Causes, Symptoms and Methods of Treatment of Osteochondrosis of the Cervical

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 adversely affects the functioning of the brain.

What is osteochondrosis of the cervix?

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

• Narrowing of the spinal canal in certain areas of the spine.
• Passing the vertebral arteries - large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.Therefore, the brain supply deteriorates and disrupts blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord.
• Intervertebral discs can be deformed and flattened.This leads to squeezing separate parts of the spinal cord and nerves, more often, the nerve roots are drained.

All of these problems are endangered not only to break the blood circulation of the brain, painful neck sensations, headaches, etc.The development of cervical region osteochondrosis is dangerous with problems of a neurological nature, deterioration of the central nervous system, damage to brain tissue.According to the international classification of diseases, several separate codes were given osteochondrosis of the cervical region.The Code of Disease for ICB 10 depends on the age of the disease: the disease is diagnosed:

• M02 - dystrophy of intervertebral discs in adolescence.
• M42.12 is a dystrophic process in the neck of 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, the principles of treatment.

Reasons

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

1. Pathological - destruction of intervertebral discs and other vertebrates with the inclusion of surrounding tissues, blood vessels and nerve beams in the pathological process under the influence of unfavorable external factors.The harder these factors and other pathologies, the faster the disease develops.
2. Physiological - based on the development of pathology, mainly age -related changes.We are talking about natural aging of cartilage tissues in the spine, salts, etc.

If we cite more specific causes of cervical osteochondrosis, they are as follows:

• Breaking the metabolic processes in the body, as well as certain stages of obesity.
• Hypodynamics is a phenomenon characterized by a limitation of mobility.It's not just about injuries or diseases, this may include sedentary lifestyle and seating.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system, contributing to impaired blood circulation in the brain, changes in pressure and other things.
• Incorrect posture, these are different forms of scoliosis, rheumatism, and even flat feet.
• Injection of the cervical spine.In this case, we are talking about springs, strikes, bruises.Investigations of other spine in the development of cervical osteochondrosis can affect the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
• Excessive physical effort of the cervical region caused by intense sports or severe physically severe, depending on the type of human activity.
• Sitting lifestyle is also dangerous with constant tension of the cervical spine and the entire spine if you are sitting improper or unpleasant furniture.
• Hernia of the cervical spine, as well as various related diseases.
• Forced long -term posture in an unpleasant or unnatural position.In this case, not only excessive muscle occurs, but the spine is also rounded in the cervical region.
• Doctors believe that constant stress and nervous surge is a very common cause.
• One of the reasons is considered congenital anomalies in the structure of the spine.

What is the danger of health?

As mentioned earlier, in the cervical spine, not only are the spinal cord and the various nerve branches, but also the spinal arteries that supply the occipital part of the brain, the small brain and the medulla brain.With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, close tissues are inflamed.In addition, the development of pathology threatens to drain the nerve roots and transmit blood vessels, the consequences are:

• Osteochondrosis is accompanied by deformities of the spine, a consequence of which the cerebrospinal canal narrows in certain areas.This can lead to squeezing the spinal cord and nerve branches, which promises serious neurological problems.In severe cases, a person feels pain, even there is a possibility of losing control over individual parts of the body (mainly in the arm or face).
• The squeeze of 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 ceases to receive oxygen and nutrients in the required amounts, begins with oxygen starvation.With circulatory disorders, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and various neurological pathologies.

Syndromes

The main syndromes are:

• Vertebral.
• Vertebral artery.
• Koresh.
• Heart.

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

Vertebral syndrome

It speaks to the direct connection of osteochondrosis of the cervical region with bones and cartilage tissues.Symptoms in this type of pathology are also related to the lesion of the aforementioned tissues:

• Neck movements are partially or completely limited.
• Head movements are accompanied by neck pain.
• X -nay 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 is absent, the diagnosis will be completely different.

Rock syndrome

It occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged.At the same time, nerve conductivity is impaired, a person may feel pain or lose the sensitivity of individual parts of the body or even suffer from paralysis.Depending on which of the 8 radicular couples there is a disturbance of the conductivity, such symptoms vary:

• 1 pair - stiffness or pain in the back of the head;
• 3 pair - injury to the chewing reflex, tongue stiffness and unpleasant sensations behind the ears;
• 4 pair - clavicle pain, breaking the swallowing reflex;
• 5 pair - shoulder disorders, accompanied by the problem of moving the hands;
• 6 pair - the patient begins to feel pain and stiffness in the forearm and shoulder pads;
• 7 pair - hands and fingers go stiff (often index and middle);
• 8 pair - problems similar to the past item, but the stiffness is felt in the ring and little finger.

Cardial syndrome

Despite the fact that the pathological process is still localized in the cervical spine, the syndrome has all signs of heart pathologies.The clinical picture is as follows:

• Fast pulse.
• Pain in the region of the chest.
• Shortness of breath, weakness, lethargy, performance reduction.

Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervix

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

• The pain for osteochondrosis is always present, only the intensity and frequency vary.Pain is the first clinical sign.Their intensity depends on the stage of progression of the disease, in nature they are stupid or squeezed.Painful sensations are mainly present in the neck of the occipital region, but can also radiate to the time region, shoulder and hands.
• In most cases, there are manifestations of the lesion of the vestibular apparatus.We are talking about frequent meaningless dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination of movements, uneven work, space loss.
• One of the most common clinical signs is the rigidity of the neck muscles and the stiffness of the movements.It is difficult for a person to turn, lower and throw his head, movements respond with periods of pain.
• Many patients notice the feeling that goose from the goose "runs through the scalp" or a characteristic tingling.
• In the area of the hands there is muscle weakness and stiffness.
• Often there are psychological manifestations, expressed in depression, drowsiness, sharp mood swings, temperament or irritability.
• Due to the impaired blood circulation and damage to the brain tissue, dizziness is amplified and noise in the ears, similar to rustling, pulsation, ingraining.
• Most patients notice vision damage, as well as pain in the eyeballs, especially when trying to greatly mow their eyes left, right, up or down.

It is sometimes possible to determine the degree of development of the pathological process according to the symptoms.However, for a complete diagnosis of this, this is still not enough and a number of diagnostic measures are needed.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is necessary to determine the localization and stage of progression of the disease.Full diagnosis requires such diagnostic methods:

• X -Ray - the primary method that allows you to determine the degree and localization of the deformation of the spinal column.
• You can use computed tomography for a more accurate diagnosis of pathological changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• MRI (Magnetosonance image) - allows the wheels and vertebrae to be examined in detail, to determine the presence of hernia, bumps and the volume of lesions of the others.
• Dopplerography - at the same time, the examination becomes an opportunity to find a place for artery squeezing, to assess the degree of circulatory disorders.

Treatment methods

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

Drug treatment

The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is drug therapy, which involves the use of tablets, medications and medications of such groups:

• Anesthetics - analgesics and antispasmodics.The former directly annoying nervous centers, stopping painful sensations.The latter allows you to release the spasm of the neck muscles, establishing blood flow and suppressing the pain.
• NSAIDs -no -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs are necessary to reduce the inflammatory process, most of them also eliminating pain.Often these drugs are used in the form of gels, ointments applied to the affected area.
• Muzolesants are another way to remove muscle spasm in the cervical region.
• Chondroprotectors are mandatory at certain stages of chopping osteochondrosis, as they contribute to bone restoration.
• B vitamins - normalize the metabolic processes of nerve tissue, improve the conductivity of nerve impulses and contribute to the functioning of the central nervous system.

Remember, treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician who is responsible for the appointment of each medicine, as well as to determine the duration of intake and dose.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis will be many times more effective with the use of some physiotherapy techniques:

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

Massage therapy is necessarily performed by an experienced health care professional, treatment is performed for at least 10 sessions.Massages from the cervical region help to 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 the vertebrae.Initially, the manipulations are in a mild relaxing massage, and then the doctor attaches increasing strength, acts on the vertebrae of pressure and neck spins.

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