Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine (usually C5, C6 and C7), which is degenerative-dystrophic in nature and characterized by the growth of bone tissue in the cervical spinal column.Osteophytes formed on the vertebrae (salts, growths) irritate the muscles, which leads to their reflex compression and increased pressure on the vertebrae.As a result, the intervertebral discs are compressed, their thickness is reduced, which also helps to squeeze the vertebral artery and infringe on the nerve endings with head turns.
For these causes, cervical osteochondrosis is a very dangerous disease.It disrupts the blood supply to the brain and provokes oxygen starvation of the brain areas with possible complications.
The danger of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious disease, the symptoms of which are not limited to pain in the area of the cervical region when the head moves.In the absence of treatment with the development of the disease, the patient is faced with numerous complications that cause significant discomfort and can cause various dysfunctions of the body.
The infringement of the artery arising due to the fact that the vertebrae is deformed and close, leads to the so-called vertebro-baslar syndrome.The insufficient flow of blood to the brain becomes the cause of a violation of equilibrium, dizziness, regular or constant impairment of vision, the occurrence of noise in the ears, the semi -folk state and loss of consciousness.Depending on the degree, the transmission of the artery of the cervical spine and the general characteristics of the body can manifest itself in varying degrees of severity and combine with each other.
The infringement of the occipital nerve with cervical osteochondrosis becomes the cause of constant headaches, giving to the neck and into the temple.The most dangerous is the infringement of the spinal cord and its nerve processes.At the same time, serious dysfunctions may be observed, which consist in violating the coordination of the limbs, a decrease in their sensitivity, and loss of strength.The patient may also experience difficulties with the control of the bladder and intestines, and spastic uncontrolled legs movements are often observed.
Without treatment, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine leads to complications - for example, to protrusion and hernia of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine.This also contributes to the occurrence and development of vascular diseases that cause various brain disturbances up to the death of its individual areas.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Although traditional medicine considers the degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical region the disease, from the point of view of osteopathy, it is only a manifestation of deeper disorders in the body.
Thus, the true causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical region are:
- Violation of posture.Scoliosis, stoop, round back, kyphosis and other disorders of posture, even if they are insignificant, cause a serious violation of the equilibrium of the spinal column.As a result, the load on the intervertebral discs is distributed unevenly, which provokes their deformation and increased wear.The vertebrae begin to get closer, causing infringement of nerve processes, cervical osteochondrosis develops quite quickly.Similar consequences have violations of posture caused by a change in the natural position of the ribs.
- Muscle cramps.Spasmic reactions of the muscles of the back, breast, press can lead to the fact that individual parts of the body are very tense.As a result, the general equilibrium position of the body is disturbed, causing a change in the position of the spine.Deformations can affect the region of the cervical region or other parts of the spinal column, causing osteochondrosis of the chest, cervical, and lumbar parts.
- Violation of blood supply.Since the vertebrates do not have a direct connection with the circulatory system, they receive nutrition from surrounding tissues.Violation of the blood supply to the cervical spine leads to the fact that the discs do not receive enough liquids for rehydration (the restoration of the form due to the absorption of moisture), and the renewal of cartilage tissue.As a result, their wear is accelerated, there is a decrease in distances between the vertebrae of the cervical region, which leads to osteochondrosis.
- Violation of innervation.A decrease in the sensitivity of nerve roots leads to pathological changes in their structure, as a result of which the displacement and deformation of the vertebrae of the cervical region remains unnoticed by the patient.After all, pain is absent due to sensitivity disorders.
- Diseases of internal organs.The wrong position of the internal organs, their displacement and lowering due to various dysfunctions leads to a violation of general balance in the body.As a result, this acutely affects the position of the spinal column - the cervical, the lumbar vertebrae are displaced and deformed, leading to the corresponding types of osteochondrosis.
In general, osteochondrosis of the cervical region develops due to the effects of adverse external factors that violate the natural equilibrium position of the spinal column and other systems of the human body.Often, these disorders become far from immediately not immediately, and cervical osteochondrosis progresses, leading to serious consequences.Therefore, it is so important to regularly visit an osteopath that can correct the root causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, and not prescribe the treatment of symptoms, as traditional medicine does.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Depending on which vertebrae affects cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms can manifest itself differently.But if you have at least one, it is worth suspecting osteochondrosis of the cervical region, so it makes sense to contact a specialist for a comprehensive examination and diagnosis.The main signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Pain.The first symptom is pain, which in the early stages manifests itself only when turning and tilting the head.Unpleasant sensations are usually localized in the right or left area of the cervical region, sometimes the symptoms cover nearby areas.With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, pain radiates into the occipital and frontal parts of the head, acquires the character of migraine.
- Deterioration of sensory organs.Basically, vision problems begin to be observed.Bright symptoms - clouding, duality, darkening in the eyes, which is regular in nature, noise in the ears is often observed.
- Dizziness.Almost always, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is accompanied by characteristic dizziness that occur during a sharp movement or turning of the head, inclinations, and a change of posture.In this case, nausea and vomiting may occur.
- Fainting.The half -fainting state and loss of consciousness are a common symptom of the late stages of cervical osteochondrosis.In some patients, these signs can also be observed with the initial development of the disease;
- Cardialgia.Along with other symptoms, sensations characteristic of angina attacks are often observed;
- Sensitivity disorders.Depending on which vertebrae are affected by cervical osteochondrosis, a sign of the presence of the disease is a partial loss of sensitivity in the occipital and parietal areas of the head, in the shoulder -pavement region, the forearm.In some cases, numbness can spread from the neck on the arm up to the little finger or thumb, respectively, along the outer or outer side of the limb;
- Speech violation.It is not a very common symptom and occurs due to loss of control over the language, due to the transfer of nerve roots C3 and C4.Also, breathing difficulties can be observed.
Typically, the symptoms that characterize osteochondrosis of the cervical region are manifested quite vividly - both separately and in the complex.Therefore, you can even diagnose them yourself.At the first signs, it is recommended to consult a specialist-osteopath, for which cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment are one of the spheres of professional activity.
Osteopathic treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
To date, osteopathic treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is the most effective.It is aimed at eliminating the root cause, and not just fights with symptoms, which manifest in the form of deformation and protrusion of the intervertebral discs.
Classing with cervical osteochondrosis, an Osteopath specialist first diagnoses the disease and its localization in the neck, that is, determines which vertebrae are shifted and deformed.This can be done both by the symptoms of osteochondrosis, and through a manual examination of the patient.
The initial stage of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the relief of pain.Often they are the cause of the cervical spasm, the treatment of which is carried out by a specialist.The spasmodic reaction of the muscles of the cervical region in response to a violation of the general balance in the body, leads to compression of the nerve roots.As a result, pain occurs in the area of the cervical region (osteochondrosis).
Often the elimination of spasms in itself is a fairly effective treatment for the cervical spine.Removing muscle tension, the osteopath not only stops painful sensations, but also normalizes the position of the spinal column.The cervical department with proper treatment comes to the equilibrium position and is unloaded.
After several sessions in osteopath, signs of cervical osteochondrosis are minimized or disappeared altogether.This is due to the normalization of blood circulation, which is often interfered with precisely muscle cramps.The cervical spine and intervertebral discs receive normal nutrition along with blood, and as a result, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra retreats.
In the later stages of the disease, when disorders are global and often affect other organs, more complex and prolonged treatment may be required.At the same time, the specialist treats not only the osteochondrosis of the spine, but also concomitant diseases and dysfunctions, including the displacement of internal organs, oxygen starvation of the brain, infringement of the process of spinal cord, etc.
Despite the severity of the disease, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is quite well treated precisely by the methods of osteopathy.But to consolidate the results achieved, as well as the prevention of complications and relapses of the disease, an additional methods are recommended by the specialist - exercise therapy, nutrition correction, moderate physical activity, massage and physiotherapeutic procedures.
Depending on the extent to which osteochondrosis is pronounced and what causes are, treatment is selected individually by a specialist.Depending on the result, treatment can be adjusted and supplemented by other procedures, which helps effectively and quickly cure the osteochondrosis of the department.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
If you are diagnosed with “osteochondrosis of the cervical region”, treatment may take a long time.It is much easier to avoid this disease at all, leading a healthy lifestyle.It is possible to avoid prolonged and complex treatment of osteochondrosis (which is usually for late stages) with rather simple methods of prevention.
The education of proper posture from an early age helps to avoid treatment of osteochondrosis in adulthood.Very often, office workers who lead a sedentary lifestyle and spending a long time in the same position suffer from this disease.To avoid osteochondrosis of the vertebrae, it is necessary to regularly do a warm -up, changing the position of the body, perform tilts and turns of the head, moderately load the shoulder belt.
Sports, aimed at the overall strengthening of muscles, joints, bones of the skeleton significantly reduce the likelihood of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or cervical region.
Even if you already have osteochondrosis (its symptoms appear quite brightly), preventive exercises will help to soften the course of the disease.But it should be remembered that they themselves are not treatment.You must take a course with an Osteopath specialist.Subsequent prevention will become a guarantee that signs of osteochondrosis will no longer show themselves and the disease will not return.