Osteochondrosis of the neck - symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (shopping) is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Each year, doctors are increasingly diagnosing the disease and is more and more severe.According to statistics in women, degenerative dystrophic changes in the upper spine occur more frequently, especially in patients in the post -AUPULATA period.The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women are pain, mobility, cerebrovascular failure, and it is dangerous not only to health but also for life.You need to start treatment at an early stage to protect yourself from the dangerous consequences of the pathology.It is important to undergo comprehensive therapy, change lifestyle to stop the destruction of vertebrates and prevent serious complications.

The development of the disease

The cervical spine is the most vulnerable to various injuries and degenerative changes.This is due to the fact that this segment is the most mobile and the muscles here are weak.Small cervical vertebrae withstand a strong load every day, leading to gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs.The vertebrae press each other, which causes cartilage seals to lose plenty of fluids between them, begin to break down and deform.

In addition, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops due to insufficient cartilage nutrition.And the spinal canal in the area is narrow, so it is often squeezed, causing neurological symptoms.

Female pathology at an early stage manifests itself with weight at the back of the head, tingling in their hands and so on.Patients often confuse the first signs of the disease with excessive work.

There are a large number of blood vessels and nerve roots on the neck area, and they can also cause neurological disorders.This is particularly dangerous if the deformed disc or vertebrae compress the vertebral artery that nourishes important parts of the brain.During compression, the coordination of movements is violated, the woman may lose balance, her eyesight, her hearing worsens and the risk of stroke increases.

Reference.According to statistics, cervical osteochondrosis is most often found in patients aged 25 to 40.This is due to the reduction of physical activity masses, sitting work.In women, the disease is more likely to be found than men because they have more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue.

Doctors distinguish between 4 stages of osteochondrosis store:

• Stage 1 - The intervertebral disc loses some of the moisture, its height decreases, the cracks may appear on the fiber ring (outer shell).This is a stage of cervical chondrosis that is difficult to detect because it has unexpected symptoms.The neck quickly gets tired, causes discomfort, severity in the damaged area, sometimes with minor pain that passes quickly.
• Stages 2 - Glersles on the surface of the disk, Pulpoose core (gel -like disk content) is changed and can protrude through damaged areas.Thus, the cartilage protrusions are manifested, which can compress the spinal cord and its roots.Periodically, severe pain, weakness, mobility limit, face, neck, shoulder, arm, numbness of the arms.
• Stage 3 - The protrusion separates from the outer shell of the disk, so a hernia is formed.The pain becomes more pronounced, there is a neurological disorder.
• Stage 4 - The disc is almost completely destroyed, the vertebrae rub against each other, and bone growths (osteophytes) appear on their details, which are designed to stabilize the damaged segment.Nerve endings, spinal cord, blood vessels are violated.Neighboring joints begin to spoil.The clinical signs are pronounced.

The easiest way to stop degenerative dystrophic changes in the first two stages of osteochondrosis of the chops.In stages 3, comprehensive treatment will help stop further destruction of the spinal segment.In the final stage, you cannot do without surgery.

Reason

Schop osteochondrosis is a complicated and long -lasting process that most often has several causes.In most cases, pathology occurs due to sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition and metabolism disorders.Often the disease is due to injuries or due to the natural aging of the body and to weaken its protective forces.

Doctors distinguish the main causes of osteochondrosis in women:

• Violation of metabolic processes.
• Passive lifestyle.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Chronic muscle tension around the cervical segment.
• Posture curve.
• Deficiency of fluid and nutrients in the body.
• Long -term stay in an awkward position (the neck extended forward and passionate back).
• Excessive weight.
• Often wearing heels.
• Store injuries.
• To take off heavy objects.
• Autoimmune pathologies.
• Common voltages, chronic fatigue.
• Hypothermia.
• Infectious diseases.
• Too long or short neck and so on.

All of these factors lead to an intervertebral disc dietary violation and cause their degeneration.

Female cervical osteochondrosis can be caused by vertebral artery abnormalities associated with genetic predisposition, intrauterine disorders, injuries during childbirth.The disease can occur due to rheumatism, endocrine disorders, excessive cervical segment load during pregnancy, local overload.

Important.The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis in women are menopause, as well as changes associated with this period.At this stage, progesterone levels are reduced in the body, which is very important for bone tissue.The likelihood of degenerative changes is associated with age -related cervical muscles and the weakening of the vertebral support in the area.

Symptoms

Osteochondrosis is characterized by a wave -like course when the acute period is replaced by remission.Exacerbation can cause infections, injuries, hypothermia, prolonged loads on the neck.

The first signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are headaches, discomfort, severity of the neck.It is important to distinguish between chondrosis from migraine or autonomic dysfunction in a timely manner.

Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis in women are caused by neurological syndromes:

• Cervical discs occur with irritation of nerve endings with fragments of damaged cartilage.Then there is a certain crisp, pain that becomes more pronounced when the head moves and after sleeping.
• Stair muscle syndrome becomes the result of shoulder plexus and subclavian arterial vascular and nerve damage.This complex of symptoms is accompanied by pain from the inner surface of the shoulder to the hand from the damaged side.The limb becomes pale, cool, edematic, and numbness occurs.Neck pain spreads to the back of the head when the patient turns his head.
• Shoulder syndrome - pearthrosis - dystrophic changes affect the tendon fibers that surround the shoulder.Painful feelings from the neck radiate to the shoulder and shoulder up.The neck is forced - it is oblique on the affected side and the shoulder is slightly lowered.
• Spinal artery syndrome - a damaged disc or osteophyte blood vessel compresses fragments (depending on the stage of the disease).The patient turns and headaches, nausea, sometimes vomiting.The pain is localized to the back of the head, crown and temples.
• Cardia - The nerve rays of the spinal cord are damaged.There is heartache, arrhythmia.In the case of damage to C3, the pain in the neck appears, the tongue swells, the patient cannot chew normally food.If the C4 is injured, the shoulder greens, collar, and discomfort appear in the heart.With C5 damage, the pain reaction from the neck spreads to the shoulder, the inner surface of the shoulder.C6 irritation manifests itself in neck and shoulder blades to shoulder shoulder and spreads all over the thumb.If the C7 is damaged, the pain syndrome extends to the back of the shoulder greens, grabbing the entire hand, including the index and the middle finger.By squeezing C8, the pain spreads from the affected area to the elbow and the small finger.

Also, a woman can be disturbed by the emotional sphere, weakness, it becomes excited, touching.It is often insomnia, memory weakens, attention due to regular headaches.

Symptoms of cerebrovascular circulation disorders occur when a woman suddenly throws her back, leans on or does a job in which her arms and spine cervicals are loaded, for example, when she digs, paint the ceiling, allows for heaviness.

Brain circulation violations include dizziness, tremor, "flying" in front of eyes, tinnitus, weakness, nausea.In some patients, the voice becomes hoarse, sometimes disappearing, and neck pain appears.

Osteochondrosis is accompanied by migraines during menopause, which is enhanced by sweating of the body in the area between the neck and shoulders.Cardiac arteries are disturbed by cardiovascular work.

If the disease occurs for a long time, there is a lack of blood circulation to an important center that performs neuro-endocrine functions.Due to increased vascular wall permeability, atherosclerosis of the cerebral and heart arteries develops.

Diagnosis

If you notice the symptoms of osteochondrosis, go to the therapist.After a visual examination, the specialist will divert you to an orthopedic, peak or neurologist.

The following methods are used for diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis:

• X -Ray allows you to know that the patient has vertebrae to the patient, osteophytes are at their edges, the distance between the vertebrae has decreased.The study is conducted on different airplanes.The doctor takes pictures to describe the characteristic changes in detail.
• Cervical Department CT provides detailed information on pathological changes in the vertebrae.This method allows you to obtain volume images for a detailed study and is used in severe diagnostic cases.
• MRI is used to accurately assess the condition of soft tissues (nerve, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles) on the affected areas.
• Electromyography allows the conductivity of the nerve fiber to be tested.

Doctors may also prescribe AZDG (ultrasound dopplerography of the main artery of the brain) to determine the condition of blood flow in the area.

Conservative treatment

At an early stage, treatment with carbonade osteochondrosis in women can be treated at home.However, your doctor should be collected by your doctor.It is important to understand that this is a long process and is unlikely to be completely cured (especially in the elderly).

The composition of complex treatment includes:

• Take medication.
• Using orthopedic devices.
• Therapeutic gymnastics.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.
• Massage, manual effect.
• Alternative treatment methods.

Conservative methods will help stop pain, inflammation, normalize muscle tone, improve metabolic processes, damage to spinal segments.With timely therapy it is possible to stop abnormal changes.

Cervical osteochondrosis medication will help to get rid of inflammation and pain.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is performed using drugs that will help improve cartilage seal metabolism between the vertebrae, stop inflammation, pain.The following medicines are used for this purpose:

• Nsaid.Gentle or medium energy inflammation and pain will help relieve.
• Analgesics.Stop the pain syndrome.
• Preparation for improving cerebral circulation.
• Musodics help prevent muscle spasms.
• Chondroprotectors.They help stop disc destruction, improve metabolic processes, speed up recovery.
• Majesty -based medicines.
• Nootropics.They stimulate brain function due to the normalization of its circulation, have a mild soothing effect.

Reference.With intense pain, the oral drug does not stop, therapeutic blockade, such as novocaine or NSAIDs, is used.

Treatment can be supplemented with anti -inflammatory and analgesics in the form of gel, cream and ointments.They will be effective in remission or in combination with oral agents.

The decision to choose treatment combinations is made by your doctor.The specialist will compile a drug chart and also determine their dose.It is important to follow his recommendations as many of the above medications are threatened with dangerous complications.

In the acute stage of osteochondrosis, the woman should give up severe physical activity.To unload the cervical segment, you need to wear a special corset (Shantsa collar) that will strengthen the vertebrae in the right position.It is recommended to use this device for prolonged sitting or heavy physical work.

Physiotherapeutic procedures will help to weaken the pain and improve blood circulation in the damaged area:

• Diadinamotherapy.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Electrophoresis.
• Electroanalgesia.
• Ultraviolet irradiation and so on.

The therapeutic effect is manifested after the third session, followed by headache, hearing impairment, vision, dizziness, sleep and general condition improves or disappear.

Using the cervical segment underwater traction, you can extend the distance between the vertebrae, relieve nerve or blood vessels from compression and restore the normal condition of the vertebrae.

Massage will normalize muscle tone, reduce the flow of lymphatic fluid, which causes swelling.After some sessions, the blood circulation in the damaged area improves.

Therapeutic gymnastics is one of the most effective methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the carbonates.The LFK allows to strengthen the weak neck muscles, which will then take part of the spine load and help stop or slow down degenerative dystrophic changes.During classes, blood circulation, metabolic processes, and the diet is accelerated, which positively affects their condition.

Women should do training every day.They consist of simple but effective exercises.The complex consists of turns, head inclines in different directions, and neck movements, during which the hands are used.These elements can be done at home, but only according to the permission of the doctor.Medical physical education is performed only during remission.

Complex treatment can be supplemented with reflexology (acupuncture), hirudotherapy (leech treatment), swimming, etc.

Surgical treatment

The surgery is prescribed in the last stages of osteochondrosis of the chops, accompanied by the destruction of serious bone -okal structures.Surgical intervention cannot also be performed if the conservative methods were ineffective or significantly narrowed.

In the cases mentioned above, the anterior discocyte of the cervical is performed.During the procedure, the doctor immobilizes the damaged segment of the spine and removes the hernia that squeezes the spinal nerve.Then the vertebrae are spent between which the disc was removed.If necessary, the room between the vertebrae is filled with a synthetic insert (cage).

After 3-5 days, the patient is prescribed at home.The rehabilitation period is about 12 weeks.To speed up the recovery, you need to take medication, wear a corset, lead the right lifestyle, go to physiotherapeutic procedures and over time exercise therapy.

Life suggestions

To quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis and stop degenerative dystrophic changes in the cervical segment, you need to adjust your lifestyle.This patient should follow the following recommendations:

• Go hiking every day, avoid running, jumping and other explosive tension.
• You can't wear heavy items.
• You cannot sit for a long time, in extreme cases wear a corset and periodically occupy a horizontal position.
• Perform special physical exercises for your back muscles at home.
• Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a special pillow.
• Follow your diet, supplement your diet with products rich in magnesium, calcium (nuts, dairy products, seafood, legumes), as well as plant fiber, chondroitin (gel, gel).Give up greasy, fried, too salt foods, alcohol.Read more about energy rules, your doctor will recommend.But in any case, it should be correct.

Numbering cannot be allowed, warming will benefit if there is no inflammatory process.

Complications

In the absence of timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the woman may feel the following pathology:

• The likelihood of protrusion occurs, which, after a while, transforms into a hernia.The protrusion compresses the spinal cord as well as its nerves, causing neurological disorders.
• Osteophytes appear with severe disk damage, they irritate the spinal nerves and blood vessels.
• In additional cases, severe cervical muscle or incomplete paralysis weakening is possible, then the head hangs on the side or forward.
• Compression of the screw arteries, circulatory violation in the affected area.This condition can cause neuralgia (pain along the nerve), hearing impairment and vision.
• Paralysis (incomplete or full) hands.
• Brain stroke.

If a woman is involved in resolving the issue in the early stages of osteochondrosis of the store, she will be able to warn the above conditions.

Preventive measures

Ideally, during the intrauterine development period, the prevention of carbonade osteochondrosis is required.The future mother should exclude factors that adversely affect the development of the fetus: infections, oxygen starvation, intoxication.If there is a birth injury, the newborn should be treated.

In order to reduce the likelihood of developing chops osteochondrosis, the woman should follow the following recommendations:

• Stop the spine evenly, for example, carry the load on both hands or on the right and then to the left.
• Do not order too much weight yourself.
• Try to avoid neck, hypothermia injuries.
• When working in the garden areas, take a break every 1.5 hours, go for 20 minutes.
• Choose shoes with elastic sole that will soften blows during jogging or jumping.
• With a long seat, use a high back and headrest or pull the corset.

It is also important to eat, control weight, avoid stress, to take vitamin preparations for medical reasons, to treat pathologies in a timely manner that can cause osteochondrosis.During the remission stage, it is advisable to attend sanatoriums to undergo a course of treatment.

The most important thing

As you can see, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs more often than in men, as the former has more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue.Patients are particularly sensitive to patients in the post -Colid period.The disease manifests itself in pain, neurological disorders, as well as dangerous symptoms of cerebral vascular emergency.Treatment is recommended to start at an early stage to avoid dangerous complications of osteochondrosis.To do this, the woman needs to take medication, adapt her lifestyle, attend physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, physiotherapy exercises.Surgical treatment is only shown in advanced cases.To prevent pathology, you should follow moderate physical activity, treat injuries and diseases that can provoke osteochondrosis in a timely manner.