To date, osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease, as people who lead a passive lifestyle are susceptible to it. As a rule, deformation of bone tissue and cartilage (code M42. 12) occurs in people whose age does not exceed 45 years.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a process of deformation of the articular cartilage itself and its bone tissue. It has an ICD-10 - M42 code. 12, which was accepted by the International Forum of Doctors. This part of the spine is most susceptible to disease, because it is the most mobile and is surrounded by a weak muscular corset, especially in children. It is also distinguished by a large number of vascular and nerve formations. Symptoms of the manifestation directly depend on the stage of the disease and the nature of the deformation of the intervertebral discs.
Causes of osteochondrosis
As mentioned above, the main cause of the onset of the disease is a lack of physical activity.
A passive lifestyle leads to:
- to a failure in the work of metabolic processes;
- salts appear in the lymphatic fluid and bloodstream;
- salts are deposited in the liver, kidneys and cervical region.
Inflammation appears in OSHOP (osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, code M42. 12) also due to the fact that there are not enough nutrients in the intervertebral discs. It happens when a person consumes unbalanced and wrong food.
Symptoms can be distinguished as a temperature lasting 20 minutes, a lump in the throat, pain in the spine and cervicothoracic region, severe pain attacks when a person cannot sleep normally and needs first aid in the form of pain relievers for such pain. A strong cough, but it is worth noting that cough with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is also a common occurrence. Sport in this case is contraindicated, as sport can exacerbate the problem. It is best to sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
Why is osteochondrosis dangerous?
Many people are interested in why cervical osteochondrosis is dangerous? This section contains the nerve roots and spinal cord, as well as an artery that supplies blood to the back of the brain and cerebellum. When a person develops OSOP, the artery is compressed, blood circulation in the brain fails. Then there is inflammation, fever, lasting 30 minutes, a lumpy feeling in the throat, pain in the back and under the shoulder blade, which are sometimes difficult to remove.
In case of pain attacks, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, he will be able to prescribe the necessary painkillers. Folk remedies or a forum where you can find a lot of advice will not help in this case. In acute attacks, sports or massage are strictly contraindicated.
In an advanced stage, compression of the artery can cause:
- coordination problems;
- deterioration of vision and hearing;
- temperature may appear;
- sore throat;
- stroke.
If the disease was not detected in the first stage and timely treatment was not initiated, the consequences occur in the form of a hernia and intervertebral protrusion.
Degrees of osteochondrosis
A disease such as OSHOP develops gradually. And before starting the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, it is important to know its degree. Doctors call 3 degrees of the disease.
1 degree
From this stage begins the process of deformation of the intervertebral discs. The fibrous ring is covered with small cracks, the process of reducing the elasticity and strength of the disc occurs, its height decreases. All this contributes to the compression of the nerve roots. It is important to understand that in such a situation only light sports are allowed.
The first sign of this stage is the appearance of aching pain, a rise in temperature and a sore throat when a person goes to bed. But it often happens that osteochondrosis in the cervical region does not have clear clinical manifestations, and a person practically does not feel pain and discomfort in the cervicothoracic region.
2 degrees
This stage of the disease is chronic. It occurs when assistance was not provided in a timely manner in the first phase. A person experiences constant pain, a lump in the throat, a high temperature can rise when going to bed, a sore throat appears. In some patients there is a lack of air with cervical osteochondrosis. The process of compaction and destruction of the disc continues and causes small dislocations of the cervical vertebrae.
In this phase the cider of the "falling" head develops. At the same time, a person experiences severe pain in the head and has to hold their head with their hand for about 20 minutes to relieve the pain a little. You need to sleep on an orthopedic pillow, sports are contraindicated.
3 degrees
ICD-10 code - M42. 12 - 3rd degree osteochondrosis is the most difficult stage of the disease. It has the following features:
- severe headache that keeps you awake
- frequent nausea;
- high temperature rises;
- dizziness and loss of coordination;
- loss of sensation in the upper limbs.
At stage 3, the fibrous ring is practically deformed, causing serious complications, such as intervertebral protrusion or hernia.
Due to the fact that the cartilage tissue is already completely destroyed, the person stops experiencing acute pain attacks, the pain still remains, because the nerve roots are pinched. The temperature can often rise. Any sport, even light, is strictly prohibited at this stage.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at a young age
In children, osteochondrosis of the cervical region (it has an ICD-10 code - M42. 02, established by its forum of doctors) is an extremely rare and at the same time dangerous disease. The spine in children still has a fragile structure and therefore is so easily affected by negative factors, especially since at this age the intervertebral discs and the spine continue to grow.
Osteochondrosis in children can develop for several reasons:
- lack of useful minerals and vitamins in the child's diet;
- problems with the cardiovascular system;
- spinal injury;
- allergy;
- sport;
- somatic diseases;
- genetic predisposition;
- various pathologies in the development of bones;
- when the child's body regularly carries infectious diseases.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in children
Many parents are interested in how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis in children. First of all, in the treatment of this disease, which is accompanied by such symptoms as a lump in the throat, severe pain, as a result of which the child cannot sleep, inflammation and swelling, conservative methods of treatment are used.
- Drugs that have an analgesic effect. As a rule, with the help of such medicines, the pain goes away after 20 minutes.
- Medicines that are used against edema and relieve inflammation.
- The course of therapeutic massage, manual therapy and acupuncture, physical therapy.
- Operational intervention. It is prescribed in the rarest cases and is directed against the radicular syndrome.
What is cervical osteochondrosis, and especially in children, few parents know, which is why when the child complains of frequent neck pain for the first time, you should immediately contact a vertebrologist.
Cervical Osteochondrosis Diagnosis
Nowadays, to diagnose osteochondrosis, it is necessary to visit a doctor who has to conduct an initial examination. Then, if necessary, submit for further examination. For this, the cervicothoracic region is examined using MRI and computed tomography. Thanks to this examination it is possible to establish the diagnosis and degree of the disease.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To the patient's question of how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis (code M42. 12), the doctor will be able to answer by determining the degree of the disease and studying the main clinical manifestations. To date, there are many different methods of treatment.
It is better to use complex treatment, which includes traditional and non-traditional methods: manual therapy, medication, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy and folk remedies. But it is important to understand that in the case of the latter method, it is better to visit a doctor and consult him, you should not go to the forum and get information there.
In order for the treatment of the disease (code M42. 12) to be effective, it is necessary to visit several specialists: a masseur, a vertebral neurologist, a neurologist, a surgeon and a physiotherapist, will prescribe in combination those methods that will be most effective.
Osteochondrosis, like all diseases, is best treated in the first stage of the disease, when it is possible to provide competent care. But grades 2 and 3 are practically not amenable to treatment, so a long recovery process is required in this case.