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 quite a common disease in people of all ages.

A sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and wearing uncomfortable shoes can lead to quite serious illness, almost impossible to diagnose in the early stages.

Features of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, most often called thoracic chondrosis, is a disease of the intervertebral discs in the thoracic spine. In addition, thoracic osteochondrosis is called a "chameleon" because the symptoms are not detected immediately and can be mistaken for a completely different disease.

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

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

Painful pain in the chest,worse at night, as well as with tight turns or hypothermia.
Pain between the shoulder bladeswith a strong elevation of the limb or tight turns.
Sharp pain when sighingand chest tightness.

The symptoms above 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.
Slight pain in the throat or esophagus.
Poor 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 changes in the structure of the discs themselves and of the cervical joints. 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 pain sensations are inherent in the disease:

Periodic headaches.
Periodically aching pains in the neck, back and shoulders.
Short-term visual impairment.
Decreased sensitivity in 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, loud cracking when turning the head sharply.
Periodic loss of sensation in the arms and shoulders.
Visual impairment and recurring ringing in the ears, trouble sleeping.
Numbness of the face and neck, weakness of the upper limbs.
Acute periodic pain in the shoulder blades.

The third stage of cervical osteochondrosis is difficult to treat. The intervertebral hernia increases in size, there is a deformation of the spine.

For the third step, the following symptoms will appear:

Severe pain in the neck and heart.
Loss of feeling on the scalp, arms, shoulders.
Paralysis of the upper limbs.
Herniated cervical vertebrae.

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

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis

A fairly 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. Hereditary factors and work in dangerous production play an important role (excessive vibrations).

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

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis include:

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

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome

The disease takes its name from the dysfunction of the roots of the intervertebral nerves.

When the roots are affected, a number of rather messy symptoms develop, including sharp "throbbing" pains in the lower back and neck.

Symptoms may also include:

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

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

Uneven load on the spine with overweight, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Asymmetry of lower limbs, flat feet.
Wounds, sharp loads on the spine.

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

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

The main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis:

Heavyweight and sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
Anterior vertebral lesions and curvature of the spine.
Stress and nervous tension.
Lack of physical fitness.
Lack of healthy nutrition.

Degrees of osteochondrosis of the thoracic and cervical regions

The development of cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the following degrees of the course of the disease:

For the first stagechanges in the intervertebral discs are characteristic. 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 begin to go numb. Constant dizziness is characteristic.
The third stageis characterized by significant changes in bone and cartilage tissue, the appearance of osteoarthritis.
The fourth stageis characterized by the appearance of bone growths on the vertebrae.

Diagnostics

The first step in diagnosing osteochondrosis is to perform a comprehensive spinal examination. Signs of osteochondrosis in the initial stage can be confused with a number of other diseases. It is necessary to carry out diagnostics by a highly qualified specialist.

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

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

Radiologist.After receiving the results of the x-ray, the picture of the disease will be clearer.
Chiropractor. Determine the exact location and stage of the disease.
The doctor is an osteopath.The method of treatment is very similar to manual therapy.
Doctor - neuropathologist.Osteochondrosis is closely related to diseases of the nervous system. The doctor will help in the treatment of the disease, both at the first and second stages.
Doctor - physiotherapist.Is a specialist in physiotherapy exercises. Physical education only helps in the early stages of the disease.

A sharp exacerbation of the disease is considered quite common. In such cases, you should immediately consult a neurologist. Osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions is closely associated with nerve disease. The neurologist will prescribe a course of taking special drugs to relieve pain.

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy and lactation in women

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy is a common phenomenon, because during pregnancy a woman experiences a comprehensive restructuring and a very heavy load on the whole body. The disease on the fetus has no effect, but during childbirth it can cause a number of serious problems.

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

The reasons for the appearance of osteochondrosis during pregnancy are:

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

To prevent illness, you should see a doctor at the first worrying signs. You should not wait until the end of the pregnancy. After childbirth, the disease may progress and it will be much more difficult to cure it.

If a disease is detected, the pregnant woman will be assigned to wear a prenatal bandage, a course of vitamins and minerals, as well as special gymnastics.

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 often, an exacerbation can last from 1 week to 1 month.

Warning! In case of exacerbation of the disease, it is prohibited: warming up in a bath, or any other heating, massage and self-medication.

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

Provide the patient with maximum rest.
If possible, place the patient on a firm surface.
Apply a cool compress to the affected area.
Apply anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected area.

If a visit to a specialist in the near future is not possible, then you should resort to the following actions:

Take a warm and relaxing shower.
Don't make any sudden movements.
Do not lift weights.
To avoid further pinching, keep the neck steady.

Back pain and back pain

Dorsagois the name of one of the symptoms of inflammation of the thoracic spine. Back pain is characterized by sharp pain in the area of the heart, most often occurs in people performing monotonous sedentary work or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. With sudden movements, short-term breathing difficulties are possible.

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

Methods of treating cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis

In case of illness, various 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 acting on the affected areas. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist, since there are a number of contraindications.
Folk remediesand diet.
Drugs- is prescribed only after a full examination by a specialist.

Drugs

To relieve pain in the spine, most often doctors prescribe drugs. When the stage is advanced, the drugs relieve the pain for a short time. Therefore, to relieve the pain and additional inflammation, doctors prescribe NSAIDs in the form of tablets or capsules.

Chondoprotectors- another type of medicine prescribed for osteochondrosis. Preparations are designed to protect and strengthen bone and cartilage tissue from destruction.

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

The dosage should be determined by the attending physician. The course of taking drugs does not exceed 3 weeks.

Also, one of the effective methods of drug treatment is through the use of injections which can relieve pain.

Means of correction

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

Exercises for osteochondrosis

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

The famous doctor Bubnovsky has developed a series of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, which can be used at home.

The most common exercises are:

Walk, raise arms and legs gently.
Rotation of the shoulders in different directions, bringing and extending the shoulder blades.
The sluggish head leans to the side.
Exercises to stretch the muscles of the spine and neck.
Arm and leg flexion.

In case of cervical osteochondrosis, it is forbidden to turn the head, since it is possible to provoke a complication of the disease.

Physiotherapy treatments

Physiotherapy is primarily aimed at reducing pain in the spine. The procedure improves blood circulation, enriches the muscles with oxygen.

Today, the most common physiotherapy procedures are:

Massage with vibration- helps get rid of pinched nerves in the intervertebral discs. Contraindication - pregnancy, high blood pressure.
Acupuncture- relieves pain. It also helps relax the back muscles. A contraindication is epilepsy.
Electrotherapy- the method is to use a weak current effect on the affected areas of the spine. A contraindication is the presence of heart disease.
Ultraviolet- enriches the body with vitamin D, due to which calcium is absorbed faster. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the affected area. Contraindication to the procedure is the presence of blood diseases, allergic reactions on the skin, 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 treatment, it is especially important to observe the correct dosage and method of treatment.

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

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

Method of treating osteochondrosis according to Valentin Dikul

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

The following principles should be observed when exercising:

Respect of the order of the exercises.
Gradually load the body with exercise.
Consistent performance.
Exclude fast exercises, the technique involves slow and slow movements.

Principles of nutrition for osteochondrosis

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

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

The scheme assumes an exception:

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

Preventive measures

To prevent the development of the disease, or to stop its development, it is necessary to use the following prophylaxis:

Always watch your posture, do yoga or morning exercises.
Limitation of live loads on the spine.
Limit jerky movements.
Avoid uncomfortable shoes, as well as shoes with high heels.
Equal distribution of the load on the spine when performing any work.

Conclusion

With proper observance of all of the above recommendations, as well as with prompt referral to specialists, almost any disease can be cured. Treatment for osteochondrosis takes a lot more time and money, but advanced disease can lead to a wheelchair.