The cervical spine is the narrowest part, however, the daily load supports the head, ensures rotation, and the movement of the shoulder joint is much higher than the performance of other parts of it.Given the wrong lifestyle caused by eating habits, inactive work, and smoking, the chances of developing cervical osteochondrosis in middle-aged people are fourfold.
Although there are a large number of these diseases, it is very difficult to identify cervical osteochondrosis at an early stage, as the symptoms are very diverse and, at first glance, are not related to spinal problems, so one may not go to the doctor for many years, considering the reasons for his poor health are very different diseases.
Causes of disease
To ensure the movement of the vertebrae, there is an intervertebral disc between them, which consists of cartilage tissue. They provide cushioning during movement and provide flexibility to the spine. The lifespan of the intervertebral disc, determined by nature, is more than 120 years, but changes in the chemical composition of the blood cause rapid dehydration of cartilage tissue, salt deposition, which in turn, contributes to rapid disc utilization and leads to degenerative-dystrophic changesthem.
The reason for the change in blood composition is improper nutrition, an erratic lifestyle where the body cells do not need that much salt and it is stored in bone, liver and kidney tissue.In a forced lifestyle, the largest amount of salt is stored in the neck.
Cervical osteochondrosis can also occur as a result of microtraumas caused by vibrations, for example, in the driver, as well as in improperly forced head positions or tension in the neck caused by working conditions and profession specifications.
What are the dangers of cervical osteochondrosis
In the neck area, that is, around the cervical spine, there are nerve roots, as well as the vertebral arteries, whose job is to supply oxygen to the brain. With dehydration of the intervertebral disc in the neck, deformation occurs, and this narrows the gap between the vertebrae and causes their injury during movement.In addition, salt deposition induces the formation of spines - osteophytes, which can invade nerve roots, as well as arteries.
Growing up, the disease causes a violation of sensitivity to the neck, scapula, limbs, neck, or, conversely, causes pain in these parts, depending on which nerve root is pinched.
Compression of the vertebral artery is fraught with insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, leading to the development of various disorders of its activity. Among the most dangerous consequences of brain hypoxia are hearing impairment, impaired vision, stroke, partial and complete paralysis, mental disorders.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the most dangerous form of the disease, as it has many irreversible consequences, while people in the final stages of the disease usually ask for help.
Symptoms
The cervical spine consists of 6 segments traversed by various nerve roots, the violation of which is expressed by various symptoms. Depending on which vertebrae of the neck are prone to osteochondrosis, the disease can be expressed in a variety of symptoms. Thus, radicular syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Violations of neck sensitivity, scapula, fingertips, mostly unilateral. Sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the back or back of the head.
- Burning pain in the chest, shoulders, and even one of the fingers, depending on which nerve is affected.
- Pain in the heart areais characterized by duration and intensification during sudden movements.
Compression arteries, as well as small ducts, can be cerebral disorders, the symptoms of which can be listed as follows:
- Visual impairment, the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes, blurred images.
- If the cerebellum is inadequate, dizziness, nausea, disturbances of consciousness may appear, the soil disappears from under the feet.
- If the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, there is a threat of hypoxia and the body's reaction is to increase the pressure needed to increase blood flow.
- Lack of oxygen also causes strong and absurd fears that cause nausea.
- Possible coordination and hearing impairment.
- When lymph circulation is disrupted, intracranial pressure occurs, expressed in parietal and occipital headaches, pressure on the eyeballs, tinnitus.
Varying symptoms and various single manifestations of the disease often do not indicate a back problem, especially since in the early stages, pain and stiffness of movement may not be present. And only a good specialist, after performing differential diagnostics, excluding other diseases marked with similar symptoms, can identify cervical osteochondrosis.
Treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis is a relatively long process and encompasses a wide range of traditional and folk medicine methods. The main tasks assigned by the doctor when choosing therapy are to relieve pain, restore vertebral mobility and metabolic processes, replenish cartilage tissue, as well as eliminate swelling and inflammation in the soft tissues of the neck. The methods achieved by the above purposes are different, including taking medication, rubbing with ointments, physiotherapy, and special gymnastics. Recipes for hirudotherapy, acupuncture, and traditional medicine are used as additional treatments.
The main components in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are patient initiatives and strict adherence to doctor's prescriptions.
Let's take a closer look at how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, as well as technical features:
Medicine
Distinguish between treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis during exacerbations and remission. Therefore, in the event of acute pain, the doctor may prescribe:
- Analgesicsin the form of tablets, injections, whose job is to relieve the symptoms of acute pain.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsin the form of injections, relieving the inflammatory process. However, the side effects associated with the use of NSAIDs do not allow for its long-term use.
- Muscle relaxationrelieves muscle spasms and releases clogged ducts, nerves and arteries.
- Novocaine restrictions.This method is used for acute attacks accompanied by stiff neck and pain. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a physician.
During the remission period, the main treatment is the intake of chondroprotectors produced in the form of powders and capsules, suspensions and ointments. Chondroprotectors based on glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfates have a number of positive effects on the cartilage tissue of the spine, i. e. , restoration of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, eliminating pain syndrome, and stopping the progression of the disease.
Ointment for cervical spine osteochondrosis is prescribed at the discretion of a physician and has various effects, including:
- pain relievers;
- restores cartilage structure;
- anti-inflammatory;
- heating;
- complex.
In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by compression of nerve roots and arteries, which leads to a number of symptoms, for its elimination, appropriate medications are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
In addition to the main treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, which aim to relieve pain, improve microcirculation in soft tissues, and restore metabolic processes. Some procedures, for example, electrophoresis, are used in conjunction with drug ointments, while achieving maximum drug effect.
In addition to electrophoresis, shock wave therapy, laser treatment, ultraviolet radiation, and magnetotherapy are also used.
Similar effects are achieved by manual or acupuncture massage. Prerequisites for such treatment are high qualifications and medical education from specialists in this field.
Cervical osteochondrosis in remission can be cured with physiotherapy exercises. Properly selected exercises eliminate pain symptoms and contribute to the elimination of salt deposits.
People's solution
Among the methods of treating cervical spine osteochondrosis recognized by official medicine, there are many folk recipes based on the healing properties of plants that have anti-inflammatory, warming and restorative metabolic processes.
The most common active ingredients in various interpretations are carrots, adam root, aloe vera, ginger, garlic, hops, pine nuts, honey and lemon. They are used for the preparation of scrubs, ointments, tinctures, compresses, mixtures for oral administration, and even medicinal baths. Traditional methods relieve symptoms perfectly, and also restore neck mobility.