Today, the disease has been very “younger” and more and more often people are subject to 25 and older years, although more recently, the age of 30-35 years has been 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 in order to begin treatment.
And so what is called osteochondrosis of the cervical region?This term is characterized by a degenerative-dystrophic process in the intervertebral disk, acting as a kind of shock absorber between the spine segments.This situation leads to changes in its structure and anatomy, segments and articular elements of the cervical region.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sharp pain symptoms requiring timely treatment.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Where does cervical osteochondrosis come from?A little lower we list the factors, the chronic or sharp effect of which leads to increased loads in the neck.As a result, the body's muscles compensates for increased loads, however, due to constant tension, spasms with impaired blood circulation occur.Acting together, these factors lead to degenerative changes in the spine, a change in its structure, problems with blood nutrition and metabolism.Next, there is a queue of changes in the intervertebral joints, the growth of the bone tissue of the spinal segments appears.
We list the factors contributing to the development of the disease:
- Scoliosis and violation of proper posture.
- Excess weight.
- A long stay in the wrong and unnatural poses.
- Regular overstrain of the back and the cervical spine, for example, due to the features of the work.
- Small mobility, sitting hypodynamia.
- Trauming the spine in the past.
- Problems with metabolism.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Stress overstrain, prolonged depression.
- Inheritance factor.
- Incorrect vertebral development.
The degree of cervical osteochondrosis
It is necessary to be able to distinguish between the concepts of "stage" and "degree" characterizing osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.We will consider the stages a little later, now let's talk about the degrees that depend on the general clinical state and complaints of the patient, have various symptoms and require, respectively, of different treatment.
The first degree is 1.Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by insignificant manifestations of the disease, the main symptoms are pain in the neck area, which are not common, intensifying if you turn your head.They can be accompanied by slightly tense muscles.
The second degree is 2.The severity of pain and symptoms are much stronger and they are able to give into the shoulder zone.This is due to the fact that the intervertebral disc became lower in height, which led to nervous pinches.The pain syndrome has a tendency to enhance during movements, a feeling of weakness and headache lead to reduced performance.
The third degree is 3.This development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is characterized by the formation of hernias in the intervertebral space.The differences from previous degrees in the symptoms that are even more pronounced and painful - more intensively gives to the shoulder and hand, in them there may be a feeling of numbness and weakness.The disease is accompanied by the same headache, weakness, mobility of the neck is limited, with feeling, a distinct pain syndrome is fixed.
The fourth degree - 4.This degree is characterized by the complete destruction of the fabrics of the intervertebral disc.Problems with blood nutrition are likely to be blood, in particular, by means of the vertebral artery, which delivers blood to the cerebellar and back of the head.Against the background of this, there are difficulties with coordination, the head is dizzy, there is a ringing in the ears.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis has some differences from osteochondrosis in other areas.They arise due to the closer location of the segments relative to each other, a more complex structure of the first two segments-Atlanta and Axis.In addition, shock absorbers between the spine elements are less here, and, accordingly, they wear out and destroy faster.In addition, it is the cervical osteochondrosis that often leads to compression of the spinal cord nerves.
Cervical osteochondrosis - the most common symptoms:
- Pain.They are characterized by different localization - in the back of the head, shoulder and cervical region.The occurrence of pain in the shoulder joint indicates a pressure on the nerve, responsible for the transfer of pain impulses in this location.Tarful pains reflect the presence of spasm of the neck muscles due to difficulties with blood flow in this zone.Perhaps a feeling of pain in the vertebra, the presence of 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, innervating the skin on the arm.
- Limited movements, crunch.It is a consequence of the small height of the intervertebral disc, bone growth in the spinal segments, the presence of affected small compositions.
- Problems with coordination, a feeling of weakness and dizziness.In view of the progress of pathology, fibrous tissue is formed.It partially leads to the removal of the vertebral artery having its own channel in the elements of the spine.This reduces the lumen of the vessel, creating a blood deficiency in the back of the head and cerebellum.
- Problems with hearing, vision, speech.They are the further development of a vessel that feeds the cerebellar and occipital zone.
Diagnostics
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, mainly aimed at visualizing the condition of the damaged part.The most commonly used:
- X -ray.It is uninformative, shows only the presence of deviations, suitable mainly for early diagnosis.
- Computer 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 accurately determine the presence of a hernia that it is size.In addition, this procedure is impossible to determine the "praise" of the canal with the spinal cord.
- Magnetic resonance tomography.Such diagnostics are most modern, characterized by increased information content, allows in details to evaluate the flaws of the bone structure, the state of the intervertebral discs, the existence of hernias, their size and the direction of growth.
- If there are suspicions of current deterioration in the vertebral arteries, additional diagnosis is carried out by means of the procedureUltrasound duplex scanning.Such a study exactly determines the presence of obstacles that reduce the rate of blood flow.
Based on the data obtained in the diagnosis, we can talk about various stages:
- 1st stage.It is characterized by minor violations of the anatomy of the vertebrae.
- Stage 2.Probably non -compliance with the position of the vertebrae relative to each other, displacement, rotation relative to the axis of the spine, the intervertebral disk can have a slightly reduced height.
- Stage 3.The disk is reduced by a quarter in height, the joints are changed, there are growths of bone tissue, the clamping of the intervertebral holes and the spinal canal.
- 4th stage.It is still more aggravated compared to the previous one.The disk is greatly reduced in height, in the presence of deep joint pathologies and vast bone growths from behind, the spinal canal and passages under the dorsal brain are strongly squeezed.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main methods of such treatment are: medicine therapy, physiotherapy, the use of massage of the affected area, therapeutic exercises.Let us consider in more detail some methods.
Treatment with drugs
Only a competent specialist should deal with the purpose of any drugs.
- Preparations against inflammation of non -steroidal origin.Their action is the effective removal of the pain syndrome, the inflammatory and edematous process of the clamped nervous ending, the examples can serve as examples and others.
- To improve metabolic processes in the vertebrae and nerves, vitamin B.
- Medications that increase blood fluidity.
- They are used to power altered nerve endings and improve blood supply to the brain.
- Chondroprotectors used to restore tissue of cartilage and intervertebral discs.
- Musorelaxants, funds against spasms.
Physiotherapy
- Electrophoresis.Delivery of drug ions to the desired part of the pathology using the electric field.Before the procedure, novocaine anesthesia is carried out, also aminophylline that improves blood flow is used.
- Ultrasound.Relieves inflammation, pain, contributes to the metabolism at the place of application.
- Magnetotherapy.It has an analgesic effect, relieves edema.
- Laser therapy.Treatment is carried out by the exposure of light waves of special frequency.It relieves inflammation and promotes blood circulation.
Medical physical education
Media physical education is allowed only in the absence of exacerbations of the disease.Methods will be effective in the absence of pain and discomfort in performing, in addition, they are very effective as a means of prevention.We list several basic exercises:
- Lie on the 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, after which it smoothly return to its original position.Make 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on the stomach, extending your hands down the side of the body.Turn your head to the left, right, in turn, trying to reach the floor with a ear.Perform 5-7 repetitions by each side.
- In a sitting position, inhaling to lean forward, trying to reach the chest with his head.Then, on the exhale, on the contrary, to tilt back, throwing his head back.Make 12 repetitions.
- In a sitting position, put your palms on the forehead.Put the mutual pressure of the forehead in the palm of your hand and vice versa.Continue up to half a minute, repeating 3 times.
- A neat unhurried rotation of the heads to the sides, 5-7 rotations.If your head is d survid, then reduce the number of repetitions, or reduce the speed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical department: Question - answer
- Does it happen that osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has to be treated with surgery?
It happens, but in those rare cases when conservative treatment does not give an effect half a year after its beginning.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 state of the gastric mucosa, so their frequent and regular use is not recommended.The exact duration of medication is determined by the attending physician with information what is the patient's osteochondrosis, and whether concomitant pathologies are present.
- Are chondroprotectors that restore the tissue of damaged intervertebral discs effective?
Confirmation of the effect of taking such drugs has not been proven, as a result of which doctors rarely recommend them.
- What to do at home when there is no heightened state to avoid exacerbation in the future?
For preventive purposes, the best will be to use therapeutic physical education, massage of the cervical zone, and the rejection of significant physical activity.