Causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Among all pathological processes that affect the spine in its different parts, cervical osteochondrosis is considered one of the most common and painful.This disease leads to many complications, mainly because it affects the spinal cord and also negatively affects brain function.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

The words of cervical osteochondrosis in medical practice means an acquired progressive disease that affects the specific spine.This pathological process is characterized by degenerative-distribution processes in the tissues of intervertebral discs, which are shock absorbers for cervical vertebrae.Degenerative-distribution changes in intervertebral discs are due to the fact that they are erased and deformed.As a result, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced and, as a result, the following consequences occur:

• Narrowing the spinal canal in certain areas of the spine.
• Passing through the vertebral arteries - large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.Because of which brain supply worsens and blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord is disturbed.
• Intervertebral discs can be deformed and flat.This leads to the tightening of individual sections of the spinal cord and nerves, more often, nerve roots are squeezed.

All these problems threaten not only a violation of the blood circulation of the brain, painful feelings in the neck, headaches, etc.The development of osteochondrosis in the cervical region is dangerous with problems of a neurological nature, worsening the central nervous system, damage to brain tissue.According to the international classification of diseases, several separate codes received osteochondrosis from the cervical region.The disease code for ICB 10 depends on the age of the disease: the disease has been diagnosed:

• M02 - Dystrophy of intervertebral discs in adolescence.
• M42.12 is a dystrophic process in the neck in adults.

Many factors depend on the age of the patient and the degree of development of the pathological process, for example, consequences, complications, symptoms and, of course, the principles of treatment.

Causes

Knowing the causes of the development of cervical region osteochondrosis can play a decisive role in the diagnostic process, as well as determining the principles of combating the disease.However, before listing the reasons, it is worth saying that doctors distinguish two factors that lead to the development of this pathological process:

1. Pathological - The destruction of intervertebral discs and other vertebrates with the involvement of nearby tissues, blood vessels and nerve bundles in the pathological process under the influence of adverse external factors.The more these factors and other pathologies, the faster the disease develops.
2. Physiological - Based on the development of pathology, especially age -related changes.We are talking about the natural aging of cartilaginous tissues in the spine of the spine, salts etc.

If we list more specific causes of cervical osteochondrosis, they are as follows:

• Violation of metabolic processes in the body as well as certain stages of obesity.
• Hypodinamia is a phenomenon characterized by a limitation of mobility.These are not just injuries or diseases, this can also include a sedentary lifestyle and a work sitting.
• Cardiovascular system pathologies, contributing to impair blood circulation in the brain, pressure changes and other things.
• Incorrect posture, these are various forms of scoliosis, rheumatism and even flat feet.
• Injection of the cervical spine.In this case, we are talking about sprains, strikes, bruises.Investigations from another spine in the development of cervical osteochondrosis may influence the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
• Excessively great physical effort in the cervical region caused by intensive or hard physical sports, depending on the type of human activity.
• A sedentary lifestyle is also dangerous, with a constant tension of the cervical spine and the entire spine, if you sit incorrectly or in uncomfortable furniture.
• A hernia of the cervical spine, as well as several related diseases.
• Long -term forced holding of the head in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.In this case, not only muscle overload occurs, but the spine is also curved in the cervical region.
• Doctors consider constant stress and nervous overvoltage a very common cause.
• One of the reasons is also considered congenital anomalies in the spine structure.

What is the danger to health?

As mentioned earlier, in the cervical spine, not only the spinal cord and several nerve branches are located, but also the spinal arteries that provide the occipital part of the brain, cerebellum and the medulable brain.With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, nearby tissues are inflamed.In addition, the development of pathology threatens to squeeze the nerve roots and transmit blood vessels, the consequences are as follows:

• Osteochondrosis is accompanied by vertebral spine deformations, a consequence of which the cerebrospinal fluid is reduced in certain areas.This can lead to squeeze the spinal cord and nerve branches, which promises severe neurological problems.In severe cases, a person feels pain, even there is the possibility of loss of control over the individual parts of the body (especially in the hand or face).
• Tighten the neck vessels, as already mentioned, is accompanied by a violation of blood circulation in the occipital region of the brain.At the same time, the brain ceases to receive oxygen and nutrients in the necessary quantities, oxygen hunger begins.With circulatory disorders, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and various neurological pathologies.

Syndromes

The main syndromes are:

• Vertebral.
• Vertebral artery.
• KORESHKA.
• Cardiac.

It is important to know that each of these symptoms is accompanied by painful sensations of a different nature, as well as many unfavorable clinical signs.A person may feel dizziness, a noise appears in his ears and more.

Vertebral Syndrome

He talks about the direct connection of cervical region osteochondrosis with cartilaginous bones and tissues.Symptoms in this type of pathology are also associated with the injury of the mentioned tissues:

• Neck movements are partial or completely limited.
• Head movements are accompanied by neck pain.
• X -ray shows morphological changes in tissues (intervertebral and vertebrae body).

It is noteworthy that vertebral syndrome is always accompanied by these three clinical signs.If at least 1 of them is absent, the diagnosis will be completely different.

Rook Syndrome

It occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged.At the same time, nervous conductivity is disturbed, a person may feel pain or lose the sensitivity of the individual parts of the body or even suffer from paralysis.Depending on which of the 8 root couples there is a disturbance of conductivity, these symptoms are distinguished:

• 1 pair - numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• 3 pair - violation of the mascar reflection, numbness of the tongue and unpleasant sensations behind the ears;
• 4 pair - pain in the clavicle, violation of swallowing reflex;
• 5 PAR - Shoulder waist violations, accompanied by the problem of hand movement;
• 6 PAR - The patient begins to feel pain and numbness in the forearm and the shoulder blades;
• 7 PAR - Hands and fingers become numb (usually indices and half);
• 8 PAR - Problems similar to the past item, but numbness is felt on the ring finger and little finger.

Cardial syndrome

Although the pathological process is still located in the cervical spine, the syndrome has all signs of heart pathologies.The clinical image is as follows:

• Fast wrist.
• Pain in the sternum region.
• Lacking breath, weakness, lethargy, decreased performance.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

For the opportune search of a doctor, it is necessary to clearly understand the signs of cervical osteochondrosis.In some cases, this knowledge allows you to seek help in the early stages of the disease when it is easier to treat.In general, the symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis are as follows:

• Pain for osteochondrosis is always present, only intensity and frequency differ.It is the pain that is the first clinical sign.Its intensity depends on the stage of disease progression in nature, they are stupid or squeeze.The painful sensations are present mainly in the neck of the occipital region, but can also radiate to the temporal region, waist and hands.
• In most cases, there are manifestations of the lesion of the vestibular apparatus.We are talking about dizziness caused by frequent cause, nausea, impaired coordination of movements, irregular gear, loss in space.
• One of the most common clinical signs is the rigidity of the neck muscles and the rigidity of the movements.It's hard for a person to turn, lower and throw their heads away, movements respond with pain attacks.
• Many patients observe the feeling that the goose bumps "run through the scalp" or a characteristic tingling is felt.
• In the area of the hands, there is weakness and muscle numbness.
• Often there are psychological manifestations, expressed in depression, drowsiness, a marked change in mood, temperament or irritability.
• Due to impaired blood circulation and damage to the brain tissue, the dizziness intensifies and the noise in the ears appears, similar to the rustle, pulse, touch.
• Most patients observe visual impairment as well as eye pain, especially when trying to cut the eyes a lot to the left, right, up or down.

Sometimes it is possible to determine the degree of development of the pathological process by symptoms.However, for a complete diagnosis of this, this is not yet sufficient and several diagnostic measures are required.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of cervical spine osteochondrosis is required to determine the location and stage of disease progression.For total diagnosis, these diagnostic methods are required:

• X -Ray - The main method that allows you to determine the degree and location of the spinal column deformation.
• You can use computed tomography for a more accurate diagnosis of pathological changes in vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• Magnetic Resonance (magnetorsonance images) - makes it possible to examine the wheels and vertebrae in detail, determine the presence of hernias, protrusions and the resting scale of the rest.
• DOPLROGROPHY - At the same time, the exam becomes the opportunity to find a place to squeeze the artery, to evaluate the degree of circulatory disorders.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis always implies an integrated approach.The principles of treatment depend on the mass of factors, such as the patient's age, the stage of disease development, the brightness of the clinical condition, etc.However, you cannot be without a doctor in this situation, and first and foremost you can consult a therapist who will direct you to a vertebrologist.Regarding the integrated approach: Cervical osteochondrosis osteochondrosis is treated using drug therapy, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy and other methods that should be discussed in more detail.

Drug treatment

The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is drug therapy, which involves the use of tablets, medications and medications of these groups:

• Anesthetics - Analgesics and antispasmodic.The first first directly dull of nerve centers, preventing painful sensations.The latter allow you to relieve the spasm of the neck muscles, establishing blood flow and suppress pain.
• NO -IINFLAMATORY NO -FLAIMS NO -ESTEROIDS are required to reduce the inflammatory process, most of them also eliminate pain.Often these medications are used in the form of gels, ointments that are rubbed in the affected area.
• Muselaxantes are another way to remove muscle spasm in the cervical region.
• Condropoprotectors are mandatory at certain stages of spicy osteochondrosis because they contribute to the restoration of bone tissues.
• Vitamins B - Normalize metabolic processes of nerve tissues, improving the conductivity of nerve impulses and contributing to the work of the central nervous system.

Remember that treatment should be performed only under the supervision of a doctor, responsible for the appointment of each medicine, as well as determining the duration of their ingestion and dosage.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis will often be more effective using some physiotherapy techniques:

• Electrophoresis.
• Laser therapy.
• Ultrasound.
• Massage.

Therapeutic massage is necessarily performed by an experienced health worker, the treatment is performed by a course of at least 10 sessions.Massages of the cervical region help normalize blood circulation, restore elasticity, muscle tone, relieve pain, etc.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is based on the principle of restoring motor functions and mobility between vertebrae.Initially, the manipulations are in a relaxing and light massage, so the doctor attributes more and more strength, acts on pressure vertebrae and neck twists.

The use of Kuznetsov applicators is one of the therapy methods for spine diseases, including osteochondrosis.The effect of adaptation on the cervical region normalizes metabolic processes, relieves pain, increases muscle tone, improves blood circulation, increases nervous tissue conductivity, etc.To prevent osteochondrosis, it is useful to engage in swimming and hanging in the horizontal bar for 2-3 minutes every day.