Cervical osteochondrosis

The life of a modern person is associated with constant overloads to which the spine is exposed. And if the previous diseases of this important organ were found mainly in old and elderly people, today, according to medical statistics, representatives of the younger generation are increasingly faced with such problems. The leader of this group of diseases iscervical osteochondrosis(SHOOH). This pathology causes a lot of inconvenience to a person.

Therefore, it is worth finding out about the reasons for its occurrence and methods of treatment.

What is cervical osteochondrosis

For a long time, most people try not to notice unpleasant discomfort in the neck area, referring to the usual overwork and fatigue. But over time, the pain is added to the discomfort when moving the head, and other unpleasant symptoms appear. And it is only when the situation becomes critical that a person sees a doctor and learns that they have cervical osteochondrosis.

This disease often affects both sexes equally. As already noted, today it is often found in very young people under the age of 30. This phenomenon is largely due to the introduction of computer technologies in all spheres of life. People simply stop moving and spend most of their time chained to the monitor. As a result, pathological changes begin to occur in the cervical spine: the vertebrae are displaced, and the cartilage tissue between them, which represents a kind of layer, becomes thinner. In other words, connective tissue proliferation occurs when formations in the form of growths appear on the vertebral body.

The consequence of such pathological changes is a decrease in the shock absorption effect between the vertebrae, bone surfaces, in contact with each other, cause friction and compress the neighboring nerves and blood vessels. All these pathological changes lead to a deterioration in the blood supply to the posterior parts of the brain, which leads to a deterioration in general well-being and pain. If the problem is not resolved in time, the disease will progress, and in severe cases it can even lead to disability.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

It wasn't that long ago that the main causes of SHOC were always associated with age-related changes in the body. But in the realities of modern life, factors have appeared that increase the risk of developing pathology at a younger age.

Some of these reasons include:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• stay forced into one position (usually sitting);
• Overweight;
• autoimmune diseases;
• drafts;
• stressful situations;
• injuries to the cervical or occipital region;
• congenital anomalies of the spine;
• violation of metabolic processes.

In some cases, the disease develops as a result of hormonal disorders or unfavorable heredity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Unlike pathological processes in other parts of the spine, SHOX manifests itself more pronounced. This feature is explained by the fact that in the cervical spine the vertebrae are very close to each other, so the height of the intervertebral discs is small. This anatomical feature contributes to a greater extent than in other parts of the spine, in the compression of nerve tissue and blood vessels. Therefore, the main symptoms of the disease are localized in the upper back, in the cervical region and in the head.

In this case, patients have the following complaints:

• limitation of neck mobility, especially if you want to turn your head;
• severe pain, which often does not allow a person to perform elementary action (bending over, turning his head);
• characteristic crackle when moving;
• decreased sensitivity of the hands;
• violation of coordination of movements;
• dizziness;
• general weakness;
• decreased vision and hearing, tactile sensitivity or taste perception.

Since the cervical spine consists of eight vertebrae, depending on the place of the dystrophic lesion, the disease has its own characteristic signs. Usually in these departments there is a sensitivity disorder or restriction of mobility as a result of compression of the spinal roots. Therefore, cervical osteochondrosis is differentiated by root symptoms, that is, it is taken into account which vertebra is involved in the pathological process.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be as follows:

1. the first vertebra - sensitivity decreases, and numbness in the occipital region and neck is noted;
2. the second - pain in the back of the head and parietal region;
3. third - pain in the part of the neck where the root is pinched, the perception of speech and taste is also impaired;
4. fourth - pain radiating to the shoulder, under the scapula, respiratory disorders can be observed;
5. fifth - pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulder;
6. sixth - pain in the neck extends to the forearm and thumbs of the hand;
7. seventh - pain radiating to the scapular region, back shoulder, forearm and fingers;
8. eighth - the pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder and lower in the arm to the little fingers.

It should be noted here that the diagnosis pays special attention to the extent of the lesion. Because this criterion determines the degree of cervical osteochondrosis. There are only four of them, and they determine the severity of the pathological process.

Diagnosis of the disease

It should be noted that an experienced doctor can easily diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine during the initial examination, focusing only on characteristic clinical symptoms. But in order to determine the degree of damage and the prevalence of pathology, the patient is recommended to undergo a number of examinations.Basically, these are all hardware research methods. The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis includes:

• X-ray examination of the cervical spine. During the diagnosis, the degree of damage, localization, salt deposits and features of the location of the vertebrae are established.
• Computed tomography - allows you to detect possible ruptures, establish the actual height of the intervertebral discs, places of compression of nerve tissues and spinal cord, if any.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - gives an accurate display of pathological changes. Thanks to this type of examination, it is possible to accurately determine the condition of the nerve fibers, as well as the intensity of blood flow.

Most often, when diagnosing, one of the listed types of examination is sufficient. In most cases, doctors use a technique that has been proven for decades, namely x-rays.

Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?

Any pathology of the spine is fraught with serious problems. After all, the spine is a kind of foundation on which the entire structure of the human body rests. Large blood lines run through the cervical region, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain. There are a lot of nerve endings here. Therefore, a violation of the innervation or blood supply of important organs threatens with serious consequences. And this is not an exaggeration of the danger, because osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has serious consequences.

In addition to the perceived discomfort, the resulting spinal defect leads to hearing loss, visual impairment. The brain with SCH suffers from a lack of oxygen. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered the most dangerous form of this disease.

To be convinced of this, it suffices to list only the most common complications of SHOX:

• persistent hypertension;
• chronic migraines;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD);
• breathing problems;
• various disorders of perception (taste, touch), which eventually take an irreversible form;
• cardiovascular pathologies, of which strokes are the most dangerous.

In advanced cases of the disease, patients develop vertebral artery syndrome, and prolonged compression of the nerve roots leads to radiculopathy. Changes in the structure of the vertebrae can subsequently lead to a complete loss of mobility in the neck. But the most serious complication of cervical osteochondrosis is death, which results in compression of the spinal cord.

Considering the seriousness of the situation and the high probability of complications, if alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a hospital. These unpleasant signs include: systematic headaches, dizziness, discomfort in the neck or the back of the head. After diagnostic measures, the doctor will select an appropriate therapy.

The treatment of patients with SHS is usually complex. Therapy necessarily includes massage, corrective gymnastics, physiotherapy procedures. Of course, without the use of drugs, it is impossible to improve the patient's condition.Therefore, the complex of drug treatment of osteochondrosis includes:

• pain relievers;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• chondroprotectors;
• muscle relaxants are means that relieve muscle tension;
• a vitamin complex is compulsorily prescribed.

Any therapy is selected by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. Any kind of self-medication for cervical osteochondrosis is unacceptable. All of these drugs aim to localize the symptoms in the acute phase of the disease. During the period of remission, other techniques are relevant. Usually, the treatment is carried out at home, that is, on an outpatient basis. But in particularly severe cases, the patient is hospitalized.

Traditional methods of treatment

Doctors are always willing to supplement the drug complex of treatment with natural preparations prepared on the basis of folk recipes. Various decoctions, infusions help to stop inflammation and relieve pain.

Here are some recipes for an alternative treatment for osteochondrosis:

• Dill seeds (200 g) should be poured with vodka (250 ml) or alcohol diluted in half with water. After two weeks of infusion, it is recommended to take on an empty stomach three times a day, a tablespoon of infusion.
• Means for external use are easy to prepare in the following order: lilac leaves (fresh) should be crushed into a fine mass, add 300 ml of radish juice (black) to them, then add 200 g of good honeyto ground. It is necessary to insist on the composition of the whole day in a dark place. Then it can be used to rub the problem area. This product is recommended for use after consulting a physician. The composition is contraindicated for people with allergies to its components.
• From the flowers of lilac, you can prepare an infusion for internal use. To do this, take a spoon (tablespoon) of fragrant inflorescences, pour a glass of boiling water, filter in an hour and take 1 liter three times. Art.

Important! When taking any herbal preparations, the prescribed dosage should be strictly observed.

Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home

It makes sense to talk about the complex of corrective gymnastics with SHH only after the end of the acute period. With an exacerbation of the disease, such activities can only aggravate the situation.

All physiotherapy exercises are aimed at maintaining normal mobility of the cervical spine. Classes take place at a calm pace, there should be no sudden movements. If there are signs of fatigue or painful sensations, the classes stop immediately. The complex includes the following exercises that you can do regularly at home:

• While standing, you should tilt your head while inhaling so that your chin touches your chest. As you breathe out, the head is gently pulled back. The same exercise can be done freely while sitting in a chair.
• In any starting position, it is convenient to perform rotational movements of the head. It is better to periodically change the direction of movement so that your head does not spin. It is recommended to perform the exercise at a slow pace.
• Performing this exercise on a regular basis will perfectly strengthen the cervical muscles: you have to put your hands in a "lock" and press your forehead against them as much as possible. To achieve a lasting effect, repeat this exercise three times for 30 seconds. You can alternately press with your palms on your forehead and then apply pressure with your forehead on your palms.

There are many other effective methods, but any option can only be used after doctor's approval.

To avoid a history of diagnosis "cervical osteochondrosisYou have to lead an active life, do regular exercises in the morning, pay attention to the back of your neck, and equip your workplace well.