A sedentary lifestyle characteristic of office workers and those who like to relax in front of the TV or behind the monitor screen often cause osteochondrosis. The first signs of this disease can manifest itself at the age of 25 and, if it is not treated, complications can lead to serious consequences.
In the article we will consider what is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the main causes of this disease, its symptoms and stages, methods of treatment, as well as answer other questions that occur in patients with osteochondrosis.
The causes of osteochondrosis
The main causes that can cause osteochondrosis:
- improper nutrition and excess weight;
- violations of posture, scoliosis, rheumatism, flat feet;
- Sedentary lifestyle: sedentary work (drivers, office workers), lack of physical exertion, etc. ;
- injuries in the neck, spinal injuries;
- too much physical activity, unusual for the body;
- nervous tension, frequent stresses;
- hereditary predisposition to the development of the disease;
- Incorrect development of the cervical spine.
Most of the above reasons cause a load on the cervical vertebrae, as a result of which muscle spasm occurs. Because of this, the process of blood circulation is disturbed, the effectiveness of metabolic processes is reduced, which causes degenerative changes. The structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are thinned and deformed, speaking beyond the spine.
Often the cause of osteochondrosis is a progressive disc, spread to adjacent vertebrae or bone tissue. It occurs most often with prolonged physical exertion in the lumbar and cervicals, almost never touching the chest.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
Developing, osteochondrosis goes through several stages characterized by certain signs and symptoms. We will consider these stages below.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical region (preclinical stage)
Usually, at the initial stage of development of the disease, only slight smoothing of the neck lordosis is observed, patients experience pain intensifying with turns and tilting of the head, feel tension and rapid fatigue of muscles in the back and lower back. At this stage, osteochondrosis is cured without medicines, it is enough to change nutrition, perform exercises and other events.
Osteochondrosis 2 degrees
In the second stage between the vertebrae, instability is observed, the patient begins to disturb a more intense pain, which periodically gives him to his hands or shoulders, the pain is also intensified with turns and tilting of the head. This occurs as a result of infringement of nerves, since the height of the intervertebral discs decreases. Patients begin to notice rapid fatigue, absent -mindedness, reduction in the level of performance and headaches.
Osteochondrosis 3 degrees
At this stage, the pain begins to intensify, it occurs constantly not only in the neck, but also in the shoulders, gives it to his hands. The muscles of the hand become weaker, numbness is observed, since hernias of intervertebral discs begin to form. In this case, the diagnosis reveals the small mobility of the cervical region. Patients are concerned about dizziness and weakness.
Osteochondrosis 4 degrees
At the final stage, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, which are replaced by connective tissue. The pathological process affects several segments of the ridge at once, which can be at different stages of destruction. In patients, there is a violation of coordination, dizziness and pain are enhanced, there is noise in the ears and other disorders.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Even the initial stage of the disease can be identified according to the following signs:
Headaches for osteochondrosis of the cervical region
- pain in the neck, nape, shoulders or arms;
- weakness of hands;
- crunch and pain during head movements;
- general weakness, fatigue, impaired coordination, dizziness;
- Reducing the acuteness of vision and hearing, numbness of the language.
One of the most common signs is dizziness for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. At the same time, the symptoms of dizziness can be accompanied by the noise and ringing in the ears (hearing acuity reduced), the sensations of disorientation, migraines, as well as nausea and vomiting. Treatment of dizziness for cervical osteochondrosis does not require any special methods and drugs and occurs in parallel with general therapy. Moreover, it is the doctor who determines how to treat these symptoms that one should not try to get rid of dizziness with folk methods.
Another unpleasant consequence is frequent headaches, especially in women. Migraines can occur several times a day, causing unpleasant and painful sensations.
Signs of the disease of the cervical region are manifested in a slightly different way than osteochondrosis of other spine in connection that the vertebrae in the neck are close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is small, which leads to complications even with minor degenerative changes.
Diagnosis of chondrosis of the cervical spine
The following methods are used to diagnose the disease in medicine:
- Radiography. This method is ineffective, especially in the last stages of the development of osteochondrosis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A method that allows you to see bone structures, hernias of intervertebral discs, their size and direction of development.
- Computed tomography. A less effective solution than an MRI, since the presence and size of hernias is difficult.
- Ultrasound duplex scanning. This method is used in cases where a violation of blood flow is suspected in the arteries. Using scanning, you can determine the speed of blood flow and whether there are obstacles to it.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
For the treatment of such a disease as osteochondrosis, various methods are used: medicines, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-brotheral zone for the blood supply to the brain and therapeutic gymnastics, and maintaining proper nutrition. It is the combination of all methods, how to treat cervical chondrosis that will achieve a real result in the fight against the disease.
Despite the fact that women are more susceptible to headaches and numbness of the limbs in this disease, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is no different from its treatment in men: the same drugs and exercises are prescribed.
First aid for severe pain
With severe pain, painkillers can be used. If the above drugs do not bring relief, the NSAIDs can be taken.
Often, "distracting" means are used, for example, a pepper patch that does not heal, but only hears an inflamed area and distracts from pain. In the case of edema in the inflammation zone, the patient can drink infusion of herbs or a diuretic for 3-4 days. Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis with such methods? These measures are only temporary; for the treatment of causes, you must consult a doctor.
It should be noted which doctor treats osteochondrosis. If suspicion arises that the causes of pain in the cervical spine is the occurrence of osteochondrosis, you should turn to a neuropathologist. It is this specialist who is engaged in diseases of this kind. In some medical institutions there are narrow -minded specialists involved in precisely diseases of the spine. If your clinic has a vertebrologist, you should address the question of how to cure this disease, immediately to it.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs
| The name of the group of drugs | The action of the drug | |
| Nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs | Reduce pain, relieve swelling and inflammation of the damaged roof of the nerve. | |
| B vitamins | Contribute to improving metabolic processes in nervous tissue. | |
| Chondroprotectors | Restore cartilage fabric. | |
| Medicines aimed at improving the rheological properties of blood and blood flow | Improve the process of blood flow to the brain and the nutrition of damaged nerve endings. | |
| Musorelaxants | Drugs whose action is aimed at reducing muscle spasm. |
When accepting the tablets from osteochondrosis, it should be remembered that the significant effect of drug treatment with tablets will be only if it is combined with other methods, including exercises. It should also be noted that the attending physician must prescribe than to treat the disease on the basis of its stage and other signs.
Many doctors consider the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis injections effective, since this allows you to quickly affect the end of the nerves and causes a minimum of adverse reactions. At the same time, it is better to take vitamins in the form of tablets, since there is no difference for assimilation, but the introduction of injections can be painful.
Injections used for treatment:
- intramuscular injections cause a general strengthening and anti -inflammatory effect;
- Blocks are introduced directly into the affected place, which leads to a rapid effect.
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis
Therapeutic gymnastics brings the maximum effect and is the most safe during recovery. When performing exercises of physiotherapy exercises, the patient should not experience pain or feel discomfort.
Exercises for the cervical spine are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the neck, which will not only overcome the disease, but also serve as a prevention for its occurrence.
For clarity and more accurate execution, we give a video of exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home
Home treatment methods are only an addition to a complex prescribed by a doctor, and they will not help to completely get rid of the disease. Before treating osteochondrosis at home, be sure to consult a doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary medicines. It is the doctor who should determine how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home
For treatment, the house is used: recipes for traditional medicine (designed to relieve muscle pain and tension, improve blood circulation), physiotherapy exercises, as well as the mandatory massage of the cervical-cheese zone at home.
Folk recipes for removing pain in the zone of the neck:
- Attach the horseradish sheet in the inside to the neck, fix it with a bandage or any breathing fabric. Before use, it is necessary to scald it with boiling water and cool to room temperature. It is advisable to perform before bedtime and leave the bandage all night.
- Finely cut the potatoes and mix it with honey in the same proportion. The mixture will look like an ointment in consistency. Use as a compress at least 1 time per week.
- Remove the pain of heating well. For this purpose, you can use mustard plasters, a bag with heated sand, peppers or alcohol.
Often, patients begin to look for ways to treat or relieve pain on various forums and similar sources. It should be noted that not a single forum and its visitors will be able to correctly diagnose the stage of the disease and methods of its treatment. The question is whether osteochondrosis is treated in your case and how it is necessary to do this, a qualified doctor should decide on the basis of diagnostics.
Therapeutic massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Massage is necessary to strengthen muscle tone and relieve pain. Depending on what stage is osteochondrosis, the massage technique is selected. Nevertheless, when making the neck massage, experts use all the techniques of classic massage: rubbing, stroking, kneading, etc. In cases where the patient hurts only on one side, the massage begins in the healthy part of the neck, gradually moving to that part of the collar zone where pain occurs.
Massage can be performed at home, but very carefully so as not to cause exacerbation and not harm the patient. The patient must take the position of lying down, put his forehead on the hands and stretch the chin to the chest. At the same time, the neck muscles should be completely relaxed. The prophylaxis of the occurrence of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra
To prevent the occurrence and development of the disease, doctors recommend that you adhere to simple rules:
- play sports (especially efficient swimming);
- include in the diet products containing a large amount of magnesium and calcium (fish and other seafood, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, dairy products and cheeses, spinach, etc. , do not use spicy pepper, salty, grapes, sugar, flour products, smoked products);
- during sitting work several times during the day, a warm -up;
- Choose comfortable pillow and mattress.
The implementation of these simple recommendations can protect you from the occurrence of osteochondrosis at any age.
The article examined the causes, symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, ranging from medical intervention to home techniques. This disease can be cured, including without surgery, but for this all methods should be used: take medications, perform exercises and do massage.