The organs and tissues of the body wear out and age over time, therefore, at the age of 50-60 years, a person begins to feel periodic pains throughout the body.However, there are diseases in which the aging of individual parts occurs much faster.The first symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical region manifest up to 40 years, and the disease itself brings a lot of inconvenience.
What is osteochondrosis of the cervical region?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a disease associated with the wear of the cervical vertebrae.The cervical spine itself consists of 7 moving vertebrae and connective tissue in the form of intervertebral discs.Since the upper spine is not strengthened by a muscular corset, the neck is the most mobile segment.This is also facilitated by elastic connective tissue.All this contributes to the turn and inclinations of the head.Inside the vertebrae and discs there is a complex circulatory system and nerve endings.
With an excessive load on the neck, intervertebral discs are abrasion, made less elastic.As a result, the vertebrae themselves begin to “leave”.Incorrectly located vertebrae lead to pinching of nerves, deterioration of blood circulation and metabolism in the spine.
Symptoms
Symptoms in osteochondrosis of the cervical region are very diverse, since they are associated with pinches of nerves and worsening blood flow.There are cases when, instead of causes, the investigation is treated, but do not achieve results, therefore it is extremely important to correctly diagnose the disease.
There are a number of general symptoms that are manifested in most of those suffering from this disease:
- Burning pain in the neck, which intensifies when changing the pose, sneezing, deep breath, turning the head.With a sharp rotation of the neck, the pain can cause fainting;
- Small problems with coordination, which most often lead to an unsteady gait;
- Veasure deterioration, which is not always accompanied by myopia or excessive fatigue of eyeballs.Rice ripples and flickering black dots are also characteristic.
- Hearing deterioration, which is accompanied by constant noise and ringing in the ears;
- Headaches of different nature, both burning in the back of the head, which spreads to the temporal part, as well as dull pain in the tan arches and the parietal zone, periodic dizziness;
- Constant fatigue;
- Problems with the concentration of attention and memory, as well as a significant deterioration in mental abilities, is characteristic mainly for people of advanced age.
Also, depending on how the nerve is pinched, additional symptoms occur, which are no longer reflected on the head, but below:
- Tingling and numbness of the shoulder, arms and fingers.The side goes numb, depending on where the neck is turned, and not all the fingers are tinged, but 1-2, by what kind of fingers, you can determine the problem with what kind of vertebrae.Less often the pain is given to the legs;
- The pain is given to the shoulder and left side of the chest, including periodic cramps in the heart;
- Burning from the neck down to the zone between the shoulder blades;
Sometimes osteochondrosis also manifests itself on the appearance of a person: pain in the teeth, flabby and dry skin of the face, snoring at night, a hoarse or weak voice
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common cause of osteochondrosis is a sedentary lifestyle, so “white collars” are subject to this disease.Office workers have long been in one uncomfortable position, which is forced to maintain the spine, including the cervical department.The lack of the ability to do gymnastics periodically, developing the neck, leads to the degradation of the intervertebral discs.However, excessively active sports can also lead to osteochondrosis, especially for exercises associated with lifting, because the main load falls on the spine.With constant large loads, the connective tissue begins to wash, this leads to osteochondrosis of different segments of the spine.
In addition to an active lifestyle or its absence, the cause of osteochondrosis can be:
- poor nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals, in particular calcium and phosphorus;
- Genetic predisposition.Osteochondrosis is not a hereditary disease, however, with the development of the fetus in the womb, it may not have enough substances to form a bone system, which will affect the elasticity of the discs in adulthood.Or hereditary diseases of bone tissues may become a factor;
- back or neck injury;
- hypothermia;
- The problem of metabolism or hormones.
Degree of osteochondrosis.Why is this disease dangerous?
There are 3 degrees of development of osteochondrosis of the neck, although in some sources 4, recovery, after the removal of a hernia, is also mentioned.However, such a development of the disease is considered quite positive, since there are no persistent disorders in the life system.
The first degree of the disease causes the least inconvenience, but it is precisely because of this that it is difficult to diagnose in the early stages.This extent is characterized by an insignificant loss of elasticity and cracks in the intervertebral discs.This is expressed in the form of pain in the neck during inclinations, the nature of the pain can be described as an electric discharge that pass along the cervical segment.Also at this moment, pupils expand, which makes it possible to determine the disease at the first stage.
The second degree of osteochondrosis is characterized by constant pain in the neck, which intensifies when the position of the head is changed, but it does not completely pass.At this stage, swelling of the neck is possible, since the intervertebral disc is narrowed under the vertebral pressure.The places of already existing tears expand, and excess moisture begins to flow out of the disk itself, which leads to swelling.Since to this extent the distance between the vertebrae is reduced, the first signs of nerves affect.Often suffering from neck osteochondrosis, people try to reduce pain, supporting their heads with their hands.However, pain also extends to the head.
The third degree of development of the disease begins with the hernia of the disk.This condition was also called acute osteochondrosis, when, due to pain in the neck, a person often loses consciousness.The pain is given in the limbs and the thoracic region, the gait becomes uncertain.In particularly difficult cases, there may be a partial loss of control control control.Also, neglected osteochondrosis can lead to damage to the nerves and spinal cord, which causes full or partial paralysis.
Diagnostic methods
You can diagnose osteochondrosis of the neck only in clinical conditions.The diagnosis itself is carried out in several stages:
- Analysis of the patient's complaints.At this stage, it is mainly about the nature of the pain and the where it manifests itself most often;
- External inspection.During an external examination, the doctor cannot determine the disease with confidence, but palpation of the neck helps to understand the condition of the neck muscles, as well as detect pain points;
- hardware research.Only with the help of hardware research can you determine the cause of pain in the neck.Usually, an X -ray is used for this.They take several pictures to have a complete picture, since the bones of the skull can close part of the cervical vertebrae.Also, a picture with an open mouth is sure to see the degree of compression of the disks.In addition to the x -ray, more modern equipment is used - computed tomography and the MRI apparatus.The latter gives the most complete picture, since you can immediately see a hernia.
An independent diagnosis based on pain and feeling of sections of the neck is impossible.You need a picture from the inside to understand the condition of the cervical segment.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
A complete cure of osteochondrosis is possible only at the initial stages of the disease.In other cases, treatment only facilitates the symptoms so that the patient does not feel discomfort in ordinary life.Basically, treatment does not require surgical intervention, it is used only to remove hernia for osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree.Treatment of the disease itself is carried out in different ways that may depend on the policy of the clinic and the availability of special equipment.The most effective treatment gives:
- deep oscillation with a special device;
- applications with mountain wax;
- electrophoresis;
- Laser therapy.
These techniques can relieve pain in just a few sessions, but it is not everywhere there is the opportunity to put them in practice, therefore, the massage is most often prescribed as an affordable and effective treatment method.
Drug treatment is also used with injections, ointments, painkillers.Some clinics offer alternative types of medicine as a way to recover from the disease.In such cases, acupuncture, moksotherapy are used (warming the necessary points on the body), put leeches.
Only a specialist can recommend a specific method of treatment after a diagnosis and determines the degree of disease.
Common questions
People facing osteochondrosis of the cervical region have approximately the same questions that are given below.
Is it possible to cure it at all?
This disease can be completely cured, but only at the initial stage.With a 2 -degree degree of osteochondrosis, treatment will mainly be aimed at stopping pain.Possible remission.
Can I warm your neck?
It is impossible to warm the neck with compresses, special lamps and other means.Although in the first minutes a person feels relief, and the pain recedes, after an hour it will return with a vengeance, accelerating the process of development of the disease.There is also a probability of strong swelling.
At the same time, it is necessary to prevent hypothermia of the neck, so it is recommended to wear warm scarves and clothes with high collars.
Can a head circle from osteochondrosis?
Yes, since during the disease the blood flow to the brain decreases, which causes dizziness, as well as some other symptoms.Dizziness can manifest itself differently, depending on which area is susceptible to oxygen starvation.A person can either observe how the walls and floor move, or hear the noise of blood in the ears and feel the pressure on the temporal share.
Can a headache from this?
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of neck osteochondrosis.Several varieties of pain are distinguished: migraine, burning in the parietal zone, which extends to the oversonal arcs, acute pain, which rises from the spine to the crown and temporal pain.They can occur for various reasons, but they are all characteristic of osteochondrosis.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than treating.The same rule applies to osteochondrosis of the neck.To prevent the disease, it is necessary to adhere to several rules:
- Physical activity.The most effective ways to avoid yoga and physiotherapy exercises will be to avoid neck, but it is better to refuse two -hour classes or two -hour classes in the gym.With a sedentary lifestyle, it is necessary to periodically arrange a short break during the working day, during which you should get up from the chair and walk, knead your shoulders and neck.It is advisable to avoid a sharp turn of the head.
- Organization of the workplace.A properly selected working chair and a table will help to avoid neck pain.The chairs must be chosen with a high back so that it supports the spine, the table should be proportionate to your growth.Proper lighting and distance to the computer will also help reduce the risk of the disease.
- Organization of a berth.A healthy sleep takes as much time as a normalized working day, which means that it is necessary to bother with its convenience.The orthopedic not too hard mattress and a low pillow will be an excellent solution.
- Massage.It is not necessary to visit the masseur 3 times a week to support the neck and back in normal, you can learn to do self -massage.Thus, you will avoid accumulations of salts in the cervical region and will support the muscles in tone.
- A visit to a bath and sauna.Although with osteochondrosis it is not allowed to warm the neck, the baths are shown in the form of a prevention, as this is a way to remove muscle spasm, as well as remove harmful toxins from the body that come out with later.
- Proper nutrition.Very often, a lack of nutrients becomes a problem for the whole organism.Beans, spinach, fish, dairy products will help to avoid pain in the cervical region.Everything that is saturated with calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones.
- Try not to overstrain your neck.Take a rule not to wear heavy bags on the shoulder.
- Wear clothes by season, hypothermia or draft can be a trigger for osteochondrosis.Do not forget about scarves and vests with a collar, do not stand for a long time in the cold wind, turning your back to him, find the shelter.
All these tips will not only help to avoid osteochondrosis, but also have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body.