Cervical osteochondrosis has now become one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, from which, unfortunately, not only the elderly but also the very young are increasingly suffering. Lack of physical activity, constant computer work and other attributes of modern urban life negatively affect their condition and lead to the development of osteochondrosis.
In the article, we'll look at why it occurs, how it manifests, how it's treated, and which drugs are effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis, and discover what non-drug methods exist.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a pronounced disorder of a degenerative-dystrophic nature that interrupts the functional activity and structure of the spine. For this reason, changes occur not only in the intervertebral discs themselves, but also in the vertebrae and joints of the cervical spine.
Occurrence causes
With this disease, there is a destructive change in the shock absorption capacity of the vertebral discs, accompanied by their displacement. One of the reasons for this change is the deposition of salts as a result of their increased level in human blood and lymph fluids.
The main reason for the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis is sedentary lifestyle. Office workers are the most susceptible to this disease, spending most of their time working on newspapers and on the computer. In the absence of the necessary amount of physical activity in the human body, blood flow decreases, muscle tissue does not need an influx of salts from food. As a result, salts are deposited in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine.
Contributes to the development of illness and malnutrition, overweight and metabolic disorders, as well as prolonged stress, nervous tension, sleep disorders.
Furthermore, illness can occur as a result of trauma, extreme stress, inflammatory diseases and others.
degrees of development
Depending on the severity of symptoms and the degree of functional impairment, three stages are distinguished:
First degree
It is characterized by minimal severity of symptoms. Patients often notice a general deterioration in well-being, the onset of headaches, weakness and dizziness. At this stage, there is a slight deformation and displacement of the cervical vertebrae, and fissures appear in the cartilaginous tissue of the disc.
High school
For the second stage of disease development, a significant increase in pain is characteristic, which occurs as a result of strong displacement of the intervertebral discs and pinching of nerve roots.
Third degree
It is characterized by complete destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc, which can lead to the formation of a hernia. Symptoms of the disease at this stage are pronounced. The patient feels severe weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness, sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulder blades and shoulders. In some cases, there is a temporary weakening of the intensity of manifestation of symptoms associated with the replacement of the injured area by connective tissue.
fourth degree
Complete destruction of the intervertebral disc, the destroyed disc replaces its connective tissue. Dizziness, increased tinnitus, poor coordination, due to the fact that an artery that feeds the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain is involved in the process.
It is very important to diagnose the disease at an early stage and consult a specialist to know what to do to prevent its development.
Symptoms and Signs
In addition to the pain syndrome, cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, which the person may not immediately guess about the developing disease. This is due to the fact that disorders of the cervical spine inevitably affect the functioning of the cerebral vascular system.
It is common to distinguish three main groups of symptoms:
pain syndrome
Neurological manifestations in the form of pain syndromes of various locations. First, they are headaches of varying intensity and duration, which can be transmitted to the eye or ear. In this case, the pain usually does not go away after taking painkillers. Pains or sharp pain in neck and nape, radiating to shoulder blades, forearm and elbow. With this disease, there is usually dull, painful pain, which then becomes more pronounced and spreads to various parts of the body.
Decreased sensitivity
Movement disorders that appear as a result of the disruption of the normal functioning of the spinal cord. Patients may experience numbness and decreased sensation in the limbs, impaired leg tone, weakness in the arms and legs, and chills. You may experience pain when lifting your arms or moving them to the side.
Weakness
Signs of vascular disorders of the brain, which present multiple manifestations. People who suffer from cervical osteochondrosis often feel severe weakness for no apparent reason, they tire quickly.
noise in the ears
The appearance of a clogged and noisy sensation in the ears, hearing loss and a marked deterioration in well-being are often observed.
Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety syndrome and panic attacks are also possible.
Diagnosis
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Radiography.An uninformative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- Computed tomography (CT).It shows abnormalities in the vertebrae more effectively, but it is difficult to determine the size, the presence of hernias, and the presence of a herniated medullary hernia (disc-medullary conflict).
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).The method that shows more information, clearly visible bony structures, intervertebral discs, hernias and their size, as well as the direction of their growth.
- Ultrasonic duplex scanning.This method is used if impaired blood flow in the arteries of the spine is suspected. This reveals a decrease in blood flow velocity and the presence of an obstruction to normal blood flow.
Treatment
The development of a treatment plan for cervical spine osteochondrosis depends mainly on the causes of the disease, the nature and intensity of its symptoms. As practice has shown, complex therapy has the greatest effect, which can include drug treatment, massage, therapeutic exercises, and some other methods.
Treatment must be carried out under the supervision of qualified specialists: vertebral neurologist, masseuse, chiropractor, surgeon, neurologist. It is very important to see your doctor at the right time to prevent the development of second and third degrees of the disease. In this case, treatment until complete recovery will take much longer.
Therapy is prescribed in a certain order:
- first, it is necessary to relieve pain;
- then get rid of the swelling;
- medications that restore blood circulation are prescribed;
- muscle tissue is strengthened;
- steps are taken to restore the damaged tissue.
Important!It is worth remembering that during periods of disease exacerbation, exercise therapy is contraindicated, as it can cause complications.
As first aid to relieve acute pain syndrome during an exacerbation, patients are prescribed analgesics and, in the presence of acute pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In sites of localization of muscle spasms, warming ointments and analgesics, pepper patches are used. The swelling is well removed by diuretics. If the patient has numbness in the extremities, it is necessary to perform special exercises that stimulate blood circulation.
It must be remembered that these measures relieve pain, but do not eliminate the causes of the disease. Medications prescribed by a physician in combination with other methods of therapy will accomplish this task.
medicine
The purpose of taking medications for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is to relieve muscle pain and inflammation, restore blood circulation and strengthen the vascular system of the brain, and a general healing effect on the body.
Patients should receive medications containing B vitamins, which can be prescribed as tablets or intramuscular injections.
To restore damaged cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs, chondroprotective drugs are prescribed. The use of these medications should not be ignored as they help to strengthen bone tissue and prevent future disease recurrence.
Physiotherapy
While performing gymnastics to improve health, circular movements of the head should be performed, bending the neck to the left - to the right, forward - backward. Also in the set of exercises it is necessary to include movements of the shoulders and arms. All movements should be performed smoothly, without harshness and stress, alternating between the active phase and a little rest.
Conclusion
It is always easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to follow some simple rules:
- avoid extreme spinal stress to prevent damage to the intervertebral discs;
- doing gymnastics for the whole body daily, focusing on the muscles of the back and, especially, the cervical spine;
- avoid nervous tension and fatigue, remember the importance of adequate rest and sleep for the body;
- lead an active, mobile lifestyle, get more exercise, go outdoors, eat properly and balanced, and get rid of bad habits.