Today, the disease has been very "younger" and more and more often people are subject to 25 years of age, although more recently, the age of 30-35 has been considered risky.The pathologies of the cervical part are more common, so you must be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of the disease to start treatment.
So what is called osteochondosis of the cervical region?This term is characterized by a degenerative dystrophic process in the intervertebral disc, acting from a sort of shock absorber among the segments of the spine.This situation leads to changes in its structure and anatomy, segments and joint elements of the cervical region.Osteochondosis of the neck is characterized by symptoms of acute pain that require timely treatment.
The causes of osteochondosis of the cervical region
Where does the cervical osteochondosis come from?A little lower, we list the factors, whose chronic or acute effect leads to an increase in loads in the neck.Consequently, the body muscles compensate for the increase in loads, however, due to constant tension, spasms occur with compromised blood circulation.By acting together, these factors lead to degenerative changes in the spine, a change in its structure, problems with blood nutrition and metabolism.Subsequently, there is a tail of changes in the intervertebral joints, the growth of the bone tissue of the spinal segments appears.
We list the factors that contribute to the development of the disease:
- Scoliosis and violation of adequate posture.
- Excess weight.
- A long stay in the wrong and unnatural poses.
- Regular overstrain of the back and the cervical column, for example, due to the characteristics of the work.
- Small mobility, hypodynamia sitting.
- Drawing the spine in the past.
- Problems with metabolism.
- Excessive physical activity.
- STRESS OVERSTRAIN, prolonged depression.
- Inheritance factor.
- Wrong vertebral development.
The degree of cervical osteochondosis
It is necessary to be able to distinguish between the concepts of "stadium" and "grade" that characterize the osteochondosis of the cervical column.We will consider the phases a little later, now we are talking about the degrees that depend on the general clinical state and the patient complaints, have various symptoms and require, respectively, of a different treatment.
The first degree is 1.Cervical osteocondrosis is characterized by insignificant manifestations of the disease, the main symptoms are pain in the neck area, which are not common, intensifying if you turn your head.They can be accompanied by slightly tense muscles.
The second degree is 2.The severity of pain and symptoms is much stronger and are able to yield in the shoulder area.This is due to the fact that the intervertebral disc has become lower in height, which led to a nervous pizzichi.Pain syndrome has a tendency to improve during movements, a feeling of weakness and headache leads to reduced performance.
The third degree is 3.This development of the osteocondrosis of the cervical region is characterized by the formation of hernias in the intervertebral space.The differences compared to previous degrees in the symptoms that are even more pronounced and painful - gives more intensely to the shoulder and hand, in them there may be a feeling of numbness and weakness.The disease is accompanied by the same headache, weakness, neck mobility is limited, with sensation, a distinct pain syndrome is fixed.
The fourth degree - 4.This degree is characterized by the complete destruction of the tissues of the intervertebral disc.Problems with blood nutrition is likely to be of blood, in particular, by means of the vertebral artery, which provides blood to the cerebellar and the back of the head.Against the background of this, there are difficulties with coordination, the head is dizziness, there is a sound in the ears.
Symptoms of osteochondosis of the cervical column
Cervical osteochondrosis has some differences compared to osteocondrosis in other areas.They present themselves due to the narrower position of the segments compared to the other, a more complex structure of the first two segments-Atlanta and axis.In addition, the shock absorbers among the elements of the spine are less here and, consequently, consume and destroy faster.In addition, it is the cervical osteochondrosis that often leads to the compression of the nerves of the spinal cord.
Cervical osteochondrosis - The most common symptoms:
- Pain.They are characterized by different locations: in the back of the head, shoulder and cervical region.The occurrence of pain in the shoulder joint indicates a pressure on the nerve, responsible for the transfer of pain impulses to this position.Supply pains reflect the presence of spasm of the neck muscles due to difficulty with the blood flow in this area.Perhaps a feeling of pain in the vertebra, the presence of crunch.
- Weakness in the hand.It manifests itself due to damage to the nerve responsible for the motor activity of the upper limbs.
- Poor sensitivity in hand.The nerve is damaged, innervating the skin on the arm.
- Limited movements, crunch.It is a consequence of the small height of the intervertebral disc, of bone growth in the spinal segments, the presence of small compositions affected.
- Problems with coordination, feeling of weakness and dizziness.In light of the progress of the pathology, fibrous tissue is formed.It partially leads to the removal of the vertebral artery with its canal in the elements of the spine.This reduces the lumen of the pot, creating a shortage of blood in the back of the head and cerebellum.
- Problems with hearing, vision, speech.They are the further development of a ship that feeds the cerebellar and occipital area.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is carried out in the presence of characteristic symptoms and complaints of a person.The osteochondrosis of the cervical region is diagnosed with various methods, mainly aimed at visualizing the condition of the damaged part.The most commonly used:
- X -raggi.It is not information, it only shows the presence of deviations, suitable mainly for early diagnosis.
- Computer tomography.Compared to the X -ray, the reflection of the pathologies of the segments of the cervical part of the spine has improved, but does not carefully determine the presence of an hernia that is size.In addition, this procedure is impossible to determine the "praise" of the canal with the spinal cord.
- Magnetic resonance imaging tomography.This diagnostic is more modern, characterized by a greater information content, allows details to evaluate the defects of the bone structure, the state of the intervertebral records, the existence of hernias, their size and the direction of growth.
- If there are suspicions of current deterioration in the vertebral arteries, an additional diagnosis is carried out through the procedureUltrasonic duplex scan.This study exactly determines the presence of obstacles that reduce the blood flow rate.
Based on the data obtained in the diagnosis, we can speak of various stages:
- 1st stage.It is characterized by slight violations of the anatomy of the vertebrae.
- Phase 2.Probably not compliance with the position of the vertebrae compared to the other, movement, rotation with respect to the axis of the spine, the intervertebral disc can have a slightly reduced height.
- Phase 3.The disc is reduced by a quarter -in -height, the joints are modified, there are bone tissue growths, tightening of intervertebral holes and the spinal canal.
- 4th stadium.It is even more aggravated than the previous one.The disc is considerably reduced in height, in the presence of deep joint pathologies and vast bone growths from behind, the spinal canal and the passages under the dorsal brain are strongly crushed.
Treatment of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column
The main methods of this treatment are: medicine therapy, physiotherapy, use of the massage of the affected area, therapeutic exercises.We consider some methods in more detail.
Treatment with drugs
Only a competent specialist should face the purpose of any drug.
- Preparations against inflammation of non -steroid origin.Their action is the actual removal of pain syndrome, the inflammatory and edematous process of the blocked nervous ending, examples can serve as examples and others.
- To improve metabolic processes in the vertebrae and nerves, Vitamin B.
- Drugs that increase fluidity in the blood.
- They are used to feed altered nerve terminations and improve blood flow to the brain.
- Condroprotectors used to restore the cartilage fabric and intervertebral discs.
- Musorelaxanti, funds against spasms.
Physiotherapy
- Electrophoresis.Delivery of drug ions to the desired part of the pathology using the electric field.Before the procedure, the anesthesia of Novocaine is performed, aminophillin is also used which improves blood flow.
- Ultrasound.It relieves inflammation, pain, contributes to the metabolism in the place of application.
- Magnetotherapy.It has an analgesic effect, relieves edema.
- Laser therapy.The treatment is carried out by the exposure of special frequency bright waves.Relieves inflammation and promotes blood circulation.
Medical physical education
Physical education of the media is allowed only in the absence of exacerbations of the disease.The methods will be effective in the absence of pain and discomfort in the execution, moreover, are very effective as a means of prevention.We list several basic exercises:
- Lie on the stomach and rest with your hands folded on the floor.To make lifts of the head and body for 60-90 seconds, keeping his back straight, after which he returns without hitches in his original position.Make 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on the stomach, extending your hands on the side of the body.Turn the head to the left, to the right, in turn, trying to reach the floor with an ear.Perform 5-7 repetitions on each side.
- In a sitting position, inhaling to lean forward, trying to reach the chest with your head.Then, on the contrary, the epraction of incorrect back, throwing your head back.Create 12 repetitions.
- In a sitting position, put the palms of the forehead.Put the mutual pressure of the forehead in the palm of the hand and vice versa.Continue until half a minute, repeating 3 times.
- An orderly rotation without haste of the heads on the sides, 5-7 rotations.If the head is d surviving, reduce the number of repetitions or reduce the speed.
Osteochondosis of the Cervical Department: Question - Answer
- Does it happen that the osteochondosis of the cervical column should be treated with surgery?
It happens, but in those rare cases in which conservative treatment does not give a half year effect after the start.In such situations, chronic pain and compression of nerve endings are generally present.
- For what period can you take non -short anti -inflammatory drugs?
Most of these drugs are reflected in the state of the gastric mucosa, therefore their frequent and regular use is not recommended.The exact duration of the drug is determined by the attending physician with information such as the patient's osteochondosis and if there are concomitant pathologies.
- Are the condroducers that restore the fabric of damaged intervertebral discs are effective?
The confirmation of the effect of taking these drugs has not been demonstrated, following which doctors rarely recommend them.
- What to do at home when there is no intensified state to avoid exacerbation in the future?
For preventive purposes, the best will be to use therapeutic physical education, the massage of the cervical area and the refusal of significant physical activity.