The neck pain is familiar to most people from the school bank.The appearance of new technologies in our life, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, game consoles, etc., forced us to change our anatomy in one way or another.We are sitting in front of the monitor for hours, and at night we play on our devices, lowering our heads to the screen.All this led to the fact that a disease such as cervical osteochondrosis was significantly "younger."
What is the osteochondrosis of the cervical region?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-flagship disease, which manifests itself in a specific section, the cervical.The disease is based on a violation of metabolism and nutrition in spine cells.Since the cartilage and bones are not supplied by blood through the vessels, they obtain useful substances in a different way, from nearby cells.It happens that for some reason, the cells stop feeding the spine properly.Then the degeneration process begins.
First, intervertebral discs suffer.By nature, they are elastic and folded, they have absorbent shock properties, which allows them to effectively separate the vertebrae, distribute the load, soften the strokes or reduce the tension when lifting weights.If the power is not enough, the intervertebral disc begins to dry, lose moisture.As a result, in the fibrous ring surrounded by the disk, cracks appear, the disc nucleus dries and weakens.In the end, the album stops fulfilling its function.In addition, the process throws it to the vertebrae: without a natural "separator", they begin to exert pressure each other, as well as in the intervertebral discs.As a result, at some point, the pressure can become critical: the fibrous ring of the outbreak of the disc, the nucleus falls and forms a hernia.
Cervical osteochondrosis consists of complete imbalance in the spine.To compensate for the absence of discs, the brain can "give a command" to form bone-osteophytes to somehow compensate asymmetry.However, this does not help, but only brings big problems.
The osteochondrosis of the cervical column is the most dangerous variety of this disease.It is in the neck area that is the largest number of nerve roots and blood vessels, in this place the vertebral arteries are the closest to the spine, and 30% supplies the blood brain.Due to hernias, displacements, bumps and osteophytes caused by osteochondrosis, nerves and blood vessels can be damaged, which implies serious systemic diseases in the body.
Reasons
The main cause of the appearance of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, because nutrients seem to "stagnate" and do not reach fate: the spine.However, there are others:
- Lack of physical activity and sports, as a result, a poorly developed muscle corset
- Excessive physical activity
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- Food abuse too oily and salty, "fast" carbohydrates
- Overweight
- inheritance
- generic or other injuries
- Initially curved posture
- Infectious diseases transferred with complications in the spine
- Natural body aging
Symptoms
There are more than 20 symptoms in the disease, and only some of them.
- Neck pain, shoulders
- Paroxysmal headaches, poorly relieved by analgesics
- Limited movements, inability to turn the head
- Overthens
- Symptoms of supposedly cardiac disease: tingling in the heart, lack of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Decrease in visual acuity and hearing, the double effect on the eyes and noise on the ears
- Difficulties when swallowing, swelling from the tongue
- Numbness, tingling or tremor in the limbs
- Numbness or jaw pain
- Lack of muscle tone or excessive tone
- Drying of one of the limbs
- Sleepiness, aggression, irritability
Complications
The complications of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column and its symptoms are usually the cause that the patient looks for the doctor, but this means that the disease is already in the subsequent stages.Cervical osteochondrosis can take a very long asymptomatic or express with mild pain in the neck.
The osteochondrosis of the cervical column causes a change in the geometry and anatomy of the spine: the release of discs or even the vertebrae outside the normal position or the formation of osteophytes."Primary" complications called:
- Intervertebral hernia (rupture of the fibrous ring of the disc, its displacement)
- Disc protrusion ("departure" from the intervertebral disc beyond its anatomical limits)
- The formation of osteophytes: spondylosis (with the help of such bone growth, the body tries to compensate for the imbalance of the column)
In addition, degenerative processes to the spine, which caused displacements or formation of bone growth, will probably cause pinching nerve roots, vessel or vertebral artery.
This is full of "secondary" complications:
- Dystonia-VSD of vegetrovascular (violation of brain circulation work)
- The vertebral artery cord, vertebro-bazicular insufficiency (vertebral artery compression)
- Radicolor - Radiculite syndrome (infringement of nerve roots)
- Cervicobraciagia (constant pain in the neck and head, poorly relieved by analgesics)
The complications of cervical osteochondrosis are very dangerous, can cause a violation of the circulatory system, blood vessels, change brain functions and even cause stroke.
Diagnosis
The first diagnostic method is inspection, conversation, anamnesis.An experienced vertebrologist, according to your complaints, can determine if you have cervical osteochondrosis.He will ask: about the nature, duration and location of pain, will carry out the palpation of painful areas, locate approximately the area of the lesion.To exclude other diseases, a blood and urine test will be prescribed.Next, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of an X -Ray exam.
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Computer tomograph (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRI)
- X -Ray
To say what method is preferable, your doctor should, depending on the characteristics of the body, the nature of the complaints, about the contraindications.The most expensive and informative image is magnetic resonance, soft tissues are visible in the image, so in case of damage to blood vessels, cartilage, nerves, the doctor may locate the sick area.However, a computer tomography provides a clear image of bone tissues, which will allow you to measure the distance between the vertebrae, determine the stage of the disease.The advantage of X -rays is speed, speed (the procedure will take a maximum of 20 minutes), as well as the ability to carry out a study with functional tests (the image is taken in the maximum flexion and the maximum extension of the neck).
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical column
The basic principle of effective treatment is an integrated approach, a combination of many methods, prolonged therapy even after eliminating an acute state.
Medications
- Anesthetic and non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medications will help relieve pain attacks, will allow you to move to more treatment stages.Injections or oral use are possible.
- Concontroproprotectors: medications that slow down the degradation of cartilage tissues.
- Musorelaxantes - Record the tense muscles.
- Vasodilatative drugs.They are prescribed in case of violation of the circulation.
- Nootropic medications.They are prescribed if the brain system is damaged and it is necessary to improve depressed brain activity due to nerve roots infringed with osteochondrosis and lack of blood flow.
- Vitamins and antioxidants generally improve brain functions.
- Diuretics: To control the level of potassium and sodium in the blood.
Physiotherapy
Effective electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy are effective.The session price varies according to the level of the clinic, specialists and equipment.In total, they will need 10-15 sessions.
Change in lifestyle: physical exercises, massages, swimming.
This treatment stage should begin after eliminating acute pain.It is necessary to increase the muscle corset of the spine to redistribute the load on it.A massage course and exercise therapy sessions are prescribed.It is more profitable to buy a subscription that includes a visit to the pool, masseuse and exercise therapist instructor.
Dream
The right dream in the orthopedic pillow and the orthopedic mattress.
Adequate nutrition
Compliance with the diet and some rules: the exclusion of alcohol, tobacco, fatty and salty products, the reduction of rapid carbohydrates.