Cervical spine osteochondrosis is a chronic and slowly progressive lesion of the cervical spine vertebrae (from the first to seventh), which begins with the destruction of intervertebral discs and ending with their "subsilding", protrusion (hernia), a change in the shape and order of the degrose (hernia) prolonists, a change in the form and disposal of the extendersDegrosses.
Subsequently, neurological compression (compression, inflammation of the nerves and their consequences) and vascular (compression of the vertebral artery and the consequences of blood circulation disorders) join the clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis. With cervical osteochondrosis, these are headaches, dizziness, loss of orientation, nausea, and marked pressure falls that are difficult to normalize. Osteochondrosis is a common pathology, whose symptoms at 45 appear in 90 % of people (regardless of gender) in front of others - for office workers who carry a sedentary lifestyle. The cervical region lesion is diagnosed as often as lumbar osteochondrosis. This is due to the excessive mobility of the neck and the weakness of the muscles around the spine in this area.
The essence of the pathology that happens to it
The intervertebral disc (abbreviated MPD) is an aqueous pulp nucleus in the center and the elastic fibrous shell and stronger than surrounds it. The bodies of neighboring vertebrae are adjacent to it and below. Receipt (and excretion) of substances and water on the intervertebral disc occurs due to diffusion (direct and reverse filtration, molecules penetration on the disc and back) of the vertebra bone tissue. Gradual aging of intervertebral disc tissues leads to the fact that the receipt of the necessary substances decreases and, under the influence of provoking factors (pressure, load), ceases completely. The dense fabric of the fibrous membrane is covered with cracks, loses its elasticity, the core of the pulp in the dry center (loses water). This leads to the fact that cervical osteochondrosis progresses:
- MPD loses the height;
- The bodies of the vertebrae are displaced, the nerve roots are squeezed and begin to grow with bone peaks, trying to evenly distribute the increasing pressure (spondylosis).
Over time, the ligaments are involved in the ossification process, they are impregnated with calcium at the vertebrae fixation site and become the cause of rigidity, neck restriction. As people continue to carry the spine - they are moving actively, they sit in an uncomfortable position:
- The bodies of neighboring vertebrae are increasingly compressed by the MPD;
- This leads to the fact that the core of the pulpae (which remains of it) is pushed forward or backwards (more often to the anterior longitudinal ligament, as it is quite thin in the cervical region).
This protrusion is called protrusion (the disc shell has not yet exploded, but only changed its shape), presses adjacent tissues, which leads to the occurrence of muscle tension, pain and other pronounced symptoms with which cervical osteochondrosis continue. Over time, the fibrous shell of the disc is torn, and part of the Pulpic nucleus is squeezed in the fabric (this advance is called hernia). At this stage (these are 4 stages), all acute symptoms of the disease may decrease (a small part of the nucleus is absorbed or covered with calcium and no longer irritating surrounding tissues) or, conversely, will lead to the development of ischemic discouragement of the brain (oxygen, death, death of an area in relation) and discussion.
Causes instigating factors
Considering the causes of osteochondrosis, it is worth noting that the basis of violations is the natural aging of intervertebral disk tissues. The process can accelerate different provocative factors:
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Congenital defects in the development of the cervical spine (deformation of the body of the first cervical vertebra).
- Damage and surgical interventions.
- Excessive mobility of the cervical region (for example, in sports training).
- Lack of physical activity (sedentary work).
- Posture Violation (Stoop).
- Age.
- Nervous stress.
- Hypothermia.
Four stages (degree) and symptoms
With osteochondrosis in the cervical spine, all manifestations intensify from internship to internship, more changes occur on the intervertebral disc - stronger the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. In the early stage of a person, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be disturbed because they quickly get tired. Then the main sign of pathology appears - the pain that gives on the back of the head, shoulders, arms, chest, can be disguised as toothache. A person begins dizziness, the concentration of attention weakens, vision and hearing falls, this worsens the quality of life and does not affect their ability to work well. Gradually, symptoms increase and intensify - a person wakes up with a feeling of rigidity in the spine, during periods of exacerbations any steep movement (eg, sneezing or heels) causes a cutting pain in the neck and along the affected nerves, it is difficult to lift the hand or keep the object on their fingers. At night, heartbeat can intensify or the appearance of a feeling of shortness of breath can worry you patient cannot breathe deeply because of pain, a person is unable to move, turn his neck or raise his hand. In symptoms, osteochondrosis in men is almost no different from osteochondrosis in women (they are more concerned with headaches.
1st stage (grade)
The intervertebral disc lost its elasticity and gave in.
At this stage, with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the tension appears, fatigue, muscle fatigue and neck pain.
The first symptoms:
- muscle tension, which leads to its rapid fatigue, fatigue;
- Pain, discomfort in the neck;
- A headache appears periodically.
Stage 2
MPD cracks, exfolia, decrease further, protrusion (fibrous membrane protrusion) is formed, bone growths occur along the edges of the vertebrae.
- A person has a crisis, headache, sensitivity disorders, neck pain, which intensifies with elementary loads, gives other parts of the body.
- The feelings of neck pain are improved by loads, given to the shoulders, chest and occipital part of the head.
- The person is regularly worried about serious headaches.
- Cryst when turning the neck.
- Difficulties in swallowing.
- Blood pressure swanks.
- Dizziness.
- Skin numbness and fingers, weakening the limb muscles.
Stage 3
At this stage, the breaking protrusion (hernia), the bone peaks increase in size, the ligaments of the spine are ossified in the placement sites in the vertebral body. Symptoms for cervical osteochondrosis in 3 steps:
- The symptoms of the first two stages of the disease are linked to a violation of blood supply to the brain (due to compression of the vertebral artery) in the form of visual imperfections, hearing, orientation, sensitivity and others.
- The pain can intensify with the most elementary movements (tilting the head), soaks in the ear, jaw, shoulder and forearm.
- The patient is looking for a convenient pose, trying to find a tilt of the head that relieves the symptoms.
- Your attention is dispersed, memory, vision, hearing, movement coordination are deteriorating, sleep disorders, nausea appears, stable hypertension is formed.
- Pronounced rigidity of the spine, paresis, limb paralysis (immobility, impaired sensitivity), the muscles lose strength and volume (atrophy).
- The smooth column curve is observed.
4th stage
A characteristic of the fourth stage - symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis weaken, rigidity remains.
- Acute manifestations of the disease disappear due to the fact that soft tissues are subject to ossification (ossification).
- In 5 % of cases, 4 stages of osteochondrosis may be complicated by adjacent tissue necrosis, an ischemic brain stroke.
- The manifestations cause ischemic stroke (hunger for oxygen and removing part of the cells) and disability.
Possible complication of 4th degree cervical osteochondrosis:
- the ischemic blow of the brain, which can lead to the patient's inability;
- Due to circulatory disorders of adjacent tissues, the patient may have trophic ulcers (cell death due to lack of nutrients and oxygen).
Diagnostic methods
Cervical region osteochondrosis is diagnosed using several instrumental studies:
- X -ray (diagnostic characteristics characteristics in the shape of peaks along the edge of the vertebra or a decrease in MPD height appear in 2 steps).
- CT, magnetic resonance imaging of the spine (allows diagnosing changes in MPD in the early stages).
- Discography (a study with the introduction of a contrast medium allows you to establish deeper damage to the intervertebral disc).
- Electronography (with your help determines the obstacle, inflammation during the nerve end).
- Dopplerography of the brain vessels (allows to determine the condition of blood vessels and blood flow rate in them).
In case of damage to nerve endings, numerous neurological manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis occur, detects symptoms and supervises the treatment of a neurologist (helps establish a diagnosis, advise, prescribes medications).
Treatment Methods
Neck osteochondrosis is an incurable disease (such as osteochondrosis of any other location), changes that occur in intervertebral disk tissues, irreversible. In the early stages (1 and 2), it can be suspended by conservative therapy in three stages, conservative treatment is prescribed to relieve acute symptoms. Sometimes, with stable cervical radiculitis (with inflammation of the spinal nucleus of the spinal nerve), surgical removal of intervertebral discs is performed.
First aid
First aid for cervical osteochondrosis are necessary if the patient feels acute neck pain, cannot turn his head, cannot make other movements (lift his hands). In this case, a solution of 2%of anesthetics or other combined properties is introduced into the muscles along the vertebrae. Blocking quickly relieves pain and improves the patient's condition. The treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis during the recovery period is performed by heating agents that can improve blood circulation in cervical vertebrae and neck mobility.
Other treatment methods:
Experts can recommend several orthopedic devices:
- The Shantsz tire, which is a kind of corset, bandage or door. With your help, the head is fixed in a position and thus relax the muscles, discharge and anesthesia the cervical spine.
- An orthopedic pillow that allows you to sleep in the more convenient and physiological pose to the cervical region, without causing muscle tension, pain and spine stiffness.
Surgery
Surgical treatment may be necessary if:
- Intervertebral hernia (or hernia) tightens the increasingly compressed nerve roots;
- Other treatment methods do not relieve the patient's condition;
- There is a threat of disability.
Surgical treatment for cervical osteochondrosis significantly improves the patient's condition, but there is always the likelihood of developing various complications (loss of sensitivity, spine mobility).
Household treatment
Household treatment of osteochondrosis is the use of products that will help:
- Strengthen the blood circulation of the tissues.
- Improve metabolism in them.
- Finally, it is free of pain, inflammation and muscle tension.
They are used in the recovery period, when acute symptoms of the disease are left behind:
- Compressing heating with campraire alcohol. Take 50 ml of vodka, lighter alcohol, so much fresh aloe juice, 50 g of mustard powder and 100 ml of honey. Mix, add 3 beat egg protein to the mixture, leave for a day. Ready, the mixture is applied to the affected area along the mountain range (2-3 hours), covered with plastic wrap on the top. The course of treatment is 12 procedures, after a week, can be repeated.
- Ginger ointment. Moa 3 medium cloves of garlic and 50 g of fresh ginger root in a blender, add 50 g softened butter temperature, beat again. With this tool, the damage area is stained 1 time a day (for 2-3 hours), covered with a movie at the top. The course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis is 21 days after a 2 -week interval can be repeated.
Any non -traditional therapy methods should first be discussed with the assistant doctor.
Prevention
The measures for the prevention of osteochondrosis are:
- Moderate physical activity and exercise for the neck;
- a vitamin -rich diet and useful for cartilage;
- Orthopedic pillow and mattress to sleep;
- Convenient workplace.
You need to pay attention to the habit of carrying the weight in a hand or a bag in one shoulder and gets rid of it. This shy load is a provocative factor in the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Forecast
Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies that, after 45 years, appears in 90 % of people (regardless of gender). More often diagnosed:
- Cervical or cervical breast (due to the weakness of the cervical muscles and the mobility of the neck);
- Lumbar osteochondrosis (due to the load in this column);
- Less commonly - thoracic (this department is less mobile, the load is small).
Violations because the disease appears is irreversible, so it is impossible to cure the pathology. Conservative methods may be suspended by cervical osteochondrosis in 1 and 2 stages. Getting rid of acute symptoms will need 2 to 3 weeks, until the complete restoration of osteochondrosis should be treated up to 6 months. In 3 and 4 stages, the most effective method is surgical correction (hernias and disc removal, strengthening the vertebrae). A prerequisite for all people after 30 years is the regular performance of special exercises for the cervical spine, because these measures solve the problem of disease progression.