Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic pathology. If left untreated, it progresses rapidly, causing an increase in symptoms. During the course of the disease, the stages of remission are replaced by relapses, in which the conditionthe person is significantly deteriorating. He suffers from sharp, sharp and sharp pains, cervical spine stiffness, dizziness, sudden rises in blood pressure, and headaches. With exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis. insufficient intake of painkillers. It is necessary to act on the causes of clinical manifestations: muscle spasm, displacement of intervertebral discs and vertebrae, compression of muscle roots and blood vessels due to bone growths.
After the diagnosis, the vertebrologist will elaborate a therapeutic scheme. To transfer cervical osteochondrosis to the stage of stable remission, drugs of various clinical and pharmacological groups, physiotherapeutic procedures, sparing therapeutics. gymnastics.
Reasons for relapse
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In most cases, there are no symptoms preceding exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis. The person feels great, participates in daily activities, plans things for the near future. Suddenly there is a sharp, penetrating pain, for the elimination of which it is urgent to take a comfortable horizontal position of the body. This allows you to briefly reduce the severity of the pain before visiting a doctor. Only in 15-20% of cases, before exacerbation, there are weak uncomfortable sensations: pain, drawing pains, "goose bumps", numbness of the back of the neck, shoulders, and sometimes forearms. Due to the already impaired blood circulation in the cervical spine and brain, weakness, apathy, mental and physical performance appear.
Cervicago, or cervical lumbago, occurs after a few hours or days. A person experiences such severe pain that when visiting a doctor, one of the questions that interest him is the possibility of preventing a relapse. To prevent exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to know the reasons for its occurrence:
- being in a stressful environment for a long time. People who acutely experience even ordinary everyday conflicts often suffer from various chronic pathologies, including diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Negative emotions negatively affect the functioning of all vital systems. In patients with cervical osteochondrosis, they cause muscle spasms, circulatory disorders in the brain, neck and back of the head;
- continuous static and dynamic loads. A long stay at a computer, a typewriter, a microscope leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to cartilage tissues with oxygen, nutrients and biologically active substances. With osteochondrosis, 2 3 degrees of severity, several hours are enough for a relapse. Sleeping in an uncomfortable position on a too soft mattress or pillow also leads to this;
- jerky neck movements. Unintentional head turning or tilting can lead to displacement of the discs and vertebrae, compression of nerve roots or blood vessels by bone growths;
- hypothermia, a sudden change in the climate zone. Vertebrates note that most often patients with exacerbations of osteochondrosis turn to them in the fall or spring. During the low season, relapses cause a decrease in temperature. It happens in the autumn for natural reasons, and in the spring, due to the desire to quickly get rid of warm and heavy clothes;
- respiratory, intestinal, urogenital infections, exacerbations of any chronic disease. In this case, a sharp decrease in immunity becomes the cause of recurrence of cervical pathology.
Additionally, osteochondrosis is exacerbated by improperly performed massages, weight lifting, and excessive physical activity. The onset of relapse occurs very often as a result of non-compliance with medical recommendations regarding nutrition, drinking. mode, medication.
Clinical presentation
The methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical or cervicothoracic spine depend on the severity of your symptoms. They are not as intense in pathology of 1, 2 degrees, when a small amount of cartilage tissue is damaged. And for osteochondrosisin 3 or 4 stages, acute clinical manifestations are characteristic, provoked by several negative factors at once. The cartilaginous intervertebral discs have lost their cushioning properties and the distance between the vertebrae has decreased significantly. Thus, with a sharp displacement of the vertebra, nerves and blood vessels can be squeezed simultaneously. Treatment is carried out by the vertebrologist, taking into account the following symptoms of an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Shooting, stabbing, aching, or drawing pains in the cervicobrachial or thoracic region;
- radiating pain to the back of the head, arms, forearms, shoulders, chest;
- persistent or paroxysmal pain syndrome;
- increased pain during movement, shoulder rotation, arm lift.
Pain in the neck and shoulders is one of the signs of an aggravated pathology.
When examining a patient, the vertebrologist reveals signs of muscle spasm, pain in the paravertebral points, stiffness of movements, and smoothness of physiological lordosis. An unnatural position of the human body also allows one to suspect an aggravation. Forcefully lift your neck, turn your whole body to the side to reduce the intensity of pain. Osteochondrosis of moderate and high severity is manifested by neurological disorders as a result of damage to the sensory, motor organs, vegetative functional structures. For example, when the roots of the spine are squeezed, there are sensations of "chills", the skin of the forearms and the occipital region loses sensitivity, it becomes pale and cold to the touch. Patients complain of arm weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, decreased vision and / or hearing.
Visual impairment almost always accompanies an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.
Recurrence of cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself in psycho-emotional instability, insomnia, high blood pressure, and sometimes syncope - short-term fainting that occurs with sudden movements of the neck.
First aid for relapse
The pain that occurs during a relapse is so acute that a person simply freezes in place, fearful of making an unnecessary movement. It should calm down, preferably on a hard surface. Place a flat pillow or a folded pillow under your back. a blanket so that the patient feels comfortable and the intensity of the pain syndrome decreases.
Now it is necessary to call the ambulance team. The fact is that in some cases, with an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, a person cannot swallow a pill. Doctors who come to the call will inject a pain reliever solution intramuscularly or intravenously. If necessary, they also use means to restore cerebral circulation or hospitalize a person for further treatment in a hospital setting.
Transporting the patient to the hospital.
While the ambulance is on the way, the patient should feel better. How to relieve exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- if swallowing functions are preserved, administer an anesthetic tablet;
- Gently rubbing the pain relief gels will help reduce pain;
- The patient should not be allowed to stand or bend over, as their coordination of movements may be impaired.
Before the arrival of the doctor, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate: use warming agents, massage the neck to relieve muscle spasm. If an attack of osteochondrosis is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the paravertebral structures, then such events will provoke the development of irreversible complications.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the acute stage
Treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis begins with elimination of the main symptom - sharp throbbing pain. The vertebrologist may prescribe intramuscular administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The use of medication blocks with hormonal drugs is practiced. Glucocorticosteroid solutions are injected along with anesthetics into the area of the vertebrae or strangulated spinal root. After removal of severe pain, therapy continues with tablets or topical agents.
How the treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis continues at home:
- taking NSAIDs in tablets, capsules, pills for 5-7 days. The drugs must be combined with proton pump inhibitors to prevent ulceration of the gastric mucosa. If this recommendation is neglected, after cupping an attack of osteochondrosis, hyperacid gastritis should be treated;
- use of NSAIDs in the form of gels, ointments, creams from the first day of treatment for 7-10 days. The funds should be applied in a thin layer to the area of pain 2-3 times a day and rubbed lightly;
- use of heating agents. After the inflammation has ceased, around the third day of therapy, doctors prescribe agents with a warming effect to improve blood circulation and stimulate regeneration. They are rubbed in a small amount 1-3 once a day. Transdermal products, such as the pepper patch, can help you cope with pain;
- intake or parenteral administration of muscle relaxants. They have analgesic effects. eliminating muscle spasm, usually caused by compression of nerve endings.
What else to do with an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, what drugs to take or perform medical procedures, decides the vertebrologist. If the patient did not use chondroprotectants before relapse, they should be prescribed from the first days of therapy. drugs that stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue. To accelerate the restoration of all functions of the cervical spine, intramuscular injection of chondroprotectors will be allowed.
The use of B vitamins will significantly accelerate the patient's recovery. Pyridoxine, thiamine, cyanocobalamin, nicotinamide, riboflavin improve innervation in the area of damaged discs and vertebrae, stabilize the center and the vegetative. nervous system.
Non-drug therapy
For 3-4 days of treatment, the patient is shown bed rest. Dynamic loads on all parts of the column are excluded. For several hours or all day, patients are advised to wear a Shants collar, the required height to be determined by the doctor. Wearing a brace helps reduce the load on the cervical vertebrae, prevents increased pain.
Shants collar fixes cervical vertebrae.
Nutrition for cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation should be fractionated - 5-6 times a day. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods high in salt or spices. Its use causes fluid retention in the body and increased swelling. Nutritionists recommend eating more fruits, cereals, fresh vegetable salads.
In a severe relapse, the innervation of some parts of the body is disturbed due to nerve damage. And compression of the spinal cord becomes the cause of conduction disorders: para and tetraparesis of the hands, internal organs dysfunction. Therefore, doctors do not strongly recommend to independently eliminate the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, drowning the pain with pills. Only properly performed therapy will help avoid the dangerous consequences of a chronic relapse. pathology.
How to forget joint pain and osteochondrosis?
- Joint pain limits your movement and your full life. . .
- You're worried about the discomfort, creaking, and systematic pain. . .
- You may have tried a lot of medications, creams, and ointments. . .
- But judging by the fact that you're reading these lines, they didn't help you much. . .
The term "osteochondrosis" characterizes the destructive processes that occur in one or another part of the human musculoskeletal system.
In some patients, this disease affects the joints of the extremities, but with a 95% probability, the osteochondrosis is localized in some part of the spine.
The spine is the main axis of the human body, performs many important functions, and is an almost irreplaceable element of the musculoskeletal system.
Violation of the structure of any part of the spine can have irreversible consequences and seriously worsen the patient's quality of life.
Osteochondrosis of the spine can affect one of the three sections of the spine: cervical, thoracic or lumbar, and can also be localized in several sections.
The disease of each of the sections of the spine has its own characteristics of the course and individual symptoms, as well as some nuances in the tactics of treatment of osteochondrosis.
How does cervical osteochondrosis develop?
According to the changes in the structures of the spine, patient complaints and treatment methods, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is classified into 3 stages of the course.
Stage 1
Swelling of the cervical spine
This grade rarely has a clinically expressed image, some patients complain of:
- Recurring headaches;
- Discomfort in the neck and occiput.
The changes that occur at this stage of the disease affect some vertebrae and intervertebral discs, the elasticity of the fibrous ring decreases and there is a slight compression of the spinal nerve roots
Stage 2
The degeneration of the spinal structures is more pronounced, the intervertebral discs are practically incapable of carrying out their functions, there is pressure on the nervous processes and blood vessels, this causes the symptoms of the disease.
Patients report frequent headaches, dizziness, decreased performance. At this stage, most calls for qualified medical attention occur, but some spinal injuries are already irreversible.
Stage 3
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine reaches its peak. Massive injuries to the bone and ligament apparatus.
Solid clinical picture:
- Severe headaches;
- Nausea, lack of coordination;
- Trouble sleeping;
- Visual and auditory disorders.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and stages of remission (calm).
The exacerbation of the disease is a stage of the chronic course, in which there is a manifestation of symptoms of the disease, deterioration of the patient's well-being.
The remission stage is a period that occurs after treatment or on its own, characterized by an imperceptible course of the disease without a pronounced clinical picture.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in the second and third stages is reduced to minimizing the phases of exacerbation and prolonging the period of remission.
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Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Performing competent treatment, physiotherapy, gymnastic exercises, proper nutrition and a lifestyle help the body in the fight against osteochondrosis and can increase the time of remission of the disease.
Various reasons can provoke a sudden exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, causing a recurrence of the symptoms of the disease.
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The frequency, duration and intensity of the exacerbation periods are individual and depend on the cause of the onset, the presence or absence of treatment, as well as the personal characteristics of the organism, its compensatory and adaptive properties.
Causes of exacerbations
Spinal degeneration leads to cervical osteochondrosis
It is quite difficult to perform laboratory tests that allow to reliably determine the factor that provoked the manifestation of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine.
The list of reasons is based on long-term observations by orthopedic doctors and neurologists for patients, a comprehensive analysis of possible predisposing factors, after which patients noted a deterioration in well-being.
The causes of exacerbations can be exogenous and endogenous, caused by the influence of the inside of the body or the outside.
Endogenous causes include progressive degeneration of the spine and weakening of the compensatory and adaptive properties of the body.
Among the exogenous factors, the following are more likely to cause an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis:
- The presence of an inappropriate load on the spine or a change in the predominant posture (lifting weights, doing strength sports, changing the type of activity);
- Stress, nervous concussions;
- Undergoing a session or course of manual therapy by an incompetent person;
- Seasonality (revealed a large number of exacerbations of cervical spine disease in autumn);
- Hormonal shakes (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause);
- Diseases that weaken the body (respiratory viral infections, infectious diseases, periods of exacerbation of other chronic ailments);
- Rapid weight gain.
How to determine that osteochondrosis has worsened?
An exacerbation of the disease is evidenced by the presence of discomfort in the neck and head, a deterioration in general health.
Sometimes the exacerbation stage begins with lightning speed, with severe pain in the head.
In 70% of cases, a rapid exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis can be predicted: the patient notices a feeling of heaviness or a dull pain in the back of the neck, the complaints intensify in the morning.
The presence of predisposing factors in the context of the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease confirms the version about the exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
All kinds of symptoms during exacerbation
The symptoms that occur during the exacerbation of a chronic spinal disease largely coincide with the general symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The most common symptom of an exacerbation is pain.
The intensity, nature and location can be varied: pain in the neck or one of its parts, headache in the occiput, parietal tubercles, pain in the clavicle, shoulder.
Dangerous manifestations of pain can be symptoms similar to those of myocardial infarction:
- Scapula pain;
- Chest pain;
- Pain in the left limb.
Some patients report painful sensations only when moving their head or arm at the shoulder joint.
Exacerbation of chronic cervical osteochondrosis can cause a number of neurological symptoms, if present, it is necessary to examine the patient carefullyto exclude more serious pathologies:
- Sleep, concentration, memory disorders;
- Loss of coordination, loss of balance, fainting;
- Sensation of flies in front of the eyes, goose bumps, buzzing in the ears;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea until vomiting;
- Violation of diction;
- Decreased or increased sensitivity of the arm, shoulder blades, neck.
The presence of these symptoms cannot be ignored. The effect of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine on the blood vessels supplying the brain can lead to the most dangerous complication of cervical osteochondrosis - stroke.
How long does the aggravation last?
The duration of the exacerbation stage may vary depending on the season (in the cold season, the activation of osteochondrosis may take longer and be more painful), the reasons that caused the resumption of the symptoms of spinal disease, individual characteristics of the patient's body and the treatment provided.
Experts call the following time periodsstages of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Severe symptoms - up to 1 week, more often - 4-5 days;
- Retention of some discomfort in the affected area, headaches - up to 3 weeks after relief of severe attacks;
- The general period of exacerbation is considered standard: about 1 to 1. 5 months.
Aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis during pregnancy
The body of a pregnant woman undergoes complex physiological changes, there is a tremendous hormonal surge, a complete redistribution of the body's center of gravity, the absorption and assimilation of minerals and nutrient changes.
These rearrangements have a serious impact on the musculoskeletal system, the spine is subjected to severe stress.
Pregnant women who have a history of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, in 50% of cases, relapse of the disease. This is due to changes in the column.
Symptoms of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis in pregnant women are the same as in all other patients.
Difficulties lie in the selection of a treatment regimen, since when prescribing drugs, it is necessary to take into account the possible effect of the drug on the fetus.
To relieve an exacerbation in pregnant women, ointments that do not penetrate the baby are chosen, in rare cases, with severe pain, complex anesthetic pills or injections are prescribed.
Many pregnant women resort to treatment with non-traditional methods, recipes of traditional medicine, which are gentler on the fetus.
What to do in case of exacerbation?
If you have symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, do not put off visiting an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist.
Only a specialist can fully assess the patient's condition, the reasons that led to the aggravation of the disease, as well as prescribe the correct, safe and effective treatment.
Before visiting a doctor, try to avoid stress on the affected spine.
In the absence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or individual intolerance, you can take a pill of an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory drug.
In case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosisit is prohibited:
- Warming the neck or the back of the head in a bath, using hot compresses or other methods;
- Receive massage sessions;
- Self-healing.
Methods for the treatment of acute cervical osteochondrosis
Pharmacological treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis aims to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and early restore the patient's well-being and performance.
The table shows the main methods of treatment of cervical spine diseases, indicating the most common drugs.
Before using any of the drugs on the list, consult your doctor.
| Drug group | Target destination |
|---|---|
| Analgesics / NSAIDs | Pain relief, reduction of inflammation in the affected area |
| Muscle relaxants | Muscle Spasm Relief |
| Diuretics | Reduce swelling in inflamed spine and reduce pressure on nerve roots |
| Chondroprotectors | Rebuilding column structures |
| Vitamins | Improved metabolism, chemical reactions |
| Nootropics | Restore the conduction of nerve impulses throughout the nervous processes |
A visit to a qualified osteopath in the acute stage will "release" the restricted nervous process and alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease.
How else can an exacerbation be alleviated at home?
If visiting a doctor at this time is impossible, there are several recipes on how to slightly alleviate the condition of a patient with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine before providing medical care:
- Take a warm and relaxing shower;
- Roll up the neck with a natural wool garment;
- Apply herbal compresses to the affected area. For these purposes, use onions, sage, mint;
- Prepare 1: 1 Mummy Butter and Ointment.