Cervical osteochondrosis

The life of a modern person is associated with constant overloads to which the spine is exposed. And if previous diseases of this important organ were mainly found in people of mature and old age, representatives of the younger generation today are increasingly experiencing such problems according to medical statistics. The leader in this group of diseases iscervical osteochondrosis(SHOOH). This pathology gives a person many genes.

Therefore, it is worth learning about the causes of its appearance and treatment methods.

What is cervical osteochondrosis

For a long time, most people try not to notice any unpleasant discomfort in the neck area with reference to the usual overexertion and fatigue. But over time, pain is added to the discomfort of moving the head, and other unpleasant symptoms appear. And only when the situation becomes critical does a person seek medical attention and experience that he has cervical osteochondrosis.

This disease equally affects both sexes. As already noted, it is often found today in very young people under 30 years of age. This phenomenon is largely due to the introduction of computer technologies in all areas of life. People simply stop moving and spend most of their time in a state chained to the screen. As a result, pathological changes begin to occur in the cervix: the vertebrae are displaced and the cartilage tissues between them, which represent a kind of layer, become thinner. In other words, there is an increase in connective tissue when formations occur in the form of growth on the vertebral body.

The consequence of such pathological changes is a decrease in the effect of shock absorption between the vertebrae, the bone surfaces, in contact with each other, causing friction and squeezing the nearby nerves and blood vessels. All these pathological changes lead to a deterioration of the blood supply to the posterior parts of the brain, causing a deterioration of the general well-being and pain. If the problem is not corrected in a timely manner, the disease develops and in severe cases it can even lead to disability.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Not so long ago, the main causes of SHOC have always been associated with age-related changes in the body. But in reality in modern life, factors have emerged that increase the risk of developing pathology at a younger age.

Some of these reasons include:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• forced stay in a position (usually seated);
• overweight;
• autoimmune diseases;
• draft;
• stressful situations;
• damage to the cervical or occipital region;
• congenital anomalies of the spine;
• violation of metabolic processes.

In some cases, the disease develops as a result of hormonal disorders or unfavorable heredity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In contrast to the pathological processes in other parts of the spine, SHOX manifests itself more pronounced. This feature is explained by the fact that the vertebrae in the cervical spine are very close to each other, so the height of the intervertebral discs is small. This anatomical feature contributes more than in other parts of the spine, compression of nerve tissue and blood vessels. Therefore, the main symptoms of the disease are localized in the upper back, in the cervix and in the head.

In this case, patients present the following complaints:

• limitation of neck mobility, especially if you want to turn your head;
• intense pain, which often does not allow a person to perform an elementary action (bending, turning of the head);
• characteristic crunch on movement;
• decreased sensitivity in the hands
• reduced coordination of movements;
• dizziness
• general weakness
• impaired vision and hearing, tactile sensitivity or taste perception.

Since the cervix consists of eight vertebrae, depending on the site of the dystrophic lesion, the disease has its own characteristic signs. Usually in these wards there is a disorder in sensitivity or limitation of mobility due to compression of the spines. Therefore, cervical osteochondrosis is differentiated by radicular symptoms, that is, it is taken into account which vertebra is involved in the pathological process.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis may be as follows:

1. the first vertebra - the sensitivity decreases, and numbness in the occipital area and neck is noted;
2. the other - soreness in the back of the head and the parietal region
3. third - pain in the part of the neck where the root is pinched, speech and taste perception are also weakened;
4. fourth - pain radiating to the shoulder, below the shoulder blade, respiratory disorders can be observed;
5. fifth - pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulder;
6. sixth - soreness in the neck extends to the forearm and thumbs of the hand;
7. seventh - pain radiating to the shoulder area, back shoulder, forearm and fingers;
8. eighth - the pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder and further down the arm to the little fingers.

It should be noted here that the diagnosis places particular emphasis on the extent of the lesion. Because this criterion determines the degree of cervical osteochondrosis. There are only four of them and they determine the severity of the pathological process.

Diagnosis of the disease

It should be noted that an experienced physician can easily diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during the initial examination and focus only on the characteristic clinical symptoms. However, to determine the degree of injury and the incidence of pathology, the patient is advised to undergo a series of examinations.Basically, these are all hardware research methods. Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis includes:

• X-ray examination of the cervical spine. In the diagnostic process, the degree of damage, location, saline deposits and properties of the location of the vertebrae are established.
• Computed tomography - allows you to detect possible fractures, determine the actual height of the intervertebral discs, compression sites of nerve tissue and any spinal cord.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - provides an accurate display of pathological changes. Thanks to this type of examination, it is possible to accurately determine the condition of the nerve fibers as well as the intensity of the blood flow.

Most often, one of the listed types of examination is sufficient at diagnosis. In most cases, doctors use a technique that has been proven for decades, namely x-rays.

Why is osteochondrosis of the cervix dangerous?

Any pathology in the spine is fraught with serious problems. After all, the spine is a kind of foundation on which the whole structure of the human body rests. Important bloodlines pass through the cervix and supply oxygen and nutrients to the brain. There are many nerve endings here. Therefore, a violation of the innervation or blood supply to important organs threatens with serious consequences. And this is not an exaggeration of the danger, as osteochondrosis of the cervix has serious consequences.

In addition to the perceived discomfort, the resulting vertebral defect leads to hearing loss, visual impairment. The brain with SCH suffers from oxygen deficiency. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the cervix is considered the most dangerous form of this disease.

To be convinced of this, it is enough to list only the most common complications of SHOX:

• persistent hypertension;
• chronic migraine;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD);
• breathing problems
• various perceptual disorders (taste, touch), which eventually assume an irreversible form;
• cardiovascular pathologies where strokes are the most dangerous.

In advanced cases of the disease, patients develop vertebral artery syndrome, and prolonged compression of the nerve roots leads to radiculopathy. Changes in the structure of the vertebrae can subsequently lead to a complete loss of mobility in the neck. However, the most serious complication of cervical osteochondrosis is death, which leads to compression of the spinal cord.

Given the severity of the situation and the high probability of complications, contact a hospital immediately if alarming symptoms occur. Among such unpleasant signs may be: systematic headache, dizziness, discomfort in the neck or back of the head. After diagnostic measures, the doctor will choose an appropriate treatment.

Treatment of patients with SHS is usually complex. The therapy necessarily includes massage, healing gymnastics, physiotherapy procedures. Without the use of medication, of course, it is impossible to improve the patient's condition.Therefore, the complex of drug treatment for osteochondrosis includes:

• analgesics;
• anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs;
• chondro protectors;
• muscle relaxants are agents that relieve muscle tension;
• a complex of vitamins is necessarily prescribed.

All therapy is selected by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. Any form of self-medication for cervical osteochondrosis is unacceptable. All of these drugs are aimed at localizing symptoms in the acute phase of the disease. During the remission period, other techniques are relevant. Usually the treatment is performed at home, ie outpatient. However, in particularly severe cases, the patient is hospitalized.

Traditional treatment methods

Doctors are always willing to supplement the treatment complex with natural preparations prepared on the basis of folk recipes. Various decoctions, infusions help to stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Here are some recipes for alternative treatment for osteochondrosis:

• Dill seeds (200 g) should be poured with vodka (250 ml) or alcohol diluted in half with water. After two weeks of infusion, it is recommended to take an empty stomach three times a day, one tablespoon of infusion.
• Means for external use are easy to prepare in the following order: purple leaves (fresh) should be crushed to a fine mass, add 300 ml of radish juice (black) to them, then add 200 g of good honey to the mass. It is necessary to insist on the composition of the whole day in a dark place. Then it can be used to rub the problem area. This product is recommended for use after consultation with a physician. The composition is contraindicated for those who are allergic to its components.
• From purple flowers you can prepare an infusion for internal use. To do this, take a spoonful (tablespoonful) of fragrant inflorescences, pour a glass of boiling water, strain in an hour and take 1 liter three times. Art.

Important! When taking all herbal medicines, the prescribed dose must be strictly adhered to.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home

It makes sense to first talk about the complex of remedial gymnastics with SHH after stopping the acute period. With an exacerbation of the disease, such activities can only aggravate the situation.

All exercises with physiotherapy exercises are aimed at maintaining normal mobility of the cervix. The hours are kept in a calm rhythm, there should be no sudden movements. If there are signs of fatigue or painful sensations, the classes stop immediately. The complex includes the following exercises that you can do regularly at home:

• When standing, tilt your head as you inhale so that your chin touches your chest. As you exhale, gently pull your head back. The same exercise can be performed freely while sitting on a chair.
• In any starting position, it is convenient to make rotational movements of the head. It is better to periodically change the direction of movement so that your head does not spin. It is recommended to perform the exercise in a slow rhythm.
• The regular performance of this exercise helps to perfectly strengthen the cervical muscles: you need to put your hands in a "lock" and press the forehead as much as possible against them. To achieve a lasting effect, repeat this exercise three times for 30 seconds. You can alternately press with your palms on the forehead and then put pressure with your forehead on your palms.

There are many other effective methods, but any option can only be used after the doctor's approval.

To prevent a history of diagnosis "cervical osteochondrosis», You must lead an active life, do regular exercises in the morning, pay attention to your neck and properly equip your workplace.