Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is known and well studied.At the moment, most of the working population suffers from this disease.This type of osteochondrosis develops not only in the adult population, but quite often in adolescents, the so -called juvenile osteochondrosis.
The cervical department is the most mobile part of the spine, so the load on this department is quite large.The disease develops gradually, it is characterized by frequent exacerbations, which can lead to a significant decrease in the quality of the patient's life.
The causes of the disease
The causes of the disease, as a rule, are several and can depend on the age of the patient.We highlight the most frequent:
- violation of calcium-phosphorus exchange of any etiology;
- various traumatic back damage;
- non -balanced load on the spine (hypodynamia or vice versa the influence of enhanced load);
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- congenital malformations of the spine;
- change of posture, including by a scoliotic type;
- circulatory disorders, leading to a deterioration in the power of the intervertebral disc;
- Age -related dystrophic violations of bone tissue.
In the adolescence, the main causes of the development of the disease are trauma, not balanced physical activity (training process).In older patients, the main reason is a long habitual position during labor activity, a violation of the hormonal background.
Additional predisposing factors in the development of the disease can be:
- heredity;
- hypothermia;
- poorly or not completely treated exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
- Stress situations and overwork.
Osteochondrosis develops gradually.A person, constantly playing sports, may not guess what is subject to this disease.
Most of all, this condition is found in people over twenty -five years old.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by the fact that the process develops from the upper sections.However, if you do not receive medical care, the process can gradually affect the lower segments of the spinal column.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in adults and children
Since the disease develops for years, in many cases the process is asymptomatic.Sometimes it happens that by chance, according to radiological images, the initial signs of the disease can be determined, while the complaints will actively be absent.It must be remembered that the older the patient, the more diverse complaints he will present.
The main complaints with cervical osteochondrosis are:
- frequent headache and dizziness;
- numbness at the fingertips and weakness in the hands;
- Vegetative manifestations;
- increasing blood pressure;
- discomfort for movements in the neck;
- constant aching or burning pain along the spine;
- frequent myosites of the neck muscles;
- changes in posture;
- restrictions in the head movements;
- Additionally, a forced position of the head may develop;
- noise in the ears;
- weather dependence;
- crunch in the neck when performing movements;
- Sleep violation.
These are the most commonly voiced symptoms that the patient can present.Unfortunately, the process may begin to develop from youth, and adolescents will present such complaints.
More often these symptoms are manifested jointly.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine proceeds with the episodes of exacerbation and remission.This is due to the effect of provoking factors on the body.We must not forget that if a similar diagnosis is made, restoration therapy and rehabilitation course must be carried out every six months in order to avoid an acute period.
Considering that the main reason for the development of the disease is reduced by trophics of the intervertebral disc, and the lack of adequate therapy, the process may end in the formation of intervertebral hernia.
Complaints and clinical picture of the disease - photo
Vascular manifestations in the form of dizziness or headaches intensify when performing elementary motor tasks (tilting or turning of the head).In the aggregate of all complaints, the patient tries to additionally take a forced position to reduce symptoms, which worsens the nutrition of the intervertebral disc.
It is these complaints that most often encourage the patient to see a doctor.If you do not carry out treatment, complaints will intensify and have a more persistent nature, that is, they will not pass on their own.
Pain with cervical osteochondrosis, as a rule, constant, aching, burning character.The disease may be accompanied by periodic "bastards", which are provoked by sharp movements.
An increase in blood pressure against the background of osteochondrosis encourages the patient to be examined by the therapist.If you do not carry out competent treatment in a timely manner, an increase in blood pressure will become constant, which contributes to the development of secondary hypertension.In these situations, a correctly assembled history is of great importance.
When the process is localized in the cervical region, unpleasant sensations spread over the posterior surface of the neck, the constant tension of the bone muscular system helps to limit the movements and the formation of a forced position of the head.
Pain with cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by impaired sensitivity.Due to constant discomfort, the muscle roller is gradually forming in the shoulder, the patient is unpleasant in this area.
In addition to constant discomfort, the patient may experience a sharp, shooting pain in the neck.The occurrence of such complaints suggests that the patient needs to give complete rest to reduce pain.In some cases, the pain is so severe that a person cannot perform the simplest actions (turn his head, take a deep breath, straighten his back).In all cases, the patient should examine the doctor, and confirm the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
Changing the hormonal background also plays a significant role in the development of the cervical disease.Therefore, competently selected physical activity will reduce general clinical symptoms and relieve the patient's condition.Due to the fact that the pain in the neck is constantly worried, a secondary sleep disturbance occurs.It is difficult for a person to take a convenient position in the bed, worries, which leads to psycho-emotional stress.
Additionally, the patient pays attention to sensitivity.Describe them as “goosebumps” that are felt at the fingertips.In some cases, unpleasant sensations can be localized throughout the hand, the muscle strength decreases.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis based on one examination.Basically, the following measures are carried out to clarify the diagnosis:
- thorough collection of complaints;
- consultations of specialized specialists (cardiologist, endocrinologist, neurologist);
- X -ray examination of the cervical spine;
- Magnetic resonance tomography.
Inspections of specialized doctors are necessary to exclude the acute states of the cardiological profile and others.With the exclusion of acute somatic pathology, we can talk about the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.In addition to general clinical manifestations, the diagnosis can be confirmed using an X -ray examination of the spine.
X -ray is the most affordable and easily ongoing study that helps to establish a diagnosis.In the picture you can see the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which indicates the dystrophy of the intervertebral disc.Along the edges of the vertebrae, bone outgrowths can be distinguished.If osteochondrosis is complicated by instability in the cervical region, then the X -ray can be noted by the displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease that can radiologically show which area is most damaged.Even when examining one cervical segment, one can see that the process is not evenly common.
In particularly complex cases, magnetic resonance tomography is performed, which helps to diagnose the complication of osteochondrosis-intervertebral hernia.Thanks to the layer -by -layer image of MRI, even the most minimal hernias and immediately indicate the level of damage.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Only a doctor knows how to treat cervical osteochondrosis in an acute and inter -ended period.Therapy, which is prescribed for this state, should be complex.When exacerbating the disease, it includes:
- medications;
- complex recovery therapy (physiotherapy exercises, gymnastics, massage, acupuncture, manual therapy);
- physiotherapy (electrophoresis, UHF, magnetotherapy, laser therapy);
To prevent exacerbation of osteochondrosis, they resort to:
- sanatorium-resort treatment;
- folk medicine;
- wearing special bandages and corsets;
- change in lifestyle (weight loss, balanced physical activity).
Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:
- anti -inflammatory drugs;
- drugs that improve blood circulation;
- vitamin complexes;
- in acute situations of analgesics;
- Means that reduce muscle voltage.
In addition to pills and injections, creams, ointments and gels are actively prescribed, which are applied to the affected area.By their influence, they contribute to the irritation of the skin in a certain area, which improves blood circulation in small vessels, thereby ensuring the delivery of nutrients to damaged segments, and muscle voltage decreases.
After an acute period, physiotherapy, massage and physiotherapy exercises are signed.Restorative therapy is an addition to the main drug treatment.As the condition will improve, the power and trophus of the intervertebral disc will also be better.
Against the background of treatment, the patient will note an improvement in well -being, an increase in performance and mood.If the treatment is stopped without finishing, then the exacerbations of osteochondrosis will be often passed.
The rehabilitologist will tell how to treat cervical osteochondrosis in the recovery period.Before talking about a complex of restorative therapy, it should be noted that any treatment should be accompanied by a correction of sleeping accessories.These include orthopedic mattresses and pillows.
Experts also additionally recommend that you wear a chanstz collar constantly or for a certain period of time.This method is especially widely used in children's practice, when patients dress it for the period of homework.Shanz collar is selected individually in orthopedic salons.
The orthopedic pillow for cervical osteochondrosis is selected for each patient.It should be suitable for the size of the bed and selected depending on the patient’s constitution.It should not be very small or very large, the main guideline is the width of the person’s shoulders.
A pillow for long sleep and rest should be of medium stiffness and resemble a square or rectangle in shape.Pillows of a different shape are suitable for a short rest.Depending on the activity of the degenerative process, the orthopedic pillow for cervical osteochondrosis should change.
Exercises and gymnastics (exercise therapy)
Restorative therapy must be attributed to gymnastics.The main task of exercises is to strengthen the muscles of the neck and back, the upper shoulder girdle, improve the mobility of the spine, and the elimination of muscle clamps.Additionally, the exercises for cervical osteochondrosis affect deeply located muscles.
As a result of gymnastics with cervical osteochondrosis, physiological bends are gradually restored, and the load on the intervertebral discs is reduced.We must not forget that exercises for cervical osteochondrosis should also capture the breast segments as well.
Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis is performed with an instructor.It helps patients understand what areas to be focused on.The load and volume of tasks are selected individually, and it depends:
- from the age of the patient;
- from the prevalence of the process;
- from the availability of additional concomitant diseases;
- From the effectiveness of drug therapy.
First, simple and non -complex tasks are performed, as the body begins to adapt to new conditions, and the muscles perform its work in sufficient volume, the exercises are complicated, and the duration of classes is increased.
LFK for cervical osteochondrosis includes simple actions.These are tilting the head forward and backward, gradually add circular movements of the head.It should be borne in mind that even for medical physical education can be contraindications.As a rule, the complex of one lesson includes tasks that are aimed at developing and influencing all segments of the spine.
After exercises in the cervical region, they gradually add tasks to improve the work of the chest and lumbar.Media physical education for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed in a standing or sitting position.The tasks are carried out sedately, at a short pace, this will allow for addition to respiratory gymnastics.
Contraindications to physiotherapy exercises:
- acute pain syndrome;
- increasing blood pressure and the presence of heart pathology in the acute phase;
- violations of coordination and disease of the vestibular apparatus;
- fever;
- exacerbation of another chronic pathology;
- condition after surgical treatment.
Exercises on special equipment
This technique is based on a phased restoration of the normal activity of the bone muscular system.Gymnastic exercises that are performed on a specialized simulator allow you to gradually restore the work of the cervical spine structures.
First, pain is relieved, then blood circulation is restored, muscle voltage is removed and classes are carried out to expand motor activity in the cervical region.The method is additionally supported by massage courses, classes in the pool.
Massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
In addition to general strengthening classes, a very good effect gives massage.Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be used by different (classic, segmental, point).In some cases, a combination of various techniques in one session is allowed.
We must not forget that massage with cervical osteochondrosis is carried out on a solid surface, face down and its duration can vary from ten sessions or more.The frequency of the repetition of the course is also determined by the attending doctor.Massage efficiency will last longer if the patient sleeps on a well -chosen pillow.
Physiotherapeutic procedures as a magnet or electrophoresis have a local irritating effect.Magnetotherapy is a painless procedure that is well tolerated by adults and children.Manipulation lasts several minutes, the patient should lie motionless, therefore, older patients are most often recommended.
Electrophoresis is a manipulation that is carried out using a special device.During the procedure, the patient feels a slight tingling tingling, which is created using currents.The frequency and impulsiveness of the signal for each age is its own.
With the help of this technique, the introduction of a drug is carried out, which has a positive effect.This manipulation is more aggressive in comparison with magnetotherapy, therefore, there should be strict indications for its implementation.
A balanced diet is of great importance in this disease.Patients are recommended to eat fruits, vegetables, meat, greens, fish.The consumption of salt and all kinds of spices, seasonings, smoked or fried products, sugar should be limited.It is better to drink plant decoctions and teas, it is advisable to avoid the use of coffee and alcohol.
The use of traditional medicine is aimed at reducing pain.Most often, compresses and mixtures are used, which are superimposed on the area of damage.Success in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine largely depends on the patient's consciousness.Do not throw the classes and therapy, as soon as you felt better.It is irrational to constantly use painkillers that bring temporary relief, and the disease itself is not treated.