Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis occurs after remission. The pathology develops in a chronic form. It is impossible to completely cope with osteochondrosis.
The disease develops due to an insufficiently active lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption and nutritional problems.
Intervertebral discs reduce pressure on the vertebrae, but over the years the cartilage tissue wears down due to poor lifestyle choices. Cartilage tissue regeneration is not easy.
Causes
Let's find out what causes the symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- Some signs occur due to deformation of the vertebrae, osteophytes appear.
- The position of the vertebrae changes relative to each other, the arteries are compressed, the blood supply of the nervous system deteriorates.
- The appearance of complications due to displacement of the intervertebral discs also causes pain in the nerve endings.
- When the nerves of the cervical spine are compressed, radicular syndrome appears.
- Constant overload of the neck muscle tissue at the computer or driving a car.
How cervical osteochondrosis worsens
The size of the vertebrae in the neck area is small. Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis occurs with special symptoms. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, you should contact a specialist.The main problem is that patients do not notice the symptoms of the disease.
First degree
Initially, small cracks appear on the discs. If the posture is not changed for a long time, the elasticity of the cartilage tissue decreases, and a burning pain appears in the neck.
Second degree
Severe pain in the neck indicates the beginning of the second stage. The pain intensifies due to the deformation of the intervertebral disc, dislocations appear.Numbness of the hands and face occurs in rare cases.
At the end of the day, the patient develops pain in the neck, which flows further down the spine.
The aggravation is manifested by the falling head syndrome, in which unbearable pain occurs, the head cannot be held, it must be fixed with pillows or hands in order to reduce the symptom.
Third degree
The third stage of the disease manifests itself clearly, the cause of the unpleasant symptoms cannot be attributed to excessive work after physical exertion. In the third stage, the patient experiences nausea, dizziness, tinnitus and frequent fainting. Acute osteochondrosis is characterized by neck numbness and tinnitus.
Sometimes the symptoms of the disease disappear, but after some time they recur with exacerbations. New symptoms appear and the pain gets worse.
How to behave during an exacerbation?
During an exacerbation, you should not rub warming ointments on the throat or massage a large area. If you feel signs of cervical osteochondrosis, you should try to rest and take the most comfortable position.
You need to lie on your back so that the muscle tissue stops straining. The attack does not go away on its own.You need to contact the doctor to administer painkillers, then make an appointment with a specialist. Many people have painkillers in their home medicine cabinet. You can take this medicine so that you do not need to call an ambulance.
First aid and treatment
The treatment is carried out by a specialist:
- You should move as little as possible before the doctor arrives.
- Sit comfortably on the bed, do not strain your body.
- Take pain relievers.
- Wait for the doctor.
The specialist prescribes antibiotics and medications to eliminate inflammatory processes. They are necessary during exacerbations.
Patients are prescribed chondroprotectors, which change the destructive processes in the discs and worsen the speed indicators when they occur.
The course of treatment with such drugs is long, less than six months. They are able to prevent the aggravation of the disease.
Medicines belonging to the category of muscle relaxants also help with osteochondrosis and relieve tension. Diuretics and vascular drugs, nootropics and B vitamins are also used.
During an exacerbation, the disease is accompanied by pain, and a procedure called a blockade is prescribed. Novocaine injection is performed in the area of the deformed vertebra. Symptoms can be treated quickly. We list non-drug treatment methods: exercise therapy, physiotherapy, massage.
With the help of therapeutic exercises, it will be possible to reduce the intensity of the symptoms and relieve the aggravation. Exercises should be done every day to strengthen the muscles of the neck and spine. Weakened vertebrae will hold better thanks to the developed back muscles.
Massage is mandatory, thanks to a full course, muscle tone improves, spasms disappear, edema decreases, cerebrospinal fluid circulates better, blood supply stabilizes. Intervertebral discs stop deforming.
Other treatment methods
Thanks to the Shants collar, you can reduce the load on the cervical spine during exacerbations. Such a device will keep the neck in a normal position, the load on muscle tissue and vertebrae will decrease. You need to arrange your sleeping place correctly, you will need a hard mattress with an orthopedic effect, as well as a pillow that does not bend the neck during rest.
If the therapy is carried out when the attack begins, and everything is done correctly, the peak of the disease will decrease after some time. If the disease is not treated in time, the attack will be reduced, but not completely eliminated. In the future, you should expect several exacerbations, between which the pain will decrease. Painful symptoms intensify during an attack.
What medicines are used?
Medicines should be used when the patient's condition worsens. Exacerbation is prevented with the help of such medications. Anti-inflammatory or painkillers in tablets, ointments for local or external use. Muscle relaxants help prevent muscle spasms that often occur with pain.
Vitamin B improves the conduction of nerve impulses through neurons. Initially used as intramuscular injections, then patients are transferred to tablets.If the disease increases blood pressure, calcium channels are blocked, inhibitors, ACE or combination agents.
When cervical osteochondrosis worsens, its symptoms cause cerebral blood flow. Therapeutic procedures include the use of drugs for recovery. To do this, it is advisable to contact a specialist to receive accurate recommendations on medication.
When patients experience emotional disturbances, doctors prescribe sedatives, which can be herbal ingredients or tranquilizers. When choosing, specialists are often guided by the severity of these symptoms. For severe painful symptoms, spinal blocks using novocaine are used.
Surgical intervention
What to do in case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, if the above methods are not effective? It is necessary to undergo an examination, if complications are detected, the specialist can recommend a surgical procedure aimed at reducing compression and stabilizing the condition of the vertebrae. Complications occur after such operations, so they are performed in extreme cases.
What to do at home?
Doctors do not recommend treating cervical osteochondrosis at home during an exacerbation without prior consultation. You can take a painkiller, wrap a scarf around your neck and wait for the doctor to arrive. Depending on the severity of the process, therapy continues at home or in the hospital.
Symptoms of acute osteochondrosis worsen the quality of life, so urgent measures should be taken. Therapy should be carried out after diagnosis, doctor's conclusion and exclusion of other pathological possibilities.
Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis does not happen temporarily, the disorder does not go away by itself.. Destructive processes in the cervical spine can develop and cause complex consequences.
Exacerbation during pregnancy
The body of pregnant women changes at the physiological level, the level of hormone production changes, the center of gravity of the body changes, taking into account the process of fetal development. Minerals and nutrients are absorbed and absorbed more intensively. These changes seriously affect the musculoskeletal system. There is a lot of pressure on the spine.
Symptoms in women are the same as in other patients. The difficulty lies in choosing a treatment regimen, because when prescribing drugs, their possible effect on the child must be taken into account. In case of exacerbations, ointments are used that do not harm the child.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis relapse occurs in 50% of cases due to changes in the spine.
Sometimes painkillers or injections are prescribed for complex pain. Many pregnant women are treated using unconventional methods. Traditional medical recipes are less harmful to the fetus.
Other ways to prevent exacerbations
If it is not possible to visit a doctor, you can use several recipes to relieve the general condition of patients with osteochondrosis in the cervical region. For example, a warm shower helps to relax. You can wrap a wool scarf or other clothing made of this material around your neck. Or apply herbal compresses to the affected area.
Onions, mint and sage are also used for such purposes. Try making an ointment from mumiyo and butter. You can also brace the neck in a stationary position so that the roots of the spinal cord are not compressed.
Gradual deterioration
If the recurrence of painful symptoms is moderate, you should go to a specialist. The patient can use painkillers and secure the neck with a collar, but only a specialist can choose an appropriate therapeutic procedure.
During exacerbationcervical osteochondrosisprohibited:
- Apply heating pads to the neck. Blood will flow intensively in the problem area, swelling will increase, pain will increase.
- The cervical region should not be massaged so as not to worsen its condition.
Manual therapy will be helpful in such situations. A qualified specialist can adjust the vertebrae so that pressure is not placed on the nerve.
Therapeutic measures
The main condition for a successful outcome of the disease is complex therapy. Treatment measures include the use of injections, tablets, ointments, special patches and physiotherapy procedures.
Medicines
Drug treatment is aimed at reducing pain, which is very pronounced in the acute period. Prescribed medicines such as:
- Painkillers. Before the arrival of the ambulance, they try to give an anesthetic injection, because it can be very difficult for the patient to bear the pain. If a person suffers from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, then he always has some painkiller in stock.
- Muscle relaxants. The purpose of their action is to reduce skeletal muscle spasms of the cervical vertebrae.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They relieve pain well, reduce inflammation and help if the patient has a fever.
- Vitamin preparations. For the treatment of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, injectable preparations based on B vitamins are used. They help restore nerve tissue that has been damaged due to pathological changes in the intervertebral region of the cervical spine.
- Means for local therapy. To relieve the patient's condition, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are prescribed. These are adjunctive therapies and are designed to enhance the effects of injectable drugs. In addition, special patches impregnated with medicine are used. For example, a patch containing diclofenac and lidocaine.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is a method of treating osteochondrosis that has proven itself only on the positive side and has been used for several decades. During this time, new techniques have been developed, the use of which helps to relieve the symptoms of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis much faster.
If manual therapy methods are performed at a highly professional level, it has a beneficial effect on the condition of the muscle tissue, vertebrae and joint apparatus of the cervical spine.
The following manual therapy methods are used:
- Kneading the muscles in a separate segment. This technique helps to reduce muscle tension.
- Mobilization technique. The doctor performs a series of actions, due to which the function of the joint apparatus is restored only in a certain part of the cervical spine.
- Manipulation technique. The procedure is a set of actions, the aim of which is to restore all joint systems affected by pathological changes. This method is used both for cervical osteochondrosis and for the treatment of a disease called ordinary osteochondrosis.
If the patient is prescribed a course of manual therapy, he should carefully choose the doctor who will treat him. After all, even a small mistake is associated with serious consequences, including the disability of the patient.
Massage
Massage is another method of relieving the patient's condition during exacerbation of osteochondrosis. Its introduction helps relieve tension in the neck muscles, reduces the amount of lactic acid, the accumulation of which causes muscle spasms, and normalizes blood circulation in the inflamed area. The combination of these effects leads to a reduction in pain.
Surgical intervention
If the doctor sees that conservative treatment will not bring the desired result, he prescribes surgical intervention for the patient. There are several indications that surgery is inevitable.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal due to intervertebral hernia, which leads to compression of blood vessels and nerve plexuses.
- Displacement of the vertebrae relative to the horizontal axis.
- Intervertebral hernia, which can be one or more. This pathology is not an absolute indication for surgery if it does not cause associated symptoms. If it was not possible to achieve a positive result after several courses of conservative therapy, they use surgery.
Exercise therapy
Therapeutic exercise is a method used in the observation stage. In the acute period, any exercise will not bring anything to the patient except additional suffering. But when the attack is stopped, the inflammatory process is at the stage of reduction, then prescribing a course of physical therapy becomes an assistant.
Thanks to exercise therapy, blood circulation returns to normal and muscles are strengthened. Spinal mobility improves and stiffness disappears, nerve tissue regenerates, pain decreases.
When prescribing physical therapy, the doctor takes into account the factors in which it is contraindicated. Exercise therapy should not be used if the patient suffers from diseases of the cardiovascular system, benign or malignant tumors, severe visual impairment or diabetes.
Action
Surgical intervention is performed in two stages, but during one operation. In the first stage, the neurosurgeon eliminates the cause of the pain syndrome. This is the decompression method.
The vertebrae are then stabilized. The doctor notes that after the removal of part of the intervertebral disc, dysfunction of the spinal joint apparatus occurs.
Therefore, the vertebrae are fixed using a special technique.
In modern orthopedic practice, artificial intervertebral discs are used to prevent fusion of the vertebrae when the damaged discs are completely removed.
What can you do at home?
Every patient suffering from cervical osteochondrosis should know what to do if it worsens at home. First, it is strictly forbidden to move during an attack. The patient should lie on a flat surface and take a position in which the muscles are minimally strained.
Give the patient an anesthetic injection. If this is not possible, give the patient a pain reliever in the form of tablets. In addition, an anti-inflammatory ointment or gel should be applied to the neck area. The emergency doctor will tell you what to do next.
The period of exacerbation of osteochondrosis: first aid at home
The treatment of spine pathologies should be entrusted only to an experienced doctor. And yet there are situations when pain appears suddenly and restricts the patient's body. An acute exacerbation may occur, for example, when an intervertebral hernia is suspected. In this case, the patient cannot tolerate it, and measures must be taken to improve his condition.
To do this, you need to do the following:
- if possible, place the patient on the bed or floor to immobilize the spine;
- wrap the painful area with a wool scarf (the use of a heating pad is strictly prohibited);
- If the patient is bent over because he is in severe pain, you should not try to straighten him. It is better to place it in the same position on a flat surface;
- give him a painkiller to drink. It could be Analgin, Diclofenac or Ibuprofen;
- call an ambulance.
The emergency physician will determine how to relieve the pain symptom, whether hospitalization is necessary, or whether treatment can be continued at home.
First aid to the patient
Acute osteochondrosis causes a lot of pain and discomfort, even limiting the mobility of the spine. If it is possible to call a doctor at home, it is better to do so, because self-medication is associated with even greater complications. However, you should not endure the pain until he arrives. First aid can be given to the patient:
- At first, you should limit the mobility of the cervical spine as much as possible, it is better to go to sleep.
- If painful osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes very strong pain, then it can be alleviated with the help of medication. If the discomfort is very severe, this medicine may not help.
- The neck muscles should be relaxed so that the spasms disappear as quickly as possible.
- Topical medications can also be used to relieve pain.
- In the first days after the onset of the attack, it is necessary to use special orthopedic collars, which will help to cope with it faster.
Many people are interested in the question of how long exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis occur. Each person goes through this stage differently. If the treatment of the attack was started in time and the medicine proved to be effective, then its duration does not exceed several days. Otherwise, discomfort will accompany the patient for several weeks.
How long the exacerbation period will be depends on the characteristics of the human body, as well as on the speed of the disease development. If the treatment of the pathology is started late, this situation will repeat itself.
Exacerbation during pregnancy
Exacerbation of diseases during pregnancy is always undesirable. This causes suffering to the expectant mother and her baby, but in addition, it is difficult to apply therapeutic measures because there are contraindications to the use of drugs. Physiotherapy methods should not be prescribed for a pregnant woman.
Of the drugs used during pregnancy, it is allowed to use Traumeel in the form of tablets, ointments and injections, as well as Paracetamol. In addition, physical therapy is prescribed, but under the strict supervision of a doctor. Exercises that require minimal physical exertion are chosen. Yoga techniques are preferred.
Traditional medicine for severe pain in the spine: effective recipes
The use of traditional methods has a positive effect only in combination with drug treatment. You can prevent pain and discomfort with cervical osteochondrosis using horseradish leaves.
They need to be applied to the painful area, fixed with a bandage and adhesive tape and left overnight. Cosmetic clay mixed with water has worked well as a poultice.
Our grandmothers treated all types of osteochondrosis using compresses from grated raw potatoes mixed with honey. This mixture was applied to the affected areas, fixed firmly and left for several hours or overnight. Pepper oil tincture is perfect for scrubbing.
How to reduce relapse rates
If the disease can worsen, then the person already has a large number of drugs that can reduce the pain. However, without eliminating the cause, the treatment will not be effective.
In addition, unpleasant sensations can return again, and with a vengeance. With exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of the disease have already been discussed above, it is necessary to understand how to prevent exacerbation.
To do this, the following preventive measures should be followed:
- Visit to the massage room. Of course, the specialist must be experienced and skilled in order not to worsen the aggravation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Massage sessions allow you to develop the cervical spine, increase its functionality and mobility. At the same time, both hard and soft tissues are better nourished, as blood circulation is normalized.
- Doing physical exercises. This is necessary to strengthen the upper back muscle corset.
- It is advisable to go for a walk every day before going to bed. This will allow you to rest well at night. It is better to avoid heavy sports, jumping and other exercises involving heavy loads or sudden movements.
- If a person spends a lot of time in a static sitting position, it is necessary to get up and warm up from time to time. When working sedentary, it is better to change the position of the body every quarter of an hour.
- Swimming is an excellent preventive measure for spine problems. It not only relaxes the muscles, allowing the relief of spasms, but at the same time strengthens them.
- For a night's sleep, it is better to choose an orthopedic mattress, which maintains the correct position of the human body throughout the night, regardless of how he turns.
- Non-traditional methods such as acupuncture can also be used for prevention. Of course, you can't do it yourself, and you shouldn't trust your health to the first "host" you come across. The procedure should be performed by an experienced specialist.
Prevention
To prevent the aggravation of the disease, it is recommended to follow several rules:
- Watch your posture.
- Avoid muscle strain when working at a computer or sitting at a desk.
- Change your position every few minutes to prevent muscle stiffness.
- If you have to stay in one pose for more than half an hour, take a break to warm up.
- You need to lie on a flat surface, hanging armored beds are contraindicated for patients with osteochondrosis.