Pinched cervical vertebra is a popular definition of pathology, in which acute pain, numbness is felt. Symptoms of pinching of the cervical nerve relate to cervical radiculopathy and other problems. Therefore, it is important to establish a diagnosis as early as possible, to identify the true cause of the pain.
Cervical spine
The cervical spine is complicated. A large number of nerves, blood vessels that feed the arteries of the brain pass through it. The department itself consists of seven vertebrae, between which there are intervertebral discs. Due to various reasons, the quality of the drives decreases. Because of this, compression of the nerve endings occurs, which causes pain, leads to complications, and also disrupts movement.
Causes of Pinching
According to statistics, pinching of the cervical nerve occurs along with other pathologies:
- subluxation of the vertebrae;
- bias;
- violation of the position of the disk;
- bone growths;
- decrease in intervertebral gaps;
- muscle spasm of the back, neck;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- injuries.
Symptoms of pinching of the cervical nerve can also occur as a result of protrusion, intervertebral hernia.
Less commonly, infringement is observed in case of malfunctions of the endocrine system, sharp head turns, and acute illnesses. Compression is noted during tumor processes, severe hypothermia, exacerbations of chronic ailments, emotional overstrain, and intense physical exertion.
Pinching of the cervical nerve occurs at any age, even in newborns this symptom is observed. As a rule, it develops in utero or occurs as a birth injury.
Signs
The main sign of pinching of the cervical nerve is pain. It can be of two types: only in the cervical region and pain in the arm and neck. In addition to pinching the cervical nerve, arteries, nerve roots, and a nerve in the occipital part can be squeezed. In this case, there is pressure on the spinal cord.
Often, symptoms of pinching of the cervical nerve are accompanied by pinching of roots and blood vessels. Because of this, there is a shortage of blood supply to the brain. It is impossible not to notice the changes taking place. These specific symptoms and general malaise suggest that the root is pinched in the cervical spine and urgent medical attention is needed.
Clinical manifestations
Treatment and symptoms of pinching of the cervical nerve are interconnected. With pathology, spinal depreciation worsens, the load on other parts of the body increases.
The pathology clinic develops immediately with infringement. With the course of the disease, an increase in the clinical picture is noted, severe headache, and body temperature may increase.
Symptoms of pinching of the cervical nerve can be dizziness, increased pressure, internal fears, guilt, indecision. Also about pathology can say:
- sharp pain in the back of the head;
- shoulder pain;
- chest pain on the left side;
- headache;
- tingling at fingertips, shoulders;
- burning sensation in the limbs;
- fatigue;
- decrease in memory;
- change in hand sensitivity;
- mild paralysis and paresis;
- inability to do work for a long time.
In some cases, due to infringement of the ternary nerve, swelling of the tongue, difficulty swallowing, and the occurrence of speech defects occur.
If the first signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. He will select diagnostic methods, prescribe treatment for a pinched cervical nerve.
Danger
If a pathology occurs, life-long treatment is necessary under the supervision of a doctor, since in its absence other changes occur. If the cervical arteries suddenly passing through the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th vertebrae are suddenly clamped, as well as the nerve is pinched, this leads to severe pulsating vascular pain. The patient has a feeling that the impulses come from the back of the head and diverge to the forehead, and with movement they intensify. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, then the disease will lead to the development of ischemic stroke.
Who to contact
To be prescribed treatment for pinching of the cervical nerve, you should first consult a therapist. He will conduct a differential diagnosis with therapeutic diseases, and then refer for a consultation with a neurologist.
Diagnostic Methods
What to do when pinched a nerve in the cervical spine and what diagnostic procedures must be completed?
Diagnosis is an important step towards recovery. Immediately, when contacting a doctor, the questioning process begins, during which all the information about the pathology and symptoms are found out in detail. Of great importance in the diagnosis is the evaluation of neurological functions. But in order to accurately make a diagnosis, instrumental methods of diagnosis are prescribed. These include:
- X-ray examination. This is the simplest and most popular examination method, allowing you to see all the abnormalities of the spinal column. However, this method has a drawback - low accuracy.
- CT, MRI. These methods allow you to get a high-quality image of the spine, spinal cord, nerve roots. These types of diagnostic tests can identify osteochondrosis and other pathologies, as well as see the complications associated with the disease.
- Electromyographic study. It is used to evaluate the work of nerve endings, the muscular system. In some cases, the disease can confirm the pathology.
Together with instrumental diagnostic methods, a blood and urine test must be prescribed, an assessment of the general condition is carried out.
Treatment methods
And what to do when pinching the cervical nerve, what treatment methods are used? The treatment of pathology depends on the cause that caused it. If pain occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor to prevent the development of severe complications associated with blood flow disorders.
So how to treat cramping of the cervical nerve and what methods are used? Therapy of an ailment has two approaches: relieving pain, anti-inflammatory therapy and reducing the risk of relapse in a similar situation.
The standard technique involves the use of various local preparations in the form of ointments, gels, massages. Generally prescribed drugs are also prescribed. In rare cases, when conservative treatment does not bring the desired result, corticosteroids are used or surgery is performed. It is prescribed taking into account the health of the patient, the causes of the disease, the presence of contraindications, age characteristics of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases.
If the violation is caused by another pathology, then to recover this disease should be treated. At the same time, they begin to use medications that help relieve inflammation.
The following drugs help remove inflammation:
- Anesthetics tablets "Nise", "Ibuprofen", "Ketonav", "Baralgin".
- “Declofenac”, “Dolak”.
- Voltaren.
- Movalis.
- "Indomethacin."
Often, when pinched nerves, Dexalgin is additionally used. It effectively blocks the acute manifestations of the arising pathology. To reduce the load on the spine, it is recommended to wear an orthopedic collar.
In the period of exacerbation of the disease, a lying position should be taken before the doctor arrives. The surface should be solid, even. If possible, you should stay in such a position that the vertebrae relax.
Drugs that stimulate blood circulation in the brain have a positive effect. In the event that the muscles are very tense, prescribe drugs that relieve spasms that cause relaxation of the muscle apparatus. This may be the drug "Midokalm" and other means.
Vitamin therapy with nicotinic acid, B vitamins, microelements is necessarily prescribed. These drugs are mandatory, they increase the tone and effectiveness of therapy.
To facilitate falling asleep, sedatives are necessarily selected. They help to have a good rest when distressed, pain.
Other treatments
For the treatment of pinching of the cervical nerve at home, traditional medicine is used. These include decoctions and infusions of mint, St. John's wort, Valerian, motherwort, lemon balm.
A positive effect is the decoction of chamomile, chestnut, oak bark. Medicines prepared from them are added to the bath.
To eliminate pathology, ointments are used when pinching the cervical nerve. They have a warming effect on the affected area.
You can do the preparations yourself by purchasing components for them in the pharmacy. So, fir oil, mixed with a decoction of chamomile, valerian, helps to cope with the disease. This tool is added to the bath.
To reduce edema, cold compresses are used. They are applied to the sore spot for ten minutes, after which they give the body a rest.
Physiotherapy
An important point in the treatment of pinched nerve is physiotherapy. High efficiency shows massage with pathology. This is one of the most popular methods to eliminate the problem, the main thing is that the massage is performed by a professional. Usually ten massage sessions are enough to cope with the disease. After the massage can be used as a prophylactic.
In addition to massage, laser therapy, acupuncture, magnetic stimulation are used, ultrasound, UHF are used.
After the main course of massage and other procedures for strengthening muscles, manual therapy is recommended.
During treatment, the physiotherapist develops an individual exercise program, determines the permitted loads. Properly selected exercise therapy allows the most effective treatment of pinching. The course should begin with a specialist. Then he continues at home, on his own. Usually recommended to perform stretching, tilting the head, exercises on the floor. By correctly performing these health-improving exercises when the cervical nerve is pinched, relief can be quickly achieved, and eventually the pain will generally disappear, and the condition will stabilize.
Exercises
Most often, two sets of exercises are used to treat pinching. Usually they are recommended to be performed in cases where frequent neck pain occurs. They are suitable for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, whose work is connected with computers and not only. Gymnastics not only improves overall well-being, but also improves mood, reduces headaches, and passes dizziness.
Complex first
Exercises from this complex are usually used for chronic pain in the cervical spine. They are also suitable during periods of exacerbation, when the pain syndrome subsides. The purpose of the complex is to improve the mobility of the vertebrae, restore their plasticity, improve the state of the muscular apparatus of the neck.
- Exercise one. The patient takes a starting position while standing or sitting on a chair. The head should be straight. Then slowly turns to the extreme right and to the left. Turns are repeated ten times.
- Exercise two. The head is lowered down so that the chin is located as close to the chest as possible. If the mobility of the vertebrae is good, then the chin touches the chest. Then the head is lifted up. This is done ten times.
- Exercise Three. The head is moved back as much as possible. Then it is lowered, looking in front of you. Repeat ten times.
When performing any exercise, there should not be a strong pain syndrome. If discomfort suddenly intensifies, then exercise therapy is stopped until it subsides.
Second complex
All exercises from this complex are used to treat pinching in chronic pain, and also used to strengthen the neck muscles. Exercise therapy allows you to relax tense muscles, reduce pain.
- Exercise one. The starting position is taken, one hand should be on the forehead. The head is tilted forward, and hand pressed on the forehead, counteracting the movements of the head for ten seconds. Then a short break is made and the exercise is repeated.
- Exercise two. The initial position is sitting. One palm should be on the head in the temporal zone. The head is tilted to one side, and with a palm press on the temple, as if creating resistance to head movement. Pressure lasts ten seconds. Then the same thing is done on the other side. This is repeated ten times.
- Exercise Three. The initial position is lying or sitting. Then a massage of the zone between the occipital bone and its soft part, where the muscles are located, is performed. It is necessary to act at least three minutes. Massage of this part of the head can cause increased pain, but it passes after a while. Also, headaches pass after the massage.
- Exercise Four. Position - sitting, standing or lying down. The latter is preferred. Using your fingertips, massage the upper and inner sections of the scapula in the place where the neck muscle that lifts the scapula is attached. Initially, this procedure is painful, but after the pain goes away. At the same time, heat can be felt in the area of the shoulder girdle. Massage lasts no longer than three minutes.
In the first two weeks, exercises are performed every day. Then, the execution frequency is reduced to three times a week. For a better mastery of the technique, exercises are performed several times each, in front of the mirror. During exercise, keep your back straight.
Reviews
There are many reviews on the Internet about pinching of the cervical nerve, what consequences it led to and how people struggled with the disease. They not only used the medications prescribed by the doctor, but also did various exercises, took vitamins, changed the diet. It included foods rich in protein, vitamins. They began to drink a sufficient amount of liquid, included in the diet products that affect the restoration of cartilage, such as jellies and components containing gelatin.
There are reviews telling about how people coped with infringement using folk methods. They made various decoctions, grindings, took baths with the addition of infusions of medicinal plants.
A good and quick effect is given by treatment with prescribed drugs of general and local action. According to reviews, complex treatment allows you to normalize the condition in less than a month, forget about pain.