Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteocondrosis.

Currently, according to medical statistics, almost all people over the age of 25-30 complain about the symptoms of cervical osteochondosis.The disease affects this spine more often than others.The pathology is a progressive degenerative process that affects the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae located in the neck.The disease is common between men and women in the same way.This is a dangerous and complex form of osteochondrosis, since large blood vessels that provide the brain and a large number of nerve endings are found in the neck.The violations of the ensance and blood flow lead to a deterioration of the oxygen brain and nutrients.

Signs of the disease

The symptoms of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column are more pronounced than in other parts of the spinal column, even with minor damage.This is due to the fact that in the neck the vertebrae are close to each other and the intervertebral discs have a small height.Such anatomical feature contributes to the fact that with osteochondrosis, nerve endings, spinal cord, blood vessels are more often compressed.

General symptoms:

• pain syndrome;
• weakness and decrease in sensitivity in the upper ends;
• restriction of neck mobility;
• violations of the coordination of movements;
• frequent dizziness;
• general weakness;
• Deterioration of the functioning of the organs of perception (hearing, vision, touch, taste).

The pains are more often located in the neck, they give them to the back of the head, shoulders, arms.The upper limbs hurt if the nerve spine is pinched by the damaged vertebra, which is responsible for their innervation.The pain in the back of the head is due to the spastic contractions of the neck muscles attached to the occipital bones and the violation of blood circulation in this area.

The weakness of the hands is observed in patients if the nerve column is involved in the pathological process that guarantees the innervation of the muscle structures of the upper limbs.The restoration of mobility and a characteristic crunch when the neck is rotated or inclined is presented if the bone growth appear on the cervical vertebrae, the height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, the joints located between the vertebrae are affected.

The vertebrae in the neck have transversal processes that form a channel in which the artery that feeds the brain runs.With the osteochondrosis of the cervical column, the vertebrae are moved, the connective tissue is growing on them.This leads to the compression of the cervical artery, the deterioration of the blood supply to the cerebellum and the back of the brain.As a result, a person has frequent dizziness, coordination of movements, general weakness.In advanced cases, if the artery is involved in the pathological process or strongly driven, then the supply of Blood Cerebellum, the occipital part and the brain trunk worsen significantly.In this case, the functionality of the hearing and vision organs, numbness of the language and fingers is reduced.

The signs of the disease depend on which of the eight vertebrae is influenced by a dystrophic or inflammatory process.The disorders of sensitivity and movement lead to damage to the cerebrospinal roots on which some vertebrae affect.Depending on this, the following manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are observed:

• The first vertebra: the neck and the occipital part of the head are insensitive, their sensitivity decreases;
• The second pain in the crown and the neck is felt;
• The third pain is felt and the sensitivity is reduced to that part of the neck in which the squeezed spine is located, the intensity of the sensations of the taste is reduced and there are language disorders;
• The fourth: the pain radiates in the shoulder, in the scapula, the patient is disturbed by heart pain, breathing disorders and the tone of the neck muscles decreases;
• Fifth - The pain is observed in the neck, administered to the external surface of the shoulder;
• The sixth neck pain is radiated in the scapula, felt in the forearm and in the thumbs;
• Settimo - The pain is given to the Scapola, the back of the shoulder, the forearm and the fingers (from the second to the fourth);
• The eighth - Pain spread from the neck on the shoulders, forearms and little finger.

Depending on the prevalence of the injury, four degrees of osteochondrosis of the cervical column differ.This is not the stage of the disease, but the seriousness of the symptoms, due to how common the pathological process is, which vertebrae affects.

• At the first degree, clinical symptoms are absent or manifested in the least.Patients complain of slight pain, which intensify during the movements of the head.The treatment started at this stage of the disease will be effective.However, people often ignore the disturbing symptoms or do not hear them, so they don't consult a doctor.
• The aggravation of the pathological process improves symptoms.In the second stage, the pain becomes more pronounced, give the upper limbs, to the shoulder blades.In this phase of the development of the degenerative process, the height of the intervertebral disc is reduced, following which the nervous fiber is pinched.This becomes the cause of the increase in pain.The second degree of osteochondosis of the cervical region is characterized by the appearance of headache, a deterioration of well -being, a decrease in work ability.
• The third degree of cervical osteochondrosis is distinguished by the formation of an ENNIA of the affected intervertebral disc.The mobility of the neck is limited, with palpation the patient feels severe pain.With this diffusion of the pathological process, the pain becomes constant, irradling the upper limbs.The tension of the muscles attached to the occipital bones is felt.Patients complain of frequent dizziness, general weakness, numbness of the hands.
• The fourth degree of cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed when the intervertebral disc is completely destroyed by a dystrophic process.It is replaced by fibrous tissue, which leads to a significant limitation of mobility.The spinal cord and the blood vessels flying in the neck are affected.These changes are characterized by a significant deterioration of the flow of blood to the cerebellum and the object of the brain.Oxygen hunger leads to a violation of the coordination of movements, the impairment of hearing, vision, language, language disorders.

Treatment methods

When the timely search for a doctor appear the first alarming symptoms, unpleasant sensations in the neck, the reaction of the nervous system will prevent the progression of degenerative changes.The treatment of cervical osteochondosis consists of a complex of therapeutic measures.Among them:

• take drugs;
• massage;
• physical education of physiotherapy;
• Physiotherapy procedures.

Drug therapy

Doctors prescribe anti -inflammatory drugs to reduce pain intensity, reduce the inflammatory process and swelling of the nervous spine.The chondroprotectors restore the fabric of the damaged cartilage on the intervertebral disc.Musroxanti relax the neck muscles, breed spasm.The medicines to improve blood flow help to resume the flow of blood compromised to the brain.The B vitamins activate metabolism in nerve tissues.With intense pain, the doctor may prescribe analgesic drugs.If the patient has a pronounced pain syndrome, the analgesics are inserted due to brackets, after the pain has decreased, they move on to the tablets.

Physiotherapy methods

Physiotherapy is an effective way to combat osteochondosis of the cervical region.It is essential to treat this disease using these techniques, following which the following results are obtained:

• The intensity of the pain decreases;
• The restoration of the bone, cartilage and the muscle tissues concerned is activated;
• Spasm and tension in the muscles are removed;
• An inflammatory process is stopped;
• The delivery of oxygen and nutrients in the affected area and the brain improves.

The most effective in the treatment of osteocondrosis are the following types of procedures:

• The electrophoresis of the drug (the affected area acts with electric shocks, which, in addition to activating the bloodstream and the restoration of the tissues, improves the delivery of the substance of the drug to the tissues affected by the degenerative process);
• Ultrasound therapy (metabolic processes in the sick area are activated, pain decreases, inflammation is stopped);
• magnetotherapy (relieves swelling from the affected area, which helps to reduce pain intensity);
• Laser therapy (improves blood circulation in the pathological process, has an anti -inflammatory effect).

Medical physical education

The exercises are prescribed during the period in which acute manifestations of the disease are arrested.During gymnastics, uncomfortable and pain should not be heard.The complex should be performed on a persistent remission to prevent relapse.

• Take a position lying on the stomach, raise your head and body, leaning on your hands.The rear is straight, the breath is deep and even.Place in a position for a minute or two, then slowly take the starting position.The number of repetitions is 3.
• The location is lying on the stomach, the hands along the body.He slowly turns his head, trying to touch the ear on the floor.Repeat 6 times on each side.
• Sitting or standing, he tilt his head on an inhalation, trying to reach his chin on his chest.Exhale, take your head without hitting your head, raising your eyes on the ceiling.The number of repetitions is 10-15.
• A good exercise to strengthen the cervical muscles is to press the forehead against the hands pressed to it.To obtain the effect, it is necessary to press the palms on the forehead and the forehead on the palm of the hand for 30 seconds.Repeat three times.
• Take your head into a circle.Do the exercise slowly, without hitches.In each direction - 10 revolutions each.The occurrence of dizziness during the movements is unacceptable.If this happens, you should stop immediately.

Massage

The course is prescribed by a doctor during the absence of acute pain, only a specialist with medical education can lead.With such a disease, it is not recommended to contact non -professionals.

Therapeutic effects of the collar area:

• Blood flow and the lymph in the affected area improve;
• The muscles relax, the spasm is removed;
• The intensity of the pain decreases.

Surgery

The operation is shown if conservative therapy does not bring results within six months, the patient is tormented by severe pain, signs of damage to nerve fibers and myelopathy.If the osteochondrosis of the cervical region proceeds with complications, there is a threat of stroke, there is a strong juice of the spinal cord, the operation is necessary.

According to the indications, they resort to the following types of surgical interventions:

• Endoscopic discourage - part of the part or an entire intervertebral disc;
• Laminotomy - excision of bone ligaments and particles invaded of bone tissue (often combined with laminoplasty - the establishment of artificial plates to expand the spinal channel);
• Laser vaporization of the core of the disc - The breakdown of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc with a laser ray simultaneously with the destruction of its destroyed fragments;
• Nucleoplasty of cold plasma -an endoscope, a long and thin cable needle is used, which is introduced into the intervertebral disc, an electrode that has a cold plated effect is disbursed through it on the destruction site.

The neck is a complex organ in which the large blood vessels, the spinal cord passes.They are easy to damage, so they resort to surgery in no more than 5% of cases.Surgical treatment is often accompanied by the development of complications.Among them:

• inflammatory process in the fabrics or in the membranes of the spinal cord;
• osteomyelitis;
• The formation of scars that lead to a narrowing of arterial and spinal channels.

The operations on the cervical column are complex and require a long period of rehabilitation.The patient restoration after surgery requires a period of six months or more.

Prevention

To prevent the development of cervical osteocondrosis, it is necessary:

• monitor the position of the spine and neck;
• guide an active lifestyle, move more;
• When performing physical exercises, it is necessary to pay attention, observe the correctness of the execution, since even minor injuries can affect the condition of the musculoskeletal system;
• Take care of the correct position of the body during sleep, acquire a orthopedic or anatomical mattress;
• Correctly equip a job in which a person spends a lot of time;
• engage regularly in physical culture;
• Monitor the diet, guarantee the reception of all useful minerals necessary for the bone fortress, in particular magnesium and calcium;
• Constantly undergo dispenser exams for the timely detection of the osteochondrosis.

Prevention will help prevent degenerative changes in the cervical column, protects from pain, dizziness, limb limb and other unpleasant symptoms.