Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative and dystrophic disease that affects the intervertebral discs of the neck.This pathology is the most common pathology of the spine.
Symptoms of the disease
As the disease progresses, characteristic symptoms appear.They include the following manifestations:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Noise in the ears
- Changing the function of the organ of vision (decrease in its severity, flickering flies in front of the eyes)
- Increased sensitivity in the hand
- Numbness of the hand
- Then a person can generally stop moving his hand
- Feeling of stiffness in the joints of the upper limb
- Crunch in the neck
- A feeling of stiffness and pressure in the chest.
The causes of the disease
The main causal factors of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:
- Small mobility of the neck, which leads to the fact that the Intervertebral DISC loses liquid, it also leads to a loss of the elasticity of the cartilage
- Burdened heredity, which determines the reserve of the strength of the intervertebral disc
- Microtraumatization of the cervical spine with sharp turns, tilting of the head, etc.
- Metabolic disorders that negatively affect the condition of the cartilage in the intervertebral disk.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic search for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes the following studies:
- X -ray
- Computed tomography
- Nuclear-magnetic resonance
- Electromyography.
Each of the above studies carries a certain diagnostic information.The first three allow you to identify changes directly in the spine, characteristic of osteochondrosis.The latest study allows you to diagnose complications of osteochondrosis, which consist in damage to the nerve trunks.
An X -ray examination is carried out in various planes, and sights are also performed for a more accurate detail of characteristic changes.This study reveals calcinates in the ligamentous apparatus of the spine, a change in the height of the intervertebral discs, the deformation of the cervical region, etc.
Computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance allow you to get the most reliable information, so it is recommended to use them in complex diagnostic cases.
Electromyography studies conductivity in nervous fiber, which very often with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is reduced.This is due to the fact that with a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, conditions are created for compression of nerve roots.Therefore, such clinical symptoms as increased sensitivity, paresis and paralysis appear.
Complications
The absence of timely treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can lead to the development of the following complications:
- Paralysis and paresis of the upper limb from one or two sides
- Ischemic stroke of the brain.
Treatment of the disease
The goals that the treatment of osteochondrosis pursue are as follows:
- Reducing the severity of pain syndrome
- Prevention of the progression of pathological changes.
The following methods are used to implement these goals:
- Manual therapy is carried out
- Acupuncture
- Medical physical education
- Gymnastics
- Swimming.
The purpose is shown in parallel:
- Chondroproprotectors, which increase cartilage resistance and allow it to recover
- Nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs that reduce the severity of pain.
Unique treatment methods
- Applied kinesiology
This is a method of diagnosing and treating diseases of the spine, joints and nervous system based on muscle testing.The doctor with the help of hands studies the condition of tissues and organs.
- Treatment with leeches
Together with a leech bite, about 100 biologically active components arrive in the human blood.This helps to cleanse blood vessels, eliminates blood clots and interferes with their formation.
- Reflexology
Acupuncture helps cure osteochondrosis, radiculitis and other diseases of the spine and joints.The procedures relieve pain, heal the body and strengthen immunity.
Risk group
In the risk group, the following categories of people must include:
- With burdened heredity
- Movers
- Having background pathological processes.
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent osteochondrosis of the spine, are as follows:
- Correct posture during sitting
- Alternation of loads and rest
- Exclusion of weighting weights (in this case, it is better to give preference to a backpack)
- Regular underlying medical examinations for a neurologist and orthopedist for the early detection of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Diet and lifestyle
In case of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to make certain adjustments to the lifestyle.They are as follows:
- Treatment of the background pathological process, which led to osteochondrosis if it was detected
- Exception of weighting
- Normalization of nutrition - rejection of fat, fried, acute, salty, increase the content of plant fiber and products with chondroitin (jelly, jelly) in the diet
- A sufficient pace of physical activity.