Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis: how to deal with pain?

In the human neck there is a huge number of nerve bundles and blood vessels that ensure the normal functioning of the brain and sensory organs.The most common cause of pinching is cervical osteochondrosis, a dangerous degenerative disease of cartilage and bone tissue, accompanied by severe pain, deterioration of hearing, vision and cognitive functions, feeling of numbness in the face and gradual loss of working capacity.

If you experience pain and stiffness when turning your head, frequent dizziness or weakness in your arms, it's time to think about treatment for cervical osteochondrosis.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis has its characteristics due to its anatomical structure.The vertebrae of the cervical spine are smaller than the lumbar and even thoracic ones and are also subjected to a constant static load (the weight of the head).During the day, loads can be expressed while maintaining the same posture, for example, reading documents or working on the computer.At night, the neck is also often deprived of rest due to a non-physiological sleeping position and an uncomfortable pillow (the head either "stuck" on the pillow, or it is a point of support and suffers pressure).As a result of this prepathological condition, the so-called muscle overtraining occurs.Some muscle groups are subjected to excessive stress and therefore need a longer period of rest and recovery, but they do not receive them - after all, no one canceled the program.

All this causes constant tension in some muscle groups and dystrophic changes in others, and often leads to the appearance of a "turtle neck" (a person bends, while the head protrudes forward and the neck forms a characteristic deflection).In such a situation, the weight of the head falls on the atlas, the first cervical vertebra.He is forced to take on that part of the load that the neck muscles bear during normal physical development.But the fact is that it is not at all suitable for such a task!

Additional factors that can accelerate the wear of intervertebral cartilage in the cervical spine often include:

• age-related and hormonal changes - most often after 45 years (inorganic substances predominate over organic ones, which reduces the flexibility of bones and causes their mineralization, and the destruction of bone tissue occurs faster than its growth);
• injuries to the neck and other parts of the spine;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• congenital anomalies of the musculoskeletal system and acquired postural disorders;
• physical inactivity (after all, the intervertebral joints of the neck are the most mobile and a variety of loads are necessary for their health);
• smoking and other bad habits.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis

The stage of cervical osteochondrosis is established based on diagnostic criteria.These include the patient's sensations, palpation, assessment of neck mobility, as well as cleanliness of the joint space between the vertebrae and other indicators on an x-ray.Depending on the stage of the disease, the orthopedic doctor selects treatment for osteochondrosis of the neck, preventive measures and, if necessary, support of orthoses.

1st degree cervical osteochondrosis

Grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis is also called preclinical stage.Patients, as a rule, ignore the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, and treatment is not carried out due to their mild severity.They are attributed to tiredness after a working day, an uncomfortable sleeping position, stress, migraines and various diseases.Patients feel:

• neck stiffness, especially in the morning or after a long stay in the same position;
• pain when turning the head sharply;
• frequent headaches (even when the weather changes).

At this stage of the disease, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is more likely, since their symptoms are more pronounced.This is due both to the specifics of work and physical activity (for example, working in the office during the day, and bending over the sink or doing the child's homework in the evening), and to hormonal and anatomical characteristics (lower muscle mass and bone mineral density).In the preclinical phase, women are particularly characterized by pressure surges, numbness and paleness of the skin (especially on the face), tendency to fainting and dizziness, nausea and some other symptoms of cerebral hypoxia.

Most often, symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis appear in patients aged 45 to 65 years, but with chronic fatigue, excessive physical activity and other risk factors, they can appear quite early, starting from 25 years old.

At this stage, the disease can be completely defeated with the help of therapeutic exercises, ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, training in the orthopedic regime and normalization of nutrition.

2nd degree cervical osteochondrosis

In the 2nd stage of the disease, the height of the intervertebral cartilage, which plays the role of a shock-absorbing covering between the vertebrae, begins to decrease.For this reason, microtraumas to the neck often occur during sharp turns, jumps or excessive loads.Protrusion (swelling) of the intervertebral discs and radicular syndrome (compression of the nerve endings) also appear.
These changes cause severe pain, both in the head and neck.The ability to concentrate, the speed of thinking and the sensitivity of the face and hands decrease.Patients complain of increased fatigue and irritability.At this stage, effective pharmacological treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is already necessary.

3rd degree of cervical osteochondrosis

Severe, sharp pain is constant and may radiate to the arms, upper back, or back of the head.One or both of the patient's arms tire quickly.The process begins to spread to nearby joints due to disruption of the natural compensatory functions of the spine.The patient has difficulty or cannot turn his head due to the formation of bone growths - osteophytes, as well as the fact that cartilage is replaced by connective tissue.Each movement, if possible, is accompanied by a rough crunch.The neck loses mobility, its muscles atrophy.Hernias often form and cracks appear on the vertebrae.There is a ringing in the ears.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out comprehensively, taking into account the patient's age, build, profession, level of physical fitness, his lifestyle and the presence of concomitant diseases.Therefore, the appropriateness of specific therapeutic measures in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women and men should be determined by the attending physician.

Physiotherapy for cervical osteochondrosis

To relieve pain, relieve inflammation, improve nerve conduction and nourish the brain, the following physiotherapeutic methods are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis:

• ultrasound therapy and phonophoresis: have a warming effect, improve the effect of external drugs;
• electrophoresis – improves the effect of administered drugs, has a stimulating and warming effect;
• shock wave therapy (SWT) – activates blood supply, relieves inflammation and improves the regeneration processes of bone and cartilage tissue;
• electromyostimulation – improves mobility and resistance of the neck and arms, relieves pain;
• cold and ozone therapy: reduces pain and inflammation, helps reduce the dosage of corticosteroid drugs;
• physical therapy and kinesitherapy – strengthens neck muscles, improves blood circulation and metabolism, maintains neck mobility;
• manual therapy and mechanical traction (traction) – helps to get rid of tension and pain;
• acupuncture – helps maintain mobility and sensitivity of the nerves;
• paraffin applications: stimulate metabolic processes, reduce pain.

Sanatorium methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis are effective and beneficial, for example, balneotherapy (hydrogen sulfide, radon and turpentine baths), hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches).

Massage in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck

Therapeutic massage, lymphatic drainage and physiotherapy have a positive effect on the intervertebral discs, bone tissue, muscles and ligaments of the cervical spine.Some movements can be performed independently, for example, rubbing the cervical neck, parotid area and shoulders, massaging the neck with the fingers and edge of the palm, tapping, stroking and upward movements along the back of the neck.In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, a circular massage of the back of the head would be useful, as well as a warming massage for the collarbone area, shoulders and upper back.Massage before physical therapy exercises is particularly effective.You can combine it with the application of an ointment to treat cervical osteochondrosis.

For osteochondrosis of the neck, hydromassage is also recommended, a physiotherapeutic technique that improves metabolism, inhibits fibrous growth, helps get rid of headaches and improves nerve conduction.

Physical therapy for cervical osteochondrosis

Lack of adequate physical activity on the muscles of the neck and back is the main reason for the development and further progression of cervical osteochondrosis.Therefore, daily exercises are used both for the prevention and treatment of this disease (but not for the treatment of exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis!).Remember that the exercises must be performed at least 3-5 times a day (1 time in the morning, after waking up).All movements should be smooth, without jerks.If you feel pain while performing the exercise, stop it, and if performing the entire complex is painful for you, contact an orthopedist for drug treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, and also visit a physiotherapy instructor.

You can perform the following exercises every day (5-7 repetitions):

1. Press the palm of your hand on your forehead and tense your neck, trying to move the palm of your hand with your forehead.Repeat this exercise for the back of the head and then, in turn, for the right and left temple.
2. Tilt your head back and then slowly lower it, pressing your chin to your chest.
3. Stand straight and turn your head as far to the left as possible.Repeat the exercise on the right side.
4. Tilt your head back and try to touch your ear to your shoulder.Repeat on both sides.
5. Lower your chin to the jugular notch and turn your head first in one direction (5 times or more) then, in the same way, in the other.

Warming up the shoulders, like the “mill”, will also come in handy.Daily exercises in the early stages of the disease help to do without pills for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

Note: If you have already been diagnosed with osteochondrosis, you should not describe your head in a full circle, because it can be traumatic.

Medicines and preparations for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Starting from the 2nd stage of the disease, drugs are used to treat exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis.But it will not be possible to control the disease with the help of pharmacotherapy alone, so it is important to combine the drugs and drugs listed below for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy and the use of orthoses (for example, the Shants collar).

Chondroprotectors for cervical osteochondrosis

Chondroprotectors activate the regeneration processes of cartilage and bone tissue and are therefore excellent as a supportive treatment in osteochondrosis of the neck.They are taken for 3-6 months.They are produced both in the form of tablets for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, and in the form of sachets, injections and capsules.

To consolidate remission and treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, doctors recommend chondroprotective drugs.

Anti-inflammatory drugs for cervical osteochondrosis

Anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs) and steroidal (hormonal).Both groups are taken in short courses as prescribed by the doctor - in the form of tablets for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis or intramuscular injections.Steroids are used in the later stages of the disease, when the pain cannot be overcome otherwise.

Antispasmodics and angioprotectors

In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis it is important to protect the central nervous system, which is at risk with this disease.Therefore, for effective drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, doctors recommend taking:

1. Antispasmodics.
2. Angioprotectors.
3. Nootropics, amino acids and vitamin complexes for the brain.

External heating agents

Warming gels, creams and ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis improve blood flow, relieve inflammation and distract the patient from pain.

Diet in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be classified as so-called.“diseases of the whole body”.Therefore, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the diet has two goals: to saturate the body with nutrients and limiting substances that contribute to dehydration, mineralization of the joints and their destruction.

Therefore, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a special place in the diet should be given to:

1. Poultry, lean meat, game, liver and offal.
2. Seafood – fish, molluscs, crustaceans, edible seaweed.
3. Eggs and dairy products.
4. Whole grains and legumes: oats, wheat (including sprouted wheat), brown rice, beans, peas.
5. Vegetables: carrots, spinach, peppers, broccoli, lettuce and others.
6. Fruit: apricots, bananas, citrus fruits, plums, apples, avocados, peaches, pomegranates.
7. Nuts.
8. Any berries (fresh, dried, frozen) and dried fruits.

But it is better to completely exclude marinades, savory dishes, fast food, semi-finished products and sausages.It is also important to reduce white bread, potatoes, sweets (except dark chocolate and dried fruit), carbonated drinks and coffee “from bags” in the menu: this will reduce the need for drug treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.