Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Cervical spine osteochondrosis is a progressive process of dystrophy, rupture of intervertebral discs.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by severe neck, head, shoulders and surprise everyone, regardless of age.

Description of osteochondrosis

The neck osteochondrosis was much younger.Young people suffer from them from adolescence.The neck is the weaker area of the spine.Seven adjacent vertebrae to each other with great strength, and muscle structure is developed worse than the rest of the departments.The neck is subjected to serious loads because it supports the cranial box and is in constant motion.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?The food of intervertebral discs is performed by the diffusion of neighboring tissues.The deterioration of the blood supply for tissues around the vertebrae provides a nutrition, water deficiency.The hunger of the core of the disc, the fibrous ring leads to degenerative processes.

Bone tissue growing near the vertebrae, the intervertebral discs arrested, the nerves and ligaments transmitted are first manifested by decreased performance signs.Highly intensity pain initially focuses on neck, head, shoulders, heart, arms, upper chest, switching to the lower limbs.Each of the seven vertebrae sends signals to other departments.Squeezed nerve roots are reflected in the state of other body systems.

Especially dangerous is osteochondrosis to the brain.The vertebral artery that passes here performs the function of ensuring the blood supply at the back of the brain.Its push leads to headaches, usually developing in migraines, not subject to painkillers.Neck osteochondrosis can be accompanied by dizziness, visual impairment and hearing, nausea, vomiting.Subsequently, pharyngeal symptoms, sudden fainting due to oxygen deficiency in the brain manifest.Compression of the vertebral artery leads to the ischemia of the spinal cord and the brain.The exacerbation of the process causes a blow to the spine.

Basic processes for the disease

Neck osteochondrosis should be considered from the interaction of physiological and pathological factors:

• Physiological process:The aging of a cartilage column occurs due to natural irreversible causes.There are changes in the central part of the intervertebral disc.The age -related change process in the body leads to pulp replacement with a fibrous tissue;
• Pathological process:Degenerative changes occur in intervertebral structures, the destruction of the vessels, and we surround them.Changes occur outside the cartilage itself, there is a compression of blood vessels, irritation of nerve endings.One person feels discs, painful symptoms of a local and reflected nature.

Cervical spine osteochondrosis acquires a pathological form when physiological aging is replaced by a pathological process.At first, compensatory and body protection mechanisms that eliminate the disease are triggered.Therefore, osteochondrosis is able to pass or arise only episodically.But this function is not eternal.

The progress of the disease, expressed in the compression of vascular and nervous structures, follows the following processes:

• Spondylolistz, in which the spinal album is slipping.Even a slight displacement leads to the development of paralysis.Severe displacement ends in death;
• The pulse core is impregnated with calcium salts.This leads to a violation of disk nutrition, causes the formation of a hernia;
• The intervertebral hernia formed due to the protrudance of the intervertebral disc between the vertebrae.Ignoring therapeutic measures leads to slow paralysis;
• The appearance of micro -raves in the fibrous ring, the development of the protrusion.The intervertebral disc was eliminated by its limits;
• Spondylosis meaning vertebrae wear.Osteophytes arise - the growth of bone tissue in the form of hooks and peaks, located on the sides of the vertebral bodies.Intense pain occurs and, as a result, rigidity of the movements.

The causes of cervical ostechondrosis

An increase in cargo in the cervical region leads to an attempt by the body to compensate for the condition.Thus start muscle cramps, deterioration of blood circulation, deformation.The structure of the vertebrae themselves changes.The cause can also be a progressive disc that occurs due to long -term physical exertion.

The main factors that cause the beginning of cervical osteochondrosis:

• Hypodinamia;
• weakening of immunity;
• The overwhelming physical effort;
• the presence of spinal spine lesions;
• Disability of receipt with the nutrition of the necessary substances, obesity;
• Problems with posture (scoliosis, flat feet, rheumatism);
• hereditary factor;
• Autoimmune diseases causing the degeneration of cartilage tissue;
• stress, prolonged nerve tension;
• Climate factor, cold and moisture;
• Congenital abnormalities of the spine spine.

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

Development stages

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

• The first, preclinical.It is characterized by small vertebral deformations, softness of cervical lordosis.The pain is felt with clear movements of the head, it occurs fatigue.The development of the disease can be avoided without involving medications.It is necessary to balance your food, choose exercises, perform preventive measures;
• The second.An unstable state is established between the vertebrae.The vertebral changes of the vertebrae appear in relation to each other, Thuria - the rotation around the spine.The pain intensifies when the neck moves from time to time in the shoulders, hands.The height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, which leads to nerve pinch.Characterized by signs such as distraction, fatigue, head pain;
• The third stage.The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced in one quarter compared to the disk above.Deformations begin to appear in the intervertebral joints.There is a decrease in the lumen of the intervertebral holes, the spine canal.The strong pain is constantly felt.The muscles of the hands begin to be numb due to the beginning of the hernia formation of the intervertebral discs.The cervical region loses flexibility.The patient feels dizziness, weakness.

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

Symptoms

The symptomatic image of neck damage differs from the disorders of other departments.This is due to a denser arrangement of the vertebrae in relation to each other.Due to the low height of intervertebral discs, the clinic begins to appear even with light pathologies.Signs of damage vary depending on which of the eight nerve roots are damaged.Under each of the seven vertebrae, there is a nerve, its compression has its own symptoms.

The problems in the first two vertebrae hinder the sensitivity of the back of the head.The pain is located in the parietal and occipital region.The injury of the end of the nerve of the third vertebra is rare.Symptoms manifest in the numbness of a fixed area, language, speech problems.The fourth column signals malfunction with pain and numbness in the clavicle, shoulder.It can create difficulties in breathing, heart pain.Fifth segment disease causes shoulder pain, a decrease in limb sensitivity.

Fridays and seventh vertebra injuries are the most common among patients.The neck, shoulder blades, forearms, lower back, rear suffer.There is numbness of the hands and fingers.Pathological changes in the eighth root of the nerve are characterized by the spread of pain in the lower limbs.There is a loss of skin sensitivity, the small fingers are numb in the arms and legs.The interrupted blood circulation causes the feet, hands.

The common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• pain spreading to the upper body and lower;
• weakness, decreased hand sensitivity;
• Difficulty in movements, crispness;
• Harmed coordination, accompanied by a touch, noise in the ears, a sense of disorientation, weakness, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• Numbness of tongue, fingers and legs, worsening of hearing, vision.

Diagnosis of cervical ostechowrosis

To determine damaged intervertebral discs and the degree of your illness, the doctor needs to perform various exams: radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, CT (computed tomography), ultrasound duplex scan.The most accurate way to study the health of the cervical region is magnetic resonance imaging (RM).The purpose of magnetic resonance imaging is to identify pathological changes in the tissues of the spine, in particular, the spinal cord and intervertebral hernias.After the patient's examination and research, conducting an examination, the participating neurologist makes a preliminary diagnosis, prescribes 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 cervical osteochondrosis, such as therapy, and the patient performs all the recommendations of the doctor.A complete cure of serious forms of osteochondrosis is impossible.The purpose of complex treatment is to reduce the pathological process of process, the elimination of symptoms.Therapy can be conservative, operational or combine these two areas.If headaches increase, it is necessary to start therapy as soon as possible.

To get rid of cervical spine osteochondrosis, there are two main types of treatment:

• medicines performed taking medications;
• Physiotherapy includes UHF, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy courses.They stimulate blood flow, metabolism, remove muscle spasm.

To weaken compression of peripheral zones of the central nervous system (central nervous system) and the leveling of pain at the time of exacerbation of the disease, drug therapy is used.After eliminating acute manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis, therapy is not interrupted.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.It is necessary to regularly massage the collar zone.Popular remedies are also used.

Drugs of osteochondrosis

Drug treatment will have a total effect with other methods, for example, with physical therapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage.Medicines are designed to relieve pain, restore cartilage regeneration, activate blood circulation in affected neck tissues.

Many doctors prescribe injections for a more effective effect on nerve endings.But vitamins are better taken in the form of tablets, as the injections are very painful.To have an anti -inflammatory effect, the doctor introduces intramuscular injections.

The main types of medicines for therapy:

• Non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They have an analgesic effect, remove the inflammatory process aseptic, swelling from the spine.With obvious signs of the disease, injections are made twice a day with these medications.Use externally creams;
• Condropoprotectors.Activate metabolism, regenerate cartilage tissues.Eliminate damage to intervertebral discs.There are injection medications for the administration of joints and muscles.The therapy course is performed up to 4 months;
• Vitamins B (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, DContribute to the improvement of metabolism in tissues, catalyzes their restoration;
• Muslaxantes.To relax the spasmodic muscles.The tablets are used for a month.In a severe form of the disease, a variety of injection drugs is used;
• drugs to activate blood flow in the brain,Rheological properties of the blood.

As additional medications to accelerate recovery are used:

• AngioProtectors- Drug injection forms are designed to activate blood flow in the veins, strengthen the tone of blood vessels;
• Glucocosteroids- Reduce swelling and inflammation in the form of injections;
• Biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, help restore destroyed tissues.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapeutic methods serve as an addition to drug treatment, significantly activate the speed of recovery, extend the stage of remission and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Physiotherapy Methods:

• Exercise therapy- This is one of the most effective methods of osteochondrosis treatment.Regular classes activate blood circulation, contribute to the restoration of damage;
• massageImproves nerve conductivity, restores muscle tone;
• MagnetotherapyRemoves the swelling of the tissues;
• Laser therapyIt acts with a concentrated optical light beam.Triggers recovery processes in the body;
• Reflexology- activation of certain points.It increases immunity, relieves spasms and pain in the neck;
• ultrasoundprovides an analgesic and anti -inflammatory effect;
• Electrophoresis using medicinal herbs.The electric current helps to penetrate the drug ions in a given place.

To get rid of cervical osteochondrosis, manual therapy, thermotherapy and mud as well.All of these methods decrease the progress of the disease.

Osteochondrosis cannot be healed with herbs, but, following the main therapy, they help alleviate the condition.Mix 2 teaspoons of bee honey with two mummy tablets.The mixture is heated, applied to a hot scarf, which is tied with the neck at night.The biostimulating properties of honey perfectly complement treatment.To rub, the tincture prepared from radish, vodka and honey in a ratio of 1.5: 0.5: 1, measurements in the glass are used.You can rotate three large lemon with a four -sliced garlic meat grinder.Pour the mixture into a two -liter jar with boiling water.Having mixed the content, drink with an empty stomach half a glass.Pain can also be removed with heating with mustard, peppers.

Therapeutic exercises

During the recovery period, you can perform a therapeutic loading complex around the neck.LFK is based on several dynamic exercises.Gymnastics should not be performed with exacerbation.When exercising, it is recommended to monitor the appearance of discomfort, is unacceptable.

From the position of lying in the stomach, you need to lift the upper body based on the hands.A delay of 1-2 minutes.Enter the starting position and repeat 2-3 times.Then you need to stretch your hands along the body.The heads of the head are made right and left 6-7 times, trying to take the floor with the ear.Feels.Include the case forward by inspiration, the head leans into the chest.In exhalation, leaning back, throwing his head back.10-15 inclinations are sufficient.Now you need to put your palms on your forehead and put mutual pressure for 30 seconds.Repeat 2-3 times.Rotate the head 10 times in each direction.If the head begins to rotate, the exercise must be interrupted.

Complications

The cervical region is rich in blood vessels, nerve endings that feed the brain.Its lower compression is harmful to the whole body, interrupting blood circulation in the brain and causing neurological disorders: migraine, heart malfunction, respiratory system, vision, hearing, hypertension.The complication in the form of vertebral artery syndrome, brain ischemia, stroke, which occur with an advanced form of neck disease is especially dangerous.When radiculopathy occurs, mobility is lost.Grabbing the spinal cord leads to death.

To avoid surgical intervention in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, you should not be pulled with a doctor in the first signs.It is necessary to use all available therapy methods as well as a change in lifestyle, nutrition.