Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms, causes, diagnosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative and dystrophic disease of one of the parts of the spine. As the disease develops, the intervertebral discs in the neck suffer the most, and damage also spreads to the articular surfaces, ligaments, and vertebrae. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depends on the current stage of the disease. The pathology mainly occurs in patients over the age of 30, but cases are also recorded in young people, especially if the person leads an unhealthy lifestyle and is at risk.

The most common symptom is severe pain in the neck, which can spread lower down the spine, move to the upper limbs, and deform into a severe headache. Below we will consider for which symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine it is better to begin treatment, find out the causes of the disease and the methods that are used to combat the problem.

Causes and risk factors

The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis in humans is the ability to walk upright, acquired with evolution. When walking, the vertebrae put excessive pressure on each other. Every year this leads to the fact that the amount of intervertebral fluid and connective tissue between the vertebrae decreases, as a result, the bones begin to rub against each other, causing severe pain.

The longer cervical osteochondrosis develops without the necessary treatment, the less chance there is to stop the degenerative processes. In old age, it is almost impossible to restore connective tissue.

Cervical osteochondrosis in old age is predominantly a natural process that is not associated with the influence of external factors. If the problem begins to develop at an early age, if the painful sensations intensify too quickly, it is imperative to look for the cause of this disorder.

The development of cervical osteochondrosis at an early age is most often caused by the following factors:

Lack of physical activity in daily life. In the modern world, a person leads a predominantly sedentary lifestyle - he works all day in an office, spends time in the evening sitting on the couch or at the computer, and often drives a car;
In the process of performing work tasks, the human body often takes an unnatural, tense position (strong forward deviation when working at a computer);
Excessive exercise. The opposite reason is playing sports with uncontrolled loads. Not only ordinary citizens, but also professional athletes face this problem;
The reasons that cause the spine to be in the wrong position are flat feet, wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, scoliosis, arthritis, etc.;
Abuse of junk food, obesity;
Severe hypothermia of the cervical spine;
Nervous stress – frequent stress in everyday life and at work, lack of proper sleep at night.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

All of these risk factors and lifestyle features lead to the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine experiencing nutritional deficiency. If the problem is not identified and corrected, the discs will gradually begin to deteriorate, the distance between them will decrease, and ultimately this will lead to constant friction of the bones against each other. As connective tissue depletes, bone growths begin to form on the spine, which are prone to uncontrolled growth. In advanced cases, the growths begin to put pressure on the surrounding tissues, vessels, and nerves that are located in the cervical spine.

Cervical osteochondrosis does not develop instantly; in the absence of proper treatment for the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the problem worsens. The entire course of the disease can be divided into 4 stages. The symptoms experienced by the patient directly depend on the current stage of the problem. Among the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are:

Discomfort in the neck that spreads to the shoulder area;
The appearance of pain in the cervical spine when playing sports;
Stiffness when turning the neck;
Private headaches that are not caused by external factors;
When you change the position of your head, you can hear a characteristic crunch;
Numbness and loss of sensitivity in some areas of the skin of the neck, shoulders, arms, neck;
Hypoxia of tropho-dependent organs;
Development of pathologies of the circulatory system;
Severe pain leads to complete immobilization of the upper shoulder girdle.

The further the disease progresses, the more discomfort the patient experiences. In the final stages of the problem, the patient’s quality of life deteriorates significantly. Common symptoms for all stages of the problem include headache, ringing or noise in the ears, visual defects, nausea and vomiting with a sudden change in head position.

Contraindications and side effects

The drug is not applicable for cases of high sensitivity to salicylates, inflammatory and erosive lesions of the digestive tract mucosa, severe liver and urinary tract diseases. Contraindications also include:

tendency to internal bleeding, decreased blood clotting;
Iron-deficiency anemia;
pregnancy at all stages;
breastfeeding period.

Ortofen is also prohibited for the treatment of children under 6 years of age. An extensive list of contraindications is explained by high toxicity. Various undesirable reactions are possible against the background of its use:

loss of appetite, change in taste, pain in the epigastrium, abdominal cavity, exacerbation of gastritis and gastrointestinal pathologies, diarrhea;
kidney inflammation, impaired diuresis;
dizziness, asthenic syndrome, insomnia;
drug hepatosis.

Ortofen should be used with caution in diseases of the heart and blood vessels, bronchial asthma, and diabetes mellitus. Possible signs of a drug overdose: severe headache, vomiting, loss of coordination of movements, deterioration of hearing and vision.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

If you experience one of the symptoms listed above, it is advisable to immediately seek medical help. The sooner a problem is diagnosed, the higher the likelihood of it being completely eliminated. A neurologist is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis of the spine.

After the patient contacts, the neurologist will interview the patient and, based on his complaints, make a conclusion about the presence of the disease. Most often, patients complain of pain, discomfort, and problems with movement of the upper limbs. After the interview, the doctor will conduct a visual examination of the patient. Will be assessed:

Correct posture;
At what angle are the shoulder blades, shoulders and ilia bones located?
The location of the line of the spinous processes along the length of the spine.

A visual examination allows you to determine what pathological processes began in the spine and how much they affected the spine and surrounding tissues.

The final diagnosis is not made solely on the basis of examination and questioning of the patient. Additional examinations are required. Most often, the patient is sent for radiography and computed tomography. If for one reason or another it is impossible to make a final diagnosis, the patient is referred for magnetic resonance imaging. Additional examinations include Doppler sonography; the procedure allows you to find out the state of the circulatory system in the cervical region.

Degrees of cervical osteochondrosis

The choice of treatment method for osteochondrosis directly depends on the stage of the disease that is diagnosed in a particular patient. It is customary to subdivide 4 stages of osteochondrosis, the division is conditional, since some symptoms may move from one stage to another or not appear at all.

1st degree

The initial stage of the problem, at this stage, if pain is felt, it is often attributed to stress or other disorders (improper sleep, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position). The patient may experience slight stiffness and limited movement, especially sudden movements. If you seek treatment for cervical osteochondrosis at this stage, you can eliminate the symptoms at home. To completely get rid of the problem, you can limit yourself to special exercises and attending physiotherapeutic procedures. For prevention, it will be useful to start leading an active lifestyle (it is enough to take 20 minute daily walks in the fresh air), adjust your diet (exclude too fatty, fried, salty foods, give preference to fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables, foods with sufficient calcium and microelements, necessary for the restoration of connective and cartilage tissue).

2nd degree

The pain intensifies and begins to become permanent. Sudden movements and turns bring discomfort; the patient experiences severe headaches and begins to notice that he is very tired from everyday activities. Often patients become absent-minded because they only think about pain. Some people experience numbness in certain areas of the face.

3rd degree

Hernias begin to develop in the area of damaged discs, which causes dizziness and weakness in the arms. Not only does the head and neck hurt, the pain gradually spreads to the entire shoulder girdle.

4th degree

A characteristic process is the destruction of intervertebral discs, replacement of “empty spaces” with connective tissue. This leads to pinched nerves, the pain becomes unbearable and does not go away without taking special medications. The patient experiences dizziness, especially with sudden turns of the head and changes in body position, ringing appears in the ears, sleep is disturbed, the quality of life is greatly deteriorated, and disability is possible if left untreated.

Application: instructions

Ortofen tablets are taken in one or several doses per day:

1 tablet once and up to 3-4 times a day, after eating food or simultaneously with it, the maximum amount of the product is 150 mg;
in case of severe pain, from the second day of therapy it is recommended to reduce the number of tablets to 2-3 pieces in order to avoid undesirable consequences for the body;
It is not recommended to take tablets for more than 5 days in a row.

Ortofen injections are indicated intramuscularly. They are administered once, in a dose of no more than 75 mg. active substance. After a single injection, therapy should be continued by taking the drug in tablets.

Gel and ointment are used externally, treating the surface of the skin in the area of damage or inflammation of the joint. The product in an amount of 2–3 g is applied to clean surfaces, rubbing until the medicine is completely absorbed. If necessary, wrap part of the body in warmth. It is recommended to use Ortofen ointment at night or at rest. It is allowed to use up to 8 g of a topical drug per day without health consequences.

Important: when using both systemic and external forms of the medication, you must take into account its total amount when discussing it with your doctor.

When using injections and tablets, you must avoid other NSAIDs and carefully check the dosage of anticoagulants and glucocorticoids, as they increase the toxicity of Ortofen.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The doctor selects the appropriate treatment method for the patient depending on the stage of the disease. Most often, drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is used in combination with physiotherapeutic procedures. In advanced cases, surgery may be required to remove overgrown connective tissue and bone spurs.

Conservative treatment

Most often it is based on taking certain medications. Drug treatment helps reduce pain, get rid of muscle tension, and localize inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are used.

Often, the doctor includes chondroprotectors in the prescription. This group of drugs activates the restoration of damaged tissue in the area of intervertebral discs.

These drugs are prescribed in the form of injections or tablets. Good therapeutic results are demonstrated by ointments based on NSAIDs. They are rubbed into the damaged area, relieving pain within 10-20 minutes. The main advantage of ointments is the local effect on the painful area and minimal impact on other organs.

Composition and dosage forms

Ortofen contains one active substance - diclofenac, which has a pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory and moderate antipyretic effect. The drug has several forms of release for systemic and local use:

tablets: white, flat-cylindrical, with a dosage of 25 mg, auxiliary components: povidone, starch, magnesium stearate and others;
gel: a clear, slightly viscous liquid containing 5% diclofenac, packaged in 100 ml bottles, containing water, ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol and other binders;
Ortofen ointment: 20% preparation in the form of a homogeneous viscous mass, available in tubes of 30 and 50 ml;
water-based injection solution: liquid in 3 ml ampoules containing 25 mg. diclofenac in 1 ml.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures pursue a number of goals:

Localization of the inflammatory process;
Relieving muscle spasm;
Pain relief;
Launch of regenerative processes;
Increasing general and local immunity;
Restoring the normal position of nerve fibers, eliminating compression and pinching.

Most often, the following procedures are prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis:

Shock wave therapy. Using a special device, the acoustic wave is directed directly to the cartilage tissue of the spine that has been damaged. As a result, metabolic processes are launched, salt and calcium deposits are destroyed, which interfere with the normal movement of joints and vertebrae. The procedure is characterized by a cumulative effect, often the first results become noticeable only 2-3 months after the start of treatment.
Acupuncture. Acupuncture is often used to treat and prevent cervical osteochondrosis. It is important that the procedure is performed only by a qualified doctor, otherwise you may not only experience a lack of effect, but also a worsening of the current condition. The essence of the procedure is that special needles are installed on biologically active points, forcing the body to start metabolic processes and stimulate the production of natural painkillers.
Massage. The main goal is to reduce pain and improve blood circulation in the damaged area of the cervical spine. With proper massage, the muscles acquire the lost tone, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of relapse of osteochondrosis in the future. When attending the first massage sessions, the patient encounters severe pain; it is important not to stop treatment due to pain, but to go through all the procedures prescribed by the doctor.

Surgery

It is mainly prescribed in advanced stages of the disease, when the use of medications and visits to physiotherapeutic procedures does not bring any results. The indication for surgical intervention is catastrophic narrowing of the spinal canal.

Modern surgical techniques allow the patient to be discharged from the hospital within 3-5 days and begin outpatient treatment of the symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis. Over the next three months, the patient undergoes rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy

A correctly chosen set of exercises for osteochondrosis can not only improve the patient’s general condition, but also speed up the process of treating the disease. There are several effective exercises:

Turns and tilts the head in different directions. The exercise is performed in a sitting position, it is important not to jerk, all movements should be smooth with a gradual increase in the number of repetitions and the amplitude of the inclination.
Tilt the head to the sides with resistance. Body position - sitting at the table, one elbow stands on the table, while the palm presses on the temple. Tilt your head towards your hand, creating slight resistance.
Shoulder lift. Raise your shoulders as high as possible and hold in this position for a while.
Self-kneading of the back of the head and neck with your fingertips. It is important that the movements are soft and do not cause pain. You can perform self-massage in any comfortable position.

It is important not to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home without consulting a neurologist; a set of exercises must be agreed upon with the attending physician.

Indications for use of Ortofen

The drug is prescribed for moderate to severe pain of various origins, which accompanies injuries, degenerative processes, and inflammatory pathologies. Main area of application: diseases of the joints and muscular system:

myositis;
arthritis, arthrosis deformans, spondyloarthrosis;
tendinitis, sprains and ligament ruptures;
neuralgic pain;
rheumatic symptoms;
lumbago, sciatica, bursitis.

Ortofen helps eliminate pain in intense infectious pathologies, diseases of internal organs and the central nervous system. Including:

for migraine, tension headache;
toothache;
for gynecological pathologies;
for renal colic;
for bruises, dislocations.

The antipyretic effect of Ortofen is less pronounced than the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, therefore, at high temperatures it is recommended to use other types of NSAIDs.

Prevention

The main rule of preventive measures is that they must be comprehensive and observed on an ongoing basis. This is the only way they will bring the expected results. Prevention is indicated for people who are at risk.

Watch your posture. The ideal body position is that the head and back are on the same line. Always make sure that your shoulders are straightened, your stomach is pulled in, and your chest is raised. The gait also plays a role - it should be springy and smooth. Never give yourself any slack; at the initial stage, it is important to discipline yourself; in the future, correct posture will become a habit.
A properly organized workplace. When working, the shoulders should be relaxed; constant tension in the lumbar girdle has a direct impact on the cervical spine. The basic requirements are a chair with a comfortable back and armrests, a monitor at eye level, a keyboard below the elbows (the angle between the shoulder and forearm is about 120 degrees). While working, make it a habit to take a break every 40-50 minutes and perform basic stretching exercises.
Correctly adjust the car seat. Many motorists are faced with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine due to the fact that they adjust the driver’s seat not according to the rules, but in a way that is comfortable for them. Correct body position in a chair - the entire spine touches the back, not just the shoulders. It is advisable to purchase special lumbar pillows that will help support the body in the desired position. When driving for a long time, it is important to go out into the streets after 1.5-2 hours and warm up.
Watch your diet. Problems with the cervical spine are often associated with the fact that the patient eats incorrectly. Dangerous foods that increase the risk of osteochondrosis include: white bread, baked goods, sweets, dishes high in salt and sugar, fried and fatty foods. The main danger is refined sugar - the substance helps wash calcium out of the body. Include legumes and nuts, foods high in protein, seasonal vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. Low-fat fermented milk products - kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, natural yoghurts - will also have a positive effect. If you have a problem with excess weight, visit a nutritionist.
Daily physical activity. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home with the help of physical exercise is an excellent preventative against spinal diseases. It is important to do the exercises at an easy pace, without exceeding the permissible load. If you don’t have time for a full set of exercises, make it a rule to take daily walks.
Massage. Correct techniques restore muscle tone, relieve tension, and trigger metabolic and regenerative processes in the body. It is not necessary to visit specialists; proper massage of the cervical spine can be performed independently.
Proper sleep. During the day, the intervertebral discs experience increased stress; complete relaxation and rest can only be achieved during night sleep. To prevent osteochondrosis, it is important to organize the right place to sleep and monitor the time (at least 8 hours).