Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic depth, during which there is a violation of the structure and function of the intervertebral discs.Osteochondrosis of the neck is a damage to the cervical spine.
During the pathological process with osteochondrosis of the neck of the pulp of the intervertebral disc (its central, soft part) axes, losing its depreciation properties.The spine loses flexibility, mobility, blood vessels and nerve endings are disturbed in the ducts between the vertebrae.The peculiarity of this pathology is that its symptoms can resemble signs of other diseases, resulting in the diagnosis of the disease is difficult and adequate treatment is prescribed too late when irreversible changes have already begun in cartilage tissue.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which will be described below, as well as cervical osteochondrosis, to develop in middle and adult age, in early men and a little later in women, and in recent years there has been significant "rejuvenation" of osteochondrosis.Of course, over the years, even in a healthy spine, the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is replaced with fibrous fibers over time, it is compacted and hardened.This process is natural, it leads to a decrease in the mobility of the spine, but by pain, as a rule, it is not accompanied, since the fibrosis processes do not affect the endings of the nerves and do not cause a disorder.Unlike the natural physiological, pathological changes in the intervertebral discs characteristic of osteochondrosis, spread out of cartilage, which provokes the compression of blood vessels and nerve endings, pain and vascular syndrome.
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis
In part in the development of osteochondrosis of the neck "guilty", the disorder of the modern man and the corresponding distribution of spinal stress, as well as the natural processes of aging of body tissue, in addition, there are a number of the development and progression of this pathology:
- A sedentary lifestyle;
- Long stay in the same position at work;
- excess body weight;
- continued injuries to the spine in the neck;
- chronic stress, constant nervous tension;
- Regular hypothermia of the muscles of the collar area (for example, when it is close to the air condition of the air conditioner);
- Congenital spinal abnormalities and intervertebral discs.
What is the dangerous osteochondrosis of the neck?
First of all, osteochondrosis of the neck complicates a number of movements, making them painful, putting his contribution to the patient's hypody, which is harmful in itself.A vicious circle occurs: small physical activity provokes osteochondrosis, which makes the patient even less active physical, which in turn contributes to the progression of the disease.
In addition, in the channels of the vertebrae of the cervical region the most important nerve plexuses and blood vessels are kept, the irritation and disruption of which cause reflex headaches, chronic dizziness, destabilization of blood pressure, which can cause the patient to be in line, significantly reduce the quality of his life.
The special danger of osteochondrosis of the neck is in its difficult diagnosis and a high likelihood of improper, inadequate treatment.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are worn, which significantly complicates the diagnosis.As a result, the patient generally contacts the doctor, even when the processes in the intervertebral joints are irreversible.The most important symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck include:
- dizziness;
- headache;
- Acute changes in blood pressure.
All listed signs are non -specific, they can be indicated not only for cervical or cervical osteochondrosis, but also for many other diseases.Therefore, it is very important that one of these symptoms consult a doctor and undergo a complete medical examination to understand the true cause of the condition.
In addition, cervical is characteristic of osteochondrosis of the neck or neck pain.It can either localize from the back, "in the depths" of the neck and give it on the shoulder, hand.The sudden onset of an attack of pain is characteristic - immediately after waking up, after sneezing or coughing, laughter, sharp movement.The pain, as a rule, is moderate, is combined with a crunch in the cervical vertebrae when it tries to turn the head and if the process has not yet accepted irreversible electricity, after a while it disappears on its own.
Separately, it must be said about fluctuations in blood pressure in cervical osteochondrosis.This is a non -specific symptom, but there are some signs according to which the connection of blood pressure jumps with osteochondrosis can be determined.Such a connection is characterized by fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the day.Long -term hypertension, on the contrary, is atypical of osteochondrosis.The reason for the pressure fluctuations lies in the reflex reaction of the nerve endings in the walls of the blood vessels in response to their irritation and compression.As a rule, blood pressure jumps for osteochondrosis are accompanied by headache, limb pain, impaired muscle sensitivity in the collar area.
In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by a number of syndromes (combinations of several symptoms):
- Vertebral - a number of symptoms associated with bone tissue damage to the vertebrae (neck pain when you try to rotate your head, a violation of the mobility of the cervical spine, the morphological changes in the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs);
- Vail Arttery Syndrome - a number of symptoms showing the connection of the pathological process to the spinal arteries.With insufficient blood flow to the artery, when it is compressed, tinnitus, dizziness, blood pressure skills, nausea to vomiting, feeling stunning.The irritation of the nerve endings in the walls of the arteries is manifested by migraine, the flicker of "flies in the eyes" and a temporary decrease in visual acuity.Oxygen starvation of the brain tissue, which feeds the spinal arteries, is manifested by fainting, chronic drowsiness, slight constant headache, feeling of weakness, reduction of concentration of attention and efficiency.The syndrome is characteristic not only of osteochondrosis, but also of atherosclerosis and other pathologies of blood disorders in the arteries of the vertebrae;
- Koreshka - It occurs due to compression of the roots of the spinal nerves, a single lesion is characteristic.Typical symptoms: pain, impaired sensitivity, paresis and paralysis of the hands, face and neck;
- heartfelt - A number of symptoms that occur as a result of reflexive heart disorders (pain, burning behind the sternum, shortness of breath, tachycardia).
The degree of osteochondrosis of the neck
First degree - characterizes the initial stage of the disease, clinically manifested by neck pain after sudden movements, sneezing.The pain is acute, resembles electric release.At the same time, damage to the capsule of the intervertebral disc is morphological, which causes irritation of the nerve endings.Neck pain can be accompanied by pain in the back of the head, tinnitus, flickering flies in front of his eyes.
Second degree - the period of progression of the disease.At this stage, neck pain becomes constant, there is a narrowing of the intervertebral holes and in this regard - the regular violation of the roots of the spinal nerves and the vessels that occur in them.The capsule of the intervertebral joint is a thinner, the pathological mobility of the spine in this area occurs.Muscles atrophy.Blood pressure fluctuation is characteristic.In a severe course of the disease, a "symptom of a falling head" may occur - the need to keep the head with a hand to relieve the pain and fix it in a certain position.
Third degree It is characterized by the destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc, resulting in complications of osteochondrosis: dislocations of vertebrae, intervertebral hernias, curvature of the spine.The pain is intense, gives the arm a hand, in addition to the neck pain is impaired by headache, dizziness, acute blood pressure jumps, the patient loses the working capacity.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the neck" is made on the basis of the patient examination and examination, the degree of morphological changes in the intervertebral discs helps to detect X -ray and magnetic resonance imaging.In addition, it is important to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms: heart attack, hypertension, organic brain damage, migraine, which requires consultation of related specialists.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The volume of therapeutic measures for osteochondrosis of the neck depends directly on the degree of pathological process.The treatment will be more effective than before it is started, it is therefore especially important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, with the first episodes of neck pain, dizziness, without hope that the painful symptoms will go away on their own.
In the initial stage of the disease, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is reduced to the elimination of pain syndrome using NSAIDs and painkillers (ointment, creams) or systemic (tablets, injections) of action.In addition, the restoration of normal metabolic processes in the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc plays a huge role for which chondroprotectors are used - drugs that stimulate the metabolism in cartilage and normalize its structure.Chondroprotectors stimulate the processes of production in the cartilage tissue of the proteoglycans that form the structure of the cartilage.At the same time, inflammation and destructive processes in cartilage tissue are suppressed.
With the progression of the pathological process, adding to the therapy described can serve as antispasmodics and muscle relaxants to eliminate muscle spasm.The doctor may recommend the Novocaine blockade to relieve pain, but this method can be attributed exclusively to palliative, which allows the elimination of painful symptoms but does not affect the course of osteochondrosis of the neck.With advanced osteochondrosis, surgical treatment may be the only effective remedy, as the possibilities for conservative treatment are exhausted at this stage.
Physiotherapy methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis have proven well: electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, ultrasound therapy, mud.Traditionally, the important parts of the complex treatment of osteochondrosis are massage and manual therapy.
It should be remembered that all physiotherapy methods should only be used if osteochondrosis of the neck is at the remission stage, otherwise you can only activate the pathological process.All manipulations during massage should be as little as possible.
Medical physical education (exercise therapy) with cervical osteochondrosis
An important role in the treatment of osteochondrosis is acquired through exercise.The methods of physiotherapy exercises are different, but their common nature is unchanged: pure restoration of the healthy mobility of the affected area of the spine and associated with this stimulation of the blood supply and nutrition of cartilage tissue.With the diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis", the exercises should be as good as possible, the load on the spine is minimal.Sudden turns, rotating movements, deep inclinations are unacceptable, which can contribute to damage to the capsule of the intervertebral joint and worsen the pathological process.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
Cartilage is not restored, so it is advisable to prevent it from progressing than then try to treat the consequences.The basis of the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is a healthy lifestyle, reasonable mobility, rational nutrition, body weight control, small fractures in gymnastics with stuck vocational activity.In addition, at the first signs of cervical spinal dysfunction, you should consult a doctor and if there is an indication to start taking chondroprotectors that will help to normalize the metabolism in cartilage and a significant slowdown in the progression of the disease.