Causes, symptoms and treatment methods of cervical osteochondrosis

Among all the pathological processes that affect the spine in its different parts, cervical osteochondrosis is considered one of the most common and painful.This disease leads to many complications, mainly because it affects the spinal cord and also negatively affects the functioning of the brain.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

The words of cervical osteochondrosis in medical practice mean a progressive disease that affects the specific backbone column.This pathological process is characterized by degenerative processes in the tissues of the intervertebral discs, which are shock absorbers for cervical vertebrae.The changes of degenerative-discophical in the intervertebral discs are due to the fact that they are deleted and deform.As a result, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced and, as a result, the following consequences occur:

• Narrowing of the spinal channel in certain areas of the spine.
• Passing the vertebral arteries: large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.Due to which the brain supply worsens and blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord is altered.
• Intervertebral discs can deform and flatten.This leads to squeeze individual sections of the spinal cord and nerves, more frequently, nerve roots are squeezed.

All these problems threaten not only a violation of the blood circulation of the brain, the painful sensations in the neck, headaches, etc.The development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is dangerous with problems of a neurological nature, worsening of the central nervous system, damage to brain tissue.According to the international classification of diseases, several separate codes of osteochondrosis of the cervical region were assigned.The disease code for ICB 10 depends on the age of the disease: the disease was diagnosed:

• M02 - dystrophy of intervertebral discs in adolescence.
• M42.12 It is a dystophical process in the neck in adults.

Many factors depend on the patient's age and the degree of development of the pathological process, for example, consequences, complications, symptoms and, of course, on the principles of treatment.

Causes

Knowing the causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region can play a decisive role in the diagnostic process, as well as determining the principles to combat the disease.However, before listing the reasons, it is worth saying that doctors distinguish two factors that lead to the development of this pathological process:

1. Pathological: The destruction of intervertebral discs and other vertebrates with the participation of nearby tissues, blood vessels and nerve beams in the pathological process under the influence of adverse external factors.The more difficult these factors and other pathologies are, the faster the disease develops.
2. Physiological: Based on the development of pathology, mainly age -related changes.We are talking about the natural aging of cartilaginous tissues in the spinal column, salts, etc.

If we list more specific causes of cervical osteochondrosis, they are the following:

• Violation of metabolic processes in the body, as well as certain stages of obesity.
• Hypodinamia is a phenomenon characterized by a limitation of mobility.It is not just about injuries or diseases, this can also include a sedentary lifestyle and a job of sitting.
• Cardiovascular system pathologies, which contribute to deteriorated blood circulation in the brain, pressure changes and other things.
• Incorrect posture, these are several forms of scoliosis, rheumatism and even flat feet.
• Cervical column injection.In this case, we are talking about sprains, strikes, bruises.Research from other columns in the development of cervical osteochondrosis can influence the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
• The excessively large physical effort in the cervical region caused by intensive sports or difficult physical strong, depending on the type of human activity.
• A sedentary lifestyle is also dangerous with a constant tension of the cervical column and the entire spine, if you feel incorrectly or in uncomfortable furniture.
• A hernia of the cervical column, as well as several related diseases.
• Forced long -term maintenance of the head in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.In this case, not only excess muscle excess occurs, but the backbone is also curved in the cervical region.
• Doctors consider that constant stress and nervous overwrite are a very common cause.
• One of the reasons is also considered congenital anomalies in the structure of the spine.

What is the danger to health?

As mentioned above, in the cervical column, not only are the spinal cord and several nerve branches, but also the spinal arteries that supply the occipital part of the brain, the cerebellum and the meduludic brain.With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, nearby tissues become inflamed.In addition, the development of pathology threatens to squeeze nerve roots and transmit blood vessels, the consequences are the following:

• Osteochondrosis is accompanied by deformations of the spine, as a consequence of which the Cephalorrachid channel is reduced in certain areas.This can lead to squeeze the spinal cord and nerve branches, which promises severe neurological problems.In severe cases, a person feels pain, there is even the possibility of loss of control over individual parts of the body (mainly in hand or face).
• Tightening the neck vessels, as already mentioned, is accompanied by a violation of blood circulation in the occipital region of the brain.At the same time, the brain stops receiving oxygen and nutrients in the required amounts, oxygen hunger begins.With circulatory disorders, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and several neurological pathologies.

Syndromes

The main syndromes are:

• Vertebral
• Vertebral artery.
• Koreshka.
• Cardiac.

It is important to know that each of these symptoms is accompanied by painful sensations of a different nature, as well as many unfavorable clinical signs.A person can feel dizziness, a noise appears in their ears and much more.

Vertebral syndrome

Talk about the direct connection of the osteochondrosis of the cervical region with bone and cartilaginous tissues.Symptoms in this type of pathology are also associated with the injury of the mentioned tissues:

• Neck movements are partial or completely limited.
• Head movements are accompanied by neck pain.
• X -Ray shows morphological changes in tissues (intervertebral and in the body of the vertebrae).

It is worth noting that vertebral syndrome is always accompanied by these three clinical signs.If at least 1 of them is absent, the diagnosis will be completely different.

Syndrome

It occurs when spinal cord roots are damaged.At the same time, nervous conductivity is disturbed, a person may feel pain or lose the sensitivity of the individual parts of the body or even suffer paralysis.Depending on which of the 8 root couples there is an alteration of conductivity, such symptoms are distinguished:

• 1 torque - numbness or pain on the back of the head;
• 3 PAR: Violation of the chewing reflex, numbness of the language and unpleasant sensations behind the ears;
• 4 Par - Clavicle pain, violation of the swallowing reflex;
• 5 pairs: violations of the shoulder girdle, accompanied by the problem of the movement of the hand;
• 6 pairs: The patient begins to feel pain and numbness on the forearm and shoulder blades;
• 7 pairs: hands and fingers are numb (often index and medium);
• 8 pairs: problems similar to the past element, but numbness feels on the ring finger and little finger.

Cardial syndrome

Despite the fact that the pathological process is still located in the cervical column, the syndrome has all the signs of cardiac pathologies.The clinical image is as follows:

• Fast pulse.
• Pain in the sternum region.
• The lack of breath, weakness, lethargy, decrease in performance.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

To timely search a doctor, it is necessary to clearly understand the signs of cervical osteochondrosis.In some cases, this knowledge allows you to seek help in the initial stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat.In general, the symptoms of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column are the following:

• The pain for osteochondrosis is always present, only intensity and frequency differ.The pain is the first clinical sign.Its intensity depends on the stage of progression of the disease, in nature that are stupid or tight.Painful sensations are mainly present in the neck of the occipital region, but they can also radiate to the temporal region, shoulder waist and hands.
• In most cases, there are manifestations of the vestibular device injury.We are talking about frequent dizziness without cause, nausea, deteriorated coordination of movements, unequal march, loss in space.
• One of the most common clinical signs is the rigidity of the neck muscles and the rigidity of the movements.It is difficult for a person to turn, lower and throw their heads, the movements respond with episodes of pain.
• Many patients point out the feeling that chicken skin is felt "running through the scalp" or a characteristic tingling.
• In the area of the hands there is muscle weakness and numbness.
• There are often psychological manifestations, expressed in depression, drowsiness, an abrupt change in mood, temperament or irritability.
• Due to the deterioration of blood circulation and damage to brain tissue, dizziness intensifies and noise in the ears appears, similar to whisper, pulsation, sound.
• Most patients point out visual disability, as well as pain in eye balloons, especially when it comes to highly cutting your eyes to the left, right, up or down.

Sometimes it is possible to determine the degree of development of the pathological process by symptoms.However, for a complete diagnosis of this, this is not yet enough and several diagnostic measures are required.

Diagnostic methods

The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical column is necessary to determine the location and stage of progression of the disease.For complete diagnosis, such diagnostic methods are needed:

• X -Ray: The main method that allows you to determine the degree and location of the deformation of the spine.
• You can use computerized tomography for a more precise diagnosis of pathological changes in vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• The magnetic resonance (image of magnetransonance): allows to examine the wheels and the vertebrae in detail, determine the presence of hernias, bumps and the scale of injuries of the rest.
• Doplerography: At the same time, the exam becomes the opportunity to find a place to squeeze the artery, evaluate the degree of circulatory disorders.

Treatment methods

The treatment of neck osteochondrosis always implies an integrated approach.The principles of treatment depend on the mass of factors, such as patient age, the stage of disease development, clinical image brightness, etc.However, he cannot do without a doctor in this situation and, first of all, he can consult a therapist who will then direct him to a vertebrologist.As for the integrated approach: the osteochondrosis of cervical osteochondrosis is treated with pharmacological therapy, physiotherapy, massages, exercise therapy and other methods that must be discussed in more detail.

Drug treatment

The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is pharmacological therapy, which implies the use of tablets, medications and medications from such groups:

• Anesthetics: analgesics and antispasmodics.The first direct nervous centers, thus stopping painful sensations.The latter allows you to relieve the spasm of the neck muscles, establish blood flow and suppress pain.
• NSAID -Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are necessary to reduce the inflammatory process, most of them also eliminate pain.Often, these medications are used in the form of gels, ointments that rub in the affected area.
• Musorelaxantes are another way to eliminate muscle spasm in the cervical region.
• Condroprotectors are mandatory in certain stages of cutting osteochondrosis, because they contribute to the restoration of bone tissues.
• B Vitamins: normalize the metabolic processes of nerve tissues, improving the conductivity of nerve impulses and contributing to the work of the central nervous system.

Remember, the treatment must be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, responsible for the appointment of each medication, as well as to determine the duration of their intake and dose.

Physiotherapy

The treatment of neck osteochondrosis will be many times more effective using some physiotherapy techniques:

• Electrophoresis
• Laser therapy.
• Ultrasound.
• Massage.

Massage therapy is necessarily carried out by an experienced health worker, the treatment is carried out by a course of at least 10 sessions.Cervical region massages help normalize blood circulation, restore elasticity, muscle tone, relieve pain, etc.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is based on the principle of restoring motor functions and mobility between vertebrae.Initially, manipulations are in a light relaxing massage, then the doctor joins more and more strength, acts on the pressure vertebrae and neck tours.

The use of Kuznetsov applicators is one of the therapy methods for spine diseases, including osteochondrosis.The effect of adaptation in the cervical region normalizes metabolic processes, relieves pain, increases muscle tone, improves blood circulation, increases the conductivity of nerve tissue, etc.To prevent osteochondrosis, it is useful to participate in swimming and hang in the horizontal bar for 2-3 minutes every day.