Osteochondrosis is a complex of serious degenerative-dystrophic destruction of cartilage tissue located between the vertebral vertebrae. In this pathological phenomenon, the discs themselves are affected, their height changes, bone tissue is damaged in the cervical region.Pathology has similar symptoms with some diseases. The main thing is to notice the first signals of the body in time and undergo diagnostics with the necessary treatment, otherwise osteochondrosis will begin to progress, cause migraine, and blood circulation disorders. Basically, pathology develops in people who have reduced motor activity. This is due to the fact that the exchange of mineral salts in the body is disturbed, which causes thinning of connective tissue, as well as a decrease in their strength.
Causal factors of the occurrence of the disease
The neck is the most mobile part of the body, therefore it experiences a constant load, as it is obliged to hold the head in a certain position. Some factors can have a negative effect on this area of the body and form inflammatory processes in the connective tissues of the body.
The reasons for the development of pathological deviations in the cervical vertebrae are:
- non-compliance with power rules, which is why excess weight set;
- functional change in the skeletal-muscular system;
- hypodynamia;
- injury to the neck or spinal column;
- excessive physical pressure on the spinal column;
- stress;
- physical long -term voltage of the cervical muscle frame;
- heredity;
- Anomalies in bone development.
All these factors negatively affect the vertebrae of the cervical region, creating pressure, which leads to involuntary tonic reduction of smooth and skeletal muscles. Which leads to the formation of hemodiscilative processes, a slowdown in metabolism functions, the development of dysfunctions and degenerative changes in cartilage. The vertebrae begin to deform, acquiring a non -standard shape, and often go beyond the spinal column.
Symptoms of the disease
The very initial stage of the pathological process is clearly visible by some signs.
- Cephalgic syndrome. It is formed during cerebral angiospasm, squeezing the cerebrospinal cerebral nerves, as well as against the background of involuntary intracranial hypertension. It spreads through the occipital part of the head, the neck, affecting the shoulder region and the upper limbs. The pain syndrome can resemble a prolonged increase in blood pressure (hypertension), an attack of angina pectoris, a violation of cerebral circulation, and manifest in the form of a paroxysmal, constant or pulsating nature. Anxiety may increase, mood swings arise, concentration of attention decreases, a person becomes irritable, touchy;
- dizziness occurs, coordination of movements is disturbed. Everything is accompanied by tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, disorientation appears. It is not always a sign of this pathology, since it can manifest as a result of average or internal otitis media, heart disorders, cerebral angiospasm or impaired nerve cell function. Also, dizziness is often noted with a vestibular disorder;
Important!There are two types of dizziness. With unsystematic dizziness, badness appears, stunning, it is difficult for a person to be in an upright position. But at the same time, objects that fall into view do not rotate. And with the systemic, the circular movement of all objects is manifested, which indicates violations in the work of the vestibular apparatus, visual perception, muscle spasms. This is a distinctive sign of dizziness for osteochondrosis.
- painful manifestations in the neck. Pain sensations are localized not only in muscle tissues, but also in the shoulders, including the upper limbs. The occurrence of pain develops suddenly and lasts a long time, and may have a short period. If the disease did not turn into a relapse, then pain passes after a while, while there will be an accompaniment of a slight specific sound (crunch);
- Arterial hypertension. When pinched the nerve endings, a sharp jump in blood pressure occurs. Therefore, if increased pressure is observed for a long time, this is not a symptom of osteochondrosis. High pressure in this disease is combined with cephalgia, aching pain in the hands, compressing the chest, the cervical-brotheral region of the back loses its sensitivity. The state of weakness, fatigue, lack of strength in the muscles of the upper limbs.
Table. Classification of osteochondrosis of the cervical region.
| Stage | Characteristic |
|---|---|
| 1 degree | The lordosis of the neck is slightly smoothed. The occurrence of pain, intensifying while moving the head. The emergence of a tense state and weakness in the muscles of the lumbar region. |
| 2 degree | There is a decrease in the sizes of fibrous and chrysiac formations, compressing nerve branches. The pain is radiated into the shoulders, hands, intensifies when moving the neck. Cephalgic syndrome, a sense of fatigue, distraction, develops, and performance is reduced. |
| 3 degree | Pain sensations of a constant nature in the upper extremities, cervical and shoulder hotel. There is muscle weakness, numbness of the limbs. A hernia of intervertebral discs is formed. The neck is inactive, Vertigo appears. |
| 4 degree | Fibrous and chrysline formations are destroyed. The connecting fibers replace the destroyed cartilage. The destruction process can simultaneously affect more than one vertebral segment. The patient is completely disoriented, pain and vertigo increase. |
What is the danger of the disease?
Pathology harms the entire human body. With osteochondrosis, blood vessels, nerve roots are tightly squeezed, leading to discirculatory encephalopathy, cephalgic syndrome develops, pathologies of heart rhythm, visual, respiratory systems, concentration and coordination processes are caused.
The disease tends to cause:
- various pathologies of the brain;
- a number of vestibular, vascular, vegetative nature disorders;
- Acute violation of spinal circulation with the development of ischemia or hemorrhage (spinal stroke).
Diagnostics
Ways to diagnose violations of intervertebral discs.
- Radiography. Not effective enough at the last stage of the disease.
- Magnetic resonance tomography (MRI). A method of research, which carries detailed information about the presence of deviations, pathologies of the bone structure, connective tissue, whether there is a hernia, with the clarification of its size, location and growth.
- Computer tomography using contrast. Allows you to determine pathology in the vertebrae. The disadvantage in such a study is the impossibility of determining the presence of compression of the spinal cord.
- Ultrasound dopplerography. The effectiveness of this method is to determine the reduction in blood circulation through blood vessels.
Features of treatment
In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, they are based on the degree of disease, its characteristic clinical manifestations and form. Treatment can be carried out as:
- non -surgical therapy, the purpose of which is to eliminate the symptoms, manifestations of the disease to alleviate the condition of the patient using drugs and physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, massage;
- surgical intervention;
- combined therapy. In this method, surgical intervention is carried out with further treatment with drugs.
After a diagnostic examination, the specialist makes a final diagnosis and prescribes the necessary treatment depending on the clinical picture of the disease. Basically, if the disease is in a stage that does not require a surgical surgery, complex therapy is prescribed, which includes taking medications, the performance of therapeutic exercises and the passage of the healing massage course.
Medicines
The doctor prescribes drugs aimed at eliminating pain symptoms, foci of inflammation and muscle tension, restoring cartilage tissues, replenishing the body with a vitamin-mineral complex in the form of capsules, injections, ointments.
Therapeutic physical culture (exercise therapy)
Medical physical education is prescribed to restore blood circulation in the cervical region. The movements should not be sharp, with excessive rotation or bending of the head. It is necessary to imitate the listed movements. Exercises are performed no longer than two minutes. The treatment complex of exercises includes tilts of the head forward and backward, without performing the action to the end.
Basic exercises used to treat osteochondrosis.
- The pose of "lying" on the stomach is accepted. Hands rest on the floor, and the head and the torso rise. The back remains straight. It is necessary to be in this position for about two minutes in 2-3 approaches.
- The pose of "lying" on the stomach is accepted. Hands stretch along the body. The heads of the head are made to the right and left, trying to touch the floor with the ear. 6-7 approaches for each side.
- The "sitting" pose is accepted. With an inhalation, a tilt forward takes place, while trying to stretch to the chest with his head. When you exhale, a return to its original position is made, with a slight slope of the head back. 10-15 approaches are performed.
- In the "sitting" pose, the palms of the hands are applied to the forehead, while making a pressing movement. The head also reaches for the palms, creating the effect of resistance. 2-3 approaches of 30 seconds are performed.
- Circular movements of the headthat are performed very carefully and slowly to the right and left. Ten movements are performed in each direction, avoiding dizziness.
Therapeutic massage
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the specialist makes massage movements in the area of the cervical region, the collar area, and the upper back. This procedure must be performed in a lying position so that the patient's body is relaxed.
The main techniques of therapeutic massage:
- Stroking- A technique in which the massive hand slides along the skin with a small degree of pressure, capturing the area of the base of the head and moving to the upper back.
- Squeezing- A technique during which a stronger effect on the skin, subcutaneous tissue and a surface layer of muscles are performed. The skin of the skin with the fingers occurs carefully, bypassing the periporate fabrics.
- Trituration- It consists in the shift and stretching of tissues in various directions for warming up the skin and blood flow to the collar region.
- Kneading- The most difficult technique that affects deep muscle tissue. It is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor, with caution, as it can lead to a complication of the disease.
Physiotherapeutic treatment method
For the treatment of pathology of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region, physiotherapy is prescribed.
- Drug electrophoresis-Physiotherapeutic ultrasonic procedure performed under sinusoidal-modulated current.
- Laser therapy- This is the method of physiotherapy, which activates blood circulation, eliminates the inflammatory process, reducing pain. Laser therapy is carried out to improve blood flow.
- Magnetotherapy- one of the methods that is based on the treatment of the exposure of magnetic fields, with the influence of which tissue edema is removed and pain is eliminated.
- Ultrasound therapy- Treatment allows you to relieve pain, inflammatory process, while improving blood circulation.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Folk methods to treat osteochondrosis will not work. This is due to the fact that these methods are able to temporarily relieve symptoms, but not to solve the main problem - the starting destructive effect in the spinal column. At home, plant components can be used as a supporting complex to the main therapeutic treatment established by the doctor.
For pain in the cervical region, you can use:
- Fly leaves (treated with boiling water, are applied to the focus of pain);
- raw potatoes and honey (potatoes are rubbed until the gruel is formed, mixed with honey in equal proportions and applied to the place of inflammation at least once a week);
- Mustard, pepper patch and rubbing with alcohol (used for local irritating, increased blood circulation and removal of pain).
Preventive measures
To prevent the occurrence of one of the dangerous diseases, it is necessary to observe certain rules all your life. Following the correct lifestyle can be prevented by many diseases. However, there are situations when the disease is inherited, and then it is worth attentive to your health. Dietary nutrition enriched with vitamins and minerals, as well as moderate physical activity will help maintain the body and even stop the development of a beginning disease.
Recommendations of doctors who will help prevent the appearance of the disease:
- lead an active lifestyle, engage in swimming;
- observe proper nutrition;
- eat foods with calcium, magnesium (seafood, legumes, dairy products, greens);
- Daily perform physical warm -ups, especially if the work is associated with a constant sitting position;
- Use special orthopedic pillows and mattress for sleeping.
At any age, with osteochondrosis, it is worth regularly conducting an examination of the body, as well as conducting a therapeutic physical culture with regular massage, then with the disease you can live for a long time and with comfort.