Cervical osteochondrosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a progressive dystrophy process, intervertebral disc disorders.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by severe sore throat, head, shoulders and amazed, regardless of age.

Description of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the neck was much younger.Young people suffer from them, from adolescence.The neck is the weakest area of the spine.The seven vertebrae are quite close next to each other, and the muscle frame is worse than the other departments.The neck is subjected to heavy loads as it serves as a skull box support and is in constant motion.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?Intervertebral disc food is performed by diffusion from adjacent tissues.The deterioration of blood supply in the tissues that surround the vertebrae causes a lack of nutrition, water.Disc nucleus hunger, fiber ring leads to degenerative processes.

The grown bone tissue near the vertebrae, compressed intervertebral discs, transmitted nerves and ligaments are first manifested by reduced performance signs.Very intensity pain in the first concentration in the neck, head, shoulders, heart, arms, chest, moving to the lower limbs.Each of the seven vertebrae sends signals to other departments.Compressed nerve roots are reflected in the state of other body systems.

Osteochondrosis of the brain is particularly dangerous.The vertebral artery here performs a function to provide blood supply to the back of the brain.Its pushing leads to headaches, with frequent development of migraines that are not subjected to painkillers.Cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by dizziness, visual impairment and hearing, nausea, vomiting.Later, the symptoms of pharyngeal, suddenly fainting due to lack of oxygen in the brain.Compression of the screens artery leads to ischemia of the spinal cord and cerebral.The exacerbation of the process causes a stroke of the spine.

The basic process of the disease

Osteochondrosis of the neck should be considered from the interaction of physiological and pathological factors:

• Physiological process:The aging of the cartilage spine occurs due to natural irreversible causes.There are changes in the central part of the intervertebral disc.The process of age -related changes in the body leads to replacing the flesh with fiber tissues;
• Pathological process:There are degenerative changes in the intervertebral structures, which are the destruction of surrounding blood vessels and nodes.The changes occur outside the cartilage itself, there is compression of blood vessels, irritation of the nerve endings.Man feels discs, painful local and reflected in character symptoms.

Osteochondrosis of the spine of the spine acquires an abnormal form in which physiological aging is replaced by an abnormal process.Initially, the body's compensatory and protective mechanisms that prevent the disease are activated.Therefore, osteochondrosis is able to withstand or occur only episodically.But this feature is not eternal.

The progress of the disease, expressed in compression of blood vessels and nerve structures, adds the following processes:

• Spondylolistz, in which the spine disk slides.Even a small displacement leads to the development of paralysis.Serious displacement ends with death;
• Pulpoose core is impregnated with calcium salts.This leads to disk nutrition, provokes hernia;
• Intervertebral hernia formed due to curvature of the intervertebral disc.Ignoring therapeutic measures leads to slow paralysis;
• The appearance of microplicts in the fiber ring, the development of protrusion.Intervertebral disc that is bound to its borders;
• Spondylosis, which means vertebral wear.Osteophytes - the growth of bone tissue in the form of hooks and pins localized to the sides of the vertebral bodies.Severe pain and result in stiffness.

Causes of cervical ostehondrosis

Increasing the load on the cervical region leads to the body's attempt to compensate for the condition.Thus, start muscle cramps, blood flow deterioration, deformation.The structure of the vertebrae itself changes.The cause may also be a progressive disc resulting from long -term exercise.

The main factors provoking the onset of cervical osteochondrosis:

• hypodynamics;
• weakening of immunity;
• Excessive physical activity;
• presence of spinal injuries;
• receipt deficit with the necessary substances in the diet, obesity;
• Posture problems (scoliosis, flat feet, rheumatism);
• congenital factor;
• autoimmune diseases that cause degeneration of cartilage tissue;
• stress, prolonged nervous tension;
• climatic factor, cold and humidity;
• Congenital spinal pathologies.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are the disproportion of the spine load, too weak muscle corset.People are at risk after thirty years, especially if their day has been in a sitting position for a long time.

Stages of development

The progression of osteochondrosis of the cervical region can be divided into several stages:

• The first, preclinical.It is characterized by small vertebral deformities, smoothness of the cervical lordosis.The pain is felt with sharp head movements, fatigue.The development of the disease can be prevented without the involvement of the medicine.It is necessary to balance food, choose exercises, to take preventive measures;
• Second.There is an unstable condition between the vertebrae.Vertebral vertebral shifts appear against each other, Thuria - rotation around the spine.Pain intense when the neck moves from time to time in the shoulders, hands.The height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, leading to nerve compression.Characterized by signs such as distracting, fatigue, headache;
• Third stage.The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced by a quarter relative to the above disc.Deformations begin to appear in the intervertebral joints.Intervertebral hole, spinal canal, lumen reduction.Severe pain is permanent.The muscles of the hand begin to become numb thanks to the onset of intervertebral disc herniation.Cervical region loses elasticity.The patient feels dizziness, weakness.

The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced.Intervertebral discs are destroyed by connective tissue.Large osteophytes are formed at the back of the cervical region.The vertebral channel is very narrowed, provoking the development of myelopathy.The patient's condition becomes worse, accompanied by impaired coordination, dizziness, severe pain, ears.

Symptoms

The symptomatic image of neck damage is different from the disorder in other departments.This is due to a denser vertebra placement relative to each other.Due to the low height of the intervertebral discs, the clinic begins to appear even with mild pathologies.The signs of the lesion will change depending on which of the eight nerve roots are damaged.According to each of the seven vertebrae, there is a nerve and has its own symptoms.

Problems in the first two vertebrae disrupt the sensitivity of the back of the head.The pain is localized in the parietal, occipital region.The third vertebral nerve damage is rare.Symptoms are manifested in the numbness of the pinned areas, language, speech problems.The fourth spine signals of malfunction with pain and numbness in the collar, shoulder.This can cause difficulty in breathing, pain in the heart.Fifth segment disease causes shoulder pain, reduction in limb sensitivity.

Sixth and seventh vertebral lesions are the most common among patients.Neck, shoulder blades, forearms, lower back, back suffering.Numbness of the hands and fingers.Pathological changes in the eighth nerve root are characterized by the prevalence of pain in the lower limbs.The sensitivity of the skin loses, the little fingers are numb on the hands and feet.Disturbed blood circulation causes feet, hands.

The usual signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• pain spreading to the upper and bottom of the body;
• weakness, reduction in hands sensitivity;
• difficulties in movements, crunch;
• impaired coordination, complemented by ringing, tinnitus, feeling of disorientation, weakness, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• Tongue, finger and leg numbness, worsening hearing, vision.

Diagnosis of cervical ostehondrosis

To determine damaged intervertebral discs and their degree of disease, the doctor should undergo several examinations: radiography, MRI, CT (computed tomography), ultrasonic duplex scan.The most accurate way to study the health of the cervical region is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The purpose of MRI is to identify pathological changes in the tissues of the spine, especially the spinal cord and intervertebral hernia.After the patient's examination and surveys, the visiting neurologist performs an initial diagnosis, prescribing treatment.

Treatment

If osteochondrosis is suspected, you should consult a neuropathologist.The duration of the course of therapy depends on the age of the person, the severity of the cervical osteochondrosis, such as therapies, and the patient provides all the doctor's recommendations.Complete cure for serious forms of osteochondrosis is not possible.The purpose of complex treatment is to slow down the pathological process, the prevention of symptoms.Therapy can be conservative, operative or combining both areas.If the headache increases, therapy should be started as early as possible.

There are two main treatments to get rid of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

• medications used for medications;
• Physiotherapy includes UHF, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy courses.They stimulate acts of blood, metabolism, remove muscle spasm.

Drug therapy is used to weaken the peripheral area of the central nervous system (central nervous system) and smoothing pain during the exacerbation of the disease.After the acute manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervix, there is no discontinuation of the prevention therapy.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.You should visit the collar area regularly.Folk remedies are also used.

Osteochondrosis drug therapy

Medicinal treatment will only have a complete effect on other methods, such as physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage.Drugs are designed to relieve pain, restore cartilage regeneration, activate blood circulation in the affected neck tissue.

Many doctors prescribe injections to a more effective effect on the nerve endings.But vitamins are best taken in the form of tablets because injections are very painful.The doctor introduces intramuscular injections to the doctor to have an anti -inflammatory effect.

Main types of therapy medications:

• Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They have an analgesic effect, remove the aseptic inflammatory process, swelling of the spine.With obvious signs of the disease, injections are performed twice a day with this medicine.Externally use creams;
• Chondroprotectors.Activate metabolism, restore cartilage fabrics.Prevent damage to the intervertebral discs.There is injection medicine for joint and muscle administration.Therapy is done for up to 4 months;
• B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, Dto promote the improvement of metabolism in tissues, to catalyze their restoration;
• Musorelaxants.For relaxation of spasmodic muscles.The tablets are used for a month.In severe form of the disease, the variety of injections of the drug is used;
• Medicines to activate blood flow in the brain,Blood rheological properties.

As additional medicines are used to speed up recovery,:

• Angioprotectors- the form of drug injection is designed to activate blood flow to the veins, strengthen the vascular tone;
• Glucocorticosteroids- reduce swelling and inflammation by injection;
• Biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, helps restore destroyed fabrics.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic methods serve as a supplement to drug treatment, significantly activate the rate of recovery, prolong the stage of remission and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Physiotherapy methods:

• Gymnastics- This is one of the most effective treatments for osteochondrosis.Regular classes activate blood circulation, promote damage restoration;
• massageImproves nerve conductivity, restores muscle tone;
• MagnetotherapyRemoves swelling from the fabrics;
• Laser therapyWorks with a concentrated ray of optical light.Causes body recovery processes;
• reflexology- Activation of certain points.Increases immunity, relieves spasms and neck pain;
• ultrasoundgives painkillers, anti -inflammatory effect;
• Electrophoresis using medicinal herbs.Electric current helps to penetrate the drug ions at a certain location.

Manual therapy, thermotherapy and mud are also used to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis.All of these methods slow down the progress of the disease.

Osteochondrosis cannot be cured with herbs, but they help to reduce the condition when accompanying the main therapy.Mix 2 teaspoons of bee honey with two mummy tablets.Heat the mixture, apply on a warm scarf that is tied with the neck at night.Honey biostimulatory properties perfectly complement the treatment.For rubbing from radish, vodka and honey prepared tincture of 1.5: 0.5: 1, glass measurements are used.You can cut three large lemon with a meat grinder with four garlic slices.Pour the mixture into a two -liter jar with boiling water.When mixing the contents, drink half a glass on an empty stomach.The pain can also be removed by heating with mustard plaster, peppers.

Therapeutic exercises

During the recovery period, you can take a cervical therapeutic charging complex.The LFK is based on a number of dynamic exercises.Gymnastics should not be done with exacerbation.When exercising, it is advisable to monitor the appearance of discomfort, it is not acceptable.

From the position of sleep on your stomach, you need to raise your upper body based on your hands.Delay for 1-2 minutes.Get the starting position and repeat 2-3 times.Then you need to stretch your hands along your body.The heads are made to the right and left 6-7 times, trying to get the floor with the ear.Sit down.Put the case forward with inspiration, your head leans on your chest.Exhale, leaning back, throwing your head back.10-15 tendencies are sufficient.Now you need to put your hands on your forehead and place the mutual pressure for 30 seconds.Repeat 2-3 times.May the head cut 10 times in each direction.If your head starts to turn, the exercise should be stopped.

Complications

Cervical region is rich in blood vessels, nerve endings that nourish the brain.Their smallest compression is harmful to the whole body, disrupting blood circulation in the brain and causing neurological disorders: migraine, heart problems, respiratory system, vision, hearing, hypertension.Complication in the form of spinal artery syndrome, cerebral ischemia, a spinal stroke that occurs with a progressive form of neck disease, is particularly dangerous.When radiculopathy occurs, mobility is lost.Spinal cord clapping leads to death.

To avoid surgical intervention in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, you should not drag the doctor at the first signs.All available therapies, as well as lifestyle changes, nutrition, should be used.