Cervical spinal osteochondrosis is a chronic lesion, slowly progressive cervical spinal vertebrae (from the first to seventh), which begins with the destruction of the intervertebral disc and ends with "herno", hernia)
Further, neurology (compression, nerve inflammation and its consequences) and vascular complications (vertebral artery compression and blood circulation disorders) participate in clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis. With cervical osteochondrosis, these are headaches, dizziness, loss of orientation, nausea, sharp pressure that are difficult to normalize. Osteochondrosis is a common pathology, symptoms that at age 45 appear in 90 % of people (regardless of gender), before others - for office workers who lead an inactive lifestyle. Cervical area wounds are diagnosed as often as lumbar osteochondrosis. This is due to excessive movement of the neck and the weakness of the muscles surrounding the spine in this area.
The essence of the pathology that occurs with
The intervertebral disc (abbreviated MPD) is a juicy pulp nucleus in the middle and the elastic and powerful fibrous shell surrounding it. The neighbor's vertebra body adjacent to it and below. The receipt (and excretion) of the material and water into the intervertebral disc occurs due to spreading (direct and reverse filtration, molecular penetration into the disc and the back) of the vertebral bone tissue. The gradual aging of the intervertebral disc fabric leads to the fact that the acceptance of the materials required to slow down, and under the influence of the provocative factors (pressure, load), it stops completely. The dense fabric of the fibrous membrane is covered with cracks, losing its elasticity, the pulp nucleus in the dry center (water loss). This leads to the fact that cervical osteochondrosis lasts:
- MPD loses height;
- The body of the vertebrae shifts, the nerve roots are squeezed and begin to grow with bone spikes, trying to distribute pressure (spondylosis) evenly.
Over time, ligaments are involved in the ossification process, they are absorbed with calcium in the attachment to the vertebra and are the cause of stiffness, neck constraints. As people continue to load the spine - they move actively, sitting in an uncomfortable position:
- The bodies of the neighboring vertebrae are more compressed by MPD;
- This leads to the fact that the pulpoose nucleus (instead of what is left) is pushed forward or backward (more often towards the anterior longitudinal ligaments, as they are quite thin in the cervical region).
Such a highlight is called a highlight (the disc shell has not exploded, but only in shape), it presses on the adjacent tissue, leading to the occurrence of muscle tension, pain and other, symptoms spoken with cervical osteochondrosis. Over time, the disc fibrous shell however is torn, and some of the pulp nucleus is squeezed into the fabric (this breakthrough is called hernia). At this stage (these are 4 stages), all acute symptoms of the disease can subside (a small portion of the nucleus is absorbed or covered with calcium and stops stimulating the surrounding tissues), or, in turn, will cause the development of brain ischemia (oxygen starvation, hunger death) and inability.
Cause a provocative factor
Given the cause of osteochondrosis, it should be noted that the basis of the violation is the natural aging of the intervertebral disc fabric. This process can accelerate the factors that provoke different:
- Descent tendency.
- Congenital defects in the development of cervical spine (first deformation of the cervical vertebra body).
- Damage and surgical intervention.
- Excessive mobility in the cervical region (for example, in sports training).
- Lack of physical activity (inactive work).
- Posture violation (stoop).
- Age.
- Nervous pressure.
- Hypothermia.
Four levels (degrees) and symptoms
With osteochondrosis in the cervical spine, all manifestations are increasing from the stage to the stage, more and more changes occur in the intervertebral disc - the stronger the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. In the early stages of a person, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be interrupted, because where they are tired quickly. Then the main sign of the pathology appears - the pain given to the back of the head, shoulders, arms, chest, can be disguised as a toothache. A person starts to dizzy, concentration of weakness, vision and hearing loss, this exacerbates the quality of life and does not affect his ability to work well. Gradually, the symptoms are increasing and intensified -a person wakes up with a sense of stiffness in the spine, during a period of worsening sharp movements (for example, sneezing or heels on the floor) causes pain in the neck and throughout the affected nerves, it becomes difficult to raise the hand or hold the object in the finger. At night, heartbeat can be intensified or the appearance of air shortage may be anxious-the pain is unable to breathe deeply, because of pain, one cannot move, turn his neck or lift his hand. In symptoms, osteochondrosis in men is barely different from osteochondrosis in women (they are more often worried about headaches.
First stage (degree)
The intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and is sagging.
At this stage, with cervical area osteochondrosis, tension appears, fatigue, muscle fatigue and neck pain.
The first symptoms:
- Muscle tension, which leads to their rapid fatigue, fatigue;
- pain, discomfort in the neck;
- Headache appears periodically.
Level 2
MPD cracks, exfoliation, more, formation formation (fibrous membranes), bone growth occurs along the edge of the vertebra.
- A person has problems, headache, sensitivity, neck pain, which is increasing with the basic burden, giving to other parts of the body.
- The pain in the neck pain is enhanced by load, given to the shoulders, chest, and head parts.
- The person is often worried about severe headaches.
- Christ when turning on the neck.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Swanks blood pressure.
- Dizzy.
- Skin and finger numbness, weakening the muscles of the limbs.
Stage 3
At this stage, rupture (hernia), bone spikes increases in size, spinal ligaments are reduced to the site of the vertebra body. Symptoms for cervical osteochondrosis in 3 stages:
- Symptoms of the first two stages of the disease are attached to a violation of blood supply to the brain (due to compression of the vertebral artery) in the form of visual imperfections, hearing, orientation, sensitivity and more.
- Pain can be intensified by the lowest movement (tilted head), shooting in the ear, in the jaw, on the shoulders and lower arm.
- Patients are looking for a simple pose, trying to find a headache that will relieve symptoms.
- His attention is scattered, memory, vision, hearing, movement coordination, sleep disorders, nausea, stable hypertension is formed.
- Clear stiffness of the spine, paresis, paralysis of the limbs (immobility, impaired sensitivity), muscle loss and volume (atrophy) is connected.
- The spinal bend is observed.
The 4th stage
Features -4th level -Symptoms of cervical spinal osteochondrosis weakening, permanent stiffness.
- The acute manifestation of the disease is due to the fact that soft tissue is subject to ossify (ossify).
- In 5 % of cases, 4 stages of osteochondrosis can be complicated by adjacent tissue necrosis, brain ischemic stroke.
- Manifestations cause ischemic stroke (oxygen starvation and disappear from part of the cell) and defect.
Possible complications of the 4th -level cervical osteochondrosis:
- brain ischemia, which can cause patient defects;
- Due to adjacent tissue circulation disorders, patients may have tropical ulcers (cell death due to nutrient and oxygen deficiency).
Diagnostic method
Osteochondrosis of the cervical area is diagnosed using various instrumental studies:
- X -Ray (features -The diagnostic feature features in the shape of the spikes along the edge of the vertebra or decrease in the height of MPD appears at 2 stages).
- CT, spinal MRI (allowing you to diagnose changes in MPD in the early stages).
- Discography (a study with the introduction of a contrast medium allows you to establish a deep damage to the intervertebral disc).
- Electronography (with the help of determining obstacles, inflammation during nerves).
- Dopplerography of the brain vessels (allowing you to determine the condition of the blood vessels and the blood flow rate in it).
In the event of damage to the nerve endings, many neurological manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis occur, detect symptoms and oversee neurologists (help to establish diagnosis, advise, prescribe medications).
Method of treatment
Neck osteochondrosis is an incurable disease (such as osteochondrosis from any other localization), changes that occur in intervertebral disc tissue, cannot be restored. In the early stages (1 and 2), it can be suspended by conservative therapy, at 3 stages of conservative treatment is set to relieve acute symptoms. Sometimes with stable cervical radiculitis (with inflammation of the spinal core core), intervertebral disc surgery is performed.
First aid
The first aid for cervical osteochondrosis is needed if the patient feels acute pain in the neck, unable to turn his head, unable to make another movement (lift his hand). In this case, a 2%anesthetic solution or other drug with combination properties is introduced into the muscles throughout the vertebra. These restrictions quickly relieve pain and improve the patient's condition. Treatment of cervical spinal osteochondrosis during recovery is performed by heating agents that can improve blood circulation in the cervical vertebra and neck movement.
Other methods of treatment:
Experts may recommend various orthopedic devices:
- Shantsz tires, which are a type of corset, bandage or neck handle. With his help, the head is set in one position and thus relaxes the muscles, unloads and finances the cervical spine.
- Orthopedic pillows that allow you to sleep in the simplest and most physiological pose for the cervical region, without causing muscle tension, pain and stiffness in the spine.
Surgery
Surgical treatment may be required if:
- Intervertebral hernia (or hernia) squeezes more nerve roots and is more compressed;
- Other methods of treatment do not reduce the patient's condition;
- There is a threat of defects.
Surgical treatment for cervical osteochondrosis significantly improves the patient's condition, but there is always the possibility of developing various complications (loss of sensitivity, spinal mobility).
Home
Home treatment of osteochondrosis is the use of products that will help:
- Strengthening blood circulation.
- Increase the metabolism in it.
- Eventually relieves pain, inflammation and muscle tension.
They are used during the recovery period, when the acute symptoms of the disease are left:
- Heating compresses with Campaire alcohol. Take 50 ml of vodka, alcohol camparal, fresh aloe juice, 50 g of mustard powder and 100 ml of honey. Mix, add 3 egg protein arranged to the mixture, leaving one day. With readiness, the mixture is applied to the affected area, along the ridge (for 2-3 hours), covered with plastic film above. The course of treatment is 12 procedures, after a week it can be repeated.
- Ginger ointment. Blend 3 medium garlic teeth and 50 g of fresh ginger root in the blender, add 50 g to soften to butter room temperature, beat again. With this tool, the damage area is placed 1 day (for 2-3 hours), covered with film above. The course of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis is 21 days, after 2 weeks break it can be repeated.
Any non -traditional method of therapy should be discussed with the attending physician.
Prevention
The steps for the prevention of osteochondrosis are:
- moderate physical activity and exercise for the neck;
- a diet rich in vitamins and is useful for cartilage;
- pillows and orthopedic mattresses for sleep;
- Easy workplace.
You need to pay attention to the habit of carrying weight in one hand or bag on one shoulder and get rid of it. The burden provided is a factor that causes problems in the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Prophesy
Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies that after 45 years appearing in 90 % of people (regardless of gender). More often diagnosed:
- cervix or cervix-chested (due to cervical muscle weakness and neck mobility);
- lumbar osteochondrosis (due to the load on this spine);
- Less common - thoracic (this department is less mobile, the load on it is small).
The infringement caused by the disease appears to be irreversible, so it is impossible to cure the pathology. Conservative methods can be suspended by cervical osteochondrosis at levels 1 and 2. Eliminating acute symptoms will be required from 2 to 3 weeks, so complete recovery of osteochondrosis should be treated for up to 6 months. In stages 3 and 4, the most effective methods are surgical correction (removal of hernia and discs, strengthening the vertebra). The prerequisites for everyone after 30 years are the usual performance of special training for the cervical spine, as such steps solve the problem of disease progression.