Today, the disease is very "younger" and increasingly people are 25 and older years old, although recently at the age of 30-35 years is considered risky.The pathologies of the cervical part are more common, so you need to be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of the disease to start treatment.
So, what is called osteochondrosis of the cervical region?This term is characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process in the intervertebral disc, acting as a type of shock absorber between the segments of the spine.This situation leads to changes in its structure and anatomy, segments and joint elements of the cervical region.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by acute symptoms of pain requiring timely treatment.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Where did the cervical osteochondrosis come from?A little less we list the factors, the chronic or acute effect of which leads to increased loads in the neck.As a result, the muscles of the body compensate for the increased loads, but due to constant tension, spasms with impaired blood circulation occur.By acting together, these factors lead to degenerative changes in the spine, change in its structure, problems with blood nutrition and metabolism.Next, there is a tail of changes in the intervertebral joints, there is a growth of bone tissue of the spinal segments.
We list the factors contributing to the development of the disease:
- Scoliosis and disorder of the right posture.
- Excess weight.
- Long stay in the wrong and unnatural poses.
- Regularly overvoltage of the back and cervical spine, for example, due to the characteristics of the work.
- Little mobility, sitting hypodinamia.
- The spine impetus in the past.
- Problems with metabolism.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Stress fatigue, prolonged depression.
- Inheritance factor.
- Incorrect development of the vertebrae.
The degree of cervical osteochondrosis
It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of "stage" and "degree" characterizing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.We will look at the stages a little later, now let's talk about the degrees, which depend on the general clinical condition and the patient's complaints, have different symptoms and require a corresponding different treatment.
The first degree is 1.Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by minor manifestations of the disease, the main symptoms are pain in the neck that are not common, increased if you rotate your head.They can be accompanied by slightly tense muscles.
The second degree is 2.The severity of pain and symptoms is much more severe and they are able to give in the area of the shoulders.This is due to the fact that the intervertebral disc has become a height of height, which led to nerve pinches.Pain syndrome tends to improve during movements, a sense of weakness and headache leads to a decrease in work.
The third degree is 3.This development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is characterized by the formation of hernia in the intervertebral space.The differences from the previous degrees of symptoms, which are even more pronounced and painful -more intensively give to the shoulder and arm, in them there may be a feeling of tingling and weakness.The disease is accompanied by the same headache, weakness, neck mobility is limited, with feeling, clear pain syndrome is fixed.
Fourth degree - 4.This degree is characterized by the complete destruction of the tissues of the intervertebral disc.Blood nutrition problems are likely to be blood, in particular with the help of the spinal artery, which supplies blood to the brain and back of the head.Against this background there are difficulties with coordination, the head is dizzy, there is a ring in the ears.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis has some differences in osteochondrosis in other areas.They arise due to the closer location of the segments with respect to each other, a more complex structure of the first two segments athent and the axis.In addition, the shock absorbers between the elements of the spine are less here, and accordingly they wear out and destroy more quickly.In addition, it is cervical osteochondrosis that often leads to compression of the nerves of the spinal cord.
Cervical osteochondrosis - the most common symptoms:
- Pain.They are characterized by different localization - in the back of the head, shoulder and cervical region.The appearance of shoulder pain shows pressure on the nerve responsible for the transfer of pulses of pain to this place.Tarph pains reflect the presence of spasm of the neck muscles due to difficulties with blood flow to this area.Perhaps a feeling of vertebrae pain, the presence of a crunch.
- Weakness in the hand.It manifests itself due to damage to the nerve responsible for the motor activity of the upper limbs.
- Poor sensitivity in the hand.The nerve is damaged by innervating the skin of the arm.
- Restricted movements, crunch.This is a consequence of the small height of the intervertebral disc, the growth of the bones in the spinal segments, the presence of affected small compositions.
- Problems with coordination, feeling of weakness and dizziness.In view of the progress of the pathology, fibrous tissue is formed.It partially leads to the removal of the spinal artery, which has its own channel in the elements of the spine.This reduces the lumen of the vessel, creating blood deficiency in the back of the head and brain.
- Hearing problems, vision, speech.They are the more current development of a vessel that feeds the brain and back.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is carried out in the presence of characteristic symptoms and complaints of a person.Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is diagnosed with various methods, aimed mainly at visualizing the condition of the damaged part.Most often used:
- X -ray.It is uninformative, indicating only the presence of deviations suitable mainly for early diagnosis.
- Computed tomography.Compared to radiography, the reflection of the pathologies of the segments of the cervical part of the spine is improved, but it does not determine exactly the presence of hernia that is size.In addition, this procedure is impossible to determine the "praise" of the spinal cord channel.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.Such a diagnosis is the most modern, characterized by increased information content, allows the deficiencies of bone structure, the condition of the intervertebral discs, the existence of hernia, their size and the direction of growth.
- If there are suspicions of current deterioration in the arteries of the vertebrae, an additional diagnosis is carried out using the procedureUltrasound duplex scan.Such a study accurately determines the presence of obstacles that reduce blood flow rate.
Based on the data obtained in the diagnosis, we can talk about different stages:
- Stage 1.It is characterized by minor disorders of the vertebrae.
- Stage 2.Probably a mismatch of the vertebrae position relative to each other, displacement, rotation against the axis of the spine, the intervertebral disc may have a slightly reduced height.
- Stage 3.The disc is reduced by a quarter height, the joints change, there are bone tissue growths, the tightening of the intervertebral openings and the spinal canal.
- Stage 4.It is still more harassment than the previous one.The disc is significantly reduced in height, in the presence of deep joint pathologies and huge bone growths at the rear, the spinal canal and the passages under the dorsal brain are highly pressed.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main methods of such treatment are: drug therapy, physiotherapy, use of massage in the affected area, therapeutic exercises.Let's take a closer look at some methods.
Medication
Only a competent specialist has to deal with the purpose of any medicines.
- Non -steroidal inflammation preparations.Their action is the effective removal of pain syndrome, the inflammatory and edematous process of the fastened nerve end, examples can serve as examples and others.
- To improve metabolic processes in the vertebrae and nerves, Vitamin B.
- Medicines that increase blood fluid.
- They are used to feed the altered nerve endings and improve the blood supply to the brain.
- Chondroprotectors used to repair the tissues from cartilage and intervertebral discs.
- Mussorelaxants, funds against cramps.
Physiotherapy
- Electrophoresis.Delivery of medicinal ions to the desired part of the pathology by means of an electric field.Prior to the procedure, novocaine anesthesia is also used, and aminophylline is also used, which improves blood flow.
- Ultrasound.Relieves inflammation, pain, contributes to metabolism at the site of application.
- Magnetotherapy.It has an analgesic effect, relieves edema.
- Laser therapy.Treatment is performed by exposing light waves with a special frequency.It relieves inflammation and promotes blood circulation.
Medical physical education
Media physical education is only allowed in the absence of exacerbation of the disease.The methods will be effective in the absence of pain and discomfort when performing performance, in addition, they are very effective as a means of prevention.We list several basic exercises:
- Lie on your stomach and rest with bent hands on the floor.To make lifts of the head and body for 60-90 seconds, holding the back straight, then returns to its original position smoothly.Do 2-3 reps.
- Lie on your stomach, lengthening your hands on the side of your body.Turn your head left, right, in turn, trying to get to the floor with your ear.Perform 5-7 reps on each side.
- In a sitting position, inhalation to lean forward, trying to get to the chest with his head.Then, on the rise, on the contrary, to tilt back, throwing his head back.Do 12 reps.
- In a sitting position, place your palms on your forehead.Place the mutual pressure of the forehead in the palm of your hand and back.Continue for half a minute, repeating 3 times.
- Coquetic unjustified rotation of the heads on the side, 5-7 rotations.If your head is D survived, then reduce the number of repetitions or reduce the speed.
Cervical Department osteochondrosis: Question - Answer
- Does osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be treated with surgery?
This happens, but in those rare cases where conservative treatment does not give effect half a year after its onset.In such situations, chronic pain and compression of nerve endings are usually present.
- For what period can non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs be taken?
Most of these drugs are reflected in the condition of the gastric mucosa, so their frequent and regular use is not recommended.The exact duration of the drugs is determined by the attending physician with information on what the patient's osteochondrosis is and whether there are concomitant pathologies.
- Are chondroprotectors effective that restore the tissues of damaged intervertebral discs?
Confirmation of the effect of taking such drugs has not been proven, which rarely recommend them.
- What should I do at home when there is no increased condition in the future to avoid exacerbation?
For preventive purposes, the best will be to use therapeutic physical education, massage of the cervical zone and the rejection of significant physical activity.