Cervical osteochondrosis

The life of a modern person is associated with constant overloads to which the spine is exposed. And if earlier diseases of this important organ were found mainly in people of mature and old age, today, according to medical statistics, representatives of the younger generation are increasingly experiencing such problems. The leader in this group of diseases iscervical osteochondrosis(SHOOH). This pathology gives a person a lot of inconvenience.

Therefore, it is worth learning about the causes of its appearance and the methods of treatment.

What is cervical osteochondrosis

For a long time, most people try not to notice unpleasant discomfort in the neck area, referring to the usual overexertion and fatigue. But over time, painfulness is added to the discomfort when moving the head, and other unpleasant symptoms appear. And only when the situation becomes critical, a person seeks medical help and learns that he has cervical osteochondrosis.

This disease equally often affects both sexes. As already noted, today it is often found in very young people under the age of 30. This phenomenon is largely due to the introduction of computer technologies into all spheres of life. People simply stop moving and spend most of their time in a state chained to the monitor. As a result, pathological changes begin to occur in the cervical spine: the vertebrae are displaced, and the cartilaginous tissues between them, which represent a kind of layer, become thinner. In other words, there is an overgrowth of connective tissue when formations in the form of growths appear on the vertebral body.

The consequence of such pathological changes is a decrease in the effect of shock absorption between the vertebrae, the bone surfaces, in contact with each other, cause friction, and squeeze the nearby nerves and blood vessels. All these pathological changes lead to a deterioration in the blood supply to the posterior parts of the brain, which causes a deterioration in general well-being and pain. If the problem is not addressed in a timely manner, the disease will progress and, in severe cases, may even lead to disability.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Not so long ago, the main causes of SHOC have always been associated with age-related changes in the body. But in the realities of modern life, factors have appeared that increase the risk of developing pathology at a younger age.

Some of these reasons include:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• forced stay in one position (usually sitting);
• overweight;
• autoimmune diseases;
• drafts;
• stressful situations;
• injuries to the cervical or occipital region;
• congenital anomalies of the spine;
• violation of metabolic processes.

In some cases, the disease develops as a result of hormonal disorders or unfavorable heredity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In contrast to the pathological processes in other parts of the spine, SHOX manifests itself more pronounced. This feature is explained by the fact that in the cervical spine the vertebrae are very close to each other, so the height of the intervertebral discs is small. This anatomical feature contributes to a greater extent than in other parts of the spinal column, compression of nerve tissues and blood vessels. Therefore, the main symptomatology of the disease is localized in the upper back, in the cervical region and in the head.

In this case, patients present the following complaints:

• limitation of neck mobility, especially if you want to turn your head;
• intense pain, which often does not allow a person to perform an elementary action (bending, turning the head);
• characteristic crunch when moving;
• decreased sensitivity in the hands;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• dizziness;
• general weakness;
• decreased vision and hearing, tactile sensitivity or taste perception.

Since the cervical spine consists of eight vertebrae, depending on the place of the dystrophic lesion, the disease has its own characteristic signs. Usually in these departments there is a disorder of sensitivity or restriction of mobility as a result of compression of the spinal roots. Therefore, cervical osteochondrosis is differentiated by radicular symptoms, that is, it is taken into account which vertebra is involved in the pathological process.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be as follows:

1. the first vertebra - sensitivity decreases and numbness of the occipital region and neck is noted;
2. the second - soreness in the back of the head and parietal region;
3. third - pain in the part of the neck where the root is clamped, speech and taste perception are also impaired;
4. fourth - pain radiating to the shoulder, under the scapula, breathing disorders can be observed;
5. fifth - pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulder;
6. sixth - soreness in the neck extends to the forearm and thumbs on the hand;
7. seventh - pain radiating to the scapular region, back shoulder, forearm and fingers;
8. eighth - the pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder and further down the arm to the little fingers.

It should be noted here that the diagnosis pays special attention to the extent of the lesion. Because this criterion determines the degree of cervical osteochondrosis. There are only four of them and they determine the severity of the pathological process.

Diagnosis of the disease

It should be noted that an experienced doctor can easily diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during the initial examination, focusing only on the characteristic clinical symptoms. But in order to determine the degree of damage and the prevalence of pathology, the patient is recommended to undergo a number of examinations.Basically, these are all hardware research methods. Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis includes:

• Radiographic examination of the cervical spine. In the process of diagnostics, the degree of damage, localization, salt deposits, and features of the location of the vertebrae are established.
• Computed tomography - allows you to detect possible ruptures, to establish the real height of the intervertebral discs, places of compression of the nerve tissues and the spinal cord, if any.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - gives an accurate display of pathological changes. Thanks to this type of examination, it is possible to accurately determine the state of the nerve fibers, as well as the intensity of blood flow.

Most often, when diagnosing, one of the listed types of examination is sufficient. In most cases, doctors use a technique that has been proven for decades, namely, X-ray.

Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?

Any pathology of the spine is fraught with serious problems. After all, the spinal column is a kind of foundation on which the entire structure of the human body rests. Important blood lines pass through the cervical region, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain. There are a lot of nerve endings here. Therefore, a violation of the innervation or blood supply to important organs threatens with serious consequences. And this is not an exaggeration of the danger, since osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has serious consequences.

In addition to the perceived discomfort, the resulting vertebral defect leads to hearing loss, visual impairment. The brain with SCH suffers from a lack of oxygen. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered the most dangerous form of this disease.

To be convinced of this, it is enough to list only the most common complications of SHOC:

• persistent hypertension;
• chronic migraines;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD);
• breathing problems;
• various disturbances of perception (taste, touch), which eventually take on an irreversible form;
• cardiovascular pathologies, of which strokes are the most dangerous.

In advanced cases of the disease, patients develop vertebral artery syndrome, and prolonged compression of the nerve roots leads to radiculopathy. Changes in the structure of the vertebrae can subsequently lead to a complete loss of mobility in the neck. But the most serious complication of cervical osteochondrosis is death, which leads to compression of the spinal cord.

Given the seriousness of the situation and the high likelihood of complications, if alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a hospital. Among such unpleasant signs may be: systematic headaches, dizziness, discomfort in the neck or back of the head. After diagnostic measures, the doctor will select an adequate therapy.

Treatment of patients with SHS is usually complex. The therapy necessarily includes massage, remedial gymnastics, physiotherapy procedures. Of course, without the use of medications, it is impossible to improve the patient's condition.Therefore, the complex of drug treatment for osteochondrosis includes:

• analgesics;
• anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs;
• chondroprotectors;
• muscle relaxants are means that relieve muscle tension;
• a complex of vitamins is necessarily prescribed.

All therapy is selected by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. Any kind of self-medication for cervical osteochondrosis is unacceptable. All of these medications are aimed at localizing symptoms in the acute phase of the disease. During the period of remission, other techniques are relevant. Usually, treatment is carried out at home, that is, on an outpatient basis. But in especially severe cases, the patient is hospitalized.

Traditional methods of treatment

Doctors are always willing to supplement the medication complex of treatment with natural preparations prepared on the basis of folk recipes. Various decoctions, infusions help to stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Here are some recipes for alternative treatment of osteochondrosis:

• Dill seeds (200 g) should be poured with vodka (250 ml) or alcohol diluted in half with water. After two weeks of infusion, it is recommended to take on an empty stomach three times a day, a tablespoon of infusion.
• Means for external use are easy to prepare in the following sequence: lilac leaves (fresh) must be crushed into a fine mass, add 300 ml of radish juice (black) to them, then add 200 g of good honey to the mass. It is necessary to insist the composition of the whole day in a dark place. Then it can be used to rub the problem area. This product is recommended to be used after consulting a doctor. The composition is contraindicated for those who are allergic to its components.
• From lilac flowers, you can prepare an infusion for internal use. To do this, take a spoon (tablespoon) of fragrant inflorescences, pour a glass of boiling water, strain in an hour and take 1 liter three times. Art.

Important! When taking all herbal preparations, the prescribed dosage should be strictly observed.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home

It makes sense to talk about the complex of remedial gymnastics with SHH only after stopping the acute period. With an exacerbation of the disease, such activities can only aggravate the situation.

All exercises of physiotherapy exercises are aimed at maintaining normal mobility in the cervical spine. Classes are held in a calm rhythm, there should be no sudden movements. If there are signs of fatigue or painful sensations, the classes are stopped immediately. The complex includes the following exercises that you can regularly do at home:

• When standing, you need to tilt your head while inhaling so that your chin touches your chest. When you exhale, the head is gently pulled back. The same exercise can be done freely while sitting on a chair.
• In any starting position, it is convenient to make rotational movements of the head. It is better to periodically change the direction of movement so that your head does not spin. It is recommended to perform the exercise in a slow rhythm.
• The regular performance of this exercise will help to perfectly strengthen the cervical muscles: you need to put your hands in a "lock" and press your forehead against them as much as possible. To achieve a lasting effect, repeat this exercise three times for 30 seconds. You can alternately press with your palms on your forehead, and then apply pressure with your forehead on your palms.

There are many other effective methods, but any option can be used only after the approval of the doctor.

To prevent a history of the diagnosis "cervical osteochondrosis», You need to lead an active life, regularly do exercises in the morning, paying attention to your neck, and properly equip your workplace.