Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms than threatens, consequences

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

A few decades ago, it was thought to be a problem mainly from people of age, but at the moment the cervical osteochondrosis is "younger".This means that he can cross the youth that 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 occur, because of what develops and how to get rid of it?

Illness

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

In the process of human life, vertebrate animals 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 disturbed.All this leads to the fact that they lose strength, the cervical region becomes unstable, its tissues acquire storms.This, in turn, can become the fact that the vertebrae are displaced, often formed intervertebral hernias, the disease of this area of the spine progresses.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region develops in several stages:

• In the first stage, the pulp nucleus is dehydrated - the interior of the intervertebral disc, which consists of a gelatin substance (chondrin) and half a liquid mass (fibers forming the connective tissue).As early as this period, the mechanism of destruction of bone-serving was started;
• The second stage is characterized by the leakage of the vertebrae, resulting in the sagging of muscles and ligaments;
• In the third stage, the protrusion of the contents of the discs becomes pronounced, hernia is formed.At this stage, there is often damage to the muscles and cervical vessels;
• Increased vertebral mobility provokes the body to a reaction that ensures the functionality of this department of the musculoskeletal system.The result is the appearance of bone growth on the surface of the vertebrae - osteophytes.Along with these processes, fibrous tissue also grows.These entities surround this area of the spine, clogging it.

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

Syndromes and symptoms of osteochondrosis

The main signs of the disease:

• Neck pain, chest, upper back, shoulders.They can occur in other parts of the body.The appearance of pain is explained by a pinch of muscles and nerve endings.If there is pain in the thoracic area, osteochondrosis of the cervical part may develop.In this case, it may be either harsh and short -lived, but regularly arising and did not express expressed but prolonged (not withdrawing for several weeks);
• Often the symptom of the disease is a headache;
• Dizziness.They, like the previous symptom, manifest themselves due to the fact that the artery is squeezed, supplying the brain with nutrients, oxygen.For the same reason, the patient often experiences general weakness, quickly tired even with minor physical and mental stress;
• The feeling of weakness in the hands.This symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is felt due to the pinching of the nerve endings involved in the regulation of motor activity;
• Reduce (or increase) the sensitivity of the upper limbs.In the advanced stages, the patient may completely stop moving them;
• The hardness of the upper back, the chest area, the presence of pulling sensations;
• Discomfort when performing turns on the head.Many patients are not able to move completely.They are usually accompanied by a crunch that occurs as a result of structural changes in the intervertebral discs;
• Vision of vision, hearing.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spectacles is manifested due to insufficient blood supply to the brain.They usually feel in the last stages of the disease.

The pathology is accompanied by a number of syndromes:

• Korean.It is accompanied by pain in the shoulder blades, in the shoulders and occurs due to a pinch of nerves in the neck;
• Spine.Its main characteristics are a headache, which are applied mainly to occipital, time regions;
• Reflex.This syndrome is accompanied by severe pain, neck discomfort.In many patients, these symptoms become more present when performing head movements.Often they give the breasts, shoulders;
• Cardinal.Conducted by discomfort in the heart.Its manifestations are similar to the signs of angina, and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish these conditions.

The main causes of the disease development

Changes associated with age in the body do not go unnoticed by the musculoskeletal system.The more adult a person becomes, the more expressed the mineral imbalance, the loss of moisture tissues.All this serves as the reasons for the development of the pathology.

But cervical osteochondrosis can show its symptoms in young people, in this case the onset of the disease is associated with other provocateurs, of which are the most common: they are: they are:

• Improper posture;
• Excessive weight, which is why the spine is experiencing huge loads.In addition, this is usually a cause of metabolic processes, which is why bone tissues wear out faster;
• Long physical exertion, lifting of weight;
• A seated lifestyle that causes a person a little, stagnant processes develop;
• Violation of the structure of the spine - congenital or acquired;
• Genetic conditionality;
• The presence of injuries to the musculoskeletal system;
• Autoimmune diseases that cause bone tissue degeneration;
• Common stress, nerve shocks, other negative conditions of the nervous system.

Diagnostics

If symptoms of the disease occur, you should contact an orthopedist or traumatologist.The patient's complaints may immediately suspect what the disease is associated with.

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

• Radiography.This technique takes pictures of certain areas to study them in detail.The study allows us to detect formations that form during the disease, deformity of tissues, discs of the discs;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.Thanks to this diagnostic method, it is possible to analyze the condition of the tissues, to identify hernias, and to even determine 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 identify the consequences of the course of the disease.It determines the conductivity of the nerves.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 circulatory disorder, an ultrasound can be used, allowing you to determine its speed and find barriers that make it difficult if they are.

The methodology of treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

First, therapy is aimed at reducing pain, relieving the patient's condition.The second important goal of treatment is to prevent the disease from progressing.An integrated approach is used to solve these problems to include all measures available for 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 fees for osteochondrosis of the cervix, proper nutrition, except for food leading to weight gain.In this case, the food should saturate the body with nutrients, minerals.You do not need to follow the lifelong post, you just have to properly compile your diet, regulate the amount of food consumed.

Physiotherapy

This method of treating cervical osteochondrosis is more commonly 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 body.It is not able to cause exacerbation of other pathologies in the patient.

Physiotherapy procedures are most commonly used:

• Laser therapy.On the side of the spine, which affected the lesion, exposure to the light flow 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 it, 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, which triggers the process of restoring the level of the body itself;
• Shock wool therapy.If cervical osteochondrosis is detected, treatment with this method provides for the supply of acoustic wave.It contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes, blood flow and recovery processes.This method allows you to eliminate the pain;
• Ultraviolet radiation.The body is informed of high -frequency sounds that have anesthetic, anti -inflammatory effects, contribute to tissue repair;
• Mudley, Balneotherapy(Mineral water treatment).Both methods include saturation of the affected fabrics with mineral, useful elements by taking shower, pools, baths, application of therapeutic agents on the skin.Thanks to these methods, it is possible to eliminate the pain, to accelerate the patient's recovery.

Conservative treatment

It mainly includes the use of medicines.

Within the framework of how osteochondrosis of the uterus is treated with conservative methods, different groups of medicines that have different effects are used.

Most often it is:

• Nsaid(non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs).Thanks to them, they manage to deal with the pain, the inflammatory processes that can develop in the tissues, aggravating the course of the disease.Usually these drugs are prescribed in the form of gels, ointments;
• Chondroprotectors.These are quite effective medicines designed to prevent the disease from developing.In addition, they contribute to the launch of tissue regeneration processes;
• Analgesics.Medicines in this category are used as anti -inflammatory and painkillers;
• Vasodilative medicines.Thanks to them, it is possible to improve blood flow, which is why the severity of the pain is reduced and the patient's recovery time is reduced;
• Antispasmodics.These drugs contribute to the elimination 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.It can combine medicines from different groups to improve their therapeutic effect and its intensity.In some cases, the use of a category of medicines is sufficient.It depends on the particular case.

Surgical treatment

He must resort to him away from always.Surgical intervention may be required if there is a threat of applying a central nervous system, spinal cord, large vessels, nerve bundles.All this can lead to many negative consequences.The need for surgery is only determined by the doctor.He also chooses the form of surgery, but they are:

• Microdescectomy.This surgical method is one of the most commonly used.It ensures the removal of hernial convexity that presses the vessels, the nerve endings, the muscle tissue located nearby;
• Laminectomy.It is an operation to remove (complete or partial) of spinal arches, ligaments, facet joints;
• Nucleoplastic laser.The technique involves the removal of part of the pulp nucleus in the affected area using a laser;
• Endoscopic surgery.This technique is carried out using an endoscope and is assigned to remove hernia;
• Arthrodesis.This type of surgery is used to combine several (often two) vertebrae, if they are unstable;
• Transplantation.Surgery for planting 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 unattended.Tissue growth is fraught with serious consequences, including:

• Paresis, hand paralysis (one or both);
• Stroke;
• Damage to the central nervous system;
• Spinal cord lesion;
• Loss (partial or complete) vision, hearing.

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

When to see a doctor?

It is not worth delaying your doctor's visit, because without treatment the pathology will confidently progress.

It is necessary to contact a doctor when they occur and for several days such symptoms do not withdraw:

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

For starters, you can visit the therapist who, by complaints, will determine which specialist should contact further.

Unique treatments

Not only the methods listed above are used in the fight against this disease.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 the effect on the inflammation area with the hands.It differs from the massage in that in addition to the muscles, joints, bones, vertebrae, discs are made;
• Survivorotherapy- The fight against leeches, which with bite releases biologically active substances in the human body, the main of which is girudin.It helps to clean the blood vessels, improve their condition.Due to this, the blood flow is normalized and as a result it is good to improve;
• Reflexology.People are more known as acupuncture.With its help has an effect on biologically active points to start the healing processes of the body at the cellular level.

If you decide to resort to such methods of therapy, you should find an experienced, competent specialist.Otherwise, such manipulations can lead to a worsening in the patient's condition if they are performed incorrectly.

Can I contact a massage therapist?

If the patient has no contraindications to him, then it will be very useful correctly.Do not resort to it if there is a pinch of nerve endings.If you overtake cervical osteochondrosis, you decided to treat the house with the help of a massage, only a professional with high qualification and extensive experience should fulfill it.

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

Why is an orthopedic pillow needed?

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

The materials in which they are made allow you to simultaneously relax the cervical vertebrae and to ensure their even location.They are not placed under the shoulders (because this leads to a curvature of the spine), but directly under the head.Due to their properties, orthopedic pillows serve not only to prevent various diseases of the cervical region.Using them is an additional measure for their treatment.

Cervical osteochondrosis gymnastics at home

One of the conditions for improving the condition is to maintain the muscle mass of the diseased area.But exercise for cervical osteochondrosis should be properly constituted in order not to harm the treatment of the disease.They must have an actively stimulating nature.This means that they should help strengthen the muscles, but at the same time contribute to improving blood flow, eliminating stagnant processes and relieving pain.

Cervical osteochondrosis gymnastics may include the following exercises:

• Standing in a position where the legs are parallel to each other and 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 is pulling up.In this position, describe 5 rounds in hourly and 5 rounds, forgive clockwise.The rotation amplitude should not be large so that the cervical vertebrae is not injured;
• 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 you were 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 this exercise with the development of cervical osteochondrosis, you should not experience discomfort, pain, and pulling sensations.Repeat the movements in both directions at least 10 times;
• Perform the same manipulations as in the previous paragraph, return only your head, not forward;
• Sit in a chair, keep your body evenly and just fill your heads (5-6 in each direction).Do this smoothly, slowly, trying to feel every mm of the cervical region;
• Leave your forehead on the palm.The second must resist and try to overcome it.It should not be difficult to be zealous - the pressure should be tangible, but it does not lead to pain.Make manipulations 8-10 times, then rest within 15-20 seconds.After rest, perform the exercise again, but by changing your hand;
• Lift your shoulders as high as possible, exhale.Hold in this position for about 10 seconds.When you inhale, relax your shoulders and then repeat these actions 8-10 times;
• In a sitting position or lie, massage the nape of the nape of neat movements with the tip of your fingers.

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

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