Radiculopathy - a term in medicine is called a pinched nerve in the cervical spine. Ailment is very common, and pain in the area of inflammation is much more intense than those in other parts of the body. More will be described in the article.
Manifestation
Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine are diagnosed differently:
- cervicalgia (when pain is observed exclusively in the neck);
- cervicobrachialgia (in this case, discomfort also gives in the hand).
And it is also possible a deterioration in blood circulation in the back of the head due to pressure on the nerve. The result is a general decrease in the blood flow of the cervical region, which leads to a deterioration in well-being and additional evidence of compression of the nerve endings.
Common symptoms of pinching a nerve in the cervical region are as follows:
- Headaches, as well as sensations remotely resembling a migraine in the back of the head.
- A sharp change in body position leads to dizziness of different durations.
- Sensation of tingling, burning or crawling in one of the hands. This symptom can spread up to the tips of the fingers of the upper limbs.
- Painful urge of varying intensity in the neck and shoulder blades.
- The patient gets tired very quickly, endurance and overall vitality decrease.
- Memory impairment is also a sign of a pinched nerve in the cervical region.
- The muscles of the upper extremities undergo degradation.
- The severe form of the disease has a negative effect on the muscles of the face, which can entail both problems with chewing food and with vocal cords.
Causes of the disease
In people who first encountered a similar disease, a completely logical question arises: what to do? A pinched nerve in the cervical spine is a serious thing. If the pain rush sharply rolled up, you should take a lying position and resort to the help of painkillers, after which you must make an appointment with the doctor.
Supervision by a qualified specialist is necessary to identify the root cause that provoked pinching of the nerve in the cervical spine. In general, the factors leading to such an ailment are pathological changes, namely:
- Growths on the ridge and other bones.
- An increase in connective tissue volumes .
- Injuries resulting from an accident, fall, or excessive load.
- The late stage of cervical osteochondrosis, which turned into a clear pathology (hernia, protrusion, or prolapse of the intervertebral disc from its place) and leading to pinching of the nerve in the cervical spine.
- Dislocation or small displacement of the vertebrae.
- Tendency to spasms of the back muscles.
There are a number of reasons that can accelerate the aggravation of spinal problems and cause pinching of the nerve in the cervical region:
- frequent changes in head position from comfortable to extremely uncomfortable;
- the presence of a malignant tumor, the growth of which can compress the nerve;
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (typical for office workers and public transport drivers), as well as underdeveloped muscles of the neck, shoulders and back;
- physical and emotional stress (the former are able to deform the spine, and the latter can cause a spasm, since in a stressful situation a person unconsciously strains muscles);
- improper functioning of the thyroid gland, chronic diseases that have taken an acute form;
- hypothermia.
In addition to all of the above, a genetic predisposition may be laid. Such people are heavier than the rest. But also an ailment is able to develop among athletes if the technique for performing basic exercises with weights is not observed. For example, if you do squats with a weight of 20-30 kg and turn your head to see yourself from the side (although you should look directly), you can get a microtrauma (it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body, of course). But if you squat with more serious weights (about 100 kg), the probability increases.
The same applies to an exercise called deadlift. If this is done correctly, the back is bent into an arc. Accordingly, with heavy weight, a sharp turn of the neck to the side is fraught with consequences.
Trigeminal neuralgia
Pinching in the cervical region, as mentioned above, can affect the functioning of the muscles of the face. We are talking about the trigeminal nerve, which is divided into three branches, each of which is responsible for the work of a particular muscle group: the eyes, upper and lower jaws.
The causes of this ailment are many, one of them is a pinched nerve in the cervical spine. The pain from inflammation of the facial nerves is very severe. As early as the 18th century, the very idea of the possibility of experiencing it again led people to use opium due to the effect of pain medication. Alas, addiction turned patients into drug addicts.
Since then, the disease has been carefully studied, and a lot of ways to eliminate it have been invented. But this does not mean that it is worth doing self-medication. After the onset of seizures, you should resort to the help of painkillers (Ketanov, for example) and consult a doctor. Since trigeminal neuralgia may well be the result of any other disease.
Complications in some cases lead to swelling of the tongue and problems with the vocal cords. Therefore, it is treated through surgery. If you manage to recognize the ailment in the early stages, then you can completely get by with conservative methods.
About how to treat cervical nerve pinches
Symptoms, as mentioned above, can be triggered by another disease. Nevertheless, according to statistics, the harm from inflammation is successfully minimized through standard methods of treatment. Alas, complete healing is almost impossible, but they rarely resort to surgical intervention: only if treatment with conventional methods is ineffectual or too slow.
Drug treatment involves taking the following drugs:
- Voltaren.
- Diclofenac.
- Ibuprofen.
- Nise.
According to the doctor’s recommendations, drugs can also be used to improve blood circulation in the cranium.
If the disease develops into a pathology (or it is observed from birth) in the form of constant muscle tension, funds are prescribed to relax them (for example, "Midokalm"), as well as complexes of vitamins and minerals. Tablets containing calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are also useful.
Ointment
Gels and ointments that help relieve pain and warm the muscles should be applied to the area in smooth circular movements. When choosing such funds, you need to pay attention to pharmacy products with a warming effect: as a rule, they contain poison from vipers or bees.
Popular remedies for treating cervical nerve congestion are as follows:
- Capsicum. They are used not only for the prevention of this disease, but also for cervical chondrosis, as well as other painful sensations in the back. Allowed to use up to three times a day for 1-2 grams.
- Finalgon. It is used when the back, neck or lower back is greatly blown out. And also with dislocations, bruises and sprains.
- Nikoflex Effective for muscle cramps, inflammation and neuralgia.
- "Vyprosal." It is in this preparation that snake venom is present, due to which the warming effect occurs. It is used just in case of pinched nerve in the cervical region or in the neck.
- Menovazin. They usually rub the collar area with inflammation of the joints and nerve roots caused by injuries, bruises and sprains. Able to relieve even acute pain.
- "Star". A gel with a specific smell, known since the Soviet era, in a small round package (which is difficult to open). It is used not only to relax and warm the neck muscles during spasm, but also to treat a runny nose and headache. Universal remedy.
- Plain iodine. Simply put the iodine mesh on the neck.
It should be understood that you can not use the first ointment that came to hand when pinching a nerve in the cervical spine. The advice of your doctor will help you make the right choice and determine what to do next.
Rules for the use of ointments
Medical professionals recommend using these drugs as follows:
- the drug is rubbed with a thin layer on the area of inflammation, exceeding the permissible norm will lead to slight burns, redness of the skin and a feeling of discomfort;
- the gel must not be smeared, but rubbed with smooth massaging movements until completely absorbed;
- for greater benefit, it is better to wrap the treated area with a scarf or scarf;
- it is better to apply the ointment during the day, because it may contain tonic components that will prevent the patient from falling asleep at night;
- during the period of treatment with gels and ointments, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of the patient being in a draft, because then the warming effect may disappear, and the condition will worsen;
- Before use, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the instructions to determine the possibility of allergic reactions to components;
- it is better to apply the drug 1-2 times a day, and the general duration of use of the drug is determined by the attending doctor.
Particular attention should be paid to pregnant and lactating women. One ointment is suitable for someone, but not for someone. All people have different reactions, therefore it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Disease prevention
The best method of treating nerve pinched in the cervical spine is its prevention. After all, it is much more convenient to prevent the occurrence of such a disease than to spend a lot of time and money on wellness procedures.
In order to avoid the appearance of signs of pinched nerve in the cervical spine, the following rules must be observed:
- If labor activity is predominantly sedentary, it is recommended to leave the workplace at breaks and go somewhere (at least just next to a chair), as well as perform exercises to warm up the neck.
- Purchase a special orthopedic mattress and pillow for sleeping.
- Follow your posture - keep your back straight, it is not recommended to stoop.
- Long work with heavy weight in the gym can adversely affect the spine, it is important to do a warm-up and a break to bring the muscles and spine in order.
- Yoga and swimming contribute to the protection against pinching of the nerve in the cervical region, as well as the prevention of many other diseases.
Neck exercises
Another type of disease prevention is therapeutic exercises.
- Tilt your head back and forth. You need to keep your back straight, then touch the chin of the upper chest, then slowly tilt your head back to the stop. The exercise is best performed standing, with a straight back, arms - on the belt, legs - shoulder width apart.
- A similar exercise, only the head leans from one shoulder to the other. You need to do it slowly, and also return your head to its original position - directly.
- Slowly raise your shoulders, then lower them after 2-3 seconds. Repeat 10-15 times.
- Rest your palms on your forehead and move your head like the exercise in step 1, but using your hands.
- Put your hands on the back of your head and press your chin to your chest.
- Turn your head to the right until it stops, then to the left. When done properly, there should be a slight crunch. Repeat 5-6 times.
This set of exercises must be adhered to and performed every day for the successful prevention of pinched nerves in the cervical spine.
Possible signs of neck problems
The human body is a combination of biological mechanisms, so a problem with one can cause the other to work incorrectly. If you experience the following symptoms, you also need to think about your health:
- dizziness;
- the likeness of "goosebumps" before the eyes;
- pain or pressure in the back of the head;
- a feeling of heaviness in the neck.
All this may be signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which is quite capable of leading both to a pinched nerve and to more serious consequences.
Particular attention should be paid to pain in the left side of the chest. At first glance, they look like heart problems. Many patients mistakenly accept such “bells” as a heart attack or angina pectoris. The reason is calculated very simply: if the Validol tablet does not help, then there is a problem with a nerve in the cervical region, which affected the tissue of the chest.
Home treatment
Various methods of traditional medicine can relieve painful symptoms, but it is better to use those after consulting a doctor, so as not to cause even more harm.
Mostly, compresses, lotions and decoctions of herbs for oral administration are used to heal the neck:
- Tincture of vodka and crushed bay leaves is rubbed around the site, subject to pain.
- Mix honey with flour and put on the neck before going to bed, in the morning you should remove the cake.
- Grate potatoes and horseradish, mix and make a lotion in the size of a tablespoon, remove after half an hour, and repeat in a day.
- Take a bath of mint herbs: sage, chamomile, spruce or oak bark.
- Teas from valerian, oregano, dill and motherwort.
- A useful remedy is a mummy - about 0.5 grams for 10 days, then a five-day break and again taking. Only 3-4 courses.
Conclusion
Summing up, it is worth noting that the diseases themselves do not arise. All ailments come along with stress, malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. To avoid pinching a nerve in the cervical spine, you need to take time to exercise and strengthen your back muscles.
Massage courses that improve blood circulation will also be helpful. You also need to monitor your weight. Excessive fat in the body will not end in anything good.
Be healthy!