Osteochondrosis is the most common disease in the world.Most people 35 years later have degeneration in one form of cervical osteocartilage.Recently, there has been a trend to increase the serious form of the disease and rejuvenate the disease, with a lower threshold of age.This is because more and more people in the world are engaged in sitting postures and live a long-term lifestyle.At the same time, the disease is very dangerous and anyone should know what it is - osteochondrosis, how it manifests and how it is treated, able to identify its symptoms and start treatment in time.
reason
Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases that are only characterized by humans.In other animals, this disease is not found.The reason for this is that a person's unique characteristics are direct.The vertical arrangement of the spine leads to the fact that when the vertebrae presses against each other, the bone bone tissue of the spine gradually degrades and deforms.
The human spine begins in the cervical area.From the first to the seventh, there are a total of seven vertebrae.The vertebrae are separated from each other through the disc.The cervical spine is a particularly fragile part, first associated with increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area.In the cervical area, the disease is first reflected on the disc, which is a weak position in the spinal structure.
Factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles also contribute to the prevalence of cervical osteochondrosis.Similarly, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is greatly affected by the lack of blood supply to the cartilage tissue.
Therefore, the development of the disease is a complex and prolonged process without a single cause.Although a person's sedentary work has been linked to his cervical osteochondrosis, this disease is often found in trained people, especially athletes, especially those with increased cervical load during weightlifting.
In general, in the elderly, degradation of vertebrates is an inevitable process related to body aging and weakening of protection.However, the pathological types of cervical osteocartilage are most commonly found, where external or internal negative factors play a major role.
Factors that help develop cervical osteochondrosis:
- Violation of posture
- The curvature of the spine
- Back injury
- overweight
- Hard physical labor
- Seated work
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Violation of metabolic process
- Often hypothermia
- Discomfortable posture during sleep
- Stress, overwork
- Genetic factors
- infectious disease
- Individual characteristics of human body structure, for example, the neck is too long or too short
The degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease has four stages.By analyzing the symptoms, it is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease, as sometimes the degree of degradation of bone toxic tissue may not match the symptoms observed by the patient.
First degree
The destructive process begins with the bone and skin tissue of the vertebrae.Usually, at this stage of osteochondrosis in the cervical area, symptoms are weakly expressed.The patient either did not notice them at all, or was not associated with spinal disease, but was attributed to stress and overwork.
Second degree
The disk height begins to decrease and cracks appear on its surface.At this stage, the symptoms of cervical bone chondropathy are persistent pain, weakness, and numbness in various parts of the face.
The third degree
The chains of the intervertebral discs are formed, and the cervical blood vessels and muscles are damaged.The occipital bone of the patient's head is dizzy and painful.
Fourth degree
Bone plants emerge - protect the vertebrae from the growth of bone tissue that is loaded, resulting in nerve erosion.This leads to stiffness of the movement and damage to adjacent joints.
symptom
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Muscle weakness
- Increase sweating
- Numb hands
- Violation of coordination
- Dizziness
- Vision and hearing deterioration
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache
These typical osteochondrosis symptoms may exist at all stages of the disease.In most cases, only a few symptoms are observed from the list, and the rest may not have the first sign of this disease and are not always suspicious of cervical bone cartilage.Therefore, he can contact various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neuropathologists, surgeons.Therefore, correct diagnosis can be made significantly delayed.
Syndrome of cervical osteochondrosis
With cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes were found, namely typical diseases with characteristic complexity.Their performance depends on the nerves and arteries affected by the disease:
- Driven arterial syndrome
- Heart syndrome
- Hypertension syndrome
- Rook syndrome
- Cervical migraine syndrome
Spine artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteocartilage degeneration.This is due to the fact that the supply of arteries and brain delivered along the spine reduces blood flow.The syndrome is manifested in symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, wearing and vision.In some cases, fainting may occur.Often there are multiple syndromes, which is that in normal state, the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head is turned in one direction or the other, it drops sharply.
Heart syndrome develops when the nerve roots of the nerve nerve or chest muscles are squeezed.As a result, the patient may suffer from heartache-like pain, although the heart does not occur.However, syndrome can be characterized by tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmia.
Hypertension syndrome is also one of the most dangerous complications.Unlike the syndrome of vertebral artery, it is caused by squeezing the artery but rather by veins, which complicated the flow of blood from the blood out.This syndrome can lead to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can manifest in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, etc.
Cervical migraine syndrome has little in common with classical migraine.It manifests in the greatest pain of the occipital bone of the head.The pain is paroxysmal by nature, lasting up to ten hours and accompanied by vomiting.
REST syndrome is the most common syndrome of cervical osteochondrosis.It is caused by compression of the nerve roots in the cervical spine.It can be expressed in the tone of the neck, nasal neck, shoulder blade, shoulder, numbness and weakened individual sections (until it is impossible to perform some kind of manipulation) and on the neck.
Several syndromes or individual symptoms of different syndromes can often be observed at one time.
As you can see, with osteocartilage degeneration in the cervical spine, the disease manifests itself in many ways and is always able to correctly identify the cause of it.If you are facing similar symptoms, this is a chance to see a doctor.
diagnosis
To install a diagnosis, it is recommended to contact the therapist.He will refer to experts - orthopedics, spondylologists, neurologists.
The following types of studies are used for diagnosis:
- Radiography
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic tomography
- Ultrasound scans blood vessels in the neck
X-rays allow you to determine the displacement of vertebrae, the presence of growth - bone plants and saline sediments, disk sealing.Computed tomography involves creating a series of X-ray images, which in this case brings a lot of body concepts to the cervical spine.It allows you to give detailed details on the extent of the pathological process - the nature of nerve compression, the structure of bone plants, the height of the intervertebral discs, etc.Magnetic resonance imaging, based on the physical effects of nuclear magnetic resonance, provides a more detailed structural diagram of the spine.Ultrasound examination of the neck helps determine changes in blood flow in the main blood vessels in the neck caused by the disease.
treat
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis and is it completely treated?To combat the disease, medicine has developed many methods.Some treatments can be used at home.But this process is a long and complete treatment, especially in old age.However, at any stage of the disease, it is possible to slow down and stop the destructive process of the spine.
In the early stages of the disease, the method is usually conservative.Several methods are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis:
- drug
- Medical Sports
- physiotherapy
- massage
- Special tools for repairing the spine
If the disease has moved to its final stage and severely damaged the bone structure of the spine, surgery can also be used to treat osteochondrosis in the cervical spine.
poison
Use the following types of medications:
- Cartilage protector
- Vitamin
- Pain analgesics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Reflux
In acute pain syndromes associated with osteochondrosis, the priority is to eliminate it.Typically, oral preparations are used, but inefficient, and in severe cases, novicaine blockade is used.
Muscle spasms were used, and anti-mulsive bacteria were used.They demonstrate the maximum effectiveness of osteochondrosis.As anti-inflammatory and painkillers, ointments containing non-replacement drugs can be used.
In the presence of syndromes associated with circulatory disorders and blood supply to the brain - hypertension and syndromes in the vertebral artery, drugs alleviate the adverse effects of these syndromes - drugs that reduce stress and promoters.
Medical Sports
Medical sports is the simplest and most affordable type of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, and it is also very effective.Sports can also be done at home.If there is osteocartilage degeneration, the strength of the class does not work, and only their regularity is necessary.First, sports are designed to strengthen the neck muscles, which compensates for the spine inadequate function and helps it keep the vertebrae weak.
To strengthen neck muscles, daily classes are recommended.They are either completely simple or composed of turns and head tilts in different directions, more complex, including the help of the neck muscles on the hands.They can be done at home and at work.For example, if the work is sedentary, it is useful to do such exercises while sitting at a desk or monitor.However, they can only be performed during periods of aggravated disease and without pain.Otherwise, they will only make the situation worse.
For example, use a regular class with dumbbells to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder straps.However, weightlifting (weight, rod) is taboo.Swimming regularly and removing the spine is also useful.
physiotherapy
Physical therapy is a treatment that uses some physical fields and radiation to the body.The positive nature of physical therapy is that it has the least number of contraindications.
The following physical therapy methods are used to treat osteochondrosis:
- Ultrasonic exposure
- Laser Therapy
- Exposed to magnetic fields
- Effect of current (electrophoresis)
Magnetic fields can positively affect damaged tissues in the human body and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.Ultrasound improves metabolic processes in tissues and can relieve swelling.The same can be said about laser therapy.Electrophoresis is most commonly used in a bunch of drugs because using electric current will accelerate its absorption in the body.
massage
Massage reduces the increase in muscle tone, which leads to cramps and reduces the flow of lymph that leads to swelling.This process helps improve blood circulation in the affected area, which prevents the process of disc destruction.
Other treatment methods
To reduce the load on the cervical compartment, a special device is used - a thantzz collar that holds the neck in a constant normal position.It is recommended to wear it when aggravates pain syndrome or when sitting for a long time.
To avoid aggravation, you should also organize a sleeping place.The pillow should not cause the neck to bend, and the mattress should be rigid or even rigid.In some cases, special sleeping devices can help – orthopedic mattresses and pillows.