It has already been written and repeatedly said that osteochondrosis of the cervical, cervico-thoracic and lumbar spine is not a disease in itself. This, if you will, is our "species curse. "Man, as a biological species, has been walking on two legs for only a few million years or less. This, from an evolutionary perspective, is still the "middle of the road". It is not known what new anatomical variants of spinal development we will come to in a million years.
Currently, osteochondrosis is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, and doctors of various specialties face it. Most often these are therapists and neurologists, because with the complication of osteochondrosis, a variety of neurological syndromes can occur, which will be discussed below.
Osteochondrosis - what is it?
You should not say the words "osteochondrosis is common", because it 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 older people who are vigorous, mobile, have good posture and are not overweight. They do gymnastics, swim, avoid heavy lifting and lead what can be called a "healthy lifestyle".
If we talk about osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, as a disease we always talk about its complicated course, which causes various complaints and symptoms. And in this, the cervical spine is more vulnerable than other underlying departments. 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 they are less massive.
All this makes lesions of the cervical region with complications of osteochondrosis more pronounced. Proximity to the head leads to the appearance of headaches, which, of course, does not occur with lesions of the lumbar region. In addition, it should be remembered 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 channel compression syndromes, the patient may have paralysis of the arms and legs, up to complete immobility, decreased skin sensitivity throughout the body, and dysfunction of the pelvic organs. All this can currently make a person disabled, for example, with a fracture of the cervical vertebrae (diving on the head in small, unfamiliar places).
Of course, these complex injuries are not related to osteochondrosis: patients are much more likely to be bothered by other symptoms. How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine? It is impossible to cure it. To do this, from childhood, it is enough to refuse to move on two legs, and crawl on all fours, or live in the ocean, like dolphins. Only then will the load on the intervertebral discs be minimal, if not completely absent.
Only exacerbations of osteochondrosis can be cured, and for this you need to know not only their signs and symptoms, but also risk factors.
About risk factors
In the case of the cervical spine, obviously, lifting weights on the shoulder will not play such a significant role in causing the 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:
- Flat feet, both longitudinal and transverse. The spine is a flexible, curved rod. In the event that the arch of the foot does not dampen, and during the step there is no "elastic" movement of the spine downwards, but a blow, then this blow with a "wave", like a whip, rises and goes out precisely in the cervical region, at the place of the cranio-vertebral transition. That's where all the energy goes. Therefore, running with flat feet leads to pronounced changes in the intervertebral discs.
- Chronic injury. First of all, it is about slipping on the ice in winter, falling on the back of the head, as well as constantly banging your head on low doors, which is often found in people whosesize is above average.
- Wearing heavy winter hats, high hairstyles and an abundance of women's jewelry. All this leads to fatigue of the neck muscles, the appearance of their chronic spasms, circulatory disorders and the development of headaches and back pain.
- A sedentary lifestyle, "sedentary" work, the presence of stiffness in the upper part of the thoracic and cervical spine.
We will not list the specific risk factors that occur in sick patients. Enough are the reasons for the deterioration of the condition that are found in ordinary, healthy people.
Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are very multifaceted. Few doctors even know that the general prolapse of the abdominal cavity (splanchnoptosis) or prolapse of the liver, which is often misdiagnosed as its increase, may be due to osteochondrosis of the cervical region. In this case, the phrenic nerve is irritated and the dome of the diaphragm, contracting, falls.
As a result, the liver is "pushed" out of the hypochondrium. But there are other, more "usual" symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis - pain and muscle tension. We will not talk about the symptoms of hernias and protrusions of the cervical spine - a separate article is devoted to this. Let's talk about the clinic that occurs with "whole" intervertebral discs, especially since such situations are much more common.
Cervical osteochondrosis causes pain in the neck itself. Muscle aches are manifested by constant, aching pains of low intensity. It is aggravated by turning and tilting the head. Often accompanied by stiffness in the suboccipital region.
Headaches in osteochondrosis of the cervical region are almost always in the nature of a tension headache. The attack lasts several hours and even several 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 root symptoms join it, then they acquire a nagging character and it becomes very painful to move the head.
"Vertebral artery" syndrome
Speaking of cervical osteochondrosis, one cannot 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 a noise in the head and in the ears (tinnitus), in severe cases there is a speech disorder (dysarthria), swallowing disorders. Much more often there are various visual disturbances ("flies"), headaches. Sometimes there are falling attacks, during which a person does not lose consciousness, but falls, and then quickly gets up.
Compression of one of the two vertebral arteries can occur during sleep. In the event that a person simultaneously throws his head back and turns it to one side, then the vertebral artery is pressed against the first vertebra - the atlas contralaterally, that is, on the opposite side.
If you lie like this for a while, then in the morning, when you try to get out of bed, you experience severe dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty walking and balance. In some cases, "higher-order" disorders also develop - for example, transient global amnesia, in which the patient simply does not remember anything.
Many neurological syndromes and symptoms also appear, which we will only briefly mention, indicating their diagnostic benchmarks, so that the reader of the article can imagine and "try" these symptoms for himself if he cannot. go to a neurologist:
- Syndrome of the inferior oblique muscle of the head (often occurs in patients over 50, especially in women after menopause). There are pains, disturbances of sensitivity in the back of the head, along the auricle. The pain is aching, breaking in nature, both in the neck and in the back of the head, constant, and its intensification is associated with prolonged immobility. Increased by turning the head to the healthy side;
- Anterior Scalenus syndrome - manifests in patients with additional "cervical ribs".
There are disorders of sensitivity and "crawling" of the hand, its whiteness and coldness, sometimes swelling of the hand, the appearance of weakness, hypotrophy of the muscles of the hand, as well as aweakening of the pulse at the wrist. In severe cases, progressive paralysis or paresis of the hand muscles may occur. Patients cannot drive a car, sleep on their sore side, cannot lift weights, and also work with their hands up (hanging curtains, plastering). There are also complaints of stiffness and pain in the neck, a forced head position in the morning.
- Middle scalene muscle syndrome. First there are pains in the shoulder, in the region of the scapula, then muscle hypotrophy begins there. The mechanism is associated with damage to the long nerve of the trunk and the transverse artery of the neck;
- Shoulder-costal syndrome (levator syndrome of the muscle that lifts the scapula). First, aching pains appear, at the level of the scapula, which "buzz". They give in the shoulder, there are also pains in the neck, which often hurt "over time". A cracking sound is usually heard when moving the scapula.
Thus, it is clear that many processes that began in the neck or in the immediate vicinity of its structures appear "on the periphery", for example, in the hand. This requires a thoughtful and competent approach from the doctor. Currently, the diagnosis of complications of osteochondrosis has become much simpler, especially with the introduction of MRI into clinical practice.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Modern therapy for neck pain of vertebrogenic origin and associated compression and muscle syndromes provides short-term treatments. Treatment of exacerbations of osteochondrosis of the cervical region quickly results in a phase of decreasing exacerbation, against which the main methods of treatment are physiotherapy and physiotherapy.
Ointments and drugs for exacerbation
As you know, "injections", ointments and even blockages were not canceled. But the neck is the center of a huge number of nerves, blood vessels, autonomic fibers, fascia. Therefore, blockages are performed less frequently here than with sharp pains in the back or lower back. In addition, the thin skin of the neck allows gels, creams and ointments to be absorbed more quickly than in the lumbar spine.
Among the drugs used are injectable forms of NSAIDs, preferably centrally acting selective muscle relaxants, vitamins of group "B".
It should be remembered that if NSAIDs are used, it is imperative to protect the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract using antisecretory drugs during treatment.
As for local treatment, there are currently many ointments, gels and creams containing NSAIDs, bee and snake venom, as well as cooling and pain-relieving agents. The main thing is not to use very hot ointments. They can cause increased blood pressure, facial flushing, and even hypertensive crisis in older people. It is desirable that treatment with ointments be carried out prophylactically, without waiting for the next exacerbation.
About the collar shants
In the early stages, in the acute stage, it is necessary to protect the neck from unnecessary movements. The Shants collar is ideal for this. Many people make two mistakes when buying this necklace. They do not choose it based on its size, which is why it simply does not perform its function and causes a feeling of discomfort.
The second common mistake is to wear it for prophylactic purposes for a long time. This leads to weak 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 sharp pains in the neck, stiffness and spread of pain to the head;
- 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, fixing a car when you lie under it or washing windows when you have to reach out and take awkward positions.
It is necessary to wear a collar for no more than 2-3 days, since longer wearing can cause venous stasis in the muscles of the neck, at a time when it is time to activate the patient.
Activation of the patient
Physiotherapy (movement therapy) includes therapeutic exercises, swimming. Gymnastics for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is not aimed at the discs at all, but at the surrounding muscles. Its task is to relieve tonic spasms, improve blood flow and normalize venous outflow. This is what leads to a decrease in muscle tone, a decrease in the intensity of pain and stiffness in the back.
In addition to massages, swimming, acupuncture sessions, the purchase of an orthopedic mattress and a special pillow is indicated. A pillow for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be made of a special "shape-memory" material. Its task is to relax the muscles of the neck and suboccipital region, as well as to prevent blood flow disturbances at night in the vertebrobasilar pelvis.
Fall is an important milestone 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 electrical currentsduring the massage that have a beneficial effect on the patient.
And after?
Statistics show that the peoples of the Mediterranean, who often and at any age swim in the sea, the situation with diseases of the musculoskeletal system is much better.
However, the basis of the prevention of osteochondrosis, in addition to the elimination of risk factors, it is necessary to implement a healthy diet, based on sour milk, vegetable foods, seafood, fiber and plenty of fluid. This will slow down the process of age-related dehydration of the intervertebral discs and maintain a healthy neck and back well into the older years.