Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic pathology. If left untreated, it progresses rapidly, causing an increase in symptoms. During the disease, the phases of remission are replaced by relapses, in which the person's condition significantly worsens. He suffers from strong, sharp, penetrating pains, stiffness of the cervical spine, dizziness, a sudden rise in blood pressure and headaches. With exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis insufficient intake of analgesics. It is necessary to act on the causes of clinical manifestations - muscle spasm, movement of intervertebral discs and vertebrae, compression of muscle roots and blood vessels by bone growth.
After diagnosis, a vertebrologist will develop a treatment plan. For the transmission of cervical osteochondrosis in the stage of stable remission, drugs of different clinical and pharmacological groups, physiotherapeutic procedures, economical therapeutic gymnastics.
Reasons for relapse
Important to know! Doctors are shocked: "An effective and affordable cure for OSTEOCHONDROSIS exists. . . " Read more. . .
In most cases, there are no symptoms that precede the worsening of cervical osteochondrosis. The person feels great, is involved in daily activities, plans things for the near future. Suddenly, a sharp, penetrating pain appears, for the removal of which it is urgent to take a comfortable horizontal position of the body. This allows you to briefly reduce the severity of the pain syndrome before visiting a doctor. Only in 15-20% of cases, before exacerbation, there are slight discomfort sensations - aches, pulling pains, "goose bumps", stiffness of the back of the neck, shoulders, and sometimes forearms. Due to the already deteriorated blood circulation in the cervical spine and brain, weakness, apathy, mental and physical performance appear.
Cervicago, or cervical lumbago, occurs after a few hours or days. The person experiences such severe pain that when visiting a doctor one of the issues that interests him becomes the possibility of preventing relapse. To prevent worsening of cervical osteochondrosis, you must know the reasons for its occurrence:
- be in a stressful environment for a long time. People who are acutely experiencing even ordinary everyday conflicts often suffer from various chronic pathologies, including diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Negative emotions negatively affect the functioning of all vital systems. In patients with cervical osteochondrosis, they cause muscle cramps, vascular disorders in the brain, neck and back of the head;
- continuous static and dynamic loads. Prolonged stay at the computer, typewriter, microscope leads to deterioration of blood supply to cartilage tissues with oxygen, nutrients and biologically active substances. With osteochondrosis2, 3 degrees of severity, a few hours is enough to return. Sleeping in an awkward position on too soft a mattress or pillow also leads to this;
- jerky door movements. Unintentionally intense turning or tilting of the head can lead to displacement of discs and vertebrae, compression of nerve roots or blood vessels by means of bony outgrowths;
- hypothermia, a sharp change in the climate zone. Vertebrologists note that most often patients with exacerbations of osteochondrosis turn to them in the fall or spring. During the off-season, relapses cause a drop in temperature. It happens in the fall for natural reasons, and in the spring - because of the desire to quickly get rid of warm heavy clothing;
- respiratory, intestinal, urogenital infections, exacerbation of any chronic diseases. In this case, a sharp drop in immunity becomes the cause of recurrence of cervical pathology.
Also, osteochondrosis is exacerbated by improperly performed massage, weight lifting, excessive physical activity. Recurrences very often occur as a result of non-compliance with medical recommendations regarding diet, drinking regimens, medications.
Clinical presentation
Methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical or cervicothoracic spine depend on the severity of its symptoms. They are not so intense in pathology of 1, 2 degrees, when a small amount of cartilage tissue is damaged. And stage 3 or 4 osteochondrosis is characterized by acute clinical manifestations that cause several negative factors at once. The cartilaginous intervertebral discs lost their cushioning properties, and the distance between the vertebrae was significantly reduced. Therefore, by sharply moving the vertebrae, nerves and blood vessels can constrict at the same time. The vertebrologist conducts treatment taking into account the following symptoms of worsening cervical osteochondrosis:
- shooting, haircut, soreness, withdrawal pain in cervicochiachial or thoracic region;
- radiation pain in the back of the head, arms, forearms, shoulders, chest;
- persistent or paroxysmal pain syndrome;
- Increased pain during movement, shoulder rotation, raising arms.
Neck and shoulder pain is one of the signs of worsening pathology.
During the examination of the patient, the vertebrologist reveals signs of muscle spasm, pain of the paravertebral points, stiffness of movement and smoothness of physiological lordosis. The unnatural position of the human body also allows suspicion of deterioration. He pulls his neck up strongly, turning his whole body to the side to reduce the intensity of the pain. Moderate and severe osteochondrosis is manifested by neurological disorders as a consequence of impaired sensitivity, motor, ie. vegetative functional structures. For example, when the spinal cord is tightened, there are feelings of "creeping snails", the skin of the forearms and occipital regions loses sensitivity, becomes pale and cold to the touch. Patients complain of weakness in the hands, dizziness, headache, nausea, decreased vision and / or hearing.
Visual impairment is almost always accompanied by worsening of cervical osteochondrosis.
The appearance of cervical osteochondrosis is manifested by psycho-emotional instability, insomnia, arterial hypertension, and sometimes syncope - short-term fainting that occurs with sharp movements of the neck.
First aid for vomiting
The pain that occurs during a relapse is so acute that a person simply freezes in place, fearing to make unnecessary movement. It should be soothed, preferably laid on a hard surface. Place a flat pillow or a folded pillow under your back. cover so that the patient is comfortable and the intensity of the pain syndrome decreases.
Now you need to call the ambulance team. The fact is that in some cases, with the worsening of osteochondrosis, the person is unable to swallow the pill. Doctors who come on call will inject the analgesic solution intramuscularly or intravenously. If necessary, they also use means to restore cerebral circulation or hospitalize the person for further treatment in a hospital setting.
Transport the patient to the hospital.
While in an ambulance the patient should feel better. How to alleviate the worsening of cervical osteochondrosis:
- If swallowing function is preserved, give anesthetic tablet;
- Gently rubbing pain relief gels will help reduce pain;
- The patient should not be allowed to stand up, bend, as his coordination of movements may be impaired.
Self-medication is strictly forbidden before the doctor arrives - use warming agents, massage the neck to alleviate muscle spasm. If the attack of osteochondrosis is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the paravertebral structures, then such events will cause the development of irreversible complications.
Treatment of acute osteochondrosis
Treatment of worsening cervical osteochondrosis begins with the elimination of the main symptom - acute breakthrough pain. A vertebrologist may prescribe intramuscular administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Drug blockade with hormonal drugs is applied. Glucocorticosteroid solutions together with anesthetics are injected into the area of the spine or the strangled root of the spine. After relieving severe pain, the therapy is continued with tablets or topical agents.
How to continue the treatment of worsening cervical osteochondrosis at home:
- taking NSAIDs in tablets, capsules, tablets for 5-7 days. The drugs must be combined with proton pump inhibitors to prevent ulceration of the gastric mucosa. If this recommendation is ignored, then after bathing an attack of osteochondrosis, hyperacid gastritis will need to be treated
- use of NSAIDs in the form of gels, ointments, creams from the first day of treatment for 7-10 days. The funds should be applied in a thin layer on the pain area 2-3 times a day and rubbed lightly;
- use of heating agents. After the inflammation has stopped, approximately on the 3rd day of therapy, doctors prescribe agents with a warming effect to improve blood circulation and encourage regeneration. They are rubbed in a small amount 1-3 times a day. Transdermal products such as pepper patches can help relieve pain;
- intake or parenteral administration of muscle relaxants. They have analgesic effects by eliminating muscle spasm, usually provoked by compression of nerve endings.
What else to do with the worsening of cervical osteochondrosis, which medications should be taken or medical procedures performed, the vertebrologist decides. If the patient did not use chondroprotectors before relapse, then from the first days of therapy, he must be prescribed medications that stimulate the renewal of cartilage tissue. Accelerate the restoration of all functions of the cervical spine will allow intramuscular injection of chondroprotectors.
The use of B vitamins will significantly speed up the patient's recovery. Pyridoxine, thiamine, cyanocobalamin, nicotinamide, riboflavin improve the interior in the area of damaged discs and vertebrae, stabilize the central and vegetative nervous system.
Drug-free therapy
During 3-4 days of treatment, the patient is shown rest. Any dynamic loads on all parts of the spine are excluded. For a few hours or all day, patients are recommended to wear a Shants collar, the required height of which will be determined by the doctor. The use of an orthopedic device helps to reduce the load on the cervical spine, prevents the intensification of painful sensations.
The Shants collar fixes the cervical spine.
Diet for cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation should be fractional - 5-6 times a day. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that contain large amounts of salt or spices. Their use causes fluid retention in the body and increased swelling. Nutritionists recommend eating more fruits, grains, fresh vegetable salad.
In severe relapse, nerve damage is disrupted due to nerve damage. And the compression of the spinal cord becomes the cause of conduction disorders - para- and tetraparesis of the hands, functional disorders of the internal organs. Therefore, doctors strongly do not recommend self-removal of worsening cervical osteochondrosis, drowning the pain with tablets. Only adequately performed therapy will help to avoid the dangerous consequences of recurrence of chronic pathologies.
How to forget about joint pain and osteochondrosis?
- Joint pain limits your movement and full life. . .
- You are worried about discomfort, squeaking and systematic pain. . .
- You may have tried a bunch of medications, creams and ointments. . .
- But judging by the fact that you're reading these lines, they haven't helped you much. . .
The term "osteochondrosis" characterizes the destructive processes that occur in one or another part of the human musculoskeletal system.
In some patients, this disease affects the joints of the extremities, but with a probability of 95% osteochondrosis is localized in any part of the spine.
The spinal column is the main axis of the human body, performs many important functions and is an almost irreplaceable element of the musculoskeletal system.Violation of the structure of any part of the spine can lead to irreversible consequences and seriously impair the patient's quality of life.
Osteochondrosis of the spine can affect one of three parts of the colon: cervical, thoracic or lumbar, and can be localized in several sections.
The disease of each of the parts of the spine has its own characteristics of the course and individual symptoms, as well as some nuances in the tactics of treatment of osteochondrosis.
How does cervical osteochondrosis progress?
According to changes in the structure of the spine, patient complaints and methods of treatment, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is classified into 3 stages of the course.
1. phase
Inflammation of the cervical spine
This degree rarely has a clinically pronounced picture, some patients complain of:
- Recurrent headache;
- Discomfort in the neck and thighs.
The changes that occur at this stage of the disease affect some vertebrae and intervertebral discs, reduce the elasticity of the annulus fibrosus, and result in slight compression of the spinal nerve root.
2. phase
Degeneration of the spinal structures is more pronounced, the intervertebral discs practically cannot perform their functions, there is pressure on the nervous processes and blood vessels, which causes the symptoms of the disease.
Patients report frequent headaches, dizziness, decreased performance. At this stage, most calls for qualified medical care occur, but some spinal injuries are already irreversible.
Phase 3
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine reaches its peak. Massive lesions of the skeletal and ligament apparatus.
Strong clinical picture:
- Severe headaches;
- Nausea, lack of coordination;
- Sleep problems;
- Visual and auditory disorders.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission (calming).
Worsening of the disease is a stage of the chronic course in which the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves, the deterioration of the patient's well-being.
The remission stage is a period that occurs after treatment or on its own, and is characterized by an imperceptible course of the disease without a pronounced clinical picture.
Treatment of second and third degree cervical osteochondrosis is to minimize the stages of exacerbation and prolong the remission period.
to contents ↑
Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Performing competent treatment, physiotherapy, gymnastic exercises, proper diet and lifestyle help the body fight osteochondrosis and can increase the remission time of the disease.
Numerous reasons can cause a sudden worsening of cervical osteochondrosis, causing recurrence of the symptoms of the disease.Related Videos:
The frequency, duration and intensity of the period of exacerbation are individual and depend on the cause, presence or absence of treatment, as well as on the personal characteristics of the organism, its compensatory and adaptive properties.
Causes of deterioration
Spinal degeneration leads to cervical osteochondrosis
It is quite difficult to perform laboratory tests that can reliably determine the factor that caused the manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine.
The list of reasons is based on long-term observations of orthopedic doctors and neuropathologists for patients, a thorough analysis of possible predisposing factors, after which patients noticed a deterioration in well-being.
Causes of deterioration can be exogenous and endogenous - caused by internal or external influences.
Endogenous causes include progressive degeneration of the spine and weakening of the body's compensatory and adaptive properties.
Among the exogenous factors, the following are most likely to cause worsening of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Presence of inadequate load on the spine or changes in the predominant posture (lifting weights, doing strength sports, changing the type of activity);
- Stress, nervous shocks;
- Undergoing a manual therapy session or course by an incompetent person;
- Seasonality (revealed a large number of exacerbations of cervical spine disease in the fall);
- Hormonal shakes (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause);
- Diseases that weaken the body (respiratory viral infections, infectious diseases, periods of exacerbation of other chronic diseases);
- Fast weight gain
How to determine that osteochondrosis has worsened?
Worsening of the disease is proven by the presence of discomfort in the neck and head, deterioration of general health.
Sometimes the worsening phase begins with lightning speed, intense headaches.
In 70% of cases, a rapid worsening of cervical osteochondrosis can be predicted: the patient notices a feeling of heaviness or dull pain along the back of the neck, complaints intensify in the morning.
The presence of predisposing factors on the background of the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease confirms the version of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.
All types of symptoms during exacerbation
Symptoms that appear during the period of exacerbation of chronic spinal disease generally coincide with the general symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The most common symptom of worsening is pain.
Intensity, nature and localization can be different: pain in the back of the neck or one part of it, headache in the upper leg, parietal tubercles, pain in the clavicle, shoulder.
Dangerous manifestations of pain can be symptoms similar to those of myocardial infarction:
- Scapular pain;
- Chest pain;
- Pain in left limb.
Some patients report painful sensations only when moving the head or arm at the shoulder joint.
Exacerbation of chronic cervical osteochondrosis can cause a number of neurological symptoms, if present, the patient should be carefully examinedto rule out more serious pathologies: <strong <>
- Sleep, concentration, memory disorders;
- Loss of coordination, loss of balance, fainting;
- Feeling of flies in front of the eyes, purulent bumps, tinnitus;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea to vomiting;
- Diction violation;
- Decrease or increase the sensitivity of the hand, shoulder blades, neck.
The presence of these symptoms cannot be ignored. The impact of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine on the blood vessels that supply the brain can lead to the most dangerous complication of cervical osteochondrosis - stroke.
How long does the deterioration last?
The duration of the exacerbation phase can vary depending on the season (in the cold season, activation of osteochondrosis can take longer and more painful), the reasons that caused the continuation of symptoms of spinal disease, individual characteristics of the patient's body and treatment.
Experts call the following time frames<strong> stages of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Severe symptoms - up to 1 week, more often - 4-5 days;
- Retaining some discomfort in the affected area, headaches - up to 3 weeks after the relief of severe attacks;
- The general period of deterioration is considered standard - about 1-1, 5 months.
Worsening of cervical osteochondrosis during pregnancy
The body of a pregnant woman undergoes complex physiological changes, there is a colossal hormonal surge, complete redistribution of the body's center of gravity, changes in the absorption and assimilation of minerals and nutrients.
These rearrangements have a serious impact on the musculoskeletal system, the spine is under great stress.
Pregnant women who have a history of such a disease as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, in 50% of cases relapses. This is due to changes in the spine.
The symptoms of worsening cervical osteochondrosis in pregnant women are the same as in all other patients.
There are difficulties in choosing a treatment regimen, because when prescribing drugs, it is necessary to take into account the possible effect of the drug on the fetus.
To alleviate worsening in pregnant women, the choice is made on fats that do not penetrate the baby, in rare cases, in case of severe pain, complex anesthetic pills or injections are prescribed.
Many pregnant women resort to treatment with non-traditional methods, recipes of traditional medicine that are gentler on the fetus.
What to do in case of deterioration?
If you have symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, do not delay a visit to an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist.
Only a specialist can fully assess the patient's condition, the reasons that led to the worsening of the disease, as well as prescribe the correct, safe and effective treatment.
Try to avoid stress on the affected spine before visiting the doctor.
In the absence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or individual intolerance, you can take analgesic and anti-inflammatory tablets.
In case of worsening of cervical osteochondrosisit is forbidden <strong:
- Heat the neck or back of the head in the tub, using compression warming or other methods;
- Receive massage sessions;
- Self-healing.
Methods for treating acute cervical osteochondrosis
The excitation of treating cervical osteochondrosis with the drug is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and early recovery of the patient's well-being and ability to work.
The table shows the main methods of treatment of cervical spine diseases, the most common medications are indicated.
Before using any of the medicines on the list, consult your doctor.
| Drug group | Destination Destination |
|---|---|
| Painkillers / NSAIDs | Relieves pain, reduces inflammation in the affected area |
| Muscle relaxants | Relieve muscle spasm |
| Diuretics | Reducing swelling in the inflamed spine and reducing pressure on the nerve roots |
| Chondroprotectors | Reconstruction of spine structures |
| Vitamins | Improving metabolism, chemical reactions |
| Nootropics | Restoration of nerve impulse conduction along nerve processes |
A visit to a qualified osteopath in the acute stage will "relieve" the restrained nervous processes and alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease.
How else can you alleviate deterioration at home?
If a visit to the doctor is currently impossible, there are several recipes on how to alleviate the condition of a patient with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine before providing medical care:
- Take a warm, relaxing shower;
- Tie the neck with a natural wool garment;
- Apply herbal compresses to the affected area. For this purpose, use onion, sage, mint;
- Make butter from butter and mummy 1: 1.