Osteochondrosis in medicine is called dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. This problem can appear in a person absolutely at any age. Violation of the function of the intervertebral discs can provoke the development of many unpleasant associated he alth problems. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately pay attention to the signs of cervical osteochondrosis, and then proceed to immediate treatment.
General description of the disease
The cervical spine includes 8 paired nerve nodes, as well as 7 vertebrae. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region, as a rule, develops due to the fact that the intervertebral pulp degenerates into vitrified tissue. In parallel with this, pathological changes also adversely affect the termination of nerve fibers, as well as important vessels. Basically, this pathology affects the 8th and 7thvertebrae.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis are very easy to confuse with other pathologies. During the disease, headache attacks are observed, as well as discomfort in the neck. Signs of cervical osteochondrosis are also accompanied by dizziness, nausea, and pressure problems. In most cases, this disease is confused with vascular and heart diseases.
It is important to note that often against the background of a pathology with vertebrae, the patient begins to lose consciousness abruptly, feels a lack of air, and sometimes even the tongue may become numb. Therefore, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical region must, as they say, "know in person".
This unpleasant disease is diagnosed mainly in people over 30 years of age. This is due to the peculiarities of the location of the human skeleton, as well as constant dynamic and statistical loads. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that the disease has recently been rapidly getting younger, as a result of which signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women and men are observed even in adolescence.
Causes of disease
Pathological and physiological processes influence the development of this unpleasant disease. All of them are closely related to each other, and in medical practice, specialists constantly consider them together.
As for physiological changes, they are caused by irreversible age-related processes that take place in the cartilage of the spine. These changes are localized in the central regionintervertebral disc. Physiological signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women and men are manifested as pulp pinching by some fibrous tissues. When the nerve endings are irritated, the patient begins to experience discomfort.
Pathological changes are a process when the area of inflammation goes beyond the area of cartilage tissue. Pathological signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in women and men can cause severe irritation in the area of nerve endings, as well as pinching of blood vessels. Such changes can occur against the background of malnutrition, due to a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, pathological changes are often observed in adolescents and people belonging to the middle age category.
It is important to note that the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in women and men in some cases disappear on their own or appear as short-term episodes. The human body has many protective and compensatory functions, which for some time are able to level these pathological changes in the cartilage area.
Provoking factors
The following factors can provoke the development of this unpleasant disease:
- Overweight.
- Lack of constant physical activity, as well as sedentary work.
- Stress conditions and nervous stress.
- The patient's body is often in an uncomfortable position.
- Injuries in the back of the head and neck.
- Hypercooling.
It is also worth paying attention to the fact that signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in men and women may appear due to congenital anomalies, as well as due to autoimmune diseases.
Key Features
It should be noted that cervical osteochondrosis is sometimes not accompanied by pain in a specific part of the spine. Quite often, this disease has a fuzzy clinical picture. The main signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in men and women include dizziness, sudden changes in blood pressure, migraine. However, it is necessary to highlight the symptoms that require urgent hospitalization of the patient:
- Increasing headache, accompanied by deterioration in general well-being.
- Loss of mobility of the muscles of the shoulder girdle or face, numbness.
- Disturbance of coordination of movements.
- Loss of consciousness.
Considering the signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, you should pay attention to the fact that pain often radiates to the upper limbs and shoulder girdle. A distinctive feature in this case is the pain syndrome, which is paroxysmal in nature. Basically, such pain occurs after waking up, during laughter, sudden movements, sneezing and coughing.
When answering the question about what signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical region disturb the patient, one should pay attention to the fact that at the initial stage of this disease, the pain subsides quickly, a crunch in the neck is often observed, the muscles become weaker, andthe skin loses its sensitivity.
If there are pathological changes in the sixth vertebra, then pain can be felt in the thumb. And if the changes affected the seventh vertebra, then the pain manifests itself on the middle finger.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine in women, as a rule, appear later than in the strong half of humanity.
Associated with other diseases
The manifestation of signs of cervical osteochondrosis in men and women may be associated with other diseases. For example, specialists have long established a connection between blood pressure and cervical osteochondrosis. This unpleasant disease is characterized by sharp drops in blood pressure throughout the day, and persistent hypertension is irrelevant for this disease.
An increase in pressure during osteochondrosis may be accompanied by pain in the arms, chest, legs and noise in the head. Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic at the same time include a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin in the collar zone. Constant stress and a long stay in an uncomfortable position can provoke a jump in blood pressure.
Dizziness and cervical osteochondrosis occur due to severe pain, impaired cerebral circulation, and also due to the transmission of nerve signals. This can also occur due to existing problems regarding the vestibular apparatus. Initial signscervical osteochondrosis include non-systemic dizziness. In this case, the patient does not feel rotating objects, but there is severe nausea. It is very difficult for the patient to be in a standing position.
It is important to note that during dizziness it is necessary not only to visit a neurologist, but also to visit Laura, so that this specialist excludes the presence of a pathological change in the nasopharynx.
In most cases, osteochondrosis is accompanied by a headache. It occurs due to vascular spasms, increased intracranial pressure, pinched nerve endings. Pain can manifest itself in many ways, whether dull or throbbing.
During osteochondrosis, headache attacks are similar to the sensations that occur with increased blood pressure, heart attack, angina pectoris and stroke.
Panic attacks can occur during osteochondrosis against the background of existing disorders in cerebral circulation. The patient experiences physical discomfort and unreasonable fear. The duration of such an attack can be from several minutes to 1 hour. Attacks can be repeated several times a day. In addition, panic attacks are accompanied by incessant tears, a feeling of a heavy head, lethargy and apathy. If the patient has severe seizures, then it is necessary to regularly visit a psychiatrist and take tranquilizers.
Depression and fears arise with this disease against the background of constant pain, as well as a forced change in the usual way of life.
Diagnostic method
Most patients with osteochondrosis experience pain in the back of the head, in the arms and in the chest. Such a blurred picture of the disease greatly complicates the initial diagnosis. In addition, uncontrolled intake of painkillers hampers the timely diagnosis. A patient who does not experience pain feels completely he althy. As a result, people seek medical help too late, when irreversible processes are already beginning to develop in the tissues on the neck joints.
Diagnosis involves an x-ray, after which it will be possible to see r-signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. After the x-ray, the patient is prescribed a course of treatment. With instability of r-signs of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms will be observed:
- Angular deformity of affected segments.
- Displacement of the vertebrae to the side, back or forward.
- If within 2 vertebrae there are deviations on the vertical axis by more than 2 mm, then this indicates a pathology.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that radiography is an ineffective diagnostic method, especially at the last stage of development of osteochondrosis.
Also, during the diagnosis, a patient can be assigned magnetic resonance imaging. MRI signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine help to establish a diagnosis for the patient. During tomography, a specialist can see bone structures, herniated discs, as well as their direction of development and size. If they are found in timeMRI signs of cervical osteochondrosis, then you can quickly overcome the disease.
No less effective than MRI is computed tomography. This procedure allows you to identify CT signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that computed tomography reveals the presence and size of a hernia much better.
Medicated treatment
After the diagnosis, the specialist diagnoses the patient and prescribes the appropriate treatment. Treatment with medicines is aimed at combating pain, inflammation. Drug treatment can restore normal mobility and blood circulation. The main groups of drugs in the treatment of this disease are as follows:
- Various analgesics in the form of injections and tablets to eliminate pain. Most often, "Diclofenac" or "Piroxicam" is prescribed for these purposes.
- Steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Dexamethasone or Prednisolone.
- Chondroprotectors that restore cartilage tissue. Basically, Chondroxide, Neurobeks, Teraflex are prescribed for these purposes.
- Miorelaxants are prescribed to relax the muscles.
- Additionally, vitamin complexes are prescribed, which should contain all vitamins of group B, C, D, as well as ascorbic acid and retinol.
- For external use, you can use products in the formointments, gels. The most effective are Nurofen and Voltaren, which improve blood circulation, relieve pain and spasms, anesthetize and warm.
You should also pay attention to the fact that those vitamins that are contained in food products will not be enough to treat this unpleasant disease. Therefore, you can use the complex preparation "Milgamma", which contains vitamins of group B, as well as "Lidocaine".
It is also recommended to take drugs that can improve cerebral circulation with existing cervical osteochondrosis. The intake of such funds is an obligatory component of the treatment of this disease. "Cavinton" and "Tanakan" are able to dilate blood vessels, as well as improve blood flow. "Piracetam" and "Ceraxon" are nootropic drugs that improve metabolic processes in the brain. In addition, these funds restore thinking and memory well.
Surgery
Surgical intervention for the treatment of osteochondrosis is used very rarely. However, the patient cannot do without surgery in cases where paralysis of the upper limbs is observed. Surgery will also be required if the patient has cerebral edema.
Additional Therapy
As an additional treatment, massage is recommended. Also, experts in the complex advise using manual therapy in the form of jerky progressive movements. Very effective are: dosed traction,relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
Treatment at home
In combination with drug treatment, you can also use non-traditional recipes. Therapy at home involves the implementation of special exercises and techniques on a regular basis, the use of certain orthopedic devices. As a supportive treatment, traditional medicine recipes can be used.
To eliminate tension in the spine, reduce stress, strengthen neck muscles, you can use the Shants collar. The neck and head are fixed in a certain position. Thanks to this, you can overcome insomnia, as well as prevent the development of pathological changes. This collar must be worn for several hours before going to bed. Under no circumstances should it be used all day.
With the help of self-massage, pain and spasms can be eliminated. And during this procedure, it is recommended to additionally rub the ointment, which can improve blood flow. Massage is done in a sitting position, the posture should be comfortable and relaxed. During it, stroking, circular rubbing are performed. When carrying out such a procedure, not only the neck is affected, but also the shoulder girdle.
It is important to note that with osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, it is forbidden to use any type of heating, with the exception of a sauna or bath.
Taking special baths
You can get rid of soreness and inflammation with the help of therapeutic baths. Such procedures well help to relax the spine. Bathsshould be carried out every other day, and the course of treatment should include from 15 to 20 procedures. Bath Recipes:
- Mix 300 g of mint and chamomile. Herbs brew 10 liters of boiling water. Let it brew for 2 hours, then filter.
- Take 40 g of lemon balm, the same amount of birch leaves and mint. The resulting composition brew 12 liters of boiling water, let it brew for 2 hours. After that, filter the broth, pour into the bath.
- To prepare an infusion based on sage, you need to take 300 g of this ingredient and 5 liters of boiling water. Let the healing solution brew for 2 hours, strain, after which you can use.
For oral administration, you can use an infusion based on yarrow. Thanks to this, you can quickly get rid of inflammation, pain and spasms. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 230 ml of boiling water and 6 g of yarrow herb. Let the broth brew for an hour in a closed container. The finished product is taken three times a day, 15 ml each.
Very effective in the fight against osteochondrosis is a solution consisting of 1 liter of water and 15 g of sea s alt. The saline solution must be brought to a boil, after which it must cool completely. In the resulting composition, natural fabric is wetted, after which it is superimposed on the back of the neck.
Possible Complications
If the diagnosis was carried out in a timely manner, the treatment was correct, then the disease should proceed without any complications. Otherwise, rather severe pathological processes can develop, which in the future can provoke disability. Cervicalosteochondrosis can be dangerous to human he alth. The main hazards are:
- Vertebral artery syndrome, in which there are organic and functional changes caused by impaired blood circulation in the brain.
- Arrhythmia and high blood pressure.
- Muscle atrophy in the upper limbs, weakness, numbness.
- Hernia formation, protrusion.
- Neurological disorders.
- VSD.
Prophylaxis
Preventive measures of osteochondrosis involve the simplest actions, with regular implementation of which you can prevent the occurrence of serious problems with your he alth. It is especially important to observe prevention for the elderly, as well as for those who spend too much time in a sitting position. To prevent the development of osteochondrosis, you must:
- Take a hot shower for at least 10 minutes every day.
- Periodically go to the sauna, steam bath to eliminate clamps in the neck and spasms.
- Sleep only on a special mattress and orthopedic pillow.
- When sedentary work, do at least 5 minutes of warm-up every hour.
Experts also recommend swimming, yoga, aerobic exercise, and special exercises that strengthen the neck muscles.
Patient testimonials
People's feedback on the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine suggests that success is observed if the complex combines medicationmeans and recipes of traditional medicine. Sea s alt baths are very effective. But in order to achieve success in treatment, it is necessary to seek help from specialists in time, immediately after the first symptoms of this disease are detected.
