Symptoms, prevention and treatment of cervical spine chondrosis

15 November 2020

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

A sedentary lifestyle, inappropriate behavior 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 commonly called thoracic chondrosis, is a disease of the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. Also, thoracic osteochondrosis is called "chameleon", as 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, chest osteochondrosis is less pronounced and has the following symptoms:

Chest pain,worse at night, as well as with sharp turns, or hypothermia.
Pain between the shoulder bladeswith a sharp limb lift, or sharp turns.
Acute pain when sighingand tightness of the chest.

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

With an extended course without medical intervention, the following symptoms may occur:

Numbness in small areas of skin.
Itching or burning in the feet.
Rough skin.
Mild sore throat or esophagus.
Poor gastrointestinal function.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine Cervical spine osteochondrosis or cervical chondrosis is a disease that weakens the intervertebral discs, leading to a change in the structure of the discs and joints of the cervix itself. 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 sensations of pain are inherent in the disease:

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

Symptoms of cervical chondrosis

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

Pain in the back of the cervix, strong pressure in a sharp turn of the head.
Periodic loss of sensation in the hands and shoulders.
Visual impairment and repeated tinnitus, sleep problems.
Numbness of the face and neck, weakening of the upper limbs.
Periodic sharp pains in the shoulder blade.

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

For the third stage, the following symptoms will appear:

Severe neck and heart pain.
Loss of sensation in the scalp, arms, shoulders.
Paralysis of the upper limbs.
Cervical vertebral hernia.

The fourth stage is characterized by a worsening 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 absolutely any age due to back injuries, a sedentary and overweight lifestyle. An important role is played by hereditary factors and they work in dangerous production (excessive vibration).

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

Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis include:

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

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome

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

When the roots are affected, a number of rather irregular symptoms develop, including sharp "shooting" pain in the lumbar region 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 during examination by a neurologist).

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

Uneven load on the spine during overweight, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Asymmetry of the lower limbs, flat legs.
Injuries, sharp loads on the back.

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

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Main reasons for developing osteochondrosis:

Heavy weight and sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
Previous spinal cord injuries 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

In the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following stages of the disease are characterized:

For the first stagechanges in the intervertebral discs are characteristic. The changes begin to occur due to the disappearance of fluid reserves from the nucleus of the intervertebral discs. The pain is not yet apparent.
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 grow numb. Persistent dizziness is characteristic.
Stage IIIis characterized by significant changes in bone and cartilage tissue, the onset of osteoarthritis.
The fourth stageis characterized by the appearance of bone growths in the vertebrae.

Diagnosis

To diagnose osteochondrosis, the first step is to perform a thorough examination of the spine. The signs of osteochondrosis in the initial stage can be confused with a number of other diseases. It is necessary to perform diagnostics by a highly qualified specialist.

To diagnose the disease, you should contact the doctor who will refer you to a specialist of a narrower profile. The earlier the patient seeks medical help, the faster and safer the treatment will be.

In fact, osteochondrosis is not treated by a specialist, but by some:

Radiologist.After receiving the X-ray results, the picture of the disease will be clearer.
Chiropractors. Determines 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 linked to diseases of the nervous system. The doctor will help treat the disease, both in the first stage and in the second.

Physician - physiotherapist.is a specialist in physiotherapy exercises. Physical education helps only 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 both regions of the cervix, chest, and lumbar region is closely related to nerve disease. The neurologist will prescribe a course of taking special pain relief medications.
Osteochondrosis during pregnancy and lactation in women
Osteochondrosis during pregnancy is a common phenomenon, as during pregnancy a woman undergoes a global restructuring and a very strong load throughout the body. Disease in the fetus has no effect, but during childbirth can cause a number of serious problems.

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

Reasons for developing osteochondrosis during pregnancy include:

Weight gain and severe stress on the spine and wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Uterine pressure on adjacent organs.

Change in hormonal levels.

Lack of useful vitamins and minerals.

Lack of rest and sleep, different types of stress.

To prevent the disease, you should see a doctor at the first signs of concern. You do not have to wait for the end of the pregnancy. After birth, the disease can progress and it will be much harder 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, and special gymnastics.

First aid for worsening osteochondrosis at home

The duration of deterioration depends on the type and degree of neglect of the disease. Most often, a deterioration can last from 1 week to 1 month.

Attention! In case of a worsening of the disease, it is forbidden: 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:

Provide the patient with maximum rest.

If possible, place the patient on a firm surface.

Apply a fresh compress to the affected area.

Apply anti-inflammatory oil to the affected area.

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

Take a warm and relaxing bath.

Do not make sudden movements.

Do not lift weights.

To avoid further scratches, keep your neck firm.

Dorsago and dorsalgia

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

Dorsalgiais a pain syndrome that occurs with a sharp exacerbation of the disease, lasting about 2 weeks. With dorsalgia, the sensations of pain gradually increase. The pain is especially strong when you lean forward or take a deep breath. Most often, traction pain occurs in the area of the shoulder blades, the lumbar region.

Methods for treating cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis

In case of illness, different methods of treating osteochondrosis are used.

The most common are considered to be:

Physiotherapy- paraffin compresses, magnetic therapy, laser therapy.

Physiotherapygymnastics and massage.

Reflexology- treatment is performed 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.

Medication- prescribed only after a thorough examination by a specialist.

Medications

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

Chondroprotectors- another type of medication prescribed for osteochondrosis. Preparations are created to protect and strengthen bone and cartilage tissue from destruction.

In the event of a severe inflammatory process occurring in muscle tissue, the patient will be prescribed medication to relieve muscle spasms.

Dosage should be determined by the attending physician. The course of taking the medication is not more than 3 weeks.

Also, one of the most effective methods of medication treatment is the use of injections that can relieve pain.

Adjustment tools

In case of a complex treatment, the patient may be prescribed to wear special fixing corsets and bandages.

Exercises for osteochondrosis

Exercises prescribed in a physiotherapy room not only relieve pain, but also strengthen the back muscles, which further prevents the development of various complications. And also after a few courses of physiotherapy exercises, the behavior has improved significantly.
The well-known doctor Bubnovsky has developed a series of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, which can be used at home.

The most common exercises are:

Walking, raising arms and legs without problems.

Rotate the shoulders in different directions, bringing and extending the shoulder blade.

Slow heads bend sideways.

Stretching exercises for the muscles of the spine and neck.

Bending 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 mainly aims to reduce back pain. The procedure improves blood circulation, enriches muscles with oxygen.

Today, the most common physiotherapy procedures are:

Vibrating Massage- helps to get rid of sprained nerves in the intervertebral discs. Contraindications - pregnancy, high blood pressure.

Acupuncture- relieves pain. It also helps to relax your back muscles. One contraindication is epilepsy.

Electrotherapy- the method consists of using 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, thanks 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 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 treatment, it is especially important to observe the correct dose and method of treatment.

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

Fir and turpentine ointment.150g. melt any fat of animal origin in a water bath 1 tbsp. fir oil and turpentine. After 20 minutes, remove the oil from the heat, allow to cool and apply exclusively to the affected areas of the back.

Compress the mustard.Combine mustard powder, vodka and camphor alcohol in equal amounts. Once well mixed add 4 egg whites. Let the mixture brew for 4 hours. Apply a compress to the affected areas.

Turpentine bath. Shake the vial of solution thoroughly. Then pour 5 ml of emulsion in a warm bath. In subsequent 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 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, tried his method on himself. The Dikul technique is indicated for spinal diseases and intervertebral hernias.

The following principles must be observed during the exercise:

Compliance with the order of the exercises.

Gradually load the body with exercises.

Regular performance.

Exclude fast exercises, the technique means smooth and slow movements.

Nutrition principles for osteochondrosis

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

Drink plenty of water.

Sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in food.

Eat foods rich in protein and calcium.

Diet gets an exception:

Fried, fatty and spicy foods.

Refusal of fast meals (sandwiches, fast food).

Avoid eating a few hours before bedtime.

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 behavior, do yoga or do morning exercises.

Limiting sharp loads on the back.

Limit jerky movements.

Avoid uncomfortable shoes as well as high-heeled shoes.

Even distribution of load on the back when performing any work.

Conclusion

With proper observance of all the above recommendations, as well as timely referral to specialists, almost any disease can be cured. Treating osteochondrosis requires a lot more time and money, but an advanced disease can lead to a wheelchair.