Cervical osteochondosis: symptoms that threatening, consequences

Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

A few decades ago, it was believed that it is a mainly problem of the elderly, but at present, cervical osteochondosis was "younger".This means that he can harass young people, which disturbs not only patients, but also doctors.

Medicine is actively looking for means of effectively fighting by this condition.What is this disease, how does it manifest itself, because of what is developing and how to get rid of it?

Description of the disease

It is a degenerative-dystrophic change of intervertebral discs.Cervical osteochondosis is accompanied by their damage, a decrease in their size, as well as damage to the joints, the vertebrae of this area.

In the process of human life, vertebrates wear out, the amount of humidity in them is considerably reduced, which is necessary for their normal functioning.In addition, in joints, bones, mineral metabolism processes are raped.All this leads to the fact that they lose strength, the cervical region becomes unstable, its fabrics acquire bits.This, in turn, can be transformed into fact that the vertebrae is moved, intervertebral hernias often form, the disease of this zone of the spine is progressing.

Osteochondrosis in the cervical region is developing at several stages:

• At the first stage, the pulp nucleus is dehydrated - the interior of the intervertebral disc, which consists of a gelatinous substance (chondrin) and a half liquid mass (fibers forming the connective tissue).Already during this period, the mechanism for destroying bone cheese tissues is launched;
• The second step is characterized by the omission of the vertebrae, as a result of which there is a collapse of the muscles and ligaments;
• In the third stage, the projection of the content of the discs is pronounced, the hernias are formed.At this stage, there are often damage to the muscles and cervical vessels;
• Increased mobility of the vertebrae causes the body to an answer by invalidating the functionality of this department of the musculoskeletal system.The result is the occurrence of bone growth on the surface of the vertebrae - osteophytes.In addition to these processes, the fibrous tissue also grows.These formations envelop this area in the spine, obstructing it.

With the development of the disease, this part of the spine becomes more and more difficult to fulfill their functions and a person experiences tangible discomfort.

Syndromes and symptoms of osteochondrosis

The main signs of the disease:

• Pain in the neck, chest, upper back, shoulders.They can appear in other parts of the body.The occurrence of pain is explained by pinching of muscle and nerve endings.If there is pain in the chest region, cervical osteochondosis may be developing.In this case, it can be hard and short, but occurring regularly, and not pronounced, but extended (not retired for several weeks);
• Often the symptom of the disease is headache;
• Dizziness.They, like the previous symptom, manifest that the artery is pressed, providing the brain with nutrients, oxygen.For the same reason, the patient often feels a general weakness, gets tired quickly even with a minor physical and mental stress;
• The feeling of weakness in the hands.This symptom of cervical osteochondosis is felt due to the pinch of the nerve endings involved in the regulation of motor activity;
• Decrease (or increase) the sensitivity of the upper limbs.In the advanced steps, the patient can completely stop moving them;
• The rigidity of the upper back, the thoracic region, the presence of traction sensations;
• Discomfort during the execution of the head turns.Many patients are unable to make movements.Usually, they are accompanied by a crunch that appears as a result of structural changes in the intervertebral discs;
• Vision of vision, hearing.Osteochondrosis of the cervical glasses manifests itself due to the bloodless blood supply to the cerebellum.They are generally generally felt in the last stages of the development of the disease.

Pathology is accompanied by a number of syndromes:

• Koreshka.It is accompanied by pain in the shoulder blades, in the shoulders, and occurs due to nerve pinching in the neck;
• Vertebrate.Its main characteristics are the headache, which apply mainly to the occipital and temporal regions;
• Reflex.This syndrome is accompanied by intense pain, discomfort in the neck.In many patients, these symptoms become more tangible for making head movements.Often they give the chest, to the shoulders;
• Cardinal.Led by discomfort in the heart.Its manifestations are similar to signs of angina, and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate these conditions.

The main causes of the development of the disease

Age-related changes in the body do not go unnoticed by the musculoskeletal system.The older one person, the more pronounced the mineral imbalance, loss of humidity tissues.All this is the reasons for the development of pathology.

But cervical osteochondosis can express their symptoms in young people, in this case, the occurrence of the disease is associated with other provocateurs, among which are the most common: are:

• Incorrect posture;
• Excessive weight, due to which the spine undergoes huge loads.In addition, it is generally the cause of a violation of metabolic processes, due to which bone tissue -ocides wear out more quickly;
• Long physical effort, weight lifting;
• A sedentary lifestyle, because of which a person moves few stagnant processes develop;
• Violation of the structure of the spine - congenital or acquired;
• Genetic conditionality;
• The presence of injuries from the musculoskeletal system;
• Autoimmune diseases that cause degeneration of bone battery tissues;
• Frequent stress, nervous shocks, other negative states of the nervous system.

Diagnosis

If the symptoms of the disease appear, you should contact an orthopedist or a traumatologist.Patient complaints can immediately suspect the disease they are associated with.

But to establish a precise diagnosis, such diagnostic measures are generally prescribed:

• X -ray.As part of this technique, photos of certain areas are taken in order to study them in detail.The study allows us to detect formations that are formed during the disease, the deformation of the tissues, the discharge of the discs;
• Magnetic resonance tomography.Thanks to this diagnostic method, it is possible to analyze the state of the tissues, to identify the hernias and even to establish their size, which is important to determine the stage of development of the pathology;
• Computed tomography.This diagnostic method gives the same information as magnetic resonance therapy, but it is very difficult to determine with its help;
• Electromyography.This technique allows you to establish the consequences of the course of the disease.Thanks to this, the conductivity of the nerves is determined.In the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical column, it is considerably reduced, which serves as a sign of pathology.

If there is a violation of the blood circulation, an ultrasound examination can be used, which allows you to determine its speed and detect the barriers that make it difficult.

The treatment methodology for osteochondrosis of the cervical column

First, therapy aims to reduce pain, relief from the patient's condition.The second important objective of treatment is to prevent the disease from progressing.To solve these problems, an integrated approach is used to involve all the measures available for medicine that can be used for a particular patient.

The main methods of therapy are:

• Physiotherapy;
• Conservative treatment;
• Surgical intervention (if necessary).

Effective additional measures are massage, loads properly organized for cervical osteochondrosis, appropriate nutrition, exclusion of foods resulting in weight gain.In this case, food must saturate the body with useful, mineral substances.There is no need to follow the post for life, you just need to compose your diet correctly, regulate the amount of food consumed.

Physiotherapy

This method of treatment of cervical osteochondosis is more often used as an additional therapeutic measure combined with other methods.Its advantage is not only great efficiency, but also the safety of the whole human organism.It is unable to cause exacerbation of other pathologies in the patient.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are most often used:

• Laser therapy.From the part of the spine, which the defeat has affected, exposure to the flow of light is exposed.It has a healing and anti-inflammatory effect, helps to eliminate pain;
• Electrotherapy.The essence of the methodology is the effect on the body with electric fields.Thanks to him, the process of treatment of the disease is accelerated, the pain, the unpleasant sensations that accompany it are weakened;
• Magnetotherapy.This method provides for the formation of a bioelectric field which triggers the recovery process at the body level itself;
• Shock therapy.If cervical osteochondosis is detected, treatment with this method provides for the supply of an acoustic wave.It contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes, blood circulation and recovery processes.This method allows you to eliminate pain;
• Ultraviolet radiation.The body is informed of high frequency sounds which have anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effects, contribute to the restoration of the tissues;
• Mudley, balneotherapy(Treatment with mineral waters).The two methods imply the saturation of the tissues affected with mineral and useful elements by taking a shower, swimming pools, baths, applying therapeutic agents on the skin.Thanks to these methods, it is possible to eliminate pain, to accelerate patient recovery.

Preservative

It mainly involves the use of drugs.

As part of how cervical osteochondosis is treated with conservative methods, various groups of drugs that have different effects are used.

Most often it is:

• NSAID(Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Thanks to them, they manage to deal with pain, the inflammatory processes that can develop in tissues, aggravating the course of the disease.As a rule, these drugs are prescribed in the form of gels, nails;
• Chondroprotectors.These are fairly effective drugs designed to prevent the further development of the disease.In addition, they contribute to the launch of tissue regeneration processes;
• Analgesics.Medicines in this category are used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic;
• Vasodilatory drugs.Thanks to them, it is possible to improve blood circulation, due to which the severity of the pain is reduced and the patient's recovery time is reduced;
• Antispasmodics.These drugs contribute to the elimination of spasms, considerably reduce the sensitivity of the nerves.Therefore, they have an analgesic effect.

How to treat the disease should only be determined by the doctor.It can combine drugs from different groups to improve their therapeutic effect and its intensity.In some cases, using a category of drugs is sufficient.It depends on the specific case.

Surgical treatment

He must resort to him far from always.Surgical intervention may be necessary in the event of a threat of infliction of central nervous system, vertebral brain, large vessels, nervous beams.All this can lead to very negative consequences.The need for the operation is only determined by the doctor.He also selects the form of surgical intervention, but they are like this:

• Microdiscectomy.This surgical method is one of the most commonly used.It provides for the elimination of the hernial projection, which pressure on the vessels, the nerve endings, the muscle tissues located nearby;
• Laminectomy.This is an operation to eliminate (complete or partial) vertebral arcs, ligaments, faceted joints;
• Nucleoplasty laser.The technique implies the elimination of a part of the pulp nucleus in the area affected by means of a laser;
• Endoscopic surgery.This technique is carried out using an endoscope and is assigned to the removal of hernias;
• Arthrodesis.This type of surgical intervention is used to combine several (often two) vertebrae, if they are unstable;
• Transplantation.An operation to plant bone tissue, through which the area between the vertebrae is filled if the intervertebral disc was completely removed.

Complications

It is impossible to leave the disease without attention.Tissue growth is responsible for serious consequences, including:

• Paresis, paralysis of the hands (one or both);
• Stroke;
• Defeat of the central nervous system;
• Lesion of the spinal cord;
• Loss (partial or complete) vision, hearing.

In a severe evolution of the disease and lack of treatment, the patient can even remain disabled.Other organs can also suffer from the disease - the heart, the digestive system, the lungs.

When to go to the doctor?

It is not worth delaying a visit to the doctor, because without treatment, pathology progresses with confidence.

It is necessary to contact a doctor when they presented themselves and for several days, these symptoms do not withdraw:

• Discomfort;
• Pain in the cervical region;
• Increased fatigue;
• Stunning, headache.

To start, you can visit the therapist who, depending on the complaints, the initial inspection will determine which specialist must be contacted further.

Unique treatment methods

In the fight against this disease, not only are the methods listed above are used.In search of a solution to the problem, patients turn to unusual methods, the most popular of which are:

• Manual therapy- A technique that provides for the effect on the painful area with your hands.It differs from massage in that, in addition to muscles, joints, bones, vertebrae, the discs are developed;
• Hirudotherapy- The fight against disease with leeches, which, with a bite, release substances biologically active in the human body, the main one of which is Girudin.It helps clean blood vessels, improve their condition.Thanks to this, the blood flow normalizes and, therefore, the well-being of the patient improves;
• Reflexology.People are better known as acupuncture.With its help, there is an effect on the biologically active points in order to launch the body healing processes at the cellular level.

If you decide to use such methods of therapy, you must find an experienced and competent specialist.Otherwise, such manipulations can result in deterioration of the patient's condition if they are poorly performed.

Can I contact a masseur?

If the patient has no contraindications for him, it will be very useful correctly.Do not recover if there is a pinch of nerve endings.If you go beyond cervical osteochondosis, you have decided to process the house using massage, only a professional with high qualifications and great experience should do it.

Procedures will help normalize blood flow, start the tissue regeneration process, improve global well-being, eliminate muscle cramps.But you have to keep in mind that the only way to treat it is not used.

Why is an orthopedic pillow necessary?

During sleep, it is important that the head, the shoulders, the neck be in the correct and comfortable position.The sweet pillows of the ordinary down are not always able to provide this, while the orthopedic options are designed just for the body to take the right position.

The materials, the shape in which they are manufactured, allow you to simultaneously relax the cervical vertebrae and ensure their uniform location.They are not placed under the shoulders (because this leads to the curvature of the spine), but directly under the head.Due to their properties, orthopedic pillows are used not only to prevent various diseases in the cervical region.Their use is an additional measure in their treatment.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home

One of the conditions for improving the condition is to maintain muscle mass in the sick region.But physical exercises for cervical osteochondosis should be properly compiled so as not to harm the treatment of the disease.They must have an active favorable nature.This means that they should help strengthen muscles, but at the same time help improve blood circulation, eliminate stagnant processes and relieve pain.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondosis may include the following exercises:

• Standing in a position in which the feet are parallel to each other and are placed on the width of the shoulders, stretch your head upwards.At the same time, it is advisable to feel that you, as if someone pulled up.In this position, describe 5 circles in every hour and 5 circles, forgive in the direction of the needles of a watch.The amplitude of the rotation should not be large so as not to hurt the cervical vertebrae;
• The legs are in the same position in which they were in the previous exercise.With cervical osteochondosis.Place your hands on your stomach so that a palm covers the second.Stretch your head forward, as if you pull your nose to the wall.The shoulders must remain in place.In this position, lower the head from top to bottom without throwing it back.During the performance of this exercise by the development of cervical osteochondosis, you should not feel discomfort, pain, print sensations.Repeat the movements in both directions at least 10 times;
• Perform the same manipulations as in the previous paragraph, regain the head and not forward;
• Sit on a chair, holding the body evenly, and simply perform the heads of the head (5-6 in each direction).Slowly do it, slowly, trying to feel each MM in the cervical region;
• Rest your forehead on your palm.The second must resist and you try to overcome it.It should not be difficult to be zealous - the pressure must be tangible, but does not lead to pain.Make manipulations 8 to 10 times, then take a break in 15-20 seconds.After a break, do the exercise again, but by changing your hand;
• Raise your shoulders as high as possible, exhaling.Hold in this position for about 10 seconds.During inhalation, relax your shoulders, then repeat these actions 8 to 10 times;
• In a sitting or lie position, massage the neck, performing careful movements with your fingers.

These exercises for cervical osteochondosis are recommended to be carried out by patients who develop cervical osteochondosis.

It is necessary to prevent the disease - from eating properly, from showing physical activity (but not traumatic), from monitoring your weight.As a prevention, special gymnastics must be carried out.You can use a set of exercises given in this article.