The symptoms and treatment of cervical osteoarthritis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine – the result of a sedentary style of life, the power. The first signs of the disease may appear, at 25 years old, if not to start treatment, you experience severe-complications. In the treatment of the disease to apply an integrated approach to the pharmacological treatment, diet therapy, curative physical education and physiotherapy.

Causes of osteoarthritis cervical spine

Cervical low back pain – degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, joints, with consequent reduction in the motility of the neck, the appearance of the syndrome from severe pain. The main reason for the development of disease – violation of mineral metabolism, because of what the bones and joints become less strong.

Why is cervical back pain:

• the excessive weight, a sedentary lifestyle;
• disorders of posture, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• flat foot;
• VSD;
• the wrong food.

Trigger the development of the deformation of the cervical vertebrae can trauma, spinal injury, excessive physical exercise, and stress. In women, low back pain often occurs during pregnancy, menopause – the background of the hormonal changes it reduces the amount of calcium, the bone becomes fragile.

Common symptoms and signs

With the constant increase of the load on the cervical vertebrae occurs, a muscle spasm, the compressed blood, cervical, process is halted circulation of the blood, errors occur in metabolic processes – it changes the structure of the intervertebral disc, which deform, they begin to act beyond the spinal column.

How is it manifested back pain cervical:

• syndrome radicular – on the background of compression of the nerve endings you experience pain, that extends from the neck to the blades, forearms, it covers the front wall of the chest;
• muscle weakness in the hands, a considerable swelling of the neck;
• during the movement of the head feels crunch;
• weakness, chronic fatigue, sudden changes in blood pressure;
• the violation of coordination, often dizziness, heart attacks are accompanied by nausea, vomiting;
• the deterioration of sight and hearing, buzzing, ringing in the ears;
• numbness of the limbs, of the tongue;
• frequent headaches;
• in women age 45-65 years during sleep there is pain, numbness, tingling in the upper limbs, the attacks may be repeated several times during the night.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical is broken the power supply and the flow of blood in the brain, violations of character-neurotic – anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disorders.

Classification cervical osteoarthritis

For the development of back pain goes through different stages of development, each of which has its characteristic signs. As seems to be amazed of the vertebral column in different stages, you can see in the picture.

The degree of development of the disease:

1. Low back pain 1 degree – the initial phase is flowing without especially if the symptoms persist, a man concerned about the rare and slight pain when you rotate and tilt the head, the back muscles tire quickly.
2. Low back pain 2 can – the vertebrae become unstable, pinch nerve, neck pain, acquire a distinct character, gives in the shoulder, arm. For more symptoms of fatigue, headaches and frequent in the occipital region, the distraction.
3. Low back pain grade 3 – pain becomes chronic, covers the upper part of the back, the hands, there is a strong, muscular weakness, limbs numb, develops, intervertebral hernia, often you experience attacks of dizziness.
4. Low back pain 4 measure – is the complete destruction of the intervertebral disc, are replaced by connective tissue, the pathological process covers the different segments of the spinal column. The violation occurs of coordination, are more and more frequent attacks of dizziness, appears to be the tinnitus.

Acute low back pain – a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, characterized by a strong heart attack acute pain that occurs suddenly after waking up.

To what doctor to address?

If signs of cervical arthrosis, it is necessary to visit the neurologist, in some hospitals there are more vertebrologist – specialist we can take care of exactly disease of the spinal column.

Methods of diagnosis

Running the form of degenerative disc disease have expressed the clinical picture, which allows you to put the initial diagnosis already at the first examination. Reveal the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae will help diagnostic techniques up.

The main types of investigations of osteochondrosis:

• x – rays- the method is only effective in the early stages of the development of malocclusion;
• Magnetic RESONANCE imaging on the screen you can clearly see the configuration of the bony structures, the size and direction of development of intervertebral hernias, the state of the spinal cord;
• CT – a method less effective than an mri, as it does not give accurate information about the presence and the size of the hernias;
• duplex – allows you to see disturbances in the circulation of the blood;
• the set – show the presence of itching, inflammation, other damage nerve;
• rheoencephalogram – is prescribed in case of violation of blood supply to the brain.

For the pointing, and a careful study of the state of some of the vertebrae pass discography – in the intervertebral disc is injected with a contrast medium, which allows you to see the minimum change in the tissues, to distinguish between scar changes from a hernia.

Methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical

In the initial development phase to heal the back pain can be without drugs, it is sufficient to review the diet, day mode, to perform regularly a series of special exercises. When the execution of forms of the disease effective treatment is only possible on condition of application of different medications, which help to suspend degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

In the complex of treatment activities must include physiotherapy – electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy. These methods help to cope with the pain, inflammation, edema of the tissues, improve the processes of exchange and the circulation of the blood.

Therapeutic exercise

The physical THERAPY prescribed period of convalescence, during an acute exacerbation of degenerative disc disease physical exercises are contraindicated, gymnastics simple, do at home, regularly.

Gymnastics Bubnovsky for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteoarthritis:

1. In the standing position with the hands free of charge, omit along the body. Tilt the head forward, chin to try to the chest is fixed in position for the count of 3. Tilt the head back, the chin, looking upwards, count to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In the standing position, turning his head to the right, to the left, in every extreme point to fix the position for a few seconds. Repeat 3 times in each direction.
3. In the standing position tilt the head to the right, to the left, the ear to try to reach the shoulder, hold the position for 30 seconds. Perform 6 repetitions for each side.
4. Standing, hands on the waist, the chin is parallel to the floor, thrown at next. Turn the head, the chin sit on the shoulder, the trunk a little, turn a little time for half a minute. Do 6 repetitions for each side, you may experience a slight pain in the spine.
5. In the sitting position, with the back situated in a wonderful location, the hands on the knees. Dilute direct hand in hand, a little start ago, the head bent backwards, back to starting position, repeat 5 times.
6. In the sitting position, the head rotates to the right, the palm of the left hand to live on the right shoulder, the elbow parallel to the floor, the right hand rests on the knee, return to starting position. Perform 6 repetitions for each side.
7. In a sitting position, raise the hands above the head, ok, connect, elbows a little bent, rotate your head to one side until the lights of the pain, fix the position at the extreme point in a few seconds. Repeat for 6 shots of the scene in every direction.

Between exercises take a break of 30 seconds. Before starting exercise it is necessary to take a hot shower, do a couple of soft head tilts in different directions, to warm the muscles. After you have completed charging, easy stretching will help you avoid the appearance of unpleasant sensations for the next day.

Pharmacological treatment

Medical therapy with osteochondrosis aims to eliminate the inconvenience, the recovery of the mobility of the vertebrae, and slowing down of degenerative changes of the tissues. Acute attacks of pain relieve the stings of NSAIDS or corticosteroids, a chronic form of the disease under treatment ointments, pills.

To treat low back pain:

• FANS, they release it in the form of tablets and funds for external application, eliminate the swelling, pain;
• corticosteroids – cropped acute pain syndrome;
• group B vitamins promote the exchange processes in the tissues;
• chondroprotectors – to promote the recovery of cartilage tissue;
• medications to improve the blood flow, supply to the brain;
• nootropics – improve the functioning of the brain, in the memory;
• muscle relaxants – eliminate the muscle spasm;
• for the local treatment use creams and gels with anti-inflammatory properties, the action of heating.

For the medical therapy has been effective, it is necessary to combine with the physical THERAPY, following a diet, in the contrary case, there are medicines can not help you get rid of degenerative disc disease.

Folk remedies

Popular treatment it is necessary to use as a complement to the medical and physical therapy, to completely eliminate the disease non-conventional techniques will not help.

Do with osteochondrosis of the cervical in the house:

1. The fresh leaf of cock pour over the boiling water, a little cool, the inner side of attach to the neck, fasten the thin fabric natural. Procedure to do before going to sleep, body wrap, to leave the entire night.
2. Grate the raw potatoes, mix with equal parts of warm with the liquid honey. Mixture is used for compresses, the procedure is carried out step-by-step 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix the egg with 100 ml of sunflower oil, 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g of flour, a mix of remove in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the film from the surface. Means to smear the inflamed area before going to sleep, store in the refrigerator.
4. In the month of may to collect gems pine up to 2 cm, cut into thin slices, folded in a dark glass bottle. 1 part of raw materials to take 2 parts sugar, a medication stored in a dark place for 2 weeks. Drink to 5 ml of the mixture three times per day, once not swallow, hold it for 2-3 minutes in the mouth. The duration of the course is 15-20 days, repeated 2-3 times a year.
5. Chop 150 g of garlic, peeled and 400 g of cranberry, and a mix of lay in a glass bowl, after 24 hours, add 800 ml of honey, stir. Take 5 ml of medicine three times a day before meals.

Cope with severe pain, pull the excess salts will help cabbage leaf, lubricated with honey, wrap fasten to the neck with a warm scarf, to leave the entire night.

Massage with osteochondrosis of the cervical

The massage helps to strengthen muscle tone, improve the circulation of blood in the tissues, in the form of grave-degenerative disc disease, the sessions of an expert. In mild forms of the disease, for the prevention will help self-massage – the treatment is done at home.

Massage technique:

1. Warm muscles – with both hands intensely spend to the rear, the lateral surface of the neck from top to bottom. Heating time of 2 minutes.
2. Flap palm pressed against the lower part of the neck, movements of the slider to move toward the growth zone of the hair, then shoulder joints.
3. With the tip of the fingers of both hands to do the rubbing in circular motions and occipital region from the hairline till the forearms – from the spine to the ears and back.
4. Pinch occasionally the muscles of the neck from the bottom to the top, then in the opposite direction.
5. To caress you from the nape to the blades – do after each type of exercise.

The possible consequences and complications

In the region of the cervical vertebrae lie close to one another, the height of the intervertebral discs small, then a series of complications of degenerative disc disease to occur even with minor degenerative changes in the bone tissue.

How dangerous is back pain cervical:

• frequent attacks of migraine;
• cardiac arrhythmias, arteriosclerosis;
• protrusion, disc herniation, bony prominences of the vertebrae;
• a severe malocclusion brain;
• the narrowing of the lumen of the artery spine, which leads to the development of the TIR, hypertension, cerebral disability;
• spinal stroke.

Contraindications with osteochondrosis of the cervical

To lead a complete life style osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid activities that can cause the onset of pain, worsening of the disease.

What not to do with osteochondrosis of the cervical:

• sleep is very solid or a mattress soft, the pillow top;
• lift weights if you must lift something heavy, we have to do it with the back situated in a wonderful position with bent knees;
• carry the bag on one shoulder;
• during the exacerbations of the malocclusion to make the active movements of the head, the neck;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• walking around without a scarf in the cold season, sit in the project, your air conditioner;
• to remain long in an awkward position, sitting position;
• wear high-heeled shoes;
• crunching the neck.

Heat treatment – hot packs, a visit to the bathrooms, the heating is a blue lamp, you can do it only in the remission phase of the disease. Exacerbation of heat only for a short period of time will relieve the pain, but soon the unpleasant sensation of return, increase their level of development.

The prevention of the disease

To maintain the health of the spinal column, it is sufficient to follow the simple rules of prevention.

How to avoid cervical osteoarthritis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• every morning, do exercise, do swimming, yoga, dance;
• spend more time outdoors, especially useful, morning walks;
• eat properly, control the consumption of salt, to comply with the regime drinking;
• sedentary work every hour to do a warm-up for the neck, check the posture;
• keep the neck warm;
• get enough sleep, avoid physical, mental and emotional overwork.

Cervical back pain – is a chronic, slowly progressive disease, the signs of the disease immediately. The correct combination of the traditional and popular treatment methods, exercises, and diet will help you cope with the unpleasant symptoms and simple measures of prevention – to avoid the relapse of the malocclusion.