The cervical spine is its narrowest part, however, the daily load of the head support, ensuring its rotation, and the mobility of the shoulder joints is incomparably greater than the performance of other parts of it.Given the wrong lifestyle caused by eating habits, inactive work and smoking, the chance of developing cervical osteochondrosis in middle-aged people is quadrupled.
Despite such a prevalence of the disease, it is very difficult to recognize cervical osteochondrosis in its early stages, as its symptoms are so varied and at first glance unrelated to a spinal problem, that a person may not go to the doctor for years as the cause of its poorhealth condition completely different disease.
Causes of the disease
To ensure the mobility of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs consisting of cartilaginous tissue are placed between them. They provide shock absorption during movement and give flexibility to the spine. The lifespan of intervertebral discs, prescribed by nature, is more than 120 years, but changes in the chemical composition of blood lead to rapid dehydration of cartilage tissue, salt deposition, which in turn contributes to rapid wear of discs and leads to their degenerative-dystrophic changes.
The reason for the change in blood composition is improper diet, an inactive lifestyle in which the cells of the body do not need such an amount of salt and it is deposited in the bone tissue, liver and kidneys.In a forced inactive lifestyle, the largest amount of salt is deposited on the neck.
Cervical osteochondrosis can also occur as a result of microtrauma caused by vibrations, for example, in drivers, as well as forced incorrect head position or neck tension caused by working conditions and specifics of the profession.
What is the risk of cervical osteochondrosis
In the area of the neck, namely in the immediate vicinity of the cervical spine, there are nerve roots, as well as the spinal artery, whose task is to supply the brain with oxygen. Dehydration of the intervertebral discs of the neck leads to their deformation, which narrows the gap between the vertebrae and leads to their injury during movement.In addition, salt deposition contributes to the formation of bone spines - osteophytes, which can disrupt nerve roots as well as arteries.
As it develops, the disease leads to a violation of the sensitivity of the neck, shoulder blades, limbs, nape of the neck or, conversely, causes pain in these parts, depending on which nerve roots are tightened.
Compression of the vertebral artery is burdened by insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, which leads to the development of various disorders of its activity. Among the most dangerous consequences of cerebral hypoxia are hearing disorders, decreased vision, stroke, partial and complete paralysis, mental disorders.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the most dangerous form of the disease because it has many irreversible consequences, while people in the late stages of the disease usually seek help.
Symptoms
The cervical spine consists of 6 segments through which different nerve roots pass, and their violation is expressed by different symptoms. Depending on which cervical vertebrae are susceptible to osteochondrosis, the disease can be expressed by different symptoms. Thus, radicular syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Violation of sensitivity of the neck, shoulder blades, fingertips, mostly unilateral. Sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the back or back of the head.
- Burning pain in the chest, shoulder, and also one finger, depending on which nerve is affected.
- Heart paincharacterized by its duration and intensification during sudden movements.
Compression of arteries, as well as small vessels, can result in cerebral disorders whose symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Visual impairment, appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes, blurred images.
- In case of malnutrition of the cerebellum, dizziness, nausea, disturbances of consciousness may appear, the ground disappears under the feet.
- If the brain's blood supply is disrupted, its hypoxia threatens, and the body's response is the increased pressure necessary to increase blood flow.
- Lack of oxygen also leads to a strong unreasonable fear of causing nausea.
- Possible impaired coordination and hearing.
- When the lymphatic circulation is disturbed, intracranial pressure occurs, expressed in headache of the parietal and occipital parts, pressure on the eyeballs, tinnitus.
Such different symptoms and different individual manifestations of the disease often do not indicate back problems, especially because in the early stages pain and stiffness of movement may be absent. And only a good specialist, who has conducted a differential diagnosis, excluding other diseases characterized by the same symptoms, can identify cervical osteochondrosis.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is a rather long process and involves various methods of traditional and folk medicine. The main tasks that the doctor sets when choosing a therapy are pain relief, restoring the mobility of the spine and metabolic processes, filling the cartilage tissue, as well as removing swelling and inflammation in the soft tissues of the neck. The methods used to achieve the goals described above are varied, including medication, fat rubbing, physiotherapy, and special gymnastics. Hirudotherapy, acupuncture and prescriptions of traditional medicine are used as additional treatment.
The main component in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the initiative of the patient and strict adherence to the prescriptions of the doctor.
Let's take a closer look at how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, as well as the features of the techniques:
Medications
Distinguish the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during exacerbation and remission. So, in case of acute pain, the doctor may prescribe:
- Analgesicsin the form of tablets, injections, whose task is to alleviate the symptoms of acute pain.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsin the form of injections that alleviate the inflammatory process. However, the side effects that accompany the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not allow their use for a long period of time.
- Muscle relaxantsrelieve muscle cramps and relieve pinched veins, nerves and arteries.
- Novocaine blockade.This method is used in an acute attack, followed by neck stiffness and pain. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a physician.
During the remission period, the main treatment is the intake of chondroprotectors produced in the form of powders and capsules, suspensions and ointments. Chondroprotectors based on glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfate have a number of positive effects on the cartilaginous tissue of the spine, namely the renewal of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, the elimination of the pain syndrome and stopping the development of the disease.
Osteochondrosis ointments for the cervical spine are prescribed at the discretion of the physician and have a variety of effects, including:
- pain reliever;
- restoration of cartilage structure;
- anti-inflammatory;
- warming up;
- complex.
In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by compression of nerve roots and arteries, leading to a series of symptoms, for the removal of which appropriate medications are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
In addition to the main treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, the purpose of which is to remove pain, improve microcirculation in soft tissues and restore metabolic processes. Some methods, for example, electrophoresis, are used in conjunction with medicated ointments, while maximizing the effect of the drug is achieved.
In addition to electrophoresis, shock wave therapy, laser treatment, ultraviolet radiation and magnetotherapy are also used.
A similar effect is achieved by hand massage or acupuncture. Prerequisite for such treatment are high qualifications and medical education of experts in these fields.
Cervical osteochondrosis in remission can be treated with physiotherapy exercises. Properly selected exercises eliminate the symptoms of pain and contribute to the removal of salt deposits.
Folk remedies
Among the methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine recognized by official medicine, there are many folk recipes based on the healing properties of plants that have anti-inflammatory, warming and restoring metabolic processes.
The most common active ingredients in different interpretations are horseradish, adam root, aloe, ginger, garlic, hops, pine nuts, honey and lemon. They are used to prepare rubs, ointments, tinctures, compresses, swallowing mixtures, as well as medicinal baths. Traditional methods perfectly alleviate the symptoms and restore the mobility of the neck.