Osteochondrosis today is legitimately considered the "disease of the century", because most people are suffered by people whose work does not require greater motor activity.
In most cases, changes in cartilage and bone tissue are observed in working age, up to 40 years.
The disease can affect different parts of the spine, and the second most prevailing is the osteochondrosis of the cervical region.
What is it?
Osteochondrosis is distributing disorders of the joint cartilage and adjacent bone tissue.
Previously, the term extended to a large group of bone artificial diseases, but is now used only with a degenerative spinal disease.
Compared to other column departments, the cervical region is the most mobile and has many nerve and vascular formations.The structure of the vertebrae is small size, as well as the fact that they are surrounded by a fairly weak muscle corset.
Such anatomical structure predisposes to the development of osteochondrosis, whose severity of clinical manifestations depends on the nature of changes in intervertebral discs and the degree of destruction.
The causes of disease development
The main and most common cause of osteochondrosis of the cervical column is a sedentary lifestyle.
Due to the lack of physical effort with a sedentary and sitting lifestyle:
- Metabolic processes are violated;
- The level of salts in the bloodstream and lymphatic fluid increases;
- In the cervical region, in the kidneys and the liver of the spine, salts are placed.
Damage to cervical vertebrae is mainly determined by the lack of nutrients on intervertebral discs.Therefore, the main reasons for the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis also include inadequate and unbalanced nutrition.
Risk factors
There are many risk factors for cervical osteochondrosis.
The most common factors are:
- inheritance;
- changes related to age;
- cervical column injuries;
- hypothermia;
- hormonal disorders leading to metabolic disorders;
- Some autoimmune diseases that cause damage to the cartilage tissue (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatism).
That is dangerous
Not only the spinal cord and nerve roots pass through the cervical column, but also the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying the blood of the back of the brain, an oblong brain and cerebellum.
Therefore, with cervical osteochondrosis, this artery is squeezed and, as a result, a violation of brain circulation.
In particularly advanced cases, squeeze the artery and adjacent blood vessels and nerve plexus can lead to consequences such as:
- violation of coordination;
- decrease in hearing and vision;
- stroke.
If the disease does not cure in the initial stage, this can lead to complications such as: Protrusion of the intervertebral disc or hernia of the intervertebral disc.
The degree of disease development
Cervical osteochondrosis, such as the osteochondrosis of another column, develops in stages.There are 3 stages of disease development.
1 grade
It is characterized by the beginning of the destruction of intervertebral discs.
Cracks are formed in the fibrous ring, the resistance and elasticity of the disk are formed, its height decreases, because nerve roots are squeezed.
A characteristic pain appears.Sometimes, in 1 stage (preclinical), such pain may be absent, and osteochondrosis proceeds with moderate discomfort in the neck.
2 degrees
If the first grade osteochondrosis was not treated or the treatment was not effective, then a chronic condition occurs, which is the second degree of osteochondrosis.
The pain becomes constant, the destruction and seal of the intervertebral disc continues and leads to small dislocations of the cervical vertebrae.
With cervical osteochondrosis, a head syndrome that falls at this stage can be developed.This syndrome is characterized by severe pain, and a person is forced to support his head in a fixed state to reduce pain.
3 degrees
The cervical osteochondrosis of the third degree is accompanied by the following signs:
- headaches;
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- "bastards" cervical;
- Violation of the sensitivity of the upper extremities.
The fibrous ring is almost destroyed, which leads to complications of osteochondrosis: protrusion of the intervertebral disc or intervertebral hernia.
In 3 stages of osteochondrosis, pain intensity can decrease, since the cartilaginous tissue affected in the intervertebral disc simply does not exist, which means that there is no source of pain, but the pinch of nerve roots remains, so the pain does not go completely.
Characteristic characteristics and symptoms
There are many signs of manifestation of this disease.And they depend on which vertebrae are damaged by this disease.
The characteristic syndromes for cervical osteochondrosis are:
- column syndrome;
- Vertebral artery syndrome;
- Cervical Migraine syndrome;
- Hypertension syndrome.
All these syndromes are accompanied, first of all, by different types of pain.
If we consider the vertebral artery syndrome, then the headache here manifests in the early stage of the development of the disease.
At the same time, pain attacks can be accompanied by:
- dizziness;
- march shake;
- Visual symptoms (the appearance of fog in the eyes, a decrease in visual acuity, etc.).fainting (with acute head movements).
With hypertension syndrome, greater intracranial pressure is determined.
A headache is more exploded, it can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.With the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, an increase in temperature and an increase in the ESR can be observed.
By compressing spinal roots ("Roying Syndrome"), the following neurological symptoms may appear:
- pronounced pain in the neck (cervicalgia);
- neck pain, spreading on the forearm and shoulder bone (cervicobraquialgia);
- pain in hand;
- crispy or cod sensations on the neck when turning the head;
- The pain "give" the ear, which occurs only after a long stay in an awkward position or an acute movement;
- pain or feeling of a coma in the throat, respiratory disorders;
- hands and tongue numbness;
- a feeling of swelling of the tongue;
- pronounced weakness;
- violation of hearing and vision;
- noise in the ears;
- General deterioration in the well.
With "Cervical Migraine" syndrome, sympathetic nodes are irritated, which leads to a deteriorated reactivity of brain vessels and circulatory disorders.
As a result, hypertension can be developed, often accompanied by:
- ears with congestion;
- tachycardia;
- head in the head;
- Calling the ears.
When compressing the blood supply to the spinal cord of the arteries, a spinal race can occur.
The interruption of blood circulation in the brain with osteochondrosis can lead to:
- oxygen insufficiency of brain cells;
- Mental disorders (state of depression, panic attacks);
- The appearance of signs of episindrome, as short -term losses of consciousness and tension of the entire body, are often confused with signs of epilepsy.
A sign of cervical osteochondrosis such as changes and the rhythm of the heart, such as extrastolos or arrhythmia, is very common.
Such signals are very common between drivers and office workers.
Due to the sedentary lifestyle in the intervertebral dishes of the cervical and thoracic column, changes occur, which leads to heart disorders.
In most cases, until osteochondrosis is cured, it will be practically impossible to get rid of disorders in the rhythm of the heart.
Swelling under the eyes can also indicate osteochondrosis of the cervical region.
Most of the time, they depend on the position of the head during the night sleep, they pass throughout the day and combine with headaches, dizziness, heaviness in the head, etc.
Vegetable dystonia is another common diseases that occur in this disease.
It is a consequence of pinching the vascular arteries that pass to the sides of the spine.
Diagnostic methods
A neurologist establishes a preliminary diagnosis during the patient's initial exam.More recently, the doctor had to diagnose, having performed only an external examination of the patient and sending it to the X -rays.
But, unfortunately, in X -rays, it is impossible to see a complete image of the development of the disease.
Currently, exams such as computerized tomography and magnetic resonance are available, with which it can completely evaluate what stage of development the disease will be.
After diagnosing, the patient goes to the doctor who specializes in this area.
What doctor is it?
A narrow guidance specialist is dedicated to treatment: a vertebrologist or a vertebronurist.
Cervical osteochondrosis treatment
The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the seriousness of the main clinical symptoms.
In the cervical region, the symptoms are mainly associated with blood vessels and nerve endings, therefore, during treatment, edema is mainly relieved and blood circulation is restored.
There are many treatment methods used in the treatment of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column.
The most effective treatment is a complex, which is a combination of several conservative treatment methods.
The complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis may include the following traditional and non -traditional methods: pharmacological treatment, massage, acression, manual therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, popular remedies, etc.
The stages of treatment for osteochondrosis are the same for all locations of this disease:
- First you must eliminate pain syndrome.
- Then the edema will be eliminated.
- At this stage, it is necessary to normalize blood circulation.
- Strengthening muscle corset.
- Improvement of nutrition and tissue regeneration.
Only the team of good specialists, which includes a neurologist, physiotherapist, masseuse, surgeon, vertebronologist, can choose the most appropriate therapy.
Like any disease, it tries the osteochondrosis of the cervical region in the very early stage of occurrence.If the process does not begin, at this stage you can achieve a complete cure of osteochondrosis.
Unfortunately, 2 and 3 stages of cervical osteochondrosis are accompanied by the complete or partial destruction of intervertebral discs, so these stages are characterized by a very long recovery process.
First aid
How to relieve pain with exacerbation?
With severe pain, you must take anesthesia of a domestic medicine kit.You can also paste a pepper patch with pain.
When edema appears, diuretics can be taken.Rubing the neck area with analgesics can help.
Medical physical education in exacerbations is contraindicated, as well as warming, since these influences can cause serious complications.
After eliminating acute pain, you must urgently consult your doctor to consult.
Drug treatment
Medications often begin with injections (exacerbation), then change to tablets and candles in combination with the local use of ointments and gels.
Anesthesia in pharmacological treatment is performed with anti -inflammatory steroid drugs.
Be sure to prescribe medications that restore brain circulation.
With pathological muscle tension, muscle relaxants can be prescribed, such as Midocalm.For more effective treatment, vitamins are taken in the therapeutic dose and trace elements.
In cases of intervertebral hernia, surgical intervention is not rarely recommended and the treating doctor can offer an operation.
Massage and Autoshaz
This method is going well with physiotherapy and physiotherapy.You can take a massage course both in any medical institution and in private practices.
The massage is necessary for cervical osteochondrosis to strengthen the muscles and relieve the voltage in the neck.
The task of the massage therapist is to eliminate the harmful products of metabolism, as well as relieve the spasm of the pathology zone by increasing the exit and flow of blood in the painful area.
The main techniques used by specialists during neck massage are:
- caressing;
- tightening;
- trituration;
- vibration;
- kneading.
The auto -massage technique can be carried out using the following techniques:
- caress (movements must be soft, without much effort forming folds);
- kneaded (deep effect on muscles, by capture in fold, pressure and thrust);
- Vibration (oscillatory effects by shading, shaking, palmadita).
The car -massage should always be completed.During the vibration, you can use a massage.
Supreme massage
The surplus massage relieves the headache with exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, helps with pressure waves, normalizing it.
Acopress scheme:
- The impact on the Feng Fu point, which is located under the occipital hill, for 1 minute.
- The impact on the Feng-Chi point, located in the width of two fingers of the special processes of the skull.
- Exhibition for 1-1.5 minutes at point I-Men (it is located at a distance of three fingers from the PHEN-FU point).
- The sedative exposure is 1-1.5 minutes at the spike point (7th cervical vertebra).
After cool, it is necessary to go to bed for several minutes, as a small dizziness can occur.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy helps deal with acute and chronic pain, also increases the volume of movements and improves the posture well.
The main manual therapy techniques for the osteochondrosis of the cervical column:
- Relaxing and segmental massage.It is used to heat the muscles and relieve tension.
- Mobilization.Impacts destined to restore joint functions.The traction method.
- Handling.A strong impulse aimed at the patient's pathological zones.The procedure is accompanied by a characteristic crunch (the return of the joint to a normal position).
A specialist manual therapy must possess these techniques perfectly.Otherwise, any error can cause injuries.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture contributes to the release of cortisol to blood.This hormone has a pronounced anti -inflammatory effect.
Acupuncture is carried out by exposure to points near the inner edge of the scapula.The needles are introduced at a depth of 1 - 2 cm and are left for exposure to 10-30 minutes.
Homeopathy
The treatment with medications entails many lateral adverse consequences, so homeopathy can become a worthy replacement for treatment without undesirable consequences.
With cervical osteochondrosis with pronounced hypertension (expressed by pain in the back of the head), strontium carbonate is used.
Assign to 3, 6, 12 and 30 reproduction.
Nutrition characteristics
Food should be saturated with calcium and magnesium.
These trace elements are located in fish and seafood, in nuts, legumes and dairy products.
Often, neck osteochondrosis can be accompanied by atherosclerosis.In this case, a hard diet is recommended.
The diet is prescribed for 3-4 months.It is necessary to limit the consumption of all products that contain cholesterol.These include animal fats, fatty varieties of meat, fatty dairy products, etc.In addition, salt consumption, sugar, flour products should be limited or excluded.
It is recommended to abandon bad habits (smoking, alcohol, etc.).
Cervical osteochondrosis and alcohol are interconnected.The fact is that when it falls in the blood, alcohol destroys cells, which aggravates blood circulation already disturbed by osteochondrosis.
Therefore, it must be limited to a minimum and during the period of exacerbation completely abandon the use of alcohol.
Disease prevention
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- The dream must be in a solid mattress and in a low pillow: the neck angle should not be more than 15 degrees;
- Take a hot shower every day for at least 10 minutes;
- Visit a sauna and a bathroom with the greatest possible frequency: it hotly helps eliminate neck cramps;
- We go to ourselves aerobic loads and regular walks at a low pace;
- participate in swimming;
- After 25 years, avoid the column shock load (jump, run);
- When you feel your job, be sure to take five minutes every hour;
- Regular yoga classes can prevent any manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis;
- Refusing to visit the gym, since bodybuilding classes can cause the appearance of the protuberance of the cervical album;
- Exercise as a prevention of neck osteochondrosis helps strengthen cervical muscles, relieve tension.
Frequent questions
What to do during pregnancy and how to treat it?
Often, it is during pregnancy that the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur.
This is due to the change in the hormonal background and the softening of the vertebrae, as well as the displacement of the center of gravity and an excessive load in the spine.
The treatment of the osteochondrosis of pregnant women is quite complicated, since it is limited mainly by the medication method intended to stop pain.
You can use natural ointments or resort to popular medicine.
Any effect on the neck area (heating, loading, etc.) is strictly prohibited during pregnancy.
Does children and adolescents happen?
In children and adolescents, cervical osteochondrosis develops due to congenital or acquired functional deficiency of the cartilage.
It is expressed by complaints of headache, fast fatigue, dizziness and fainting.
Is it possible to heat the neck area?
The neck warning with cervical osteochondrosis is strictly prohibited, especially in the exacerbation stage of the disease, since heating can lead to an increase in edema and the expansion of brain vessels.
How to sleep correctly?
You need to sleep in a flat and hard bed with an orthopedic mattress.
The recommended and most convenient position is on the side when the shoulder rests on the mattress, and the head rests on a small pillow.
The use of an orthopedic pillow helps to relax the muscles of the cervical region, reduces the irritation of nerve endings, which avoids headache and insomnia.
Are physical activity and bathroom allow?
In preventive measures and in 1 stages of cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to participate in physiotherapy and swimming exercises.
It is strictly forbidden to lift weights, hard work, classes in the gym.
Visiting a bath and sauna is also recommended only for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis and in the initial stage of the disease.