Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes the degeneration of soft intervertebral pulp into ossified tissue.Pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.Pathology is difficult to diagnose, because it disguises itself as a variety of disorders.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are many reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, but most of them are associated with changes in the cartilage tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With a proper diet and constant physical activity, salt is usually consumed and not collected.Otherwise, the cartilage tissue will become less mobile, lose flexibility, and the vertebrae will begin to shift, pinching arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur, in which osteophytes develop - bone growths in the cervical vertebrae, causing irritation and muscle tension, worsening the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders of the cervical spine occur due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is very common in office workers who have to sit for 8 hours a day and who are not involved in any sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease that affected adults, but today the disease becomes younger.Young people sometimes begin to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis while still at school or university, which is associated with an inactive lifestyle and poor posture.
People who do physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, because the high load on the back, combined with an uncomfortable body position and long back injuries, adversely affects the health of the neck, causing overstrain in this area.Experts also include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- descent;
- improper diet;
- metabolic process disorders;
- constant pressure;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal cord injury.
Stages of development of neck osteochondrosis
Doctors determine the stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis based on the patient's symptoms and complaints.
First degree
With minimal clinical manifestations, the patient may feel pain in the neck of low intensity, which increases when turning the head.During the examination, the specialist sometimes detects muscle tension.
second degree
The patient feels pain in the neck with a higher intensity, which can radiate to the arms and shoulders.The cause of the pain can be abrasions on the intervertebral discs and pinched nerves.The pain increases when turning and tilting the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and headaches begin.
third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis increase, and the pain becomes constant and radiates to the upper part and shoulders.Weakness appears in the arms, and they gradually become numb due to the formation of a herniated intervertebral disc.The patient was overcome by dizziness and weakness, and after a medical examination, limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain when touching the neck were diagnosed.
Fourth grade
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness worsens, noise occurs in the ears, and movement coordination worsens.This is due to involvement in the vertebral artery process, which is responsible for supplying the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain with oxygen and nutrients.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- Symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis of the neck differ from the manifestations of this disease in other parts of the spine.This is explained by the peculiarity of the structure of the human body: the vertebrae are located closer to each other, and the height of the intervertebral disc is not too great, so symptoms occur even with minor pathologies.
Let's consider the main signs by which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- illThey can be localized in different places (on the neck, back of the head, shoulders or arms).Pain in the arms and shoulders occurs when the nerve roots surrounding the upper limbs are compressed.Pain in the back of the head is associated with spasm of the cervical muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in limbs.Weakness appears in the arm due to damage to the roots containing the motor nerves that innervate the arm muscles.
- Decreased hand sensitivity.The symptoms are felt when the roots with the sensory nerves covering the skin of the hand are damaged.Sometimes, along with the loss of sensitivity, numbness of fingers or hands may occur due to cervical osteochondrosis.
- Limited mobility of the cervical spine and throbbing.They appear due to the wear of the intervertebral disc and the appearance of growths on the vertebrae, as well as when the small joints between the cervical vertebrae are affected.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor movement coordination.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when the vertebral artery, through a special channel through the transverse process of the cervical vertebra, is involved in the process.Fibrous tissue is formed, the vertebrae are displaced, the blood flow in the arteries is disturbed - this leads to the deterioration of the blood supply to the back of the brain and the cerebellum.
- Impaired vision, hearing and tongue numbness.These are signs of a serious deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum and the occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat neck osteochondrosis?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis is actively developing, and getting rid of negative pathology will be more difficult.This can be done only with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe different treatment methods to their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- electrical stimulation, etc.
A few sessions help relieve pain, but the course of treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of neck osteochondrosis is unsuccessful, the patient may be referred for surgery.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the vertebral damage and the technique used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include the following:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corset, medicated baths, herbal remedies for osteochondrosis, etc.)
Doctors use drug treatment during exacerbations to quickly relieve pain and inflammation.You can stimulate metabolic processes and blood circulation in the body with the help of intravenous and intramuscular injections.
Therapeutic gymnastics (physical therapy) is a set of special exercises for osteochondrosis, aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and correcting posture.Physical education makes the ligament-muscle system more flexible, normalizes nutrition of the intervertebral discs, promotes the formation of muscle corsets and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures using lasers, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.The use of this technique helps speed up the patient's recovery and improves the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physiotherapeutic methods have no side effects.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck corset is sometimes used, which is also effective in prevention.A procedure called reflexology, in which experts influence certain areas of the human body, has proven itself to be very good.Traction of the spine relieves pain in the cervical region and joints, helps restore its anatomical shape and increases the intervertebral interval.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After a course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, you must follow the doctor's advice to prevent the development of the disease in the future.First of all, you need to monitor the position of the body so that the spine is not overstrained.You can stretch your back muscles.
You can not stand for a long time and make sharp turns and tilt your head.Do not lift the weight with outstretched arms, but first sit down, take the weight in your hands and then rise with it.When carrying heavy bags or other objects in your hands, switch hands or distribute the load evenly.
Control your posture while working.Get into the habit of doing regular exercise by changing your body position.You should sleep on a moderately hard mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When getting out of bed, lean on your hands so as not to strain your back.
Before exercising, always drink a glass of water and wear comfortable shoes that support your feet.After sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position with the body bent, stretch or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscular corset well, and hardening and contrast baths also bring benefits.Eat a varied diet and avoid fatty and salty foods.It is better to lean on lean meats, grains, dairy products and vegetables.