Cervical osteochondrosis is considered to be the most common disease of the spine in people of working age. Ongoing degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs constantly lead to pathological changes in the vertebrae and ligaments.
The disease is rarely detected in the early stages of its development, as a sick person may initially mistake his symptoms for simple fatigue or mental stress.
However, it is at the first disorders that it is possible to prevent further pathological process in the cervical vertebrae through conservative treatment and lifestyle changes.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common signs of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Pain. Painful sensations of varying severity can be not only in the neck, but also in the arms and head.
- Weakness in the upper extremities. It occurs due to damage to the root of the motor nerves that innervate the muscles of the arms.
- Decreased sensation occurs when the sensory nerve is compressed and damaged.
- Restriction of movements in the neck.
- Dizziness.
- Loss of coordination in movements.
- With severe compression, the blood supply to the brain deteriorates significantly and can lead to visual impairment, neurological disorders and hearing loss.
Prolonged cervical osteochondrosis impairs lung and heart function. The most characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis in the cervical region are pain and dizziness, they have their own characteristics of development.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis
Painful manifestations in people with cervical osteochondrosis occur due to damage to peripheral parts of the nervous system. Painful sensations can be constant, they are referred to in medicine by the term cervical pain, and pain can appear suddenly, sharply, that is, to develop a "cervical chamber".
The leading role in the development of pain is attributed to the painful impulses that deviate from the receptors located in the area of the pathologically altered part of the spine.
The pain of osteochondrosis has the following characteristics:
- Neck pain occurs mainly in the morning. Worsens when turning, awkward movements, cough. From the neck pain can spread to the shoulders, upper back and chest. Gradually, by evening, the pain becomes less pronounced.
- Periodically ill person may experience sharp pain, they are described as "shooting", "piercing".
- The pain often radiates to the hand and reaches the hand, where it manifests itself with numbness of the fingers.
- Cervical osteochondrosis is a common cause of recurrent pain in the back of the head.
- Chest pain is possible, such discomfort in its manifestations often resembles cardiac pathology.
The pain in cervical osteochondrosis leads to limited movement, to muscle stiffness. In addition to pain, there is a decrease in sensitivity in the neck, arm and shoulder girdle.
Dizziness
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis occurs due to impaired patency of blood vessels that feed and supply oxygen to various parts of the brain.
The degree of vascular compression affects the intensity and duration of vertigo. The manifestation of this symptom of osteochondrosis is often accompanied by:
- feeling of trembling on the floor under your feet;
- loss of balance;
- nausea;
- noise in the ears;
- deterioration of vision, flickering flies and lightning in front of the eyes.
Dizziness may stop after rest and remain immobile, but this phenomenon will disappear completely only after a course of treatment for osteochondrosis.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The changes that occur in osteochondrosis in the cervical spine are due to malnutrition and blood circulation. Such pathology develops under the influence of the following reasons:
- Impaired metabolism.
- Hypodynamia, ie insufficient physical activity.
- Injuries transferred.
- Constant forced body position. Prolonged tension in the muscles of the neck often occurs in drivers, office workers.
- Abnormalities in the development of the spine, they include scoliosis, improper posture.
In recent years, there has been a tendency to increase the number of patients with cervical osteochondrosis among adolescents. Doctors attribute this to computer games and nervous tension.
Treatment
Medical treatment of patients diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible. This prevents further changes in the tissues of the spine and quickly improves overall well-being.
Below we consider the main groups of drugs used in the treatment of osteochondrosis.
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Treatment at home
Against the background of drug therapy and during the recovery period, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out by other methods. The group of the most common of them include herbal medicine, exercise, physiotherapy, adherence to a special diet. All these methods help to improve metabolic processes, normalize blood circulation, strengthen the muscular corset and reduce inflammatory reactions. Adherence to the full range of therapeutic measures allows you to not only get rid of unpleasant sensations, but also to prevent further pathological changes in the discs and vertebrae.
Exercises
After relieving acute pain in patients with osteochondrosis, the doctor recommends exercising. Specially selected training therapy strengthens the muscles of the neck and the entire spine, improves disc nutrition and blood circulation.
In the early stages of osteochondrosis, exercise leads to complete recovery of joint mobility.
The simplest exercises for cervical osteochondrosis are tilting the head to the side, forward, backward. A doctor who will take into account any changes in the spine identified during the patient's examination will help you choose the right set of exercises.
Herbs
The use of herbs for osteochondrosis is aimed at relieving inflammation, swelling and enhancing metabolic processes in the body. The following recipes are popular:
- 10 grams of buckthorn, 40 grams of birch leaves and 50 grams of willow bark should be cut and mixed well. The broth is prepared from two spoons of the collection and half a liter of water, all boiled for 10 minutes, infused and cooled. You should drink this decoction in a glass twice a day for at least two weeks.
- Horseradish compress. Horseradish leaf should be watered with boiling water, attached to the neck and fixed with a scarf. Such a compress is best done at night, when used, you will feel a slight burning sensation.
Lifestyle
Proper nutrition in osteochondrosis will help normalize metabolism. Hard diets for this disease do not exist, except when you need to lose weight, as changes in the discs often occur in obesity.
Remember to have protein in the daily menu for people with osteochondrosis, they are found in meat, dairy products, fish, poultry, legumes, cereals. Proteins are well absorbed if these products are combined with plant foods.
Strong coffee, tea, alcohol should be abandoned, as these drinks do not allow the absorption of important trace elements.
In addition to medication, exercise, diet, physiotherapy helps a person with osteochondrosis in the treatment. Massage, swimming and yoga give excellent results in relieving pain and strengthening the muscular corset. Most importantly, the chosen methods of treatment should be carried out several courses a year, this will allow you to forget about the exacerbations of osteochondrosis.
Movement is everything
Osteochondrosis develops in the absence of physical activity, which means that in order to improve the functioning of the spine in this area, it is necessary to change your lifestyle. Physical activity, daily exercise, sparing sports allow you to forget about the uncomfortable sensations of osteochondrosis. People who do sedentary work should take regular breaks during the working day to perform simple physical exercises.