With damage to the spinal roots in the neck, a whole complex of negative symptoms occurs. This headache, and pain in the shoulder girdle, impaired vision and hearing, dizziness and fainting. Such a lesion is called radiculitis of the cervical spine. Symptoms and treatment are described in detail in the article.
Factors contributing to the development of the disease
Sciatica develops most often due to external causes. Modern orthopedics perceives it not as an independent disease, but as a precursor to more serious pathologies. In the spine is the spinal cord. And when the nerve endings, which diverge from it in all corners of the body, receive some external lesions, there is a symptomatology of radiculitis. The cervical spine, thoracic or lumbar - it does not matter, the manifestations of the pathology are most often identical. In rare cases, they may have slight differences (for example, a pain symptom is accompanied by an increase in temperature, although hyperemia is not characteristic of neurological diseases of bone tissue).
The reasons why cervical sciatica develops:
- chronic injuries of the back and spine (even if the blow took place more than ten years ago, it can provoke manifestations of radiculitis after hypothermia, muscle strain, or simply at the time of severe fatigue);
- cervical osteochondrosis - degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue between the vertebrae;
- myogelosis - changes in the muscle tissue that supports the spinal column;
- severe hypothermia as a whole body, and its individual parts;
- weight lifting, especially if it was carried out in a physiologically incorrect position;
- physical overfatigue, muscle cramps (often found in weightlifting athletes and powerlifters);
- during pregnancy, symptoms of radiculitis of the cervical spine appear in women with weak muscle corset due to increased pressure on excess weight on the spinal column;
- in adolescents, pathology is extremely rare, mainly due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (in the last decade, the disease has become very "younger" - it has already been diagnosed in preteen children).
List of main symptoms
Neurology, orthopedics and vertebrology are engaged in the study of pathology. The medical name for the set of symptoms characteristic of radiculitis in any part of the spine is cervical radiculopathy. The defeat of the roots of the nerve endings can be secondary or primary - depending on this, the clinical picture is somewhat different.
Cervical and cervicothoracic sciatica (the symptoms are identical) take second place in prevalence among sciatica dislocations. In the "honorable" first place - the lumbosacral. Manifestations of the pathology are almost identical - only the dislocation changes.
With a primary lesion of the nerve roots, the following symptoms are observed:
- pain in the muscles of the shoulder girdle (trapezoidal, anterior and posterior deltoid, triceps);
- pain in the back of the head, which can give off to the temples;
- classic migraine with or without aura;
- dizziness, especially when performing sudden movements after being at rest.
If the damage to the roots is secondary, then the symptoms are somewhat exacerbated:
- darkening in the eyes;
- pain in the neck and neck is excruciating in nature and does not go astray even with high doses of analgesics;
- possible fainting, loss of consciousness;
- pupil dilation and pathological changes in the fundus;
- hearing and vision impairment (occur if the optic or auditory nerve has been pinched or affected);
- nerve tics;
- irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances.
Patients under the age of thirty-five years are usually diagnosed with primary lesion of the nerve roots, therefore they have weaker manifestations and symptoms of radiculitis of the cervical spine. At the same time, treatment brings relief on the first or second day. Elderly patients are characterized by a complicated course of the disease, provoked by secondary damage to the nerve roots of the spinal cord. Therefore, the symptoms are more complex, and treatment methods are cardinal (up to surgery).
Which doctor should I contact for diagnosis?
Therapy of the patient's condition is not one doctor, but several:
- therapist (compiles the overall clinical picture);
- orthopedist (assesses the condition of the spinal column and gives recommendations for strengthening it);
- neurologist (evaluates the degree of damage to the nervous system);
- vertebrologist (takes treatment of pathological processes of bone tissue).
For diagnosis, the following studies are most often prescribed:
- computed tomography of the cervical spine is a painless study that takes about half an hour and allows you to compile a clinical picture of the degree of damage to the intervertebral cartilage and discs;
- magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to assess the condition of the soft tissues surrounding each vertebra, and also gives an idea of the state of the vessels;
- Radiography is the simplest study that allows you to see neoplasms on bone tissue, to assess the degree of displacement or curvature of the vertebrae.
Treatments for cervical radiculitis
Symptoms may vary in intensity and severity. If the pain is completely unbearable, you will have to resort to anesthetics. In the period of remission, when the intensity of pain decreases, it is necessary to engage in exercise therapy and attend physiotherapy. Subject to the rules of treatment, symptoms of cervical radiculitis may not return for many years.
The main methods of treatment:
- The use of ointments and creams, the independent preparation of mixtures for compresses. The most popular way. There are many therapeutic pharmacological ointments. For example, "Dikul Balm", "Finalgon", "Viprosal", "Efkamon". Separate mixes for compresses are usually prepared using Dimexidum, which is a cheap component that has an excellent warming effect and facilitates the penetration of the components of the talker deep into the tissues.
- Physiotherapy is usually used during remission. For the treatment of symptoms of cervical radiculitis, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, amplipulse therapy, and UHF are most often prescribed. If a tumor is suspected (no matter, benign or malignant in nature), such measures are prohibited.
- Reception of vitamin-mineral complexes and amino acids, which are designed to establish nerve conduction between parts of the body, increase immunity. The most effective for these purposes are the injectable preparations "Combilipen", "Milgamma". You can also use B vitamins separately - these are Thiamine, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin, Nicotinic acid in ampoules for intramuscular administration.
- The use of tablet and injection analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is necessary in the case when the patient is in severe pain. In some cases, prescription painkillers have to be used. For example, Solpadein. Such drugs can be purchased only after receiving a prescription from a neurologist or vertebrologist.
Physiotherapy in the fight against radiculitis
The treatment of cervical radiculitis requires a comprehensive. After the intensity of pain has decreased, it is worth taking a course of physiotherapy procedures.
- SMT therapy. Exposure to alternating modulated current improves the condition of the roots of nerve endings. The high-frequency current is modulated with a low frequency, and as a result, separate “bursts” of pulses are obtained, separated by pauses.
- UHF therapy has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antispastic effect in radiculitis. Effective with a course of at least ten procedures. The duration of each should be at least two minutes. Otherwise, the therapeutic effect cannot be achieved.
- Magnetotherapy can be used not only during remission, but also during exacerbation. The therapeutic effect of a special apparatus in which an electrode with a magnetic action is enclosed provides a light anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Vitamin preparations and complexes
Both with osteochondrosis and with radiculitis, a course of B vitamins is very effective. Admission in tablets does not have such an effect as injected intramuscular injection. In the stomach and intestines, some of the components are not absorbed, and when injected, the active substance enters the bloodstream almost immediately.
Treatment of cervical radiculitis at home can be carried out if the patient is able to inject himself. Or one of the relatives agrees to care for the patient. Otherwise, you will have to lie in a hospital and undergo all the methods of complex exposure for the treatment of cervico-shoulder radiculitis. This method is suitable for unoccupied people or you will have to take sick leave for the duration of hospitalization.
List of the most effective vitamin complexes for intramuscular administration with radiculitis:
- "Combilipen".
- Milgamma.
- "Riboflavin".
- Thiamine.
- "A nicotinic acid".
- "Cyanocobalamin."
- "Pyridoxine".
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Pharmacological agents of this group have an impressive list of side effects. But in the period of exacerbation of radiculitis (cervicothoracic, lumbar, cervical - it does not matter) can not do without them. Such tablets as quickly as possible relieve pain, swelling of the tissues, muscle inflammation.
The list of the most effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription:
- Diclofenac.
- Ketoprofen.
- Inhibitors of COX-2.
- Indomethacin.
- Butadion.
Before use, you should carefully read the instructions for use, contraindications and a list of side effects.
Physiotherapy
How to treat cervical sciatica at home? It is very simple: if you perform a set of exercises of physiotherapy exercises daily, you can forget about the symptoms of pathology for many years. The basic rule: each movement should be performed carefully, without jerking. Excessive exercise may provoke a worsening of the condition and exacerbation of pain.
- Feet shoulder width apart. Perform sipping from left to right, then forward (trying to reach your feet with your fingertips). Bending back should be done carefully, if this movement does not work out, it is better to abandon it.
- Lunges: alternately push the right and left knees forward. At the same time, the spine remains perfectly straight, the head is in a relaxed state, the neck is not strained.
- Hand swings (perform smoothly, without jerking): crosswise, then up and down.
- Squats: no more than ten times, without weights in the form of dumbbells or barbells. Make sure that the posture remains perfectly flat.
- Lie on the floor, on the stomach. The face is looking down. Stretch your arms and heels up. This is a static exercise - you need to freeze in this position for at least ten seconds.
- Men can do standard push-ups (slowly and carefully), women can do push-ups from knees. If this exercise causes pain and discomfort, you should refuse to perform it.
- Do not pump the press with radiculitis. Twisting familiar to everyone from school is very traumatic for radiculitis and can provoke an exacerbation.
- You can not perform exercises from athletics: jumping, racing, running on the spot, they lead to unnecessary shaking of the spinal column.
- It is forbidden to run short and long distances, active dancing, crossfit, jumping rope, athletics racks, walking on hands.
- Exercises with a barbell, bar, barbell and dumbbell should be excluded. Even during remission, it is undesirable to lift weights weighing more than three kilograms.
Symptoms of radiculitis of the cervical spine will leave the patient for a long time, provided that regular simple physical therapy exercises are performed. Do not overwork and prevent fatigue. Each exercise should be easy and give only positive emotions.
What sports can I deal with with symptoms of cervical radiculitis?
Treatment involves a state of rest. In the period of exacerbation of radiculitis, in no case can you do powerlifting, weightlifting. It is forbidden even to simply lift bags with weights. After the pain recedes, it is possible to return to power sports only after examination and consultation by an orthopedist and a neurologist.
Sports that are allowed with radiculitis of the cervical spine:
- swimming;
- amateur ballet (at such classes the loads are minimal);
- kundalini yoga;
- hatha yoga;
- Pilates;
- callanetics.
All these classes take place at a calm pace. In this case, the load on the muscles and joints is significant. You can gain impressive muscle mass by correctly performing yoga asanas. Yes, performing static exercises will not allow you to acquire muscle tubercles in a short time. But it will preserve the health of the spine and give energy, vitality, and increase efficiency.
Advice of neuropathologists and orthopedists: how to prevent exacerbation?
Cervical sciatica is a pathological condition that has a chronic course. Once you get rid of the symptoms, you should not rejoice. It is likely that at the first physical exertion or hypothermia, the pain will return again. The rest of your life should follow simple rules:
- avoid being in cold water;
- avoid falling into the rain, getting wet feet, hypothermia;
- do not lift weights of more than three kilograms;
- regularly perform a set of exercises of physiotherapy exercises;
- fully relax, sleep a day for at least eight hours;
- refuse weightlifting;
- pierce a course of B vitamins once a quarter;
- adhere to proper nutrition, in no case do not give up meat and dairy products;
- refuse to drink alcoholic beverages, as they contribute to the leaching of calcium from bone tissue.