The trend of spinal degenerative disease lesions is steadily increasing every year, all because of the acute problems of low motivation and low sexuality due to urbanization.The damage to the cervical spine can cause frequent, various intensities of headaches and stiffness in the neck and forearms.Today, our topic is the causes, symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Causes of the development of cervical osteochondrosis
Talking about the causes of cervical degeneration damage to genetic, toxic, metabolic, endocrine, infectious and other factors.But first, you can place a sedentary lifestyle, sit at a computer, desk and drive.
Frequent pressure involuntarily bent over the posture, which leads to erosion of blood vessels in the nerve neck, helps to help this pathology.
Symptoms of pain in the neck should not be ignored as this leads to the development of the disease as well as the development of complications such as supra shoulder arthritis, vertebral artery syndrome, anterior stair syndrome and Roying syndrome.
About the anatomy
Now, let’s look at the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the cervical structure that contributes to the development and development of osteocartilage:
- The cervix is the most moving part of the spine.Since all types of movement are possible, this increases the risk of subluxation and frequent infringement.
- The vertebral artery occurs in channels formed in the foramen in the transverse process of the vertebrae.It is the blood of the brain, auditory organs, spinal nerves and cerebellum.As the changes in degenerative disease progress, arteries and nerves can be clamped in the department.
- In the cervical vertebra, vertebrae are not everywhere between the vertebrae.On the front, the vertebrae is connected by the joint, which triggers subluxation of the joint.
- The foramen of the three lower cervical vertebrae have a triangular shape and the nerve roots may erode as osteochondral bone disease grows in the bone tissue.
- Throughout the cervical department, the autonomic ganglion is located.
These features will help us propose mechanisms for developing complications of cervical osteochondrosis.
Developing mechanisms for cervical spine changes
The pathological process begins with the intervertebral disc, with moisture loss in the pulp nucleus.The fiber ring of the disk gradually becomes thinner, its elasticity decreases, and microwaves appear.
As a result, the disk loses the ability to repair, depreciate and support.The load on the lower vertebrae gradually increases, and the vertebrae itself participates in the process.
Among them are small defects, bone plants (over-bone growth) are growing to withstand increased loads.
As the bone tissue grows, the nerve roots squeeze along the posterior wall of the vertebrae, and if on the side, the vertebral artery invades.
Subluis in the joint appears because stability between the vertebrae is violated.This results in compensatory tension in the neck muscles, which helps keep the cervical spine in its normal position.
When the muscles are tired, the load on the vertebrae increases again, leading to the development of the disease.Thus, a vicious cycle is formed in which spastic muscles and damaged vertebrae adversely affect each other and lead to a decline in the patient's condition.
Based on the pathological mechanism, the symptoms of the disease are formed.Therefore, the squeezed nerve roots are manifested by invading nerves along with severe paroxysmal pain.
When vertebral arteries are compressed, symptoms associated with reduced cerebral blood flow, namely: noise in the ears, dizziness and headaches, appear first.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into 3 groups:
The first group of symptoms - pain
It is expressed in form:
- Local pain in the back of the head/neck;
- Irradiation pain, extends to the right or left hand, can also reach to the fingers, brush, forearm, and even on the shoulder joint.
This pain may be painful and persistent, irritating and spread throughout the neck or hands.Or, this is a local acute shooting pain that occurs due to nerve root clamping.
The second group of symptoms is movement disorder
First, it is rigidity of the neck and the neck and back muscles, so it is impossible to rotate or tilt the head normally, or do any movement in the cervical spine.
Additionally, this is the limit of mobility in the shoulder joint, which is called the syndrome of shoulder-pave arthritis.It can also be stretched to the entire hand, including numbness of the fingers, numbness of the hand, and numbness along the sides of the shoulders or forearm.
The third group of symptoms is plant blood vessel manifestations, blood vessel manifestations
During this process, spasms of blood vessels or spasms of spinal pinch occur.As a result, this symptom of cervical osteochondria may be manifested as headache, dizziness, and flashing of "flies" in front of the eyes.
Hearing impairment may also occur - noise in the ears and the feeling of "sulphur plugs" that one of them cannot hear.These symptoms are syndromes of vertebral artery.
Traditional treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Modern medicine provides many methods for treating lesions of spinal degenerative diseases.Among them, they distinguish: drug therapy, manual therapy, folk therapy, therapeutic physical culture (movement therapy), and resort to surgical treatment in cases that persist in distant places.The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the treatment stage and the complex stage of the selected method.
First, it should be aimed at normalizing the muscle tone of the cervical muscle.The role of other means is intended to eliminate inflammation and pain in the development of pathological changes.
An important point in the treatment of osteochondrosis is a good dream of comfort, and experts recommend using orthopedic pillows.
In the early stages of disease development, using massage in experienced experts and self-quality is effective.This approach will help relax spastic muscles and stop the progression of the pathological process.
Medical Sports
Treatment of osteochondrosis should include physical therapy exercises in the form of therapeutic or morning hygienic gymnastics.Follow these suggestions when performing a series of therapeutic exercises:
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes;
- Therefore, there is no shortage of breathing, replacing ordinary breathing exercises;
- The load should gradually increase, and if you start marking complaints about the cardiovascular system during the course, stop exercising and seek advice from your doctor;
- If pain occurs during the course, replace them with relaxation and stretching;
- In the course, control your overall well, breathing and pulse;
- If exercise with your hands and burdens can cause pain in your pronunciation, then for a moment, give them up.
- The physical exercise complex that should be treated with the doctor.
Physical therapy practice expects the following effects:
- Strengthen the muscles of the neck,
- Blood flow recovery;
- The mobility of vertebrae increases;
- Increase the amount of cervical area exercise;
- Get rid of pain and nerve innervation recovery;
- Prevent deterioration.
Drug treatment
Most neuropathologists and other experts do not represent treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, and there is no medication.Most popular are drugs from a group of non-replacement anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are used in the form of injections, tablets, gels and ointments.
Non-surrogate anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain, inflammation and relieve swelling, so the tone of the neck muscles is restored, metabolism in the affected areas is improved, and nerve roots and blood vessels are free from compression.
It is recommended to use a set of muscle relaxants that also effectively relieve muscle cramps while also restoring its tone.However, medications should be used with caution, especially in allergies.
The preparations in the corticosteroid group received good reviews for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Injectable drugs are very popular due to their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
If the treatments described are ineffective, they resort to paraserpentine obstruction of painkillers or steroids.
How to use non-traditional methods to treat cervical osteochondral disease
The following treatments can be used by proponents of non-traditional treatments.
- acupunctureIt helps to save patients from pain, relieve swelling and relax spastic muscles, and eliminate functional squeezes from nerves and arteries.If the fingers are numb on the hands, it is recommended to place the needle into the bioactive spots on the sinks of the arms and ears;
- Manual therapyIt helps restore normal blood flow to the neck, relieves muscle cramps and releases pinch nerves.The spine stretching should be performed with caution by a skilled expert;
- Hirudotherapy (water ech therapy)This is an inexpensive and quite effective treatment.The process involves placing a water ech for the biologically active point, which should be repeated through 10 courses.This method helps restore blood circulation in the cervical area and reduces swelling and inflammation.
- Maximum massageIt consists of the effect of fingers on biological active points, helping to relieve muscle cramps, improve blood circulation, and relieve swelling, pain and inflammation;
- Folk treatment methodsYou can use it successfully at home.These are a variety of gums and infusions you can prepare yourself (infusion of wormwood, lilac infusion, infusion of garlic).The therapeutic bath made of mint, chamomile, sage, squid rhizomes has a good effect.
After the above treatments and familiarity with the mechanisms of disease development, decide on the question you contact yourself: Contact a neuropathologist or a private clinic.