Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic pathology. If left untreated, it progresses rapidly, causing symptoms to increase. During the course of the disease, the stages of remission are replaced by relapses, in which the conditionthe person deteriorates significantly. He suffers from sharp, sharp, piercing pain, stiffness of the cervical spine, dizziness, spikes in blood pressure and headaches. With exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, insufficient supply of analgesics. It is necessary to act on the causes of clinical manifestations - muscle spasm, displacement of discs and intervertebral vertebrae, compression of muscle roots and blood vessels by bone growths.
After the diagnosis, the vertebrologist will establish a treatment regimen. To transfer cervical osteochondrosis at the stage of stable remission, drugs of various clinical and pharmacological groups, physiotherapeutic procedures, sparinggymnastic therapies.
Reasons for relapse
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In most cases, no symptoms precede exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis. The person feels good, participates in daily activities, plans things for the near future. Suddenly there is pain, for the elimination 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 seeing a doctor. Only in 15-20% of cases, before the exacerbation, there are weak uncomfortable sensations - pain, tightness, "goose bumps", numbness of the neck, shoulders and sometimes forearms. Due to the already deteriorated blood circulation in the cervical spine and the brain, weakness, apathy appear, mental and physical performance.
Cervicago, or cervical lumbago, occurs after a few hours or days. A person experiences such severe pain that when visiting a doctor one of the questions that interests him becomes the possibility of preventing relapse. To avoid cervical osteochondrosis exacerbation, you need to know the reasons for its occurrence:
- have been in a stressful environment for a long time. People who intensely experience 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 spasms, circulatory disturbances in the brain, neck and back of the head;
- continuous static and dynamic loads. A long stay in front of a computer, a typewriter, a microscope leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the cartilage tissues with oxygen, nutrients and biologically active substances. With osteochondrosis2, 3 degrees of severity, several hours are enough for a relapse. Sleeping in an awkward position on an overly soft mattress or pillow also results in this;
- jerky movements of the neck. Unintentional intense rotation or tilting of the head can cause disks and vertebrae to move, compression of nerve roots or blood vessels with bone growths;
- hypothermia, a sudden change in climate zone. Vertebrologists note that most often patients with exacerbations of osteochondrosis turn to them in the fall or spring. In low season, relapses cause a drop in temperature. It happens in the fall for natural reasons, and in the spring - due to the desire to quickly get rid of warm, heavy clothes;
- respiratory, intestinal, urogenital infections, exacerbations of all chronic diseases. In this case, a sharp decrease in immunity becomes the cause of the recurrence of cervical pathology.
In addition, osteochondrosis is exacerbated by improperly performed massages, dumbbells and excessive physical activity. The appearance of relapse very often occurs as a result of non-compliance with medical recommendations regarding nutrition, consumption of alcoholmode, medication.
Clinical presentation
The 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 for osteochondrosis in 3-4 stages, acute clinical manifestations are characteristic, provoked by several negative factors at once. The cartilaginous intervertebral discs have lost their damping properties, and the distance between the vertebrae has considerably decreased. Therefore, with a sudden displacement of the vertebra, the nerves and blood vessels can be simultaneously compressed. The vertebrologist carries out treatment taking into account the following symptoms of an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- pulling, stinging, aching, pulling pains in the cervico-brachial or thoracic region;
- irradiation of pain to back of head, arms, forearms, shoulders, chest;
- persistent or paroxysmal pain syndrome;
- increased pain during movement, shoulder rotation, arm lift.
Neck and shoulder pain is one of the signs of exacerbated pathology.
When examining a patient, the vertebrologist detects signs of muscle spasm, pain in paravertebral points, stiffness of movement, and mild physiological lordosis. An unnatural position of the human body also makes it possible to suspect an aggravation. He strongly pulls the neck upwards, turns the whole body to the side to reduce the intensity of the pain. Osteochondrosis of moderate and high severity is manifested by neurological disorders resulting from damage to sensitive organs, motor, vegetative functional structures. For example, when the spinal roots are squeezed, there are feelings of "creeping creep", the skin of the forearms and occipital region loses sensitivity, becomes pale and cold to the touch. Patients complain of weakness in the arms, dizziness, headache, nausea, decreased vision and / or hearing.
Visual impairment almost always accompanies an exacerbation of osteochondrosiscervical.
Recurrent cervical osteochondrosis is manifested by psychoemotional instability, insomnia, high blood pressure, and sometimes syncope - a short-term fainting resulting from sudden movements of the neck.
First aid for relapse
The pain that occurs during a relapse is so acute that a person simply freezes in place, afraid of making an unnecessary movement. It should be soothed, preferably placed on a hard surface. Place a flat pillow or folded pillow under your back. a blanket so that the patient is comfortable and the intensity of the pain syndrome decreases.
It is now necessary to call the ambulance team. The fact is that in some cases with an exacerbation of osteochondrosis a person is not able to swallow a pill. The doctors who come on call will inject an analgesic solution intramuscularly or intravenously. If necessary, they also use means to restore cerebral circulation or to hospitalize a person for further treatment in a hospital setting.
Transport of the patient to the hospital.
While the ambulance is on its way, the patient should feel better. How to relieve exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- if swallowing functions are preserved, give an anesthetic tablet;
- gently rubbing the analgesic gels will help reduce pain;
- the patient should not be allowed to stand up or bend over, as their coordination of movements may be impaired.
Before the doctor arrives, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate - use warming agents, massage the neck to relieve muscle spasms. If an attack of osteochondrosis is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the paravertebral structures, then such events will provoke the development of irreversible complications.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the acute stage
Treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis begins with the elimination of the main symptom - a sharp piercing pain. The vertebrologist may prescribe intramuscular administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The use of drug blockages with hormonal drugs is practiced. Solutions of glucocorticosteroids with anesthetics are injected into the area of the vertebrae or the constricted spinal root. After the severe pain has been eliminated, therapy is continued with tablets or topical agents.
How the treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis continues at home:
- take NSAIDs in tablets, capsules, pills for 5 to 7 days. Medicines should be combined with proton pump inhibitors to prevent ulceration of the gastric mucosa. If this recommendation is neglected, after the vacuum or an attack of osteochondrosis, hyperacid gastritis should be treated;
- use of NSAIDs in the form of gels, ointments, creams from the first day of treatment for 7 to 10 days. The funds should be applied in a thin layer to the painful area 2-3 times a day and rubbed lightly;
- use of heating agents. After the inflammation stops, around the third day of treatment, doctors prescribe agents with a warming effect to improve blood circulation and stimulate regeneration. They are rubbed in a small amount 1-3 once a day. Skin products like a pepper patch can help cope with pain;
- taking or parenteral administration of muscle relaxants. They have analgesic effects by eliminating muscle spasms, usually caused by compression of nerve endings.
What else to do with an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, what drugs to take or perform medical procedures, the vertebrologist decides. If the patient did not use chondroprotectors before the relapse, it should be prescribed from the first days of therapy drugs that stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue. Accelerating 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 innervation in the area of damaged discs and vertebrae, stabilize the central and vegetative nervous system.
Non-drug treatment
During 3-4 days of treatment, the patient is bedridden. All dynamic loads on all parts of the spine are excluded. For several hours or all day, it is recommended that patients wear a Shants collar, at the required height as the doctor will determine. Using a brace helps reduce the load on the cervical vertebrae, prevents the intensification of painful sensations.
The Shants Collar corrects the cervical vertebrae.
Nutrition for cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation should be fractionated - 5-6 times a day. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods rich in salt or spices. Their use causes water retention in the body and an increase in puffiness. Nutritionists recommend eating more fruits, grains, and fresh vegetable salads.
With a severe relapse, the innervation of some parts of the body is disturbed due to nerve damage. And compression of the spinal cord becomes the cause of conduction disorders - para- and tetraparesis of the hands, dysfunction of internal organs. Therefore, doctors strongly do not recommend independently eliminating the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, drowning the pain with pills. Only properly performed therapy will help to avoid the dangerous consequences of a relapsed pathology.
How can I forget about joint pain and osteochondrosis?
- Joint pain limits your movement and your busy life. . .
- You worry about the systemic discomfort, crunches and pain. . .
- You may have tried a bunch of drugs, creams and ointments. . .
- But judging by the fact that you are reading these lines, they haven't helped you much. . .
The term "osteochondrosis" characterizes the destructive processes occurring in either 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 part of the spine.
The spine is the main axis of the human body, performs many important functions, and is an almost irreplaceable part of the musculoskeletal system.
Violation of the structure of any part of the spine can have irreversible consequences and seriously deteriorate the patient's quality of life.
Osteochondrosis of the spine can affect any of the three sections of the spine: cervical, thoracic or lumbar, and also be localized in several sections.
The disease of each of the sections of the spine hasits own characteristics of evolution and individual symptoms, as well as some nuances in the tactics of treating osteochondrosis.
How does cervical osteochondrosis work?
According to changes in the structures of the spine, patient complaints and methods of treatment, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is classified into 3 stages of the course.
Step 1
Inflammation of the cervical spine
This degree rarely has a clinically expressed picture, some patients complain of:
- Recurring headaches;
- Discomfort in the neck and occiput.
The changes occurring at this stage of the disease affect some vertebrae and intervertebral discs, the elasticity of the annulus fibrosus decreases, and slight compression of the spinal nerve roots occurs
Step 2
The degeneration of the structures of the spine proceeds more clearly, the intervertebral discs are practically unable to perform their functions, pressure on nervous processes and blood vessels occurs, which causes the symptoms of the disease.
Patients report frequent headaches, dizziness, and decreased performance. At this point, most calls for qualified medical attention arise, but some damage to the spine is already irreversible.
Step 3
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine reaches its peak. Massive lesions of the bone and ligament apparatus.
Strong clinical picture:
- Severe headache;
- Nausea, lack of coordination;
- Sleep problems;
- Visual and hearing problems.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and stages of remission (calm).
The exacerbation of the disease is a stage of the chronic course, during which symptoms of the disease appear, a deterioration in the well-being of the patient.
The remission stage is a period that occurs after treatment or on its own, characterized by an imperceptible course of the disease without a pronounced clinical picture.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in the second and third stages is reduced to minimize the phases of exacerbation and prolong the period of remission.
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Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Competent treatment, physiotherapy, gymnastic exercises, proper diet and lifestyle help the body to fight osteochondrosis and can increase the time of remission of the disease.
A number of reasons can cause a sudden exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, leading to a recurrence of symptoms of the disease.
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The frequency, duration and intensity of periods of exacerbation are individual and depend on the cause of the onset, presence or absence of treatment, as well as on the personal characteristics of the organism, of its compensatory and adaptive properties.
Causes of exacerbations
Spinal degeneration leads to cervical osteochondrosis
It is quite difficult to perform laboratory tests that can reliably determine the factor that provoked the manifestation of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine.
The list of reasons is based on long-term observations of orthopedic doctors and neurologists for the patients, a thorough analysis of possible predisposing factors, after which the patients noted a deterioration in well-being.
The causes of exacerbations can be exogenous and endogenous - caused by influence from inside the body or from outside.
Endogenous causes include the progressive degeneration of the spine and the weakening of the compensatory and adaptive properties of the body.
Among the exogenous factors, the following are the most likely to cause an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- The presence of insufficient load on the spine or a change in the dominant posture (lifting weights, doing strength sports, changing the type of activity);
- Stress, nervous shocks;
- Attending 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 jerks (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause);
- Diseases that weaken the body (respiratory viral infections, infectious diseases, periods of exacerbation of other chronic conditions);
- Quick weight gain.
How can I tell if osteochondrosis has worsened?
An exacerbation of the disease is evidenced by the presence of discomfort in the neck and head, a deterioration of the general state of health.
Sometimes the exacerbation phase begins with lightning speed, with severe pain in the head.
In 70% of cases, a rapid exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis can be predicted: the patient notices a feeling of heaviness or a dull ache along the back of the neck, complaints intensify in the morning.
The presence of predisposing factors against the background of the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease confirms the version on the exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
All types of symptoms during exacerbation
Symptoms that occur during an exacerbation of chronic spine disease largely coincide with general symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The most common symptom of an exacerbation is pain.
The intensity, nature and localization can be varied: pain in the neck or in one of its parts, headache in the occiput, parietal tubercles, pain in the collarbone, shoulder.
Dangerous manifestations of pain can be symptoms similar to those of myocardial infarction:
- Pain in the scapula;
- Chest pain;
- Pain in the left limb.
Some patients report painful sensations only when moving the head or arm in the shoulder joint.
Exacerbation of chronic cervical osteochondrosis can cause a number of neurological symptoms, if they are present, it is necessary to carefully examine the patientto exclude more serious pathologies:
- Disturbed sleep, concentration, memory;
- Loss of coordination, loss of balance, fainting;
- Sensation of flies in front of the eyes, goosebumps, ringing in the ears;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea on vomiting;
- Diction violation;
- Decreased or increased tenderness in the arm, shoulder blades, and neck.
The presence of these symptoms cannot be ignored. The effect of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine on the blood vessels supplying the brain can lead to the most dangerous complication of cervical osteochondrosis - stroke.
How long does the aggravation last?
The duration of the exacerbation phase may vary depending on the season (in the cool season, the activation of osteochondrosis may take longer and more pain), the reasons which caused the resumption of symptomsdisease of the spine, individual characteristics of the patient's body and the treatment provided.
Experts call the following time framesstages of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Severe symptoms - up to 1 week, more often - 4-5 days;
- Retention of some discomfort in affected area, headache - up to 3 weeks after relief of severe seizures;
- The general period of exacerbation is considered standard - about 1 to 1. 5 months.
Aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis during pregnancy
The body of a pregnant woman undergoes complex physiological changes, there is a huge hormonal surge, a complete redistribution of the body's center of gravity, absorption and assimilation of minerals and changes in nutrients.
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These rearrangements have a serious impact on the musculoskeletal system, the spine is under severe stress.
Pregnant women who have a history of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, in 50% of cases relapse of the disease. This is due to changes in the spine.
Symptoms of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis in pregnant women are the same as in all other patients.
The difficulties lie in choosing a treatment regimen, since when prescribing drugs it is necessary to take into account the possible effect of the drug on the fetus.
To relieve an exacerbation in a pregnant woman, the choice is made on ointments that do not penetrate the baby, in rare cases with severe pain, complex anesthetic pills or injections are prescribed.
Many pregnant women resort to treatment with non-traditional methods, traditional medicine recipes, which are gentler on the fetus.
What to do in case of an exacerbation?
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 aggravation of the disease, as well as prescribe the correct, safe and effective treatment.
Before seeing a doctor, try to avoid stressing the affected spine.
In the absence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or individual intolerance, you can take a pill of an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory drug.
In case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosisis prohibited:
- Warm the neck or back of the head in a bath, using heating pads or other methods;
- Receive massage sessions;
- Self-healing.
Treatment methods for acute cervical osteochondrosis
Exacerbation of drug therapy of cervical osteochondrosis is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and quickly restoring the well-being and performance of the patient.
The table presents the main methods of treatment of diseases of the cervical spine, indicating the most common drugs.
Before using any of the drugs on the list, consult your doctor.
| Drug group | Destination target |
|---|---|
| Analgesics / NSAIDs | Pain relief, reduction of inflammation in the affected area |
| Muscle relaxants | Relief of muscle spasms |
| Diuretics | Reduced swelling in inflamed spine and reduced pressure on nerve roots |
| Chondroprotectors | Reconstruction of spinal structures |
| Vitamins | Improved metabolism, chemical reactions |
| Nootropics | Restoration of conduction of nerve impulses along nerve processes |
A visit to a qualified osteopath in the acute stage will "release" the retained nervous process and alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease.
How else can you relieve an exacerbation at home?
If at the moment it is impossible to see a doctor, there are several recipes to slightly alleviate the condition of a patient with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine before providing medical care:
- Take a warm and relaxing shower;
- roll up the neck with a garment of natural wool;
- Apply herbal compresses to the affected area. For these purposes use onions, sage, mint;
- Prepare butter and cream for mom 1: 1.