Is now rarely encountered manifestations of this widespread disease: according to statistics, about 60% of the partisans in the developed countries in varying degrees are suffering the hell of manifestations of osteochondrosis. The main reasons for such wide distribution, sedentary work and lack of movement of modern man.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (Osteohondroz) is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs, which themselves are damaged discs, vertebrae and joints of the cervical, decrease of height of intervertebral discs. The disease progresses, if left untreated, can lead to headaches, circulatory problems and even hernia. Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs because of disorders of mineral metabolism, causing bones and joints become less strong.
Osteochondrosis can cause instability of the cervical spine (the symptoms and treatment are similar to the chondrosis, but have a number of features), which is often accompanied by displacement of the vertebrae. In turn, this accelerates the development of degenerative disc disease, destroying the spinal Department.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms
In the early stages of the disease almost does not manifest itself by painful symptoms: you may feel discomfort in the neck after a big physical exertion or prolonged sitting in a tense position after a sudden movement or tilt of the head.
The main symptoms – headache, dizziness and impaired coordination, light crunch when moving the head, weakness; less commonly observed weakness of hands, numbness of the tongue and slurring of speech, trouble breathing, vision, hearing, sweating, abnormally high blood pressure. Main zones – the head, neck, collar zone. In most cases, at the same time, there are only a few of the listed symptoms.
In General, symptoms of osteoarthritis is not obvious often masks the use of painkillers. This is one of its dangers: most of the symptoms is possible in other diseases, complicating the diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis
This condition is not always clearly indicates the degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
Dizziness can be the result of:
- inflammation in the middle or inner ear;
- spasms of cerebral vessels;
- violations transmission of nerve impulses;
- problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
There are no clear criteria dizziness osteochondrosis. However, there are systemic and non-systemic dizziness, they do have distinct differences.
It is recommended to know the differences between systemic and non-systemic dizziness, this will help to determine the causes of unusual States:
- system dizziness is the sensation of circular motion of the surrounding objects or the whole that the phenomenon is a consequence of disruption of the vestibular apparatus, visual analyzers and receptors in joints, muscles and epidermis (low back pain of various etiologies);
- non-system vertigo is a feeling of faintness, feeling stunned, unsure of status in a vertical position. When non-systemic dizziness a feeling of circular rotation is missing, and this is an important difference compared signs.
People who feel the dizziness of one of the specified types should be inspected by an experienced doctor, primarily a neurologist or (if there is a suspicion on disease of the ear and throat) an otolaryngologist.
The reason for the emergency hospitalization not related to degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, the phenomenon is the detection of the patient (except vertigo) such signs as:
- facial paralysis and numbness of the shoulder belt;
- severe headache on the background of deterioration of health;
- violation of coordination of movements;
- the loss or extinction of consciousness.
Headache in cervical osteochondrosis
This is one of the most common nonspecific signs of many diseases. Headaches are particularly prevalent in the female population. Google + is hard to determine the cause of headaches, and even more associate it with the lesions of the spine. There are about 14 different reasons for headache in humans.
The most common causes of headaches with the described pathology:
- spasms of cerebral vessels;
- a pinched nerve roots;
- a reflex increase in intracranial pressure.
Headache in cervical osteochondrosis can recall the sensation when hypertension, angina or stroke. Especially in middle-aged and older, tend to have the risks of developing strokes or heart attacks.
Feel the pain may be paroxysmal, constant, throbbing, and dull.
When heart diseases patients complain of discomfort in the chest, accompanied by a rhythm disturbance of the heart. To identify the cause only by a qualified doctor. In case of headaches combined with nausea, dizziness and chest pain, made sure the ECG.
Pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical
Not always the pain is localized in the head and neck. Known cases different localization of pain.
Neck pain can radiate in the shoulder area and in different parts of the hands. The distinctive feature of such sensations, it is the suddenness of the attacks after sleep, sudden movements, invisible to human stress, for example when you laugh or sneeze. The pain associated with degenerative disc disease if the process has not taken a chronic character, usually subsides after some hours short, and combined with the crunch of the cervical vertebrae.
No preliminary examination is not necessary to remove the pain by using manual therapy (massage). In some cases, inept manipulation can aggravate the pathology, or violate the innervation and lead to disablement.
The intensity of the pain can be mild or sharp. Duration – both short and long.
It is seen that the cervical osteochondrosis most often google + associated with lesions of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae.
There are tests to determine the localization of the pain impulse. Defeat in the region of the sixth vertebra is complemented by pain in the thumb, a defeat in the region of the seventh vertebra is accompanied by pain in the middle finger.
Blood pressure with cervical osteochondrosis
The relationship of cervical degenerative disc disease with irregular blood pressure has long been established. The cervical vertebrae are important nerve endings and blood vessels.
Characteristic pressure changes during the day. Hypertension for a long time not typical for this disease. Reflex irritation of the nerve endings and the short-term spasms of the blood vessels cause an abrupt diurnal dynamics of arterial hypertension.
A distinctive feature of the increased pressure in cervical osteochondrosis phenomenon is a combination of the following symptoms:
- headache;
- pain in the limbs and chest;
- the reduction of the sensitivity of the neck area;
- the occurrence of pressure peaks after stress, muscle tension, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position and other similar situations.
Sudden scorching heat, and the rapid deterioration of health phenomena are the reason for seeking urgent medical help.
The stage of development of osteochondrosis
In the development of cervical degenerative disc disease, decided to allocate 4 stages. But this is a rather conditional division, as most of the symptoms of the disease may occur in other pathologies.
The first stage (pre-clinical)
In the initial stages symptoms are mild and often attributed to stress or other diseases. It feels bad stiffness in the neck, pain at sharp movements or tilts. At this stage it is possible to get rid of hell charges of osteoarthritis with physiotherapy or simple to move about, adjust the power.
Another stage
The pain amplified and become permanent, during sharp turns or slopes are already strong. Phenomenon are severe headaches, the patient begins to tire, become distracted, periodically numb areas of the face.
The third stage
The disc herniation often causes dizziness, weakness of the hands, the pain experienced in the neck and hands, always felt in the shoulders.
The fourth stage
In the end, destroyed intervertebral discs, they are replaced by connective tissue. Zaselyalsya Nerves, which leads to difficulties in movement, pain, increased dizziness phenomenon is tinnitus.
Causes and risk factors
Oddly enough, the possibility of developing osteoarthritis in humans is due to one of its evolutionary advantages the upright posture: vertebrae press against each other, and to e age the connective tissue degrades. As a consequence, the older it is almost inevitable process. But there are many factors that contribute to earlier and more intensive development of osteochondrosis:
- In the first place – it is a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, often observed in modern life (office workers, drivers and other sedentary profession, TV, long hours at the computer), lack of physical activity
- Intense, unnatural positions in the process: for example, for a computer person frequently leans forward, adopting a tense pose
- The opposite reason – too high, unusual for this person loads; Hello at risk – even trained athletes, e.g. weightlifters;
- Any causes which disturb the natural posture of man: uncomfortable shoes, especially high heels, bad posture when sleeping, flat feet, arthritis, scoliosis;
- Overweight, often caused by malnutrition
- Frequent stress, severe stress, constant fatigue
- Local hypothermia
How dangerous is cervical osteochondrosis
In the neck there are many vital blood vessels, arteries, capillaries, and therefore any infringement there may have unpleasant consequences, including hypoxia, hypertension, vascular dystonia.
Cervical degenerative disc disease affects the spinal segments that control the shoulder and elbow joints, thyroid, hands and other organs. In osteochondrosis, if not treated, most likely a pinched nerve, compression of blood vessels, which inevitably affects the work of other bodies.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
Real, stable success in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease can be achieved only through an integrated approach that includes medications, neck massage, therapeutic gymnastics, physiotherapy. In very advanced cases may need surgical intervention.
We strongly advise you not to apply Yes, self-treatment, primarily due to the fact that the symptoms of low back pain can mean a totally different disease: small that the chosen drugs will not help in treatment, they can still cause damage.
Withdrawal of acute pain
Osteochondrosis, especially in the later stages, accompanied by severe pain, so the first task of the doctor is to alleviate your suffering. He will prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, chondroprotectors to restore cartilage tissue, medicines to improve blood circulation and reduce spasm of the muscles.
Therapeutic exercises with cervical osteochondrosis
The most simple and accessible, including at home, app – therapeutic exercises. While it is also quite effective, as it strengthens the neck muscles and restores blood circulation in damaged areas, compensate for the lack of movement in everyday life. Physical therapy can be supplemented with swimming, Aqua gym.
Physiotherapy is the easiest and affordable form of treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease and, at the same time, quite effective. Treatment exercise can be done at home. Osteochondrosis exercise intensity does not play a decisive role only in their regularity. In the first place, physical education is designed to strengthen the neck muscles that make up for the lack of functionality of the spine and help to support the weakened vertebrae.
To strengthen the muscles of the neck are recommended daily activities. They can be very simple that consist of turns and head tilts in different directions, and more complex ones that involve using neck muscles from the hands. They can perform both at home and at work. For example, if the phenomenon the work is sedentary, it is useful to do these exercises after an hour of sitting at a Desk or monitor.
Physical therapy
Correct and consistent use of physical therapy techniques improve blood circulation in damaged areas, reducing inflammation and pain, slows down the process of ossification.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical using electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, medical baths and showers, mud therapy and other methods.
Neck massage with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Massage in osteochondrosis can be very effective: it improves blood circulation, reduces spasms by reducing muscle tone, alleviates pain symptoms and improves the General condition of the patient.
Alle massage and manual therapy should be used very carefully, as inept and rude effect on diseased parts of the whole can only hurt.
Surgical treatment
In very advanced cases is not excluded even surgery: narrowing of the spinal column, herniation of intervertebral disks, spondylolisthesis at.
The decision about the need for and method of surgical intervention is taken by the surgeon, he determines preparatory operations, the duration of the postoperative period and rehabilitation.