Due to the fact that the cervical vertebrae are distinguished by their own anatomical distinguishing features, even the smallest destructive process of the intervertebral discs can become a factor in the jamming of the vertebra (nerve in the cervical region). Pain and stiffness are the first signal of a problem.
It should be noted that pinching of the cervical vertebrae is manifested by several unpleasant signs. In this case, the patient should understand that the disease is accompanied by tangible disturbances in the blood supply to brain tissue. In accordance with this, with the appearance of this pathology, immediate therapy follows. Many are interested in what to do when pinching the cervical vertebrae. You will find the answer to this question in this article. But it is not recommended to start self-treatment. Specialist consultation is required.
What is a pinched nerve in the neck?
A pinched nerve appears if the nerve root protruding from the spinal cord is compressed or pinched. Infringement of the nerve root can occur for many reasons. In young people, the disease can appear due to trauma and, as a result, the appearance of a hernia of the intervertebral disc. In adults, radiculopathy, as a rule, appears suddenly as a result of osteochondrosis or a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs in the cervical region of the ridge.
The cervical spine consists of seven cervical vertebrae (bones that create the cervical center of the ridge). Any pair of vertebrae is separated from each other by the intervertebral disc. It functions as a friction hydraulic shock absorber. The spinal cord passes through a canal based on the cervical vertebrae. Spinal nerve roots recede from the spinal cord and, branching, follow to certain areas of the arm. Spinal nerves send movement signals to the muscles, in addition, guarantee the transmission of perceptual information. The spinal cord is like a trunk of a log, and the spinal nerves are like branches. In the event that an infringement or improper influence takes place close to the trunk, then everything that is on the branch will be affected.
Causes of Pinching
In most cases, the formation of osteochondrosis becomes a factor in the pinched nerve in the cervical region of the ridge, which is often manifested by protrusion of the disc and a slight displacement in the neck. With the development of a hernia of the disk, the pulpous nucleus begins to protrude over time, which is explained by a defect in the fibrous ring. The key factors in this stage of cervical vertebral disease are pain that nerve infringement causes.
The described causes of pinching of the cervical vertebra are considered a significant excuse to immediately go to the doctor. Neglect of the disease leads to thickening and proliferation of bone calluses, which is the result of painful processes that appear in the vertebrae. This often causes pinching of the cervical nerve, which can provoke quite serious consequences.
The neglected stage of pinching the cervical ridge requires a long and very significant cure. The problem is that ridge disease is able to progress for years, until such time as measures are taken.
Symptoms
Compared to the thoracic and lumbar spine, the cervical spine is distinguished by the presence of cerebral blood vessels. Infringement of the nerve in this part of the vertebra can provoke an incomplete loss of functional ability. Disturbed innervation often leads to a contraction of the cervical artery.
Symptoms of pinching of the cervical vertebrae can be quite sudden. Of the more well-known signs, it is possible to distinguish frequent dizziness, headaches of a migraine character. Infringement of the cervical spine can be accompanied by high fatigue, irritability, a feeling of muscle weakness, impaired vision and memory. In addition, one of the key signs of a defect is pain in the affected area, often in the chest area, in the shoulder and shoulder blades. Pinched pains are shooting, pinching, tormenting and acute. In addition to everything else, nerve infringement in this area is often accompanied by pain in the occipital region, decreased sensitivity of the fingers, decreased muscular tone of the hands, and a feeling of goosebumps in various parts of the back.
Infringement of the nerve, the treatment of which should be urgent, can be successfully eliminated, but only if the appeal to the doctor becomes timely. The cervical spine of the ridge will require a special approach, for this reason self-healing in this case is inappropriate.
During an exacerbation of the disease, complete rest and limitation of physical activity can help to simplify discomfort in the cervical and thoracic parts of the ridge. Sudden movements have every chance of provoking critical pain and other signs of pinching of the cervical vertebra. The most severe cases are characterized by innervation of the organs of the oral cavity, while, accordingly, speech is disturbed, the mucous membranes swell and the swallowing procedure is complicated.
In some cases, symptoms of pinching of the cervical vertebrae of the vessels, such as pain in the chest area, may appear. Particular attention should be paid to pain in the left side of the chest. Many incorrectly associate this symptom with heart disease. In order to establish the true root cause of the pain, you should be examined by a qualified specialist. In a number of similar situations, the patient is prescribed to undergo supporting studies in order to eliminate myocardial ischemia.
In some cases, epilepsy attacks from pinching of the cervical vertebrae appear. This type of pathology requires immediate comprehensive treatment. However, in most cases it should be carried out in a hospital. The emphasis is on electrophoresis and drug therapy. A visit to a chiropractor will not be superfluous. A connoisseur of his business can "put on its feet" in a fairly short period of time.
In order to recognize an infringement of the cervical vertebra, do an X-ray or computed tomography. It is important that painful changes be diagnosed in a timely manner.
Diagnostics
The first step in the diagnosis is a visit to a neurologist. At the consultation, the doctor will inquire in detail about the time of onset, the nature, location of the pain, and conduct a neurological examination. In order to clarify the diagnosis, they can be sent for auxiliary studies. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or electromyography (EMG). On MRI images, soft materials, including the spinal cord and nerve endings, are clearly visible. This study can help establish what causes nerve injury, including protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc. EMG measures the activity of nerves and muscles. This study will help establish how well the spinal nerves provide signals to the muscles.
Treatment methods
Treatment of pinching of the cervical vertebrae and blood vessels, as a rule, begins with the use of pharmaceutical substances, which are prescribed to reduce pain and inflammatory effects. Painkillers like Ibuprofen can be purchased without a prescription. And for more powerful means, you need a doctor’s referral - such medications are intended for use only under the supervision of a doctor, since their uncontrolled intake can cause drug dependence.
In order to treat cramping of the cervical vertebrae, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants with metocarbamol. It is necessary to apply them with caution, since they have a powerful hypnotic effect. After the use of muscle relaxants, it is categorically contraindicated to get behind the wheel or take part in any events that require high concentration.
To rapidly reduce pain and inflammation, the doctor may also recommend injections of corticosteroids. This is a rather specific technology, primarily because corticosteroid injections are accompanied by serious side effects. For this reason, it is necessary to use it only if all, without exception, other methods of treatment have not provided the necessary results.
In addition to medicines, other types of therapy are also used to cure pinching of the cervical vertebra in a child and an adult. For example, in some cases, neck pain can be relieved with a simple heating pad, which is applied to the affected area for 10-15 minutes three times a day. Another method is the use of “frost therapy”, when ice packs are applied to the affected area to reduce swelling.
A part of the cure program after pinching the cervical nerve must be a procedure to maintain the muscles of the neck. A set of muscle development exercises is usually given by a doctor. Strong, trained muscles can help maintain the cervical spine. A different type of treatment after a pinched nerve can be a therapeutic massage for the cervical-collar region. Massaging relaxes the tense muscles of the neck, which helps to improve blood flow and soften the muscles that can compress the nerves. In addition, a doctor or chiropractor may also recommend ultrasound treatment. During the ultrasound treatment procedure, the unhealthy area is affected by sound waves, which can help the renewal of materials and inhibit inflammatory processes.
In the event that without exception all of the listed methods of treatment after a pinch of the cervical nerve have failed and you still feel a powerful pain in the neck, microsurgery always remains. A number of reasons have a great influence on the decision to conduct a surgical procedure: the patient’s medical history, physical condition, age and cause of pinching of the cervical nerve. Resumption after the procedure can take up to 6-8 months.
After the key stage in the cure of pinching of the cervical nerve is completed, you need to beware of every job in which you have to strain your neck too much. If you work at a computer or at a desk, you need to stop and knead your neck from time to time. In addition, it is important to maintain correct posture, and in addition, perform special elasticity procedures for the neck muscles at least three days a week.
Ointments and creams
In the presence of pain in the neck for several days, healing creams with a warming effect are prescribed. Warming agents based on bee venom have shown themselves well. But if the symptoms of the disease arose relatively recently, the use of heating agents can only worsen the condition, causing significant redness and swelling of the cervical region. When edema appears, it is possible to advise applying cold for a short time from time to time. If, with the correct observance of the above methods, improvement does not occur, then the attending doctor is able to prescribe a course of corticosteroids.
Medicines
Regardless of the selection of a specific method of treatment, the number one problem is pain relief. For this purpose, appoint:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: "Nurofen", "Naproxen". They can be bought without a prescription. Substances remove suppuration, exhibit anesthetic effect.
- Strong analgesics - their purpose is rational only in extreme need. Such drugs can only be used under continuous medical supervision, as they have every chance to cause the formation of drug addiction.
- Muscle relaxants. In order to treat nerve pinched nerves, the main muscle relaxants are used: Baclofen, Tizanidine, Cyclobenzaprine, Metocarbamol. As a rule, they are not used for a long period, since such substances have a bad effect on other systems of the body. The peculiarity of the action is the reduction of muscles and the relaxation of muscle fibers, as a result of which there is a release of the clamped nerve roots and the weakening of pain.
- Medicines for maintaining blood vessels, improving blood circulation and metabolic actions. The resumption of standard blood flow and metabolism in the affected area contributes to the destruction of degenerative phenomena and, as a result, activation of the restoration of damaged nerve fibers.
- Corticosteroids. Their use is a rather radical measure. Substances of this category have every chance of causing significant side effects, for this reason hormonal resources are used only with the ineffectiveness of other medicines.
Manual therapy
Using this method, it is possible to quickly treat the symptoms of pinching of the cervical vertebra, namely, to localize the pain and eliminate the limited mobility that occurs when the nerve is pinched. In some cases, the symptoms disappear after the first session. Manual exposure removes stress in the affected area, resulting in reduced pressure on the strangulated nerve.
The advantages of manual methods are:
- nerve release, resumption of the usual transmission of nervous impulses;
- effective prevention of muscle contraction;
- an increase in the gap between the vertebrae;
- stimulation of blood circulation and improved nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
It should be noted that with the help of manual therapy it is possible not only to eliminate pain, but also to achieve absolute restoration of the functions of the affected nerve. The technology is effective, in addition, and if the jamming was the result of the destruction of the fibrous ring of the disk.
Only a highly qualified specialist who is familiar with human anatomy is required to carry out treatment. Incorrect movement during the treatment session for pinching of the cervical vertebra will lead to disability of the patient. Popular types of manual treatment include:
- Soothing and segmental vibratory massage with active manipulations. Restores muscles, eliminates hypertonicity and pain. A number of sessions with complex treatment will remove cramps of the cervical vertebra.
- Acupuncture. Eliminates soreness and tension.
- With inflammation of the nerve, pharmacupuncture is used. All areas of such treatment are effective enough to restore mobility and health of the cervical vertebrae.
How to alleviate the suffering of home remedies
Pinched cervical nerve can be the result of incomplete loss of physical activity, not to mention the fact that you will regularly feel pain in the neck (and not only in the neck). A remedy can be healing exercises. All exercises when pinching the cervical vertebrae can be carried out in a domestic environment. The most famous movement is the tilt of the neck: stand straight, press your chin to your chest. Slowly raise your chin up and tilt your head back as far as possible. Do this exercise five times, take a 30-second pause, and repeat again. This exercise is appropriate for those who experience pain in the back of the neck.
Folk recipes
There are a large number of effective treatment recipes at home for pinching of the cervical vertebra. They reduce pain and inflammation when pinching the cervical nerves. Here are some of them:
- In a ratio of 1: 6, juniper and bay leaf are mixed, crushed to a shallow state. Then the dissolved butter is added and everything is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous state. Acquired medicine will reduce muscle tension and pain.
- Grind hop cones and mix with 15 g of any type of fat, mix. The finished medicine is rubbed every four hours into the neck.
- Add 10 bay leaves to 1 cup of vodka and hold for 72 hours. Rub the finished solution into the neck.
- To strengthen the muscles, it is recommended to drink a glass of celery juice every day, no doubt, in the absence of gastrointestinal problems.
- Take 50 g of potato and horseradish crushed on a grater.Squeeze juice from them, mix it with one tablespoon of honey. The resulting solution must be applied to the neck for 1.5 minutes once or twice a day.
- A celery pulp compress can also help reduce pain.
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