Cervical osteochondrosis today has become one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system, from which, unfortunately, not only the elderly, but also very young people, more and more often suffer. Lack of physical activity, constant work at the computer and other attributes of modern urban life negatively affect its condition and lead to the development of osteochondrosis.
In the article, we will look at why it occurs, how it manifests itself, how it is treated and which drugs are effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis, and also find out what non-drug methods exist.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a pronounced change of a degenerative-dystrophic nature that disrupts the functional activity and structure of the spine. For this reason, changes occur not only in the intervertebral discs themselves, but also in the vertebrae and in the joints of the cervical spine.
Causes of occurrence
With this disease, a destructive change in the shock-absorbing capacity of the vertebral discs occurs, accompanied by their displacement. One of the reasons for this change is the deposition of salts as a result of an increase in their level in human blood and lymph fluids.
The main reason for the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis is a sedentary lifestyle. Office workers are most susceptible to this disease, spending most of their working time at papers and a computer. In the absence of the required amount of physical activity in the human body, blood flow slows down, muscle tissue does not need an influx of salts from food. As a result, salts are deposited in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine.
Contributes to the development of illness and malnutrition, overweight and metabolic disorders, as well as prolonged stress, nervous tension, sleep disturbances.
Also, the disease can occur as a result of trauma, extreme stress, inflammatory and other diseases.
Degrees of development
Depending on the severity of symptoms and the degree of functional impairment, three stages are distinguished:
First degree
It is characterized by minimal severity of symptoms. Patients usually notice a general deterioration in well-being, the appearance of headaches, weakness, and dizziness. At this stage, there is a slight deformation and displacement of the cervical vertebrae, cracks appear in the cartilaginous tissue of the disc.
Second degree
For the second degree of the development of the disease, a significant increase in pain is characteristic, which occurs as a result of a strong displacement of the intervertebral discs and pinching of the nerve roots.
Third degree
It is characterized by complete destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc, which can lead to the formation of a hernia. The symptoms of the disease at this stage are pronounced. The patient feels severe weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness, sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulder blades and shoulders. In some cases, there is a temporary weakening of the intensity of the manifestation of symptoms associated with the replacement of the damaged area with connective tissue.
Fourth degree
Complete destruction of the intervertebral disc, the destroyed disc replaces its connective tissue. Dizziness, tinnitus increase, coordination is impaired, due to the fact that an artery that feeds the cerebellum and the occipital lobe of the brain is involved in the process.
It is very important to diagnose the disease at the initial stage and consult a specialist in order to know what to do in order to prevent its further development.
Symptoms and Signs
In addition to the pain syndrome, cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, having felt which a person may not immediately guess about the developing disease. This is due to the fact that dysfunctions of the cervical spine inevitably affect the work of the vascular system of the brain.
It is customary to distinguish three main groups of symptoms:
Pain syndrome
Neurological manifestations in the form of pain syndromes of various locations. First of all, these are headaches of varying intensity and duration, which can be given to the eye or ear. In this case, pain usually does not go away after taking painkillers. Aching or sharp pain in the neck and back of the head, radiating to the shoulder blades, forearm and elbow. With this disease, a dull, aching pain usually occurs, which then becomes more pronounced and spreads to various parts of the body.
Decreased sensitivity
Movement disorders that appear as a result of disruption of the normal functioning of the spinal cord. Patients may feel numbness and decreased sensitivity in the limbs, impaired leg tone, weakness in the arms and legs, and goose bumps. There may be pain when raising your arms or moving them to the side.
Weakness
Signs of vascular disorders of the brain, which have multiple manifestations. People suffering from cervical osteochondrosis often feel severe weakness for no apparent reason, get tired quickly.
Noise in ears
The appearance of a feeling of congestion and noise in the ears, hearing impairment, and a sharp deterioration in well-being are often noted.
Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety syndrome, panic attacks are also possible.
Diagnostics
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Radiography.A poorly informative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- Computed tomography (CT).It shows abnormalities in the vertebrae more effectively, but it is difficult to determine the size, the presence of hernias, and the presence of a herniated spinal cord hernia (disco-medullary conflict).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The method showing the most information, clearly visible bone structures, intervertebral discs, hernias and their size, as well as the direction of their growth.
- Ultrasonic duplex scanning.This method is used if there is a suspicion of impaired blood flow in the arteries of the spine. This reveals a decrease in blood flow velocity and the presence of an obstruction to normal blood flow.
Treatment
The development of a treatment plan for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depends primarily on the causes of the disease, the nature and intensity of its symptoms. As practice has shown, complex therapy has the greatest effect, which may include drug treatment, massage, therapeutic exercises, and some other methods.
Treatment must be carried out under the supervision of qualified specialists: vertebral neurologist, masseur, chiropractor, surgeon, neurologist. It is very important to see a doctor on time in order to prevent the development of the second and third degree of the disease. In this case, treatment until complete recovery will take a much longer amount of time.
Therapy is prescribed in a certain order:
- first of all, it is necessary to relieve pain;
- then get rid of edema;
- drugs that restore blood circulation are prescribed;
- muscle tissue is strengthened;
- measures are taken to restore damaged tissue.
Important!Remember that during periods of exacerbation of the disease, exercise therapy is contraindicated, since it can cause complications.
As a first aid to relieve acute pain syndrome during an exacerbation, patients are prescribed analgesics, and in the presence of acute pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In places of localization of muscle spasms, warming and anesthetic ointments, pepper patches are used. Swelling is well removed by diuretics. If the patient has numbness in the extremities, it is necessary to perform special exercises that stimulate blood circulation.
It should be remembered that these measures will relieve pain, but will not eliminate the causes of the disease. The medical treatment prescribed by the doctor in combination with other methods of therapy will cope with this task.
Medication
The purpose of taking medications for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is to relieve muscle pain and inflammation, restore blood circulation and strengthen the vascular system of the brain, and a general healing effect on the body.
Patients must be prescribed preparations containing B vitamins, which can be prescribed in the form of tablets or intramuscular injections.
To restore the damaged cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs, chondroprotective drugs are prescribed. Taking these drugs should not be ignored, as they help to strengthen bone tissue and prevent the recurrence of the disease in the future.
Physiotherapy
In the course of performing health-improving gymnastics, circular movements of the head should be performed, neck bends to the left - to the right, forward - backward. Also in the set of exercises it is necessary to include movements of the shoulders and arms. All movements should be performed smoothly, without harshness and stress, alternating the active phase and a little rest.
Conclusion
It is always easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to follow some simple rules:
- avoid extreme stress on the spine to avoid damage to the intervertebral discs;
- do gymnastics for the whole body daily, focus on the muscles of the back and, especially, the cervical spine;
- avoid nervous overstrain and overwork, remember the importance of adequate rest and adequate sleep for the body;
- lead an active, mobile lifestyle, exercise more, take walks in the fresh air, eat properly and in a balanced manner, and also get rid of bad habits.