Cervical osteochondrosis: what is it, symptoms, how to treat

Degenerative disc disease (osteochondrosis) in the cervical spine is the main cause of pain in the neck and radiating pain in the arms. Pain symptoms begin to occur when one or more intervertebral discs in the cervical spine begin to deteriorate due to degeneration.

The predisposition of some people to develop osteochondrosis may have a genetic component. Trauma can also accelerate and sometimes cause the development of degenerative changes in the cervical spine.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine gives good results only when it is regular and consistent and systematic. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is on the list of the most common causes of symptoms in patients of working age who sit at the computer for a long time. Often patients do not pay attention to pain and do not seek medical help, which leads to complications.

Risk factors for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

While virtually all people will eventually develop involutional degenerative changes in the cervical spine, there are some factors that can make it more likely that osteochondrosis will develop early or become symptomatic. These risk factors may include:

• Genetics. Some studies of twins show that genetics plays a larger role than lifestyle in the early development of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine and the rapid onset of symptoms.
• Obesity. Weight is associated with the risk of developing degenerative disc disease (osteochondrosis).
• Smoking. This habit can prevent nutrients from reaching the discs and speed up their hydration.
• In addition, spinal trauma can sometimes initiate or accelerate the process of degeneration in the cervical spine.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can vary widely among individuals.

When osteochondrosis becomes symptomatic, pain may develop gradually or appear suddenly. Symptoms can range from some discomfort in the neck to debilitating severe pain radiating into the arm, numbness and/or muscle weakness.

Main symptoms:

• Pain in the neck. Low-intensity pain accompanied by stiffness in the neck is the most common symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. However, sometimes the pain can suddenly intensify and last for several hours or days.
• Neuralgia. This type of pain tends to be sharp or with an electric shock sensation, radiating into the shoulder into the arm, arm, and/or fingers. Typically, neuralgia is felt on only one side of the body.
• Neurological symptoms in the arm, hand and/or fingers. There may be pins and needles sensations, numbness and/or weakness that may spread throughout the upper limb. These types of symptoms may interfere with daily activities, such as typing, getting dressed, or holding objects.
• The pain intensifies with movement. In general, pain caused by the degenerative disc itself tends to increase with movement and decrease with rest.
• If the pain comes from the degenerative disc itself, it will likely go away on its own within a few weeks or months. However, other symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis are more likely to become chronic and require treatment, for example if the facet joints in the neck also begin to degenerate and/or nerve root compression occurs.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis

The stage of cervical osteochondrosis is established based on diagnostic criteria. These include the patient’s own sensations, palpation, assessment of neck mobility, as well as the clearance of the joint space between the vertebrae and other indicators on an x-ray. Depending on the stage of the disease, the orthopedic doctor selects treatment for neck osteochondrosis, preventive measures and, if necessary, supporting orthoses.

1st degree of cervical osteochondrosis

Grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis is also called the preclinical stage. Patients, as a rule, ignore the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and treatment is not carried out due to their mild severity. They are attributed to fatigue after a working day, uncomfortable sleeping position, stress, migraines and various diseases. Patients feel:

• stiffness in the neck, especially in the morning or after a long stay in the same position;
• pain when turning the head sharply;
• frequent headaches (including when the weather changes).

At this stage of the disease, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is most likely - because their symptoms are more pronounced. This is due both to the specifics of work and physical activity (for example, working in an office during the day, and in the evening bending over the sink or the child’s homework), and with hormonal and anatomical characteristics (lower muscle mass and bone mineral density). At the preclinical stage for Women are especially characterized by pressure surges, numbness and paleness of the skin (especially on the face), a tendency to fainting and dizziness, nausea and some other symptoms of cerebral hypoxia.

Most often, the symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis arise in patients aged 45 to 65 years, but with chronic fatigue, excessive physical activity and other risk factors, they can appear quite early - starting from the age of 25.

At this stage, the disease can be completely defeated with the help of therapeutic exercises, ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, training in an orthopedic regimen and normalization of nutrition.

2nd degree of cervical osteochondrosis

At the 2nd stage of the disease, the height of the intervertebral cartilage, which plays the role of a shock-absorbing liner between the vertebrae, begins to decrease. Because of this, microtrauma to the neck often occurs during sharp turns, jumps or excessive loads. Protrusion (bulging) of intervertebral discs and radicular syndrome (compression of nerve endings) also appear. These changes cause severe pain - both in the head and in the neck. The ability to concentrate, the speed of thinking, and the sensitivity of the face and hands decrease. Patients complain of increased fatigue and irritability. At this stage, effective drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is already required.

3rd degree of cervical osteochondrosis

Severe and acute pain is constant and can radiate to the arms, upper back, or back of the head. One or both of the patient's arms quickly become tired. The process begins to spread to neighboring joints due to disruption of the natural compensatory functions of the spine. The patient finds it difficult or cannot turn his head at all due to the formation of bone growths - osteophytes, as well as the fact that the cartilage is replaced by connective tissue. Each movement, if possible, is accompanied by a rough crunch. The neck loses mobility, its muscles atrophy. Hernias often form and cracks appear on the vertebrae. There is noise in the ears.

Less common symptoms

The more the cervical spine degenerates, the more likely it is that the spinal canal will narrow and increase the risk of spinal cord compression. If compression of the spinal cord occurs, myelopathy will develop and symptoms such as:

• Difficulty moving arms and/or legs
• Problems with coordination and/or balance
• Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
• Weakness and/or numbness anywhere below the neck
• Shooting pain in the limbs, which may worsen when bending forward

Cervical myelopathy is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. This condition usually occurs in people over 50 years of age.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be made based on data such as:

• Medical history.
  First, the doctor needs to study the symptoms and medical history in detail.
• Physical examination
  . The doctor will then perform a physical examination, palpating the neck and checking the range of motion in the neck. During the tests, patients may be asked to perform certain movements and report whether their neck pain increases or decreases.
• If the pain is intense or if there are neurological symptoms such as pain, tingling or weakness in the shoulder, arm or hand, then your doctor will likely order medical imaging.
• Medical imaging methods (radiography, CT, MRI, PET).
  If the doctor determines that to determine the exact genesis of the symptoms it is necessary to obtain images of tissues (discs), then an MRI will most likely be prescribed. An MRI, X-ray, or possibly a CT scan can confirm whether there are signs of degeneration, as well as identify other conditions (such as osteoarthritis or stenosis) that may be causing symptoms.
• After confirming an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as well as any other associated conditions, the genesis of symptoms can be understood and an effective treatment program can be determined.

Diagnosis of the disease

The doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis based on characteristic complaints and examination data. Pain in certain points, muscle tone, sensitivity, range of motion, and posture are assessed. Instrumental research methods help clarify the stage of osteochondrosis and confirm the diagnosis. Most often, at the initial stage, an x-ray of the spine of interest is prescribed. The pictures clearly demonstrate whether there is a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, that is, whether there is thinning of the cartilage, and how far the process has progressed. If, based on the results of the X-ray, the doctor suspects the presence of intervertebral hernias, he will prescribe a more informative research method - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Layer-by-layer scanning and good visualization of soft tissues make it possible to confirm or refute the diagnosis of intervertebral disc herniation with absolute accuracy.

Conditions associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Disc degeneration is often accompanied by other pathological conditions that develop either at the same time, or in some cases, one causes the other. The most common conditions are:

• A herniation in the cervical spine occurs when disc degeneration leads to disruption of the integrity of the fibrous ring and protrusion of the contents beyond the ring occurs. But a disc herniation can occur after an injury, which ultimately accelerates disc degeneration and leads to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
• Cervical osteoarthritis. As the disc degenerates and the disc space within the spinal column begins to shrink, the facet joints can begin to move abnormally and cause wear and tear on the cartilage, as well as stimulate the formation of osteophytes in the cervical spine.
• Cervical spinal stenosis. This is a condition that occurs due to osteophytes or a herniated disc and there is a narrowing of the spinal canal (where the spinal cord passes through) or the foramen (where the nerve root passes through).

But we must understand that sometimes some people already have a narrowing of the spinal canal from birth and the development of symptoms is not associated with osteochondrosis.

Cervical radiculopathy - Symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness and/or weakness radiating from the shoulder to the arm and hand can occur when one or more nerve roots become pinched or irritated. If stenosis causes compression of the spinal cord by disc herniation or osteophytes, myelopathy may develop. Possible symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness and/or weakness may be felt at this level in the neck and anywhere below the compression level. For example, a person may have tingling or weakness in the legs, balance problems, or even difficulty with bowel and bladder control.

If you have symptoms of myelopathy, it is important to seek prompt medical attention as the condition can progress and, without treatment, may eventually lead to paralysis and impairment of function.

Backache! Attention - osteochondrosis!

Osteochondrosis is a disease in which damage occurs to the cartilaginous surfaces of bones inside the joints. Symptoms of osteochondrosis manifest themselves in different ways. This depends on the degree and nature of changes in the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues. In addition, the symptoms of this disease largely depend on the location of the lesion.

There are several types of osteochondrosis - these are cervical osteochondrosis, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and widespread osteochondrosis, which affects not only all parts of the spine, but also joints: shoulder, hip and knee. Of all the listed types, the most widespread are lumbar and cervical osteochondrosis.

The causes of osteochondrosis can be infections, hypothermia, stress, exposure to chemicals, decreased physical activity, as well as hormonal disorders and heavy lifting. Incorrect posture (standing, sitting or lying down) and work associated with flexion, extension, rotation and jerking movements of the body can also be the causes of osteochondrosis. The appearance of osteochondrosis is often promoted by falls, injuries, overload and congenital defects of the spine. It is known that sport has a positive effect on human health. But, if these sports and physical education activities are carried out without taking into account the influence of heavy physical activity, then this can also lead to the occurrence of osteochondrosis.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

The first symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis is a tingling sensation in the shoulder blade, which spreads to the armpit and further to the elbow. At the same time, there may be a sensation as if there is a foreign body behind the sternum. Then the pain begins to surround the shoulder blade and go to the sternum. Pain may appear in the lower chest on the back, which will begin to descend into the groin. In addition, pain is often felt in the upper part of the stomach at night (appears when lying on your back). The pain can be quite severe and begins to intensify with any movements in the thoracic region. As morning approaches, the pain in the stomach begins to subside.

If you do not pay attention in time to the pain that appears in the thoracic spine, it will begin to spread to the middle part of the abdomen. When you turn your body, if you lie on your back or sneeze, this pain begins to intensify, causing pain in the right hypochondrium. If, with thoracic osteochondrosis, the upper lymph node is damaged, then headaches begin to appear, and the neck and face begin to ache. If the lesion affects the lymph nodes of the thoracic region, then the pain that appears in the back may be accompanied by nausea, heartburn, belching, as well as the appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

With lumbar osteochondrosis, pain appears in the thigh, groin, lower leg and knee - on the affected side the leg straightens at the knee with great difficulty and pain. The pain then spreads along the outer surface of the thigh and down to the foot, causing difficulty in standing on the heel with the foot extended. Numbness of the lower leg or foot may occur, and the muscles begin to decrease in volume. There is severe weakness in the legs, and sharp, unbearable pain appears in the lower back, hips and lower legs. In more severe cases, fecal and urinary incontinence and the development of bedsores occur.

With lumbar osteochondrosis, severe pain appears after unsuccessful movement or sleep in the lumbar region, and after a few hours this pain begins to be felt in the leg. If this condition occurs for the first time in a person, then in a maximum of a week it goes away. This pain is associated with muscle spasm, which results in severe compression of the intervertebral disc, which causes such severe pain. To relieve this pain, the patient needs to be kept at rest, take a painkiller, and the sore spot needs to be lubricated with any warming ointment. If the pain does not go away, then you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe a number of measures to eliminate these pains, including acupuncture, manual therapy, laser therapy and electrophoresis . In some cases, a novocaine blockade is performed. After the pain is relieved, the patient must follow a number of preventive measures to prevent the pain from returning. But in many cases these pains become chronic. They begin to appear with any physical activity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Severe pain appears in the neck, which turns into a headache, spreading to the forehead, eye or ear. Usually such pain appears only on one side. The pain intensifies with any movement of the head, especially with a sharp turn. Dizziness, crunching, nausea, tinnitus appear, and in some cases vomiting begins. The scalp becomes so painful that it is impossible to comb your hair. Hearing loss and vision deterioration may occur. Fainting often occurs when the head is turned suddenly, and there is a sharp increase in blood pressure. With cervical osteochondrosis, pressing pain in the heart may appear, radiating to the area between the shoulder blades. These pains can be quite long-lasting and only go away after taking validol. Unlike pain during an acute heart attack, a person does not experience the fear of death. He remains calm. Cervical osteochondrosis develops gradually, and within six months the pain can spread to the shoulder (swelling and stiffness of the hand appear). Soon these pains become constant and most often intensify at night, spreading along the arm, shoulder blade and neck.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis in typical cases does not present any difficulties. It is necessary to undergo a complete neurological, radiological and orthopedic examination. A neurological examination is prescribed to establish reflexes, since some such reflexes may be absent if the nerve roots are pinched. In order to determine whether there is an inflammatory process in the body, a blood test is prescribed. And, of course, an X-ray examination is prescribed, which will show the displacement of the vertebrae and the degree of their wear. Currently, for the diagnosis of spinal diseases, there are such instrumental research methods as ultrasound, radiography, tomography, myelography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, contrast discography, and electrospondylography.

Electrospondylography refers to modern computer functional diagnostics, which allows identifying the disease at an early stage of its development, as well as determining the level of damage and monitoring the course of the disease.

Ultrasound examination is not one of the main methods for diagnosing spinal disease. Using an ultrasound scanner, it is impossible to obtain a high-contrast and fairly clear image of the spinal structures.

Tomography allows you to view individual parts of the spine as best as possible using x-ray sections.

Myelography uses a contrast agent injected into the spinal canal . This research method is good for examining the spinal cord and nerve roots.

With the contrast discography method, a contrast agent is injected into the intervertebral disc, which can be used to determine the presence of pathological changes. Magnetic resonance imaging is a modern research method in which, using electromagnetic waves, images of organs and tissues can be obtained. This method does not have a negative impact on human health, so it can be used repeatedly as needed. Using this study, pathological changes in the intervertebral discs, disc herniation, and many other spinal diseases are detected.

When carrying out computer diagnostics , as well as when carrying out radiography, X-ray examination is used. Using computed tomography, pathological changes in bone tissue can be detected.

X-ray is a painless examination that allows you to assess the nature of the spinal lesion (traumatic or non-traumatic). X-rays can detect tumors and fractures of the spine, bone growths and other lesions of the spine. This study is the most common in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment of osteochondrosis is a rather difficult task, since treatment methods have not yet been found that could stop the aging process of the human body. But, if you choose the right course of treatment for osteochondrosis, you can not only slow down the development of this disease, but also prevent its complications.

When treating osteochondrosis, it is first necessary to ensure the patient's rest. If the symptoms of the disease are severe, the patient is hospitalized and prescribed bed rest until the period of exacerbation passes. With this disease, it is necessary for the patient’s bed to be hard, so it is recommended to place a shield made of wood under the mattress.

Treatment includes three stages:

• symptomatic treatment, which is prescribed to eliminate the main symptoms of osteochondrosis;
• surgical treatment that eliminates spinal deformities and spina bifida;
• prescription of restorative therapy, that is, rehabilitation of the patient.

In symptomatic treatment, the main goal is to eliminate pain. For these purposes, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. Timely removal of pain helps prevent depression associated with chronic pain, as well as prevent pathological changes in the spine.

In addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, the patient is prescribed medications that improve blood circulation. These drugs help in time to prevent the occurrence of various changes at the level of internal organs.

A new direction in the treatment of osteochondrosis is the prescription of drugs that restore cartilage tissue. These drugs have a regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect, and also restore damaged cartilage tissue of the joints, as a result of which their mobility improves and the pain that occurs when moving disappears.

In addition to the listed medications, the patient is prescribed antidepressants and a vitamin-mineral complex. Physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises and manual therapy are also prescribed.

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis is prescribed in exceptional cases. Indications for surgical treatment are vertebral subluxations, quite severe deformation of the spinal column, as well as the formation of spina bifida.

Treatment of osteochondrosis in our medical center is carried out using shock wave therapy (SWT) and photodynamic therapy.

An acoustic shock wave with certain characteristics affects pathologically altered tissue areas, promoting the resorption of fibrous areas, the destruction of microcrystals of calcium salts and their removal from muscles, tendons and ligaments. At the same time, there is also a significant increase in microcirculation and metabolism in the affected area.

The effect is manifested in the reduction or disappearance of pain, muscle spasms, increasing the elasticity of ligaments and tendons, which allows increasing the range of motion in the spine and joints.

Before treatment, all patients are examined by an orthopedic surgeon , X-rays of the affected area are taken, and, if necessary, ultrasound examination of joints and tendons, and magnetic resonance computed tomography. Then a diagnosis of the disease and indications for shock wave therapy are established. All patients are given contraindications to UVT treatment .

The high qualifications of our employees and the vast experience they have accumulated in the use of shock wave therapy allow us to achieve the most positive effect in the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Shock wave therapy is carried out using a modern Masterpuls MP 200 device.

In addition to all the studies listed, it is also necessary to undergo an examination by a neurologist, orthopedist and chiropractor. In the diagnosis of osteochondrosis, the patient’s complaints also play an important role. Therefore, before you see a doctor, you need to try to remember all the pains that bother you, as well as how they appear and under what circumstances they subside. All these little things will be needed for a correct diagnosis, since many symptoms are very similar to other diseases.

The course of treatment of osteochondrosis using the UVT method consists of 5-7 sessions.
The session is carried out once every 5-7 days.
Advantages of the UVT method:

• efficiency;
• good tolerability (does not require anesthesia);
• reduces the need to use other methods, especially surgical treatment;
• rapid pain relief without analgesics;
• the ability to use at the chronic stage of the disease and during its primary manifestations;
• It is performed on an outpatient basis, does not require hospitalization, and does not disrupt the patient’s usual rhythm of life.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

To prevent osteochondrosis, as well as to prevent its exacerbation, it is recommended to apply a few simple rules that will help reduce the load on the spine:

1. It is recommended to go swimming and hang on the horizontal bar as often as possible.

2. To prevent back muscles from atrophying, you need to move more often - walk in the fresh air and do physical exercises.

3. If it is not possible to avoid lifting weights, then you should lift them not by bending over, but by crouching.

4. You should always try to keep your back straight.

5. You must try to avoid drafts and hypothermia.

6. It is important to promptly treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as they contribute to the appearance of osteochondrosis.

7. It is necessary to change body position frequently, especially if the work involves prolonged sitting.

Proper nutrition plays a major role in the prevention of osteochondrosis. From childhood, you need to include in your child’s diet foods that contain magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, as well as vitamins A and C. Orange and yellow vegetables and fruits are very rich in vitamin A. And sweet peppers, berries, herbs and, of course, rose hips and lemon are rich in vitamin C. It is also necessary to include fermented milk products, cheese, cabbage, corn, various nuts, as well as eggs, liver and legumes in the menu.

Since ancient times, it was believed that a person’s health depends on his spine. If the spine is healthy, then the person will feel good. Our modern medicine also confirms that human health is determined by the health of the spine. Therefore, in order to maintain your health for many years, you need to spare and take care of your spine from an early age. And if any changes appear on his part, you must immediately seek help in order to prevent the development of the disease in time.

Kravchenko O.M., orthopedic traumatologist of the highest category, medical, Krasnodar.

Treatment

As a rule, when symptoms appear due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, therapeutic actions are taken to reduce the symptoms. First of all, non-surgical treatment methods are used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

In rare cases, when pain and symptoms persist or worsen despite several months of treatment, or if there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord, then surgery is considered.

Conservative Treatment Options

To treat neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease, your doctor will usually recommend one or more of the following treatment options:

• Vacation or lifestyle change
  . Some activities can be more painful for the neck, such as craning the neck forward when working at a computer. Abstaining or changing certain activities for a few days or weeks usually reduces pain. It is also recommended to maintain good posture (instead of slouching when sitting or bending your neck forward while driving, etc.). Eating healthy foods, staying adequately hydrated, and not smoking are also beneficial for disc health.
• Treating pain with medications or injections. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol), ibuprofen (eg, Advil, Motrin), or others may have some effect. If the pain is severe, a stronger pain reliever may be prescribed, such as oral steroids or muscle relaxants (such as Vicodin) or even opiates.

Injections such as facet injections, nerve or epidural blocks. These may involve injecting corticosteroids into a specific structure to reduce local inflammation:

• Caudal epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• Interlaminar caudal epidural steroid injections
• Transforaminal epidural injections
• Selective nerve root blocks
• Medial branch blocks
• Ice and heat
  can be used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
• Exercise therapy.
  Most non-surgical programs for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will include certain exercise programs, both isometric and stretching. The selection of exercises should be carried out by a qualified specialist (physical therapy doctor), since inadequate exercises can lead to a worsening of the condition. In addition, exercises should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular person. In general, increasing strength and flexibility in the neck can reduce the risk of pain and, to some extent, slow down degenerative changes in the discs.
• Manual therapy
  . The cervical spine can be manually adjusted by a qualified healthcare professional to improve range of motion and/or reduce pain. Depending on the individual patient's symptoms, physical examination and/or imaging should be performed before manual manipulation of the neck.
• Physiotherapy
• Massage
• Acupuncture
• Corseting

Basic principles of treatment

Chondrosis is difficult to detect only on the basis of an external examination, patient complaints, and medical history. Its clinical picture is similar to the symptoms of many pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The diagnosis is made based on the results of instrumental studies: radiography, MRI, CT. An integrated approach to the treatment of acute chondrosis is practiced. Patients are advised to wear fixation devices: rigid or semi-rigid orthoses, Shants collars, elastic bandages with silicone inserts. They stabilize the vertebrae and discs, preventing their displacement and protrusion.

Complete restoration of destroyed cartilage tissue is impossible, so treatment tactics consist of eliminating painful symptoms and preventing further damage to the discs. Patients are recommended to take or parenterally administer drugs from various clinical and pharmacological groups. How to treat acute chondrosis, what medications to use:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Nimesulide, Ketorolac, Piroxicam, Ibuprofen, Etoricoxib, Ketoprofen). They stop the inflammatory process localized in the pericartilaginous tissues, prevent the accumulation of pathological exudate, and eliminate pain;

• muscle relaxants and antispasmodics (Baklosan, Baclofen, Sirdalud, Tizanidine, Mydocalm, Drotaverine, No-shpa). Relaxes skeletal muscles, eliminates spasms, including those accompanied by pinched nerve roots;

• analgesics (Novocaine, Lidocaine, Trimecaine). They are used for therapeutic blockades in cases of severe inflammation and compression of sensitive nerve endings. Usually combined with hormonal agents;

• glucocorticosteroids (Triamcinolone, Diprospan, Kenalog, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone). They are used for therapeutic blockades to relieve inflammation, resolve swelling, and eliminate pain;

• complexes of B vitamins (Kombilipen, Milgamma, Neurobion, Neuromultivit, Pentovit). Stimulate the regeneration of soft tissues, improve trophism and blood circulation, normalize the conduction of nerve impulses;

• drugs to eliminate neurological and vascular disorders (Pentoxifylline, Eufillin, Betahistine, nicotinic acid, Cinnarizine, Vinpocetine). Prevent the occurrence of headaches, dizziness, paresthesia, accelerate the healing of damaged tissues;

• chondroprotectors (Alflutop, Structum, Dona, Teraflex, Arthro-Active, Chondrolone, Chondroxide, Rumalon). They stimulate the regeneration of cartilage, and after the accumulation of ingredients in the tissues, they have a long-term anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, and analgesic effect.

Ointments are not used in the treatment of acute chondrosis, but only when it is transferred to the stage of remission. To enhance the effect of drugs, electrophoresis is recommended to patients, ensuring their penetration into the deepest foci of pathology. After relief of inflammation and pain, 5-10 sessions of classical massage are prescribed. Regular exercise and physical training, swimming, and yoga will help you consolidate the achieved results and prevent new relapses.

Using folk remedies for acute chondrosis is not only inappropriate, but also dangerous. Black radish juice, turpentine, alcohol rubs, homemade warming ointments will only increase inflammation, and, therefore, pain. An exacerbation can only be stopped with the help of injections and further taking tablet forms of drugs. Refusal of medical care will accelerate the transition of chondrosis to a chronic form and will become a prerequisite for the development of osteochondrosis.

Study the recommended exercises for chondrosis.

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Surgical methods for treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are usually considered in two cases:

• Neurological symptoms are present, such as persistent arm numbness and/or weakness, or problems with walking or bowel control. If neurological symptoms are caused by degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, there is a risk of permanent nerve damage and surgery may be recommended to relieve pressure on the nerves.
• Chronic pain is severe and does not respond to at least six months of non-surgical treatment, and daily activities become difficult. Better surgical outcomes are predicted for patients with chronic pain in association with other conditions such as neck motion segment instability and/or radiculopathy.

The main surgical methods for treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
• Replacement with an artificial disc.

In addition, there are a number of other surgical procedures for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

• Endoscopic decompression
• Endoscopic foraminotomy
• Percutaneous decompression
• Intradiscal electrothermal therapy
• Selective endoscopic discectomy
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Epidural lysis of adhesions

Neck surgical procedures aimed at decompressing the nerve roots and/or spinal cord and thus reducing neurological symptoms such as arm pain or weakness tend to have good long-term results, with a positive prognosis of 80% to 90%.

Stages of development of osteochondrosis

There are 4 main stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine:

• Stage 1 – pain, crunching when turning the neck, decreased mobility, headaches, sleep disturbance;
• Stage 2 – thinning of the intervertebral disc capsule, pinching of nerve endings and blood vessels;
• Stage 3 – the occurrence of protrusions, hernias, deformities of the vertebrae, resulting in dizziness, pain, movement coordination disorders, and impaired blood supply to the brain;
• Stage 4 – constant pain, possible neurological complications, loss of consciousness, blurred vision, and even paralysis.