The problem of cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms, diagnosis and methods of treating the spine are relevant for a large number of people over 35 years old.Although young people also experience this problem.It’s the fault of a modern sedentary lifestyle, and you can’t get anywhere from this in essence.Office-Stol-computer-divan and vice versa.
What does osteochondrosis mean
The term osteochondrosis went from the Greek language ὀστέον - bone and χόνδρος - cartilage.At the end, the suffix –OSIS was added.As a result, it turned out: osteo (bone) Hondra (cartilage) OSIS (not an inflammatory disease). It will be like this in a simple language - this is not an inflammatory disease of the bone -cheerful system.
The term osteochondrosis has become a synonym for any pain in the back.Back hurts?- So you have osteochondrosis, my friend.
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis
Problems of osteochondrosis have no only cause of appearance.The reasons are various situations dysfunctional for the spine:
- Excessive load, if you take the cervical spine, this is the most mobile spine and one way or another experiences the largest dynamic loads, that is, it has the most movement for life;
- Static load - This is a sedentary work, for example;
- heavy physical labor - occupational disease;
- adverse hereditary situations;
- generally age factor and aging.
Age does not always play a single role, but as they say, we begin to erase from the moment of birth or, at least from the moment of puberty.Accordingly, age also plays a significant role.
Osteochondrosis is a radiological condition, that is, it should be confirmed by an X -ray.In principle, if you really want to, then changes in the spine that are suitable for the term osteochondrosis can be found in any person over 30-35 years old.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
It is very difficult to say that it is osteochondrosis that causes certain pains in the spine.Because the acute pain syndrome most often in the cervical spine gives muscle spasm, that is, spasm of the muscles of the collar area.
Muscle spasm can give chronic pain of another state:
- Spondylosis, bone growths spondylolistz (osteophytes);
- Vertebral displacement;
- Instability in the cervical spine;
- Bear and protrusion of disks.
Osteochondrosis is rather a background state and rarely can give some symptoms.
More often osteochondrosis is combined with any other factors.He can give any pain from the neck and radiating roots of the neck of zones:
- Pain in the neck,
- Pain in the hand or pain in two hands,
- Pain in the neck and head.
Not pain symptoms are also manifested:
- Numbness and weakness in the hands,
- Noise in the head.
Osteochondrosis itself cannot give such sensations.These sensations cause other states that must be sought and must be excluded.
For example, Numbness in the hand can be called:
- tunnel syndrome;
- a hernia of a disk, which is not always visible on an X -ray examination;
- manifestations of diabetes;
- manifestations of toxic lesion from the nervous system;
- Vascular diseases.
Accordingly, it is necessary to undergo a full neurological examination in order to identify a pathological condition that leads to complaints of pain.
Although, unfortunately, in modern conditions, when doctors around the “time limits” and a long evil line in the corridor, it is easiest to make a diagnosis - osteochondrosis than to search and identify the true causes of pain.
So the mass domestic medicine actually works, which forces people from hopelessness themselves to diagnose the disease (Fortunately for paid clinics) and prescribe treatment for ourselves (Again, the Internet helps).
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The issue of diagnosis of osteochondrosis rests on an X -ray study: radiography, MRI, CT. The last two studies are not quite x -ray, but it helps to diagnose the problem well.
There must be a full neurological examination to exclude other states that cause pain.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Conservative methods of treatment:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are standardly used;
- the use of muscle relaxants to reduce muscle tone;
- use of group B vitamins;
It is imperative to use non -drug treatment methods:
- Therapeutic physical culture (exercise therapy) -The main method of treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
- Physiotherapy - It is replaced to relieve pain and rehabilitation.
- Massage - Relieves muscle tension, muscle pain, improves the blood circulation of muscles.
- Manual therapy -individual manual effect on the bone-muscular system for removing acute and chronic pain in the spine and joints.
- Spine traction.
- Use applicators.
In addition, they use it Gels, ointments, mustard, jars And the like Folk remedies For treatment at home.
Thank you for reading and a little more figured out the term "osteochondrosis".