In the modern world, the resonance of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis can hardly be overestimated. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is much more common than in other vertebral regions. Almost all people over the age of twenty-five have this disease, to one degree or another.
Cervical osteochondrosis develops mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle, which is especially facilitated by the historical transition of a person from physical labor to mental labor, which, albeit to a moderate degree, is accompanied by work in a sitting position.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the cervical spine, leading to damage to the intervertebral discs, which is common in general for the disease of osteochondrosis. Since this section of the spine is, by its nature, quite mobile, but at the same time vulnerable due to a poorly developed muscular corset, therefore, any negative impact on the neck or back affects the cervical region first of all. Due to the fact that degenerative changes most often develop in the most mobile vertebral sections, it is precisely the nerve endings at the level of C5 . . . C7 that most often suffer in the cervical region.
Since the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are highly controversial, they are not always considered only as symptoms of this disease, which quite often leads to seeking help from specialists in other fields of medicine. Let's consider them in a little more detail.
Symptoms
Due to the fact that the cervical spine is quite compact, in comparison with its other departments, even a slight tension in the muscles of the neck or displacement of the vertebrae of the cervical spine can cause compression or pinching of the nerve roots, which can also affect the vessels located inthis department. Well, osteophytes - bone growths, in folk treatment called "salt deposition" and formed in the conditions of the development of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis, lead, as a result, only to a significant deterioration in the course of the disease.
Clinical manifestations of the disease of cervical osteochondrosis, that is, its symptoms, can be divided into reflex symptoms and radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
Reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the so-called "lumbago", which is expressed in the appearance of sharp sharp pains in the neck, and noticeably intensifies with any movement. In view of this, patients often take some kind of forced, most comfortable, head position. In addition, it is quite possible that a typical "crunch" occurs when turning or other head movements.
With cervical osteochondrosis, patients often experience headaches that are compressive in nature and radiate to the eyeballs or the temporal part of the head. In addition, sometimes at the same time, the sharpness of visual perception may decrease, as if "everything is floating before the eyes. "
The syndrome of the vertebral artery may also develop, when its nerve plexus is irritated, which is very often, due to dizziness in the patient, mistakenly diagnosed as a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. Such a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can manifest itself with sudden movements of the head and be complicated by nausea and possible vomiting.
In addition to the above, the reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis also include a cardiological syndrome, in which there are sensations similar to an angina attack. But such a manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis is usually combined with a complex of other signs of this disease, so it usually does not cause difficulties in making a correct diagnosis.
Radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, as a rule, appear due to compression of the spinal nerve ending - the root. In this case, sensory disturbances that affect motor functions depend entirely on which particular nerve root is injured, namely:
- C1 - decreased sensitivity in the back of the head;
- C2 - the occurrence of pain in the parietal or occipital region of the head;
- C3 - violation of sensitivity and the appearance of pain in the neck, where the spinal root was injured, with a very possible violation of the function of speech, due to loss of sensitivity of the tongue and control over it;
- C4 - the appearance of pain and a decrease in sensitivity in the humeroscapular dorsal region, as well as pain in the region of the heart and liver, with a simultaneous decrease in the muscle tone of the neck and possible respiratory disorders of the respiratory function;
- C5 - decreased sensitivity and the occurrence of pain on the outer shoulder surface;
- C6 - pain radiating from the cervical region to the scapula, outer shoulder surface, forearm, and further from the wrist to the thumb;
- C7 - the same pain as in C6, but radiating from the scapula to the posterior shoulder surface, and further from the forearm to the 2. . 4th fingers of the hand, with a decrease in sensitivity in the area of pain;
- C8 - decreased sensitivity and pain, going from the neck to the shoulder, and then from the forearm to the little finger of the hand.
Treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis is a rather complex and extremely unpleasant disease, the treatment of which requires consistency, duration and stages. Therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, first of all, is aimed at the complete cessation of the pain symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and the elimination of inflammation in the neck area affected by the disease.
Patients, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, are treated with classical analgesics, such as analgin, ketorol or baralgin. Although recently non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have also been widely popular in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, effectively relieving pain and reducing the activity of inflammation.
Among other things, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors are also used, which slow down the process of destruction of cartilage tissues and, according to many experts, also contribute to the process of their regeneration. In addition, patients are prescribed the use of B vitamins, which improve metabolic processes in the patient's body.
But the use of external gels or ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is not effective, but it makes sense, since in the process of rubbing them into the skin, an additional massage of the cervical region of the spine is performed.
Physiotherapy procedures are additionally combined with traditional drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, and in particular, the use of magnetotherapy through special medical devices that have earned well-deserved fame among specialists and patients is especially effective. Also used, in addition to the above, is also therapeutic massage, physiotherapy exercises and manual therapy. But, in especially severe cases of the disease, surgical intervention may also be required.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
In itself, the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is not difficult. Recommended:
- maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle,
- sports, or at least morning exercises,
- competent organization of the workplace,
- observance of the regime of work and rest,
- during prolonged work in a sitting position - during working hours, warm up several times and ensure the correct position of the head and posture during work.
It is also important to choose a comfortable pillow and mattress for sleeping. But for those who are already suffering from this disease, everyday use of specialized orthopedic products for a comfortable sleep is strongly recommended.