Among all violations of the musculoskeletal system, second place in terms of prevalence is occupied by cervical spine osteochondrosis.Symptoms and treatment of the disease are determined by the stage of its development;Therefore, it is so important not to lose the signs of an imminent disease.
Causes and symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is called dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage against the bottom of the intervertebral disc lesion.
Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the pathological destruction of the cartilage of the vertebrae that support the head.
Most of the time, the disease is diagnosed in people from 30 to 40 years.In developed countries, this or other degree of cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed in 80% of the population.
The neck is considered the most mobile column.At the same time, there is an insufficient amount of muscles around the neck that can compensate for loads in the spine.Therefore, most cargo falls on intervertebral discs that play the role of shock absorption.
As a result, the discs wear out, dry and flatten, osteochondrosis develops.
The reasons that contribute to the appearance of pathology are not only in anatomy, but also in human behavior:
- Soweity and static and sedentary work - on the computer, driving a car in the office;
- Overweight;
- Great physical effort;
- Smoking;
- inadequate nutrition;
- weak physical form;
- Lesions in the spine.
Additional provocative factors in the development of osteochondrosis are: flat feet, soft mattresses and pillows, the habit of using a shoulder bag, hypothermia and stress.
How the disease manifests itself
At the beginning of the disease on its development, only neck flow, which is generally not paid attention.With the progress of the pathology, the number and intensity of the manifestations increase.
Characteristic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
- pain at the back of the head, at the base of the neck, giving the limbs;
- crispy and pain when turning your head;
- Numbness or tingling of the areas between the shoulder blades and at the base of the neck, burning, a sense of discomfort and rigidity;
- headaches, migraines, dizziness;
- Weakness, fatigue.
Secondary symptoms are considered a decrease in vision, hearing, memory problems, sleep disturbance, inattention, distraction, pressure.
Syndromes caused by cervical spine osteochondrosis
Doctors classify signs of osteochondrial processes as syndromes associated with a certain type of spine.
Stenosis.It develops at the bottom of the hernia of intervertebral discs and is accompanied by a violation of blood circulation and the growth of bone tissue.It is manifested by the dormancy of the members.
Reflex and irrigation syndrome- A consequence of compression of the vertebral artery with neck curvature and impaired posture.It manifests itself in severe paroxysmal pain in the occipital part with gradual dissemination to areas around the forehead.
Rook syndrome.It is observed when flattening the roots of the spine - the consequences of a hernia.At the same time, sensitivity in affected areas is reduced and motor activity becomes limited.It can be accompanied by the development of speech defects, snoring, impaired smell, a decrease in the sensitivity of the tongue muscles.
The degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The complexity of the process process is determined by the state of the polpoeose nucleus that fills the vertebral space.
Degenerative lesions of the cervical region are conditionally divided into three stages:
- First.The intervertebral disc is compacted.The vertebrae hooks of the vertebrae are increasing.The rigidity of the muscles appears, but their mobility does not change.Small edema and pain when rotating the head are possible;
- The second.It develops at the bottom of the first stage of the disease, if the treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis was absent or performed incorrectly.Intervertebral holes are narrowed, the height of the intervertebral discs becomes less due to their flattening.Tighten the nerve roots.The patient feels a painful pain;
- The third.The cracks in the fibrous ring around the intervertebral disc lead to the rupture of its capsule and deformation of muscle tissue.The stability of pulp core fixation within the intervertebral disc is violated.The intervertebral hernia develops.It is characterized by acute pain in the neck, numbness of the tongue, edema, limitation of mobility, curvature of the spine.
The correct position of the vertebrae of the cervical region determines the functionality of the visual and auditory nerves, nose, lips, mouth, throat, teeth, facial nerve, pituitary, brain, parasympathetic nervous system, neck and forearm muscles, thyroid gland, elbows and shoulders.
Diagnostic methods
The exact determination of the cause of the development of osteochondrosis allows you to affect the disease purposely.The preliminary diagnosis is indicated after the initial exam by the doctor.
The patient's complaints about the nature of pain syndromes are taken into consideration, as well as the information obtained during the examination of the spine in various positions.The study of the cervical compartment allows to determine the presence of seals and deformations.In addition, attention is paid to the tone of the patient's muscles and motor capabilities.
Doctors receive complete diagnostic information using studies such as:
- Radiography.The procedure allows to evaluate the condition of the vertebrae in two projections - straight and side.The result is the determination of damage, saline deposits and compacted formations;
- Magnetic Resonance TomographyIt allows not only to establish pathologies of the spine, but also the degree of gravity.Through magnetic resonance imaging, a doctor can evaluate the state and the level of damage to nerve endings, blood vessels and intervertebral discs;
- Computed tomography- Digitization of information obtained by irradiation x -raio.
In the presence of dizziness, an additional study of structural change in blood vessels may be required through dominorography, angiography and duplex scan.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
After making a precise diagnosis and clarifying the causes of disease development, the neurologist determines how to treat cervical osteochondrosis.
The ideal results are brought by complex therapy, which provides for the use of various methods.Protocols include drug effects, hardware procedures, exercise therapy and therapeutic massage.
Medicine treatment
In each individual case, the choice of medicines occurs individually.It depends not only on the severity of the pathology, but also on the specific characteristics of the patient's body.
Fixed drug treatment drugs:
- Anti -inflammatory drugs - tablets that relieve pain and inflammation;
- Condropoprotectors - Medicines that activate the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- External use - ointments and gels that interrupt pain and inflammation;
- A vitamin complex to support the body and stimulate its restoration.
In the first stage of the therapeutic effect, it is possible to increase pain syndrome - this is the reaction of the muscle system.To reduce discomfort and improve the results of drug treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are used.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy means the effect on the cause of the disease using special equipment - electrophoresis, electrical stimulation of tissue.The use of low frequency currents improves blood circulation in the affected areas, relieves edema and pain and at the same time increases the effectiveness of medical effects.
The minimum hardware treatment course is 10 sessions.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis at home
Manual therapy is a productive way to influence affected areas at home.With the help of massage, pinch, muscle cramps and pain are eliminated, blood circulation improves and compression of nerve roots is reduced.
Thanks to massage, metabolism improves and spine tissues are restored.
Physical Education of the Media for Cervical spine osteochondrosis
The best method of restoring the functionality of the organs of the musculoskeletal system and the prevention of relapse is the physical education of physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical region.The procedures are prescribed after completely pain relief and inflammatory processes.
The main types of exercise therapy:
- Medical gymnastics;
- Dating Walk;
- classes in simulators;
- swimming.
For the exercises for cervical osteochondrosis to bring the expected results, the classes must be kept under the supervision of competent experts.
Popular remedies
The complete elimination of cervical osteochondrosis using traditional medicine methods is impossible.On the other hand, the use of folkloric medicines allows you to improve the patient's condition, relieve inflammation, reduce pain and strengthen immunity.
On average, the therapeutic period with cervical osteochondrosis takes up to three months.If conservative treatment has not brought the expected results, surgery is used.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
Pathologies in the neck represent a serious threat to all human health.As the neck connects the head to the body, in this section of the spine, there are all important biological communications - arteries that feed the brain, nerve channels.
Any change in the functionality of the cervical region implies the consequences in the form:
- Disorders of blood circulation and brain nutrition.As a result, hypertension, respiratory system pathology and cardiovascular system, VSD, impaired coordination, hearing problems, vision and speech develop;
- Vertebrate artery syndrome.The pathology develops at the bottom of squeezing a vase that feeds the cerebellum and an oblong brain.The development of cervical osteochondrosis can cause ischemia and stroke;
- Radiculopathy - Damage to nerve roots, the growth of bone tissue in vertebrae as a result of which partial or complete loss of mobility occurs.
The most dangerous compression of the spinal cord, located inside the spine.Such pathology leads to a break from the spinal cord shell and cause paralysis.In particularly severe cases, cervical osteochondrosis ends fatal.
Prevention
Even after a complete recovery, the disease can return again if the patient does not review his lifestyle - the way of work and rest, habits, food.
As preventive measures, neurologists recommend paying attention to the following points:
- The rigidity of the mattress.The ideal option is an orthopedic mattress and a low pillow;
- A visit to the sauna is necessary for complete relaxation and the removal of muscle cramps;
- Daily hot shower is a good tool to improve blood circulation in the neck;
- Swimming, walking, stimulating blood circulation, strengthens the muscles of the spine;
- Proper nutrition is the rejection of products that reduce metabolism: greasy, fried, sweet, smoked, flour and alcohol.It is recommended to dishes with gelatin, dairy, walnuts, vegetables, white meat, seafood.
In everyday life, great physical effort should be avoided, clear curves of the head, prolonged sitting or being in a static position.In addition, it is desirable to use chairs that provide head and back support.
The position of active life, healthy foods and morning exercises are simple but effective ways to avoid most diseases and live a long life without pain and discomfort.