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Update: October 2018

In the modern world, almost all people over 25 years old have this disease. Cervical osteochondrosis occurs much more often than in other parts of the spine. The relevance of this topic is difficult to overestimate.

In this article we will look at why this disease occurs, how it manifests itself, how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, what medications are effective in treating it, what non-drug methods exist, and also find out the answers to the most common questions from patients with a similar diagnosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion (progressive) of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. For this reason, changes occur both in the intervertebral discs themselves and in the vertebrae and joints of the cervical spine.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

As a result of the action of the factors listed below, an increase in the load on the cervical spine occurs, the neck muscles try to compensate for the excess load, their spasm occurs, blood circulation in this area is disrupted, which causes degenerative changes. Due to a number of factors, changes occur in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, their structure changes, their nutrition is disrupted, changes occur in the small joints between the vertebrae, bone growths of the vertebral bodies appear due to the increased load on the altered intervertebral discs.

Click to enlarge - Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of any part of the spine

Factors contributing to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

Poor posture and scoliosis
Overweight
Physical inactivity, sedentary work
Previous spinal injuries
Metabolic disease
Great physical activity
Stress and constant nervous tension
Low level of physical fitness
Hereditary predisposition
Habitual incorrect body positions, such as holding a telephone receiver with your shoulder
Constant tension in the back and neck due to the nature of work (tense state in a sitting position) among drivers and office workers.
Developmental anomalies in the cervical spine

Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis

The degree of osteochondrosis is determined by the clinical picture and complaints of the patient. The concept of degree should not be confused with the stages of osteochondrosis. The stages will be discussed below.

First degree

clinical manifestations are minimal; the patient may complain of low-intensity pain in the cervical spine, which may intensify when turning the head. Physical examination may reveal slight tension in the neck muscles.

Second degree

The patient is concerned about pain in the cervical spine, its intensity is much greater, the pain can radiate to the shoulder or arm. This occurs due to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and pinching of the nerve roots. The pain intensifies when tilting and turning the head. The patient may notice decreased performance, weakness, and headache.

Third degree

the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify, the pain becomes constant, radiating to the arm or shoulder. Numbness or weakness appears in the muscles of the arm, as herniated intervertebral discs form (see). I am worried about weakness and dizziness. Upon examination, limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain on palpation of the cervical spine are revealed.

Fourth degree

The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced with connective tissue. Dizziness increases, tinnitus appears, and coordination is impaired, since the vertebral artery that supplies the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain is involved in the process.

Clinical picture of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - symptoms, signs

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine differ from the manifestations of this disease in other parts of the spinal column. This is due to the fact that in the cervical region the vertebrae are located closer to each other, the intervertebral discs have a relatively small height, which leads to the appearance of a clinic even with the most minor pathological processes. Also in the cervical region, compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord occurs more often.

The most common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are symptoms:

Pain syndrome

pain can have different localizations, they can be in the neck, in the occipital region, in the shoulder or upper limb. Pain in the shoulder or arm appears when the root of the nerve innervating the upper limb is involved in the process. Pain in the occipital part of the head is caused by spasm of the neck muscles, which are attached to the occipital bone and poor circulation in this area.

Weakness in the hands

occurs when the root, which contains motor nerves innervating the muscles of the arm, is damaged.

Decreased sensitivity in the hand

occurs when the root, which contains sensory nerves innervating the skin of the upper limb, is damaged.

Limitation of movements in the cervical spine and crunching when moving

occurs due to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, the appearance of bone growths on the vertebral bodies and damage to small joints between the cervical vertebrae.

Dizziness, loss of coordination, weakness

all these symptoms are caused by the involvement of the vertebral artery in the process, which runs in its own canal located in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. As a result of the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the formation of fibrous tissue, and displacement of the vertebrae, the blood flow in these arteries worsens, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the occipital lobe of the brain and the cerebellum.

Numbness of the tongue, decreased hearing and vision

occur in severe cases with severe deterioration in blood supply to the occipital lobe of the brain, cerebellum and brainstem.

Symptoms depending on the damaged vertebra

Separately, we can distinguish radicular syndromes that lead to certain sensory and motor disorders. They differ depending on which vertebra compresses the spinal root:

C1: leads to numbness and loss of sensitivity in the back of the head;
C2: pain in the parietal region and the back of the head;
C3: impaired speech, sensitivity of the tongue, pain and decreased sensitivity in the side where the spinal nerve is pinched;
C4: pain in the heart, left hypochondrium, shoulder, scapula, respiratory disorders, decreased neck muscle tone;
C5: shoulder pain in the outer area;
C6: pain radiating from the forearm to the thumb, as well as from the neck to the shoulder blade;
C7: pain in the back of the shoulder, from the neck to the shoulder blade, radiating to the forearm up to 2-4 fingers;
C8: pain from neck to shoulder, from forearm to little finger.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

Basic diagnostic methods:

X-ray of the cervical spine. It is a low-informative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
CT scan. It shows changes in the vertebrae better, but it is difficult to determine the size and presence of intervertebral hernias, as well as the presence of disc-medullary conflict (compression by a herniated spinal cord).
Magnetic resonance imaging. The most informative method. Not only bone structures are clearly visible, but also intervertebral discs, hernias, their size, and the direction of their growth.
If a violation of blood flow in the vertebral arteries is suspected, use Ultrasound duplex scanning. This method allows you to accurately determine whether there is a decrease in blood flow speed or whether there are obstacles to normal blood flow.

X-ray stages of cervical osteochondrosis.

Stage 1 – minimal changes in the configuration of the vertebrae, smoothing of the cervical lordosis (curvature).
Stage 2 – instability between the vertebrae, possible displacement of one vertebra relative to another, torsion (rotation around the axis of the spinal column), slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.
Stage 3 – reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc by ¼ relative to the disc located above it, changes in the intervertebral joints, posterior osteophytes (bone outgrowths), narrowing of the intervertebral foramina and narrowing of the spinal canal in which the spinal cord with its membranes is located.
Stage 4 – significant reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc, significant changes in the intervertebral joints, huge posterior osteophytes, significant narrowing of the intervertebral foramina and significant narrowing of the spinal canal with the formation of myelopathy.

Principles of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The main methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are drug treatment, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-collar area, therapeutic exercises are especially effective for cervical osteochondrosis. The main groups of drugs used for this disease include:

Group name	Action	Dosage forms
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)	reduce pain, help relieve aseptic inflammation and swelling of the root of the damaged nerve.	Voltaren, Nise, Movalis, Ketonal, Ketanov, Nimesulide and others (see the full list in the article).
B vitamins	improve metabolic processes in nervous tissue.	combilipen, unigamma, neurobion (see)
Drugs that improve blood rheological properties and blood flow	improve nutrition of damaged nerve roots and improve blood flow to the brain.	aminophylline, trental.
Chondroprotectors	drugs that restore cartilage tissue, including in damaged intervertebral discs.	(glucosamine and chondroitin) arthra, teraflex, doppelhertz, toad stone, condronova, structuvite, alflutop.
Muscle relaxants	drugs that relieve muscle spasms.	, sirdalud, tizalud, tizanidine, etc.

Attention! These medications are not prescribed and are presented for informational purposes only.

Physiotherapy in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy

Exercise therapy for cervical osteochondrosis should be carried out outside of acute exacerbation. This technique is most effective during the recovery period. There should be no discomfort or pain during the complex!

Exercise No. 1	Lying on your stomach, place your hands on the floor, raise your head and torso, your back should be straight. Stay in this position for 1-2 minutes. Slowly lower yourself to the floor. Repeat 2-3 times.
Exercise No. 2	Lying on your stomach, stretch your arms along your body, turn your head to the left, try to touch your ear to the floor, then turn your head to the right. Repeat 6-7 times in each direction.
Exercise No. 3	In a sitting position, while inhaling, lean forward and try to touch your chest with your head, then exhaling, lean back and throw your head back. Repeat 10-15 times.
Exercise #4	While sitting, place your palms on your forehead, apply pressure with your palms to your forehead, and with your forehead on your palms. Continue this exercise for 30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times.
Exercise #5	Slowly rotate your head, first in one direction, then in the other direction. 10 rotations in each direction. Watch out for dizziness. When it appears, the exercise stops.

The most common questions from patients with cervical osteochondrosis and answers to them

Is surgery required for cervical osteochondrosis?

Indications for surgical intervention are the lack of effectiveness of conservative treatment for 6 months, accompanied by constant pain and signs of damage to the nerve roots, as well as myelopathy. In all other cases, the operation is not performed.

How long can NSAIDs be used?

Since most NSAIDs have side effects on the gastric mucosa, long-term and frequent use of these drugs is not recommended. When taking this group of drugs, you must strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor; the duration of use can be individual, it depends on the stage of osteochondrosis, the patient’s complaints and his concomitant diseases.

How effective is taking chondroprotectors?

At the moment, there is no evidence of the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of these drugs. In such cases, doctors are of the opinion that the drug is not advisable to use.

What is the best way to get vitamins – in the form of tablets or by injection?

There is no difference in the level of drug absorption with these two routes of administration. Considering the pain of injection and the frequency of complications, it is recommended to take B vitamins in tablet forms.

What measures should be taken outside of exacerbation?

It is best to engage in physical therapy at home, attend a massage of the cervical-collar area twice a year and limit excessive stress on the cervical spine.

Stopping pathological changes and eliminating existing manifestations of the disease is possible only with the help of complex therapy. In the early stages, you can get rid of cervical osteochondrosis without surgery - with the help of conservative treatment.

Vertebrologists of the Health Workshop network of clinics operating in St. Petersburg. for more than 16 years, we select an individual course of therapy for each patient, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, age and lifestyle. Typically, the complex includes several types of treatment, the main goal of which is to get rid of symptoms, prevent the progression of the disease and restore normal functioning of the spine.

Drug therapy. During the period of exacerbation, various means are used that help reduce pain and other manifestations of the disease. The patient may be prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, B vitamins, chondroprotectors, ointments with a warming effect, drugs for restoring cartilage tissue and others.
Physiotherapy. Allows you to reduce pain and neutralize inflammation using ultrasound, laser or magnetic vibrations. Also, the course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis may include manual therapy, acupuncture, electrophoresis and other procedures aimed at normalizing metabolic processes in the affected area and relieving unpleasant symptoms.
Massage. It has a strengthening and relaxing effect on the cervical region. Relieves excess muscle tension and increases the intensity of metabolic processes. Therapeutic massages are carried out using various techniques: classical, acupressure, segmental reflex or vacuum. Hardware methods of influencing the cervical spine, such as hydro or vibration massage, also give good results.
Traction. It is performed once before starting treatment to release pinched blood vessels and nerve endings. During traction, the spine is stretched using special equipment and simulators. It ensures correction of the position of the intervertebral discs and uniform distribution of the vertebrae along the entire length to normalize blood flow and correct load distribution.
Exercise therapy. Therapeutic exercises are the basis of therapy for cervical osteochondrosis. Regular performance of a special set of exercises allows you to restore the natural mobility of the vertebrae and ensure normal nutrition of the intervertebral discs with useful substances. Therapeutic exercises usually include bending, turning and other movements of the neck, which are performed by the patient in a clinic or at home.

The course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis takes one and a half months. Pain and other acute manifestations of the disease usually disappear by the end of the first week of complex therapy. In severe cases, when the diagnosis revealed an intervertebral hernia or osteophytes (spike-shaped bone growths), the patient is prescribed surgery.

Osteochondrosis is a disease that is one of the most common in the world. Most people after 35 years of age have osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in one form or another. Recently, there has been a tendency to increase the number of people suffering from severe forms of the disease and to rejuvenate the disease, lowering its lower age threshold. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of people around the world are engaged in sedentary work and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Meanwhile, the disease is quite dangerous, and any person should know what it is - osteochondrosis, how it manifests itself and how it is treated, be able to recognize its symptoms and begin treatment in a timely manner.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases that are characteristic only of humans. This disease does not occur in other animals. The reason for this is such a distinctive feature of man as upright walking. The vertical position of the spinal column leads to the fact that the vertebrae press on each other and the osteochondral tissue of the spine gradually degrades and becomes deformed.

The human spine starts from the cervical region. There are a total of seven vertebrae in this section - from the first to the seventh. The vertebrae are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. The cervical spine is a particularly vulnerable part of it, which is associated, first of all, with the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area. In the cervical region, the disease is reflected primarily in the discs, which are a weak point in the structure of the spine.

The prevalence of cervical osteochondrosis is also facilitated by factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles. Also, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is greatly influenced by insufficient blood supply to cartilage tissue.

Thus, the development of the disease is a complex and lengthy process and does not have a single cause. Although a connection has been established between a person’s sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, nevertheless, the disease often occurs in trained people, especially athletes, due to the increased load on the cervical spine when lifting weights.

In older people, as a rule, degradation of vertebral structures is an inevitable process associated with the aging of the body and the weakening of its defenses. However, the most common pathological type of cervical osteochondrosis occurs, in which external or internal negative factors play a major role.

Factors contributing to the development of neck osteochondrosis:

Poor posture
Rachiocampsis
Back injuries
Overweight
Hard physical work
Sedentary work
Sedentary lifestyle
Metabolic disorders
Frequent hypothermia
Uncomfortable position while sleeping
Stress, overwork
Hereditary factors
Infectious diseases
Individual body structure features, for example, a neck that is too long or too short

Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis

The disease has four stages. It is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease by analyzing symptoms, since sometimes the degree of degradation of osteochondral tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.

First degree

Destructive processes begin in the osteochondral tissue of the vertebrae. As a rule, at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms are mild. Patients either do not notice them at all or do not associate them with diseases of the spine, but attribute them to stress and overwork.

Second degree

The height of the disk begins to decrease, and cracks appear on its surface. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage manifest themselves in constant pain, weakness, and numbness in certain areas of the face.

Third degree

Disc herniations form, cervical vessels and muscles are damaged. The patient experiences dizziness and pain in the back of the head.

Fourth degree

Osteophytes appear - growths of bone tissue that protect the vertebrae from stress, which leads to pinched nerves. This leads to stiffness of movement and damage to neighboring joints.

Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms

The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

Neck and shoulder pain
Muscle weakness
Increased sweating
Numb hands
Loss of coordination
Dizziness
Deterioration of vision and hearing
Increased blood pressure
Headache

These symptoms, typical for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, can be present at all stages of the disease. In most cases, only a few symptoms from the list are observed, and the rest may be absent. A person who first encounters such signs of the disease does not always suspect that he has cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, he can contact various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons. And as a result, the correct diagnosis can be made with a significant delay.

Photo: Shaynepplstockphoto / Shutterstock.com

Syndromes

With cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes occur, that is, typical conditions that have a complex of characteristic signs. They manifest themselves depending on which nerves and arteries are affected as a result of the disease:

vertebral artery syndrome
cardiac syndrome
hypertensive syndrome
radicular syndrome
cervical migraine syndrome

Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis. It is caused by decreased blood flow through the artery that runs along the spine and supplies the brain. The syndrome manifests itself in symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, weakened hearing and vision. In some cases, fainting may occur. A variation of the syndrome is often observed, in which in normal conditions the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head is turned in one direction or another, it can drop sharply.

Cardiac syndrome develops when the roots of the nerves innervating the diaphragm or pectoral muscle are compressed. As a result, the patient may experience pain reminiscent of cardialgia, although there is no direct effect on the heart. However, the syndrome may be characterized by such phenomena as tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmia.

Hypertension syndrome is also one of the most dangerous complications. Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by compression of veins rather than arteries, which impedes the flow of blood from the head. The syndrome leads to increased intracranial pressure, which can manifest itself in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and headache.

Cervical migraine syndrome has little in common in its etiology with classic migraine. It manifests itself in severe pain in the back of the head. The pain is paroxysmal, lasts up to ten hours and is accompanied by vomiting.

Radicular syndrome is the most common syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Caused by compression of individual nerve roots in the cervical vertebrae. It can be expressed in pain in the neck, back of the head, shoulder blades, shoulders, numbness and weakening of the tone of certain areas of the arms (up to the inability to perform any manipulations) and neck.

Very often, several syndromes or individual symptoms characteristic of different syndromes can be observed at once.

As you can see, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the manifestations of the disease are multifaceted and the patient is not always able to correctly recognize the cause of their occurrence. If you encounter similar symptoms, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

Photo: Branislav Neni/Shutterstock.com

The following types of studies are used for diagnosis:

Radiography
CT scan
Magnetic tomography
Ultrasound scanning of neck vessels

X-ray allows you to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, the presence of growths - osteophytes and salt deposits, and compaction of the discs. Computed tomography involves creating a series of x-rays that give a three-dimensional view of an organ, in this case the cervical spine. It allows you to detail the degree of the pathological process - the nature of nerve compression, the structure of osteophytes, the height of the discs, etc. Magnetic resonance imaging, based on the physical effect of nuclear magnetic resonance, provides an even more detailed structural picture of the spine. Ultrasound of the neck vessels helps to identify changes in blood flow in the great vessels of the neck caused by the disease.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home and is it treatable at all? Medicine has developed many methods to combat the disease. Some treatments can be used at home. But this process is long and complete recovery is unlikely, especially in old age. However, it is possible to slow down and stop destructive processes in the spine at any stage of the disease.

At the initial stages of the disease, methods are usually conservative. Several methods are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis:

Medications
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Massage
Special means for fixing the spine

If the disease has progressed to the last stage, and serious destruction of the osteochondral structure of the spine occurs, then surgical intervention can be used to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Drugs

The following types of drugs are used:

Chondroprotectors
Vitamins
Analgesics
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Antispasmodics

In case of acute pain syndrome associated with osteochondrosis, the first priority is its elimination. As a rule, oral drugs are used, such as Analgin or Baralgin, but if they are ineffective in severe cases, novocaine blockade is used.

For muscle spasms, antispasmodics are used. Mydocalm demonstrates the greatest effectiveness for osteochondrosis, although the use of other muscle relaxants is also possible. As anti-inflammatory and painkillers, you can use ointments containing non-steroidal drugs - Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Butadione or their analogues.

In the presence of syndromes associated with impaired circulation and blood supply to the brain - hypertensive and vertebral artery syndrome, drugs are taken that relieve the undesirable effects of these syndromes - blood pressure lowering agents and nootropic drugs.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy is the simplest and most accessible type of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis and, at the same time, quite effective. Physical therapy can also be done at home. With osteochondrosis, the intensity of exercise does not play a decisive role; only regularity is necessary. First of all, physical education is intended to strengthen the neck muscles, which compensate for the insufficient functionality of the spine and help it support weakened vertebrae.

Photo: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com

Daily exercises are recommended to strengthen the neck muscles. They can be very simple, consisting of turning and tilting the head in different directions, or more complex, including assistance to the neck muscles from the hands. They can be performed both at home and at work. For example, if the work is sedentary, then it is useful to do such exercises after an hour of sitting at a desk or monitor. However, they can only be performed outside the period of exacerbation of the disease and in the absence of pain. Otherwise, they can only worsen the condition.

Strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle is no less effective, for example, through regular exercise with light dumbbells. However, lifting heavy objects (weights, barbells) is contraindicated. Regular swimming, which relieves stress on the spine, is also useful.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a method of treatment that uses certain physical fields and radiation to influence the body. A positive property of physiotherapy is that it has a minimal number of contraindications.

The following physiotherapy methods are used to treat osteochondrosis:

Ultrasonic exposure
Laser therapy
Impact of magnetic field
Exposure to electric current (electrophoresis)

The magnetic field has a positive effect on damaged tissues of the body and has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Ultrasound improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling. The same can be said about laser therapy. Electrophoresis is most often used in conjunction with medications, since the use of electric current accelerates their absorption by the body.

Massage

Massage reduces increased muscle tone, which causes spasm, and reduces the flow of lymph, which causes swelling. The procedure helps improve blood circulation in the affected area, which stops the process of destruction of intervertebral discs.

Other treatments

What to do with cervical osteochondrosis if classical home treatment methods do not help? To reduce the load on the cervical spine, a special device is used - a Shants collar, which fixes the neck in a constant normal position. It is recommended to wear it during exacerbations of pain or during prolonged sedentary work.

In order to avoid exacerbations, you should also organize a place to sleep. The pillow should not cause neck curvature, and the mattress should be firm and even. In some cases, special sleep aids - an orthopedic mattress and pillow - can help.

What is cervical osteochondrosis, how is it expressed? Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common pathology, occurring in most cases in the working population (from 30-60 years old). Many people suffer from this disease, often without knowing the cause of the ailment, because... degenerative abnormalities of this disease appear unnoticed. What is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and how to treat it?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra is a degenerative-dystrophic injury to intervertebral discs that can change their structure and succumb to deformation (discs, joints, and cervical vertebrae change). As a result, cervical osteochondrosis has quite pronounced symptoms. The disease intensifies, and if osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra is not treated, headaches, changes in blood circulation, and a possible hernia can occur.

Possible causes and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be seen below.

The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis are a sedentary lifestyle. Drivers, office workers, and those who like to sit near monitor screens are most susceptible to pathology. Due to constant sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity, they can:

metabolic disturbances occur;
deposition of salts in the liver, kidneys, neck area;
the degree of salts in the lymphatic fluid, as well as the bloodstream, increases.

Disorders of the vertebrae are provoked due to a lack of nutrients in the intervertebral discs. Also, possible causes of cervical osteochondrosis are an unbalanced, incorrect diet.

The most common factors for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

excess weight, hormonal imbalance;
strong physical activity that is difficult for the human body;
genetic predisposition;
constant stress, nervous tension;
damage to posture (rheumatism, scoliosis, etc.);
experienced injuries in the neck and spine;
developmental anomalies of the neck, flat feet;
hypothermia of the body;
age-related changes;
sports activity.

Many of the above factors put stress on the vertebrae of the neck, which causes muscle spasm. As a result, circulatory disorders appear, the productivity of metabolic processes decreases, and this leads to degenerative abnormalities. Sometimes, with cervical osteochondrosis, the cause of formation may be developing discosis, which is transmitted to bone tissue and nearby vertebrae. It often appears during prolonged physical activity.

If treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is not carried out at the initial stage, complications may arise in the form of a hernia or protrusion of the intervertebral disc.

Stages of disease development

As it progresses, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae goes through several stages, which are classified by various symptoms.

There are 4 stages of pathology development:

Basically, at the first stage of the disease, an unexpressed smoothness of the cervical curve (lordosis) is noticed. The clinical manifestation is insignificant; mild neck pain may be observed, aggravated by turning the head, as well as muscle tension. This stage can be treated without medications, the main thing is to change your diet, do exercises, etc.
Instability appears between the vertebrae; displacement and torsion may occur. The patient experiences more intense pain, spreading to the shoulders and arms. The height of the discs becomes smaller, which causes pinched nerves. The patient feels fatigue, headaches, decreased level of work ability, and inattention.
The height of the intervertebral discs decreases, the openings narrow, and a hernia begins to form. Pain in the neck and shoulders increases, arm muscles weaken, numbness, malaise, and dizziness occur. Diagnostics determines poor neck mobility.
At stage 4, the discs are destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Such a current simultaneously affects several sections of the ridge, which find themselves at different stages of disruption. People's coordination changes, pain increases, dizziness increases, tinnitus may occur, etc.

Symptoms

How to determine osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

It is possible to determine cervical osteochondrosis by clinical signs and symptoms. The disease begins to develop and manifest itself slowly. Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease, the number of damaged vertebrae, as well as pinched nerve endings.

What are the signs and how to identify cervical osteochondrosis? The main symptom is pain in the neck and spine. Only the attending physician can establish this diagnosis during examination, since the diverse signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine sometimes suggest other diseases.

The most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

dizziness, headaches;
neck pain, transmitted to the ears, forearms, shoulders, forehead, back of the head (when turning, tilting the head, the pain increases);
general malaise, fatigue, possible lack of coordination;
hand weakness, numbness;
decreased hearing, vision, tinnitus, numbness of the tongue, darkening of the eyes;
fainting may occur;
pain in the heart area;
high blood pressure;
feeling of cracking, crunching in the neck when bending.

Differences between a healthy spine and a spine affected by osteochondrosis

The signs of cervical osteochondrosis are expressed differently from diseases of other parts of the spine. This is explained by the fact that the vertebrae of the neck are located next to each other, the height of the discs is insignificant. This can lead to complications even with the slightest degenerative disorders.

How does osteochondrosis manifest if it has acquired a chronic form? Constant pain, various movements, tilting the head are difficult due to tension in the neck muscles, and cervical migraines appear. Frequent headaches provoke nausea, vomiting, and there may be fainting. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is not treated in a timely manner, the patient may experience pharyngeal symptoms, for example, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, tickling, itching in the throat. Such a chronic disease can subsequently provoke a herniated disc.

A common ailment is cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are quite noticeable and require treatment at its first manifestations. But it is best to use prevention, especially for people with sedentary work or those with a genetic predisposition to spinal diseases.

The characteristic features of cervical osteochondrosis in men and women are no different. Women aged 45-60 years often experience unpleasant pain, numbness, and possibly tingling of the hands at night.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

It is worth noting that the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can develop over years, so it cannot be cured quickly. However, medications, ointments, joint products, massages and various exercises, physiotherapy, as well as the necessary nutrition will help relieve discomfort and stop the development of the disease.

How to eliminate the manifestations and how to get rid of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, for this it is necessary to make the following determinations:

relieve inflammation;
pain relief;
normalization of blood circulation;
restoration of damaged areas.

Drug treatment

Be sure to seek help in selecting medications from a specialist!

Patients often consult a doctor with this problem, and they know how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine using various medications and other procedures.

Painkillers (Analgin, Baralgin, Tempalgin). But these drugs are sometimes unable to cope with severe pain, then the following drugs are used.
Non-steroidal (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Nimid, Ortofen, etc.). These drugs adversely affect the intestines, so long-term use is not recommended.
Muscle relaxants (Tizanidine, Mydocalm) will help reduce muscle spasms.
Warming ointments, gels (Viprosal, Finalgon), for cervical osteochondrosis, treatment can be carried out using a pepper patch.
B vitamins (Milgamma, Combilipen) normalize metabolic processes in nerve cells.
Chondroprotectors (Teraflex, Struktuvit, Doppelhertz) restore cartilage tissue.

Is it possible to cure cervical osteochondrosis with massage?

Successful treatment of neck osteochondrosis with massage can be carried out at home. Massage will help relax tight muscles and reduce tension. The procedure helps normalize blood circulation in the discs, which alleviates the condition.

You can also do self-massage for osteochondrosis. It is carried out while sitting, kneading, rubbing in the back of the head. But for better results, it is better to contact an experienced massage therapist.

Physiotherapy

How to cure cervical osteochondrosis with physiotherapy? Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with physiotherapy includes:

ultrasound is an anti-inflammatory, anesthetic effect that can increase metabolic processes;
laser therapy, due to the action of light, has a complete anti-inflammatory result and also normalizes blood circulation;
electrophoresis with medicines, medicines penetrate into the desired place by electric current; physiotherapy in the fight against the disease is done with Eufillin or Novocaine, the drugs can relieve pain and improve blood flow;
Magnetic therapy helps relieve tissue swelling and pain.

Health-improving gymnastics

If cervical osteochondrosis has formed, what to do, what actions to take. The healing procedure is performed outside of an acute exacerbation of the disease; it is more effective to carry out during the recovery period. Therapeutic exercises will help get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever. It gives no worse results than drug therapy and is considered the basis of cure.

The exercises do not take much time and can be used at home. Gymnastics is aimed at reducing pain, relaxation of neck muscles, and sprains. However, you should do exercises in consultation with your doctor so as not to make things worse for yourself.

Acupuncture

Is it possible to cure cervical osteochondrosis with acupuncture? Many people doubt whether osteochondrosis can be treated with this method and are afraid to experiment. Acupuncture came to medicine from the East. The Chinese have learned to adjust the energy in the body using metal needles. This method is today recognized by medicine as an effective technique for treating back and neck diseases.

With the help of needles, it is possible to get rid of painful symptoms of the neck, and even cure it completely.

However, this procedure has some contraindications:

pregnancy;
various tumors;
the patient has infectious pathologies;
should not be performed on young children and the elderly;
for diseases of the blood and skin.

In any case, for various diseases of the neck or back, you need to visit a doctor who will tell you exactly how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

How to deal with cervical osteochondrosis at home

How can the resulting cervical osteochondrosis be treated at home and is it possible? Symptoms that arise and treatment of the disease are carried out at home using complex therapy. You can achieve improvement and relieve pain on your own if you stick to a diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.

In case of illness, the daily diet should include products that promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue, these products are:

fruits, vegetables, legumes;
sea fish, flax seeds;
cottage cheese, milk;
eggs, nuts;
lean poultry, fish, etc.

Also, ways to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis at home are traditional medicine recipes, therapeutic exercises, and massages.

Traditional recipes:

Finely chopped potatoes are mixed in equal proportions with honey. This mixture is used as a compress 1-2 times a week.
You can apply a horseradish leaf to your neck, after scalding it with boiling water, then wrap your neck with a scarf.
Painful symptoms will be relieved by warming up. Mustard plasters, pepper plaster, a bag of heated salt, sand, etc. are used.

Patients often look for various methods of how to treat osteochondrosis of the neck on websites and other sources. But not a single forum visitor is able to accurately determine the diagnosis and prescribe therapy. Whether cervical osteochondrosis is treated in a particular case and how, a specialist must decide after making a diagnosis.

When asked what to do for cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to use a full range of therapeutic procedures - compresses, gymnastics, ointments, injections, healthy eating and sleep.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease, against the background of which dystrophic changes occur in the cartilage tissue, in the discs between the vertebrae and the bone base in them. This pathology develops in many people over 30 years of age. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are varied, so diagnosing the disease and choosing the right treatment is quite difficult.

Cervical osteochondrosis can develop under the influence of the following factors:

excessive weight;
sedentary work, inactivity;
previous spinal column injuries;
mental disorders, nervous strain, stress;
poor physical fitness;
curvature of the spine, scoliosis, incorrect posture;
incorrect body position that has become a habit;
tension in the neck and back during work;
tendencies at the genetic level;
unusual physical tension for the body, increased activity;
improper nutrition.

The cervical region of the spine is subject to increased loads, which the cervical muscles try to bring to balance during exposure to the above-mentioned sources. This provokes the appearance of muscle spasms, which disrupts the transport of blood throughout the body. As a result, the formation of anatomical damage is noted.

During the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the discs between the vertebrae become weakened, which causes changes in the structure of the discs, vertebrae, and articular tissue of the cervical region. The disease of the first degree is almost asymptomatic, since changes in cartilage tissue are just beginning. In this case, the person complains of the appearance of:

headache;
discomfort in the neck, arms, shoulders;
minor restrictions in the motor activity of the neck;
short-term decrease in visual function;
decreased sensitivity in the collar area.

The second stage is sometimes accompanied by the appearance of a small vertebral hernia, as well as narrowing of the gaps between the vertebrae. Due to the infringement of nerve receptors, a feeling of pinpoint pain occurs during movements. Against the background of the disease of the second degree, the patient notes the appearance of:

pain in the neck, crunching when moving the head;
loss of sensitivity of the skin in the arms and shoulders;
decreased visual function;
ringing in the ears;
numbness in the face and neck;
weakness in the hands;
shooting pains radiating to the shoulder blade;
disturbances in sleep function.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the third degree is very difficult to treat. At this time, a hernia develops, deformation of the spinal column occurs, changes in position, and dislocations in the elements of the ridge are noted. This stage of the disease is accompanied by:

pronounced pain syndrome in the neck, myocardium, and collar area;
lack of skin sensitivity in the head, arms and shoulders;
paralysis of the arms;
lack of tendon reflexes;
the formation of a hernia in the cervical vertebrae.

During the fourth (final) stage, an exacerbation of symptoms is noted.

Symptoms

Signs of disease in the neck differ significantly from the symptoms of osteochondrosis in another area of the spinal column. Since the cervical vertebrae are located close, the nerve roots and spinal cord are pinched. This leads to the following symptoms:

The pain syndrome is localized in the neck, back of the head, shoulders, arms and legs. At the moment nerve receptors join the process, discomfort appears in the area of the shoulders, the back of the head, and the arms begin to restructure. Due to spasms in the neck muscles, blood circulation is impaired.
Weakness in the upper extremities is noted, associated with damage to the functionality of the roots, which contribute to the inclusion of motor nerves that rebuild muscle tissue in the arms.
The upper limbs are rebuilt due to a decrease in sensitivity in them, disorders of the roots in which the sensitive nerve endings are located.
When you turn your head, painful sensations appear, and you can also hear a crunching sound. This is explained by damage to the small joints of the cervical spine and a decrease in the level of intervertebral discs.
The patient complains of insufficient strength, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of coordination. Due to the displacement of the elements of the spine, compression of the vertebral artery occurs. Because of this, blood circulation deteriorates, which leads to a weakening of the blood supply to the occipital region and cerebellum.
There are problems with vision and loss of sensitivity in the tongue.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women do not differ from those in men. Women 45 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with this disease report numbness and tingling in the upper extremities during sleep.

What is the danger of osteochondrosis of the cervical region?

The disease can harm the body as a whole. In the neck area there are located in a significant volume of arteries, nerve receptors, and blood vessels through which the brain is fed. When even a minor disease occurs, they are compressed. This provokes problems in the blood supply to the brain. As a result, migraines, heart rhythm disturbances, problems with respiratory and visual function are observed, and coordination and attention are also impaired.

Against the background of neck osteochondrosis, the following diseases may develop:

pathologies in the brain;
arterial vessel syndrome in the spine;
spinal stroke.

The most severe complication is the death of the patient, which can occur when the spinal canal is compressed. Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are determined by the stage of the disease.

Therapeutic actions for cervical osteochondrosis

Therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is prescribed regardless of the patient’s gender. Treatment takes place in several stages:

Removal of painful manifestations.
Elimination of puffiness.
Normalizing blood circulation.
Strengthening the muscles on the back, abdominals, chest.
Improving the quality of nutrition and regeneration of spinal tissue.

If even minor signs of the disease are detected, you should consult a specialist. With such a pathology, an integrated approach is used, which requires examination by a surgeon, neurologist, physiotherapist, and chiropractor.

For therapeutic purposes against the background of cervical osteochondrosis, medications, physiotherapeutic treatment, massage of the collar area, and physical therapy are used, as it is quite effective for this condition.

Medications

When osteochondrosis of the neck is detected, the following is prescribed:

drugs to relieve muscle spasms;
vitamin supplements to improve metabolic processes in the central nervous system;
medications from the NSAID group to reduce pain, eliminate inflammation and swelling;
products for joints that help restore cartilage and eliminate disorders in the discs between the vertebrae.
medications that improve the nutrition of the affected nervous tissue and regulate the transport of blood flow to the brain.

Providing first aid for exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis

Sometimes, if the pain becomes unbearable and you can’t visit a doctor, experts advise taking a painkiller. To relieve pain, you can resort to using a “pepper patch”, but this remedy only brings short-term relief. The patch will help warm the affected area and relieve pain for a while. To get rid of swelling, it is recommended to use herbal infusions for 3-4 days.

But it is worth considering that it will not be possible to cure cervical osteochondrosis using such methods. These techniques help to cope with the signs of the disease only for a short time. To prescribe full-fledged therapy, you will have to seek the help of a specialist.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

As part of complex treatment, to improve the effect, the following is prescribed:

Electrophoresis - penetration of painkiller ions into the affected area occurs due to the influence of electric current. During the procedure, Novocaine or Lidocaine is usually used.
Laser therapy - it has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves blood circulation through the influence of light.
Magnetic therapy – helps get rid of swelling in tissues, has an analgesic effect.
Ultrasound – helps improve metabolism, relieves pain, relieves inflammation in the affected area.

Physiotherapy

Also, with cervical osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises will help improve your well-being. It is worth noting that performing the exercises should not be accompanied by pain or discomfort. Set of exercises:

We lie on our stomach and rest our hands on the floor. The back should be straight, and the head and body raised. We stay in this position for about 2 minutes, then return to the starting position. We perform 2-3 repetitions.
We lower ourselves to the floor, lie on our backs, with our arms extended along our torsos. We turn our heads first to the left and then to the right, trying to touch the floor with our ears. We do the exercise 6-7 times in each direction.
We sit on the floor. We inhale and tilt our head forward in an attempt to touch our chest. As you exhale, tilt your head back. The exercise must be repeated 10-15 times.
We sit on the floor, press our palms on our foreheads and at the same time lower our heads. The exercise should be done for about 30 seconds, repeated 2-3 times.
Smoothly, slowly rotate your head so as not to cause dizziness. If you start to feel dizzy, you should stop the exercise. You need to rotate 10 times to the left and then to the right.

Treatment at home

Such therapy can only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment prescribed by a doctor. At home, you can resort to folk remedies, physical therapy and massage.

For cervical osteochondrosis, you can use the following recipes:

Place a leaf of horseradish on the harness and secure it with a bandage or cloth. The sheet should be doused with hot water and then cooled to room temperature. This bandage is applied before bed and left until the morning.
Grate the potatoes and mix with honey in equal proportions. Use as a compress once every 7 days.
To relieve pain, warming up with mustard plaster, a bag of sand, pepper plaster, etc. will help.

Massage

You can also perform a healing massage at home. You need to start massaging a healthy area of the body, gradually moving to the affected area. The massage complex should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and the degree of neglect of the disease. The massage should be performed on the patient, placing him horizontally on the floor. Place your palms on your forehead and stick your chin towards your chest. The neck muscles should be relaxed.

The massage is carried out as follows:

First, massage the collar area with stroking movements.
Then we move on to push-ups. To do this, you need to put your hands on your neck and move them along the spine. This technique can also be used when massaging in the direction of the shoulders.
To warm up the neck muscles, rub it. This will help the body relax and improve blood circulation. You need to move from the skull along the spine using circular movements.
The last movement is vibration, which is performed through rocking and shaking.

Preventive actions

In order to prevent the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following are recommended:

Sports activities (the ideal option is to go to the pool).
Introduce foods enriched with calcium and magnesium into your diet.
Warm up several times throughout the day, especially if you have a sedentary job.
In accordance with the requirements, replace the pillow (buy a low one) and the mattress (you need a fairly hard one). Watch your neck posture while sleeping: your neck should bend at least 15 degrees.
Take hot showers for at least 10 minutes throughout the day.
For people who do not like playing sports, doctors recommend periodically attending a yoga class.
You should not exercise on exercise machines, as this can lead to a deterioration in your health.

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