The pain in the neck is familiar to most people from the school bench.The emergence of new technologies in our life, such as a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, game consoles, etc.Forced us to change our anatomy in one way or another.We are sitting in front of the instructor for hours, and at night, we play games on our gadgets, lowering our heads on the screen.All this led to the fact that an illness such that cervical osteochondosis was significantly "younger".
What is osteochondrosis in the cervical region?
Cervical osteochondosis is a dystrophic degenerative vertebral disease, which manifests in a specific section - the cervical.The disease is based on a violation of metabolism and nutrition in the cells of the spine.Since cartilage and bones are not supplied with blood through the vessels, they obtain useful substances in a different way - neighboring cells.It happens that for any reason, the cells cease to properly feed the spine.Then the degeneration process is launched.
First, the intervertebral discs suffer.By nature, they are elastic and folded, have properties absorbing shocks, which allows them to effectively separate the vertebrae, to distribute the load, to soften the blows or to reduce the tension during the weight lifting.If the power is not enough, the intervertebral disc begins to dry, lose moisture.Consequently, on the fibrous ring surrounded by the disc, the cracks appear, the core of the dry disc and weakens.In the end, the disc ceases to fulfill its function.In addition, the process throws it into the vertebrae: without a natural "separator", they begin to put themselves pressure on each other, as well as on the intervertebral discs themselves.Consequently, at one point, the pressure can become critical: the fibrous ring of the disc bursts, the nucleus falls and a hernia forms.
Cervical osteochondosis consists of a complete imbalance in the spine.In order to compensate for the absence of discs, the brain can "give an order" to form bone-dosteophytes growth in order to compensate in a way asymmetry.However, that does not help, but only brings big problems.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical column is the most dangerous variety of this disease.It is in the neck area that the largest number of nerve roots and blood vessels are, at this location, the vertebral arteries are closest to the spine column, and 30% provide the brain of blood.Due to hernias, displacements, protuberances 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 occurrence of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, due to which nutrients seem to "stagnate" and do not reach the destination - the spine.However, there are others:
- Lack of physical activity and sports, therefore, a little developed muscle corset
- Excessive physical activity
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- Food abuse of too fatty and salted, "fast" carbohydrates
- Excess weight
- heredity
- generic or other injuries
- Initially curved posture
- Transferred infectious diseases with complications on the spine
- Natural aging of the body
Symptoms
There are more than 20 symptoms in the disease, and only some of them.
- Pain in the neck, shoulders
- Paroxysmal headaches, poorly relieved by pain relievers
- Limited movements, inability to turn your head
- Pressure
- Supported heart disease symptoms: tingling in the heart, shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Decrease in visual acuity and hearing, the effect of double in the eyes and noise in the ears
- Difficulties during swallowing, swelling of the language
- Numbness, tingling or tremors in the members
- Numbness or pain in jaw
- Lack of muscle tone or excessive
- Drying one of the members
- Drowsiness, aggression, irritability
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the cervical column and their symptoms are generally the cause of the patient looking for the doctor, but this means that the disease is already in the last stages.Cervical osteochondosis itself can take a lot of asymptomatic time or expressed in light pain in the neck.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical column causes a change in the geometry and the anatomy of the spine: the release of discs or even the vertebrae outside the normal position or the formation of osteophytes."Primary" So-Salled complications:
- intervertebral hernia (rupture of the fibrous ring of the disc, its displacement)
- DISC protection ("outlet" of the intervertebral disc beyond its anatomical limits)
- Formation of osteophytes - spondylosis (with the help of these bone growths, the body tries to compensate for the imbalance in the spine)
In addition, the degenerative processes of the spine, which have caused travel or the formation of bone growth, will probably cause pinch of the nerve roots, vessels or vertebral artery.
This is responsible for "secondary" complications:
- Dystonia-VSD Végéto-Vascular (violation of brain traffic work)
- The cord of the vertebral artery, vertebro-bazicular insufficiency (compression of the vertebral artery)
- Radicolor - Radiculitis syndrome (violation of nerve roots)
- Cervicobrachialgia (constant pain in the neck and head, poorly relieved by pain relievers)
Complications of cervical osteochondosis are very dangerous, they can cause a violation of the circulatory system, blood vessels, modify brain functions and even cause a stroke.
Diagnosis
The first diagnostic method is inspection, conversation, anamnesis.An experienced vertebrologist, according to your complaints, will be able to determine if you have cervical osteochondosis.He will question - about the nature, duration and location of pain, will palpate painful areas, locate the area of the lesion approximately.To exclude other diseases, a blood and urine test will be prescribed.Then, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of an X -ray examination.
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Computer tomograph (CT)
- Magnetic resonance tomography (MRI)
- X-ray
To say what method is preferable, your doctor should, according to the characteristics of the body, the nature of complaints, on contraindications.The most expensive and informative image is MRI, soft tissues are visible on the image, so in case of damage to blood vessels, cartilage, nerves, the doctor will be able to locate the sick area.However, a computer tomograph gives a clear image of the bone tissue, which will allow you to measure the distance between the vertebrae, determine the stage of the disease.The advantage of the X -ray is the cheap, the 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 maximum flexion and the maximum extension of the neck).
Treatment of cervical column osteochondrosis
The basic principle of effective treatment is an integrated approach, a combination of many methods, prolonged therapy even after having withdrawn an acute state.
Drugs
- Annesthetic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve pain attacks, will allow you to go to other stages of treatment.Injections or oral use are possible.
- Chondroprotectors - Drugs that slow down the degradation of cartilage tissues.
- Musorelaxants - Relax the tense muscles.
- Vasodilatory drugs.They are prescribed in the event of traffic violation.
- Nootropic drugs.They are prescribed if the brain system is damaged and it is necessary to improve the depressed brain activity due to the nerve roots raped by osteochondrosis and the lack of blood flow.
- Vitamins and antioxidants to generally improve brain functions.
- Diuretics - to control the level of potassium and sodium in the blood.
Physiotherapy
Effective electrophoresis, ultrasounds, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy are effective.The price of the session varies depending on the level of the clinic, specialists and equipment.A total of 10 to 15 sessions will need.
Lifestyle change: physical exercises, massage, swimming.
This stage of treatment should start after eliminating acute pain.It is necessary to increase the muscle corset of the spine in order to redistribute the load on it.A massage lesson and exercise therapy sessions are prescribed.It is more profitable to buy a subscription which includes a visit to the swimming pool, the masseur and the exercise therapist.
Dream
The correct dream on the orthopedic pillow and the orthopedic mattress.
Good nutrition
Compliance with diet and certain rules: exclusion of alcohol, tobacco, fatty and salty products, the reduction of rapid carbohydrates.