Causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of cervical osteochondosis

Among all the pathological processes that affect the spine in its different parts, the 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 osteochondosis?

The words of cervical osteochondosis in medical practice mean a progressive acquired disease that affects the specific spine.This pathological process is characterized by degenerative dyeing processes in the tissues of the intervertebral discs, which are shock absorbers for the cervical vertebrae.The degenerative distrus changes in the intervertebral discs are due to the fact that they are canceled and deformed.Consequently, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced and consequently the following consequences occur:

• Narrowing of the spinal canal in some areas of the spine.
• Passing the vertebral arteries - large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.Due to which the supply of the brain worsens and the blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord is disturbed.
• Intervertebral discs can be deformed and flattened.This leads to the squeezing of the individual sections of the spinal cord and nerves, more often the nerve roots are crushed.

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

• M02 - Dyrophy of the intervertebral discs in adolescence.
• M42.12 is a dystrophic process in the neck in adults.

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

Causes

Knowing the causes of the development of osteocondrosis of the cervical region can play a decisive role in the diagnosis process, as well as determining the principles of the fight against 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 the intervertebral discs and other vertebrates with the involvement of nearby tissues, blood vessels and nervous beams in the pathological process under the influence of adverse external factors.The more difficult these factors and other pathologies are difficult, faster develops from the disease.
2. Physiological - based on the development of pathology, mainly age -related changes.We are talking about the natural aging of the cartilage tissues in the spine, in salts, etc.

If we list more specific causes of cervical osteocondrosis, they are as follows:

• Violation of metabolic processes in the body, as well as some phases of obesity.
• Hypodynamia is a phenomenon characterized by a limitation of mobility.It is not just about injuries or diseases, but it can also include a sedentary lifestyle and session work.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system, contributing to the compromise of blood circulation in the brain, pressure changes and other things.
• Wrong posture, these are various forms of scoliosis, rheumatism and even flat feet.
• Injection of the cervical column.In this case, we are talking about distortions, strikes, bruises.Investigations on the other spine in the development of cervical osteochdrosis can influence the development of cervical osteochondosis.
• The excessively large physical effort on the cervical region caused by intensive sports or heavy physical difficulties, 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, whether you sit erroneously or on uncomfortable furniture.
• An hernia of the cervical column, as well as various related diseases.
• Long -term forced head of the head in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.In this case, not only does muscle overload occur, but the spine is also curved in the cervical region.
• Doctors consider constant stress and nervous overtention 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 the spinal cord and the various nerve branches, but also the spinal arteries that provide the occipital part of the brain, brain and the modular brain.With the development of cervical osteochdrosis, the neighboring tissues are inflamed.In addition, the development of the pathology threatens to squeeze the nerve roots and transmit the blood vessels, the consequences are the following:

• Osteocondrosis is accompanied by deformations of the spine, a consequence of which the cerebrospinal channel is restricted in some areas.This can lead to squeezing the spinal cord and nerve branches, which promises serious neurological problems.In serious cases, a person feels pain, there is also the possibility of loss of control over the individual parts of the body (mainly in hand or in the face).
• By tightening the neck vessels, as already mentioned, it is accompanied by a violation of the blood circulation in the occipital region of the brain.At the same time, the brain ceases to receive oxygen and nutrients in the required quantities, oxygen hunger begins.With circulatory disorders, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and various 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 by many unfavorable clinical signs.A person can hear dizziness, a noise appears in the ears and much more.

Vertebral syndrome

He speaks of the direct connection of the osteocondrosis of the cervical region with bone and cartilage tissues.The symptoms in this type of pathology are also associated with the injured tissue injury:

• Neck movements are partially or completely limited.
• The movements of the head are accompanied by neck pain.
• X -Reggio shows morphological changes in the 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 are absent, the diagnosis will be completely different.

Rook syndrome

It occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged.At the same time, nervous conductivity is disturbed, a person can experience pain or losing the sensitivity of the individual parts of the body or even suffering from paralysis.Depending on which of the 8 root couples there is a disorder of conductivity, these symptoms are distinguished:

• 1 couple: numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• 3 couple - violation of the reflection to chew, numbness of the language and unpleasant sensations behind the ears;
• 4 couples: pain in the clavicle, violation of the reflection of swallowing;
• 5 couples - violations of the shoulder belt, accompanied by the problem of the movement of the hand;
• 6 couples: the patient begins to feel pain and numbness in the forearm and shoulder blades;
• 7 couples - hands and fingers must be numb (often index and in the center);
• 8 couples - Problems similar to the past object, but numbness is warned with the finger of the ring finger and the 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 heart diseases.The clinical picture is as follows:

• Quick pulse.
• Pain in the sternum region.
• Parence of breath, weakness, lethargy, decrease in performance.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondosis

For the timely research of a doctor, it is necessary to clearly understand the signs of the cervical osteocondrosis.In some cases, this knowledge allows you to ask for help in the initial stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat.In general, the symptoms for osteochondosis of the cervical column are as follows:

• The pain for osteochondrosis is always present, only the intensity and frequency differ.It is the pain that is the first clinical sign.Their intensity depends on the stage of the progression of the disease, in nature they are stupid or overwhelming.Painful sensations are mainly present in the neck of the occipital region, but they can also radiate towards the temporal region, the shoulder belt and the hands.
• In most cases, there are demonstrations of the injury of the vestibular apparatus.We are talking about frequent dizziness without cause, nausea, compromised coordination of movements, irregular pace, 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 away the head, the movements respond with attacks of pain.
• Many patients notice the feeling that goosebumps "runs through the scalp" or a characteristic tingling is felt.
• In the area of the hands there is muscle weakness and numbness.
• Often there are psychological manifestations, expressed in depression, sleepiness, a strong change in mood, temperature or irritability.
• Due to the compromise of blood circulation and the damage to the brain tissue, the dizziness intensifies and the noise appears in the ears, similar to the rustle, pulsations, row.
• Most patients notify visual impairment, as well as pain in eye bulbs, especially when trying to mow your eyes on the left, right, up or down.

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

Diagnostic methods

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

• X -Ray - The primary method that allows you to determine the degree and location of the deformation of the spinal column.
• You can use computerized tomography for a more accurate diagnosis of pathological changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• MRI (Magnetoresonance Imaging) - allows you to examine the wheels and vertebrae in detail, determine the presence of hernias, protrusions and scale of the injuries.
• 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 osteochondosis of the neck always implies an integrated approach.The principles of the treatment depend on the mass of factors, such as the patient age, the development phase of the disease, the brightness of the clinical picture, etc.However, you cannot do without a doctor in this situation and first of all you can consult a therapist who will direct you to a vertebrologist.As for the integrated approach: the osteochondosis of cervical osteochdrosis is treated using drug therapy, physiotherapy, massages, exercise therapy and other methods that should be discussed in more detailed way.

Pharmacological treatment

The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondosis is drug therapy, which provides for the use of tablets, drugs and drugs of these groups:

• Anesthetics - Analgesic and antispasmodic.The first directly boring nerve centers, stopping thus painful sensations.The latter allows you to relieve the spasm of the neck muscles, establishing the blood flow and suppressing the pain.
• NSAID -Non -pounding anti -inflammatory drugs are necessary to reduce the inflammatory process, most of them also eliminate pain.Often these drugs are used in the form of gel, ointments that are rubbed in the affected area.
• Muscelasses are another way to remove muscle spasm in the cervical region.
• The chondroprotectors are mandatory in some phases of the osteocondrosis Chop, because they contribute to the restoration of bone tissues.
• Vitamins B - normalizes 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 should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, who is responsible for the appointment of each medicine, as well as determining the duration of his hiring and dosage.

Physiotherapy

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

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

Massage therapy is necessarily carried out by an expert healthcare professional, the treatment is carried out by a course of at least 10 sessions.The massages of the cervical region helps to normalize blood circulation, restore elasticity, muscle tone, relieving pain, etc.

Manual therapy

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

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