The cervical region of osteochondrosis is a serious pathology characterized by degenerative-registophical changes in the structure of intervertebral discs. This infringement often leads to dangerous complications. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ignore. You need to consult a specialist in time to cope with the disease.
The essence of pathology
Cervical spine osteochondrosis is a pathology in which the soft intervertebral pulp is converted into the bone tissue. This causes the stings of blood vessels and nerve fibers.
The characteristic properties of the disease include pain syndrome. It is localized in the neck, in the shoulders, in the upper part, in the head. Many patients have dizziness, pressure fluctuations, nausea and lack of air.
In the cervical region, discipline changes are usually found in the middle and older age. The reason for this is the vertical position of the frame and the characteristics of the load distribution.
Doctors note that the disease has previously occurred in men. This happens at the age of 45-50. Women are later over 50-55.
Reasons
There are many factors leading to this form of the disease. The main causes of the cervix osteochondrosis are as follows:
- Not enough physical activity. People who lead an inactive lifestyle are exhausted by the back muscles that support the spine. The deposition of salts that appear due to lactic acid can exacerbate the condition of things. The weakened spine column is easy to deform and becomes less moving.
- Obesity. The appearance of excessive weight poses a great danger to the muscle bone system. In addition to increased loads of the spine, adipose tissues use the beneficial materials needed to maintain muscle tone and cartilage.
- Long stay in a still position. This disease often occurs in mental giving drivers and humans. After a long -term stay strangled, cartilage tissue gradually loses flexibility. Over time, intervertebral discs gain unnatural configuration.
- Nutrition disorders. In order for the body to function properly, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins should be present in the diet. Irrational nutrition triggers a violation of tissue structure and leads to rapid destruction.
- Back damage. This can cause redistribution to the cartilage, which triggers a change in their structure and shape.
- The pathology of the muscle bone system. This category includes skoliosis, rheumatism, bone tuberculosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis is often the result of a hereditary trend. In this case, pathology develops without the influence of significant factors.
You should start therapy in time to prevent the disease from developing.
The stages of illness
There are several stages of pathology, each of which is characterized by certain characteristics:
- The first - the most important feature of the state is the instability of the spine. Shows itself in the initial lesion of intervertebral discs;
- The second - the main manifestation is the protrusion. This condition is characterized by a decrease in cracks between the vertebrae and a gradual violation of the integrity of the fibrous ring. There are often pain caused by compression of nerves;
- The third - at this stage, the fibrous ring was completely destroyed. This includes the occurrence of intervertebral hernia. This condition is characterized by severe damage to the spine;
- The fourth is the hardest. At this stage, acute pain occurs with any movement. Occasionally, the condition improves, but this indicates the appearance of bone structures that connect the vertebrae. This includes a reduction in motor activity and provokes disability.
Symptoms
This form of osteochondrosis is characterized by special manifestations. This is due to the close location of the cervical vertebrae and the low height of the plates. Therefore, even small changes trigger severe manifestations. In addition, this form of osteochondrosis is often accompanied by compression of cerebrospinal roots.
Symptoms of the cervix osteochondrosis are as follows:
- Pain. They are localized in different areas - the back of the head, neck, shoulder belt, hands. In your hand or shoulder belt, the discomfort is due to the tightening of the nerves. The pain syndrome in the occlital zone is related to cramps in the neck muscle tissue and circulatory disorders.
- Weakness in his hand. This signal is the cause of damage to motor nerves responsible for the innervation of the hands of the hands.
- Weakening of sensitivity in the hands. This property is due to the damage to the roots, which includes sensitive fibers responsible for the skin of the skin.
- Reducing the motor activity of the neck, the crunching appearance. Such symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine become a reduction in discs. These are also defeated by the joints between the vertebrae and the bones on the vertebrae.
- Weakness, loss of coordination of movements and dizziness. These manifestations are the consequences of the damage to the spinal artery. The formation of fibrous tissues and the displacement of the spine cause problems with the blood flow of the arteries. As a result, blood flow to the brain and cerebellum deteriorates.
- The deterioration of hearing, the numbness of the tongue, the weakening of visual acuity. These symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervix are due to worsening of the situation and progress from cerebral circulatory disorders.
Diagnostic methods
To identify cervical osteochondrosis, you need to perform a number of diagnostic procedures.The most informative studies are as follows:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most informative study that allows you to assess the condition of the vertebrae and discs. In addition, this procedure is possible to detect, evaluate their size and localization.
- X -Ray - This procedure is one of the cheapest research methods. However, it often does not become informative, especially in the final stage of the disease.
- Computer tomography - allows you to identify changes in the structure of the vertebrae. However, the presence of the hernia or the compression of the spinal cord in this way is quite difficult.
- Duplex Ultrasound - Sennance - Helps detect blood flow disorders in the spine artery. The procedure allows you to detect obstacles and bloodstream bloodstream.
Treatment methods
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervix is selected, taking into account the various factors. This occurs depending on the stage of the disease, the form of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.
The most important methods of therapy are as follows:
- Conservative therapy - can be medicine and no -drog;
- Surgical intervention;
- A combination of conservative methods and surgical treatment.
Physiotherapy methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine necessarily requires the use of main methods of physiotherapy.
The most effective procedures are as follows:
- Electrophoresis using drugs. Due to the electrical current, medication particles penetrate the desired area. Euphilline and novocaine are used for the procedure. This can be used to stimulate blood circulation and achieve analgesic effect.
- Ultrasound exposure. Thanks to this procedure, pain treatment and inflammation can be stopped. This technique also activates the metabolic processes of the body.
- Magnetic therapy. It is possible to cope with edema and have an analgesic effect.
- Laser exposure. This method promotes the normalization of blood circulation and helps to cope with inflammation.
The most effective exercises should contain the following:
- Lie on your stomach, relax your hands on the floor, lift your head and trunk. It is worth making sure your back is straight. In this situation, it must stay for 1-2 minutes. Then carefully sink to the floor. Complete 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on your stomach, stretch your hands, turn your head on the left and touch your ears to the floor. Similar movement to execute the right side. Make 6-7 times in both directions.
- Sit down and breathe, bend. Tap your chest with a chin. Then exhale, return, throw his head back. Complete 10-15 repetitions.
- Sit down, put your palm on your forehead. Press your head in your arms for 30 seconds. Overall, you must do 2-3 repetitions.
- Slowly turn your head in different directions. You must make 10 rotation in both directions. When dizziness appears, the exercise must be stopped.
Massage
It is essential to perform a massage to eliminate the cervical osteochondrosis signs. The procedure should be done as little as possible without effort. The movements should be extended to the neck, collar and back area.
It is best to make a massage in the lying position of the stomach.In extreme cases, the seat procedure is permitted.
The technique is based on the use of such techniques:
- Strokeing - influence on the skin surface. To do this, the palms of the hands or fingertips must hit the back, moving from the head to the upper third of the back. Cakk can also make movements.
- Squeezing - consists of effects on the deep areas of the skin in the upper third of the back. To do this, the skin is captured with the thumb and index finger. This should be done very carefully without affecting the tissues in the spine.
- Rubbing - the procedure to heat the skin and increase blood circulation in the collar region. This should be done very carefully without affecting the spino sections of the vertebrae.
- Kneading - quite rare as this involves the effect of deeply located tissues. This can only aggravate anomaly.
In the case of osteochondrosis, self -emphasis can be performed.To do this, it is comfortable to sit down and use the methods of stroking and rubbing the neck and shoulders. We recommend that the procedure be supplemented with ointments that contribute to the increased blood flow and relieve the pain in the affected area.
Surgery
The surgical intervention is presented in the following cases:
- The presence of neurological differences is motor activity, violation of the weakness or loss of hands sensitivity, and loss of stool control. When such symptoms occur, you may suspect persistent nerve damage. Therefore, it is so important to perform the operation to eliminate compression.
- The presence of constant pain that violates a person's quality of life and cannot be eliminated by conservative methods.
With the development of the cervix osteochondrosis, the following operations can be performed:
- First cervix Discoctomy and Spondylodeza. The operation is performed on the front surface of the neck. The purpose of the procedure is to remove the affected disk, the decompression of the nerve fibers and to implant a special device to maintain the desired distance between the vertebrae.
- Replacing the intervertebral disc. In this case, the affected disk is removed and instead is artificial. Thanks to this procedure, it may be to maintain motor activity.
Surgery interventions to eliminate neurological symptoms are highly effective. It is estimated that this is 80-90 %. However, such methods are not effective enough to eliminate pain related to osteochondrosis.
Potential dangers
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious type of pathology. In this area of the spine, many nerves and vessels are responsible for the nutrition of the brain. In addition, the cervical vertebrae fit tightly. Therefore, even in this area, small changes provoke austerity or displacement of blood vessels and nerves.
Disorders of cerebral blood flow provoke the appearance of migraine, vegetovascular dystonia, and hypertension. There is also a risk of problems in the operation of the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels. Many people are disturbed by hearing, visual acuity is reduced, and coordination of movements suffers.
In difficult situations, cervical osteochondrosis provokes spinal artery syndrome. This vessel is responsible for the cerebellum and for an elongated brain. By compression of the artery, the development of the brain ischemia and the spinal cord.
Pathology can also damage the nerve roots. This manifests itself in the form of growth, the appearance of radiculopathy, and the loss of motor activity. The most difficult consequence of the disease is the compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to a fatal result.
Prevention
To avoid the development of pathology, it is worth observing the simple rules:
- Systematically play sports;
- Eat properly;
- Take the vitamin preparations and chondroprotectors prescribed by your doctor;
- Avoid long stay in an uncomfortable position;
- Use orthopedic furniture;
- Choose clothes and shoes for season, especially in winter.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a fairly dangerous disease that can have negative health consequences.
To avoid serious complications, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner and clearly follow your recommendations.