Herniation of the cervical spine: symptoms and treatment of cervical hernia

Very rare herniation of the cervical spine, because the load on the cervical is not large. But the vertebrae in the upper spine small, respectively, in the neck vertebrae weaker. Therefore, when exposed to pathogenic conditions greatly increases the chance that there will be disc herniation of the cervical spine. Hernia is manifested not immediately, but gradually.

The first stage of the pathology is osteoarthritis, then there is a bulging of the intervertebral discs is protrusion.

The final stage of progression is a herniated disc of the cervical spine. At this stage rupture of the fibrous ring and leakage of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal. Accompanied by severe pain and fever.

How dangerous is cervical herniation?

In the case of cervical hernia manifests itself, and people do not seek help to the doctor, possible serious complications. The cervical spine has the greatest mobility, relative to other departments. He is responsible for turning the head 180 degrees to the sides and up and down. Therefore, the hernia neck is very difficult everyday life, not even counting the pain.

Suggest to read: the consequences of herniation of the cervical spine.

The cervical are many spinal nerve endings. Here are the centers responsible for supply of oxygen to the lungs. When it is a hernia in the cervical spine, a person may be choking, frequent dizziness and migraines. A person can just choke when a strong protrusion of the hernia.

Squeezing the spinal cord hernia is fraught with serious violations of coordination of movements, paralysis of all limbs.

In addition, a hernia in the cervical spine is a very dangerous violation of brain blood circulation. The brain is experiencing oxygen starvation slows down metabolism. High risk of stroke, especially in older people.

Reasons

Most causes of herniated discs of the cervical spine is based on the lifestyle of the person. The group most at risk include people with a constantly sedentary lifestyle – office workers, drivers, teachers, scientists. Such a lifestyle greatly increases the chance of osteoarthritis and its progression.

The main causes of a herniated cervical disc:

• The weakening of bone tissue, associated with impaired blood circulation system. Usually occurs in old age when metabolic processes are slowed down.
• Pathology of the spine. Low back pain, osteoporos, herniated Shmorlja and other diseases of the spinal column greatly increases the risk of getting a hernia in the cervical spine.
• Mechanical damage to the structural integrity of the spine in this Department. When doing heavy activities during which a person commits unnatural sudden movements. In the result, the intervertebral discs Hizdakchut and the protrusion.

However, a hernia of the cervical vertebrae may not occur. Under the influence of some factors a chance to make the disease significantly increases.

Here are some aggravating circumstances that lead to accelerated herniation in the cervical spine:

• Metabolic disorders in the body;
• Not drinking enough fluid throughout the day;
• Harmful habits such as Smoking;
• Habit lead a sedentary lifestyle;
• Infectious lesions of the spine;
• Birth defects of the spine affecting the location of the vertebrae or their amount;
• The habit of walking with his head down and slouch.

Symptoms

The first signs of hernias of the cervical spine are manifested already at the initial stage of formation. The patient has weakness in the upper extremities, periodic bouts of numbness of hands.

Hernia in the cervical spine causes stiffness of the neck and reduces the mobility of the head. Patients are often plagued by migraine, dizziness, General weakness, fatigue. And most importantly – pain in the neck occurs in all people with this disease. At sharp movements the painincreases.

• Suggest to read: the symptoms and treatment of hernia of the thoracic spine.

In addition, the compression of the spinal cord substance of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc disrupted the nervous system: the person feels noise, suffer optic nerves (decreases visual acuity, quality of vision deteriorates). If there is disc herniation in the cervical spine and symptoms in the upper extremities is only the initial stage. When the disease progresses, disturbances of the functions of the cerebellum, the person becomes less stable coordination of movements is broken.

However, there are many symptoms of intervertebral hernia cervical inherent defeat of specific areas:

• The discs between the vertebrae 1 to 4. The herniation in this Department is characterized by a sharp falls and rises in pressure, a sudden short-term pain, numbness, some facial muscles.
• Drive after 4 vertebra. The main localization of pain – shoulders, usually suffers from one of them.
• Following intervertebral disk, by degenerative changes, causing pain in the hands. Suffer elbow joints. In different parts of the hands there is a burning pain.
• Drive after 6 vertebra. Pain syndrome extends from the shoulder joint to the fingers. Typically, burning pain occurs on the back surface of the hands.
• Transitional intervertebral disc that separates thoracic and cervical parts. Very severely affected motor skills of fingers. it's hard to control even a handshake. The hand and fingers become almost uncontrollable. it's hard to write or perform other movements with your fingers.

When the hernia of the spine is localized in the transition of the intervertebral disk can be complications such as low immunity, frequent occurrence of diseases of the lungs. The person experiences fatigue.

A herniated cervical symptoms often cause people to have depression.

Diagnosis

Herniation of the cervical spine the symptoms and treatment are closely related. Upon detection of characteristic symptoms, you need to visit the local doctor – therapist. He will conduct individual examination and confirm your diagnosis (if that is indeed the intervertebral hernia or other disease of the spine). Next, the patient is waiting for referral to a neurologist or spine.

Narrow specialist finds out the patient has symptoms of a hernia of the cervical spine for the preliminary determination of the localization of the disease and the stage of its progression. This is followed by a special examination of the patient with probing painful place for records in the medical card.

It is important to objectively evaluate your feelings, to help to pinpoint doctor symptoms of a herniated disc.

To put the final diagnosis, the doctor gives the direction of the survey. They can be several:

• The x-rays. This type of diagnosis is very accessible to patients, simple and cheap. However, the qualitative diagnosis with the help of this survey supply fail, you can only learn some additional information about the localization of the hernia.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most effective diagnostic method that shows the most complete picture of a herniated disc of the cervical. Disadvantages are: decent cost of this procedure, the impossibility of in the presence in the body of the patient with metallic implants.
• CT (computed tomography)- also very effective method of diagnosis, which is a bit inferior to the previous detection of defects in the soft tissues, but very useful when you lose bone. Cannot be used during pregnancy and lactation. The cost of the procedure is also impressive.
• Radionuclide diagnostics, which is called myelogram. A special doctor's order is input into the canal of the spinal cord to specific substances. Further, making x-rays to determine how cervical herniation compresses the spinal cord.

The doctor determines the need for a particular kind of study, based on a preliminary examination of the patient, gender, budget.

Treatment

To carry out the treatment of a hernia of the cervical spine, it is necessary to approach the problem from different sides. There is a conventional division of such decisions: conservative treatment methods, surgery. How to cure the most effectively? Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. You must follow the instructions of the doctor and listen to his advice. Self-medication may have no effect and only make the situation worse.

• See also: without surgery of the spine" (Change)">treatment of herniated cervical spine without surgery.

Conservative methods

It is worth noting that to cure hernia completely by such methods is impossible. This complex is able to save people from pain and to ensure remission is stable. It is essential to maintain back health after treatment.

Drug

The occurrence of hernia of the cervical spine is the symptoms and treatment. The main manifestation is severe pain, it is the elimination of the symptom will be sent an initial course of treatment.

It is necessary to stop the destruction of cartilage and relieve muscle spasm. A specific set of drugs will show you how to treat intervertebral hernia, more precisely its symptoms.

The doctor gives prescriptions for such medicines:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Help relieve swelling, ease pain and to establish circulation. You can highlight some: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Dipyrone, etc.
• Painkillers. Have an analgesic effect, relieve the patient from pain or weaken it, allow it to return to normal life. Some of the drugs: Fenistil, Nurofen, Pentalgin, etc.
• Muscle relaxants. Help to relieve muscle spasm, thereby to ease the swelling and reduce pain. Use tools such: Mydocalm, sirdalud, Tapril etc.
• Chondroprotectors. Help the body to accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissue, to suspend its destruction and make the discs more flexible. The most commonly used: symptoms, Mucosal, Artron, etc.
• Vitamin – mineral complex. Helps to accelerate healing, strengthen the immune system, enhance the regeneration processes of the body.

Physical therapy

In the treatment of herniated discs of the cervical spine are very effective physiotherapy. They are able to stop the progression of spinal hernia, to facilitate the patient's condition.

Used such types of physiotherapy:

• Magnetic;
• Electrophoresis with painkillers;
• Using electric current;
• Paraffin.

Direction to the physiotherapy gives the attending physician.

Massage and medical gymnastics

For the most effective treatment of herniated discs of the cervical treatment should be comprehensive. Adding massage is the perfect tool for a successful recovery. But the treatment of cervical disc hernia such methods must be performed exclusively by highly qualified massage therapist.

Herniation of the cervical spine should be taken special massage technique. The therapist needs to understand the risks and to be confident in your skills. After all, with the wrong movement you can pinch the spinal nerves, which can lead to very dangerous consequences. Only the professional sees the points where to push and where not. This is very important when the hernia.

Gymnastic exercises are useful, to cure a hernia of the spine. Execution of complex of exercises of medical gymnastics to start in the absence of acute intervertebral herniation. Once symptoms subside, you can start to do exercises of hands to help maintain muscle tone.

A week after the beginning of the rehabilitation period, you can begin to stretch the very neck. The first exercise will be in a very low amplitude. To strengthen the muscles of the neck, it is necessary arbitrarily to reduce them, to exert pressure head on the pillow. Subsequent strengthening exercises you can do in a larger amplitude and not even lying down.

Surgery

Many wonder how to treat the cervical herniated the ineffectiveness of the medication? In such a situation is assigned to surgical intervention. Doctors try to avoid this method of treatment, but it is sometimes necessary. When the patient is much difficult breathing or blood circulation in the brain – it is necessary to remove the hernia surgically. On the neck, a small incision is made, through which comes the destruction of the remnants of the destroyed disk. If necessary, it is replaced with an implant.

Prevention

If the intervertebral hernia affects the cervical spine, the treatment is effective. But people will only be in the stage of deep remission. By careless movement and excessive load can occur with a relapse.

It is better to prevent this disease than trying to understand how to treat a hernia. Prevention needs to engage in active sports, but without excessive load on the spine. You should always keep your back straight, don't slouch, eat right