Hello, dear readers.Osteochondrosis is understood as a degenerative disease of the intervertebral cartilage layers.This problem has accepted the global proportions today.In Europe alone, about 60% of adults suffer from cervical osteochondrosis.Doctors associate this fact to people's article, their low mobility and a sedentary type of work.If not so long ago this disease has developed sometime until the age of fifty, it is now impossible not to notice that the disease is significantly rejuvenated-the average age threshold has decreased to 24 years.But more and more, 18-year-old youth are dealing with this problem.Speaking of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, symptoms and treatment cannot be ignored as these problems are of interest to many.
How osteochondrosis develops the cervical region - the causes and the first signs
Everyone knows that the spine is formed by bone vertebrae, between which are the cartilage "pillows" - intervertebral discs.
Due to disorders of blood flow and low quality nutrition, cartilage tissue does not receive a complex of nutrients here.
This leads to a change in the structure of cartilage, their deformation and contraction.They gradually lose their previous elasticity, becoming less durable.
As the intervertebral layers of shock dry, the vertebrae feed on each other.As a result, nerve endings and blood trunks are transmitted, causing pain and numbness in the muscles, migraines and a number of other symptoms.
Over time, cartilage is destroyed, turning into fibrous.Gradually, adjacent vessels, nerve fibers, bone structures are involved in this pathological process.
The main factors of the development of cervical osteochondrosis
The main reason for the development of osteochondrotic pathologies is considered to be degenerative dystrophic changes.There are a number of factors that contribute to this.
Consider the main causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
- Congenital predisposition.
- Aging of the body.
- Crimes in metabolic processes.
- Excess weight, obesity.
- Diet errors are a lack of mineral compounds and a systematic lack of fluid.
- Traumatic damage.
- Weight loss of skeletal muscles, improper posture, flat legs.
- Hypodynamia, stuck work.
- Physical overload, the specifics of the profession, when you need to work in an awkward position, make muscle effort similar to the joke, etc.
- The end of the sports career and the termination/reduction of power loads associated with this.
- Psycho-emotional removal.
- Nicotine addiction.
- The appearance of tumor structures.
It should be noted that the causes of pathological chondrotic changes in the cervical spine are not sufficiently studied today.
But it is reliably known that a long stay in a standing position or sitting without a special movement is a too soft bed, unbuttoned muscles on the back and belt of the upper limbs, the lower nutrition creates the perfect combination for the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Disease
Osteochondrosis does not occur suddenly.It has been developing gradually for a very long time - from several years to decades.
Initial dystrophic changes in vertebrates are not given in any way.They can only be found randomly in X -Ray photo or during CT.
In the next stage of the development of the disease there is a decrease in the thickness of the cartilage layer.Microscopic cracks appear on the intervertebral cartilage.A nun of individual muscles may appear.Over time, bulge develops, hernia is possible.The patient is tormented by pain in the head and muscles.
At the last stage of the progression of the disease, bone tissue is pathologically growing, nerve endings are damaged and chronic pain develops.Due to cervical osteochondrosis, curvature of the upper spine, radiculitis, stenosis (narrowing of the lumen of the spinal canal) can be observed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region - symptoms and treatment
We looked at the first signs of osteochondrosis, now we will talk directly about the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
Symptoms
For cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- Tingling and spasm of the muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back.
- Pulling sensations, pain in the dorsal and cervicals.
- The pain can be applied to their hands.
- Headache, especially in the dorsal area, migraines.
- Dizziness, ears in the ears, visual anomalies (discouragement, type of "flies" and colored spots).
- Regularly tingling the fingers of the upper limbs.
- The connectivity of the movements of the head, the restriction of rotation and the slope, everything is accompanied by pain and sensations of pulling.
- Soreness on palpation of the reciprocal area.
- A tendency to increase pressure.
Due to muscle weakness, disorders in movement coordination can be observed.In the presence of cardiac problems, their aggravation is possible due to spasm of the spinal artery.The pain can spread in the area of the sternum and rally.
As you can see, the symptoms are varied.This leads to the fact that people revealing certain deviations in themselves turn to the help of this specialist (cardiologist, orthopedist, traumatologist).This complicates the diagnosis and timely detection of cervical osteochondrosis.
Which doctor should you contact osteochondrosis
When a complex of described symptoms of osteochondrosis occurs, you should seek medical attention without delay.
You should get an appointment with a therapist or neurologist.Following the initial clarification of the clinical picture as a result of a study, a patient examination and palpation of the affected area, the doctor will give testing for tests and prescribe an additional examination.
You may need to go through:
- X -ray.
- Computed tomography.
- MRI.
- Electromyography.
X -ray will determine the location of the lesions and the degree of neglect of the disease.A tomographic study will help evaluate the condition of adjacent tissues, and myography is the conductivity of muscle fibers and their innervation.
All this will allow the diagnosis to be properly diagnosed and an effective treatment regimen.The process will be long, requires patience and work on yourself.
It will not be possible to fully restore cartilage structures, but to significantly improve the quality of life and get rid of chronic pain is an performing task.
The exams will have to return more than once.In the end, it will be necessary to monitor the course of the disease, to adjust the treatment program, to predict possible complications or improvements.
Therefore, even if the pain has given way, it is not a reason to refuse to perform repeated diagnostic measures.
How to deal with osteochondrosis of the neck
In order for the disease to release the disease, a whole set of different methods must be used.Active treatment in most cases takes several months.But here it depends on the enthusiasm, the conscientiousness of the patient and his will.In some cases, surgery is required.
When starting treatment, it is necessary to adhere to the following principles.
- Medical recommendations should be followed constantly.All changes to the country and side effects should be informed of the doctor.
- It is necessary to learn how to dose this load, to avoid excessive muscle activity and muscle surge of the cervical region.
- You need to give up sports overloads and change the work, if necessary.
- Medical and physical education are prerequisites.They must be done systematically and preferably every day.Special neck gymnastics should be selected individually, taking into account the patient's capabilities and the degree of neglect of the disease.The set of exercises is performed under the guidance of an instructor.
- The use of anti -inflammatory and analgesic drugs should be justified and strictly dosed.All medicines, especially hormonal, are prescribed by a doctor.
- It is important to maintain an anatomically correct position of the body.Even in a dream.Therefore, the mattress should have sufficient hardness.The orthopedic pillow is determined by direct choice.
- If necessary, you should sit for a long time regularly, with an interval of several hours, conduct a short warm -up for the neck.It is advisable to get up, although a sitting position is also allowed.
Why should I warm up?
This simple way will allow:
- restoration of normal blood flow;
- Mix the hard muscles;
- Get rid of tingling, tingling, pulling feelings;
- relieve muscle tension;
- preventing muscle throwing and their groups;
- Avoid overloading the cervical region.
All exercises are as simple as possible.They are known to everyone from childhood and do not take long.A few minutes is enough.They can be performed both at home and at work.
Getting out of the views of employees without tacts?Decide on the stairs or in the cabin of the toilet.You may even be unnoticed to exercise in transport, avoiding unnecessary attention.
All exercises should be performed with a straight back.It is recommended to expand your shoulders and sprinkle your breasts somewhat.Make the most tolerable turns with your head on the side.
Act neatly and without fanaticism so as not to harm the weakened spine.Then several times you welcome your head to one or the other shoulder.You can now perform several rotary movements-10-15 on each side.
Another good exercise.Extend the spine as much as possible as as if you were hung from the crown.Now slowly tilt your head forward, trying to press the edge of the chin toward your chest.Then you have to slowly and very carefully take the reverse action.
Warning!In the presence of any damage, you cannot reject your head back!Consult your doctor.
The procedure for exercising does not matter.A set of actions and the number of repetitions are selected individually.By wrapping your neck, do not forget about the chest region.They are closely connected.
It is recommended that you try to combine shoulder blades from time to time.Maybe you will hear a crunch.Don't be scared - these are the vertebrae in place.Then, as a rule, relief is felt.
To relieve tension in the trapezoidal muscle, lift your shoulders as much as possible.Actions are taken several times.Then close your shoulders and shake your hands.
Medication
Several types of drugs are used for cervical osteochondrosis.These drugs are used during periods of exacerbation of the disease.
They are designed to solve a number of problems:
- Elimination of pain;
- the fight against inflammation;
- Strengthening the metabolic processes in the affected tissues.
Preparations are also used, including hormonal and vitamin, which stimulate cartilage restoration.
Other methods of fighting pain
In addition to exercise and medicines therapy, the set of measures to escape the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the cervical zone include the following methods of exposure.
- Increasing the intervertebral spaces due to the elimination of the spine.Dosage load is applicable.The impact is carried out in different ways, including the use of special tables.This measure allows the spine to return the previous length, give it the right shape and release the restless nerves.Some patients, desperate to find an effective way to get rid of chronic pain, turn to bone rights.Here the spine is subjected to aggressive effects.This method can help, provided that there will be a professional who has a medical education.
- Massage also gives good results.This procedure helps to spread the blood, improve the diet and exchange of cartilage gas, relieve tension and muscle brackets and get rid of pain.If possible, you should resort to yourself.But you have to act properly after you have passed the appropriate briefing.You can massage your neck, shoulders, scalp, arms, collar area yourself.Wrinkle, kneading, low pressure is used.Supreme massage is effective when exposing active body points.But here we need special knowledge and considerable experience.Therefore, only a professional manual therapist should be paid.
- The physiotherapy effect implies the use of different agents: magnetic field, laser, ultrasound, low frequency current, etc.Medicines are often used here.This method of introducing them has a local effect, increases their effectiveness and avoids a number of side effects.The physical procedure helps fight pain, inflammation, acceleration of post -traumatic and postoperative rehabilitation.
- Acupuncture, similar to manual therapy, enhances or inhibits various processes in the body due to the effects on SO -covered biologically active points on the body.Reflexology allows you to regulate metabolism, increase blood flow and relieve pain.But despite its effectiveness, this method is not suitable for everyone because it implies the use of needles that some patients do not categorically accept.
The largest efficiency of these measures is achieved when using them in a complex under medical supervision.To a large extent, the success of therapy depends on the determination of the patient and his desire to deal with osteochondrosis.