What is cervical disc protrusion and how is it treated?

What is cervical intervertebral disc protrusion? This is one of the stages of osteochondrosis, characterized by progressive degenerative-dystrophic disorders in cartilage tissues. Disturbed nutrition of discs leads to a gradual change in their physical and chemical properties, which in turn causes their pathological modification. The disc becomes less elastic, flattens and bulges into the spinal canal.

Without treatment, the disease progresses and can turn into an intervertebral hernia. Its formation leads to a rupture of the fibrous ring that holds the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc.

Causes of protrusion in the cervical spine

Usually, protrusions occur in those parts of the spine that are subjected to the greatest load. This disease is a consequence of the upright posture of a person, which increased the pressure on the intervertebral discs by several hundred times. The development of protrusion in the lumbar region is most likely, however, the intervertebral discs of the neck are also affected quite often.

Since protrusion of the discs of the cervical spine is not an independent disease, but only one of the stages of osteochondrosis, it would be correct to consider the factors and causes of the development of the latter in order to understand the etiology of protrusion.

Factors and reasons:

1. genetic predisposition.
2. Overweight, pregnancy are conditions in which the load on the vertebrae increases significantly.
3. An eating disorder manifested by a lack of essential macro- and micronutrients.
4. Disturbed metabolism, either due to malnutrition or due to chronic systemic diseases.
5. Severe diseases accompanied by asthenic syndrome.
6. Older age, when the intervertebral discs themselves begin to receive less nutrients and collapse.
7. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system: curvature of the spinal column, flat feet, spondylolisthesis and others.
8. Bruises and injuries of the spine, both recent and old.
9. Hypodynamia or constant being in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
10. Increased physical activity or work associated with lifting weights.

The risk group mainly includes people over 35 years old, but, as you know, many diseases have become “younger” in recent years, so the development of protrusion in younger people is not excluded.

Symptoms of protrusion of the cervical spine

The peculiarity of the pathology is that with it, the sensory and motor nerves are gradually clamped, some of which carry information from the central nervous system to the periphery, and some bring it back to the spinal cord. Therefore, for the most part, the main signs of the disease are pain and sensory disturbances.

Summarizing the above, the patient may find the following symptoms:

• localized pain in the cervical region and the back of the head;
• decreased sensitivity in the arms, shoulders, shoulder blades;
• pain during dynamic and static movements of the neck;
• irradiation of pain in the upper limbs;
• decrease or increase in systemic blood pressure;
• headache, dizziness up to loss of consciousness.

These are just the main signs of protrusion of the intervertebral disc of the cervical region.

The disease can affect the cervical spine at different levels. In order to conduct a differential diagnosis, and even at the examination stage to determine in which particular disk a pathological protrusion has formed, one should pay attention to other symptoms.

Features of the pain syndrome:

1. The pain is localized in the scapula and shoulder, while all types of sensitivity in these areas are reduced, and the ability to make a circular movement in the shoulder joint is impaired - protrusion of the intervertebral disc between C4 and C5 vertebrae. Sensation of weakness in the region of the biceps of the shoulder.
2. Pain in the forearm radiating to the hand and 1-2 fingers of the hand, combined with a decrease in the sensitivity of these zones, as well as a violation of flexion-extension in the elbow joint - protrusion of the disc between the C5 and C6 vertebrae. Weakness of the biceps brachii is felt.
3. The pain is localized in the back of the shoulder and forearm, radiates to the hand and 2-3 fingers, with a decrease in the sensitivity of these areas and a violation of flexion-extension of the hand and fingers - the disease affects the intervertebral disc between C6 and C7 vertebrae. Sensation of weakness in the triceps of the shoulder.
4. Pain in the inner surface of the shoulder and forearm radiating to the hand and fingers 4-5, with a simultaneous decrease in the sensitivity of these zones, as well as impaired flexion and spreading of the fingers - protrusion of the intervertebral disc between C7 and Th

These signs may not always be present, and no doctor has the right to make a diagnosis based on symptoms alone. It is necessary to take into account the anatomical and physiological characteristics of patients and understand that each of them may have different manifestations of the disease.

Diagnostic methods

To confirm the diagnosis of "protrusion of the cervical spine" and the choice of further treatment tactics, it is necessary to conduct a number of instrumental studies.

First, the attending physician conducts a survey and a complete examination: he palpates the affected area, asks to make various movements with the neck and limbs.

Then they can be assigned one of the following types of examination or a combination of them:

• radiography;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• computed tomography (CT).

The last two are given more preference, since these methods are more revealing, allow you to accurately determine the size and localization of protrusion in the cervical region, and also use them to carry out differential diagnosis with other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Treatment of protrusion of the cervical spine

Asking the question: how to cure cervical protrusion, it is important to consider that the treatment of such a disease is based on a whole range of methods and only their combination can give a positive result.

So, the treatment of protrusion of the discs of the cervical spine consists of the following methods:

1. Medications , in particular painkillers. Basically, this is a symptomatic treatment aimed at improving the quality of life of the patient during the period of therapy. In addition to the usual pills and injections, so-called therapeutic blockades are carried out - the introduction of painkillers directly into the plexus of the cervical nerves. Their therapeutic effect is to quickly relieve painful muscle spasms.
2. A complex of vitamins of group B, as well as trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and have a general strengthening effect on the body.
3. After removing the pain syndrome, when the main manifestations of the disease become less active, you can proceed to physiotherapy . They are carried out in order to improve blood circulation in the affected area, increase the supply of nutrients to the intervertebral discs and accelerate the process of restoration of the affected tissue. Electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, ultrasonic and laser radiation are mainly used.
4. Massage during protrusion should be carried out only by a highly qualified specialist, since in case of protrusion, the approach to this method of treatment should be especially careful. Properly performed technique will accelerate the recovery processes in the intervertebral discs, as well as relieve muscle spasm. For the best effect, massage sessions are required to visit every day for at least a month. If necessary, it is possible to periodically undergo a weekly massage course after the cure.
5. Exercise therapy and therapeutic gymnastics . This is one of the important components in the treatment of protrusion, and without it, a complete recovery is hardly possible. At first, you should visit the exercise therapy room and perform exercises under the supervision of a doctor. Later, it becomes possible to treat protrusion of the cervical spine at home.
6. Operation . As a last resort, your doctor may suggest surgery. Such situations include rapidly progressive dystrophic processes in the tissues of the intervertebral disc with the risk of developing a hernia, paralysis of the muscles of the neck or even the upper limbs.

Additional treatments include:

• reflexology: acupuncture, hirudotherapy, vacuum massage;
• hydromassage;
• yoga classes;
• manual therapy;
• traction (traction) of the spinal column.

Only a doctor has the right to decide how to treat protrusion in a particular case, and whether it is worth using some additional methods or traditional therapy can be dispensed with.

The positive effect of the treatment usually occurs after a couple of months, and with protrusion of the cervical spine, you should be patient. In no case should you stop the procedure ahead of time or replace the prescribed drugs, since the outcome of such treatment can be dangerous complications.

Complications

The main adverse effects of disc protrusion include:

• hernia development;
• paresis and paralysis of the belt of the upper limbs;
• persistent increase in systemic blood pressure;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• stroke.

Prevention

Leading a healthy lifestyle is necessary for all people, without exception, but those who are at risk of various diseases should pay double attention to their prevention.

What risk factors make people susceptible to the development of protrusion of the cervical spine:

1. People with back pain of unknown origin.
2. A history of any back diseases: osteoporosis, kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis, etc.
3. Aged people.
4. A history of frequent bone fractures.
5. Patients after prolonged infectious diseases with intoxication.
6. People with a body mass index over 30.
7. The presence of a history of such diagnoses in parents as osteochondrosis, hernia, protrusion.
8. People associated with long-term physical labor: weightlifters, loaders, etc.
9. Office and seating workers: some spend most of their time in a sitting position, others standing, which leads to overloads on the spine.
10. People with a history of severe systemic diseases that disrupt metabolic processes in the body.

If a person is at risk of developing diseases of the spine, in particular disc protrusion, then he should follow a number of preventive measures.

These measures should also be followed by people after a complete cure for protrusion:

1. Competently composed physical training to strengthen the muscular corset of the back and chest. It is best to visit a gym where there are trainers who have a medical background and know which exercises are good for people at risk of developing a protrusion or hernia.
2. Swimming lessons. No other sport has such a healthy effect on the back muscles as swimming.
3. Yoga. There are special sections for people with spinal diseases.
4. Healthy nutrition: a full and rational three to four meals a day with a high content of B vitamins.
5. Massage. If you wish, you can take a one-two-week massage course with a specialist once every six months.
6. Fight bad habits and stress.
7. Work with a nutritionist if you are overweight. We must not be ashamed of this problem, we must fight it, and the sooner the better. Excess weight is a colossal load on the spinal column.