Osteochondrosis is understood as a degenerative disease of the intervertebral cartilaginous lining. Today this problem applies globally.
In Europe alone, about 60% of adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis. Doctors associate this fact with the static nature of people, their low mobility and the type of work that is not settled.
If not long ago the disease developed around the age of fifty, it is now impossible not to realize that the disease has increased again - the average age threshold here has dropped to 24 years.
But more often, 18-year-olds come to the hospital with this problem. Talking about osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the symptoms and treatment can not be ignored, because this question is interesting for many people.
How does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develop - the first cause and sign?
Everyone knows that the vertebral column is formed by the vertebral spine, among which there is a "pillow" of cartilage - the intervertebral disc. Due to impaired blood flow and poor quality nutrition, cartilage tissue does not receive nutrient complexes here. This leads to changes in the structure of the cartilage, its deformation and shrinkage. They gradually lose their previous elasticity, becoming less durable.
As the shock -absorbing intervertebral layer dries, the vertebrae press against each other. As a result, nerve endings and blood vessels are squeezed, causing pain and numbness in the muscles, migraines, and a number of other symptoms. Over time, cartilage tissue is destroyed, turning into fibrous tissue. Gradually, adjacent vessels, nerve fibers, and bone structures are involved in this pathological process.
A major factor in the development of cervical osteochondrosis
The main cause of the development of osteochondrotic pathology is considered to be degenerative-dystrophic changes. There are a number of factors that contribute to this. Consider the main causes of the appearance of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Congenital predisposition.
- Body aging.
- Disorders in metabolic processes.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Mistakes in the diet - lack of mineral compounds and systemic lack of fluids.
- Traumatic injuries.
- Weak skeletal muscles, poor posture, flat feet
- Physical inactivity, inactive work.
- Physical advantages, characteristics of the profession, when you have to work in an uncomfortable position, do muscular effort.
- End of sports career and termination / reduction of associated power load.
- Psycho-emotional stress.
- Nicotine addiction.
- The emergence of tumor structures.
It should be noted that the cause of pathological chondrotic changes in the cervical spine has not been studied to date. But it can be believed that prolonged stays in a standing or sitting position without much movement, too soft a bed, untrained back and belt muscles, and inadequate nutrition make the ideal combination for the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Disease progression
Osteochondrosis does not appear suddenly. It develops gradually over a fairly long period of time - from a few years to decades. Early dystrophic changes in the vertebral lining do not manifest themselves in any way. They can only be detected incidentally on X-rays or during a CT scan.
At a later stage of the development of the disease, a decrease in the thickness of the cartilage layer is observed. Microscopic cracks appear in the intervertebral cartilage. Numbness in certain parts of the muscle may appear. Over time, the protrusion develops, a hernia may occur. The patient suffers from headaches and muscle aches.
In the last stages of disease development, bone tissue grows pathologically, nerve endings are damaged and chronic pain syndrome develops. Because of cervical osteochondrosis, there may be curvature of the upper spine, sciatica, stenosis (narrowing of the lumen of the spinal canal).
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - symptoms and treatment
We examined the first signs of osteochondrosis, now let’s talk directly about the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
For cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- Numbness and muscle spasms in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
- Pulling sensation, pain in the back and cervix.
- Painful sensations can be given to the hands.
- Headaches, especially in the occipital area, migraines.
- Dizziness, tinnitus, visual disturbances (defocusing, appearance of "flies" and colored spots).
- Common numbness in the toes in the upper part of the foot.
- Stiffness in the movement of the head, the limitation of twisting and tilting, are all accompanied by pain and exciting sensations.
- Pain on palpation of the vertebral zone.
- Tendency to increase blood pressure.
Because of muscle weakness, there may be impaired coordination of movements. If there are heart problems, they may get worse due to spasm of the vertebral arteries. The pain can spread to the sternum and retrosternal space.
As you can see, the symptoms vary. This leads to the fact that people, who identify certain deviations in themselves, seek help from the wrong specialist (cardiologist, orthopedist, traumatologist). This complicates the timely diagnosis and detection of cervical osteochondrosis.
Which doctor should I call for osteochondrosis?
If the described complex of osteochondrosis symptoms appears, you should immediately seek medical help. You will need to make an appointment with a therapist or neurologist. After an initial clarification of the clinical picture as a result of the survey, examination of the patient and palpation of the affected area, the doctor will provide a referral for testing and prescribe additional examinations.
You may need to go through:
- X-ray.
- Computed tomography.
- MRI.
- Electromyography.
Radiography will help determine the location of the lesion and the degree of neglect of the disease. Tomographic examination will help assess the condition of adjacent tissues, and myography - the conductivity of muscle fibers and their preservation. All this will make it possible to diagnose and outline an effective treatment regimen. The process will be long, requires patience and self -effort.
It is not possible to fully restore cartilage structure, but improving quality of life and significantly relieving chronic pain is a fully doable task. You must return to the exam more than once.
However, it is necessary to monitor the course of the disease, adjust the treatment program, predict possible complications or improvement. Therefore, even if the pain has subsided, this is not a reason to refuse to perform repeated diagnostic measures.
How to overcome osteochondrosis of the neck?
In order for the disease to be relieved, various methods must be used. In most cases, active treatment requires several months. But here a lot depends on the enthusiasm, earnestness and will of the patient. In some cases, surgery is required. When starting treatment, you must adhere to the following principles.
- Medical advice should be followed relentlessly. All changes in condition and adverse reactions should be reported to the attending physician.
- You need to learn how to reduce the load, avoid excessive muscle activity and excessive muscle from the cervical spine.
- It is necessary to stop excessive sports, and, if necessary, change jobs.
- Physiotherapy training is a prerequisite. It must be done systematically, and preferably every day. Special gymnastics for the neck should be selected individually, taking into account the patient's ability and the degree of neglect of the disease. A set of exercises is performed under the guidance of an instructor.
- The use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs should be allowed and given in strict doses. All medications, especially hormone medications, are prescribed by a doctor.
- Maintaining an anatomically correct body position is important. Even in a dream. Therefore, the mattress must be strong enough. With orthopedic pillows, they are determined by the method of direct installation.
- If necessary, you should sit for a long time periodically, with an interval of several hours, do a short warm -up on the neck. It is recommended to get up at the same time, although a sitting position is also allowed.
Why do you need to warm up?
This simple method will allow you to:
- restore normal blood flow;
- stretching stiff muscles;
- eliminates numbness, tingling, exciting sensations;
- relieves muscle tension;
- prevent muscle spasms and muscle groups;
- avoid overloading the cervical spine.
All exercises are as easy as possible. They are known to everyone since childhood and do not require much time. A few minutes will suffice. It can be done at home and at work. Are you embarrassed by the views of unscrupulous employees?
Retire on the stairs or on the toilet. You may be able to do transportation exercises quietly, avoiding unnecessary attention. All exercises should be done with a straight back. It is recommended to expand the shoulders and highlight the chest slightly. Perform the maximum rotation allowed with the head to the side.
Act carefully and without fanaticism so as not to endanger a weak spine. After that, several times alternately lower your head to one or the other shoulder. Now you can do some rotational movements - 10-15 in each direction.
Another good workout. Stretch your spine as much as possible, as if you are suspended by the crown of your head. Now slowly tilt the head forward, trying to press the edge of the chin to the chest. Then you have to do the opposite action slowly and carefully. If there is damage, you cannot tilt your head back! Please see a doctor.
The sequence of exercises carried out is not a problem. The action group and the number of repetitions were selected individually. While stretching your neck, don’t forget about the chest. They are closely related. It is best to try to unify the shoulder blades from time to time. You may hear a crackling sound.
Fear not - this is the backbone that exists. After that, relief is usually felt. To relieve tension on the trapezius muscle, you should lift the shoulder as much as possible, and then lower it forcibly as low as possible. The action is performed several times. Then move your shoulders and shake hands.
Medicine
For cervical osteochondrosis, several types of medications are used. These drugs are used during periods of worsening disease. They are designed to complete a number of tasks:
- pain relief;
- fight inflammation;
- strengthening of metabolic processes in affected tissues.
Also, medications are used, including hormonal and vitamin preparations, that stimulate the recovery of cartilage tissue.
Another method of overcoming pain
In addition to exercise therapy and medications, the following methods of action are included in the complex of measures to get rid of the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the cervical zone.
- Increased intervertebral space due to stretching of spinal space. For this, a dose load is applied. The impact is done in different ways, including using special tables. This step allows you to return the spine to its previous length, give it the correct shape, and release the pinched nerve. A number of patients, desperate to find an effective method of relieving chronic pain, turn to bone braces. Here the spine is attacked. This method can help, provided that a professional with a medical education is involved.
- The sequence also gives good results. This procedure helps circulate blood, improves nutrition and gas exchange of cartilage tissue, relieves muscle tension and clamps, and relieves pain. If possible, you should also use self -massage. But you need to act competently, having given appropriate instructions. You can massage your own neck, shoulders, scalp, arms, and collar area. Rub, knead, a little pressure is applied. Acupressure massage is effective when the effect is made on the active points of the body. But this requires special knowledge and considerable experience. Therefore, only professional chiropractors should be advised.
- Physiotherapy involves the use of various means: magnetic fields, lasers, ultrasound, low frequency currents. Medication is often used here. Their method of identification has a local effect, increases its effectiveness, and avoids a number of side effects. Physical procedures help fight pain, inflammation, speed recovery after trauma and postoperatively.
- Acupuncture, like manual therapy, enhances or inhibits various processes in the body by acting on so -called biologically active points in the body. Reflexology allows you to correct metabolism, increase blood flow, relieve pain. But despite its effectiveness, this method is not suitable for everyone, as it involves the use of needles, which is unacceptable to some patients.
The greatest efficiency of these measures is achieved when they are used in a complex under medical supervision. To a large extent, the success of therapy depends on the patient’s commitment and desire to overcome osteochondrosis.