Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes the 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 disguised as 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 normally consumed and not accumulated.Otherwise, the cartilage tissue will become less mobile, losing flexibility, and the vertebrae will begin to shift, pressing on the arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur, in which osteophytes develop - bone growth in the cervical vertebrae, causing irritation and muscle strain, further worsening the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders in the cervical spine occur due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is especially common among office workers who have to sit for 8 hours a day and who do not play any sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease that affected people of mature age, but today the disease has become much younger.Young people sometimes begin to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis when they are still at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture.
People who do physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, as high loads on the back, combined with an uncomfortable body position and long back injuries, negatively affect the health of the neck, causing overload in this area.Experts also include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- excess weight;
- inheritance;
- improper diet;
- disruption of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal cord injury.
The rate 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 detect muscle strains.
Second degree
The patient feels pain in the neck of a higher intensity, which can radiate to the arm and shoulder.The cause of the pain may be the intervertebral disc herniation and pinched nerves.The pain intensifies when turning and tilting the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and a headache begins.
The 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 arms and they gradually become numb due to the formation of herniated intervertebral discs.The patient is overcome by dizziness and weakness, and a medical examination diagnoses limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain when touching the neck.
The fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness becomes more severe, noise appears in the ears and coordination of movements worsens.This is due to the involvement in the process of the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying the cerebellum and the occipital lobe 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 peculiarity 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 large, so symptoms appear even with minor pathologies.
Let's consider the main signs by which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- Pain.They can be located in different places (on the neck, on the back of the head, on the shoulder or on the 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 accompanied by spasms of the cervical muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in limbs.Weakness occurs in the arms due to damage to the root containing the motor nerves that innervate the arm muscles.
- 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 occur due to cervical osteochondrosis.
- Limited mobility of the cervical spine and creaking.They appear due to the wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of growth in the vertebrae, as well as when the small nodes between the cervical vertebrae are affected.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor coordination of movements.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when the vertebral artery, passing through 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 arteries is interrupted - this leads to a deterioration of the blood supply to the back of the brain and cerebellum.
- Deterioration of vision, hearing and numbness of the tongue.These are signs of a serious deterioration of the blood supply of the cerebellum and the occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat neck osteochondrosis?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis is actively developing, and the removal of negative pathologies will be much more difficult.This can only be done with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe different treatment methods for their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- electrical stimulation etc.
A few sessions help to get rid of the pain, but the course of treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of neck osteochondrosis is unsuccessful, the patient may be referred for surgery.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the vertebral injury and the techniques used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include the following:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, medicinal baths, herbal medicines for osteochondrosis, etc.)
Doctors turn to drug treatment during flare-ups 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 ligamento-muscular system more flexible, normalizes nutrition of the intervertebral discs, promotes the formation of a muscular belt and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures that use lasers, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.The use of these techniques helps speed up the patient's recovery and increase the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physiotherapeutic methods have no side effects.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck brace is sometimes used, which is also effective in prevention.A procedure called reflexology, in which specialists influence certain areas of the human body, has proven to be excellent.Traction of the spine relieves pain in the cervical region and joints, helping to restore its anatomical shape and increasing 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 can't stand for a long time and make sharp turns and head animations.Do not lift weights with outstretched arms, but 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.
Check your posture when working.Learn to do regular exercises by changing your body position.You should sleep on a mattress of medium firmness 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 your body bent, lie down or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscle corset well, and strengthening and contrast showers also bring benefits.Eat a varied diet and avoid fatty and salty foods.Better rely on lean meats, whole grains, dairy products and vegetables.