As with any type of osteochondrosis, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is accompanied by pain and discomfort in the spine. There is often periodic acute pain - lumbago.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
However, if this pain is of a longer nature, accompanied by tension and increased pain in the neck muscles, it is called cervicalgia. The pain in this case can even lead to limited mobility of the cervical spine, dizziness, blurred vision. As a rule, cervical pain is more pronounced after sleep - in the morning and can increase with sudden movements of the head, as well as coughing, laughing and more.
If osteochondrosis progresses to an exacerbation phase, then the sensations of pain, as a rule, intensify with movement, and cervical osteochondrosis is often complicated by vascular insufficiency of the brain.
In this case, the cause of this phenomenon may be changes in the vertebrae of the cervical spine with degenerative nature (dehydration of tissues, especially the intervertebral disc and reduced elasticity), discs between them, and it is also possible that patients have vascular sclerosis. All this contributes to the formation of bulges and hernias of the intervertebral disc.
The symptoms in this case will be pain radiating to the nape of the neck, shoulder, as well as headache, noise and ringing in the head, ears, dizziness, imbalance, coordination.
The intensity of pain in cervical osteochondrosis can be divided into three stages: the first (lightest) - the pain is felt at maximum loads on the spine, both in volume and strength of movement in the spine; the second (medium) - the already existing pain is able to calm down, only with a certain position of the spine; the third (severe) - the pain in the cervical spine is felt constantly.
In addition, in the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may be pain that occurs in areas far from the spine - reflex syndromes. These syndromes are mainly associated with irritation of the nerve endings in the discs and subsequent muscle spasms. In reflex syndromes, there may be, for example, pain when raising the arm. And these pains will intensify with prolonged exertion. In this way it becomes difficult for a person to work with raised hands, to hold on to the railings in transport.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
You should not self-medicate for the first time with acute neck pain, you should definitely consult a doctor for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease.
We can say that for greater efficiency it must be done in a complex.
The following methods are used:
- Drug therapy.First of all, these are painkillers, which aim to provide emergency care and relieve acute pain syndrome. This group includes analgesics that are well known to most of us. The positive features of this type of pill include the fact that it has a quick effect - it will take about an hour to relieve pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vasodilators, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants, novocaine blockade, bee and snake poisons are made.
- Massage the neck and collar area.In osteochondrosis you can massage the neck yourself, but to get the maximum and professional result, you need to apply a thorough massage of the collar area. With the right techniques, you will immediately feel better.
- Friction, dry heat, ointments- promoting blood flow, warming, increasing blood circulation, reducing pain. The procedures can be performed at home.
- Physiotherapy.It is important not to overload the neck muscles during exposure of the cervical spine, so physical therapy should be used with the participation of other muscle groups.
- Manual therapy (osteopathy)- An effective way to eliminate the manifestations accompanying this disease. But it is possible to achieve a positive effect only if the massage is performed in combination with drug therapy and all procedures are performed under the supervision of a physician.
- Reflexology and hirudotherapy- normalize muscle tone, have a reflex effect, relieve swelling and relieve pain.
- Sleeping on an orthopedic pillow- the most effective way to prevent osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, but to restore the spine, this method is suitable in complex therapy.
If you carry out a comprehensive treatment, you can recover quickly enough.