Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a disease associated with a violation of metabolic processes, i.e. the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph, which leads to the pathological transformation of the structure of the intervertebral discs, of the vertebrae and the joints between the vertebrae.The loss of elasticity cartilage fabric contributes to the movement of the vertebrae, the pinches of arteries and other dystrophic changes.
Due to the deformation of the joints, the height of the intervertebral discs decreases.It should be noted that in the cervical region the vertebrae are closer to each other than in other parts of the spine and, therefore, the discs are in a healthy state.
Osteophytes (bone growths) form on the sides of the vertebrae, which irritate the muscles, causing their tension.Osteophytes also tighten the roots of the spinal nerve, the vertebral artery and the small blood vessels, from which brain cells do not receive enough blood.The brain degrades and dies.
From the attendance of occurrence of the osteochondrosis of the neck second after the lumbar cross.The first signs of the disease may appear in school age, after 25 years in one form or another this disorder is observed in almost all.In women aged 45 and 65, further symptoms appear, tingling in the area of the hands during sleep against the background of pain and sharpness.
The reasons for the development of osteochondosis of the neck
Hypodynamia - A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, mainly leads to cervical osteochondosis.As a rule, they are suffered by people whose work involves a long stay in one location: work on the computer, employees, drivers and so on.Osteocondrosis should be predictable if a person has an improper posture or keeps the body in an abnormal position for a long time, for example, holds a mobile phone or phone with a shoulder.
Wrong posture to computer leads to cervical osteochondrosis!
Excessive stress of the back and neck causes an unusual excessive physical activity for the body, for example by raising weights.The same effect is obtained with physical exercises incorrectly.
The degeneration and dystrophy of the cervical region are due to constant nervous tension and stress, prolonged or temporary hypothermia of the body, not balanced, poor nutrition, infections.
The group of increased risk belongs to people with a hereditary predisposition to the osteochondrosis, with defects in the development of the spine, with a traumatic spine or in general.The danger are chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatism, scoliosis, systemic lupus erythematosus).The disease is favored by hormonal imbalance, overweight, dishes, progressive discos.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and the factors that cause them
The key symptom of osteocondrosis is pain in the occipital segment of the neck.If the nerve roots are affected, the pain extends behind, forearms.With spasm of muscles and compromise of blood circulation, the pain is felt in the ears, in the eyes, in the teeth, in the forehead.It can give the shoulder blades, chest, gallbladder, the lower back.The painful sensations also increase with minimal loads, long sessions, inclinations or head turns.The pain basically manifests itself after sleep and disappears if the muscles develops.Frequent departments occur: acute pains, coupled with muscle hardening and difficulty in movement.
It occurs numbers of arms and legs, burning and tingling.The damaged roots with the nerves of the engine weaken the strength of the muscles of the limbs.Blood pressure can increase, get the heart.
The cervical department with sophisticated intervertebral discs, osteophytes on the vertebrae and hit the intervertebral joints creak and creak if you throw it abruptly or turn your head.
The tense arteries and the increase in blood worsen to the occipital fraction of the brain and the cerebellum lead to neurotic disorders, which manifests themselves in the form of irritability, anxiety, mood variability, resentment and insomnia.There are outbreaks of anger, anorexia nervous, fear, desire.
For the same reason, the tongue and fingers are insensitive, a voice is based, hearing and vision decrease, rustle in the ears, it is dark in the eyes, it occurs fainting.Almost always, especially in women, a continuous headache, even stronger, are observed if they are abruptly turned the neck.
The concerned vestibular apparatus leads to disorientation in space, compromised coordination, dizziness and nausea and vomiting associated with these phenomena.
Development phase of osteochondosis of the neck
Cervical osteochondrosis develops stadially, each of the phases has its own clinical picture.
In the first phase (preclinical), the muscles are slightly tense, the pain is weak, when turning or inclining the head, it can increase.The rapid effort of the spinal and lumbar muscles is characteristic.At this stage, the disease is treated without drugs.
The second stage occurs with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and pinching of nerve endings.In addition to the neck, the shoulder and the hand hurt.It performed rapid fatigue, headache, distraction, work is difficult and performance is reduced.
The third phase marks the formation of hernias of the intervertebral records.So the muscles of the hands weaken and numb, constant pain surrenders in the arm or shoulder.General weakness is accompanied by dizziness.
In the fourth phase, the vertebral artery is affected, the destroyed intervertebral disc is replaced by the connective tissue.The coordination is disturbed, the dizziness serious and the noise in the ears are worried.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondosis by type and vertebrae concerned
Different types of cervical osteochondrosis are distinguished.
- Rook syndrome- Due to the pinching of nerve endings, the high intensity pain, in addition to the neck, covers the shoulder, the forearm, is warned in the scapula and in the lower back of the back.
- Vail artery syndrome- It stands out for a pulsating headache in the back of the head or temple.
- Inegatative - Reflex syndrome- The burning pain in the neck and nape gives the chest and shoulder, when turning the head, cough, in a dream intensifies.
- Cardial syndromeIt occurs due to the damage to the spine of the diaphragmatic nerve or the large thoracic muscle.Pressing pains appear in the heart of the heart, last for several hours, when they move or deep breathing, intensify.
The defeat of different cervical vertebrae occurs from its symptoms.
A surprising cervical vertebra 1A and second (Ci-II) causes the nape and crown pain.The cream of the nervous root (C3) brings to the intarPide of the neck, the sensitivity of the tongue decreases, the language is disturbed.If the C4 nervous spine is affected, the clavicle or shoulder is insensitive, breathing is disturbed, pain appears in the heart.The distinction of the vertebra of the 5th department has a violation of the sensitivity of the arms and legs and shoulder pain.The compression of the roots of C6 and C7 is accompanied by pain in the neck, forearm, blade, lower back and back in general, weakening the sensitivity of the hands and fingers.The affected nerve root of C8 causes neck pain, back, elbow and lower limbs.The small fingers are insensitive in their hands, the sensitivity of the skin decreases to zero.Due to the fulfillment of the blood flow, the legs and hands become cyanotic.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondosis
The diagnosis of osteochondosis of the neck begins with the collection of information on the lifestyle of a person and his work, the analysis of complaints and symptoms, one should also find out if this disorder was for relatives.
So an external examination of the back and neck is performed in different positions, which allows you to see if there are violations of the posture.The palpation of painful areas reveals the degree of pain and tension of the muscles and vertebrae.
The main role in diagnosis is played by instrumental research methods.
The longest instrumental method - X -Ray allows you to identify the general conditions of the vertebrae and vertebrates, but in the subsequent stages of the disease it is ineffective.
Complacency tomography has much better diagnostic capabilities, but this method does not allow to make a complete idea of the presence and size of the intervertebral hernias.It is not clear whether there is a compression of the spinal cord.
Maximum efficiency is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Not only are bone formations perfectly trace, but also other important structural elements of the spine: intervertebral discs, hernias, their parameters and how they develop.It is clear in what condition the soft fabrics are.The duplex to ultrasound scan of vertebral vessels allows you to get an idea of their structure, patency for blood flow and its speed, violations and abnormalities of the walls.
After establishing the damaged intervertebral discs and the degree of their violation, it is possible to prescribe adequate treatment.Otherwise, not only will osteochondrosis progress, but different complications are possible.
Complications for cervical osteochondosis
The complications for cervical osteochondosis arise due to the effect on:
- Disks, nerves, nerve endings, plexus (neurological diseases);
- spinal cord;
- brain.
Nervous terminations and blood vessels are compared closely located to the minimum disturbance, which, in turn, interrupts brain circulation, causes a series of disorders and diseases: migraine, hypertension, impairment of the heart, problems with hearing, vision and coordination of attention.
The neglected cervical osteochondrosis is the development of the vertebral artery syndrome, cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke and other mortal pathologies.The growths on the vertebrae (radicolopathy) lead to a complete or partial loss of sensitivity and mobility of the body.By tightening the spinal cord causes a fatal result.
Treatment of the osteochondrosis of the spine
With degenerative lesions of the intervertebral discs, I use different methods of treatment according to the symptoms.
Pharmacological treatment of cervical osteochondosis
A specialist in osteochondrosis is a neuropathologist, a specialist directly on the spine is a vertebrologist.
Pharmacological treatment aims to eliminate pain, relieve inflammation, improve blood circulation, support the body as a whole.
The most disturbing syndrome -severe, sometimes unbearable, can be removed using anti - -inflammatory non -star drugs (fans).The same drugs relieve aseptic inflammation and swelling of the damaged nerves roots.If the pain is weak, it is sufficient to take an analgesic.
You should know that most fans negatively influence the mucous membrane of the stomach, so it is not recommended to take them for a long time.
Anesthetize and heat the interested parties at the same time can be ointments and gels.A pepper patch can be applied to the sore point, but its effect is limited to heating the inflamed area.
Diuretics and herbal infusions are suitable for fighting edema.
In the treatment of cervical osteochdrosis, vitamins of group B are certainly used (B1, B6, B12).The vitamins of this group improve metabolic processes in nerve tissues.Effective oral tablets and solutions for intramuscular administration are effective, but the administration of injection is painful and can have complications.
The most important therapeutic task is the restoration of cartilage in the intervertebral disc.It is resolved using chondroprotectors.It should be borne in mind that all these drugs are biologically active additives with vague effectiveness.
The characteristics of the pathology require the use of drugs that improve blood properties, blood flow to the brain and nutrition of damaged nerve roots.
Muscle cramps can be removed by resorting to muscle relaxants.
The medicines introduced into the body through intramuscular injection affect the nerve endings more quickly.The blocks are performed directly in the affected area, which promptly provides the required effect.
The duration of taking certain drugs depends on the stadium of the osteocondrosis, the patient's complaints and its related diseases.
Physiotherapy procedures
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis without failure includes physiotherapy procedures.
Under the influence of electric current (electrophoresis), medicine immediately enters the destruction site.
The effect of ultrasound anesthetization, relieves inflammation, improves metabolic processes.Magnetotherapy relieves tissue edema and therefore reduces pain.Laser therapy has an anti -inflammatory effect and improves blood circulation.
To improve blood flow to the brain, the massage of the cervical area is very useful.A special place in the treatment of cervical osteochondosis is occupied by therapeutic exercises, especially if innerpositions of the limbs are observed.The patient's conditions improve by improving blood circulation and reducing muscle stress.In the acute phase of the disease, gymnastics is not recommended, it should be made during recovery.
If the conservative treatment does not give a positive result within 6 months, the pain does not pass and the damaged nerve roots are not restored or mylopathy occur, it is possible to resort to surgery.
With the radical cause not eliminated by the osteochondrosis of the cervical region, and this is in most cases a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, the pharmacological treatment will have a short -term effect.For irrevocable recovery, regular physical activities and nutrition are needed that does not contribute to the development of the disease.
Treatment of cervical osteochondosis with popular methods
For the treatment of cervical osteocondrosis, products of vegetable and animal origin are used.They can be brought inside and applied outside.
For internal use, it is possible to prepare a celery infusion, a bay of 4-5 g of plants with a liter of boiling water and insist for 2-4 hours.
The picture can be prepared by:
- honey (1-2 teaspoons) and mummy;Heat, wear a hot wool fabric and attach to the affected area of the spine at night;
- shit;Skit the root on a grater, heat a little, wrap it in the gauze to be applied on a painful point and tie it with a warm cloth to maintain the heat;
- burdock(Rinse the leaves with hot water, apply in a sore point and wrap with the bandage when the leaves dry, replace with new ones).
For rubbing, you can use chamomile and oil (preferably olive), although the sunflower is also suitable.30 g of flowers and 0.5 liters of oil over low heat to boil, insist 2 days, filter and apply on sore areas.To the chamomile you can add San Giovanni, Calendula, Celantine.
For the same purposes, it is possible to prepare a decoction of lion tooth, birch sprouts, mint, coriander leaves (combine the mixture with steep boiling water in a ratio of 1: 1, insist an hour, after rubbing, apply a heating bandage).A means of rubbing from the calendula (50 g of flowers pay 0.5 liters of vodka, there are 2 weeks).
To get rid of the symptoms of osteocondrosis, the leeches - Irudotherapy have long been used.In the early stages, 6 sessions are sufficient.But leeches can cause allergies and therefore, of course, the treatment ceases.
Popular remedies show effectiveness only in the initial phase of the disease, if the disease progresses, the basis of treatment should be drug methods.
Prevention of osteochondosis of the cervical column
The main preventive measure of this disease is physical activity (including walks, swimming) and gymnastics (aerobics, yoga), but it is not possible to raise excessive gravity.Bodybuilding can cause the ledge of the cervical disc.Support for the correct level of weight is fraught with this measure.When sitting, you have to monitor the posture, after each hour make five minutes, knead the neck every 2 hours.But the sharp movements of the head should be avoided.If you regularly perform the massage, it will be possible to prevent the development of excessive muscle tension.
Food should be rich in vitamins, minerals (calcium, magnesium) and other charitable substances.Porridge, Eggs, Legumes, Mushrooms, Low -Fat Meat Are Recommended (Beef, Chicken, Rabbit), Seafood (Fish, Crabs, Oysters, Lobsters, Mussels), Day Products (Milk, Cottage Cheese), Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables (Cabbage, Carbage, Carbage, Carb.Eggplant, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Pepper, Beets, Bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow.
If the osteochondosis of the neck is accompanied by atherosclerosis, it is necessary to limit the use of products that contain cholesterol: animal fats, fatty meat, dairy products -fat -in -fat.Limited consumption products also include flour, sugar, salt products.
Alcohol is harmful in this, falling into the blood, destroys the cells, which worsens the already poor blood circulation.Smoking also falls under the ban.
To protect osteochondrosis, stress must be avoided.A healthy sleep is made to prevent the development of the disease.You have to sleep on a solid mattress and a low pillow, the neck should not bend more than 15 °.
Hot shower, sauna and a bathroom for the bathroom help to remove the spasms of the neck.
If there is a predisposition to the osteocondrosis, the doctor should be shown from time to time.