Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms than threaten, consequences

Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

A few decades ago, it was believed that this is a problem mainly of people aged, but at present, cervical osteochondrosis was “younger”.This means that he can pester youth, which bothers not only patients, but also doctors.

Medicine is actively looking for ways to effectively combat this condition.What is this disease, how does it manifest itself, because of what is developing and how to get rid of it?

Description of the disease

It is a degenerative-dystrophic change in intervertebral discs.Cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by their damage, a decrease in their height, as well as damage to the joints, the vertebrae of this area.

In the process of human life, vertebrates wear out, the amount of moisture in them is significantly reduced, which is necessary for their normal functioning.In addition, in the joints, bones, the processes of mineral metabolism are violated.All this leads to the fact that they lose strength, the cervical region becomes unstable, its fabrics acquire britches.This, in turn, can turn into the fact that the vertebrae are displaced, intervertebral hernias are often formed, the disease of this area of the spine is progressing.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region develops in several stages:

• At the first stage, the nucleus of the pulp is dehydrated - the inside of the intervertebral disc, which consists of a gelatinous substance (chondrin) and a half -liquid mass (fibers forming the connective tissue).Already during this period, the mechanism of destruction of bone-cheese fabrics is launched;
• The second stage is characterized by the omission of the vertebrae, as a result of which there is a sagging of the muscles and ligaments;
• At the third stage, the protrusion of the contents of the disks becomes pronounced, hernias are formed.At this stage, there is often damage to muscles and cervical vessels;
• Increased mobility of the vertebrae provokes the body to a response-ensuring the functionality of this department of the musculoskeletal system.The result is the occurrence of bone growths on the surface of the vertebrae - osteophytes.Along with these processes, fibrous tissue also grows.These formations envelop this area of the spine, clogging it.

With the development of the disease, this part of the spine is becoming increasingly difficult to perform its functions, and a person experiences tangible discomfort.

Syndromes and symptoms of osteochondrosis

The main signs of the disease:

• Pain in the neck, chest, upper back, shoulders.They can appear in other parts of the body.The occurrence of pain is explained by pinches of muscles and nerve endings.If there is pain in the thoracic region, perhaps cervical osteochondrosis develops.In this case, it can be either harsh and short -lived, but regularly arising, and non -core pronounced, but prolonged (not to retreat for several weeks);
• Often the symptom of the disease is headaches;
• Dizziness.They, like the previous symptom, are manifested due to the fact that the artery is squeezed, supplying the brain with nutrients, oxygen.For the same reason, the patient often feels general weakness, quickly tires even with minor physical and mental stress;
• The feeling of weakness in the hands.This symptom of cervical osteochondrosis makes itself felt due to the pinching of nerve endings that are involved in the regulation of motor activity;
• Decrease (or increase) the sensitivity of the upper limbs.In the advanced stages, the patient may completely stop moving them;
• The stiffness of the upper back, thoracic region, the presence of pulling sensations;
• Discomfort when performing head turns.Many patients are not able to fully make movements of it.Usually they are accompanied by a crunch that appears as a result of structural changes in the intervertebral discs;
• Vision of vision, hearing.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spectacles manifests itself due to insufficient blood supply to the cerebellum.They make themselves felt usually at the last stages of the development of the disease.

The pathology is accompanied by a number of syndromes:

• Koreshka.It is accompanied by pain in the shoulder blades, in the shoulders, and occurs due to pinches of nerves in the neck;
• Vertebrate.Its main features are headaches, which apply primarily to the occipital, temporal regions;
• Reflex.This syndrome is accompanied by severe pain, discomfort in the neck.In many patients, these symptoms become more tangible in performing head movements.Often they give to the chest, shoulders;
• Cardinal.Conducted by discomfort in the heart.Its manifestations are similar to signs of angina pectoris, and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate these conditions.

The main causes of the development of the disease

Age-related changes in the body do not go unnoticed by the musculoskeletal system.The older a person becomes, the more pronounced the mineral imbalance becomes, loss of moisture tissues.All this serves as the reasons for the development of pathology.

But cervical osteochondrosis can manifest their symptoms in young people, in this case, the occurrence of the disease is associated with other provocateurs, among which are the most common: are:

• Improper posture;
• Excessive weight, due to which the spine experiences huge loads.In addition, it is usually the cause of a violation of metabolic processes, due to which the bone -ocideous tissues wear out faster;
• Long physical exertion, weight lifting;
• A sedentary lifestyle, because of which a person moves little, stagnant processes are developing;
• Violation of the structure of the spine - congenital or acquired;
• Genetic conditionality;
• The presence of injuries of the musculoskeletal system;
• Autoimmune diseases that provoke the degeneration of bone-cheat tissues;
• Frequent stresses, nervous shocks, other negative states of the nervous system.

Diagnostics

If symptoms of the disease appear, you should contact an orthopedist or traumatologist.A patient’s complaints can immediately suspect what disease they are associated with.

But to make an accurate diagnosis, such diagnostic measures are usually prescribed:

• Radiography.Within the framework of this technique, pictures of certain areas are taken in order to study them in detail.The study allows us to detect formations that form during the course of the disease, deformation of tissues, dischances of discs;
• Magnetic resonance tomography.Thanks to this diagnostic method, it is possible to analyze the condition of the tissues, identify hernias and even establish their size, which is important for determining the stage of development of pathology;
• Computed tomography.This diagnostic method gives the same information as magnetic resonance therapy, but it is very difficult to determine with its help;
• Electromyography.This technique allows you to establish the consequences of the course of the disease.Thanks to it, the conductivity of the nerves is determined.In the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is significantly reduced, which serves as one of the signs of pathology.

If there is a violation of blood circulation, an ultrasound examination can be used, which allows you to determine its speed and detect barriers that make it difficult if they are.

The treatment methodology for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

First of all, therapy is aimed at reducing pain, relief of the patient's condition.The second important goal of treatment is to prevent the disease from progressing.To solve these problems, an integrated approach is used to involve all measures available to medicine that can be used for a particular patient.

The main methods of therapy are:

• Physiotherapy;
• Conservative treatment;
• Surgical intervention (if necessary).

Effective additional measures are massage, properly organized charges for cervical osteochondrosis, proper nutrition, excluding food leading to weight gain.In this case, food should saturate the body with useful substances, minerals.It is not necessary to follow the post for life, you just need to correctly compose your diet, regulate the amount of food consumed.

Physiotherapy

This method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is more often used as an additional therapeutic measure that is combined with other methods.Its advantage is not only high efficiency, but also safety for the whole human organism.It is not able to provoke an exacerbation of other pathologies in the patient.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are most often used:

• Laser therapy.On the part of the spine, which the defeat affected, the exposure to the light stream is exposed.It has a healing, anti -inflammatory effect, helps to eliminate pain;
• Electrotherapy.The essence of the methodology is the effect on the body with electric fields.Thanks to him, the process of treating the disease is accelerated, pain, unpleasant sensations that accompany it are weakened;
• Magnetotherapy.This method provides for the formation of a bioelectric field that triggers the process of recovery at the level of the body itself;
• Shock wave therapy.If cervical osteochondrosis is detected, treatment with this method provides for the supply of an acoustic wave.It contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes, blood flow, and recovery processes.This method allows you to eliminate pain;
• Ultraviolet radiation.The body is informed of high -frequency sounds that have anesthetic, anti -inflammatory effects, contribute to the restoration of tissues;
• Mudley, balneotherapy(treatment with mineral waters).Both methods involve the saturation of affected tissues with mineral, useful elements by taking a shower, pools, baths, applying therapeutic agents to the skin.Thanks to these methods, it is possible to eliminate pain, to accelerate the recovery of the patient.

Conservative treatment

It involves primarily the use of medicines.

In the framework of how cervical osteochondrosis is treated with conservative methods, various groups of drugs that have different effects are used.

Most often it is:

• NSAID(non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs).Thanks to them, they manage to cope with pain, inflammatory processes that can develop in the tissues, aggravating the course of the disease.Typically, these drugs are prescribed in the form of gels, ointments;
• Chondroprotectors.These are quite effective medications designed to prevent the further development of the disease.In addition, they contribute to the launch of tissue regeneration processes;
• Analgesics.Medicines of this category are used as anti -inflammatory and painkillers;
• Vasodilative medicines.Thanks to them, it is possible to improve blood flow, due to which the severity of pain is reduced and the patient's recovery time is reduced;
• Antispasmodics.These drugs contribute to the removal of spasm, significantly reduce the sensitivity of the nerves.Therefore, they have an analgesic effect.

How to treat the disease should only be determined by the doctor.He can combine medications of different groups to enhance their therapeutic effect and its intensity.In some cases, the use of one category of medication is enough.It depends on the specific case.

Surgical treatment

He has to resort to him far from always.Surgical intervention may be required if there is a threat of infliction of central nervous system, spinal brain, large vessels, nervous bundles.All this can lead to very negative consequences.The need for the operation is determined only by the doctor.He also selects the form of surgical intervention, but they are like this:

• Microdiscectomy.This surgical method is one of the most commonly used.It provides for the removal of hernial protrusion, which presses on the vessels, nerve endings, muscle tissue located nearby;
• Laminectomy.This is an operation to remove (complete or partial) of vertebral arches, ligaments, facet joints;
• Nucleoplasty laser.The technique involves the removal of part of the pulp nucleus in the affected area by means of a laser;
• Endoscopic surgery.This technique is performed using an endoscope and is assigned to remove hernias;
• Arthrodesis.This type of surgical intervention is used to combine several (often two) vertebrae, if they are unstable;
• Transplantation.An operation to plant bone tissue, through which the area between the vertebrae is filled if the intervertebral disc was completely removed.

Complications

It is impossible to leave the disease without attention.The growth of fabrics is fraught with serious consequences, among which:

• Paresis, hand paralysis (one or both);
• Stroke;
• Defeat of the central nervous system;
• Lesion of the spinal cord;
• Loss (partial or complete) vision, hearing.

In a severe course of the disease and the lack of treatment, the patient may even remain disabled.Other organs can also suffer from the disease - the heart, digestive system, lungs.

When to go to the doctor?

It is not worth delaying a visit to the doctor, because without treatment the pathology will confidently progress.

It is necessary to contact a doctor when they showed up and for several days such symptoms do not retreat:

• Discomfort;
• Pain in the cervical region;
• Increased fatigue;
• Dizziness, headaches.

To begin with, you can visit the therapist who, by complaints, the initial inspection will determine which specialist should be contacted further.

Unique treatment methods

In the fight against this disease, not only the methods listed above are used.In search of a solution to the problem, patients turn to unusual methods, the most popular of which are:

• Manual therapy- a technique that provides for the effect on the sore area with the hands.It differs from massage in that, in addition to muscles, joints, bones, vertebrae, discs are worked out;
• Hirudotherapy- The fight against the disease with leeches, which, with a bite, release biologically active substances into the human body, the main of which is girudin.It helps to cleanse blood vessels, improve their condition.Thanks to this, blood flow normalizes, and, as a result, the patient's well -being improves;
• Reflexology.The people are better known as acupuncture.With its help, there is an effect on biologically active points in order to launch the processes of healing the body at the cellular level.

If you decide to resort to such methods of therapy, you need to find an experienced, competent specialist.Otherwise, such manipulations may result in a deterioration in the patient's condition if they are performed incorrectly.

Can I contact a masseur?

If the patient has no contraindications for him, then it will be very useful correctly.Do not resort to it if there is a pinching of nerve endings.If you overtake cervical osteochondrosis, you decided to carry out the treatment of the house with the help of massage, only a professional with high qualifications and great experience should perform it.

The procedures will help normalize blood flow, start the process of tissue regeneration, improve overall well -being, eliminate muscle cramps.But it must be borne in mind that as the only way to treat it is not used.

Why is an orthopedic pillow is needed?

During sleep, it is important that the head, shoulders, neck are in the correct, comfortable position.Ordinary downy soft pillows are not always able to provide this, while orthopedic options are designed just so that the body takes the right position.

Materials, the form in which they are made, allow you to simultaneously relax the cervical vertebrae and ensure their even location.They are not put under the shoulders (because it leads to curvature of the spine), but directly under the head.Due to their properties, orthopedic pillows serve not only to the prevention of various diseases of the cervical region.Their use is an additional measure in their treatment.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home

One of the conditions for improving the condition is to maintain the muscle mass of the diseased region.But physical exercises for cervical osteochondrosis should be correctly compiled so as not to harm the treatment of the disease.They must have an active-promoting nature.This means that they should help strengthen muscles, but at the same time contribute to improving blood flow, eliminate stagnant processes, and relieve pain.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis may include the following exercises:

• Standing in a position in which the feet are parallel to each other and are placed on the width of the shoulders, stretch your head up.At the same time, it is advisable to feel that you, as if someone were pulling upward.In this position, describe 5 circles by hourly and 5 circles, forgive the clockwise.The amplitude of rotation should not be large so as not to injure the cervical vertebrae;
• The legs are in the same position in which they were in the previous exercise.with cervical osteochondrosis.Place your hands on your stomach so that one palm covers the second.Stretch your head forward, as if drawing your nose to the wall.The shoulders should remain in place.In this position, lower your head up and down without throwing it back.During the performance of this exercise with developing cervical osteochondrosis, you should not experience discomfort, pain, pulling sensations.Repeat the movements in both directions at least 10 times;
• Perform the same manipulations as in the previous paragraph, only take your head back, and not forward;
• Sit on a chair, holding the body evenly, and just perform heads of the head (5-6 in each direction).Do this smoothly, slowly, trying to feel every mm of the cervical region;
• Rest your forehead on your palm.The second should resist, and you try to overcome it.It should not be hard to be zealous - the pressure should be tangible, but not leading to pain.Do manipulations 8-10 times, then take a break within 15-20 seconds.After a break, perform the exercise again, but by changing your hand;
• Raise your shoulders as high as possible, exhaling.Hold in this position for about 10 seconds.When inhalation, relax your shoulders, and then repeat these actions 8-10 times;
• In a sitting or lying position, massage the nape, performing neat movements with your fingertips.

These exercises for cervical osteochondrosis are recommended to be performed by patients who develop cervical osteochondrosis.

It is necessary to prevent the disease - to eat correctly, to show physical activity (but not traumatic), to monitor your weight.As a prevention, special gymnastics should be performed.You can use a set of exercises given in this article.