Cervical osteochondrosis today has become one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, from which unfortunately not only older but also very young people increasingly suffer. Lack of physical activity, constant work at the computer and other features of modern urban life adversely affect its condition and lead to the development of osteochondrosis.
In the article, we will look at why it occurs, how it manifests, how it is treated, and which drugs are effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis, and also find out which methods are not drugs.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is a marked change of degenerative-dystrophic nature, which interferes with functional activity and structure of the spine. For this reason, changes occur not only in the intervertebral discs themselves, but also in the vertebrae and in the joints of the cervical spine.
Causes of occurrence
With this disease, a destructive change occurs in the shock-absorbing capacity of the vertebral discs accompanied by their displacement. One of the reasons for this change is the deposition of salts due to an increase in their level in human blood and lymph fluids.
The main reason for the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis is a sedentary lifestyle. Office workers are most susceptible to this disease and spend most of their working time on papers and a computer. In the absence of the necessary amount of physical activity in the human body, blood flow is lowered, muscle tissue does not need the influx of salts from food. As a result, salts are deposited in the cartilage tissue of the spine.
Contributes to the development of disease and malnutrition, obesity and metabolic disorders as well as prolonged stress, nervous tension, sleep disorders.
The disease can also occur as a result of trauma, extreme stress, inflammatory and other diseases.
Degrees of development
Depending on the severity of symptoms and the degree of disability, three phases are distinguished:
First degree
It is characterized by minimal severity of symptoms. Patients usually notice a general deterioration of well-being, appearance of headache, weakness and dizziness. At this stage there is a slight deformation and displacement of the cervical vertebrae, cracks appear in the cartilage tissue of the disc.
Second degree
For the second degree of development of the disease, a significant increase in pain is characteristic, which occurs as a result of a strong displacement of the intervertebral discs and squeezing of the nerve roots.
Third degree
It is characterized by complete destruction of the fibrous ring in the intervertebral disc, which can lead to the formation of a hernia. The symptoms of the disease at this stage are pronounced. The patient feels severe weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness, sharp pain in the neck, rays to the shoulder blades and shoulders. In some cases, there is a temporary weakening of the intensity of the manifestation of symptoms associated with the replacement of the damaged area with connective tissue.
Fourth degree
Complete destruction of the intervertebral disc, the broken disc replaces its connective tissue. Dizziness, increased tinnitus, coordination are impaired due to the fact that an artery feeding the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain is involved in the process.
It is very important to diagnose the disease in the beginning and consult a specialist to know what to do to prevent its further development.
Symptoms and signs
In addition to the pain syndrome, cervical osteochondrosis may be accompanied by a number of symptoms that have been felt that a person may not immediately guess about the developing disease. This is due to the fact that dysfunctions of the cervix inevitably affect the work of the vascular system of the brain.
It is common to distinguish between three main groups of symptoms:
Pain syndrome
Neurological manifestations in the form of pain syndromes in different places. First and foremost, these are headaches of varying intensity and duration that can be given to the eye or ear. In this case, the pain usually does not go away after taking painkillers. Pain or sharp pains in the neck and back of the head, radiating to the shoulder blades, forearm and elbow. With this disease, a dull, tender pain usually occurs, which then becomes more pronounced and spreads to different parts of the body.
Decreased sensitivity
Movement disorders that occur as a result of disruption of the normal function of the spinal cord. Patients may feel numbness and decreased sensitivity in the limbs, weakened leg tone, weakness in arms and legs and goosebumps. There may be pain when you lift your arms or move them to the side.
Weakness
Signs of vascular disorders in the brain, which have several manifestations. People suffering from cervical osteochondrosis often feel severe weakness for no apparent reason, quickly becoming tired.
Noise in the ears
The appearance of a feeling of clogging and noise in the ears, hearing loss and a sharp deterioration in well-being are often noticed.
Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks are also possible.
Diagnostics
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Radiography.A poorly informative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- Computed tomography (CT).It shows abnormalities in the vertebrae more effectively, but it is difficult to determine the size, presence of hernia and the presence of a hernia in spinal cord hernia (disco-medullary conflict).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The method shows most information, clearly visible bone structures, intervertebral discs, hernia and their size as well as their direction of growth.
- Ultrasound duplex scanning.This method is used if there is a suspicion of decreased blood flow in the arteries of the spine. This reveals a decrease in the blood flow rate and the presence of an obstruction to normal blood flow.
Treatment
The development of a treatment plan for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depends primarily on the causes of the disease, the nature and intensity of its symptoms. As practice has shown, complex therapy has the greatest effect, which may include drug treatment, massage, therapeutic exercises, and some other methods.
The treatment must be performed under the supervision of qualified specialists: vertebral neurologist, masseur, chiropractor, surgeon, neurologist. It is very important to see a doctor on time to prevent the development of second and third degree of the disease. In this case, the treatment until complete recovery will take much longer.
Therapy is prescribed in a specific order:
- first of all, it is necessary to relieve pain;
- then get rid of edema;
- drugs that restore blood circulation are prescribed;
- muscle tissue strengthened;
- measures are taken to repair damaged tissue.
Important!Remember that during periods of exacerbation of the disease, exercise therapy is contraindicated as it can cause complications.
As a first aid to relieve acute pain syndrome during an exacerbation, patients are prescribed painkillers and in the presence of acute pain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In places with localization of muscle spasms, heating and analgesic ointments, pepper plasters are used. Swelling is well removed by diuretics. If the patient has numbness in the extremities, it is necessary to perform special exercises that stimulate blood circulation.
It must be remembered that these measures will relieve pain but not eliminate the causes of the disease. Medications prescribed by a doctor in combination with other treatment methods will accomplish this task.
Medicine
The purpose of taking medication for osteochondrosis of the cervix is to relieve muscle pain and inflammation, restore blood circulation and strengthen the brain's vascular system and a general healing effect on the body.
Patients should be prescribed preparations containing B vitamins, which can be prescribed in the form of tablets or intramuscular injections.
To restore the damaged cartilage tissue on the intervertebral discs, chondroprotective drugs are prescribed. Taking these drugs should not be ignored as they help strengthen bone tissue and prevent recurrence of the disease in the future.
Physiotherapy
During the performance of health-improving gymnastics, circular movements of the head should be performed, the neck bending to the left - to the right, forward - backwards. Also in sets of exercises it is necessary to include movements of the shoulders and arms. All movements must be performed evenly, without hardness and stress, alternating the active phase and a little rest.
Conclusion
It is always easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to follow some simple rules:
- avoid extreme strain on the spine to avoid damage to the intervertebral discs;
- do gymnastics for the whole body daily, focus on the muscles of the back and especially the cervical spine;
- avoid nervous overload and fatigue, remember the importance of adequate rest and adequate sleep for the body;
- lead an active, mobile lifestyle, exercise more, go for walks in the fresh air, eat properly and balanced and also get rid of bad habits.