Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes degeneration of the soft intervertebral pulp into ossified tissue.Pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.Pathological diagnosis is difficult because it disguises itself as various disorders.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are many reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, but many of them are associated with changes in the cartilage tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With proper nutrition and regular physical activity, salts are normally consumed and not accumulated.Otherwise, the cartilage tissue will become less mobile, lose its elasticity and begin to shift, compressing the vertebral arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur in which osteophytes develop - bone growths in the cervical vertebra, causing irritation and muscle tension, aggravating the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders in the cervical spine occur due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is especially familiar to office workers who have to sit for 8 hours a day and do not do any sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease affecting people of adult age, but today the disease has become much younger.Young people sometimes start to feel the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis when they are at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture.
People who do physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, because high loads on the back, along with uncomfortable body position and long-term back injuries, negatively affect the health of the neck and cause excessive stress in this area.Experts note other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- heredity;
- improper diet;
- disturbance of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- straight legs;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal cord injury.
The degree 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, specialists sometimes detect muscle tension.
Second degree
The patient feels pain of higher intensity in the neck, which can spread to the arm and shoulder.The cause of the pain can be wear of the intervertebral disc and pinched nerves.Pain intensifies when turning and bending the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and headaches begin.
Third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify and the pain becomes constant and spreads to the upper limb and shoulder.Weakness develops in the arms and they gradually become numb due to the formation of intervertebral hernias.The patient is overcome by dizziness and weakness, and after a medical examination, limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain when touching the neck are diagnosed.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness worsens, noise occurs in the ears, coordination of movements worsens.This is due to the involvement of the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying the cerebellum and occipital lobe of the brain with oxygen and nutrients.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- The symptoms of the development of cervical osteochondrosis 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 discs is not very large, so symptoms occur even with minor pathologies.
Let's consider the main symptoms by which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- Pain.They can be localized in different places (neck, back of the head, shoulder or arm).Arm and shoulder pain occurs when the nerve root that innervates the upper limbs is compressed.Pain in the back of the head is associated with spasms of the cervical muscles that attach to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in limbs.Weakness occurs in the arms due to damage to the root containing the motor nerves that innervate the arm muscles.
- Decreased sensitivity of the hands.The symptom is felt when the root is damaged by sensory nerves innervating the skin of the hands.Sometimes due to cervical osteochondrosis, numbness of fingers or hands may occur along with loss of sensation.
- Limited mobility and stiffness of the cervical spine.They appear when intervertebral disc wear and the appearance of growth in the vertebrae, as well as when the small joints between the cervical vertebrae are affected.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor coordination of movements.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when the vertebral artery, which passes through the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae in a special channel, is involved in the process.Fibrous tissue is formed, the vertebrae are displaced, the blood flow in the artery is disturbed - this leads to the deterioration of the blood supply to the back of the brain and the cerebellum.
- Deterioration of vision, hearing and numbness of the tongue.These are signs of severe deterioration of blood supply to the cerebellum and occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat neck osteochondrosis?
If not treated in time, cervical osteochondrosis develops actively and it will be more difficult to get rid of negative pathologies.This can only be done with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe various treatment methods to patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- electrical stimulation etc.
A few sessions help to get rid of pain, but the course of treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis fails, the patient may be sent to surgery.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the vertebral injury and the technique used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, medicinal baths, herbal medicines for osteochondrosis, etc.)
Doctors resort to drug treatment during exacerbations to quickly relieve pain and inflammation.With the help of intravenous and intramuscular injections, you can stimulate metabolic processes and blood circulation in the body.
Therapeutic gymnastics (physical therapy) is a set of special exercises for osteochondrosis aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and correcting posture.Physical education makes the ligamentous-muscular system more flexible, normalizes nutrition of the intervertebral discs, helps to form a muscular corset and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures using laser, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low frequency currents.The use of these methods accelerates the patient's recovery and increases the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physiotherapeutic methods have no side effects.
A special neck corset is sometimes used to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which is effective in prevention.The procedure called reflexology, in which specialists affect selected areas of the human body, has proven itself perfectly.Stretching the spine relieves pain in the cervical region and joints, helps to restore its anatomical shape and increase the intervertebral space.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After the course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, you should follow the recommendations of doctors to prevent the development of the disease in the future.First of all, it is necessary to monitor the position of the body so that the spine is not overloaded.You can stretch your back muscles.
You can not stand for a long time and make sharp turns and bends of your head.Do not lift the weight with outstretched arms, but first sit down, take the load in your hands, and only then rise with it.When carrying heavy bags or other objects, alternate hands or distribute the load evenly.
Control your posture while working.Get used to regular exercise by changing your body position.You should sleep on a medium firm mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When getting out of bed, lean on your hands to avoid straining your back.
Always drink a glass of water before exercising and wear comfortable shoes that support your feet.After sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time with your body bent, lie down or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscle corset well, strengthening and contrast showers are also beneficial.Eat a varied diet, avoid fatty and salty foods.Lean better on lean meats, grains, dairy products and vegetables.