Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a progressive process of dystrophy, disruption of the intervertebral discs.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by strong pain in the neck, head, shoulders and amaze everyone, regardless of age.

Description of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the neck was much younger.Young people suffer from them, starting from adolescence.The neck is the weakest area of the spine.Seven vertebrae adjacent to each other quite tightly, and the muscle frame is developed worse than the rest of the departments.The neck is subjected to serious loads, because it serves as the support of the cranial box and is in constant movement.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?The food of the intervertebral discs is carried out by diffusion from neighboring tissues.The deterioration of blood supply to the tissues surrounding the vertebrae gives a deficiency of nutrition, water.The starvation of the disk nucleus, the fibrous ring lead to degenerative processes.

The growing bone tissue near the vertebrae, the clamped intervertebral discs, the transmitted nerves and ligaments are first manifested by signs of decreased performance.Highly intensity pain at first concentrates in the 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 for the brain.The vertebral artery passing here performs the function of ensuring blood supply to the back of the brain.Its pushing leads to headaches, often developing into migraines, not subject to painkillers.Osteochondrosis of the neck can be accompanied by dizziness, visual impairment and hearing, nausea, vomiting.Later, pharyngeal symptoms, sudden fainting due to a deficiency of oxygen in the brain are manifested.Compression of the vertebral artery leads to ischemia of the spinal cord and brain.Exacerbation of the process causes a spinal stroke.

Basic processes for the disease

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

• Physiological process:The aging of a 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 the replacement of the pulp with a fibrous tissue;
• Pathological process:Degenerative changes in intervertebral structures occur, the destruction of the vessels and nodes surrounding them.Changes occur outside the cartilage itself, there is a compression of blood vessels, irritation of the nerve endings.A person feels discs, painful symptoms of a local and reflected nature.

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

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

• Spondylolistz, in which the spinal disk is slipping.Even a slight displacement leads to the development of paralysis.Serious displacement ends in death;
• The pulpoose core is impregnated with calcium salts.This leads to a violation of the disk nutrition, provokes the formation of a hernia;
• Intervertebral hernia formed due to the bulging of the intervertebral disc between the vertebrae.Ignoring therapeutic measures leads to sluggish paralysis;
• The appearance of microcracks on the fibrous ring, the development of protrusion.The intervertebral disc ished out by its limits;
• Spondylosis meaning the wear of the vertebrae.Osteophytes arise - the growth of bone tissue in the form of hooks and spikes, localized on the sides of the vertebral bodies.Severe pain occurs and, as a result, stiffness of movements.

The causes of cervical ostechondrosis

An increase in the load on the cervical region leads to an attempt by the body to compensate for the condition.Thus begin muscle cramps, deterioration of blood circulation, deformation.The structure of the vertebrae itself changes.The cause may also be a progressive diskz that occurs due to long -term physical exertion.

The main factors provoking the beginning of cervical osteochondrosis:

• hypodynamia;
• weakening of immunity;
• overwhelming physical exertion;
• the presence of injuries of the spinal column;
• deficiency 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 nervous tension;
• climatic factor, cold and humidity;
• Congenital abnormalities of the spinal column.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are the disproportionality of the load on the spine, too weak muscle corset.People after thirty years are at risk, 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 deformations, smoothness of cervical lordosis.Pain is felt with sharp movements of the head, fatigue occurs.The development of the disease can be prevented without involving medicines.It is required to balance your food, choose exercises, conduct preventive measures;
• The second.An unstable state is established between the vertebrae.The vertebral shifts of the vertebrae appear relative to each other, Thuria - the rotation around the spine.The pain intensizing when the neck moves from time to time in the shoulders, hands.The height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, which leads to pinching of the nerves.Characterized by such signs as distraction, fatigue, pain in the head;
• The third stage.The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced by a quarter in relation to the above disk.Deformations begin to appear in the intervertebral joints.There is a decrease in the lumen of the intervertebral holes, the canal of the spine.Strong pain is felt constantly.The muscles of the hands begin to become numb due to the beginning of the formation of hernia 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 with connective tissue.Large osteophytes are formed on the back of the cervical region.The vertebral channel is narrowed very much, provoking the development of myelopathy.The patient's condition becomes worse, accompanied by impaired coordination, dizziness, severe pain, ears.

Symptoms

The symptomatic picture of the damage to the neck differs from disorders in other departments.This is due to a denser arrangement of the vertebrae relative to each other.Due to the low height of the intervertebral discs, the clinic begins to appear even with light pathologies.Signs of damage will 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.

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 lesion of the nerve ending of the third vertebra is rare.Symptoms are manifested in numbness of a pinned area, language, speech problems.The fourth spine signals about malfunctions with pain and numbness in the collarbone, shoulder.It can create difficulties in breathing, pain in the heart.The disease of the fifth segment causes pain in the shoulders, a decrease in the sensitivity of the limbs.

The lesions of the sixth and seventh vertebrae are the most common among patients.The neck, shoulder blades, forearms, lower back, back suffer.There is numbness of the hands and fingers.Pathological changes in the eighth nerve root are characterized by the spread of pain in the lower limbs.There is a loss of sensitivity of the skin, the little fingers go numb on the arms and legs.Disrupted blood circulation causes the feet, hands.

The common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• pain spreading to the upper body and lower;
• weakness, decrease in the sensitivity of the hands;
• difficulty in movements, crunch;
• impaired coordination, accompanied by a ringing, noise in the ears, a sense of disorientation, weakness, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• Numbness of the tongue, fingers and legs, worsening hearing, vision.

Diagnosis of cervical ostechondrosis

To determine the damaged intervertebral discs and the degree of their disease, the doctor needs to conduct a number of examinations: radiography, MRI, CT (computed tomography), ultrasound duplex scanning.The most accurate way of studying the health of the cervical region is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The purpose of the MRI is to identify pathological changes in the tissues of the spine, in particular, the spinal cord and intervertebral hernias.After the examination and survey of the patient, conducting an examination, the attending 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 doctor's recommendations.A complete cure of serious forms of osteochondrosis is impossible.The purpose of complex treatment is to slow down the proceeding pathological process, the elimination of symptoms.Therapy can be conservative, operational, or combining both of these areas.If headaches increase, then it is necessary to begin therapy as early as possible.

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

• medication carried out by taking medications;
• Physiotherapy includes UHF, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy courses.They stimulating act on blood flow, metabolism, remove muscle spasm.

To weaken the compression of the 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 stopped.Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.It is necessary to regularly massage the collar zone.Folk remedies are also used.

Drug therapy of osteochondrosis

Treatment with medicines will have a full effect only with other methods, for example, with physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage.The drugs are designed to relieve pain, restore the regeneration of cartilage, activate blood circulation in the affected tissues of the neck.

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

The main types of medications for therapy:

• Nonsteroidal 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 made twice a day with these drugs.Outwardly use creams;
• Chondroprotectors.Activate metabolism, regenerate cartilage fabrics.Eliminate damage to the intervertebral discs.There are injection drugs for the administration of joints and muscles.The course of therapy is carried out up to 4 months;
• B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, Dcontribute to the improvement of metabolism in tissues, catalyze their restoration;
• Musorelaxants.For relaxation of spasmodic muscles.Tablets are used for a month.In a severe form of the disease, an injection variety of drugs is used;
• drugs for activating blood flow in the brain,rheological properties of blood.

As additional drugs to accelerate recovery are used:

• Angioprotectors- injection forms of drugs are designed to activate blood flow in the veins, strengthen the tone of blood vessels;
• Glucocorticosteroids- to reduce swelling and inflammation in the form of injections;
• Biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, help restore destroyed fabrics.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

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

Physiotherapy methods:

• Exercise therapy- This is one of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis.Regular classes activate blood circulation, contribute to the restoration of damage;
• massageimproves nerves conductivity, restores muscle tone;
• Magnetotherapyremoves swelling from fabrics;
• Laser therapyacts with a concentrated beam of optical light.Triggers recovery processes in the body;
• reflexology- activation of certain points.Enhances immunity, relieves spasms and pain in the neck;
• ultrasoundgives an analgesic, anti -inflammatory effect;
• Electrophoresis using medicinal herbs.Electric current helps to penetrate the drug ions into a certain place.

To get rid of cervical osteochondrosis, manual therapy, thermotherapy, and mudding are also used.All these methods slow down the progress of the disease.

Osteochondrosis cannot be cured with herbs, but, accompanying the main therapy, they help to alleviate the condition.Mix 2 teaspoons of bee honey with two tablets of mummy.The mixture is heated, applied to a warm scarf, which is tied with the neck at night.The biostimulating properties of honey perfectly complement the treatment.For rubbing, tincture prepared from radish, vodka and honey in a proportion of 1.5: 0.5: 1, measurements in glasses are used.You can twist three large lemon with a meat grinder with four garlic slices.Pour the mixture in a two -liter jar with boiling water.Having mixed the contents, drink on an empty stomach half a glass.The pain can also be removed with heating with mustard plasters, peppers.

Therapeutic exercises

During the recovery period, you can perform a complex of therapeutic charging for the neck.LFK is based on several dynamic exercises.Gymnastics should not be carried out with exacerbation.When performing exercises, it is recommended to monitor the appearance of discomfort, it is unacceptable.

From the position of lying on the stomach, you need to raise the upper body, based on your hands.A delay of 1-2 minutes.Get in 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 to the right and left 6-7 times, trying to get the floor with his ear.Sit down.Tilt the case forward by inspiration, the head leans to the chest.On the exhale, leaning back, throwing his head back.10-15 inclinations are enough.Now you need to put your palms on your forehead and put mutual pressure for 30 seconds.Repeat 2-3 times.To make rotation of the head 10 times in each direction.If the head begins to spin, the exercise must be interrupted.

COMPLICATIONS

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

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