Symptoms, prevention and treatment of chondrosis of the cervical spine

15 November 2020

Today, a disease such as osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical spine is considered a very common disease among people of all ages.

A sedentary lifestyle, inadequate posture and wearing uncomfortable shoes can lead to a very serious illness, which is almost impossible to diagnose in the early stages.

Characteristics of thoracic spine osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, more often called thoracic chondrosis, is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. In addition, the degenerative disease of the thoracic disc is called "chameleon", since the symptoms are not detected immediately and can be mistaken for a completely different disease.

Most of the time, the disease occurs due to metabolic disorders, as well as excessive stress on the intervertebral discs. Thoracic chondrosis interrupts the normal functioning of the intervertebral disc.

Unlike other types, thoracic osteochondrosis is less pronounced and has the following symptoms:

Chest pain,worse at night, as well as in tight turns or hypothermia.
Pain between the shoulder bladeswith sharp limb elevation or sharp curves.
Acute pain when sighingand chest tightness.

The above symptoms refer to the initial stage of the disease.

With a prolonged course without medical intervention, the following symptoms may appear:

Numbness in small areas of the skin.
Itching or burning in the legs.
Severe peeling of the skin.
Mild pain in the throat or esophagus.
Deficient gastrointestinal function.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or cervical chondrosis is a disease that weakens the intervertebral discs, leading to a change in the structure of the cervical discs and joints themselves. Nerve endings can become inflamed, being compressed by destructive intervertebral discs.

According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), it has the code M42. 02.

The following feelings of pain are inherent in the disease:

Periodic headaches.
Periodically painful pain in the neck, back, shoulders.
Short-term visual impairment.
Decreased sensitivity of the collar area.

Symptoms of cervical chondrosis

The second degree is characterized by the appearance of small spinal hernias and the following symptoms:

Pain in the cervical spine, strong crushing when the head turns sharply.
Periodic loss of sensation in the arms and shoulders.
Visual impairment and recurrent ringing in the ears, difficulty sleeping.
Numbness of the face and neck, weakening of the upper limbs.
Periodic acute pain in the shoulder blades.

The third stage of cervical osteochondrosis is difficult to treat. The intervertebral hernia increases in size, spinal deformation is observed.

For the third stage, the following symptoms will appear:

Severe pain in the neck and heart.
Loss of sensation in the scalp, arms, shoulders.
Paralysis of the upper limbs.
Hernia of the cervical vertebrae.

The fourth stage is characterized by an exacerbation of all the above symptoms.

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis

A very common disease that immediately affects the cervical and thoracic regions. It can start at any age due to back injuries, a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight. An important role is played by hereditary factors and work in hazardous jobs (excessive vibration).

According to ICD-10, this type of osteochondrosis has the code M 42. 02.

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis include:

Sudden dizziness.
Sore pains in the neck and shoulders.
Pain in the right hypochondrium.
Blood pressure drops and tachycardia.

Osteochondrosis with root syndrome

The disease got its name due to dysfunction in the roots of the intervertebral nerves.

When the roots are affected, a series of very disordered symptoms develop, including sharp "sting" pains in the lower back and neck.

Symptoms also include:

Short-term loss of the ability to perform any movement.
Loss of sensation in the limbs.
Muscle hypotrophy.
Changes in neurological reflexes (detected on examination by a neurologist).

The following factors are associated with the occurrence of root syndrome:

Uneven load on the spine during overweight, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Asymmetry of lower limbs, flat feet.
Injuries, acute spinal loads.

If the disease is detected at an early stage, surgical intervention is not necessary.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

The main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis:

Heavy and sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
Anterior spinal injuries and spinal curvature.
Stress and nervous tension.
Lack of physical fitness.
Lack of healthy nutrition.

Degrees of osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical regions

In the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following degrees of the disease are characteristic:

For the first stagechanges in the intervertebral discs are characteristic. The changes begin to occur due to the disappearance of fluid reserves in the nucleus of the intervertebral discs. The pain is not yet noticeable.
In the second stagethe intervertebral discs become flatter. As a result, there are strong loads on the ligaments and muscles, which, due to the constant heavy load, start to go numb. Constant dizziness is characteristic.
The third stageis characterized by significant changes in the bone and cartilaginous tissues, the appearance of arthrosis.
Stage IVis characterized by the appearance of bone growth in the vertebrae.

Diagnosis

To diagnose osteochondrosis, the first step is to perform a complete spinal examination. The signs of osteochondrosis in the early stage can be confused with a number of other diseases. Diagnosis by a highly qualified specialist is required.

To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to contact the attending physician, who will refer you to a specialist with a more restricted profile. The sooner the patient seeks medical help, the faster and safer treatment will be.

In fact, osteochondrosis is not treated by one specialist, but by several:

Radiologist.After receiving the X-ray results, the picture of the disease will become clearer.
Chiropractor. Determines the exact location and stage of the disease.
The doctor is an osteopath.The treatment method is very similar to manual therapy.
Physician - neuropathologist.Osteochondrosis is closely related to diseases of the nervous system. The doctor will help in the treatment of the disease, both in the first phase and in the second.
Physician - physiotherapist.He specializes in physiotherapy exercises. Physical education helps only in the early stages of the disease.

An acute exacerbation of the disease is considered quite common. In such cases, you should immediately consult a neurologist. Osteochondrosis of both cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions is closely associated with nervous diseases. The neurologist will prescribe a series of special medications that relieve pain.

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy and breastfeeding in women

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy is a common phenomenon, because during pregnancy the woman undergoes a global restructuring and a very heavy load on the entire body. The disease in the fetus has no effect, but during childbirth it can cause several serious problems.

And the breastfeeding period is also recommended to be observed by a doctor and to wear a corrective vest to decrease tension in the spine.

The reasons for the appearance of osteochondrosis during pregnancy include:

Weight gain and strong spine stress and wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Pressure of the uterus on adjacent organs.
Change in hormone levels.
Deficiency of useful vitamins and minerals.
Lack of rest and sleep, various types of stress.

To prevent the disease, you should see a doctor at the first disturbing signs. You must not wait for the pregnancy to end. After delivery, the disease can progress and it will be much more difficult to cure.

If a disease is detected, the pregnant woman will be assigned to use a prenatal dressing, a series of vitamins and minerals, as well as a special gym.

First aid for exacerbation of osteochondrosis at home

The duration of the exacerbation depends on the type and degree of neglect of the disease. Most of the time, an exacerbation can last from 1 week to 1 month.

Attention! In case of worsening of the disease, it is forbidden: warm up in the bath, or any other heating, massage and self-medication

If a sudden attack occurs, before the doctors arrive, you should do the following:

Give the patient maximum rest.
If possible, place the patient on a firm surface.
Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
Apply an anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected area.

If a visit to a specialist in the near future is impossible, you should resort to the following actions:

Take a warm, relaxing bath.
Do not make sudden movements.
Do not lift weights.
To avoid further pinching, keep your neck steady.

Back and back

Dorsagois the name of one of the symptoms of inflammation of the thoracic spine. Dorsago is characterized by acute pain in the heart region, most often occurring in people who do monotonous work while sitting, or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. With sudden movements, short-term breathing difficulties are possible.

Back painis a pain syndrome that occurs with an acute exacerbation of the disease, lasting about 2 weeks. With back pain, the sensations of pain gradually increase. The pain is especially severe when leaning forward or breathing deeply. Most of the time, pulling pains occur in the area of the shoulder blades, lumbar region.

Methods for the treatment of thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis

In the case of an illness, several methods of treating osteochondrosis are used.

The most common are considered:

Physiotherapy- paraffin compresses, magnetic therapy, laser therapy.
Physiotherapygymnastics and massage.
Reflexotherapy- the treatment is carried out with needles that act on the affected areas. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist, as there are several contraindications.
Folk remediesand diet.
Medicament- is prescribed only after a thorough examination by a specialist.

Medication

To relieve back pain, most of the time, doctors prescribe medication. When the stage is advanced, medications relieve pain for a short time. Therefore, to relieve pain and increase inflammation, doctors prescribe NSAIDs in the form of pills or capsules.

Condoprotectors- another type of medication prescribed for osteochondrosis. The preparations are designed to protect and strengthen bone and cartilage tissue from destruction.

In the case of a strong inflammatory process that occurs in the muscle tissue, the patient will receive medication to relieve muscle spasms.

The dosage should be determined by the attending physician. The course of drug use is no longer than 3 weeks.

Also one of the effective methods of drug treatment is the use of injections that can relieve pain.

Means of correction

In case of complex treatment, the patient may be prescribed the use of corsets and special fixation bandages.

Exercises for osteochondrosis

The exercises prescribed in a physiotherapy room can not only relieve pain, but also strengthen the spine muscles, which further prevents the development of all kinds of complications. And also after several courses of physiotherapy exercises the posture improves significantly.

The well-known doctor Bubnovsky developed a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, which can be used at home.

The most common exercises are:

Walking, raising arms and legs gently.
Rotation of the shoulders in different directions, bringing and extending the shoulder blades.
The slow head tilts to the side.
Stretching exercises for the spine and neck muscles.
Flexion of arms and legs.

In the case of cervical osteochondrosis, it is prohibited to turn your head, as it can cause a complication of the disease.

Physiotherapy treatments

Physiotherapy's main objective is to reduce back pain. The procedure improves blood circulation, enriches the muscles with oxygen.

Today, the most common physiotherapy procedures are:

Vibrating massage- helps to get rid of the pinched nerves in the intervertebral discs. Contraindication - pregnancy, hypertension.
Acupuncture- relieves pain. It also helps to relax the back muscles. A contraindication is epilepsy.
Electrotherapy- the method consists of using a weak current effect in the affected areas of the spine. A contraindication is the presence of heart disease.
Ultraviolet- enriches the body with vitamin D, thanks to which calcium is absorbed more quickly. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the affected area. The contraindication to the procedure is the presence of blood disorders, allergic skin reactions, cancer.

Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies

In the complex treatment of the disease, some doctors also recommend the use of folk remedies to eliminate the disease. In complex treatments, it is especially important to observe the correct dosage and treatment method.

Folk remedies for home use relieve pain in the area of muscles and joints, and also restore joint mobility:

Spruce and turpentine ointment.150g. melt any animal fat in a water bath 1 tbsp. fir oil and turpentine. After 20 minutes, remove the ointment from the heat, let it cool and apply exclusively to the affected areas of the spine.
Mustard compress.Combine mustard powder, vodka and camphor alcohol in equal amounts. After mixing well, add 4 egg whites. Let the mixture ferment for 4 hours. Apply a compress to the affected areas.
Turpentine bath.Shake the solution bottle well. Then, put 5 ml of emulsion in a hot bath. In subsequent times, the solution can be increased to 10-15 ml. You need to spend 20 minutes in that bath. The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. It is also necessary to ensure that the water does not reach the heart area.

Osteochondrosis treatment method according to Valentin Dikul

This technique is quite common in the treatment of the disease. Valentin Ivanovich Dikul, in the first place, tested his method with himself. The Dikul technique is indicated for diseases of the spine and intervertebral hernias.

The following principles should be followed during the exercise:

Compliance with the order of the exercises.
Gradually load the body with exercises.
Regular performance.
Exclude quick exercises, the technique involves smooth and slow movements.

Nutrition principles for osteochondrosis

In case of complex treatment, a special diet should be observed, which includes:

Drink lots of water.
Adequate amount of vitamins and minerals in food.
Eat foods rich in protein and calcium.

The diet has an exception:

Fried, fatty and spicy foods.
Refusal of quick snacks (sandwiches, fast food).
Avoid eating several hours before bed.

Preventive measures

To prevent the development of the disease, or to stop its development, the following prophylaxis must be applied:

Always monitor your posture, do yoga or morning exercises.
Limiting sudden loads on the column.
Limit sudden movements.
Avoid uncomfortable shoes, as well as high heels.
Uniform distribution of load on the column when carrying out any work.

Conclusion

With due regard for all the above recommendations, as well as timely referral to specialists, almost all diseases can be cured. The treatment of osteochondrosis takes much more time and money, but an advanced disease can lead to the use of wheelchairs.