Cervical spine has a particular anatomical structure of the vertebrae, differing lots of blood vessels and nerves, as well as the frequent complications of spinal cord injury tissue. These features make the pinched nerve Pinched nerve - what to do when severe pain?   in the cervical region more severe than in other parts of the spine.

The structural features of the cervical spine and a pinched nerve

The cause pinched nerves in the neck is often low back pain. Osteochondrosis begins with metabolic disorders in the intervertebral discs - elastic rings with the nucleus in the middle, which serve as shock absorbers for the spine. Disks may break and go beyond the spinal nerve roots of prejudice - a condition called a herniated disc. The next stage of osteoarthritis - overgrowth of bone tissue constantly injured vertebrae - the bony growths will also undermine the spinal nerve roots. But the cause of crushing can also be an acute injury or permanent long-term injury (eg, incorrect posture).

In the cervical spine osteochondrosis Osteochondrosis - learn how to properly distribute the weight   and injuries occur with distinctive features associated with the feature of the structure of the vertebrae and soft tissues in the neck. For example, in the neck runs a lot of blood vessels and nerves, which are suitable to the tissues of the neck and head. The most vulnerable is a vertebral artery, which comes out of the holes in the processes of the vertebrae. Any changes in the spine (growth of connective tissues, calluses, trauma) almost always occurs that squeezing the artery, causing part of the brain is deprived of nutrients and oxygen, which enter it with blood.

They have a structural feature of the vertebrae themselves, each arranged in their own way, which allows them to closely adhere to each other. As a result, all diseases and injuries, as well as increased physical activity does not suffer from one vertebra and the entire cervical spine. This leads to compression or displacement of passing next to the spinal nerves and blood vessels and squeezing the tissue of the spinal cord.

Often, the spinal cord is compressed vertebral disc hernia, if the disk is not shifted outwards and inwards. This leads to significant violations in the neck, and in remote areas, such as in the limbs - develop paresis (temporary immobilization), muscle weakness, sensory disturbances of various kinds.

Symptoms

Characterized as headaches and dizziness. All kinds of pain increases sharply at the slightest movement in the neck, as well as its long-term immobility. This is particularly evident in the morning after sleep. The pain may be on one or both sides.

Along with this, there may be disturbances of sensory and motor disturbances in the area of ​​innervation of the respective cervical roots. So, there may be numbness, or swelling of the tongue, the tongue barely tossed in the mouth. Often there is pain in the collarbone, muscle weakness in the neck and shoulder.

When pinched nerve in the neck may also experience pain in the left side of the chest, extending to the left hand, similar to heart pain, typical for angina. But unlike a true angina pain nitroglycerin are not removed.

Prolonged compression of the spinal cord in the cervical developing cervical myelopathy with paresis of arms and legs.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine is placed on the basis of specific complaints of the patient, medical examination and confirmed by radiographic examination. In the treatment of infringements in the first place try to reduce the physical load on the cervical spine. For this purpose, neck wear special locking collar. In addition, patients were interviewed in the course of which the physician determines that it resulted in a pinched nerve. Most often it is some kind of a forced position, in which the patient is long, for example, stay at the computer or a very high pillow while sleeping Dreams: how to understand our dreams . It is recommended to eliminate any effects that may cause increased pain.

To remove severe pain conducted drug therapy: analgesics (in the form of injections, tablets or external resources - ointments, gels and creams), tools to improve blood circulation and dilates the blood vessels (this reduces the headaches and dizziness). Conducted physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture Acupuncture - the ancient traditions in the service of modern science . After denial comes off, we recommend holding spa treatment.

Galina Romanenko

A pinched nerve in the foot most often occurs in older people and in athletes with severe physical exertion. However, a pinched nerve Pinched nerve - what to do when severe pain?   at the foot occurs during pregnancy. Pain in the leg while can be very strong and the patient needs urgent medical care.

Reasons for infringement

Intervertebral hernia can become one of the causes of a pinched nerve, which is the main manifestation of osteochondrosis. Human spine is designed so that between the individual vertebrae are located padding - intervertebral discs. They can be destroyed with a variety of metabolic diseases of the spine (eg osteochondrosis), with injuries, diseases and heavy physical exertion. In this case, part of the disc extends beyond the spine and compresses the nerve root - a disease called disc herniation.

And as the sciatic nerve The sciatic nerve: how to avoid the excruciating pain?   passes through the buttock and back of the leg, the pain is felt in the leg.

Sciatic nerve entrapment can occur in the event that over the course of a nerve or its own benign tissue begins to grow (usually) or malignant tumor, compressing nerves.

Diagnosis and treatment of a pinched nerve in the leg

Before the appointment of treatment, the patient must undergo the necessary tests - X-rays of the spine, if necessary - or computer magitno resonance imaging. If you suspect a tumor scintigraphy performed (radiological examination) of the spine.

The main thing with the infringement of the sciatic nerve - is pain relief. The patient was prescribed bed rest, procaine blockade, analgesic drugs. By painkillers, which are used in a pinched nerve in the leg include nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs - indomethacin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, nize and others. These same preparations in the dosage form for external application is applied to the skin surface of the patient station. External used as ointments, which contain irritants such as propolis, mustard oil, turpentine. You can apply and alcohol tinctures, such as tincture of red hot pepper.

Home to the affected area can be applied dry heat, hot compress, wax or paraffin. But in some cases, the pain increases warming procedures and help, on the contrary, cold: to the point of severe pain Apply ice or a hot water bottle with cold water. This dramatically narrowed blood vessels, swelling of tissue is removed and the pain decreases slightly.

If a patient with acute pain in the hospital, he prescribed physical therapy with analgesic effect (UHF, electrophoresis with novocaine, paraffin wax, mineral wax), acupuncture Acupuncture - the ancient traditions in the service of modern science   and acupressure Acupressure - Eastern practices in the service of modern science .

Very severe pain that does not decrease the appointment painkillers, is removed by means of short courses of glucocorticoid hormones. These drugs are well relieve inflammation and swelling of the tissues, resulting in pain pass. Sometimes, to relieve severe pain administered epidural steroids - at the site of the nerve roots exit the spinal cord that relieves pain instantly.

After the pain subside, prescribed massage and physiotherapy (physical therapy). Exercise therapy in the infringement of the sciatic nerve - this is one of the main methods of promoting the rapid recovery of the normal state of the patient. All exercises are performed first under the leadership of a doctor or exercise physiologist, and then home. Doing these exercises regularly.

Operative treatment

Resorting to surgery only if you do not help other treatments, and the patient concerned about persistent severe pain. In this case, surgery is performed to remove the causes of nerve entrapment. Most often this operation is the removal of disc herniation.

Spa treatment is only effective if the patient is in a state of stable remission (without exacerbation). In this case, the natural mud, combined with hydrotherapy and physiotherapy apparatus capable of long time to put the patient's feet.

Pinched nerve in his leg requires long-term treatment under medical supervision and careful execution of all its appointments.

Galina Romanenko