a general blood and urine test and indicators of calcium metabolism are used.

Osteochondrosis therapy is complex.

• The first and very important tool in the treatment of osteochondrosis is the lifestyle. Normalization of working conditions, moderate and regular exercise and healthy sleep significantly improve the condition of patients.
• For the drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, a neurologist or general practitioner can prescribe drugs. Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed - this is the standard treatment for spinal osteochondrosis. They reduce pain and reduce inflammation. Muscle relaxants help reduce muscle spasm. Vitamins and antioxidants are prescribed to protect nerve tissue from damage. However, all drugs have side effects, for example, NSAIDs can adversely affect the stomach.
• In addition to drugs, physiotherapy is used, for example, massage for osteochondrosis of the spine and manual therapy. In severe complications of osteochondrosis, surgery may be required, but it is prescribed only if there is no effect from long-term conservative treatment.

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

Therefore, a number of drugs, in particular analgesics and muscle relaxants (especially with a sedative effect), can be addictive, and some drugs adversely affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

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

Traditional Chinese medicine is widespread all over the world, in many countries there are special centers and training courses. Approaches and methods of therapy in the Celestial Empire differ from the usual European view of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

All diseases are considered a violation of the balance and movement of Qi energy in the body, and therapeutic measures are aimed at restoring this balance. Various medicinal herbs, animal components, minerals and various methods of external influence such as acupuncture and acupressure are used in China.

These techniques have a wide range of indications and a minimal number of side effects.

Acupuncture

The synonymous names of this method are acupuncture, reflexology. The principle of treatment through acupuncture is to place the needles on the bioactive points. Each point is associated with the organ on which the impact is made.

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

And in the case of using gold or silver coated needles, they must be sterilized without fail. Feelings during the procedure depend on individual susceptibility, the patient may experience tingling or numbness.

It is important that the procedure is performed by a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Improper needle placement will be useless or even harmful. In some cases, acupuncture is combined with exposure to low doses of electric current.

Moxibustion

This is a specific way to influence the active points with the help of special absinthe cigars. The principle of action is similar to acupuncture and is often used in combination. A smoking cigar is installed on the body in a special wooden house, while the active points are heated. Absinthe has a disinfecting, soothing and relaxing effect.

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

Massage

Massage therapy in China is practiced by several schools. They use rotation techniques, pressing with a finger, manual therapy methods. Traditional massage techniques allow you to train muscles and joints, as well as indirectly affect other organs and tissues and help increase the body's defenses.

qigong

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

Qigong techniques require no special equipment and can be performed at home.

However, before that, it is better to choose the right exercises with your doctor, as well as work out the correct technique of execution under the guidance of a qualified specialist.

The level of science and medicine in China is very high, the combination of tradition and innovation gives surprising results. An example of the success of Chinese science are DNA therapy methods and DNA vaccines: these are the methods currently used to develop cancer treatments and fight HIV.

Spinal osteochondrosis in the elderly. Features of rehabilitation

People age differently: some keep a clear mind, are optimistic about life situations and are cheerful. Others, after retirement age, lose interest in life.

• The aging rate of the body depends on many factors, these are:
• 1) the genetic program for the development and decay of the organism;
• 2) the impact on a person of various adverse life events.
• A negative effect on a person is produced by poor housing conditions, harmful working conditions, living in an unfavorable climate, the inability to receive full-fledged medical and social assistance in time, an unhealthy lifestyle (malnutrition, bad habits and prolonged emotional stress).
• When organizing treatment and rehabilitation measures for the elderly, it is necessary to take into account functional and age-related changes in this period of life.
• With aging, the volume of muscle mass decreases, the contractility of the muscles weakens, changes occur in all parts of the spine.

Cervical osteochondrosis. The primary 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 the violation of the blood circulation of the brain, which leads to a general disturbance of functions and the formation of numerous foci of necrosis of the brain tissues.

Prevention

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

• drink enough water;
• control weight, do not overeat;
• choose the right shoes, if necessary - orthopedic insoles;
• choose a good mattress to sleep, not very soft and that gives sufficient support to the spine;
• eat foods rich in collagen (fish, turkey, aspic, various jellies);
• getting regular exercise;
• adjust the height of the desktop and chair, taking into account the growth.

As for the 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 addressed. To change your lifestyle, it is not necessary to wait for the first signs of the disease.

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

And 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 the health and joy of movement.