Osteochondrosis of the cervical column: treatment, symptoms

Today, the disease has been very "younger" and more often people are subject to years and more, although more recently, the age of 30 to 35 has been considered risky.The pathologies of the cervical part are more common, so it must quickly recognize the symptoms of the disease to begin treatment.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical column

So what is called osteochondrosis of the cervical region?This term is characterized by a degenerative-divophical process on the intervertebral disc, which acts as a kind of shock absorber between the spine segments.This situation leads to changes in its structure and anatomy, segments and articular elements of the cervical region.Neck osteochondrosis is characterized by acute pain symptoms that require timely treatment.

The causes of the osteochondrosis of the cervical region

Where does cervical osteochondrosis come from?A little lower, we list the factors, whose chronic or acute effect leads to an increase in neck loads.As a result, body muscles compensate for augmented loads, however, due to constant tension, spasms are produced with deteriorated blood circulation.Acting together, these factors lead to degenerative changes in the spine, a change in its structure, problems with blood nutrition and metabolism.Next, there is a gear tail in the intervertebral joints, the growth of the bone tissue of the spinal segments appears.

We list the factors that contribute to the development of the disease:

  • Scoliosis and rape of adequate posture.
  • Overweight.
  • A long stay in wrong and unnatural positions.
  • The regular excess of the back and the cervical column, for example, due to the characteristics of the work.
  • Little mobility, sitting hypodinamia.
  • Trauming the column in the past.
  • Metabolism problems.
  • Excessive physical activity.
  • Excessive stress, prolonged depression.
  • Inheritance factor.
  • Incorrect vertebral development.

The degree of cervical osteochondrosis

It is necessary to be able to distinguish between the concepts of "stage" and "grade" that characterizes the osteochondrosis of the cervical column.We will consider the stages a little later, now let's talk about the degrees that depend on the general clinical status and the patient's complaints, they have several symptoms and require, respectively, a different treatment.

The first grade is 1.Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by insignificant manifestations of the disease, the main symptoms are pain in the neck area, which are not common, intensified if it turns the head.They can be accompanied by slightly tense muscles.

The second grade is 2.The severity of pain and symptoms is much stronger and can give in the shoulder area.This is due to the fact that the intervertebral album became less in height, which led to nerve pinch.Pain syndrome tends to improve during movements, a feeling of weakness and headache leads to reduced performance.

The third grade is 3.This development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is characterized by the formation of hernias in the intervertebral space.The differences in the previous degrees in the symptoms that are even more pronounced and painful: more intensely it is given to the shoulder and hand, there may be a sense of numbness and weakness.The disease is accompanied by the same headache, weakness, neck mobility is limited, with feeling, a different pain syndrome is fixed.

The fourth grade - 4.This degree is characterized by the complete destruction of intervertebral disc fabrics.It is likely that the problems with blood nutrition are blood, in particular, through the vertebral artery, which delivers blood to the cerebellar and the back of the head.At the bottom of this, there are difficulties with coordination, the head is dizzy, there is a sound in the ears.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

Cervical osteochondrosis has some differences with respect to osteochondrosis in other areas.They arise due to the closest location of the segments with each other, a more complex structure of the first two segments-Atlanta and the axis.In addition, the shock absorbers between the elements of the column are less here and, consequently, they wear out and destroy faster.In addition, it is cervical osteochondrosis that often leads to the compression of the spinal cord nerves.

Cervical osteochondrosis: the most common symptoms:

  • Pain.They are characterized by a different location, on the back of the head, the shoulder and the cervical region.The appearance of shoulder joint pain indicates a pressure on the nerve, responsible for the transfer of pain impulses in this location.Great pains reflect the presence of spasm of the neck muscles due to difficulties with blood flow in this area.Perhaps a feeling of pain in the vertebra, the presence of Crunch.
  • Weakness in hand.It manifests due to the damage to the nerve responsible for the motor activity of the upper limbs.
  • Bad sensitivity in hand.The nerve is damaged, innervating the skin of the arm.
  • Limited movements, crunch.It is a consequence of the small height of the intervertebral disc, the bone growth in the spinal segments, the presence of small affected compositions.
  • Problems with coordination, a feeling of weakness and dizziness.In view of the progress of pathology, fibrous tissue is formed.Partially day to the elimination of the vertebral artery that has its own channel in the elements of the spine.This reduces the light of the glass, creating a blood deficiency on the back of the head and cerebellum.
  • Hearing problems, vision, speech.They are the additional development of a container that feeds the cerebellar and occipital zone.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is carried out in the presence of characteristic symptoms and complaints of a person.The osteochondrosis of the cervical region is diagnosed with several methods, mainly intended to visualize the condition of the damaged part.The most used:

  • X -Ray.It is not informative, it shows only the presence of deviations, mainly adequate for early diagnosis.
  • Computer tomography.Compared to the radiography, the reflection of the pathologies of the segments of the cervical part of the spine is improved, but does not accurately determine the presence of a hernia that is size.In addition, this procedure is impossible to determine the "praise" of the channel with the spinal cord.
  • Magnetic resonance tomography.Such diagnoses are more modern, characterized by a higher information content, allows details to evaluate the defects of the bone structure, the state of the intervertebral discs, the existence of hernias, their size and the direction of growth.
  • If there are suspicions of current deterioration in the vertebral arteries, an additional diagnosis is made through the procedureDuplex scan of ultrasound.Such study determines exactly the presence of obstacles that reduce the blood flow rate.

According to the data obtained in the diagnosis, we can talk about several stages:

  • First stage.It is characterized by small violations of the anatomy of the vertebrae.
  • Stage 2.It probably does not complete with the position of the vertebrae with each other, displacement, rotation in relation to the axis of the column, the intervertebral disc can have a slightly reduced height.
  • Stage 3.The disc is reduced by a room high, the joints are changed, there are growth of bone tissue, the subjection of the intervertebral holes and the spinal channel.
  • 4th stage.It is still more aggravated compared to the previous one.The disc is largely reduced in height, in the presence of deep joint pathologies and vast bone growth from the back, the spinal channel and passages under the dorsal brain are strongly squeezed.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

The main methods of such treatment are: Medicine therapy, physiotherapy, use of the massage of the affected area, therapeutic exercises.Consider in more detail some methods.

Drug treatment

Only a competent specialist must deal with the purpose of any drug.

  • Preparations against inflammation of non -steroidal origin.Its action is the effective elimination of pain syndrome, the inflammatory and edematous process of the fasted nervous end, the examples can serve as examples and others.
  • To improve metabolic processes in vertebrae and nerves, vitamin B.
  • Medications that increase blood fluidity.
  • They are used to boost altered nerve endings and improve blood supply to the brain.
  • The condoprotectors used to restore cartilage tissue and intervertebral discs.
  • Musorelaxantes, funds against spasms.

Physiotherapy

  • ElectrophoresisDelivery of drug ions to the desired part of the pathology using the electric field.Before the procedure, novocaine anesthesia is carried out, aminophilin is also used that improves blood flow.
  • Ultrasound.It relieves inflammation, pain, contributes to metabolism in the place of application.
  • MagnetotherapyIt has an analgesic effect, edema relieves.
  • Laser therapy.The treatment is carried out by exposure of special frequency light waves.It relieves inflammation and promotes blood circulation.

Medical Physical Education

Media physical education is allowed only in the absence of disease exacerbations.The methods will be effective in the absence of pain and discomfort in performance, in addition, they are very effective as a means of prevention.We list several basic exercises:

  1. Lie on your stomach and rest with folded hands on the floor.To make head and body elevators for 60-90 seconds, keeping a straight back, after which he returns gently to his original position.Make 2-3 repetitions.
  2. Lie on your stomach, extending your hands along the side of the body.Turn your head to the left, to the right, in turn, trying to reach the floor with one ear.Make 5-7 repetitions on each side.
  3. In a sitting position, inhaling to bow forward, trying to reach the chest with his head.Then, in exhalation, on the contrary, to bow backwards, throwing the head back.Make 12 repetitions.
  4. In a sitting position, put the palms on the forehead.Put the mutual pressure of the forehead on the palm of your hand and vice versa.Continue to half a minute, repeating 3 times.
  5. An orderly rotation of the heads to the sides, 5-7 rotations.If your head is S Surviated, reduce the number of repetitions or reduce the speed.

Osteochondrosis of the Cervical Department: Question - Answer

  1. Does it happen that the osteochondrosis of the cervical column should be treated with surgery?

    It happens, but in those rare cases when conservative treatment does not give a half -year effect after its beginning.In such situations, chronic pain and compression of nerve endings are generally present.

  2. What period can non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs be taken?

    Most of these medications are reflected in the state of the gastric mucosa, so its frequent and regular use is not recommended.The exact duration of medication is determined by the treating doctor with information, what is the patient's osteochondrosis and if concomitant pathologies are present?

  3. Are the condoprotectors who restore the tissue of the damaged intervertebral discs?

    The confirmation of the effect of taking such drugs has not been demonstrated, as a result of which doctors rarely recommend them.

  4. What to do at home when there is no elevated state to avoid exacerbation in the future?

    For preventive purposes, it will be best to use therapeutic physical education, the massage of the cervical zone and the rejection of significant physical activity.