Today, cervical osteochondrosis has become one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Unfortunately, not only the elderly, but also very young people are increasingly suffering from this disease. Lack of physical activity, frequent work at the computer, and other attributes of modern urban life negatively affect its condition and lead to the development of osteochondrosis.
In this article, we will study its causes, how it manifests, how it is treated and which drugs are effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, and find out which non-drug methods exist.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a significant change in the nature of degenerative dystrophy, destroying the functional activities and structure of the spine. Therefore, changes occur not only in the intervertebral disc itself, but also in the vertebrae and cervical joints.
cause
For this disease, the shock absorption capacity of the intervertebral discs will undergo destructive changes, accompanied by their displacement. One of the reasons for this change is the deposition of salt due to the increased salt content in human blood and lymph fluid.
The main cause of cervical osteochondrosis is a sedentary lifestyle. Office workers are most susceptible to this disease, and most of their working time is spent on files and computers. When the human body lacks the required physical activity, blood flow will slow down, and muscle tissue does not need to take in salt from food. As a result, salt is deposited in the cartilage tissue of the spine.
Lead to the development of diseases and malnutrition, overweight and metabolic disorders, as well as long-term stress, nervousness, and sleep disorders.
In addition, the disease may occur due to trauma, extreme stress, inflammation, and other diseases.
development level
According to the severity of symptoms and the degree of dysfunction, it is divided into three stages:
First level
It is characterized by the lowest severity of symptoms. Patients usually notice a general deterioration in their health, with headaches, weakness and dizziness. At this stage, the cervical spine is slightly deformed and displaced, and the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc appears to be cracked.
Second degree
For the second degree of disease development, a significant increase in pain is characteristic, which occurs due to the strong displacement of the intervertebral disc and the compression of the nerve roots.
Three degrees
It is characterized by the complete destruction of the annulus of the intervertebral disc, which may lead to the formation of a hernia. The symptoms of the disease at this stage are obvious. The patient felt severe weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness, severe neck pain, radiating to the shoulder blades and shoulders. In some cases, the intensity of symptoms associated with replacing the damaged area with connective tissue is temporarily reduced.
Fourth degree
The intervertebral disc is completely destroyed, and the damaged disc replaces its connective tissue. The arteries supplying the cerebellum and the occipital lobes of the brain are involved in this process, leading to dizziness, increased tinnitus, and impaired coordination.
It is important to diagnose the disease at the initial stage and consult an expert to understand how to prevent its further development.
Symptoms and signs
In addition to pain syndrome, cervical osteochondrosis is also accompanied by many symptoms, and people may not immediately guess what is happening. This is because the dysfunction of the cervical spine will inevitably affect the work of the cerebral vascular system.
Three main groups of symptoms are usually distinguished:
Pain syndrome
Nervous system manifestations in various forms of pain syndromes. First of all, these are headaches of different intensity and duration, which can be given to the eyes or ears. In this case, the pain usually does not go away after taking analgesics. Pain or severe pain in the neck and back of the head, radiating to the shoulder blades, forearms, and elbows. For this disease, dull pain usually occurs, which then becomes more pronounced and spreads to various parts of the body.
Reduced sensitivity
Dyskinesia due to disruption of the normal function of the spinal cord. Patients may experience numbness and reduced sensitivity in their limbs, impaired leg tension, weakness in the arms and legs, and goose bumps. You may feel pain when you lift your arms or move them to the side.
weakness
There are many manifestations of signs of cerebral vascular disease. People who suffer from cervical osteochondrosis often feel severe weakness for no reason and quickly become tired.
Noise in ears
Frequently, there are symptoms of ear stuffiness and noise, hearing loss, and rapid deterioration of health.
Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are also possible.
diagnosis
Basic diagnosis method:
- Radiography.A method with insufficient information, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- Computer tomography (CT).It is more effective in showing abnormalities of the vertebrae, but it is difficult to determine the size, the presence of hernias, and the presence of spinal hernias (disc-medullary conflict).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).This method shows the most information, clearly visible bone structure, intervertebral discs, hernias and their size, as well as their growth direction.
- Ultrasonic double-sided scanning.Use this method if you suspect that the blood flow to the spinal arteries is impaired. This reveals the reduction of blood flow velocity and the obstruction of normal blood flow.
treatment
The formulation of a treatment plan for cervical osteochondrosis mainly depends on the cause of the disease, the nature and intensity of the symptoms. Practice has shown that comprehensive therapy works best, which may include medication, massage, therapeutic exercises, and other methods.
Treatment must be carried out under the supervision of qualified specialists: chiropractors, chiropractors, chiropractors, surgeons, neurologists. It is very important to see a doctor in time to prevent the disease from developing into second and third degree. In this case, treatment until full recovery will take longer.
Treatment is prescribed in a certain order:
- First of all, to relieve pain;
- Then get rid of edema;
- Prescribe drugs to restore blood circulation;
- Muscle tissue is strengthened;
- Take steps to restore damaged tissues.
important!Please remember that exercise therapy is forbidden during the worsening of the disease, as it will cause complications.
As a first aid measure to relieve acute pain syndrome during exacerbations, analgesics are prescribed to patients and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used when acute pain occurs. Place pepper patches where muscle cramps, warming, and analgesic ointments are located. Diuretics can remove swelling very well. If the patient has numbness in the limbs, special exercises to stimulate blood circulation are required.
It should be remembered that these measures will reduce the pain, but will not eliminate the cause of the disease. The combination of the medicine prescribed by the doctor and other treatments will accomplish this task.
drug
The purpose of taking medicines for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is to relieve muscle pain and inflammation, restore blood circulation and strengthen the vascular system of the brain, which has a general healing effect on the body.
Patients must take preparations containing B vitamins, which can be prescribed in the form of tablets or intramuscular injections.
In order to restore the damaged cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc, the doctor prescribes cartilage protection drugs. Taking these drugs should not be neglected, as they help strengthen bone tissue and prevent future disease recurrence.
physiotherapy
When doing gymnastics, you should make a circular motion of your head, and bend your neck left-to-right and forward-backward. In this set of exercises, you also need to include shoulder and arm movements. All movements should be carried out smoothly, without harshness and pressure, alternate active phases and rest.
in conclusion
It is always easier to prevent diseases than to cure them. In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to follow some simple rules:
- Avoid putting too much pressure on the spine, so as not to damage the intervertebral disc;
- Do full-body gymnastics every day, focusing on exercising the back muscles, especially the cervical spine;
- Avoid nerve overwork and fatigue, remember the importance of adequate rest and adequate sleep to the body;
- Live an active and mobile lifestyle, exercise more, walk in the fresh air, eat a reasonable and balanced diet, and get rid of bad habits.