Osteochondrosis usually refers to degenerative changes in any joint cartilage. Thus, this pathological condition can occur in all joints of the musculoskeletal system. However, the most common symptoms are, for example, headaches and headaches, heart pain, cervical osteochondrosis, ie damage to the cartilage tissue between the cervicobrachial spine.
According to WHO statistics, about 60% of Europeans suffer from some degree of osteochondrosis. In men, the disease manifests itself about 10 years earlier than in women. At the age of 45, members of the opposite sex experience symptoms together. The female half is 55-60 years old, respectively. At the same time, experts are sounding the alarm about the ongoing rejuvenation of the disease. If you do not take timely measures, the number of patients with osteochondrosis, literally 30 years, will increase significantly over the next decade.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Dystrophic changes in the pulp occur for various reasons. The natural aging of cartilage tissue must be put first, unfortunately it is an objective and irresistible condition. However, as mentioned above, this disease is not due to aging, but to other reasons.
In young patients, the disease usually occurs due to metabolic disorders associated with malnutrition. Abundance of fats and low levels of vitamins in foods are the reason why cartilage literally begins to "starve" to a state of dystrophy.
Another motivating factor is physical inactivity. Read the forums where people with this disease communicate, and you will see that most of them are relatively young residents of megacities, which are usually engaged in mental work associated with a long sitting position. Low motor activity of the cervical vertebrae causes the loss of cartilage elasticity in the intervertebral discs.
As a result of poor nutrition and related metabolic diseases, as well as due to physical inactivity, the pulp begins to degenerate, becoming increasingly dense. In the later stages of osteochondrosis, a complication occurs in the replacement of cartilage tissue and thickening of the intervertebral discs. This causes the nerve roots and blood vessels located here to constrict. Involvement of elements of the nervous and vascular systems in the pathological process determines the specific course of osteochondrosis.
Specificity of the disease
The difficulty of combating this disease lies in the delayed diagnosis, which is explained by the mask of osteochondrosis under other pathologies. People lose valuable time and do not treat this pathology because they are not aware of its existence. Patients should not be blamed for this. If the pressure jumps, then we treat hypertension. Stabbed heart - we go to cardiology. Headaches are constant, and now a person can not sleep without ibuprofen or analgin. It does not occur to us to consult a neurologist.
In the meantime, only a few visits to a specialist in this profile will allow you to begin the process of regenerating the cartilage of each cervical vertebra, which can lead to both hypertension and suspected angina pectoris, as well as persistent headaches and cervical-shoulder condition. will gradually eliminate other symptoms associated with. The waist, it seems to us, does not seem connected.Timely detection of pathology further prevents pulmonary dystrophy and provides treatment of osteochondrosis at home and in an outpatient setting - without hospitalization. Unfortunately, the lion's share of patients go to a neurologist who already has fairly severe lesions of the intervertebral discs - unbearable pain in the neck.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is a complex task. Research can take a long time, but the cost is justified, because early treatment of this disease avoids the worst-case scenario - an operation to replace an ossified intervertebral disc in which compressed nerve roots are released or fully functional implants or simple height compensators are installed. the spinal element was removed. What type of solution is required for a particular patient is determined by an orthopedist after a thorough diagnosis.
As mentioned above, since the disease is masked, it is necessary to first make sure that the symptoms are not related to problems in other organs. For example, in case of heart pain, you should have a cardiological examination and confirm the absence of heart disease. A comprehensive diagnosis will not only confirm the suspicion of osteochondrosis, but also study the general condition of the body along the way.
The final diagnosis is made based on the results of X-ray examination of the frontal and lateral projections of the cervicobrachial spine. A more informed method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Allows you to more accurately determine the location of dystrophic changes. In this way, the doctor has the opportunity to prescribe acupuncture.
Treatment with folk remedies at home
The advantage of osteochondrosis is that, if generally used, the patient can be treated at home without involuntary hospitalization. The course of treatment includes taking special medications and training from a complex of exercise therapy.
Medications (types) used in the treatment of osteochondrosis at home are presented in the table below.
| Painkillers | In most cases, these are tablets, sometimes capsules. These funds are designed to reduce cervical spine pain. |
| Anti-inflammatory | Hormonal drugs that stop the inflammatory process caused by changes in the intervertebral cartilage. It also relieves pain. |
| Chondroprotectors | Drugs with components for cartilage tissue repair, such as hyaluronic acid. Designed for long-term use |
| Muscle relaxant | It is a tool to relieve muscle tension. These drugs are taken only under the supervision of a physician. Use is limited due to the large list of contraindications. |
| Foreign | Ointments, gels, etc. Used for anti-inflammatory, analgesic and warming. You should consult a specialist before using these tools. |
| Vitamins | Preparation with vitamins that improve the permeability of nerve fibers and the functioning of the peripheral nervous system in general. These are B vitamins, as well as vitamins A and C, and in some cases vitamin D. |
It should be understood that the list oftypes of drugs does not provide a basis for self-medication. A specific agent that has a dosage indication and takes into account the pathogenesis of each individual condition can only be prescribed by a certified neurologist. Adherence to television commercials that "recommend" the best drugs for osteochondrosis is not a cure for the disease, but an aggravation of the condition. BECOME BEWARE!
Injection therapy
In addition to taking pills and ointments, injectable drugs are used to treat osteochondrosis. There is a wide range of medications for injection. Courses of treatment include all types of injections, including:
- subcutaneous;
- intramuscular;
- intravenous;
- epidurals.
Injections are more effective than oral medications and any folk remedies. The blood flowing agent delivers to the painful area, which explains the rapid healing effect. For example, with an epidural injection, the drug is injected directly into the spinal cord and begins to act immediately.
Vitamins and other supportive medications are usually given subcutaneously. Anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors are administered intramuscularly. For example, injections of an anti-inflammatory drug, which is very popular among patients, are injected into muscle tissue. Drugs that speed up blood flow to the brain are injected intravenously. This is required in the case of enlarged intervertebral discs that compress the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the bloodstream. Epidural injections are given to prevent severe pain when other analgesic methods are ineffective. This needle passes through the vertebral processes and delivers anesthesia directly to the spinal cord. This procedure is performed only by a trained professional anesthesiologist.
Injections are only effective if you practice regular medical gymnastics. That is, medication alone is not enough to completely cure osteochondrosis. Only in combination with exercise therapy is it possible to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and restore the affected cartilage tissue in the future.
What to do in case of aggravation?
Despite the fact that cervical spine osteochondrosis is chronic and more or less felt for a long time, patients sometimes experience exacerbations. It occurs at different intervals in each patient and can occur unexpectedly. It is important to take timely measures to prevent a significant deterioration of the situation during these periods.
Violent Provocateurs
As in any disease, the exacerbation of osteochondrosis, as they say, does not happen unexpectedly. Typically, acute conditions are triggered by the following factors:
- stress;
- non-professional massage;
- weather events;
- visit to the thermal bath (sauna);
- Excessive physical activity after prolonged physical inactivity.
In women, osteochondrosis often worsens during menstruation. Alcohol use is also a strong motivator.
Symptoms of aggravation
The symptoms of exacerbation of osteochondrosis in each patient are different and are determined by the general clinical picture of the pathogenesis. For example,cervical and headache in an acute condition are noted by all patients, and loss of sensation until facial numbness during exacerbation is not felt by everyone, but nevertheless it occurs quite frequently. Of course, during this period, the symptoms of diseases masked by osteochondrosis increase. These include heart pain, dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes and so on. Inflammations are especially dangerous, when inflammation of the cervical spine occurs.
Relief measures for flares
In case of severe osteochondrosis, you should first consult your doctor. This rule should not be ignored, as delays in this matter can be detrimental. The neurologist will assess the patient's condition and recommend steps for an effective and, most importantly, reliable way out of the crisis.
Generally, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for acute osteochondrosis. However, gymnastics should be stopped during this period. Instead, the patient should be calm. Kneading the neck is unacceptable - it can aggravate the situation. It is advisable to transfer the weight to the sleeping position and at the same time straighten the head, put a roll or at least a rolled sheet under it.
An important place in reducing the frequency of exacerbations is the prevention of stigma in order to maintain a proper motor regime in daily life.Patients with osteochondrosis should control posture, keep their head straight, and avoid sudden movements. In humid and cold weather, the cervical vertebrae should be protected from hypothermia. Of course, you should not forget medical gymnastics for a minute - you should do it regularly. This is the key to the development of osteochondrosis without inflammation.
2nd degree disease
Neuropathologists distinguish 3 degrees of osteochondrosis - 1, 2 and 3, respectively. This is due to the following points. The disease is characterized by the appearance of short-term pain of 1 degree, resembling an electrical discharge. In the initial stage, the fibrous ring occupying the central part of the intervertebral disc begins to collapse. The guideline for the diagnosis of grade 1 osteochondrosis is dilation of the pupils, which is not associated with other events in the body.
The number of patients with grade 1 osteochondrosis is small. The disease at this stage is temporary or eliminated (with timely treatment) or quickly passes to the second stage - if the moment is missed. The situation is similar in the number of patients with grade 3 osteochondrosis. Both are small. This is often due to the fact that doctors start treatment on time and prevent the pathology from progressing from the second to the third stage. This degree of illness is characterized by symptoms such as severe neck pain that does not subside even after taking painkillers, partial loss of control of the upper limbs, persistent dizziness, and frequent fainting. Grade 3 osteochondrosis is usually treated surgically, as drug treatment is often ineffective.
Due to the fact that most patients suffer from grade 2 osteochondrosis, this form of the disease is of great clinical interest and is the most experienced in the treatment of the disease at this stage. According to statistics, the proportion of patients with stage II osteochondrosis among all patients with this pathology is about 75%.
The specificity of this form of the disease is its chronic course with short-term exacerbation. The second degree differs from the first by a continuous decrease in the space between the vertebrae.. That is, as in the third stage, the intervertebral disc has not yet collapsed, but it is much thinner, which leads to compression of the nerve roots and causes all the classic symptoms of osteochondrosis.
As the second most common pathology, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis generally refers to the implementation of therapeutic measures associated with this form of the disease. And that, as we have said, includes medication and physiotherapy exercises. Proper treatment allows you to eliminate the disease and prevent the transition to the third stage with an almost inevitable operation to replace the intervertebral discs.
Basic symptoms and proper treatment
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative lesion of the intervertebral discs that is difficult to diagnose. It is most common in people between the ages of 45 and 50, but in recent years the pathology has "rejuvenated" and now neurologists often see patients in their 30s.
The difficulty of detecting osteochondrosis is explained by the "simulated" nature of the disease - when it appears as other pathologies. The cause of the disease is a violation of the elasticity of cartilage tissue, which creates a quenching pulp between the vertebrae.. The cartilage becomes thinner and denser. As a result, the nerve roots are compressed (called a radical disorder), which causes the following symptoms:
- headaches and heartaches;
- increased blood pressure;
- Decreased sensitivity of the face (until numbness);
- Partial paresis of the upper extremities.
All these symptoms are undoubtedly accompanied by pain in the neck. Often this pain is mild and does not force the patient to take painkillers. Without seeing a slight pain in the neck, the patient does not sound the alarm about osteochondrosis, but tries to treat other pathologies, such as angina pectoris or hypertension.
Treatment methods
According to modern approaches, osteochondrosis continues in waves. Initially, it manifests itself in the form of inflammation (acute period). Then the symptomatology weakens and the subacute period begins. The third stage is remission, which lasts until the next flare-up. Treatment of osteochondrosis is to stop the acute phase as soon as possible, alleviate the patient's condition in the subacute period, and ensure long-term remission.
In the acute and subacute phases, the patient takes painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. An effective solution at these stages is the use of a Shants neck-gauze collar, which relieves pain and relaxes the neck muscles. During remission, drug treatment with chondroprotectors that improve the quality of cartilage tissue and a number of physical exercises and exercise therapy are indicated. Gymnastics is more important than hyaluronic acid injections because healthy physical activity naturally stimulates the formation of collagen fibers in cartilage.
Cervicothoracic type pathology
Officially speaking, cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis are two different forms of the disease. However, they are often combined. This is due to the interconnection of the cervical and thoracic spine, which combines these two types of pathology of the intervertebral discs. That is, with dystrophic changes in the cervical vertebra, virtually the same disorders are observed in the thoracic region. Therefore, these two forms of the disease are combined, especially if the symptoms are very similar. The main symptom is pain. With cervical osteochondrosis, pain is localized in the neck, and in the case of cervicothoracic lesions, pain in the sternum is added to them.
Common symptoms include:
- face matching;
- headache and heartache;
- blood pressure instability;
- high tinnitus.
In case of damage to the thoracic vertebrae, the list is completed with a violation of coordination of movements, activation of arthrosis of the shoulder joints, numbness of the hands.
Treatment of cervicothoracic spine
Treatment is prescribed after a thorough diagnosis using X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment of osteochondrosis is complex - medication and physiotherapy. Drug treatment includes taking anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.An important part of treatment is the use of chondroprotectors that directly restore cartilage tissue in the intervertebral space. Physiotherapy measures include the use of compresses and all kinds of ointments, as well as physiotherapy exercises.
If osteochondrosis is found in the spine, a professional massage is indicated. Massage effects trigger the natural processes of cartilage tissue regeneration. Massage is more effective than gymnastics in relieving pain in the thoracic vertebrae, because it is not the spine, and therefore it is not always possible to provide a normal range of motion for individual vertebrae during exercise. A massage therapist, on the other hand, can have an accurate effect on an intervertebral disc in a patient. You should only contact a certified spinal massage specialist. You must also have a license from a massage therapist.
Timely measures to eliminate cervicothoracic osteochondrosis will allow you to avoid surgery to replace the destroyed intervertebral disc with an endoprosthesis. Discipline in outpatient treatment with early diagnosis of pathology and outpatient treatment with drugs and folk remedies will save you money. If you have the slightest suspicion of osteochondrosis, consult a neurologist. But better. . .
Be sure to consult your doctor before treating the disease. This will help to take into account individual tolerance, confirm the diagnosis, ensure proper treatment and rule out adverse drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without consulting a doctor, it is entirely at your own risk. All information is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical assistance. All responsibility for the application rests with you.