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.
Indications
- Spinal osteochondrosis outside the acute phase.
- Radicular symptom, lumbago.
- Peripheral neuritis, neuralgia.
- Headache.
- Chronic radiculitis.
- Pneumonia, bronchitis.
- Increasing the body's immune defense.
- Bronchial asthma without an attack.
Stimulating the immune system and the anti-stress effect not only relieve pain in the spine, but also create a certain reserve of strength in the body. The depth of impact of vacuum massage of the spine for osteochondrosis allows you to achieve an analgesic effect after the first session.
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.
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.
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.
Prices
Vacuum cupping massage can be performed in different clinics. The price for the procedure starts from 300 rubles. and can reach 4000 rubles. for 1 procedure. Before booking a massage, you need to not only look at the price, but also take into account the professionalism of the specialists. Otherwise, the procedure will only be harmful.
Cost of cupping massage
Cupping massage treatment is also done in sanatoriums, dispensaries, and even a specialist is called to your home. Prices here are already set individually, up to 4 thousand rubles. In total, at least 5 procedures must be performed.
To save money, you can purchase sets of vacuum cans for treatment at home. But the first massage sessions are best done under the supervision of a knowledgeable specialist. Or consult a doctor to determine the timing of treatment and procedure time.
Currently, glass products are being replaced on the market by silicone jars, some of which are supplemented with a vacuum pump. They are safer than glass ones and are easy to use.
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.
Which banks are suitable?
Just a few years ago, only classic containers made of thick transparent glass could be purchased in pharmacies. They are still not losing ground, despite the expanded range of medical devices. A worthy analogue of glass containers are silicone ones, which have their own advantages:
- easier processing before and after the procedure;
- durability, long service life;
- ease of storage.
Glass and silicone jars for procedures.
Silicone jars cannot be broken and, therefore, cannot be injured by their fragments. Ceramic and plastic products are less in demand. The former are not suitable for long-term procedures, and the latter can put excessive pressure on the skin. In massage and beauty salons, small containers made of polished bamboo are used, but not because of the high therapeutic effect, but to attract customers.
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
Types of cans
What are the main types of cans:
- glass;
- bamboo;
Bamboo Vacuum Jars - ceramic;
- plastic;
- rubber.
To treat osteochondrosis, glass and rubber (vacuum) jars are used . It is better to use this method in the complex treatment of osteochondrosis (medicines, physiotherapeutic procedures and physical therapy). In any case, you should take a competent consultation with your doctor.
Photos of types of cans
The photo shows what products people have used for many decades.
THE USSR. Glass vacuum jars
Ceramic vacuum jars
Vacuum rubber cans
Vacuum cans with pump
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%.
Contraindications
Cupping treatment is not carried out to eliminate acute pain or in the development of an acute aseptic inflammatory process. Contraindications to the procedure are relapses of osteochondrosis, severe pathologies of the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system.
Glass and plastic containers cannot be placed on the skin if its integrity is compromised (cuts, abrasions, burns) or if it is affected by allergic, infectious and inflammatory processes. Vacuum therapy is not prescribed to patients with arterial hypertension, tuberculosis, circulatory disorders (varicose veins, thrombophlebitis). An absolute contraindication to cupping treatment is malignant and benign neoplasms.
