Characteristic symptoms and treatment of osteocondrosis of cervical spine

Osteocondrosis in the cervical region is a serious pathology characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs.This violation often leads to dangerous complications.Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ignore it.To tackle the disease, consult a specialist in a timely manner.

The essence of pathology

Osteochondrosis of cervical spine is a pathology in which the soft intervertebral pulp is converted into bone tissue.This causes clamping of blood vessels and nerve fibers.

The characteristic features of the disease include pain syndrome.It is located in the neck, shoulders, upper back, head.Many patients face dizziness, pressure fluctuations, nausea, air deficiency.

Distrophic changes in the area of the cervical region are usually found at middle and older age.This is due to the vertical location of the skeleton and the functions of the distribution of loads.

Doctors notice that the disease previously occurs in men.This happens in 45-50 years.Women are facing the manifestations of cervical osteocondrosis later at 50-55 years old.

Causes

A number of factors lead to the development of this type of disease.

The main causes of cervical osteocondrosis include the following:

1. Back injuries.This can cause redistribution of pressure to cartilage, which provides a change in their structure and shape.
2. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system.This category includes scoliosis, arthritis, bone tuberculosis.
3. Insufficient physical activity.People who carry an inactive lifestyle have depletion of the muscles of the back that support the spine.The sale of salts that appear due to lactic acid can aggravate this state of things.The weakened spine is lightly deformed and becomes less mobile.
4. Obesity.The appearance of excess weight is a great danger to the musculoskeletal system.In addition to increased loads on the spine, adipose tissue takes the advantageous substances required to maintain muscle tone and cartilage.
5. Long stay in a motionless position.This disease is often found in drivers and people dealing with intellectual labor.After a long -term stay in a strange state, the cartilage gradually loses elasticity.Over time, intervertebral disks acquire an unnatural configuration.
6. Disorders of nutrition.For the body to function properly, proteins, fat, minerals and vitamins must be present in the diet in sufficient amounts.Irrational nutrition provides a violation of the structure of the tissue and leads to their rapid destruction.

Often, cervical osteocondrosis is the result of a hereditary trend.In this case, pathology develops without the influence of significant factors.

To prevent the appearance of the disease, start therapy in a timely manner.

Phases of the disease

There are several stages of pathology, each of which is characterized by certain functions:

• First- The central feature of the state is the instability of the spine.It manifests itself in the initial lesions of the intervertebral discs;
• The other- The most important manifestation is projection.This condition is characterized by a decrease in the cracks between the vertebrae, a gradual violation of the integrity of the fibrous ring.Often there is pain caused by the compression of the nerves;
• The third- At this point, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed.This involves the occurrence of intervertebral hernia.This condition is characterized by serious damage to the spine;
• Fourth- It's the hardest thing.At this point, with any movement, acute pain occurs.Sometimes the condition improves, but this indicates the appearance of bone structures that connect the vertebrae.This involves a decrease in motor activity and providers disabilities.

Symptoms

This type of osteochondrosis is characterized by special manifestations.This is due to the dense location of the cervical vertebrae and the low height of disks.Therefore, even small changes provoke serious manifestations.In addition, this type of osteocondrosis is often accompanied by the compression of cerebrospinal nuts.

Symptoms of cervical osteocondrosis include the following:

1. Pain.They are located in different areas - the back of the head, neck, shoulder band, hands.Discomfort in the hands or shoulderband is caused by a squeeze of the nerves.The pain syndrome of the occipital zone is associated with spasms of muscle tissue in the neck and circulatory disorders.
2. Weakness in the hands.This sign is caused by damage to the motor nerves responsible for the innerving of the muscles in the hands.
3. Weakening the sensitivity of the hands.This feature is due to damage to the roots that include sensitive fibers responsible for the innerving of the hands.
4. Reduction of the motor activity in the neck, the appearance of crunch.Such symptoms of osteocondrosis in the cervical spine are the result of a decrease in height of disks.They are also defeated by the intervertebral joints and the formation of bone growth on the vertebrae.
5. Weakness, loss of coordination of movements and dizziness.These manifestations are caused by damage to the spine.The formation of fibrous tissue and vertebral displacement provides problems with blood flow in the arteries.As a result, there is a deterioration of blood flow in the occipital area of the brain and cerebellum.
6. Hearing of deterioration, numbness of the language, weakening of visual acuity.These symptoms of osteocondrosis of cervical spine are due to the deterioration of the situation and in the development of cerebrovascular accident.

Diagnostic methods

To identify the neck osteocondrosis, perform a number of diagnostic procedures.

The most informative studies include the following:

• Magnetic resonance image is the most informative study that allows you to assess the condition of the vertebrae and disease between them.Using this procedure it is also possible to detect Hernias, evaluate their size and location.
• X -Ray - This procedure is one of the most affordable research methods.However, it often does not become informative, especially in the last stages of the disease.
• Computed tomography - allows you to identify the presence of changes in the structure of the vertebrae.However, the presence of a hernia or compression of the spinal cord for diagnosis in this way is quite difficult.
• Duplex -Ultrasonry scan - helps detect blood flow disorders in the spine.The procedure allows you to detect obstacles and a slowdown in the blood flow in the vessels.

Treatment methods

Treatment of cervical osteocondrosis is chosen taking into account various factors.This is done depending on the stage of the disease, the shape of the disease, the severity of symptoms.

The main therapy methods include the following:

• Conservative therapy - can be medicine and not medicine;
• Surgical intervention;
• A combination of conservative methods and surgical treatment.

Medicine

Treatment of osteocondrosis of the cervical ridge can be performed using such categories of medications:

1. Analgesics - are not -eroid drugs that help tackle pain.They are usually prescribed in a tablet form.It should be remembered that most of the funds from this category provose the irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive bodies.
2. Anti -inflammatory drugs are hormonal agents that help stop inflammation and eliminate pain.Usually with cervical osteocondrosis, tablets and ointments are prescribed, made on the basis of prednisolone.
3. Systematic remedies for a slow action - In these drugs, there are elements that replace the components of cartilage tissue.These include hyaluronic acid and chondroitin.To get a stable positive effect, such remedies must be taken long enough.
4. Musorelaxants - These drugs contribute to the relaxation of the muscle tone.They are used in surgical practice and orthopedia as further means of eliminating pain.Such substances are introduced in a parenteral way because this must be done under the supervision of a doctor.With the development of osteocondrosis, glycerol -based products are used.It should be remembered that they have many contraindications.
5. Vitamin complexes.In case of such osteocondrosis, the use of vitamins is indicated, which positively affects the nervous system and improves conductivity.These include B vitamins B. Other vitamins are also shown - A, C, D, E. Many doctor prescribes combined products that include vitamins and painkillers.
6. Ointments and gels for local use.Such agents may have different properties - heating, painkillers, anti -inflammatory.Before applying a specific tool, undergo a medical examination.

Physiotherapy methods

Treatment of osteocondrosis of cervical spine necessarily requires the use of the most important methods of physiotherapy.

The most effective procedures include the following:

• Electrophoresis using medications.Under the influence of electric current, particles of medicine need the desired area.Thanks to this, it is possible to stimulate blood circulation and achieve an analgesic effect.
• Ultrasonic exposure.Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to tackle pain and stop inflammation.This technique also activates metabolic processes in the body.
• Magnetotherapy.With its help it is possible to cope with the edema and achieve an anesthetic effect.
• Laser exposure.This method helps to normalize blood circulation and help tackle inflammation.

Therapeutic gymnastics

In order for the treatment of the disease to be as effective as possible, special exercises should be performed.They are prescribed after stopping acute symptoms.It should be remembered that there should be no pain or unpleasant sensations during the class.

The most effective exercises must include the following:

1. Lie on the abdomen, rest your hands on the floor, lift your head and upper body.It is worth ensuring that the back remains straight.In this position it is necessary to stay 1-2 minutes.Then gently lower down on the floor.Make 2-3 repetitions.
2. Lie on your stomach, stretch your hands, turn your head in the left side and stir your ear on the floor.Similar movement to perform on the right.Make 6-7 times in each direction.
3. Sit down and take a breath, bend down.Stir at the chest with a chin.Then exhale, deviate back, throw the head back.Perform 10-15 repetitions.
4. Sit down, put your palms on the pan.Tap your head in your arms for 30 seconds.In total, you must make 2-3 repetitions.
5. Slowly turn your head in different directions.In each direction, make 10 rotations.When dizziness appears, the exercise should be stopped.

Massage

To eliminate the signs of cervical osteocondrosis, definitely make a massage.The procedure must be performed as carefully as possible without making an effort.Movements must be expanded to the neck, the collar space and the back area.

It is best to do massage in a lying position on the stomach.In extreme cases, the procedure that sits is allowed.

The technique is based on the use of such techniques:

• Stroke - involves influence on the surface areas of the skin.To do this, the palms or fingertips have to iron your back and move from the head to the upper third of the back.You can also make zigzag movements.
• Squeezing - consists of the effects of deep areas of the skin in the upper third of the back.To do this with the thumb and index finger, the skin is caught.This should be done very carefully without affecting substances in the spine.
• Rubbing - The procedure is performed to heat up the skin and increase blood circulation in the collar area.It must be done very carefully without affecting the spinous sections of the vertebrae.
• Knoving - is quite rare as it involves the effect on deeply placed substances.This can only aggravate a deviation.

With osteocondrosis, self -massage can be performed.To do this, it is convenient to sit down and use the methods to iron and rub the neck and shoulders.It is advisable to supplement the procedure of rubbing ointments that contribute to increased blood flow and relieve pain in the affected area.

Surgical treatment

Completion of surgical intervention appears in the following cases:

1. The presence of neurological deviations is a violation of motor activity, weakness or loss of hands sensitivity, loss of control over defecation.When such symptoms appear, you may suspect a persistent injury to the nerves.Therefore, it is so important to perform the operation to eliminate compression.
2. The presence of constant pain that violates the quality of life of a person and cannot be removed by conservative methods.

With the development of cervical osteocondrosis, the following operations can be performed:

1. Front cervical discoCtomy and spondylodeza.The action is performed through the front surface of the neck.The procedure aims to remove the disk affected, decompressation of nerve fibers and implantation of a special device to maintain the desired distance between the vertebrae.
2. Replacing the intervertebral disk.In this case, the affected disk is removed and inserted artificially.Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to maintain motor activity.

To perform surgical interventions to eliminate neurological symptoms have high efficiency.According to separate estimates, it is 80-90 %.However, such methods are not effective enough when eliminating pain associated with osteochondrosis.

Possible dangers

Cervical osteocondrosis is a serious type of pathology.In this area of the spine there are many nerves and vessels responsible for the nutrition of the brain.In addition, the cervical vertebrae fit tightly.Therefore, even small changes in this area induce clamping or displacement of blood vessels and nerves.

Disorders of cerebral blood flow provoke the appearance of migraine, vegetovascular dystonia, hypertension.There is also a risk of problems in the function of the airways, cardiovascular and blood vessels.Many people are disturbed by hearing, visual acuity decreases, coordination of movements suffers.

In difficult situations, cervical osteocondrosis provokes the syndrome of the spine.This vessel is responsible for the blood supply to the cerebellum and an elongated brain.With the compression of the artery, there is a risk of brain refusal and the development of spinal cord.

Pathology can also provoke damage to the nerve roots.This is manifested in the form of the formation of growth, the appearance of radiculopathy, loss of motor activity.The most difficult consequence of the disease is the compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to a fatal result.

Prevention

To avoid the development of pathology it is worth observing simple rules:

• Systematically playing sports;
• Eat properly;
• Take vitamin preparations and other drugs prescribed by a doctor;
• Avoid a long stay in an unpleasant position;
• Use orthopedic furniture;
• Choose clothes and shoes for the season, especially in winter.

Cervical osteocondrosis is a rather dangerous disease that can lead to negative health consequences.

To avoid serious complications, consult a doctor in a timely way and clearly follow his recommendations.