Cervical osteochondrosis: Causes, symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a progressive process of dystrophy, disturbance of the intervertebral discs.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by severe neck, head, shoulders and amazed everyone, regardless of age.

Description of osteochondrosis

The osteochondrosis of the neck was much younger.Young people suffer from them, starting with adolescence.The neck is the largest area of the spine.Seven vertebrae adjacent to each other quite tightly, and the muscle frame is developed higher than the other departments.The neck is subjected to serious loads as it serves as support for the cranial box and is in constant movement.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?The food of the intervertebral discs is made by diffusion of adjacent tissues.The worsening of the blood supply to the tissues around the vertebrae gives a deficiency of nutrition, water.The hunger of the nucleus of the disc, the fibrous ring leads to degenerative processes.

The growing bone tissue near the vertebrae, the secured intervertebral discs, the transmitted nerves and ligaments are first manifested by signs of reduced productivity.Severe intense pain at the first concentrates in the neck, head, shoulders, heart, arms, upper chest, passing to the lower limbs.Each of the seven vertebrae sends signals to other departments.The drained nerve roots are reflected in the condition of other bodily systems.

Osteochondrosis for the brain is especially dangerous.The passage of the spinal artery here performs the function of providing blood supply to the back of the brain.Pressing it leads to a headache, often developing in migraines, not being subject to painkillers.Osteochondrosis of the neck can be accompanied by dizziness, visual impairment and hearing, nausea, vomiting.Later, pharyngeal symptoms occur, sudden fainting due to oxygen deficiency in the brain.Spinal artery compression leads to ischemia of the spinal cord and brain.The exacerbation of the process causes a spinal stroke.

The main processes for the disease

Osteochondrosis of the neck should be considered by the interaction of physiological and pathological factors:

• Physiological process:The aging of cartilage spine occurs for natural irreversible causes.There are changes in the central part of the intervertebral disc.The process of age changes in the body leads to the replacement of the pulp with fibrous tissue;
• Pathological process:Degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral structures, the destruction of vessels and nodes around them.The changes occur beyond the cartilage itself, there is compression of blood vessels, irritation of the nerve endings.One feels discs, painful symptoms of local and reflected nature.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine takes a pathological form when physiological aging is replaced by a pathological process.Initially, the compensatory and protective mechanisms of the body that eliminate the disease are triggered.Therefore, osteochondrosis is able to pass or occur only episodically.But this feature is not eternal.

The progress of the disease, expressed in compression of vascular and nerve structures, accompanies the following processes:

• Spondylolistz, in which the spine slips.Even a slight displacement leads to the development of paralysis.Serious shift ends in death;
• The palpus nucleus is impregnated with calcium salts.This leads to a disorder of the disk nutrition, provokes hernia formation;
• The intervertebral hernia formed due to the swelling of the intervertebral disc between the vertebrae.Ignoring therapeutic measures leads to slow paralysis;
• The appearance of micro -cracks of the fibrous ring, the development of convexity.The intervertebral disc, which has come across its borders;
• Spondylosis, which means the wear of the vertebrae.Osteophytes occur - bone tissue growth in the form of hooks and spikes, localized to the side of the vertebrae bodies.There is severe pain and as a result, the stiffness of movements.

The causes of cervical ostechondrosis

Increasing the workload of the cervical region leads to the attempt of the body to compensate for the condition.This starts muscle cramps, worsening of blood circulation, deformation.The structure of the vertebrae themselves is changing.The reason may also be a progressive disk that occurs due to long -term exercise.

The main factors that provoke the onset of cervical osteochondrosis:

• Hypodinamia;
• Weakening of immunity;
• predominant exercise;
• the presence of spinal injuries;
• deficiency of receiving with the nutrition of the necessary substances, obesity;
• Posture problems (scoliosis, flat legs, rheumatism);
• hereditary factor;
• autoimmune diseases causing degeneration of cartilage tissue;
• stress, prolonged nervous tension;
• climate factor, cold and humidity;
• Congenital spinal abnormalities.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are the disproportionateness of the spinal cord load, too weak muscle corset.People after thirty years are at risk, especially if their day has been sitting for a long time.

Stages of development

The progression of osteochondrosis of the cervical region can be divided into several stages:

• The first, preclinical.It is characterized by small vertebrae, smoothness of cervical lordosis.The pain is felt with sharp movements of the head, fatigue occurs.The development of the disease can be prevented without the involvement of medication.You need to balance your food, choose exercises, take preventive measures;
• The second.An unstable state is established between the vertebrae.The vertebrae of the vertebrae appear relative to each other, Thuria - the rotation around the spine.The pain intensifies when the neck moves from time to time in the shoulders, hands.The height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, resulting in the pinching of the nerves.Characterized by such signs as scattering, fatigue, headache;
• Third stage.The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced by one quarter in connection with the upper disk.Deformations begin to appear in the intervertebral joints.There is a decrease in the lumen of the intervertebral holes, the channel of the spine.Severe pain is constantly felt.The muscles of the hands begin to tingle due to the onset of hernia formation of the intervertebral discs.The cervical region loses flexibility.The patient experiences dizziness, weakness.

The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced.The intervertebral discs are destroyed, replacing connective tissue.Large osteophytes are formed on the back of the cervical region.The vertebral channel narrows a lot, provoking the development of myelopathy.The patient's condition becomes worse, accompanied by impaired coordination, dizziness, severe pain, ears.

Symptoms

The symptomatic picture of neck damage is different from disorders in other departments.This is due to a more tidy arrangement of the vertebrae with respect to another.Due to the low height of the intervertebral discs, the clinic begins to appear even with mild pathologies.The signs of damage will vary depending on which of the eight nerve roots are damaged.There is a nerve under each of the seven vertebrae, its compression has its own symptoms.

The problems in the first two vertebrae disrupt the sensitivity of the back of the head.The pain is localized in the parietal, back area.The lesion of the nerve end to the third vertebra is rare.Symptoms are manifested in tingling of the attached area, language, speech problems.The fourth spine signals malfunctions with pain and numbness in the clavicle, shoulder.It can create difficulties in breathing, heart pain.Fifth segment disease causes shoulder pain, reducing the sensitivity of the limbs.

The lesions of the sixth and seventh vertebrae are the most common among patients.Neck, shoulder blades, forearms, lower back, back suffer.There is numbness of the hands and fingers.Pathological changes in the root of the eighth nerve are characterized by the spread of pain in the lower limbs.There is a loss of skin sensitivity, the small fingers tingle on the hands and feet.The interrupted circulation causes the legs, the hands.

The common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• pain spread in the upper body and lower;
• weakness, reduction of sensitivity of the hands;
• Difficulty in movement, crunch;
• impaired coordination, accompanied by ringing, tinnitus, feeling of disorientation, weakness, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• Tingling of the tongue, fingers and legs, worsening of hearing, vision.

Diagnosis of cervical ostechondrosis

In order to determine the damaged intervertebral discs and the degree of their disease, the doctor must conduct a number of examinations: radiography, MRI, CT (computed tomography), ultrasound scan of duplex.The most accurate way to examine the health of the cervical region is to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The purpose of MRI is to identify pathological changes in the tissues of the spine, more special in the spinal cord and intervertebral hernias.Following the examination and examination of the patient, by examining, the present neurologist makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Treatment

If osteochondrosis is suspected, you should consult a neuropathologist.The duration of the course of therapy depends on the age of the person, the severity of the cervical osteochondrosis, as therapy, and the patient fulfills all the doctor's recommendations.Full treatment of serious forms of osteochondrosis is impossible.The purpose of complex treatment is to slow down the resulting pathological process, the elimination of symptoms.Therapy can be conservative, operative or combining both areas.If the headache increases, then you need to start therapy as early as possible.

To get rid of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there are two main types of treatment:

• medicines performed by taking medicines;
• Physiotherapy includes UHF, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy courses.They stimulate act on blood flow, metabolism, eliminate muscle spasm.

In order to weaken the compression of the peripheral areas of the central nervous system (central nervous system) and the alignment of pain at the time of exacerbation of the disease, drug therapy is used.After removing acute manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis, therapy does not stop.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.It is necessary to massage the area of the collar regularly.Folklore drugs are also used.

Drug therapy of osteochondrosis

Treatment with drugs will only have full effect with other methods, for example, with physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage.Medicines are designed to relieve pain, to restore cartilage regeneration, to activate blood circulation in the affected tissues of the neck.

Many doctors prescribe injections for more effective effect on nerve endings.But vitamins are best taken in the form of tablets, as the injections are very painful.In order to have an anti -inflammatory effect, the doctor introduces intramuscular injections.

The main types of medicines for therapy:

• Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They have an analgesic effect, eliminate the aseptic inflammatory process, swelling of the spine.With obvious signs of the disease, injections are made twice a day with these drugs.Use creams outside;
• Chondroprotectors.Activate metabolism, regenerate cartilage tissues.Eliminate damage to the intervertebral discs.There are injectable medicines for the use of joints and muscles.The course of therapy is carried out for up to 4 months;
• In vitamins (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, Dcontribute to the improvement of metabolism in the tissues, catalyzed their recovery;
• Mussorelaxants.To relax spasmodic muscles.The tablets are used for a month.In severe disease, an injection variety of drugs is used;
• medicines to activate blood flow to the brain,Rheological properties of blood.

As additional medicines to accelerate recovery are used:

• Angioprotectors- Injection forms of drugs are intended to activate blood flow to the veins, to strengthen the tone of blood vessels;
• Glucocorticosteroids- reduce swelling and inflammation in the form of injections;
• Biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, help to restore destroyed tissues.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy methods serve in addition to drug treatment, significantly activate the recovery rate, prolong the remission stage and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Physiotherapy methods:

• Exercise therapy- This is one of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis.Regular classes activate blood circulation, contribute to the repair of damage;
• massageImproves nerve conductivity, restores muscle tone;
• Magnetotherapyremoves tissue swelling;
• Laser therapyIt works with a concentrated beam of optical light.Triggers the processes of recovery in the body;
• Reflexology- Enable certain points.Enhances immunity, relieves spasms and neck pain;
• ultrasoundAdds analgesic, anti -inflammatory effect;
• Electrophoresis using medicinal herbs.Electric current helps to penetrate the medicinal ions into a particular place.

To get rid of cervical osteochondrosis, manual therapy, therapy and mud are used and all these methods slow down the progress of the disease.

Osteochondrosis cannot be cured with herbs, but, accompanying the basic therapy, they help to relieve the condition.Mix 2 teaspoons of honey with two mummy tablets.The mixture is heated, applied to a warm scarf that is tied to the neck at night.The biostimulatory properties of honey perfectly complement the treatment.For rubbing, tincture made from radish, vodka and copper in a proportion of 1.5: 0.5: 1, measurements in glasses are used.You can rotate three large lemon with a meat mill with four slices of garlic.Pour the mixture into a twin jar with boiling water.After mixing the contents, drink half a glass on an empty stomach.The pain can also be removed with heating with mustard plasters, peppers.

Therapeutic exercises

During the recovery period you can perform a complex of therapeutic load for the neck.LFK is based on several dynamic exercises.Gymnastics should not be done with exacerbation.When performing exercises, it is recommended to monitor the onset of discomfort, it is unacceptable.

From the position of lying down the stomach, you should lift the upper body based on your hands.Delay of 1-2 minutes.Enter the starting position and repeat 2-3 times.Then you have to stretch your hands on your body.The heads of the head are made to the right and to the left 6-7 times, trying to get the floor with its ear.Sit down.Tilt the case forward with inspiration, the head bends to the chest.Exhaled, leaning back, throwing his head back.10-15 inclinations are sufficient.Now you have to place your palms on your forehead and have a mutual pressure for 30 seconds.Repeat 2-3 times.To make the head rotate 10 times in each direction.If the head starts to rotate, the exercise should be interrupted.

Complications

The cervical region is rich in blood vessels, nerve endings that feed the brain.Their smaller compression is harmful to the whole body, disrupts blood circulation in the brain and causes neurological disorders: migraine, heart failure, respiratory system, vision, hearing, hypertension.Complication in the form of spinal artery syndrome, brain ischemia, spinal stroke, which occurs with an advanced form of neck disease, is particularly dangerous.When radiculopathy occurs, mobility is lost.Squeezing the spinal cord leads to death.

To avoid surgery in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, you should not be pulled with a doctor at the first signs.It is necessary to use all available methods of therapy, as well as a change in lifestyle, nutrition.