Symptoms, prevention and treatment of chondrosis of the cervical spine.

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

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

Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, more often called thoracic chondrosis, is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. Also, thoracic osteochondrosis is called a "chameleon", since the symptoms are not immediately detected 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 function of the intervertebral disc.

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

• Sore chest pain,worse at night, as well as with sharp turns or hypothermia.
• Pain between the shoulder bladeswith a sharp increase in the limb or sharp bends.
• Sharp pain when sighingand tightness in the chest.

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.
• Poor gastrointestinal function.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

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

• Periodic headaches.
• Periodic aching pain in the neck, back, shoulders.
• Short-term visual impairment.
• Decreased sensitivity of the neck 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, severe cracking when turning the head 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 extremities.
• Periodic sharp pain in the shoulder blades.

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

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 extremities.
• Hernia of the cervical vertebrae.

The fourth stage is characterized by an exacerbation of all 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, sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. Hereditary factors and work play an important role in dangerous production (excessive vibration).

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

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis include:

• Sudden dizziness.
• Aching pain in the neck and shoulders.
• Pain in the right upper quadrant.
• Blood pressure drops and tachycardia.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome

The disease got its name due to the disruption of normal function in the roots of the intervertebral nerves.

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

Symptoms also include:

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

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

• Uneven load on the spine during overweight, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
• Lower limb asymmetry, flat feet.
• Injuries, shear loads on the spine.

If the disease is detected at an early stage, no surgical intervention is required.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

The main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis:

• Heavy weight and sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
• Previous 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

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

• For the first stagechanges in the intervertebral discs are characteristic. Changes begin to occur due to the disappearance of fluid reserves from 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 strong load, begin to go numb. Constant dizziness is characteristic.
• The third stageis ​​characterized by significant changes in bone and cartilage tissues, the appearance of osteoarthritis.
• The fourth stageis ​​characterized by the appearance of bone tumors in the vertebrae.

Diagnosis

To diagnose osteochondrosis, the first step is to perform a complete spine exam. Signs of osteochondrosis in the initial stage can be confused with various other diseases. Diagnostics by a highly qualified specialist are necessary.

To diagnose the disease, you must contact the treating 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 a specialist, but by several:

• Radiologist.After receiving the X-ray results, the picture of the disease will be clearer.
• Chiropractor. Determine 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 stage and in the second.
• Physician - physiotherapist.He is a specialist in physical therapy 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 the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions is closely associated with nerve disease. The neurologist will prescribe a course of special drugs that relieve pain.

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy and lactation in women

Osteochondrosis during pregnancy is a common phenomenon, since during pregnancy a woman undergoes a global restructuring and a very strong load on the whole body. The disease in the fetus has no effect, but during delivery it can cause a number of serious problems.

And it is also recommended that the lactation period be observed by a doctor and the use of corrective corsets to reduce the stress on the spine.

Causes of osteochondrosis during pregnancy include:

• Weight gain and severe stress on the spine and use of uncomfortable shoes.
• Pressure of the uterus on the 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 consult a doctor at the first disturbing signs. You should not wait until the end of the pregnancy. 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 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.

Attention! In case of exacerbation of the disease, it is prohibited: heating 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:

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

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

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

Dorsagus and dorsalgia

Dorsagois ​​the name of one of the symptoms of inflammation of the thoracic spine. Dorsago is characterized by sharp pains in the heart region, it occurs most often in people who perform monotonous work sitting or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. With jerky movements, short-term breathing difficulties may occur.

Back pain: pain syndrome that occurs during an acute exacerbation of the disease and lasts approximately 2 weeks. With back pain, pain sensations gradually increase. The pain is especially severe when leaning forward or taking deep breaths. Most often, pulling pains occur in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, lumbar region.

Methods for the treatment of cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis

In case of illness, various methods are used to treat osteochondrosis.

The most common are considered to be:

• Physiotherapy: paraffin compresses, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.
• Physiotherapygymnastics and massages.
• Reflexotherapy: the treatment is carried out using needles that act on the affected areas. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist, as there are a number of contraindications.
• Folk remediesand diet.
• Medications: prescribed only after a complete examination by a specialist.

Medications

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

Chondoprotectors: Another type of prescription medicine for osteochondrosis. The preparations are designed to protect and strengthen bone and cartilage tissue from destruction.

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

The dose must be determined by the treating physician. The course of drug taking is no more than 3 weeks.

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

Repair Media

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 physical therapy room can not only relieve pain, but also strengthen the muscles of the spine, further preventing the development of various complications. And also after several courses of physiotherapy exercises, the posture improves significantly.

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

The most common exercises are:

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

In case of cervical osteochondrosis, it is forbidden to rotate the head, as 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 physical therapy procedures are:

• Vibration massage: Helps to get rid of pinched nerves in intervertebral discs. Contraindication: pregnancy, high blood pressure.
• Acupuncture: relieves pain. It also helps relax your back muscles. A contraindication is epilepsy.
• Electrotherapy- the method consists of using a weak effect of the current on 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. Contraindication to the procedure is the presence of blood diseases, allergic skin reactions, cancer.

Treatment of osteochondrosis with home 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 dose and treatment method.

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

• Fir and turpentine ointment.150g. Melt any animal fat in a 1 tablespoon water bath. 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 sit for 4 hours. Apply a compress to the affected areas.
• Turpentine bath.Shake the solution vial well. Then pour 5 ml of emulsion into a warm bath. At later times, the solution can be increased to 10-15 ml. You should 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 heart area.

Method of treating osteochondrosis according to Valentin Dikul

This technique is quite common in treating the 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 followed during the exercise:

• Compliance with the order of exercises.
• Gradually load the body with exercise.
• Fair performance.
• Exclude fast exercises, the technique involves smooth and slow movements.

Nutrition principles 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 rich in protein and calcium.

The diet assumes an exception:

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

Preventive measures

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

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

Conclusion

With due adherence to all the above recommendations, as well as timely referral to specialists, almost any illness can be cured. Treating osteochondrosis requires much more time and money, but advanced disease can lead to a wheelchair.