Neck pain is known to most people in the school bench.The emergence of new technologies in our lives, such as computer, smartphone, tablet, game consoles, etc.forced us to change our anatomy in one way or another.We sit in front of the monitor for hours and play games on our gadgets at night, lowering our heads into the screen.All this has led to the fact that such a disease as uterine osteochondrosis is significantly "younger".
What is osteochondrosis of the cervical region?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic spinal disease that manifests itself in a certain section -shot of the uterus.The disease is based on a disorder of metabolism and nutrition in the cells of the spine.Because cartilage and bones do not supply blood through the vessels, they receive useful substances differently - from nearby cells.It happens that for some reason the cells cease to feed the spine properly.Then the process of degeneration is started.
First, the intervertebral discs suffer.By nature, they are elastic and bend, have the properties of shock -absorbent properties, which allows them to effectively separate the vertebrae, distribute the load, soften the impacts, or reduce the tension when lifting weights.If the power is not sufficient, the intervertebral disc begins to dry, loses moisture.As a result, on the fibrous ring surrounded by the disc, cracks appear, the nucleus of the disc dries and weakens.In the end, the disc ceases to fulfill its function.In addition, the process throws it to the vertebrae: without a natural "separator", they begin to put pressure on each other, as well as on the intervertebral discs themselves.As a result, at some point, the pressure can become critical: the fibrous ring of the disc explodes, the nucleus drops and the hernia is formed.
Cervical osteochondrosis consists in complete imbalance in the spine.To compensate for the absence of disks, the brain can "give a command" to form bone growths-osteophytes to compensate for asymmetry in some way.However, this does not help, but it only brings big problems.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the most dangerous variety of this disease.It is in the neck area that the largest number of nerve roots and blood vessels is located, in this place the arteries of the vertebrae are the closest to the spine, and 30% supply the brain with blood.Due to hernia, movements, convexity and osteophytes caused by osteochondrosis, nerves and blood vessels, they can be damaged, leading to serious systemic diseases in the body.
Reasons
The main cause of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, which causes nutrients to "stagnate" and do not reach the destination-the spine.However, there are others:
- Lack of physical activity and sports as a result of this slightly developed muscular corset
- Excessive physical activity
- Smoking and abuse of alcohol
- abuse of too fat and salty foods, "fast" carbohydrates
- Excess weight
- heredity
- common or other injuries
- Initially curved stand
- Transferred infectious diseases with spinal complications
- Natural aging of the body
Symptoms
There are more than 20 symptoms in the disease and only some of them.
- Neck pain, shoulders
- Paroxysmal headache poorly relieved by painkillers
- Limited movements, inability to rotate your head
- Pressing the pressure
- Symptoms of supposedly heart disease: numbness in the heart, shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Seizure
- Nausea
- Reducing visual acuity and hearing, the effect of the double in the eyes and the noise in the ears
- Difficulty swallowing, tongue swelling
- Tingling, tingling or shaking in the limbs
- Tingling or pain in the jaw
- Lack of muscle tone or excessive tone
- Drying one of the limbs
- Drowsiness, aggression, irritability
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and their symptoms are usually the cause of the doctor's search, but this means that the disease is already in the short stages.Cervical osteochondrosis itself can take a very long time asymptomatic or expose with mild neck pain.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes a change in the geometry and anatomy of the spine: the release of discs or even the vertebrae outside the normal position of the position or the formation of osteophytes.SO -the administered "primary" complications:
- intervertebral hernia (rupture of the fibrous disk ring, its displacement)
- Splashing the disk ("output" of the intervertebral disc outside its anatomical limits)
- The formation of osteophytes - spondylosis (with the help of similar bone growths, the body tries to compensate for the imbalance to the spine)
In addition, the degenerative processes of the spine, which cause shifts or formation of bone growths, will most likely cause the nerve roots, vessel or vertebral artery.
This is filled with "secondary" complications:
- Vegeta-vascular dystonia-VSD (violation of cerebral circulation work)
- The upper cable of the spinal artery, the vertebrae-basicular insufficiency (compression of the spinal artery)
- Radicolor Syndrome - Radiculitis (Nerve Root Disruption)
- Cervicobrachialgia (constant pain in the neck and head, poorly relieved by painkillers)
Complications of cervical osteochondrosis are very dangerous, they can cause impaired circulatory system, blood vessels, change brain function and even cause stroke.
Diagnostics
The first diagnostic method is checking, conversation, history.An experienced vertebologist, by your complaints, will be able to determine if you have osteochondrosis of the cervix.He will ask for the nature, duration and localization of the pain will palpation of painful areas, approximately localizing the area of the lesion.To rule out other diseases, you will be prescribed a blood and urine test.It is then necessary to confirm the diagnosis of X -Ray review.
Basic Diagnostic Methods:
- Computer tomograph (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- X -ray
To say which method is preferable, your doctor should depend on the characteristics of the body, the nature of the complaints, the contraindications.The most expensive and informative picture is NMR, the soft tissues are visible in the image, so in the case of damage to the blood vessels, cartilage, nerves, the doctor will be able to locate the diseased area.However, the computer tomograph gives a clear picture of the bone tissue, which will allow you to measure the distance between the vertebrae, to determine the stage of the disease.The advantage of X -ray is cheapness, the speed (the procedure will take a maximum of 20 minutes), and the possibility of conducting a study with functional tests (the photo is done with maximum bending and maximum extension of the neck).
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The basic principle of effective treatment is an integrated approach, a combination of many methods, prolonged therapy even after removing acute condition.
Medication
- Anesthetic and non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs will help relieve pain attacks, allow you to switch to the lower stages of treatment.Injections or oral use are possible.
- Chondroproster - medicines that slow down the breakdown of cartilage tissues.
- Mussorelaxants - relax the tense muscles.
- Vasodilative medicines.They are prescribed in the event of a circulation disorder.
- Nootropic drugs.They are prescribed if the cerebral system is damaged and it is necessary to improve brain activity depressed due to nerve roots impaired with osteochondrosis and the lack of blood flow.
- Vitamins and antioxidants generally improve brain function.
- Diuretics - to control the level of potassium and sodium in the blood.
Physiotherapy
Effective electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy are effective.The cost of the session varies depending on the level of the clinic, specialists and equipment.10-15 sessions will be needed in total.
Change in lifestyle: exercise, massage, swimming.
This stage of treatment should begin after the elimination of acute pain.It is necessary to increase the muscle corset of the spine to redistribute the load on it.Massage course and exercise sessions are prescribed.It is more profitable to buy a subscription that includes a visit to the pool, a massage therapist and an exercise instructor.
Dream
Proper sleep on the orthopedic pillow and orthopedic mattress.
Proper nutrition
Compliance with diet and some rules: exclusion of alcohol, tobacco, fatty and salty products, reducing fast carbohydrates.