Osteochondrosis of the neck

It is very sad to realize, but at the moment, almost all people who have reached the 25th anniversary suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra.In the cervical vertebra, this disease is most common, in comparison with other spinal departments.So this topic is very relevant in the modern world.

We will tell you why osteochondrosis occurs, how it manifests itself and how to treat it.

Let us also consider which drugs work more effectively, and give an example of the necessary exercises to treat this ailment.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative process in the intervertebral discs, which significantly reduces their height in the cervical spine.It leads to changes not only in intervertebral discs, but also in the vertebrae and joints of this department.

The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical region

The factors will be listed just below, as a result of the action of which the pressure on the cervical spine increases.In order to compensate for this, the neck muscles try to shift the excess load, and as a result of this there is a spasm and circulatory disorders in this area, which entails degenerative changes.

The causes of cervical osteochondrosis in men and women (factors affecting the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine):

• violation of posture or curvature of the spine;
• Excess weight;
• Hypodynamia is a sedentary lifestyle (for example, sitting work with a driver, office employees);
• trauma or damage to the spine;
• Dot in the metabolism:
• regular physical activity;
• stress or unstable psycho -emotional state;
• The physical condition of the muscles is insufficiently developed;
• It was inherited from parents;
• constant holding the phone with a shoulder;
• The development of anomalies in the cervical spine.

The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are only aggravated without timely medical intervention.

The development of cervical osteochondrosis

The degree of osteochondrosis is not its stage at all.It is determined based on the words of the patient and the general clinical picture.We will get acquainted with the stages a little later.

So:

The first degree

Minimum manifestations, the patient complains of a weak pain of the cervical region, which intensifies if you turn your head.When examined, it can be found that the cervical muscles are slightly tense.

The second degree

The pain in the cervical spine becomes much more intense.It can spread to the shoulders and arms.This is explained by the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc is reduced and the roots of the nerves are infringed.Pain grows when a person leans or turns his head.The patient is worried about headache, constant weakness and even decreasing performance.

The third degree

Explicit symptoms of osteochondrosis manifest themselves stronger and are present regularly.The common pain in the arm or shoulder can cause nobility of the upper limb and the weakening of the muscles due to the formation of intervertebral hernias.Constant weakness and dizziness.On examination, it may be revealed that the cervical spine becomes less mobile and pain during the feeling of this site.

The fourth degree

The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed, which now replaces the connective tissue.Dizziness intensifies, noise occurs in the ears, coordination is disturbed, since the vertebral artery leading to the cerebellum and the occipital of the brain is affected.

The exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis is extremely dangerous due to the small size of this department and great significance for the entire bone apparatus of the body.The slightest displacement of vertebrates can lead to compression of the most important nerve endings.And educated osteophytes at a later stage will lead to even worst consequences for blood vessels and nerves.A negative result may be a hernia or protrusion of the spine, which is why the nervous spine swells, and subsequently inflams.As complications of cervical osteochondrosis, this is compression of the spinal cord.The defeat extends not only to the neck and head, but also to the limbs (initially on the upper).

What are the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very different in its symptoms from such a disease in other parts of the spine.This can be explained by the fact that in this part of the spinal column, a very small distance between the vertebrae, which means that with the slightest pathology the nerve endings and the spinal cord are immediately pinched.

The most common symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine:

1. Pain.It can be localized both in the neck and on the back of the head, in the shoulder or even in the hand.The pain in the occipital part of the head is caused by muscle spasms, which are attached from the neck to the occipital bone and cause disturbances in the blood circulation.Pain sensations in the shoulder or upper limb are due to the attraction of nerve endings that supply the muscles of these parts of the body.
2. Weakness in the hands.It is the result of damage to the nerve responsible for the movement, the innervating muscles of the hand.
3. Reducing the sensitivity of the hand.It appears when the process hurts the nerve, which provides sensitivity in the skin of the upper limb.
4. The movement in the cervical spine in the cervical spine is limited, the crunch when moving the neck.It is explained by the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc is reduced, bone growths appear on the body of the vertebrae and small joints in the intervertebral space are affected.

5. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis arising in the brain are expressed by weakness, dizziness and impaired coordination.These symptoms appear when the vertebral artery is involved in the process, which passes through its own channel located in the holes of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.Due to the development of cervical osteochondrosis, fibrous tissue forms, vertebrae is displaced, blood circulation in the arteries worsens, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the occipital area of the brain and cerebellum.

6. Numbness of the language, loss of hearing and vision.Symptoms of an advanced form of cervical osteochondrosis, when blood circulation in the occipital part of the brain, cerebellum and trunk worsens strongly.

7. A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very frequent and not very specific.Many people take it for a cold symptom and fight it with warmth, rinses and medicines.But these are not those methods of struggle, so relief does not occur.Most often, the strengthening of discomfort occurs at night, and the patients creep in the fear that they can not be inhaled the next portion of air.

The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are pain, weakness in the hands, restriction of movements in the cervical region, dizziness, impaired coordination and numbness of the tongue.

Such symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and men should not be ignored.When they occur, you need to immediately visit neurology.

Digness of cervical osteochondrosis

The main methods of diagnostics:

• X -ray of the cervical spine.Not a particularly informative way, especially at the advanced stage of osteochondrosis.
• Computed tomography.It shows shifts in the vertebra, but it is difficult to set the presence and size of the intervertebral hernia, as well as determine the pressure of the hernia on the spinal cord.
• Magnetic resonance tomography.The most highly informative way.You can view not only the bone structure, but also the intervertebral discs, the presence of a hernia, its size and direction of growth.
• Duplex scanning of blood vessels.It is applied if there is a suspicion that blood circulation is disturbed in the vertebral arteries.Using this method, it is enough to simply determine changes in the velocity of blood circulation and quickly identify obstacles in its path.

X -ray stages of cervical osteochondrosis:

Stage I - minor changes in the arrangement of the vertebrae, the cervical lordosis of the spine is smoothed out;

II stage - instability between the vertebrae appears, one spine against another may shift, thoros is not excluded - the rotation of the vertebrae around the axis, the height of the intervertebral disc is slightly reduced;

Stage III - a general decrease in the height between the intervertebral discs is ¼, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints and osteophytes is formed, the intervertebral holes and the spinal canal are reduced, where the spinal cord is placed;

Stage IV - the height of the intervertebral disk is significantly reduced, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints, very large osteophytes are actively developing, the intervertebral holes and spinal canal, with the development of myelopathy, are greatly reduced.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The main methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis are-treatment with drugs, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-muscular zone and a very effective therapeutic gymnastics.

Below are the groups of medicines that are used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

1. Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs - help to cope with pain, relieve aseptic inflammation of the joints and edema of the damaged nerve root;
2. B vitamins - to adjust metabolism in nerve tissues;
3. Drugs that normalize the rheological properties of blood and blood circulation;
4. Chondroprotectors - drugs that restore cartilage tissue in a damaged intervertebral disk;
5. Musorelaxants are drugs that eliminate muscle spasm.

Attention!The listed drugs are presented for familiarization and in no case do not start self -medication!

The main methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis are-treatment with drugs, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-muscular zone and a very effective therapeutic gymnastics.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Auxiliary treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine cannot be represented without physiotherapeutic procedures.

Medicinal electrophoresis - under the influence of electric current, medicinal substances penetrate into the necessary part of the body.

Ultrasound - guarantees the removal of inflammation and pain relief, accelerates metabolic processes in the treatment zone.

Magnetotherapy - relieves tissue edema, thereby anesthetizes the effect of exposure.

Laser therapy - with the help of light flow, inflammation is removed and blood circulation is normalized.

Medical physical education

Physical physical education is not a remedy that can be cured alone osteochondrosis.This technique is used only at the recovery stage, after drug treatment or physiotherapy has ended.When performing exercises, a person should not feel discomfort or pain.

Exercise number 1

In a lying position on the stomach, resting with both hands on the floor, raise your head and torso, your back all this time is straight.Linger in this position for 2 minutes.See you slowly down, repeat-2-3 times.

Exercise number 2

In the position of lying on the stomach, stretch your hands along the body, turn your head to the left, touch the floor with your ear, the same to the right side, repeat-6-7 times on each side.

Exercise number 3

Sitting position.On inspiration - a slope forward, trying to touch the chest with his head.On the exhale-lean back and throw his head back, repeat-10-15 times.

Exercise number 4

In a sitting position.Put your palms to your forehead, putting pressure on it, and press your forehead in your palm.The duration of the exercise is 30 seconds, repeat-2-3 times.

Exercise number 5

Slow circular movements of the head, first to the right, after left.10 rotations for each direction.When dizziness occurs, you should immediately stop the exercise.

Physical physical education is used only at the recovery stage, after drug treatment or physiotherapy has ended.It is important that when performing exercises, a person should not feel discomfort or pain.