The cervical spine is the narrowest part of it, however, the daily load of supporting the head, ensuring its rotation and mobility of the shoulder joints is incomparably superior to the performance of other parts of it.Considering the wrong lifestyle caused by eating habits, sedentary work and smoking, the possibility of developing cervical osteochondrosis in middle-aged people quadruples.
Despite such a prevalence of the disease, it is very difficult to identify cervical osteochondrosis in the early stages, since its symptoms are so varied and, at first glance, unrelated to the problem of the spine, that a person may not go to adoctor for years, considering that the cause of his poor health is completely different pathology.
Causes of the disease
In order to ensure the mobility of the vertebrae, there are intervertebral discs between them, which consist of cartilage tissue. They provide cushioning during movement and give flexibility to the spine. The life span of intervertebral discs, established by nature, is more than 120 years, but changes in the chemical composition of the blood lead to rapid dehydration of cartilage tissue, deposition of salts, which, in turn, contributes to the rapid wear of the discsand leads to their degenerative-dystrophic changes.
The reason for the change in blood composition is improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle in which the cells of the body do not need such an amount of salt and are deposited in the bone tissue, liver andin the kidneys. In a forced sedentary lifestyle, the greatest amount of salt is deposited in the neck.
Cervical osteochondrosis can also occur as a result of microtrauma caused by vibrations, for example, in drivers, as well as in the forced incorrect position of the tension of the head or neck caused by working conditions and the specifics of the profession.
What is the danger of cervical osteochondrosis
In the neck area, i. e. in the immediate vicinity of the cervical spine, there are nerve roots, as well as the vertebral artery, whose job is to supply oxygen to the brain. With dehydration of the intervertebral discs of the neck, their deformation occurs, and this narrows the space between the vertebrae and leads to their injury during movement.In addition, the deposition of salts promotes the formation of bone spines - osteophytes, which can violate the nerve roots and artery.
Developing, the disease leads to a violation of the sensitivity of the neck, shoulder blade, limbs, nape or, on the contrary, causes pain in these parts, depending on which nerve roots were blocked.
Compression of the vertebral artery is fraught with insufficient oxygen supply 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, as it has many irreversible consequences, while people in the advanced stages of the disease usually seek help.
Symptoms
The cervical spine consists of 6 segments, through which various nerve roots pass, their violation is expressed by various symptoms. Depending on which of the vertebrae in the neck is susceptible to osteochondrosis, the disease can be expressed in various symptoms. Thus, radicular syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Violation of sensitivity of the neck, shoulder blade, fingertips, mostly unilateral. Sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the back or back of the head.
- Burning in the chest, in the shoulder and also in one of the fingers, depending on the nerve involved.
- Pain in the heart regioncharacterized by its duration and intensification during sudden movements.
The result of compression of an artery, as well as small vessels, can be brain disorders, the symptoms of which can be listed as follows:
- Visual impairment, appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes, blurred images.
- In case of insufficient nutrition of the cerebellum, dizziness, nausea, disturbances of consciousness may appear, the ground disappears from under the feet.
- If the blood supply to the brain is disturbed, there is a threat of hypoxia, and the body's reaction is to increase the pressure necessary to increase blood flow.
- Oxygen deficiency also leads to a strong and unreasonable fear of provoking bouts of nausea.
- Possible impairment of coordination and hearing.
- When lymphatic circulation is impaired, intracranial pressure occurs, expressed in headache of the parietal and occipital parts, pressure on the eyeballs, tinnitus.
Such various symptoms and various individual manifestations of the disease often do not immediately suggest back problems, especially since in the initial stages, pain and stiffness of movements may be absent. And only a good specialist, having performed differential diagnostics, excluding other diseases characterized by the same symptoms, can identify cervical osteochondrosis.
Treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis is a rather long process and includes various methods of traditional and folk medicine. The main tasks assigned by the doctor when choosing a therapy are to relieve pain, restore the mobility of the vertebrae and metabolic processes, recharge the cartilage tissue, as well as remove swelling and inflammation in the soft tissues of the neck. The methods by which the above goals are achieved are different, including taking medications, rubbing with ointments, physiotherapy and special gymnastics. Hirudotherapy, acupuncture and traditional medicine recipes are used as an additional treatment.
The main component in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the patient's initiative and strict adherence to the doctor's prescriptions.
Let's take a closer look at how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, as well as the features of the techniques:
Medication
Distinguish between the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during exacerbation and remission. So, in case of acute pain, the doctor can prescribe:
- Analgesicsin the form of tablets, injections, the task of which is to relieve the symptoms of acute pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsin the form of injections, which relieve the inflammatory process. However, the side effects that accompany the use of NSAIDs do not allow their use for a long time.
- Muscle relaxantsrelieve muscle spasms and release pinched vessels, nerves and arteries.
- Novocaine blockade.This method is used for an acute attack accompanied by stiffness and pain in the neck. The treatment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
During the period of remission, 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 sulfates have a number of positive effects on the cartilage tissue of the spine, namely the restoration of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, the elimination of the pain syndrome and the arrest of the development of the disease.
Ointments for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are prescribed at the discretion of the physician and have various effects, including:
- analgesic;
- restore the structure of cartilage;
- anti-inflammatory;
- heating;
- complex.
In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by compression of the nerve roots and arteries, which leads to a number of symptoms, to eliminate which appropriate drugs are prescribed.
Physiotherapy
In addition to the main treatment, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed, the purpose of which is to eliminate pain, improve microcirculation in soft tissues and restore metabolic processes. Some procedures, for example, electrophoresis, are used in combination with medicinal ointments, achieving the maximum effect of the drug.
In addition to electrophoresis, shock wave therapy, laser treatment, ultraviolet rays and magnetotherapy are also used.
A similar effect is achieved with manual massage or acupuncture. A prerequisite for such treatment is high qualification and medical education from specialists in these areas.
Cervical osteochondrosis in remission can be treated with physiotherapy exercises. Properly selected exercises eliminate pain symptoms and contribute to the elimination 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 various interpretations are horseradish, adam root, aloe, ginger, garlic, hops, pine nuts, honey and lemon. They are used for the preparation of rubs, ointments, tinctures, compresses, mixtures for ingestion, as well as medicinal baths. Traditional methods perfectly relieve symptoms and also restore the mobility of the neck.