Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that causes degeneration of the soft intervertebral pulp into ossified tissue.The pathogenesis also affects nerve roots and blood vessels.The pathology is difficult to diagnose, as it masks itself under various disorders.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are many reasons for the development of cervical osteochondrosis, but many of them are associated with changes in cartilage tissue due to the accumulation of salts in the blood and lymph.With correct nutrition and constant physical activity, salts are normally consumed and not collected.Otherwise, the cartilaginous tissue will become less mobile, losing flexibility, and the vertebrae will begin to shift, pinching the arteries and nerve endings.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, degenerative changes occur in which osteophytes develop - bony growths in the cervical vertebrae, which cause irritation and muscle fatigue, further aggravating the patient's condition.
In most cases, changes and disorders in the cervical spine occur due to a sedentary lifestyle.Cervical osteochondrosis is particularly familiar to office workers who have to sit for 8 hours a day and who do not participate in any sports.
Previously, it was generally accepted that osteochondrosis was a disease that affected people of mature age, but today the disease has become much younger.Sometimes young people begin to feel the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis already at school or university, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture.
People who perform physical labor at work also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, since high loads on the back, combined with an uncomfortable position of the body and long-term back injuries, negatively affect the health of the neck, causing overload in this area.Experts also include other reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- excess weight;
- inheritance;
- incorrect diet;
- disruption of metabolic processes;
- constant stress;
- hypothermia;
- flat feet;
- lift heavy objects with weak back muscles;
- spinal injury.
Degree of development of osteochondrosis of the neck
Doctors determine the stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis based on the patient's symptoms and complaints.
First degree
With minimal clinical manifestations, the patient may experience low-intensity neck pain, which intensifies when turning the head.During the examination, specialists sometimes detect muscle strain.
Second degree
The patient experiences neck pain of greater intensity, which may radiate to the arm and shoulder.The cause of the pain may be abrasion of the intervertebral disc and compression of the nerves.The pain intensifies when turning and tilting the head.A person's performance decreases, weakness appears and headaches begin.
Third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis intensify and the pain becomes constant and radiates to the upper limb and shoulder.The arms appear weak and gradually become numb due to the formation of herniated intervertebral discs.The patient is overwhelmed by dizziness and weakness, and after a medical examination, limited mobility in the cervical spine and pain when touching the neck is diagnosed.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.Dizziness becomes more severe, noise in the ears occurs, and coordination of movements worsens.This is due to the involvement in the process of the vertebral artery, which is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cerebellum and occipital lobe of the brain.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
- Symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis of the neck differ from the manifestations of this disease in other parts of the spine.This is explained by the peculiarity of the structure of the human body: the vertebrae are located closer to each other, and the height of the intervertebral discs is not very large, so symptoms occur even with minor pathologies.
Let's consider the main signs by which you can diagnose cervical osteochondrosis:
- Pain.They can be located in different places (in the neck, back of the head, shoulder or arm).Arm and shoulder pain occurs when the nerve root that innervates the upper limbs is compressed.Pain in the back of the head is associated with spasms of the cervical muscles attached to the occipital bone.
- Weakness in the limbs.Weakness appears in the arms due to damage to the root containing the motor nerves that innervate the arm muscles.
- Decreased hand sensitivity.The symptom occurs when the root with the sensory nerves that innervate the skin of the hands is damaged.Sometimes, along with loss of sensation, numbness in the fingers or hands may occur due to cervical osteochondrosis.
- Limited mobility of the cervical spine and creaking.They appear due to wear of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of growths on the vertebrae, as well as when the small joints between the cervical vertebrae are affected.
- Dizziness, weakness and poor coordination of movements.These symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when the vertebral artery, which passes in a special channel through the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae, is involved in the process.Fibrous tissue is formed, the vertebrae are displaced, the blood flow in the artery is disrupted - this leads to a deterioration of the blood supply to the back of the brain and the cerebellum.
- Deterioration of vision, hearing and numbness of the tongue.These are signs of severe deterioration of blood supply to the cerebellum and occipital region of the brain with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
How to treat neck osteochondrosis?
Without timely treatment, cervical osteochondrosis is actively developing and it will be much more difficult to eliminate negative pathologies.This can only be done with the help of long-term complex treatment.Doctors prescribe several treatment methods to their patients:
- manual therapy;
- laser exposure;
- vacuum therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- electrical stimulation, etc.
Several sessions help to get rid of pain, but the course of treatment should not be interrupted.
If conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck is unsuccessful, the patient may undergo surgery.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the spinal damage and the techniques used.Success also depends on the age of the patient.
Conservative treatment methods include the following:
- physiotherapy;
- therapeutic exercises;
- massage for osteochondrosis;
- other methods (corsets, medicinal baths, herbal medicine for osteochondrosis, etc.)
Doctors resort to drug treatment during flare-ups to quickly relieve pain and inflammation.You can stimulate metabolic processes and blood circulation in the body with the help of intravenous and intramuscular injections.
Therapeutic gymnastics (physical therapy) is a set of special exercises for osteochondrosis, aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and correcting posture.Physical education makes the ligament-muscular system more flexible, normalizes the nutrition of the intervertebral discs, contributes to the formation of a muscle corset and reduces the load on the vertebrae.
Physiotherapy includes procedures that use lasers, ultrasound, magnetic fields and low-frequency currents.The use of these techniques helps speed up the patient's recovery and increase the effectiveness of other procedures.Unlike drug treatment, physiotherapeutic methods have no side effects.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a special neck corset is sometimes used, which is also effective in prevention.A procedure called reflexology, in which specialists influence selected areas of the human body, has proven to be excellent.Spinal traction relieves pain in the cervical region and joints, helping to restore its anatomical shape and increasing the intervertebral interval.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
After a course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to follow the advice of doctors to prevent the development of the disease in the future.First of all, you need to monitor the position of the body so that the spine is not overloaded.You can stretch your back muscles.
You cannot stand for a long time and make sharp turns and head tilts.Do not lift weights with straight arms, but rather sit down first, take the load in your hands and only then stand up with it.When carrying heavy bags or other items in your hands, change hands or distribute the load evenly.
Check your posture while working.Get used to doing regular exercises by changing your body position.You should sleep on a medium-hard mattress with an orthopedic pillow.When you get out of bed, lean on your hands so as not to overload your back.
Before doing physical activity, always drink a glass of water and wear comfortable shoes that support your feet.After sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position with your body bent, stretch or hang from the bar.
Swimming strengthens the muscular corset well and firming and contrast showers also bring benefits.Eat a varied diet and avoid fatty and salty foods.Better to lean on lean meats, cereals, dairy products and vegetables.