The tendency to cultivate degenerative-distribution lesions of the spine is constantly growing every year, and all because the problem of hypodinamia and hypocinesia is acute due to urbanization.Damage to the cervical spine deals frequent, several intensities of headaches and a feeling of stiff neck and forearms.Today, our topic is the causes, symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis in the cervical region.
The reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis
Speaking of the causes of degenerative damage in the cervical, genetic, toxic, metabolic, endocrine, infectious and others can be listed.However, first, you can put a sedentary lifestyle and sitting on the computer, on the table and driving.
Frequent tensions that involuntarily make a stop posture, which leads to the violation of blood vessels in the nerve neck, help to help this pathology.
Symptoms of neck pain should not be ignored as this leads to the progression of the disease and the development of complications such as shoulder -covers periartrosis, vertebral artery syndrome, anterior staircase syndrome and Road Syndrome.
On the anatomical structure
Now let's see what anatomical and physiological characteristics of the cervical spine structure contribute to the development and progression of osteochondrosis:
- The cervical department is the most mobile section of the spine column.Since all types of movements are possible, this increases the risk of subluxation and frequent violations;
- The vertebral artery occurs in the channel formed in the holes of the transverse processes of the vertebrae.It is sweating in the brain, auditory organs, spinal nerve and cerebellum.With the development of degenerative-distribution changes, the artery and nerve can arrest in this department.
- In the cervical region, intervertebral discs are not everywhere among the vertebrae.At the front, the vertebrae are connected by joints, which can cause the joint subluxation.
- The holes in the three lower cervical vertebrae have a triangular shape and, with bone tissue growth with osteochondrosis, nerve roots may infringe.
- Throughout the cervical department, vegetative ganglia are located.
These resources will help us present the mechanism for the development of complications of cervical spine osteochondrosis.
Mechanisms for the development of changes in the cervical spine
The pathological process begins on the intervertebral disc with moisture loss with a pulpee disc core.The fibrous ring of the disc is gradually becoming thinner, its elasticity decreases and the microwaves appear.
As a result, the disc loses its ability to correct, depreciation and support.The load on the lower vertebrae increases gradually, after which the vertebra itself is involved in the process.
Small defects appear in it and osteophytes (excessive bone growing) are growing to support an increased load.
With bone tissue growth, nerve roots are squeezed along the rear wall of the vertebra and, if on the side surface, the vertebral artery will be violated.
The subluses in the joints appear due to a violation of stability between the vertebrae.This leads to the compensatory tension of the neck muscles, which helps keep cervical vertebrae at a normal position.
When the muscles get tired, the cargo in the vertebrae increases again, which leads to the progression of the disease.Thus, a vicious circle is formed in which the spasmodic muscles and damaged vertebrae are adversely affecting and lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition.
Based on pathological mechanisms, symptoms of the disease are formed.Thus, squeezing the nerve roots manifests itself by intense paroxysmal pain along the infringed nerve.
And when compressing the vertebral artery, the symptoms associated with a decrease in blood flow in the brain, namely: noise in the ears, dizziness and headache, appear first.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are conditionally divided into 3 groups:
The first group of symptoms - Pain
He manifests himself in the form:
- Local pain at the back of the head/neck;
- The pain radiating, which extends to the right or left hand, and can also go to the fingers, to the brush, to the forearm and to locate in the shoulder joints.
This pain can be painful and constant, annoying and spread throughout the neck or hand.Or it is a sharper local shooting pain that appears as a result of nerve root pinch.
The second group of symptoms is motor disorders
First of all, it is the rigidity of the neck and nape muscles, as a result of which it is impossible to rotate or include the head normally or make any movement in the cervical spine.
Moreover, this is a limitation of shoulder joint mobility, which is called Pope's periartrrosis syndrome on the shoulder.It is also possible to spread to the whole hand, including fingertips, handle and numbness along the side of the side surface of the shoulder or forearm.
The third group of symptoms are the vegetation-vascular manifestations, manifestations of the vessels
In the process of this, there is a spasm of blood vessels or pinch in the spine.As a result, these symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis may appear as headaches, dizziness, tremor of "flies" in front of the eyes.
There may also be hearing impairment - noise in the ears and the feeling of a "sulfur plug" in which a person does not hear well.These symptoms belong to vertebral artery syndrome.
Traditional treatment methods of cervical osteochondrosis
Modern medicine offers many methods for treating degenerative-distribution lesions of the spine.Among them, they distinguish: drug treatment, manual therapy, folkloric remedies, therapeutic physical culture (exercise therapy) and distraction cases use surgical treatment.The efficacy of therapy depends on what stage treatment and a complex of selected methods began.
Treatment should first of all aim to normalize the muscle tone of the cervical muscles.The action of other means aims to remove inflammation and pain in the field of development of pathological changes.
An important point in the treatment of osteochondrosis is a good comfortable dream, for which experts recommend using an orthopedic pillow.
In the early stages of disease development, the use of massage in an experienced specialist and self -massage will be effective.This method will help relax the spasmodic muscles and interrupt the progression of the pathological process.
Medical Physical Education
Treatment of osteochondrosis should include physical therapy exercises in the form of therapeutic or morning hygienic gymnastics.When performing a complex of treatment exercises, follow the following recommendations:
- Put on comfortable clothes and shoes;
- so that the shortness of breath, alternate ordinary breathing exercises are not lacking;
- The load should gradually increase and if during the lesson you have begun to mark complaints from the cardiovascular system, interrupt exercise and seek advice to the doctor;
- If the pain appeared in the cervical spine during the lesson, replace them with relaxation and stretching exercises;
- During the lesson, it controls its general well -ser, breathing and pulse;
- If exercises with hand and load cause pain for a while to abandon them;
- The physical exercise complex of therapeutic exercises should be agreed with the doctor.
The following effects are expected from physical therapy exercises:
- Strengthening the neck muscles,
- Blood Flow Restoration;
- Increased mobility of vertebrae;
- Increase the volume of movements in the cervical region;
- Free the pain and restoration of innervation;
- Prevention of exacerbations.
Drug treatment
Most neuropathologists and other experts do not represent the treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis without medication.The most popular are the medicines of a group of non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are used in the form of injections, tablets, gels and ointments.
Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs relieve pain, inflammation and alleviate swelling, as a result, the tone of neck muscles is restored, metabolism in the affected area improvement and nerve roots and blood vessels are released from compression.
It is advisable to use medications from a group of muscle relaxants, who also effectively alleviate muscle spasm and at the same time restore their tone.However, drugs should be used with caution, especially in allergies.
Corticosteroid group preparations have gained good revisions in the treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis.
The injection drug is very popular due to its anti -inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
If the treatment described is not effective, they use the use of paravertebral block with painkillers or steroids.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with non -traditional methods
Defenders of non -traditional treatment methods can use the following treatment methods.
- AcupunctureIt helps save the patient from pain, relieve swelling and relax the spasmodic muscles, and eliminate functional tightening of nerves and arteries.If the fingers are numb in their hands, it is advisable to place the needles at biologically active points on the arm and ear;
- Manual therapyIt helps to restore normal blood flow in the neck, relieves muscle spasm and releases the tight nerves.Stretch the column should be performed by a very cautious skilled specialist;
- Hirudotherapy (leech treatment)It is a cheap and very effective treatment method.The procedure consists of placing leeches to biologically active points, which should be repeated by a 10 session course.This method helps restore blood circulation in the cervical region, relieve swelling and inflammation;
- Supreme massageIt consists of the effects of fingers on biologically active points and helps relieve muscle spasm, improve blood circulation, relieve swelling, pain and inflammation;
- Folklore methods of treatmentYou can use it successfully at home.There are several decoctions and infusions that can be prepared by you (worm wood infusion, lilac infusion, garlic infusion).The therapeutic baths made of mint, chamomile, sage and calamus rhizomes have a good effect.
After the methods of treatment and familiarization above with the mechanisms of the development of the disease, make a decision to whom you get in touch with your problem: for a neuropathologist or private clinic.