Symptoms
Everyone could feel the signs of such a disease. If they interfere with your activities, then it would not be superfluous to consult a doctor. You may need to take an x-ray of your spine. The only question is when to see a doctor? This should be done if any of the symptoms are present:
- noise in ears,
- numbness of the tongue,
- morning sensation of “tracking” of the neck,
- pain in the arms, worsening even with light exertion,
- pain in the neck, extending to the ears, eyes and back of the head; may not stop even at night,
- headache starting in the back of the head and spreading to the temples,
- pain in the heart area that is not relieved by nitroglycerin,
- decreased hearing and visual acuity,
- a sharp turn of the head is accompanied by fainting, darkening of the eyes, dizziness,
- tingling, burning, numbness in the legs and arms,
- weakening of muscle strength in the arms.
The cervical region is the most vulnerable part of the spine. This is caused by the structure and weakness of the muscle corset in the neck area. Bottom line: Even a small load can cause vertebral displacement, leading to compression of nerves and blood vessels. The danger of this process is that vessels involved in the blood supply to the brain pass through this area. Therefore, the consequences of such a disease can be the most severe.
How to safely treat severe headaches during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the load on the spine changes greatly. This causes frequent headaches in women, especially in late pregnancy.
And during this period, expectant mothers are especially cautious and avoid taking even effective headache pills recommended by doctors. And it is right. The best way to get rid of headaches without harm to your baby is head massage and exercises for the spine, many of which are the same as for cervical osteochondrosis.
First aid
Of course, you should first do a spinal x-ray or other test to determine an accurate diagnosis. First, in case of severe pain, you can take a painkiller: “Tempalgin”, “Dolaren”, “Analgin”. If this group of drugs does not help relieve pain, you can take Ibufen, Diclofenac or Nise, but keep in mind that such drugs have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, this can only be an emergency, and then immediately consult a doctor.
You can also apply pain-relieving ointments. It is allowed to take diuretics if swelling appears in the area of inflammation. You can also use a Shants collar, but you should not wear it for a long time.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The disease is multifactorial, that is, it can be caused by many reasons: heredity, deterioration of vascular function, metabolic disorders, etc., but more often they complement each other. One of the main “culprits” is the constant load on the musculoskeletal system.
Risk factors:
- flat feet;
- excess body weight;
- lack of activity;
- improper lifting of weights;
- spinal injuries;
- uncomfortable shoes.
The disease may be associated with structural features of the spinal column or incorrect posture, which puts additional stress on the vertebrae, ligaments, and muscles.
Age-related changes in the body also play a large role in the development of pathology.
Treatment of pain syndrome
Neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital use innovative treatment methods to quickly relieve pain due to osteochondrosis and prevent its transition to the chronic stage. In the first days after the attack, the patient is provided with strict bed rest. To fix the body in the desired position, special orthopedic collars or corsets are used.
For acute and severe attacks of pain, centrally acting analgesics (tramadol) are used, as well as drugs that affect the central mechanisms of pain (benzodiazepines). They promote muscle relaxation, have an anxiolytic effect (reduce anxiety and fear), and improve the patient’s mental state. Additionally, muscle relaxants are prescribed (baclofen, mydocalm or tizanidine). In some cases, pain in osteochondrosis is relieved with anticonvulsants, which have an analgesic effect associated with the influence on the central mechanisms of pain formation. Carbamazepine is most often prescribed for this purpose.
Neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital relieve pain by performing paravertebral blockades with local anesthetics. The main treatment for pain in osteochondrosis today are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of the enzyme responsible for the development of the inflammatory response. Suppression of its production leads to a persistent reduction in inflammation, a decrease in tissue swelling and attenuation of pain. The most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are:
- cake makers;
- nimesulide;
- celecoxib;
- diclofenac;
- ibuprofen.
In the acute stages of the disease, drugs are administered intramuscularly, and later they switch to oral tablets.
Drug therapy for pain due to osteochondrosis at the Yusupov Hospital is complemented by non-drug methods, which include physiotherapeutic procedures, manual therapy and massage, physical therapy and psychotherapy. Neurosurgeons at partner clinics perform surgical interventions in cases of spinal cord compression. The operation consists of removing a herniated intervertebral disc and decompressing the spinal canal. It is possible to perform puncture valorization of the disc, microdiscectomy, laser reconstruction of the disc, stabilization of the spinal segment, and replacement of the affected disc with an implant.
If you have pain, call the Yusupov Hospital. The clinic's neurologists quickly relieve pain and prescribe comprehensive treatment for osteochondrosis.
How to provide first aid for osteochondrosis
Because back pain
When osteochondrosis becomes stronger every time from activity, it is worth creating conditions of maximum rest. A person needs to lie down on a hard surface. A hard orthopedic mattress is best suited for this. If the patient does not have such a mattress, he can lie down on a bed on which a wooden shield is placed, or on the floor with a thick blanket placed on it.
The patient should take a position in bed that will not allow excessive tension on the damaged area of the spinal column. If there is discomfort in the lumbar region, a person should take the most comfortable position possible. For example, pain can be reduced by lying on your stomach and placing a pillow under it, with your upper limbs extended in front of you in this position. In another situation, it will be much more convenient to lie on your back, under which cushions are placed in the lumbar region; they should also be placed under the knees so that the lower limbs are bent at an angle of approximately ninety degrees. Very often, the pain syndrome is reduced if you lie on your side with the lower limbs moved towards the stomach, also with a cushion under the waist.
How to provide rest for other damaged areas of the spine
Several variants:
- In the case where the patient feels an unpleasant lumbago in the neck area, the best option would be to wear a Shants collar, which will limit the activity of the neck and ensure a stationary position. Such a collar will reduce the load on the neck muscles and help improve local blood flow. If a person does not have such a treatment, then a splint made of cotton wool and cardboard, which you can make yourself, can provide temporary fixation.
- If painful sensations cause discomfort in the back area, then it is necessary to ensure rest of the diseased segment. However, if you need to get out of bed, you must first turn over on your side, then bend your knees and carefully lower your legs down without twitching or sudden movements and stand up very slowly. In addition, you can resort to using a cane, crutches and support.
- To relieve pain in the lumbar region, you should wear a belt or bandage. However, in the absence of special equipment, the patient can use a scarf, a sheet, a piece of fabric and use them to secure the chest or lower back.
Local action on the site of injury
Both heat and cold can provide pain relief. One way or another, it is necessary to make a fabric layer between the body and the compress. The main thing is that the cold or heat is balanced, since excessive temperature will lead to even more painful syndrome, swelling of the area and hypothermia. Cold compresses can be applied exclusively on the first day of an exacerbation of the disease.
When providing first aid, you can use ointments and gels against inflammation. In case of severe exacerbation, the use of heating or baking external preparations based on the venom of bees and snakes is prohibited, as they can cause irritation, increase blood flow and cause swelling in the affected area. You should be especially careful when applying ointments to the neck area, as ointments and gels will lead to increased pressure in the arteries.
You should not massage the affected area during a period of particular exacerbation, as this will increase pain and cause a muscle spasm reflex. You need to be as careful as possible if the spine in the neck segment hurts. The vertebrae in the cervical spine are hypermobile with osteochondrosis, which is why there are such contraindications. This area contains important structures, the deformation of which can cause unpleasant health consequences. Even slight pressure on the neck can cause muscle spasm, swelling and worsen the course of the disease.
Medicines for pain syndrome
Since pain is part of the body’s defense, it is worth taking painkillers carefully during osteochondrosis. Since there is artificial relief from pain, sudden movements will not indicate anything about the presence of a problem in the spinal column. In this case, if acute pain forces you to use medications, you need to be scrupulous about bed rest in the first few days of the onset of the disease. If you still have to move, then try to do without sudden movements.
For osteochondrosis, the following groups of medications are taken:
- Muscle relaxants that relieve muscle spasms. If there is severe local swelling, then diuretics are used.
- Non-narcotic analgesics, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs.
Novocaine blockade is also suitable as a way to get rid of severe pain. The anesthetic must be injected very close to the nerve root, thereby blocking the pain. However, this method has its limitations in use; this is due to a huge number of side effects, namely: injury to nerve structures, complications from infections and allergies.
What to avoid during attacks
If the patient suffers from severe pain in the back or neck, then under no circumstances should one resort to self-medication. In this case, you will need the help of a medical specialist who will perform a full examination and make the correct diagnosis, as well as develop a complex therapy program individually for the patient.
There is no need to use all available methods to eliminate pain.
For example, it is prohibited to try to straighten displaced vertebrae on your own or to turn to unqualified assistants. You should not take painkillers in excessive quantities and without control. Traditional methods can also be harmful if they are not approved by the treating specialist. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis at the Yusupov Hospital is carried out by a neurologist-vertebrologist. After the initial examination, he prescribes the following additional studies:
- radiography of the spine in two projections;
- magnetic resonance imaging of the spine;
- myelography.
A targeted examination of the affected intervertebral disc is possible using discography. Electrophysiological studies (electroneurography, evoked potentials, electromyography) are used to determine the extent and location of damage to nerve pathways.
After analyzing the examination results, the doctor draws up an individual treatment plan. The most severe cases of the disease are discussed at an expert council with the participation of candidates and doctors of medical sciences, as well as related specialists.
