Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes degeneration of the soft intervertebral pulp into ossified tissue.The pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.The pathology is difficult to diagnose, as it disguises itself as several disorders.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are many reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, but many of them are associated with changes in cartilaginous tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With adequate nutrition and constant physical activity, salts are normally consumed and not collected.Otherwise, the cartilaginous tissue will become less mobile, losing flexibility, and the vertebrae will begin to shift, compressing arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur, in which osteophytes develop - bone growths on the cervical vertebrae, causing irritation and muscle tension, further aggravating the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders in the cervical spine occur due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is especially familiar to office workers who sit 8 hours a day and do not do 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.Sometimes, young people begin to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis while still at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture.
People who perform physical work at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, as high loads on the back, combined with an uncomfortable body position and long-standing back injuries, harm the health of the neck, causing excessive tension in this area.Experts also include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- heredity;
- inadequate diet;
- disruption of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lifting heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal injury.
Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
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 experience low-intensity neck pain, which intensifies when turning the head.During the examination, experts sometimes detect muscle tension.
Second degree
The patient feels more intense neck pain, which can radiate to the arm and shoulder.The cause of pain may be abrasion of the intervertebral disc and pinched nerves.The pain intensifies when turning and tilting the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and a headache begins.
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 intervertebral disc herniations.The patient is affected by dizziness and weakness and, upon medical examination, he is diagnosed with difficulty with mobility in the cervical spine and pain when touching the neck.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.The dizziness becomes more intense, noise occurs in the ears and coordination of movements worsens.This is due to the involvement of the vertebral artery in the process, responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cerebellum and occipital lobe of the brain.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- Symptoms of the development of cervical osteochondrosis 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, which is why symptoms occur even with minor pathologies.
Let's consider the main signs by which cervical osteochondrosis can be diagnosed:
- Pain.They can be located in different locations (on the neck, back of the head, shoulder or arm).Arm and shoulder pain occurs when the nerve root that innervates the upper limbs is compressed.Neck pain is associated with spasms of the cervical muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in the limbs.Weakness appears in the arms due to damage to the root that contains the motor nerves that innervate the arm muscles.
- Decreased sensitivity of the hands.The symptom is felt when the root of the sensory nerves that innervate 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 crunching.They appear due to wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of growths on the vertebrae, as well as when small joints between the cervical vertebrae are affected.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor coordination of movements.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when the vertebral 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 disrupted - this leads to a deterioration in 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 in the blood supply to the cerebellum and occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the neck?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis actively develops 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 treatment methods to their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- electrical stimulation, etc.
Several sessions help eliminate pain, but 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 spinal damage and the techniques used.Success also depends on the patient's age.
Conservative treatment methods include the following:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, medicinal baths, herbal medicine 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 (physiotherapy) 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 intervertebral discs, promotes the formation of a muscular corset and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures that use lasers, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.Using these techniques helps speed up the patient's recovery and increase the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physiotherapeutic methods do not have side effects.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck corset is sometimes used, which is also effective in prevention.A procedure called reflexology, 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 their anatomical shape and increasing the intervertebral interval.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to follow doctors' advice to prevent the development of the disease in the future.First of all, it is necessary to monitor the position of the body so that the spine does not overload.You can stretch your back muscles.
You cannot stand for a long time and make sharp turns and tilts with your head.Do not lift weights with your arms outstretched, but first sit down, take the load in your hands and only then lift it up.When carrying heavy bags or other objects in your hands, switch hands or distribute the load evenly.
Control your posture when working.Get used to doing regular exercise by changing your body position.You should sleep on a medium hard mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When getting out of bed, support yourself with your hands to avoid straining your back too much.
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, stretch or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscular corset well, and hardening and contrast baths also bring benefits.Eat a varied diet and avoid fatty and salty foods.It is best to rely on lean meats, cereals, dairy products and vegetables.