Cervical osteochondrosis: Causes, symptoms and treatment

The cervical spine osteochondrosis is a progressive process of dystrophy, disruption of the intervertebral discs.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by severe pain in the neck, head, shoulder and amazes everyone, regardless of age.

Description of osteochondrosis

Neck osteochondrosis was much younger.Young people suffer from them, starting with adolescence.The neck is the weakest area of the spine.Seven beads adjacent to each other quite tightly, and the muscle frame develops worse than the rest of the departments.The neck is subjected to serious loads because it serves as support of the cranial box and is in constant motion.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?Eating intervertebral discs is performed by distribution by neighboring tissue.The deterioration of blood supply to the tissues surrounding the beads gives a lack of food, water.The hunger of the disk core, the fibrous ring leads to degenerative processes.

Increasing bone tissue near the vertebrae, intervertebral interconnected discs, transmitted nerves and ligaments are first manifested by signs of performance decline.Very intensity pain at first focuses on the neck, head, shoulder, heart, arms, upper chest, passing through the lower limbs.Each of the seven beads sends signals to other departments.The squeezed nerve roots are reflected in the state of other body systems.

Particularly dangerous is osteochondrosis for the brain.The vertebral artery that passes here performs the function of providing blood supply to the back of the brain.Its rest leads to headaches, often developing in migraines, without undergoing pain sedatives.Neck osteochondrosis can be associated with dizziness, visual damage and hearing, nausea, vomiting.Later, the symptoms of pharynx manifest, sudden dimming due to lack of oxygen in the brain.Compression of the vertebral artery leads to ischemia of the spinal cord and brain.The deterioration of the process causes a spinal cord.

Basic processes for the disease

Neck osteochondrosis should be taken into account by the interaction of physiological and pathological factors:

• Physiological process:The aging of a spine of the cartilage occurs due to irreversible natural causes.There are changes in the central part of the intervertebral disc.The process of age -related changes in the body leads to replacement of the pulp with a fibrous tissue;
• Pathological process:Degenerative changes in intervertebral structures occur, destruction of the vessels and nodes surrounding them.Changes occur outside the cartilage themselves, there is a compression of the blood vessels, irritation of the nerve endings.A person feels discs, painful symptoms of a local and reflected nature.

The cervical spine osteochondrosis acquires a pathological form when physiological aging is replaced by a pathological process.At first, the compensatory and protective mechanisms of the body that eliminate the disease are caused.Therefore, osteochondrosis is able to pass or arise only episodically.But this function is not eternal.

The progression of the disease, expressed in compression of vascular and nerve structures, accompanies the following processes:

• Spondylolistz, in which the spinal disc is sliding.Even a slight shift leads to the development of paralysis.Serious displacement ends in death;
• The pulposal core is saturated with calcium salts.This leads to a disk food violation, provokes the formation of a hernia;
• The intervertebral hernia formed due to the swelling of the intervertebral disc between the vertebrae.Ignoring therapeutic masses leads to slow paralysis;
• The appearance of microcirculation in the fibrous ring, the development of the extension.Disc intervertebral left its borders;
• Spondylosis which means wearing beads.Osteophytes arise - the growth of bone tissue in the form of hooks and rivets, localized on the sides of vertebral bodies.Severe pain appears and, as a result, the stiffness of the movements.

Causes of cervical ostechondrosis

An increase in load in the cervical region leads to a body effort to compensate the condition.So start muscle cramps, worsening blood circulation, deformation.The structure of the vertebra itself varies.The cause can also be a progressive disk that occurs due to long -term physical exercise.

The main factors that provoke the onset of cervical osteochondrosis:

• Hippodinami;
• weakening immunity;
• excessive physical exercise;
• the presence of spinal column damage;
• lack of intake with the nutrition of the necessary substances, overweight;
• behavioral problems (scoliosis, flat feet, rheumatism);
• hereditary factor;
• Autoimmune diseases that cause degeneration of cartilage tissue;
• stress, prolonged nerve tension;
• climate factor, cold and humidity;
• Congenital abnormalities of the spinal column.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are the disproportionality of the load on the spine, very weak muscle corsets.People after thirty years are in danger, especially if their day has been in a sitting position for a long time.

Stages of development

The progression of osteochondrosis of the cervical region can be divided into several stages:

• The first, forecilence.It is characterized by minor vertebral deformities, softness of the cervical lordosis.Pain is felt with sharp head movements, fatigue occurs.The development of the disease can be prevented without including medication.It is required to balance your food, choose exercises, make preventive measures;
• The second.An unstable condition is placed between the vertebrae.The vertebral changes of the vertebrae appear in relation to one another, the thuria - the rotation around the spine.The pain intensifies when the neck moves occasionally to the shoulders, hands.The height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, which leads to the nerve pinching.It is characterized by signs such as distraction, fatigue, headache;
• Phase third.The height of the intervertebral disk decreases by a quarter in relation to the above disc.The deformations begin to appear in the intervertebral joints.There is a decrease in the lumen of the intervertebral holes, the spine canal.Severe pain is constantly felt.The wrist muscles begin to become numb due to the onset of the formation of the intervertebral disc herniation.The cervical region loses flexibility.The patient feels dizziness, weakness.

The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced.The intervertebral discs are destroyed, replacing the connective tissue.Large osteophytes are formed in the back of the cervical region.The vertebral canal is highly narrowed, provoking the development of myelopathy.The patient's condition becomes worse, accompanied by impaired coordination, dizziness, severe pain, ears.

Symptoms

Symptomatic photo of neck damage differs from disorders in other departments.This is due to a denser arrangement of vertebrae about each other.Due to the low height of the intervertebral discs, the clinic also begins to appear with mild pathologies.Signs of damage will vary depending on that of the eight damaged nerve roots.Under each of the seven vertebrae, there is a nerve, its compression has its symptoms.

Problems in the first two beads disrupt the sensitivity of the back of the head.The pain is located in the parietal, occipital region.The lesion of the third vertebrae's nerve is rare.Symptoms manifest in the numbness of a dependent area, tongue, speech problems.The fourth pillar signals about pain and numbness in the collarbone, shoulder.It can cause difficulty breathing, heartache.Fifth segment disease causes shoulder pain, a decrease in limb sensitivity.

Lesions of the sixth and seventh vertebrae are the most common among patients.The neck, shoulder blade, forearms, lower back, backs suffer.There are numbness of the hands and fingers.The pathological changes in the eight nerve root are characterized by the spread of pain in the lower extremities.There is a loss of skin sensitivity, the little fingers go numb in the arms and legs.Interrupted blood flow causes the feet, hands.

The usual signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• Pain spreads to the upper body and lower;
• weakness, decreased hands sensitivity;
• difficulty in motion, cramping;
• Impaired coordination, accompanied by a bell, ear noise, a sense of disorientation, weakness, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• Numbness of tongue, fingers and legs, deteriorating hearing, vision.

Diagnosis of cervical ostekondrosis

To determine the damaged intervertebral discs and the rate of their disease, the doctor must perform a number of examinations: radiograph, MRI, CT (calculated tomography), ultrasound duplex scan.The most accurate way of studying the health of the cervical region is magnetic resonance (MRI).The purpose of MRI is to identify pathological changes in the spinal tissue, in particular, the spinal cord and intervertebral hernias.After examining and studying the patient, performing an examination, the neurologist who participates makes a preliminary diagnosis, prescribes treatment.

Treatment

If osteochondrosis is suspected, you should consult a neuropathologist.The duration of the course of therapy depends on the age of the person, the severity of the cervical osteochondrosis, such as therapy, and the patient performs all the doctor's recommendations.A full cure of serious forms of osteochondrosis is impossible.The purpose of complex treatment is to slow down the pathological process of proceeding, the elimination of symptoms.The therapy can be conservative, operational or by combining both of these areas.If headaches increase, then it is necessary to start therapy as soon as possible.

To get rid of the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there are two main types of treatment:

• medicines performed taking medication;
• Physiotherapy includes UHF, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, and laser therapy.They stimulate blood flow action, metabolism, remove muscle spasm.

To weaken the compression of the peripheral areas of the central nervous system (central nervous system) and the level of pain at the time of worsening of the disease, medication therapy is used.After eliminating acute manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis, therapy does not stop.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.It is necessary to massage the collar area regularly.Popular remedies are also used.

Therapy with osteochondrosis drugs

Treatment with medication will only have a complete effect with other methods, for example, with physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage.The drug is designed to relieve pain, restore the regeneration of the cartilage, to activate blood circulation in the affected neck tissue.

Many doctors prescribe injections for a more effective effect on nerve endings.But vitamins are best taken in the form of tablets, as injections are very painful.To have an anti -inflammatory effect, the doctor presents intramuscular injections.

The main types of therapy medication:

• Non -inflammatory non -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They have an analgesic effect, remove the aseptic inflammatory process, swelling of the spine.With visible signs of the disease, injections are done twice a day with these medicines.Use creams from the outside;
• Chondroprotectors.Activate metabolism, regenerate cartilage fabrics.Eliminate damage to the intervertebral discs.There are injection medicines for the administration of joints and muscles.The course of therapy is performed for up to 4 months;
• Vitamin B (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, Dcontribute to improving metabolism in tissues, catalyzing their restoration;
• Musorelaxants.For relaxing the spasmodic muscles.Tablets are used for a month.In a severe form of the disease, a variety of medication injection is used;
• Drugs for activating blood flow to the brain,The rheological characteristics of blood.

While additional medicines are used to accelerate recovery:

• Angioprotector- forms of injecting medication are designed to activate blood flow to the veins, strengthen the blood vessel tone;
• Glucocorticosteroid- to reduce swelling and inflammation in the form of injections;
• Biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, help restore destroyed fabrics.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic methods serve as an addition to medication treatment, significantly activate the recovery speed, prolong the remination phase, and reduce the frequency of irritation.

Methods of physiotherapy:

• Exercise therapy- This is one of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis.Regular classes activate blood circulation, contribute to restoring damage;
• massageimproves nerve conductivity, restores muscle tone;
• Magnetotherapyremoves swelling from fabrics;
• Laser therapyacts with a concentrated beam of optical light.Causes recovery processes in the body;
• reflexology- Activating certain points.Enhances immunity, relieves spasms and neck pain;
• ULTRASOUNDgives an analgesic, anti -inflammatory effect;
• Electrophoresis using medicinal herb.Electric current helps to penetrate drug ions into a given location.

Manual therapy, thermotherapy and mud are also used to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis.All of these methods slow down the progression of the disease.

Osteochondrosis cannot be cured with herb, but by accompanying the main therapy, they help to ease the condition.Mix 2 teaspoons of bee honey with two mummy tablets.The mixture is heated, applied to a warm scarf, which is attached to the neck at night.The biostimulating features of honey perfectly complement the treatment.For friction, the solution prepared by radish, vodka and honey in a part of 1.5: 0.5: 1, measurements in cups are used.You can turn three large lemons with a four -sliced garlic meat grinder.Pour the mixture into a two -liter jar of boiling water.By mixing the contents, drink half a glass on an empty stomach.The pain can also be removed with heating with mustard plaster, peppers.

Therapeutic

During the recovery period, you can perform a complex therapeutic charging for the neck.LFK is based on some dynamic exercises.Gymnastics should not be performed with irritation.When performing exercises, it is recommended to monitor the appearance of the concern, is unacceptable.

From the position lying in the stomach, you need to lift the upper body based on your hands.A delay of 1-2 minutes.Take to the starting position and repeat 2-3 times.Then you need to stretch your hands along the body.The heads of the head are made to the right and left 6-7 times, trying to take the floor with his ear.Sit.Tilt the case forward by inspiration, the head rests on the chest.In extracting, bending back, throwing his head back.10-15 tendencies are enough.Now you need to put your palms on the forehead and put mutual pressure for 30 seconds.Repeat 2-3 times.To rotate the head 10 times in each direction.If the head begins to rotate, the exercise must be interrupted.

Complications

The cervical region is rich in blood vessels, nerve endings that feed the brain.Their smallest compression is harmful to the whole body, disrupting blood circulation in the brain and causing neurological disorders: migraine, heart malfunction, respiratory system, vision, hearing, hypertension.Complication in the form of vertebral artery syndrome, ischemia of the brain, spinal cord, which occurs with an advanced form of neck disease is particularly dangerous.When radiculopathy occurs, mobility is lost.The return of the spinal cord leads to death.

To avoid surgical intervention in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, you should not withdraw with a doctor at the first signs.It is necessary to use all available methods of therapy as well as a change in lifestyle, nutrition.