Intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine

December 27, 2019

73544

3.6 out of 5

Hernias in the cervical spine are the second most common. It is formed by 7 vertebrae, the most mobile of which is the area between the 5th and 6th vertebrae. Therefore, it is in this spinal motion segment that the formation of a protrusion of the intervertebral disc is observed, which is called a C5–C6 disc herniation. Their development is facilitated by previous injuries, osteochondrosis, long-term preservation of a forced position with a bowed head, for example, when working with a smartphone, tablet, etc. This, combined with the weakness of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus, creates all the prerequisites for stretching of the fibrous ring, the formation of protrusion, and then C5–C6 neck hernias.

The main danger of the disease is spinal cord stenosis. And since its upper parts are located at the level of the cervical vertebrae, their compression can lead to severe neurological complications.

Basic information about the disease

An intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine develops when the integrity of the fibrocartilaginous discs—the shock-absorbing pads between the vertebrae—is disrupted. In this case, the elastic nucleus pulposus located inside extends beyond the spinal column, compressing the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots.

As a rule, this is preceded by periodic pain in the neck. Such complaints occur in more than half of the population, and constant pain persists throughout the year in a quarter of the adult population. Pains of a more varied nature occur in women, but in men they appear more often.

The cervical region is the most mobile part of the spine, consisting of 7 small vertebrae C1 - C7). The vertebrae are quite fragile and easily injured; the muscles that support the cervical spine are less powerful than the spinal vertebrae.

These structural features contribute to permanent injury to the cervical vertebrae. The hernia most often develops in the lower sections at the levels C5–C6 and C6–C7. The code for cervical intervertebral hernia according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) is M51.

A herniation of the cervical spine is accompanied by dysfunction of the brain and spinal cord, compression of the vertebral arteries supplying the brain and the development of severe complications. But not everything is so bad: contacting an experienced specialist will help stop the pathological process. Such specialists can be found at the Paramita clinic.

Causes of development of a hernia of the cervical spine

Intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine develops under the influence of the following reasons:

Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the vertebral discs – osteochondrosis. The disease can develop at a young age in the presence of predisposing factors:
sedentary lifestyle - nutrition of intervertebral discs in adults occurs osmotically, becoming more active during movement; if a person moves little, the discs lose moisture, become thinner and crack;
poor nutrition, excess of high-calorie foods with limited vegetables and grains;
bad habits – smoking, alcohol abuse.
Cervical spine injuries:
macrotraumas – compression fractures, vertebral subluxations; They are rare, but very dangerous; against their background, a variety of changes in the vertebrae and discs subsequently develop.
Cervical scoliosis is a curvature of the spine due to hormonal disorders or hereditary predisposition.

The cervical region is the most mobile part of the spine.

People in the following professions are at risk for developing a cervical hernia: athletes, military personnel, dancers, people who work at a computer for a long time, hairdressers.

Psychosomatics

There is a clear connection between physical disorders and the characteristics of neuropsychic development and mental trauma. Thus, a hernia of the cervical spine often indicates the impossibility of coming to terms with some situation, solving it with willpower, or making a compromise. The constant fear of losing the love and support of a loved one leads to the same result.

Psychotraumatic situations continue for years, which leads to retraction of the neck into the shoulders, constant stubborn tilt of the head, and improper development of the neck muscles. All this sooner or later affects the condition of the cervical discs and ends with the development of a hernia.

Laboratory research

Laboratory tests are necessary to exclude other diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica). These studies may include the following tests:

Rheumatoid factor (increased in rheumatoid arthritis)

HLA-B27 (positive in ankylosing spondylitis)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (increased in polymyalgia rheumatica)

In addition, blood tests can rule out infectious processes such as discitis, epidural abscess or vertebral osteomyelitis:

Changes in the number of leukocytes (increased, with a shift to the left - with bacterial infection)

Blood culture (positive if infection is present)

Red blood cell sedimentation rate (increased during infection)

Symptoms of a herniated cervical spine

A cervical hernia develops gradually and does not manifest itself at first. The sudden appearance of severe pain or other manifestations of a hernia is most often associated with some triggering factor - a sudden turn of the head, injury, stress or illness.

First signs of illness

At first, the signs of a cervical hernia are vague:

periodic neck pain that goes away on its own;
a feeling of numbness and crawling on one side of the neck when tilting or turning the head for a long time; numbness of fingers on one side;
crunch in the neck when turning;
changes in blood pressure;
frequent headaches, which are not always associated with the condition of the spine;
periodic attacks of dizziness;
double vision, tinnitus;
drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night.

If such signs appear, it is better to immediately consult a doctor and undergo a course of treatment - at this stage, a developing hernia is best treated.

Obvious symptoms

The characteristic symptoms of a cervical hernia usually develop after several years. In the cervical spine, symptoms have a clear connection with the level of disc damage. Symptoms are very varied:

Radicular syndrome

Radicular syndrome develops when the roots of the spinal nerves are pinched and manifests itself in the form of pain, motor and sensory disturbances, and metabolic disorders. When different discs of the cervical spine are affected, the following symptoms develop:

C2 – C3.
Tormenting headaches - migraines. Pain and sensory disturbances in the neck are often unilateral. Visual, auditory, olfactory disorders. Lesions of the facial nerve - paresis and paralysis, impaired tongue movements. Frequent inflammatory processes of the ENT organs. Hernias in this disc develop extremely rarely.
C3-C4.
Sensory disturbances extend to the entire half of the neck. The pain radiates to the teeth, face, ear. Visual and hearing impairments. Mental disorders are typical - depression, panic attacks. A rare type of hernia.
C4 – C5.
Numbness and pain spread throughout the neck, inner and front surface of the shoulder. Muscle weakness. It is difficult to turn your head and bend your arm at the elbow. A common type of hernia.
C5 – C6.
Pain and sensory disturbances along the back of the shoulder. The pain may spread along the outer edge of the arm to the thumb. The neck muscles are tense. Paresis and paralysis. Cough, shortness of breath, bronchospasms, hoarseness. The most common location of cervical hernia.
C6 – C7.
The pain spreads along the outer and back surface of the arm, radiating to the shoulder blade, elbow, 2nd to 5th fingers. The function of the thyroid gland is impaired. Happens frequently.

When different cervical vertebrae are affected, different symptoms appear.

Autonomic disorders

Often the main symptoms of cervical disc herniation are autonomic disorders. They develop when the autonomic fibers of the spinal nerve roots, which innervate internal organs and the walls of blood vessels, are pinched.

At the same time, pain in the heart of a very different nature, changes in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, sweating, changes in body temperature, and hand tremors appear.

Dizziness

The cause of dizziness due to cervical disc herniation is vertebral artery syndrome. This group of symptoms develops when the vertebral artery that supplies the brain is compressed by a hernial protrusion. The two vertebral arteries enter the lateral foramen of the vertebrae at the level of C6. And once they enter the cranial cavity, they merge into a single basilar artery, which supplies the base of the brain, the medulla oblongata, which contains the vital vasomotor and respiratory centers.

Compression of the artery leads to disruption of the blood supply to the brain, causing severe dizziness, weakness, fainting, sudden loss of coordination, visual and hearing disorders. Headaches in the form of migraines (half of the head hurts) are also typical.

Numbness

Numbness of individual parts of the body develops when the sensory fibers of the spinal roots are pinched. This is one of the manifestations of radicular syndrome. Sometimes, instead of numbness, the patient has a feeling of goosebumps crawling throughout the body.

Symptoms of cervical hernia in men

Cervical hernia occurs more often in men than in women. They are more likely to experience pain along the pinched roots and impaired movement. More common are segmented types of hernia with segments entering the spinal cord, developing paresis and paralysis.

Symptoms of cervical hernia in women

Women are characterized by a wide variety of manifestations of cervical hernia. Especially often they develop vegetative symptoms with heart pain and changes in blood pressure. Panic attacks and very often migraines occur.

What types of intervertebral hernias are most difficult to treat?

4 stages of treatment for intervertebral hernia

Dangerous symptoms

The most dangerous symptoms of a cervical hernia include:

partial or complete movement disorders - paresis and paralysis - they signal that the spinal cord has been damaged;
a sharp sudden onset of dizziness, headache with nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness - indicates a sudden disturbance of cerebral circulation, which can be complicated by the development of ischemic stroke.

If such symptoms appear, the patient must be hospitalized, so it is necessary to call an ambulance.

Why are hernias of the cervical spine dangerous?

Intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine is dangerous because the pathological focus is located near the vital centers of the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help promptly, without waiting for severe symptoms and serious complications to appear.

Stages

The formation of a cervical hernia occurs in the following stages:

degenerative-dystrophic
- under the influence of various factors, metabolism in the discs of the cervical spine is disrupted, they become thin, and lose their shock-absorbing properties; This stage is characterized by the appearance of primary symptoms;
protrusion
– the fibrous disc is covered with cracks, the nucleus pulposus is displaced at the edge of the disc. The pain intensifies, sensory disturbances and vegetative symptoms appear; a sudden movement or turn of the head is enough for the disease to progress to the next stage;
extrusion
- violation of the integrity of the fibrous ring and exit of the nucleus pulposus beyond the disc, compression of nerve roots, spinal cord and vertebral arteries; A detailed picture of the disease with all the characteristic symptoms;
sequestration
- segments are separated from the nucleus and enter the spinal cord, compressing it and disrupting various functions. At this stage, severe complications are possible - strokes, paresis, paralysis.

By size, cervical hernias are divided into small (up to 2 mm), medium (3 - 4 mm), large (5 -6 mm).

Complications

If a cervical hernia is not treated in the early stages, complications will arise.

In advanced stages of the disease, the following complications are possible:

cervicalgia (cervical lumbago) - the sudden appearance of severe pain in the neck, due to which the patient cannot move;
cervical migraine - severe attacks of headache in one side of the head with nausea and vomiting;
paresis and paralysis of the muscles of the face, neck, arms;
cardiac and respiratory arrest due to cerebrovascular accident.

The complications are serious, so if these symptoms appear, you should urgently call an ambulance.

What to do during an exacerbation

An exacerbation can begin under the influence of some external (trauma, heavy lifting) or internal (any acute disease) factors. With each exacerbation, the condition of the affected disc worsens - the disease progresses. During remission, this process stops.

Experts are trying to prevent exacerbation. For this purpose, courses of anti-relapse treatment are prescribed. With proper adequate treatment, the process of destruction of cervical discs can be completely stopped.

Types of cervical hernias

All manifestations of the disease depend on the direction in which the nucleus pulposus is displaced. Based on this feature, the following types of cervical hernias are distinguished:

Dorsal
– the nucleus falls back into the canal where the spinal cord passes. They occur frequently and are divided into:
paramedian
- with deviation from the middle; causes pinching of two roots - at this and the following levels; accompanied by severe pain along the nerves - radiculopathy.
Foramial
- the nucleus pulposus wedges into the hole from which the spinal nerve root emerges and pinches it. Severe radiculitis pain along the pinched nerve.
Lateral
- causes pinching of the root at a given level, but less severe than foramial. The cervical vertebrae are small and there is practically no distinction between foramial and lateral species.
Ventral
- the nucleus moves forward without touching the spinal cord, so it does not manifest itself for a long time. Pain and decreased mobility gradually appear due to ossification of the ligaments. A rare type of cervical hernia.
Schmorl's hernia (vertical)
- the nucleus is wedged into the bone of a vertebra located above or below the hernia. It occurs mainly in children or with severe osteoporosis - loss of bone tissue due to loss of calcium. It is asymptomatic, but can sometimes cause vertebral destruction.

Also distinguished:

diffuse (widespread) cervical hernia
- a large protrusion occupying half the circumference of the disc;
sequestered cervical hernia
- the separated segment enters the spinal canal; the most dangerous type of hernia.

What types of hernias develop in individual cervical discs

Lateral and foramial intervertebral hernias most often develop in the C6-C7 discs. They make up 60% of all hernias in a given disc. Median and paramedian hernias with movement disorders are much less common.

When the C5–C6 disc is affected, lateral and foraminal hernias with radicular pain are much less common, in approximately a quarter of cases. Here you can often find median hernias with significant motor impairments.

All types of posterior and lateral hernias occur on discs C4 – C5. On the upper discs, hernias are very rare and can have different directions.

Read about other types of spinal hernias here.

Each type of intervertebral hernia has serious complications, so you should not delay treatment.
See how easy it is to get rid of a hernia in 10 sessions

Disc replacement

The parapharyngeal microsurgical approach allows you to safely approach the disc herniation without making muscle incisions. Pirogov's triangle is a place that allows you to safely remove a protruding disc without causing harm to surrounding tissues. The tissues are very gently separated with special instruments, and the vessels of the muscles and ligaments are moved back. The prevertebral tissue is displaced to the side and the intervertebral disc is exposed, which is removed.

There are special models of prostheses that the vertebrologist selects during the operation, setting different sizes of the model between the bodies, after removing the disc. When the layout is selected according to its dimensions, an artificial disk is installed. In this way, the anatomy of the spine is restored and the body does not feel that a disc has been removed. The dimensions of the prosthesis are the same and there is no load on adjacent segments of the spine.

A separate instrument is used to insert the prosthesis. A Caspar distractor is installed, which pushes the vertebral bodies apart and at this moment the prosthesis is easily installed in the interbody space. Other advantages of the method are:

Restoring the integrity of the intervertebral disc;
low risk of developing postoperative complications;
short rehabilitation period;
no significant postoperative pain.

The operation is used when a hernia forms on the side or in the middle of the disc. It is not contraindicated in case of inflammation in the spinal canal, but cannot be performed in case of stenosis. In the latter case, the solution to the problem is possible only through posterior access or a combination of posterior and anterior access.

Pain due to hernia of the cervical spine

Acute pain from a herniated cervical spine is of two types: associated with compression of the spinal nerve roots - radiculopathy and headaches associated with cerebrovascular accidents and autonomic disorders.

In addition, patients may be bothered by constant aching pain that intensifies with various movements or after a long stay in the same position.

Symptoms of a cervical hernia include constant aching pain.

Cervical lumbago (cervical radiculopathy, cervicago)

The pain begins suddenly after a sharp turn or tilt of the head and is associated with pinching of the spinal nerve roots. The pain is very severe, patients compare it to an electric shock. This pain is most often localized on the back of the neck and spreads along the upper limb to the hand and fingers.

At the same time, a sharp spasm of the neck muscles occurs - the patient is unable to move his head. Severe pain does not allow movement, sometimes it is difficult for the patient to even talk, cough or sneeze. After some time, the pain may become less acute, but continues to be excruciating. Without medical help, it can last several hours or even days, and then over time become chronic with exacerbations and remissions.

Cervical migraine

These are attacks of painful unilateral headaches that develop against the background of vertebral artery syndrome. The cause of the sudden development of migraine may be tissue swelling or prolonged positioning of the head in the same position, followed by a sudden change in position.

Unlike classic migraine, in which the headache is associated with a sharp dilation of blood vessels and stagnation of blood, with cervical migraine there is compression of the vessels supplying the brain and the nerve plexuses surrounding them. The pain is one-sided, severe, and can begin either suddenly or relatively gradually. May have a pressing, tearing character. It often begins in the back of the head, then spreads to the eye socket, ear, teeth, and forehead. Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, visual and hearing impairment. The attack can last for several hours.

How to relieve pain

With a cervical lumbago, the patient should:

lie down on a hard surface with a small pillow under your knees; or take a different position in which the pain is felt less;
ask others to call an ambulance;
take any painkiller orally: Analgin, Pentalgin, Ibuprofen, etc. You can apply pain-relieving ointments externally to painful areas: Voltaren, Fastum-gel, etc.

Voltaren, Fastum-gel, Analgin, Pentalgin, Ibuprofen will help get rid of cervical lumbago.

Emergency doctor:

will give a painkiller injection; For this purpose, drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs are usually used; the most effective is Diclofencac;
muscle relaxants (Mydocalm) are administered to relieve muscle tension;
if this does not help, a paravertebral blockade is performed - an anesthetic (Novocaine, Lidocaine) is injected into the soft tissue near the exit site of the spinal roots.

If this does not help, the patient is hospitalized and an epidural block is performed - an anesthetic is injected into the space between the hard shell of the spinal cord and the bone of the spinal column.

For cervical migraine, the patient should:

take the most comfortable position to help reduce pain during a spinal hernia; for most patients this is a supine position;
ask loved ones to open a window or window - the patient needs fresh air;
close the curtains on the window, reduce the number of sets, remove any sounds;
take a painkiller - Analgin, Nise, Paracetamol.

If the pain does not go away for a long time, you can call an ambulance. The doctor will enter:

intramuscularly any drug from the NSAID group - Diclofenac, Nise;
glucocorticoid hormones (Dexamethasone) – will relieve tissue swelling and reduce constriction of the vessel;
nootropic drugs – reduce tissue oxygen demand (Nootropil);
drugs that improve blood flow - Pentoxifylline.

Diagnostics

To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the patient must be examined. The following instrumental studies are prescribed:

X-ray of the cervical spine in direct and lateral projections - for cervical hernias is not very informative, since it allows you to see a large hernia based on indirect signs - structural changes in the vertebral area;
computed tomography (CT) – you can clearly see any pathology of bone tissue; CT scan with contrast injection (performed only in a hospital) - allows you to assess how much the hernial protrusion compresses the spinal cord;
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - allows you to examine soft tissues in detail, including hernial protrusion.

Exercises

Systematic implementation of a set of therapeutic exercises is mandatory. With the help of moderate physical activity, weak muscle groups located in the neck and back are strengthened and muscle tightness is eliminated. Before you start performing a set of exercises, you need to warm up.

It is unacceptable to make sudden movements. Everything must be done carefully and smoothly. Do not overload the muscles. When visiting the gym, you need to focus on cardio exercises, include walking and swimming in your regimen. If you have a sedentary lifestyle and constant sedentary work, doctors recommend stretching your neck at least once an hour.

How to treat a herniated cervical spine

Treatment of a herniated cervical spine should be comprehensive and include both medications and any other methods that can improve the patient’s condition.

Drug treatment and folk remedies

First of all, they try to relieve the patient from pain. For severe pain, NSAID injections are prescribed - Diclofenac, Nise, Ibuprofen. In the absence of the required effect, pain blockades with Novocaine or Lidocaine are performed. To eliminate muscle tension, treatment is carried out with muscle relaxants (Mydocalm)

If the pain is not too severe, treatment is carried out with medications of the same group, prescribed internally in the form of tablets and capsules and externally in the form of ointments, creams and gels. Neuroprotectors are required - B vitamins that improve the functioning of the nervous system (Milgamma, Neuromultivit).

Drug treatments for cervical hernia also include drugs to improve blood circulation (Pentoxifylline). To improve venous blood flow, Troxevasin and Detralex are included in the treatment.

To stimulate metabolic processes in damaged discs, agents based on animal cartilage tissue are prescribed - chondroitin and glucosamine (Astra, Teraflex, Dona).

Sometimes, to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and partially replace medications with natural remedies, traditional medicine methods are used, for example, the following:

dandelion jam; for a liter jar of dandelion flowers - a liter of water, keep on low heat for an hour, strain, discard the raw materials, add 1 kg of sugar, cook for another 45 minutes, then add the juice of one lemon, bring to a boil; cool and take a teaspoon 3 – 5 times a day; continue treatment for 1-2 months; Neck pain is gently and imperceptibly eliminated;
tincture for external use; Pour 15 bay leaves into 500 ml of vodka and leave in a glass jar for 72 hours in a dark place, shaking occasionally; strain and rub your neck overnight.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy goes well with any other methods of conservative treatment of cervical hernia. Physiotherapy relieves pain, improves blood circulation and metabolism. Depending on the stage of the disease and the type of hernia, the following procedures are included in the treatment:

electrophoresis
- administration of medicinal solutions using electric current; treatment is often prescribed at the stage of pain relief with novocaine;
Darsonval currents
are pulsed currents of high frequency and voltage, but of low strength; relieve pain, restore normal blood circulation;
laser therapy
– improves blood circulation, has an anti-inflammatory effect, prevents relapses of the disease;
UVT (shock wave therapy)
– treatment promotes the restoration of pathologically altered tissues.

Fixation means

For severe neck pain and vertebral artery syndrome, patients are recommended to wear a special cervical collar to fix the spine. This prevents tissue injury and gradually relieves pain. Wearing it is prescribed until the pain disappears completely (5 – 10 days). Wearing a collar all the time is not recommended, as the neck muscles weaken.

Another method of fixation is taping - a modern technique for fixing soft tissues using adhesive tapes, preventing microtrauma of the discs.

Massage and manual therapy

Massage for intervertebral disc herniation in the cervical spine is done at any stage of the disease. The course will improve blood circulation, tighten and strengthen the neck muscles and you will not experience pain for a long time. But these procedures can only be entrusted to a specialist with a medical education and a massage certificate. Doing such a massage in a bathhouse or sauna is life-threatening.

Manual therapy is a procedure performed by a manual therapist. During the session, the doctor will eliminate muscle spasms, compression of blood vessels and nerve roots. Sometimes it’s even possible to repair a hernia this way.

Massage and manual therapy are done at any stage of the disease.

Hirudotherapy

Treatment with leeches is almost always included in the complex therapy of cervical disc herniation, since the saliva of leeches has analgesic properties, perfectly relieves inflammation and swelling of tissues, thins the blood, and improves blood circulation.

Reflexology

A method of influencing acupuncture points located on the human body and reflexively connected with all organs and tissues of the body. The method allows the patient to completely relieve pain in the first sessions, even with severe disc damage. After completing a course of treatment, a person forgets about pain for a long time, and regular reflexology courses allow him to feel healthy.

Psychotherapy

All patients with cervical disc herniation should undergo courses of treatment from a psychotherapist or psychologist, since during their illness they have accumulated many unresolved psychological problems that aggravate the course of the disease. But such treatment is especially necessary for people whose disease is caused by psychosomatics. The task of a psychotherapist is to identify and treat these symptoms.

Surgery

Surgical intervention should be carried out strictly according to indications for:

the appearance of pronounced symptoms of compression of the spinal cord in the form of paresis and paralysis, which cannot be eliminated by conservative methods;
severe pain (radiculopathy) lasting more than 8 weeks despite treatment.

Nowadays, gentle operations are carried out using microsurgical techniques, which significantly reduce the risk of complications. But if we compare the long-term consequences of conservative and surgical treatment, they are almost the same.

Orthopedic collars

During the rehabilitation period, doctors recommend that some patients wear a Shants collar. This product provides support for weakened muscles in the neck and shoulder girdle. With the help of an orthopedic collar, the load on damaged tissues is distributed evenly, the muscles do not lose their functionality.

Thanks to the collars, the load on the cervical area is significantly reduced, the pain syndrome reduces its intensity, and attacks of dizziness are eliminated. Such products are also suitable during the period after surgery and after injuries.

Exercise therapy for herniated cervical spine

Why is therapeutic exercise so important for cervical hernias? The fact is that a feature of the intervertebral discs of an adult is the lack of blood supply. Nutrition to their tissues comes osmotically from the environment. But in order for the nutrient fluid necessary for metabolism in cartilage tissue to appear in the environment, muscles must work.

Only muscle work can maintain the discs in normal condition. With a sedentary lifestyle, and if you are still overweight, the discs are quickly destroyed. Exercise therapy also helps strengthen the muscles that support the spine, improves blood circulation and blood flow to the muscles, brain and spinal cord.

Therefore, complexes of therapeutic exercises are included in the treatment program immediately after pain relief. A set of exercises is selected by a physical therapy doctor and performed under the supervision of an instructor

Exercises for morning exercises

Together with an instructor, you can select a number of exercises for daily morning exercises, perform them under his supervision, and then continue exercising at home. Here are some exercises:

lie on your back, relax and begin to clench and unclench your fists with force; do 20 times, relax, count to 20 and repeat;
sit on a chair, hang your arms down and rotate your shoulders first in one direction, then in the other; perform 5 – 10 times; if difficult, 2 – 3 times;
sit on a chair, back straight, arms hanging down; raise your arms first to the sides, then, without stopping, up, and then lower them in the reverse order; repeat 3 times.

By doing morning exercises, you can gradually increase the number of exercises performed and the number of approaches.

If pain occurs during the exercise, exercise should be stopped immediately. The next day it can be performed only if there is no pain and the load has been reduced.

Kinesiotherapy

The use of kinesiotherapy involves influencing tight and damaged muscles with special products - tapes. They need to be properly fixed to the skin. With regular procedures, you can achieve the following results:

improve blood circulation;
speed up metabolic processes;
reduce stress on muscles;
help in the treatment of pain;
reduce the severity of inflammation;
prevent further development of degenerative processes.

It is important to remember that the use of such products must be correct. It is best to contact a specialist. Kinesiological tapes are especially relevant for those people who perform sedentary work.

Approach to treating the disease in our clinic

We fully examine each new patient using modern laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods, including MRI. After this, the attending physician together with the patient draw up a treatment plan. Comprehensive treatment must include:

the most modern Western methods of treating cervical disc herniation;
traditional oriental methods aimed at improving the health of the body as a whole, which leads to healing from a hernia.

As a result of this approach to the treatment of intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine, the patient gets rid of pain already in the first sessions of treatment, his mood improves, and there is hope for a return to normal life. After completion of treatment, patients do not forget about our clinic and regularly come for maintenance treatment. Most of them return to normal life.

Which doctor should I contact?

Spinal diseases are treated by vertebrologists and neurologists, who often also work as chiropractors. They should be contacted if the slightest of the above-described deviations occurs. They are also the ones who interpret MRI, CT and X-ray images.

But due to their own workload, and often laziness, when symptoms of hernias and, in particular, back pain occur, people delay seeing a doctor. Painkillers in the form of tablets or ointments are often used on their own. But they only temporarily eliminate the symptom that is key to the disease.

This allows you to continue to lead your usual lifestyle, but has a negative impact on the prognosis, as the protrusion continues to increase. Therefore, over time, the pain syndrome intensifies, then neurological disorders in the form of numbness of the limbs or even paralysis join it, and internal organs corresponding to the level of damage also suffer.

Often in such situations people say that they are “falling apart.” And the reason lies in the intervertebral hernia. Therefore, in order to prevent this from happening, you should consult a doctor if the slightest manifestations of the disease appear. This specialist will be able to choose the right treatment tactics and assess the prospects for conservative therapy. Indeed, in advanced cases, the situation can only be corrected through surgery.

Prolonged ignoring of the problem can lead to the development of severe complications, including:

spinal canal stenosis;
disorders of the pelvic organs, up to loss of control over urination and defecation, as well as persistent erectile dysfunction;
complete paralysis of the limbs.

Therefore, we recommend not to delay and contact a vertebrologist, chiropractor or neurologist as early as possible. Otherwise, conservative therapy will not bring results and the patient will have to muster the courage, as well as material resources, to perform a neurosurgical operation. Moreover, no neurosurgeon can give a 100% guarantee that it will be effective.

The specialist will prescribe the necessary studies, based on the results of which he will select the correct treatment tactics, taking into account the nature of the existing changes, the size of the hernia, its location and the clinical picture.

General clinical recommendations

Patients with a cervical hernia are recommended to:

eat properly regularly, but do not overeat, exclude sweets, baked goods, and high-calorie foods from the diet; eat more vegetables and fruits; healthy dishes that include animal cartilage tissue and gelatin - jellied meats, jelly;
move more, do morning exercises, swim, just walk;
to the extent possible, cure all concomitant diseases;
monitor your weight;
you cannot: run, jump, ride a bicycle, hang on a horizontal bar, or lift weights.

Prevention of exacerbations

In order to prevent relapse of the disease, you need to lead an active healthy lifestyle, follow all the doctor’s recommendations and carry out a course of anti-relapse treatment several times a year.

We use non-surgical hernia treatment techniques
Read more about our unique technique

FAQ

How to sleep with a hernia in the neck?

It's better to sleep on your back, but if you're comfortable on your side, you can too. The bed should have a hard base and a fairly soft mattress. Orthopedic pillow with a bolster at neck level.

Is it possible to do yoga?

It is possible, but only after consulting with your doctor.

How to strengthen the neck muscles with a hernia?

Regular performance of special exercises selected during exercise therapy classes.

Only the attending physician can answer the question of how to treat a herniated cervical spine after an examination. You should not delay your visit to the clinic, because the sooner you seek help, the easier it will be to cure you.

Specialists from the Paramita clinic in Moscow are waiting for you!

Literature:

Levin O.S. Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the neck and upper extremities. RMZh.2006.9. 713 – 718.
Bubnovsky S.M. Spinal hernia is not a death sentence! - M.: Eksmo, 2010. - ISBN 978-5-699-41232-7.
Adams AC Neurology in Primary Care. F. A. Davis, Philadelphia, 2000, p. 83.
Eubank JD Cervical Radiculopathy: Nonoperative Management of Neck Pain and Radicular Symptoms // Am. Fam Physician. 2010. Vol. 81. P. 33–40.

Themes

Intervertebral hernia, Spine, Pain, Treatment without surgery Date of publication: 07/28/2020 Date of update: 03/16/2021

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