Symptoms and treatment of a hernia of the cervical spine: is it possible to do without surgery with the help of medications, gymnastics, massage? 

Disc herniation of the cervical spine is an advanced form of degeneration of the cervical intervertebral segments, which is complicated by displacement of the nucleus pulposus of the disc with its extension beyond the anatomical boundaries. The disease is characterized by pronounced neurological and reflex manifestations, including the cerebral type. This is explained by the fact that in this section the ridge connects to the head, and the spinal cord passes into the brain, and a dense neurovascular network is concentrated here. The pathological process is mainly a complication of long-term osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which were ignored by patients for a long time.

MRI of the cervical spine.

Even a hundred years ago, in the field of view of neurologists, pathology with such a serious localization fell into the category of isolated cases, and it was mainly the lot of older people. Today, cervical intervertebral hernia is one of the most common diagnoses among all possible problems with the spine. Now, unfortunately, it too often concerns the working population. The diagnosis of “cervical hernia of the spine” predominates in people 20-55 years old. The incidence rate in men and women is approximately the same: 52% of patients are male patients, 48% are female.

In general, in the structure of all diseases of the human body, cervical hernias occupy 5th place in the number of hospitalizations, 3rd place in the need for surgical treatment. According to data from authoritative sources, at least 20% of people with cervical hernias suffer from severe vertebroneurological disorders, which often lead to disability. In approximately 35%-40%, the pain syndrome becomes chronic, which is why patients live in constant stress and emotional tension.

The risk group includes people suffering from systemic connective tissue diseases, obesity and various metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, and orthopedic pathologies. Also, professional athletes, office workers, teachers, machine operators, seamstresses, draftsmen and other people whose cervical region lingers in an immobilized position for a long time or performs monotonous monotonous movements have a high predisposition to displacement of the disc fragment in the cervical region.

What is a herniated cervical spine?

What is the essence of the diagnosis? In local pathological changes in the intervertebral disc, resulting in prolapse of the nucleus pulposus, which occurred due to the impaired integrity of the fibrous ring of the disc. The process of herniation is preceded by advanced degenerative-dystrophic pathogenesis in a specific spinal motion segment. But let's look at how everything happens in reality to make it more clear. Let's gradually get to the main point, starting with a brief excursion into anatomy.

• There are only 5 intervertebral discs in the cervical spinal system, and 7 vertebrae. They are located between each successive pair of vertebral bodies, connecting them to each other. Between the 1st and 2nd vertebrae (atlas and axis) the disc is not provided by nature, it does not exist. This means that pathology can occur at levels such as C2-C3, C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7. Most often it develops in the C5-C6 and C6-C7 segments.

• Each disc element consists of a jelly-like substance (nucleus pulposus), which is enclosed in an annular fibrous rim (annulus fibrosus). The disc performs a shock-absorbing function, absorbing and absorbing shocks and shocks in the spine during human physical activity. It also, together with other structural components, provides the upper part of the spine with the necessary potential for mobility and flexibility.
• The main material composition of the disc is represented by water (80%) and collagen fibers (15%) immersed in a matrix of proteoglycans. Collagen provides elasticity to the disc and retains proteoglycans (hyaluronic acid). And proteoglycans are responsible for attraction and control of water balance, creating the necessary intradiscal pressure. A normal ratio of all designated structural substances is possible only with good metabolism at the vertebral levels and complete delivery of nutrients to them.
• The structure of the disc is also avascular, or the absence of its own blood supply. Therefore, its supply of nutrition occurs exclusively through the blood vessels of the adjacent vertebrae, which enters through the marginal endplate. At a certain spinal level from C2 to C7, circulatory and metabolic processes may be inhibited. For example, due to constant physical overload or a sedentary lifestyle, possibly due to obesity, autoimmune pathologies or after local trauma. As a result, osteochondrosis develops.

• Since in osteochondrosis the blood flow in the vertebral bodies is reduced and the permeability of the marginal plate is impaired (sclerosis), the transport of important metabolites into the disc, as we said, does not occur in the required quantities. This leads to a gradual decrease in the specific fluid content in fibrous and pulpous tissues, that is, the loss of their main component - water. Dehydration serves as a stimulus for thinning, flattening, and disintegration of the intervertebral lining.
• Then cracks appear on the inside of the degenerated ring, and the nucleus pulposus changes its normal position. The jelly-like substance sags and moves into the defective part of the ring. As a result, a disc deformation occurs in a certain direction, protruding beyond the boundaries of the vertebrae.

• At first, the cervical disc protrudes slightly, but until the ring ruptures, a hernia will not form. This early stage is called protrusion. As soon as a protrusion is diagnosed, this means that all the prerequisites and favorable conditions for the appearance of a hernia have already been created. If the processes of degeneration at the prehernia stage are not stopped in a timely manner, the fibrous ring continues to collapse. The core, in turn, is increasingly dislocated towards the periphery and exerts compression on the weak area of ​​the ring.

Hernia and coracoid osteophytes.

Ultimately, the ring-shaped structure ruptures with a fragment of jelly-like cartilage falling out through the formed hole. Open prolapse of part of the nucleus pulposus into the intervertebral space through a peripheral through breakthrough of the disc is a herniation of the cervical spine.

Basic treatment methods

• Medicines.
  Medication is only required if there is pain and stiffness. Painkillers and muscle relaxants will help reduce pain and spasms in the neck muscles. They help relieve discomfort and increase the range of motion of the neck.

Physiotherapy

. Various physical therapy techniques can be used to treat lordosis of the cervical spine. Physiotherapy can reduce pain and relieve inflammation.

Traction therapy

. Traction can be useful when there is compression. Traction therapy can reduce root compression and thus reduce symptoms.

Massage.

This type of treatment allows you to relax cramped neck muscles, relieve pain and restore neck flexibility.

• Corseting

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. In severe forms of cervical lordosis, it may be necessary to use a corset during the daytime and a special orthopedic pillow during sleep. This fixation helps combat abnormal curvature of the cervical spine.

Acupuncture.

This treatment method is used in the presence of pain, sensory disturbances, especially when there are signs of compression of nerve structures.

• Exercise therapy

. Exercise is an extremely important part and the most effective method of treating cervical spine lordosis. Exercise therapy helps correct poor posture, strengthen muscles and increase the range of motion and flexibility of the cervical spine. Regular neck exercises recommended by a physical therapy doctor help strengthen the neck muscles, and gradually the patient can move the neck without pain. During treatment, the person should avoid lifting heavy objects.

Exercises to treat cervical lordosis can be a great way to reduce pain and improve mobility, but they should be done with caution. Ideally, exercises for the treatment of lordosis of the cervical spine should be selected with a qualified physical therapy doctor.

• Surgery
  . In some cases, surgical treatment may be required to treat cervical spine lordosis. Surgical fixation of the vertebrae (spondylodesis) is used if necessary to eliminate instability of the motion segments of the cervical spine

  Surgical treatment is usually considered as a last resort, since surgery in the cervical spine is quite risky, and after this the patient may change his usual lifestyle.

  For example, spinal fusion makes it more difficult to turn the head and can increase these patients' vulnerability to injury as the spine loses some of its flexibility and elasticity.

Types and stages of intervertebral hernias in the neck

We told you that discs can be pre-herniated and truly herniated. At the stage of protrusion in the cervical region, the cartilaginous layer is considered small up to 0.2 cm and corresponds to stage 1 of the pathology. Protrusions exceeding 0.2 cm are classified as medium and large sizes (2, 3, 4 degrees). So, let's give a more precise description of each stage.

• Stage 1 – the integrity of the disc is preserved, the size of the bulge is up to 2 mm inclusive.
• Stage 2 – moderate severity, the integrity of the fibrous ring is compromised, the protrusion is increased from 2 mm to 4 mm.
• Stage 3 – severe, the ring is torn, the disc displacement is strong, equal to 4-6 mm.
• Stage 4 (extrusion or sequestration) – a critically severe degree of deformation, which can end in sequestration at any time. The size of the hernia at this stage is > 6 mm, and can reach up to 8 mm or more.

Sequestration is the most dangerous form of the disease, when a sagging cartilage fragment is completely torn off from the disc with a piece of dead cartilage entering the spinal space. Such pathogenesis can, in a short period of time, cause serious irreversible damage to the nerve, including its death, which leads to paralysis.

In general, all disc prolapses at the level of the neck, which are greater than 4-6 mm in volume, are considered clinically extremely unfavorable, since they seriously impair cerebral circulation, depress and disrupt the unity of the two main parts of the central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord.

Unacceptably large sizes (> 4 mm) in this section are associated with the highest risks of partial/complete immobilization of the arms and legs, as well as paralysis of the torso from the affected area and below. In addition to paresis and paralysis, severe dysfunction of the genitourinary and reproductive organs develops with high frequency.

CT slice.

The species diversity of such disc lesions in the cervical region is similar to lumbar and thoracic hernial protrusions. The pathological focus is classified according to its location (direction) relative to the spinal canal and vertebral bodies. According to this criterion, the following types of hernias are distinguished:

• lateral, or lateral – located strictly on the sides of the vertebral bodies;
• anterior, or ventral - grow anteriorly, that is, oriented in the opposite direction from the spinal canal (less dangerous view);
• posterior, or median – the protruding component faces clearly towards the center of the spinal canal (the most dangerous form);
• posterolateral, or paramedian - the deformed element is tilted several degrees away from the median axis leading directly into the spinal canal.

The share of lateral and posterolateral localizations is approximately 85%, median and ventral – 15%. Unfortunately, the relatively favorable location of the neck hernia - anterior - is the least common (5%) among patients.

Advantages of treatment at Top Ikhilov

1. Qualified doctors with extensive experience.
2. Advanced medical equipment for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of spinal diseases.
3. Minimally invasive and robotic spine surgeries, after which patients recover in a matter of days.
4. Loyal pricing policy, the possibility of stage-by-stage payment for each service performed.
5. Extensive experience working with foreign patients. Availability of an international department and a staff of professional translators (if necessary).
6. Accompanying a foreign patient at all stages of diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
7. The opportunity to combine treatment with a holiday in Israel.

1. 5
2. 4
3. 3
4. 2
5. 1

(10 votes, average: 3.7 out of 5)

Symptoms and pain with a cervical hernia

A pathological focus within the cervical spine is usually accompanied by local pain in everyone, which can radiate to certain parts of the body innervated by the cervical-vertebral nerves. The pain, depending on how advanced the hernia is, can be unbearable or moderately tolerable. In addition, it can be either shooting, burning or aching. The symptomatic spectrum is quite diverse, patients mainly complain of:

• acute painful syndrome in the neck and collar area, aggravated by turning and tilting the head;
• stiffness of movement, crunching in the neck, tension in the neck muscles;
• frequent dizziness and intense headaches, mostly one-sided in the back of the head;
• pain and paresthesia in the form of crawling goosebumps, tingling, numbness, other unnatural signs in the hands (mostly in the wrists, fingers, forearm);
• weakness, paresis of one of the upper limbs, difficulty raising the arm up;
• pain in the shoulder, in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, diaphragm, and occasionally in the leg;
• pain, numbness in one half of the face;
• discomfort and noise in the ears;
• hoarseness, feeling of soreness and foreign body in the throat;
• spots before the eyes, decreased visual acuity and blurred vision, other visual disorders;
• vestibular disorders, for example, unsteadiness, unsteadiness of gait;
• poor memory ability, absent-mindedness, increased fatigue;
• irritability, depressed mood, depression;
• light sleep or insomnia;
• surges in blood pressure, more often blood pressure tends to increase in severe pathogenesis with compression of the cervical artery that supplies the brain.

The pathology in most people provokes excruciating pain, which in dominant cases appears in the upper back, arms and head.

Treatment

Massage pillow for neck and shoulders

Doctors do not recommend getting rid of salt deposits on your own; you must undergo an examination and consult a specialist. Otherwise, you can seriously harm your health. The course of treatment will be prescribed depending on the characteristics of the condition of a particular organism and the course of the disease.

Self-medication in this case is unacceptable

The following methods are used as traditional methods of treatment in the presence of salt deposits.

1. Massage, which allows you to improve the speed of metabolic processes, make it possible to make the neck more mobile, and improve the blood supply. You should seek help from an experienced professional who knows a lot about therapeutic massage techniques. An incorrectly performed massage can cause harm.

   
   Therapeutic neck massage

2. Therapeutic exercise will strengthen the muscles in the neck, thereby reducing the load on the spinal column, and also makes it possible to improve blood supply.
3. Physiotherapy procedures , such as electrophoresis, will make it possible to soften deposits and speed up the process of removing salts from the body.
4. Surgical intervention is used only in extreme cases in the presence of a formed vertebral hernia or pinched nerves and blood vessels.
5. Medications are recommended to eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. Your doctor may recommend muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain relievers. Also, do not forget about vitamin complexes.

Muscle relaxants

Attention! The earlier the pathology is detected in the patient, the more effective the treatment will be. In the early stages, almost any disease can be overcome with minimal loss of time and virtually no discomfort.

It is important for a person who has salt deposits in the neck to reconsider their diet and physical activity. So, it is important to reduce the amount of protein consumed, exclude spicy and salty, as well as fried and fatty foods from the menu. It is advisable to avoid all types of offal. It is also not recommended to eat sauces, salted or pickled preparations, or puff pastry during the treatment period. The best food option is fresh vegetables without heat treatment.

You should avoid by-products

Advice! For faster absorption of food, the patient is not recommended to drink any drinks immediately after eating.

Diagnosis of the cervical spine

When a patient comes to the clinic, the neurologist first collects and analyzes the patient’s medical history. This is followed by testing of the spinal cord using special non-hardware tactics for examining the spine. Non-hardware diagnostics are based on neurological tests, which involve checking the problem area of ​​the back using motor and palpation techniques, thereby establishing:

• presence and degree of neurological deficit;
• dependence and nature of the pain syndrome when performing certain movements of the neck, limbs, etc.;
• the consistency of the reflex response and the volume of amplitude of movements of the cervical level in various physiological directions;
• impaired sensitivity in areas of the body associated with SHO (hands, facial area, etc.).

Based on complaints and neurological tests, a specialist can make a preliminary diagnosis, and during the initial examination. But treatment will not be prescribed until suspicions of a hernia are confirmed by the results of hardware imaging. The generally established diagnostic standard for the purpose of detecting pathology and obtaining reliable detailed information about the clinic of hernial protrusion is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using volumetric layer-by-layer MRI images in different projections, as a rule, facts about:

• the development and degree of structural changes in the intervertebral discs at any stage;
• localization of the damaged fibrocartilaginous lining, and in the case of sequestration - the number and location of sequestration;
• the specifics of the growth of the bulge (direction vector);
• exact dimensions of the formation down to a millimeter;
• the presence and severity of pinching, compression of components of nerve nodes, arteries, spinal canal and spinal cord;
• intra- and paravertebral edema, inflammation, atrophy;
• condition of muscle tissue, ligaments, tendons, intervertebral joints;
• presence/absence of concomitant diseases on the examined part of the spinal column - stenosis, arthrosis, tumors, blood supply problems, etc.

X-ray does not fully reflect the clinical picture, since it visualizes only the outlines and position of the bone elements of the spine, the distance between the vertebrae, and osteophytes. X-rays do not show soft tissues, which include cervical discs, spinal cord, nerve plexuses, vascular and musculo-ligamentous structures. The slice-by-slice computed tomography method, although it involves the use of more advanced radioactive technologies than conventional x-rays, is also not informative enough in terms of the value of the obtained clinical signs in the diagnosis of this disease.

No conclusion is made about a cervical hernia based on X-ray or CT images alone; these are two auxiliary tactics, the advisability of which in each case is determined individually. Only MRI can thoroughly examine the problem area. Magnetic resonance imaging also has a significant advantage - it works on the phenomena of nuclear magnetic resonance and, unlike devices with ionizing radiation, does not have a negative effect on the human body.

Causes of cervical spondylosis

The bones and cartilage in the neck are prone to wear and tear, which can lead to the development of cervical spondylosis. The most likely causes of the condition:

• Bone spines (osteophytes)

These bone growths are the result of the body responding to increased stress by trying to increase the amount of bone tissue in order to strengthen the spine. However, additional bone formations can put pressure on the nerve structures with the formation of pain.

• Disc degeneration

Between the vertebral bones are discs, which are thick pads that absorb force vectors from lifting, twisting, and other activities. The material inside these discs may dry out over time. This causes the bony surfaces of the vertebrae to touch when moving, which can become a source of pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, degeneration typically begins around age 40.

• Herniated disc

Intervertebral discs can develop cracks, allowing the disc's cushioning material to leak. Bulging discs can cause compression on the roots or spinal cord with the development of certain neurological symptoms (pain, sensory disturbances, muscle weakness).

• Injury

If the patient has had neck injuries, for example, whiplash during an accident, this accelerates degenerative processes.

• Ligament compaction

The tight ligaments that connect the vertebral bones to each other can become even stiffer over time, affecting the mobility of the movement segments of the neck.

• Excessive load

Some professions or hobbies involve repetitive movements or heavy lifting.

The truth about treatment: analysis of the effectiveness of all tactics

Do medications help?

In the acute period, doctors prescribe medications for pain, inflammation and swelling for local and internal use to relieve painful manifestations of the disease. The basis of such drug therapy is NSAIDs:

• Indomethacin;
• Ibuprofen;
• Meloxicam;
• Diclofenac.

In addition to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain, specialists prescribe medications from a series of analgesics:

• Analgin;
• Spasmalgon;
• Ketorol.

If the clinical picture is aggravated by muscle hypertonicity, muscle relaxants are recommended to relax the spasmodic muscle structures. Among the most used muscle relaxants are Mydocalm and Siralud.

With constant debilitating pain, which NSAIDs and analgesics cannot cope with, a transition to treatment with strong hormonal or anesthetic drugs is carried out. These include glucocorticosteroids, lidocaine and novocaine. Using powerful hormone-containing and anesthetic agents, only as prescribed by a doctor in specialized conditions, the patient is given a course of spinal blockades. In the very near future, a person with such a critically unsafe diagnosis needs to undergo surgery.

All of the listed drugs act purely symptomatically: there will be no effect in terms of reducing the hernia component. In fact, they only temporarily relieve pain by blocking the transmission of nerve-pain impulses in the problem area. They also have a moderate anti-inflammatory effect. All intervertebral deformations and degenerations still do not disappear.

Note that limiting yourself only to drug therapy, even if it helps to get rid of pain, is the height of recklessness. With this approach, a hernia of the cervical spine will soon remind itself, and next time in a more vivid manifestation. But the worst thing is that, living only on painkillers, intervertebral pathogenesis will actively progress, increasing the risk of disability more and more every day.

Achieving stable remission through a drug regimen in complex combination with other conservative methods, as observations show, is not always achievable. If the initially prescribed complex treatment for 3 months, maximum 6 months, does not lead to tangible and lasting improvements, the patient is recommended to undergo surgery.

Long-term internal use of pain medications or their injection method is fraught with the development of side effects - stomach ulcers, liver and kidney diseases, hematopoietic and immune systems. External agents - gels, creams, ointments - have less negative reactions. But in terms of the strength of the analgesic effect they provide, they are significantly inferior to oral medications and injections.

It is impossible not to say a few words about popular chondroprotectors, the action of which is aimed at improving metabolism and activating nutrition in osteochondral structures. Remember, their benefits have been clinically confirmed exclusively for osteochondrosis that has not developed into a cervical hernia. It is acceptable to use such drugs for small protusions as a preventive measure for further degeneration of the cervical intervertebral disc. But! When hernia has already occurred, chondroprotectors are ineffective or “don’t work” at all. When a global restructuring of the disk contents into an irreversible (!) non-viable state has already occurred, they do not provide any therapeutic or prophylactic benefit.

The effect of gymnastic exercises

Of course, it will not be possible to get rid of the disease through special gymnastic exercises for the neck. Exercise, even the best, is not able to “retract” the fallen pulpous element back or destroy it without a trace, or “patch” the gap in the fibrous ring. This can only be accomplished during surgical treatment.

However, exercise therapy has been proven to improve well-being and, importantly, prevent the development of atrophy of the muscles of the cervical and cervicothoracic complex and upper extremities. Let us immediately emphasize that the productivity of LH action is significantly reduced in the penultimate and final stages of the hernia. Still, unique physical training makes the greatest contribution to the restoration of musculoskeletal potential after surgical repair of a hernia. In general, the effect of physical therapy both during conservative therapy and at the time of postoperative rehabilitation is due to:

• stimulation of blood circulation;
• activation of metabolic processes;
• increasing the production of nutrients necessary to maintain the functions of the spinal structure;
• strengthening and increasing endurance of the neck muscles;
• correct, gentle development of motor and support functions of the neck;
• increasing the distance between the vertebrae, which helps prevent or reduce radicular/vascular compression.

But in order to really benefit from gymnastics, you need to get a training program from a specialist that is specially designed just for you, taking into account all the characteristics of the clinical picture on MRI. Plus, indicators of age and body weight, level of physical fitness, and associated health problems are taken into account.

It is advisable to take the first course in a physical therapy room under the supervision of a professional instructor in order to thoroughly understand and hone the technique of each individual exercise. When performing training, it is important to follow 5 rules:

1. Regularity of exercise therapy.
2. Gradual increase in load.
3. Smooth and accurate movements of the cervical spine.
4. Complete abolition of physical exercise if the slightest pain or changes in sensitivity appear in any part of the body.
5. Based on point No. 5, urgently contact a treating specialist so that he can conduct a high-quality examination and make adjustments to the therapeutic exercise plan.

Taking and applying any physical activity on your own from the Internet, at random, or on the advice of other patients is highly not recommended! In the acute phase, exercise therapy is contraindicated! If you neglect these rules, the likelihood of achieving disastrous results is too high. Consequences of an illiterate campaign - exacerbation of symptoms of hernia SHO

, increased frequency of relapses, progression of disc displacement, even greater reduction of the spinal lumen, compression and death of nerve endings, damage to the spinal cord/brain, compression and narrowing of the cervical arteries, separation of the hernial sequestrum. As a result, the deadline for the operation will not move away, but will noticeably get closer.

Treatment for a lump on the neck

Having discovered a lump on the neck, it is better not to put off the examination indefinitely in order to rule out a spinal cord tumor and get rid of it in a short time. It’s better to contact a specialist and get the necessary tests done right away, without delay.

Having found out the cause, you need to start treatment. The sooner you start treatment, the faster the results will be.

If the cause is osteochondrosis, then you need to go swimming, preferably on your back. It is also recommended to walk more and undergo a massage course twice a year. The bed must have an orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow. See here how to choose a pillow for cervical osteochondrosis. Or at least the base of the bed should be hard and the pillow should be low. If you follow all these recommendations together, the lump on your neck will soon disappear. But the first step is to find out and remove the cause of osteochondrosis.

If the reason is improper functioning of the adrenal glands. Here the lump can only be removed surgically and fixed with medication.

If the lump is caused by strenuous activities in the gym, then it will be extremely difficult to get rid of it. The first step is to reduce the load on the body, because... Muscle mass is more difficult to remove than fat mass. And you need to take a massage course. Also, yoga classes give good results, but you need to practice with an experienced master.

If the reason is lipoma and atheroma, then they can only be removed with the help of a special operation. Or surgically, cutting the skin tissue, but in this case, a scar remains. Or laser, where the lump is opened and the contents are processed; this type of operation does not leave scars. Or radio wave surgery, where pus is removed using radio waves. It is painless and leaves no scars.

If the cause is an infectious disease, they undergo a special drug course of treatment. Along with this, they restore their immunity and take vitamins.

Impact of massage

The leading function of massage is to create a trophic effect. This means that massage techniques make it possible to increase blood circulation in the area of ​​interest, ensure better lymph outflow and the supply of necessary metabolites and oxygen to tissue cells. Another goal of massage is to prevent atrophic phenomena in muscle structures and reduce intradiscal compression. However, we note that in no way can special techniques for massaging the cervical-collar area eliminate the hernia and reduce its volume.

This type of treatment is recommended strictly according to indications, since it is not equally useful for all types of hernias. It is prescribed especially with caution for medium and large protrusions, nerve pinching in the projections of the neck. Such manipulations in a neglected, complicated clinic can give a completely opposite effect, since it is easy to turn a large hernial mass in an unfavorable direction using this method of influence. Therefore, before prescribing a massage, the doctor must weigh the pros and cons.

At the beginning of the development of a hernia, massage can serve as an excellent measure to prevent the progression of degenerative-dystrophic pathogenesis in a still slightly changed disc. But we emphasize that massage techniques, if the doctor gives the go-ahead for them, should be carried out by a good massage therapist from the neurology department. And, finally, this is an auxiliary treatment tactic, which makes sense to use purely in conjunction with other basic treatment programs.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the cervical spine in Israel takes 3 days. During this time, doctors manage to establish a diagnosis and prescribe a set of treatment measures.

First day – consultation with a doctor

Diagnosis of any disease in Top Ikhilov begins with a consultation with the attending physician. It is noteworthy that you can get a second opinion from an Israeli specialist without visiting Israel. To do this, you will need to send diagnostic data to our clinic, after which you will be scheduled for a video consultation with our doctor. If after the video consultation you decide to be treated in our clinic, then the initial in-person consultation will be free for you.

During the initial examination, the doctor examines medical documents in detail, asks the patient about the symptoms of the disease and examines the patient. Then the doctor refers the patient to undergo instrumental examinations of the cervical spine.

Second day – instrumental diagnostics

• X-ray studies of the cervical spine.
• CT and MRI.
• Myelography.
• Electromyography.
• Electroneurography.
• Other research methods.

Third day – doctors’ conclusions

On the third day of diagnostic activities, an expert group of doctors Top Ichilov studies the diagnostic data in detail, establishes an accurate diagnosis and determines the treatment tactics for cervical osteophytes.

Cervical physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures also do not treat a hernia, but fight its symptom complex according to approximately the same principle as massage and exercise therapy. The goal of standard physiotherapy sessions (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser and ultrasound therapy) is to reduce swelling around the affected intervertebral disc, promote blood flow to the weak area, and relieve muscle strain.

If this goal is fully achieved, the patient feels much better after a course of physical therapy, noting an increase in the range of motion in the neck, a persistent disappearance or reduction in pain and other previously disturbing signs. But, according to clinical studies, the effect of physiotherapy is noted by only 50% of patients with this diagnosis. In some cases (up to 40%, as a rule, with stage 3-4 pathology), on the contrary, after treatment with physiotherapy, a deterioration in well-being is observed.

Rehabilitation after surgery

After spinal surgery, the patient must remain in the hospital. The duration of hospitalization depends on the type of operation and the nature of the postoperative period. On average, discharge is carried out in 3-7 days. Patients are necessarily prescribed drug therapy, exercise therapy, and sometimes physiotherapy. It is also necessary to limit physical activity, especially when performing a laminectomy.

Thus, spinal exostoses are a rare but quite dangerous disease. It can be asymptomatic or can lead to dangerous complications. Therefore, if they are identified, you should immediately contact an orthopedic traumatologist to assess the degree of risk and select adequate treatment tactics.

Complications and consequences of the disease

The cervical region is the narrowest part of the spinal system, in which the largest arteriovascular highway passes. The department includes the largest arteries - the left, right vertebral and basilar, each of which forms up to 6 groups of vascular branches.

In the back of the neck there is also an important cervical nerve bundle (node), which consists of the hypoglossal, lesser occipital, greater auditory, transverse, and supraclavicular nerves.

Thus, even slight deformations of the disc, displacement of the vertebrae in an overly narrow area, densely penetrated by nerves and blood vessels, can cause a real catastrophe:

• clamping of arteries and nerve roots, constant severe pain;
• blocking the circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid between the spinal cord and brain with severe cerebro-vertebral signs;
• neurotic nature of auditory and visual disturbances, frequent loss of consciousness, coordination disorders;
• serious dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, fecal incontinence), urinary system (uncontrolled urination) and genital organs (impotence, frigidity, infertility);
• muscle weakness of the arms, including complete or partial paralysis;
• depression of respiratory functions due to severe damage to the spinal substance and nerve nodes, up to the cessation of breathing;
• insufficient blood supply to the brain, which can lead to cerebral ischemia and stroke.