Osteochondrosis is a disease that is one of the most common in the world.Most people after 35 years have osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in one form or another.Recently, there has been a tendency to increase the number of people suffering from severe diseases and to rejuvenate the disease, reducing the threshold of a younger age.This is due to the fact that an increasing number of people around the world are involved in stuck work and lead a sedentary lifestyle.In the meantime, the disease is quite dangerous and every person needs to know what it is - osteochondrosis, how it manifests itself and how it is treated, to be able to recognize their symptoms and to begin timely treatment.
Causes for cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases that are only characteristic of humans.This disease is not found in other animals.The reason for this is such a distinctive human feature as upright walking.The vertical position of the spine leads to the fact that the vertebrae is pressed against each other and the osteochondral tissue of the spine gradually breaks down and deform.
The human spine starts from the cervical region.There are a total of seven vertebrae in this section - from the first to the seventh.The vertebrae are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. The uterus of the uterus is a particularly vulnerable part of it, which is connected, first of all, with the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area.In the cervical region, the disease is mainly reflected in the disks, which are a weak point in the structure of the spine.
The spread of cervical osteochondrosis is also facilitated by factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles.Also, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is significantly influenced by insufficient blood supply to cartilage tissue.
In this way, the development of the disease is a complex and long process and there is no reason.Although a link has been established between a person's stuck work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, however, the disease is often found in trained people, especially athletes, due to the increased load of the cervical spine when lifting weights.
In older people, as a rule, the breakdown of vertebrae structures is an inevitable process associated with aging of the body and the weakening of its protection.However, the most common pathological type of osteochondrosis of the cervix occurs, in which external or internal negative factors play a major role.
Factors contributing to the development of osteochondrosis of the neck:
- Bad stand
- Spine curvature
- Back injuries
- Overweight
- Firm physical work
- Sedentary
- Sedentary
- Metabolic disorders
- Frequent hypothermia
- Uncomfortable position while you sleep
- Stress, fatigue
- Hereditary factors
- Infectious diseases
- The individual body structure is characterized, for example, a neck that is too long or too short
Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease has four stages.It is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease by analyzing the symptoms, since sometimes the degree of degradation of osteochondral tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.
First degree
The destructive processes begin in the osteochondral tissue of the vertebrae.As a rule, at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms are mild.Patients either do not notice them at all or do not associate them with diseases of the spine, but attribute them to stress and fatigue.
Second degree
The height of the disc begins to decrease and cracks appear on its surface.The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage are manifested in constant pain, weakness and numbness in certain areas of the face.
Third degree
Disc herniation is formed, cervical vessels and muscles are damaged.The patient experiences dizziness and pain in the back of the head.
Fourth degree
Osteophytes appear - bone tissue growths that protect the vertebrae from stress, leading to pressed nerves.This leads to stiffness of movement and damage to the adjacent joints.
Cervical osteochondrosis: Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Muscle weakness
- Sweating
- Shuddered his arms
- Losing coordination
- Dizziness
- Vision and hearing deterioration
- High blood pressure
- Headache
These symptoms typical of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may be present at all stages of the disease.In most cases, only a few symptoms of the list are observed and others may be absent.A person who encounters such signs of the disease for the first time does not always suspect that there is cervical osteochondrosis.Therefore, he can contact different doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons.And as a result, the correct diagnosis can be made with a significant delay.
Syndromes
With cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes appear, that is, typical conditions that have a complex of characteristic signs.They manifest themselves depending on which nerves and arteries are affected by the disease:
- Spinal artery syndrome
- cardiac syndrome
- Hypertonic
- radicular syndrome
- Cervical migraine syndrome
Spinal artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis.It is caused by a decreased blood flow through the artery, which moves along the spine and supplies the brain.The syndrome manifests itself in symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, weakened hearing and vision.In some cases, a seizure may occur.There is often a variation of the syndrome, in which, under normal conditions, the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head is facing one direction or another, it may fall sharply.
Cardiac syndrome develops when the roots of the nerves that innervate the diaphragm or thoracic muscle are compressed.As a result, the patient may experience pain reminiscent of Cardialgia, although it has no direct effect on the heart.However, the syndrome can be characterized by such phenomena as tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmia.
Hypertension syndrome is also one of the most dangerous complications.Unlike spinal artery syndrome, it is caused by vein compression rather than arteries, which prevents blood flow from the head.The syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can occur in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and headache.
Cervical migraine syndrome has little in common in its etiology with classic migraine.It manifests itself in severe pain in the back of the head.The pain is paroxysmal, lasts up to ten hours and is accompanied by vomiting.
Radicular syndrome is the most common syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Caused by compression of individual nerve roots in the cervical vertebrae.It can be expressed in the pain in the neck, the back of the head, the shoulder blades, the shoulders, the tingling and the weakening of the tone of certain areas of the hands (until the inability to perform any manipulation) and the neck.
Very often, several syndromes or individual symptoms characteristic of different syndromes can be observed.
As you can see, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the manifestations of the disease are multifaceted and the patient is not always able to properly recognize the cause of their occurrence.If you encounter such symptoms, this is a reason to consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
To make a diagnosis, it is recommended that you consult a therapist.He will give a target to specialists - an orthopedist, a vertebologist, a neurologist.
The following types of studies are used for diagnostics:
- Radiography
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic tomography
- Ultrasound scanning of neck vessels
The X -ray allows you to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, the presence of outgrowths - osteophytes and salty deposits and the compaction of the discs.Computed tomography involves creating a series of X -rays that give a three -dimensional organ view, in which case the cervical spine.It allows you to describe in detail the extent of the pathological process - the nature of nerve compression, the structure of osteophytes, the height of the discs, etc.Magnetic resonance, based on the physical effect of nuclear magnetic resonance, provides an even more detailed structural picture of the spine.The ultrasound of the neck vessels helps to identify changes in blood flow to the large vessels of the neck caused by the disease.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home and is it treatable at all?To combat the disease, medicine has developed many methods.Some treatments can be used at home.But this process is a long and complete recovery is unlikely, especially in the elderly.However, it is possible to slow down and stop the destructive processes in the spine at every stage of the disease.
In the initial stages of the disease, methods are usually conservative.Several methods are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis:
- Medication
- Therapeutic exercises
- Physiotherapy
- Massage
- Special means of fixing the spine
If the disease has progressed to the last stage and a serious destruction of the osteochondral structure of the spine occurs, then surgery may be used to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Medication
The following types of medicines are used:
- Chondroprotectors
- Vitamins
- Analgesics
- Anti -inflammatory drugs
- Antispasmodics
In the case of acute pain syndrome associated with osteochondrosis, the first priority is its elimination.As a rule, oral drugs are used, but if they are ineffective, anesthetic blockade is used in severe cases.
Antispasmodic is used for muscle spasms.Muscle relaxants demonstrate the largest efficacy of osteochondrosis.The iron containing non -steroidal drugs can be used as anti -inflammatory and painkillers.
In the presence of syndromes associated with impaired circulation and blood supply to brain syndrome - hypertensive and vertebrae, medicines are taken that relieve the side effects of these syndromes - remedies for lowering blood pressure and nootropic drugs.
Therapeutic exercises
Physical therapy is the most simple and most affordable type of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis and at the same time is quite effective.Physical therapy can also be done at home.With osteochondrosis, the intensity of exercises does not play a decisive role;Only regularity is needed.First, physical education is intended to strengthen the muscles of the neck, which compensate for the insufficient functionality of the spine and help it maintain weakened vertebrae.
Daily exercises are recommended to strengthen the neck muscles.They can be very simple, consisting of rotation and tilt of the head in different directions or more complex, including help of the neck muscles from the hands.They can be performed both at home and at work.For example, if the work is stuck, then it is useful to do such exercises after an hour of sitting at a desk or monitor.However, they can only be performed outside the period of exacerbation of the disease and in the absence of pain.Otherwise, they can only worsen the condition.
Strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle is no less effective, for example through regular exercise with light dumbbells.However, lifting heavy objects (weights) is contraindicated.Regular swimming, which relieves stress on the spine, is also helpful.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a method of treatment that uses certain physical fields and radiation to affect the body.The positive property of physiotherapy is that it has a minimum number of contraindications.
The following physiotherapy methods are used to treat osteochondrosis:
- Ultrasound
- Laser therapy
- The impact of the magnetic field
- Exposure to electrical current (electrophoresis)
The magnetic field has a positive effect on the damaged tissues of the body and has an anti -inflammatory and analgesic effect.Ultrasound improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling.The same can be said for laser therapy.Electrophoresis is most commonly used in conjunction with medicines as the use of electrical current accelerates their absorption from the body.
Massage
Massage reduces increased muscle tone, which causes spasm and reduces the flow of lymph, which causes swelling.The procedure helps to improve blood circulation in the affected area, which stops the process of destruction of intervertebral discs.
Other treatments
What to do with cervical osteochondrosis if classic home treatment methods do not help?To reduce the load on the cervical spine, a special device is used - a blackcout collar that fixes the neck in a constant normal position.It is recommended to wear it during exacerbation of pain or during prolonged stuck work.
To avoid exacerbation, you need to organize a place to sleep.The pillow should not cause a curvature of the neck, and the mattress should be firm and even.In some cases, special sleeping agents - orthopedic mattress and pillow - can help.