The causes of headache, numbness of the fingers, tingling in the heart sometimes should be sought not in the place of their localization, but in the neck.Osteochondrosis of this department affects the condition of the head and shoulder girdle, as well as the organs of these areas.
This is a dystrophic disease of the connective intervertebral discs that serve as shock absorbers in the spine.Depending on the level and volume of the lesion, appropriate symptoms develop.
The cervical department is the most mobile and vulnerable section of the spinal column.The influence of adverse factors leads to a violation of the nutrition of cartilage, thinning of the disks, the formation of a hernia or the growth of bone tissue.Nervous roots are squeezed, blood flow in the periporate vessels is disturbed.
Reasons
Factors that can lead to osteochondrosis are very diverse:
- a sedentary lifestyle, the lack of training for the muscular-observation apparatus;
- Long forced poses with increased neck load - sedentary work with a bowed head;
- injuries of the neck;
- metabolic violation;
- improperly selected pillow and mattress;
- obesity;
- systemic diseases of the connective tissue;
- Hereditary predisposition.
The following causes are directly impact on the development of symptoms of the disease:
- The displacement of the intervertebral disc develops quite rarely, but this condition leads to the development of paralysis;
- reduction in the height of the disk - flattening leads to a decrease in the diameter of the intervertebral hole, as a result of which the roots of the nerves are squeezed;
- hernia of intervertebral discs are a protrusion that can squeeze the root;
- Osteophytes are located on the sides of the vertebral bodies, irritate the adjacent muscles, cause their edema, increased tone, which increases the load on the disk and leads to a decrease in its height.If growths are directed to the vertebral canal, then this will cause its narrowing.
Symptoms of the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by a grouping of symptoms in syndromes, which determine the clinical manifestations and complaints of patients.
Vertebral syndrome
The manifestations of signs are associated with the state of bone or cartilage tissue of the vertebrae.To accurately diagnose this syndrome, all its symptoms must be present:
- change in mobility in the cervical region;
- pain during movement;
- Violation of the morphological structure of discs and vertebral bodies.
The absence of one of the signs allows you to suspect another disease with similar symptoms.A decrease in mobility without changes in morphology is observed with myositis - muscle damage.Pain is characteristic of many other diseases.
Vertebral artery syndrome
Symptoms that form it as follows:
- compression of the artery and impaired blood flow in its trunk, which leads to dizziness, noise in the ears, fluctuations in blood pressure, nausea or vomiting;
- the irritation of the nerve processes of the artery is manifested by a severe headache by the type of migraine, a decrease in sensitivity, numbness, flickering of “flies” before the eyes, a temporary one -sided decrease in vision;
- Hypoxia of the brain, or oxygen starvation, is expressed by a decrease in performance, fainting, lethargy, drowsiness, worsening attention, in severe cases even depression.
The lesion of the vertebral artery is reduced by the blood supply to the corresponding parts of the brain.But such a syndrome can be observed with other pathologies - atherosclerotic lesions of the vessels, compression of their growing tumors, inflamed tissues.
Cardial syndrome
The appearance of signs of angina pectoris, pain in the heart does not always indicate the pathology of this organ.These can be signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, which include:
- Loaded pain;
- shortness of breath;
- Fast fatigue and weakness.
In this situation, the method of exclusion acts - the diagnosis of heart disease is carried out using an ECG, as a result of which there are no changes characteristic of angina pectoris.There is no atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries on angiography.
Rook syndrome
These symptoms have a one -sided manifestation and are associated with the damage to the roots of the corresponding pair of spinal nerves.Characterized by pain, paralysis or paresis, impaired sensitivity on the corresponding side.
The first and second roots are characterized by pain or numbness in the occipital region.The third pair is manifested by numbness and a sense of bursting of the tongue, the difficulty of swallowing and chewing, impaired sensitivity behind the ear sinks.
Compression of 4 pairs leads to hiccups, pain in the clan and in the throat when swallowing.The fifth pair is expressed in the limitation of movement in the shoulders, the sixth - pain and numbness in the shoulder blades and forearms.
The seventh causes numbness in the hands, more often in the index and middle fingers, the eighth - paresis and impaired sensitivity in the ring finger and little finger.
The pathological process is very rarely limited to one pair of nerve roots, often several is affected at once, which confuses the clinical picture and leads to difficulties in diagnosis.
The lack of treatment or the wrong selection of the methodology can lead to complications in the form of a hernial protrusion, rupture of the disk and a sharp displacement of the vertebra, which may end with disability or death.
Diagnostics
The justification of the diagnosis is possible after conducting an X -ray study in direct and lateral projection.In the pictures, a decrease in the height of the disk, narrowing of the intervertebral opening and pathological bone growths are clearly noticeable.
Treatment
When diagnosed, cervical osteochondrosis symptoms of treatment at home can occur if patients follow the prescribed scheme and not complicated course of the disease.
Modern medicine offers several areas of therapy:
Medication>
Taking certain groups of drugs is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, improving the nutrition of cartilage, antioxidant protection.
After the appropriate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat cervical osteochondrosis drug treatment, you cannot prescribe yourself.
The following groups of drugs are used:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory.They eliminate pain and inflammation, reduce proliferative processes.Preparations of this group can be prescribed in tablets, but in the acute period, intramuscular administration is possible.It is not recommended to use them for a long time, taking in maximum dosages for more than a week leads to the development of non -stomach ulcers, causes toxic liver damage.
- Chondroprotectors begin to use from the moment the diagnosis is installed. The manifestation of their effect should be very long.
- This applies to a greater extent tablet forms and capsules for oral administration.Injection drugs are prescribed courses, their effect is manifested faster.They contain glucosamine, which affects the metabolism in cartilage, and chondroitin, which slows down the destruction of the disk.There are natural chondroprotectors - these are dishes with gelatin - jelly, jelly, as well as fish.
- Vasodilating drugs eliminate vascular spasm, improve blood flow in the muscles, and help reduce inflammation.
- Diuretics use when symptoms of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appear.Treatment is carried out in a short course to relieve inflammatory edema and compression of the nerves.
- Vitamin preparations are aimed at antioxidant protection of cartilage tissue, damaged nerves, brain cells.For this, A, E, with vitamins are needed.Group B is needed to improve the condition of the peripheral nerves. They will use the alternation of vitamin B6 and B12 every other day.The intake of groups of group vitamins in a short course is effectively affected.
- If, cervical osteochondrosis of ointment for treatment has worsened, help eliminate pain, have a warming effect and improve blood flow.It is applied to a very small amount using a special massage to the area of defeat.
Ointments with non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs have a small local analgesic effect.Unlike tablets, they can be used for a longer time.
>Physiotherapy
This method is used as an addition to the main treatment method.Physiotherapy acts selectively on the affected area, relieves pain, edema and inflammation, improves microcirculation and local immunity.
The following methods are applicable:
- Electrotherapy produces a local warming effect, due to which blood circulation improves, swelling is removed.But this method is contraindicated for those who have pacemakers and metal implants.
- Induction magnetic fields act for about 20 minutes on the pathological focus, relieve pain and inflammation.
- Laser therapy activates bioelectric processes in nerve tissues, improve their regeneration.The procedure is carried out on the ground of inflamed roots of the spinal cord, no more than 2 minutes per zone.
- Balneo treatment - the use of therapeutic mud, mineral waters, ozokerite.It is carried out during the period of exacerbation and remission in order to prevent and consolidate the effect of treatment.
Medical physical education
This method cannot be used in the acute period of the disease and perform exercises, overcoming the pain.All of them are produced smoothly, without jerking.You can not throw your head back and make circular movements.If there is a hernia of the intervertebral disc, then the consultation of a neurologist or neurosurgeon is required.
A set of exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Warm -up.Within 2-3 minutes, walk on the spot with a full foot, on socks, on the heels (how to treat a heel spur).
- Get straight, gradually strain your fists, arms, shoulders, hold for half a minute, relax and chat with your hands.
- Carefully perform the tilts of the head to the left and right shoulder, linger in each position for 10 seconds.
- In a sitting position or standing strictly up your shoulders, then, as if straightening, lower them a little back.
- Standing or sitting slowly lower your head down and touch the chin of the chest.Slowly take the starting position.
- Extend your arms to the sides, clench your fists.Perform rotations with brushes 4 times in each direction.
- Get up, spread your hands to the sides.Make rotational movement in the elbows alternately forward and backward.
- Similarly, circular movement in the shoulder joint is performed.
- Relaxation - raise your hands up and freely drop them, relaxing as much as possible.
Massage
An experienced mass-master will tell you how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home using massage and self-massage.
The basic principles can be called the following:
- All actions are performed by fingertips;
- You need to move from the spine to the periphery;
- You can not apply force, only light massive actions;
- All movements perform smoothly, without haste.
Usually use rubbing, kneading, stroking the neck.
Surgical treatment
It is used to narrow the spinal canal of a hernia, which is accompanied by compression of the vessels and nerves of the spine.
The indication is also the instability of the cervical spine.The presence of a hernia is not an indication for the operation.
In this case, they proceed from the effectiveness of drug treatment, the patient's condition, the severity of symptoms of osteochondrosis.Removing a hernia is carried out using a scalpel or in a more modern way - using a laser.
But often after surgical treatment, the symptoms of the disease are eliminated for a while, and later resumed.
Prevention
In order not to wonder how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical region at home, it is necessary to prevent the disease.In the first place is the correction of posture.The stoop creates an additional load on the cervical vertebrae, causes an inflammatory reaction
A long -term forced position with a bowed head should also be avoided when there is a high load on this department.
If you have to be in an uncomfortable position for a long time, periodically you need to perform exercises for the neck.You should also choose the right pillow for sleep.