A sedentary lifestyle characteristic of office workers and those who like to relax in front of the TV or behind the monitor screen often cause osteochondrosis. In the article we will consider what is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the main causes of this disease, its symptoms and stages, methods of treatment, as well as answer other questions that occur in patients with osteochondrosis.
The osteochondrous process affects any of the spine or several at once. The lumbar and cervical vertebrae are most affected by pathologies, as the most susceptible to loads due to the anatomy of the human skeleton. The consequences of spinal osteochondrosis in the cervical region cause the most inconvenience and potential complications, because the neck is an area rich in neuromusive highways, many of which feed the brain directly. In addition, the nerve roots, which provide the sensitivity and motor activity of the hands and shoulder girdle, when squeezing with destroyed vertebrates can give a variety of symptomatic picture.
Signs of neck osteochondrosis depend on which of the body systems are affected by pathology:
- Disrupted blood circulation due to pressure of the vertebral arteries determines most of the symptom complexes from the brain.
- The compression of the roots leaving the vertebrates gives a picture of the lesion of the peripheral nerves.
- Pinching of spinal cord areas is associated with severe neurological pathologies found in advanced cases.
Below, consider the general clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Pain in the back of the head, neck and collar area. This is the most common symptom. Localization of pain can be expanded, affecting the shoulders, clavicle region, chest, turning into intense head migraines. The nature of the pain depends on the localization of the lesion and the severity of the pathology. At first, the pain can be quickly transient, gradually becoming chronic, aching. In moments of exacerbations, the pain becomes shooting, with an increased tone of the neck muscles and limited movement of the head. Often, pain with cervical osteochondrosis can be localized behind the sternum, in which case many patients take this symptom for angina pectoris.
Noise, ringing, sensation of congestion in the ears
These symptoms often join a decrease in hearing. These phenomena are associated with a decrease in blood flow from the vertebral arteries to the vestibular apparatus. The complex of these symptoms is called a cochlear, or snail syndrome, and it is far from always possible to determine its connection with osteochondrosis in the cervical region. A specific feature for differentiation is that noise, congestion and ringing in the ears are felt when changing the position, after a long stay in one position.
Dizziness
Dizziness is also due to a violation of the blood flow to the organs of the inner ear, which ensures the balance of the body. Nystagm often joins dizziness - arbitrary fluctuations in the eye pupils to the sides.
Air lack
This sensation appears due to irritation of the ends of the diaphragmatic nerve. It is a component of the cervical nerve beam and is involved in the regulation of breathing, its depth and frequency. Patients complain about the inability to breathe in full chest. In some cases, the symptom aggravates to severe shortness of breath and suffocation. For the same reason, breathing stops at night and snoring. The disadvantage of oxygen due to breathing problems is ultimately the cause of increased fatigue, a decrease in concentration and memory problems.
Nausea
It is accompanied by belching air. Also due to problems with blood circulation in some areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes observed with indomitable vomiting provoked by movements of the head and body. The consequence of frequent nausea and vomiting is a decrease in appetite, weight loss, alimentary failure.
Problems with vision
"Flies" in the eyes, a decrease in visual acuity, fog in front of the eyes - these are all the symptoms due to ischemia of the area of the brain that is responsible for vision. Patients with osteochondrosis complain less commonly of vision, since the lack of blood supply from the vertebral vessels is compensated by blood flow from the carbon arteries system. Glasses and therapeutic gymnastics for the eye muscles do not solve the problem, usually vision improves after the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Greenous symptoms
Often it may be the only sign indicating cervical osteochondrosis. They are expressed as a perspiration, dryness and feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulties with swallowing. Symptoms are associated with the compression of the nerve plexus responsible for the innervation of the pharynx. It is necessary to differentiate such manifestations from a similar clinic for inflammation or neoplasms.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
The described state of the spine is a very serious pathology, which, with neglect, leads to disability, and as a result of deep disorders of cerebral circulation, and death. For this reason, by self -medication, if such symptoms appear, you should not do. Osteochondrosis is treated in a hospital and at home, exclusively as prescribed by a doctor. At the initial stages, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is conservative, which includes drug prescriptions: non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal drugs, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this relieves inflammation, pain, improves the trophic of soft tissues and cartilage vertebrae.
In the acute period, drugs are prescribed in the form of injections, as the pain subsides, the patient goes to tablets. Physiotherapy, massage, exercise exercises, usually prescribed at the remission stage, join the courses of drugs. In difficult cases, osteochondrosis is treated with surgery.
The cervical spine diagram
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (OSTEOHONDROZ) is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs, which damage the wheels, vertebrae and joints of the cervical region, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is observed. The disease progresses if it is not treated, and can lead to headaches, circulatory disorders and even hernias. Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs due to a violation of mineral metabolism, as a result of which the bones and joints become less durable. Osteochondrosis can cause instability of the cervical spine (symptoms and treatment are similar to chondrosis, but have a number of features), which is often accompanied by a displacement of the vertebrae. In turn, this accelerates the development of osteochondrosis, destroying the vertebrate.
The main causes that can cause osteochondrosis:
- improper nutrition and excess weight;
- violations of posture, scoliosis, rheumatism, flat feet;
- Sedentary lifestyle: sedentary work (drivers, office workers), lack of physical exertion, etc. ;
- injuries in the neck, spinal injuries;
- too much physical activity, unusual for the body;
- nervous tension, frequent stresses;
- hereditary predisposition to the development of the disease;
- Incorrect development of the cervical spine.
Most of the above reasons cause a load on the cervical vertebrae, as a result of which muscle spasm occurs. Because of this, the process of blood circulation is disturbed, the effectiveness of metabolic processes is reduced, which causes degenerative changes. The structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are thinned and deformed, speaking beyond the spine. Often the cause of osteochondrosis is a progressive disc, spread to adjacent vertebrae or bone tissue. It occurs most often with prolonged physical exertion in the lumbar and cervicals, almost never touching the chest. Developing, osteochondrosis goes through several stages characterized by certain signs and symptoms. We will consider these stages below.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical region (preclinical stage)
Usually, at the initial stage of development of the disease, only slight smoothing of the neck lordosis is observed, patients experience pain intensifying with turns and tilting of the head, feel tension and rapid fatigue of muscles in the back and lower back. At this stage, osteochondrosis is cured without medicines, it is enough to change nutrition, perform exercises and other events.
Osteochondrosis 2 degrees
In the second stage between the vertebrae, instability is observed, the patient begins to disturb a more intense pain, which periodically gives him to his hands or shoulders, the pain is also intensified with turns and tilting of the head. Patients begin to notice rapid fatigue, absent -mindedness, reduction in the level of performance and headaches.
Osteochondrosis 3 degrees
At this stage, the pain begins to intensify, it occurs constantly not only in the neck, but also in the shoulders, gives it to his hands. The muscles of the hand become weaker, numbness is observed, since hernias of intervertebral discs begin to form. In this case, the diagnosis reveals the small mobility of the cervical region. Patients are concerned about dizziness and weakness.
Osteochondrosis 4 degrees
At the final stage, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, which are replaced by connective tissue. The pathological process affects several segments of the ridge at once, which can be at different stages of destruction. In patients, there is a violation of coordination, dizziness and pain are enhanced, there is noise in the ears and other disorders. Even the initial stage of the disease can be identified according to the following signs:
- Headaches for osteochondrosis of the cervical region
- pain in the neck, nape, shoulders or arms;
- weakness of hands;
- crunch and pain during head movements;
- general weakness, fatigue, impaired coordination, dizziness;
- Reducing the acuteness of vision and hearing, numbness of the language.
One of the most common signs is dizziness for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. At the same time, the symptoms of dizziness can be accompanied by the noise and ringing in the ears (hearing acuity reduced), the sensations of disorientation, migraines, as well as nausea and vomiting. Moreover, it is the doctor who determines how to treat these symptoms that one should not try to get rid of dizziness with folk methods. Another unpleasant consequence is frequent headaches, especially in women. Migraines can occur several times a day, causing unpleasant and painful sensations. Signs of the disease of the cervical region are manifested in a slightly different way than osteochondrosis of other spine in connection that the vertebrae in the neck are close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is small, which leads to complications even with minor degenerative changes.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis that occur in the brain
With the development of osteochondrosis, the flow of blood to the brain trunk through arteries, which are compressed by the protruding edges of the vertebrae, decreases. As a result, there is a violation of blood circulation of the brain. In patients, neurotic disorders are observed: irritability, anxiety, frequent mood change, resentment, insomnia, the ability to focus is reduced. In some cases, outbreaks of anger, fear, longing may occur. Vascular spasms can lead to fainting, headache, noise in the ears, the appearance of points in front of the eyes. In this case, the following symptoms of exacerbation appear: dizziness, a feeling of instability, nausea, in some cases vomiting.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
For the treatment of such a disease as osteochondrosis, various methods are used: medicines, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-brotheral zone for the blood supply to the brain and therapeutic gymnastics, and maintaining proper nutrition. Despite the fact that women are more susceptible to headaches and numbness of the limbs in this disease, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is no different from its treatment in men: the same drugs and exercises are prescribed.
Diagnostic methods
An experienced doctor easily diagnoses cervical osteochondrosis, since the disease has a characteristic clinical picture. To determine the stage, neglect and prevalence of the pathological process, a number of additional examinations are prescribed to the patient:
- radiography - a change in the mobility and arrangement of the vertebrae, a decrease in intervertebral cracks, saline deposits are determined;
- computed tomography - makes it possible to see gaps, changes in the height of the disk, instability of the vertebrae, compression of the nerve fibers and spinal cord;
- Magnetic resonance imaging-allows you to accurately see pathological changes, determine the blood flow and the condition of the nerve roots.
Usually, only radiography of the cervical spine is enough, more expensive methods are used in confusing and unclear cases.
Medical physical education
Exercises for cervical osteochondrosis are allowed to do strictly during remission, movements in the acute phase can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition. All physiotherapy exercises are reduced to the turns and inclinations of the head. It is important to perform actions slowly, without sudden movements. In the event of pain - stop the lesson and seek advice on a specialist.
If a person has a tendency to develop pathology, he needs to periodically visit a specialist and undergo research. This will help to identify the disease at an early stage and start treatment in time. For example, cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are described in the article, affects the cervical vertebrae and begins to literally destroy them. What will come of it, it is easy to guess.