Cervical osteochondrosis is a common pathology, accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. The disease is characterized by spinal degenerative dystrophy. They are caused by improper body posture, abnormal posture, and insufficient lifestyle. To relieve pathological symptoms, consult a doctor in time.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
The term is understood as the progressive degenerative dystrophy of the intervertebral disc located in the herniated disc. As a result, the vertebral body is deformed and depleted. This can lead to impaired blood circulation and impaired nerve conduction in the neck.
This disease can be isolated or combined with damage to other parts of the spine (waist or chest). According to ICD-10, the code for cervical chondropathy of the spine is M42.
Possible complications of this disease
Many people are interested in the dangers of cervical osteochondrosis. Without timely and appropriate treatment, pathology can lead to negative health consequences. These include:
- Intervertebral disc herniation and hernia formation;
- Intervertebral disc rupture, nerves and blood vessels are compressed-if the spinal cord is compressed, there is a risk of death;
- radiculopathy;
- The appearance of osteophytes;
- Paralyzed and paralyzed.
The main symptoms and signs of cervical chondropathy
The disease progresses gradually and is initially asymptomatic. Therefore, diagnosis is usually made in advanced cases. The main symptoms of pathology include:
- Pain in the neck and occipital region worsens with fatigue or coughing.
- Supine head exercises.
- Loss of sensitivity in his hands, burning in the shoulder blade area.
- The headache is located in the occipital bone and spread to the temples.
- General weakness and increased fatigue.
- Loss of vision.
- Tinnitus.
- Hearing impaired.
- Increased heart rhythm.
Causes of cervical chondropathy
The first symptoms of this disease usually appear after 35 years. However, recently, pathology has begun to develop to a younger age-18-30 years. In most cases, people have to stay in one position for a long time. This is the problem they face.
The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- genetic predisposition;
- Violation of the metabolic process;
- Infectious diseases make people intoxicated;
- Eating disorders-lack of water, vitamins and trace elements;
- Overweight;
- Trauma of the spine;
- Bad posture;
- Spinal instability;
- Insufficient lifestyle;
- Flat feet;
- The influence of unfavorable environmental factors;
- Frequent changes in body position;
- Being in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
- Excessive physical exercise;
- Hypothermia;
- Stressful situations;
- Use the wrong sleep pillow.
What are the different degrees of disease?
This disease develops gradually. Cervical osteochondrosis has 4 degrees, and each has specific characteristics:
- First, it is accompanied by the appearance of intervertebral disc cracks. This process is accompanied by mild pain and stiffness. Pathology has ups and downs. As the immune system deteriorates or the load increases, osteochondrosis worsens. If you do not take measures in time, it may exacerbate the abnormal process.
- Second-In this stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs continues and their protrusions are observed. This process is accompanied by pin shrinkage of nerve endings. A person's constant pain will increase with exercise. At this stage, the ability to work decreases, and numbness appears in the hands.
- The third is accompanied by the appearance of intervertebral hernia. In this case, muscle tissue and nerve endings participate in the pathological process. As a result, there will be pain in the neck and occipital region and weakness in the hands. With vascular disease, there is a risk of decreased vision, dizziness, and tinnitus. Sometimes this disease can cause fainting.
- Fourth-this stage is accompanied by bone growth. As a result, the pressure on the nerve endings increases. With this form of osteochondrosis, the mobility of the neck decreases and the flexibility of the spine decreases. As a result, people cannot perform simple head movements.
Why should I see a doctor immediately?
If you develop symptoms of osteochondrosis, you should immediately consult a doctor-neurologist or orthopedist. Otherwise, pathology can lead to dangerous health consequences.
First, the doctor should assess physical activity and the degree of neck pain. In addition, experts are also very interested in reduced sensitivity and other diseases.
Based on the results of the preliminary inspection, additional steps are specified. First, perform radiography. It is done through a few predictions. If a hernia is suspected, CT or magnetic resonance imaging may be required. If abnormal blood flow occurs, rheological EEG examination and fundus examination must be performed.
Treat according to the results of diagnostic tests. With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the most commonly used drugs are the following:
- Analgesics-help with pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-eliminate inflammation and cope with edema.
- Antispasmodics-help relieve muscle cramps.
- A preparation that improves blood circulation.
- Cartilage protector-helps restore the structure of the intervertebral disc.
- B vitamins-improve the function of nerve tissue.
In addition to medication, other methods are prescribed. These measures include massage, remedial gymnastics, and physical therapy. The use of osteopathy is very effective. In this case, the affected muscles and vertebrae will be slightly affected. In some cases, it is recommended that doctors wear a special orthopedic device-Shants collar.
Manual therapy is considered an effective way to treat pathology. Her method was chosen individually. The process includes point effects on musculoskeletal elements. Therefore, it can activate blood flow, improve lymphatic movement and normalize metabolic processes. Manual therapy can improve the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, strengthen the immune system, and help prevent the complications of osteochondrosis.
Spine traction is often used. For stretching, special equipment is used. This procedure helps increase the distance between the vertebrae to a normal size and cope with abnormalities in the spine structure.
If acute cervical osteochondrosis is observed with intervertebral hernia, which can lead to reduced sensitivity and impaired blood circulation, surgical intervention is required.
The duration of treatment depends on the severity of osteochondrosis. In most cases, treatment requires long-term treatment. In order to improve your condition, you should definitely adjust your lifestyle. For this, you need to eat correctly, give up bad habits and exercise.
Prevent neck osteochondrosis
To prevent the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to follow certain recommendations:
- Eliminate spine curvature in time.
- Participate in sports to form a muscular corset;
- Eat foods that provide the body with calcium and magnesium;
- Normalize weight;
- When working on the computer, follow your doctor’s advice.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious pathology that can lead to adverse health consequences. In order to deal with such violations, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis in time. Therefore, any discomfort in the neck should be a reason to see a doctor.
How is the treatment?
Doctor’s consultation: recall, myofascial diagnosis, functional diagnosis.
How about?
Collect recall records-analyze diseases, determine limitations and contraindications, explain the principles of exercise therapy and the characteristics of the recovery period.
Myofascial diagnosis is a manual diagnosis method in which the doctor evaluates the range of motion of the joint to determine painful seals, edema, hypotonic or hypertonic muscle, and other changes.Functional diagnostic program (in the rehabilitation room)-The doctor explained how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observed: how the patient performs these exercises, what range of exercises he can perform, and what exercises cause pain, which the patient can bearHow much weight and how does the cardiovascular system work. Identify the problem area. Data is entered in the card. Put the main point.
Based on the doctor's preliminary examination results and functional diagnosis results, a preliminary personal treatment plan was developed.
Hope to be with you:
- Spinal pain-MRI or CT (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) of the problem area;
- For joint pain-X-ray; Accompanying diseases
- -extracts of medical history or outpatient card;
- Comfortable (sports) clothes and shoes
Start class from the lecturer
At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor and the patient worked out a treatment plan, which included the date and time of treatment, and compared visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).
The foundation of the treatment process consists of a treatment course using fitness equipment in the rehabilitation room and a nursing course in the gym.
The rehabilitation simulator allows you to accurately determine the load of a single muscle group, thereby providing an appropriate way of physical influence. Taking into account the characteristics of the organism, the doctor will formulate a treatment plan for each patient individually. Control is performed by qualified lecturers. During all stages of recovery, it is important to observe the correct exercise and breathing techniques, to understand the weight standards when working on the simulator, to follow the prescribed treatment plan and to follow the advice of experts.
Joint gymnastics classes help restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and elasticity (flexibility) of the spine, and are an excellent prevention system for independent use.
Each treatment cycle-12 courses. Each class is guided by a lecturer. The duration of a course of treatment is 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The lecturer should consider the comorbidities and the patient's condition on the day of class, and make a plan. Teach exercise skills and monitor the correctness of execution. Every sixth class, a second consultation will be conducted with the doctor, and the program will be changed and added according to dynamic changes.
How many loops are needed?
This is everyone’s personal situation and depends on the progression of the disease.
Important note:
- How long have you been suffering from this problem (stage of the disease);
- How to prepare your body for physical exercise (whether you do gymnastics, any exercise);
- What results do you want.
If the disease is in its early stages and the body is ready, one treatment cycle is sufficient. (For example, young people from -20 to 30 years old are engaged in sports. We focus on the techniques of exercise, breathing, and stretching, and exclude "wrong" sports that are harmful to the problem area. Such patients have been trained and obtained"Respect the skills of the body" »If the condition worsens, please accept the advice and continue to do it yourself).
Every living being is an individual, and every patient's procedure is also an individual.