Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes degeneration of the soft intervertebral pulp into ossified tissue.Pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.The pathology is difficult to diagnose, as it is masked under various disorders.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are many reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, but many of them are associated with changes in the cartilage tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With a proper diet and constant physical activity, salts are used up normally and not collected.Otherwise, the cartilage tissue will become less mobile, lose flexibility, and the vertebrae will begin to shift, pinching arteries and nerve endings.
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur, in which osteophytes develop - bone growths in the cervical vertebrae, causing irritation and muscle tension, which further worsens the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders in the cervical spine are due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is especially familiar to office workers who have to sit for 8 hours a day and who do not play sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease that affected people in adulthood, but today the disease has become much younger.Young people sometimes begin to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis already at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and bad posture.
People who perform physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, because high loads on the back, combined with an uncomfortable position of the body and long-term back injuries, adversely affect the health of the neck, causing overstrain in this area.Experts include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- heredity;
- improper diet;
- disruption of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal cord injury.
Degree of development of osteochondrosis of the neck
Doctors determine the stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis based on the patient's symptoms and complaints.
First degree
With minimal clinical manifestations, the patient may feel pain in the neck of low intensity, which intensifies when turning the head.During the examination, specialists sometimes find muscle tension.
Second degree
The patient feels pain in the neck with greater intensity, which may radiate to the arm and shoulder.The cause of the pain can be abrasion of the intervertebral disc and pinched nerves.The pain increases when turning and tilting the head.A person's ability to work decreases, weakness appears and headaches begin.
Third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify, and the pain becomes constant and radiates to the upper limb and shoulder.Weakness appears in the hands and they gradually become numb due to the herniation of the intervertebral discs.The patient is overcome with dizziness and weakness, and a medical examination reveals limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain when the neck is touched.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness becomes stronger, tinnitus appears, coordination of movements worsens.This is due to the participation in the process of the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying the cerebellum and the back of the brain with oxygen and nutrients.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- The symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis of the neck differ from the manifestations of this disease in other parts of the spine.This is explained by the peculiarities of the structure of the human body: the vertebrae are located closer to each other, and the height of the intervertebral discs is not very high, so symptoms appear even with minor pathologies.
Let's look at the main signs by which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- pain.They can be localized in different places (in the neck, nape, shoulder or arm).Pain in the arm and shoulder occurs when the nerve root that innervates the upper limbs is compressed.Pain in the back of the head is associated with spasms of the cervical muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in the limbs.Weakness occurs in the hands due to damage to the root containing the motor nerves that innervate the muscles of the hand.
- Decreased sensitivity of the hands.The symptom is felt when the root with the sensory nerves innervating the skin of the hands is damaged.Sometimes, along with the loss of sensitivity, numbness of the fingers or hands may appear due to cervical osteochondrosis.
- Limited mobility of the cervical vertebrae and crunching.They appear due to the wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of growths on the vertebrae, as well as when affecting small joints between the cervical vertebrae.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor coordination of movements.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear when the spinal artery, passing in a special channel through the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae, is involved in the process.Fibrous tissue is formed, the vertebrae are displaced, the blood flow in the artery is disturbed - this leads to a deterioration of the blood supply to the back of the brain and the cerebellum.
- Deterioration of vision, hearing and numbness of the tongue.These are signs of a serious deterioration of the blood supply to the cerebellum and the occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the neck?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis develops actively, and it will be much more difficult to get rid of negative pathologies.This can only be done with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe different methods of treatment for their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry draft;
- electrical stimulation, etc.
Several sessions help to get rid of the pain, but the course of treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck is unsuccessful, the patient may be referred for surgery.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the vertebral damage and the techniques used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include the following:
- physical therapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, medicinal baths, herbal medicines for osteochondrosis, etc.)
Doctors resort to drug treatment during exacerbations to quickly relieve pain and inflammation.You can stimulate metabolic processes and blood circulation in the body with the help of intravenous and intramuscular injections.
Therapeutic gymnastics (physical therapy) is a set of special exercises for osteochondrosis aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and correcting posture.Physical education makes the ligamentous-muscular system more flexible, normalizes the nutrition of the intervertebral discs, promotes the formation of a muscular corset and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures with laser, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.The use of these techniques helps to speed up the patient's recovery and increase the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physical therapy methods have no side effects.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck corset is sometimes used, which is also effective for prevention.The procedure called reflexotherapy, in which specialists influence selected areas of the human body, has proven to be excellent.Spinal traction relieves pain in the cervical region and joints, helping to restore its anatomical shape and increase the intervertebral space.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After a course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, you should follow the advice of doctors to prevent the development of the disease in the future.First of all, you need to monitor the position of the body so that the spine is not overloaded.You can stretch your back muscles.
You cannot stand for a long time and make sharp turns and tilts of your head.Do not lift weights with outstretched arms, but rather first sit down, take the load in your hands, and only then stand up with it.When carrying heavy bags or other objects in your hands, switch hands or distribute the load evenly.
Control your posture while working.Get used to doing regular exercise by changing your body position.You should sleep on a medium-firm mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When you get out of bed, lean on your hands so you don't strain your back.
Before exercising, always drink a glass of water and wear comfortable shoes that support your feet.After sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position with a bent body, stretch or hang on the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscle corset well, and hardening and contrast showers also bring benefits.Eat a varied diet and avoid fatty and salty foods.Better to rely on lean meats, grains, dairy products and vegetables.