Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes the soft intervertebral pulp to degenerate into ossified tissue.Pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.Pathology is difficult to diagnose, as 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 related to changes in the cartilage tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With a proper diet and constant physical activity, salts are usually consumed and not collected.Otherwise, the cartilage tissue becomes less mobile, loses its elasticity, and the vertebrae begin to move, pinching the arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur, during which osteophytes are formed - bone growth in the cervical vertebrae, which causes irritation and muscle tension, further aggravating the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders of 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 sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease that affected people of mature age, but today the disease has become much younger.Young people sometimes start to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and bad posture.
People who do physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, as the heavy load on the back combined with uncomfortable posture and long-term back injuries adversely affects the health of the neck, causing overload in this area.Experts include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- heredity;
- improper diet;
- disruption of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal cord injury.
Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
Doctors determine the developmental stage of cervical osteochondrosis based on the patient's symptoms and complaints.
First degree
With minimal clinical manifestations, the patient may feel a low-intensity pain in the neck, which increases when turning the head.During the examination, specialists sometimes notice muscle tension.
Second degree
The patient feels more intense pain in the neck, which may radiate to the arm and shoulder.The cause of the pain may be wear of the intervertebral disc and pinched nerves.The pain increases when turning and tilting the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and headaches begin.
Third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify, the pain becomes constant and radiates to the upper limb and shoulder.Weakness appears in the arms and they gradually become numb due to the development of a herniated disc.The patient is dominated by dizziness and weakness, during the medical examination they are diagnosed with limited movement of the cervical spine and pain when the neck is touched.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness becomes more severe, noise occurs in the ears, and movement coordination deteriorates.This is due to its involvement in the process of the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- The symptoms of the development of cervical osteochondrosis differ from the manifestations of the 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 high, so the symptoms appear even in the case of minor pathologies.
Consider the main signs on the basis of which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- Pain.They can be localized in different places (neck, back of the head, shoulder or arm).Pain in the arm and shoulder occurs when the nerve root innervating the upper limbs is compressed.Pain in the back of the head is associated with spasms of the neck muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in the limbs.Arm weakness occurs due to damage to the root containing the motor nerves innervating the arm muscles.
- Decreased hand sensitivity.The symptom is felt when the sensory nerve root innervating the skin of the hand is damaged.Sometimes, along with the loss of sensitivity, numbness of the fingers or hands can also occur due to cervical osteochondrosis.
- Limited mobility and crunch of the cervical spine.They appear due to the wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of growths on the vertebrae, as well as the involvement of the small joints between the cervical vertebrae.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor movement coordination.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear 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 interrupted - 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 the blood supply to the cerebellum and the occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis actively develops, and getting rid of negative pathologies will be much more difficult.This can only be done with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe different treatment methods for their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry adhesion;
- electrical stimulation etc.
Several sessions help to get rid of the pain, but the treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is unsuccessful, the patient may be referred for surgery.The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the vertebral damage and the techniques used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, spas, herbs for osteochondrosis, etc.)
During exacerbations, doctors use medication 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 (physiotherapy) is a series of special exercises for osteochondrosis, aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and correcting posture.Physical education makes the ligament-muscle system more flexible, normalizes the nutrition of the intervertebral discs, promotes the development of the muscle ligament and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures using laser, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.The use of these techniques helps to speed up the patient's recovery and increase the effectiveness of other procedures.In contrast to drug treatment, physiotherapy methods have no side effects.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck brace is sometimes used, which is also effective in prevention.The procedure called reflexology, during which specialists influence selected areas of the human body, proved to be excellent.Traction of the spine relieves pain in the neck region and joints, helps to restore its anatomical shape and increases the interval between the vertebrae.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After treating cervical osteochondrosis, you should follow the doctors' advice to prevent the disease from developing in the future.First of all, you need to pay attention to the position of the body so that the spine is not overstretched.You can stretch your back muscles.
He cannot stand for a long time and make sharp turns and head tilts.Do not lift a weight with an outstretched arm, but first sit down, take the load in your hand and only then stand up with it.If you are carrying heavy bags or other objects, switch hands or distribute the load evenly.
Control your posture while working.Get used to regular exercise by changing your posture.You should sleep on a medium-hard mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When getting out of bed, lean on your hands so as not to overload your back.
Always drink a glass of water before exercising and wear comfortable shoes that support your feet.If you sit for a long time in an uncomfortable position with a bent body, stretch or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the ligament well, and hardening and contrast showers are also beneficial.Eat a varied diet, avoid fatty and salty foods.Leaner on lean meats, grains, dairy and vegetables.