Neck pain is familiar to most people from the school bench.The emergence of new technologies in our life, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, game consoles, etc.They forced us to change our anatomy in one way or another.We are sitting in front of the monitor for hours and at night we play our gadgets, lowering our heads on the screen.All this led to the fact that a disease like cervical osteochondrosis was significantly "younger".
What is osteochondrosis of the cervical region?
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic spinal disease, which occurs in a specific section: the cervical.The disease is based on a violation of metabolism and nutrition in the spine cells.Since cartilage and bones are not equipped with blood through the vases, they obtain useful substances in a different way - from nearby cells.It happens that for some reason the cells cease to feed the spine correctly.Then the degeneration process is launched.
First of all, the intervertebral records suffer.By nature, they are elastic and flexible, they have properties that absorb the shocks, which allow them to effectively separate the vertebrae, distribute the load, soften the sections or reduce the tension when weighing.If the power is not enough, the intervertebral disc starts to dry, lose humidity.Consequently, on the fibrous ring surrounded by the disc, cracks appear, the core of the disc dries and weakens.In the end, the disc ceases to perform its function.In addition, the process throws it into the vertebrae: without a natural "separator", they begin to press pressure on each other, as well as on the intervertebral discs.Consequently, at a certain point, the pressure can become critical: the fibrous ring of the disc burst, the core falls and a hernia is formed.
Cervical osteochondrosis consists in complete imbalance in the spine.In order to compensate for the absence of discs, the brain can "give a command" to form the osteophytes of bone excrements in order to somehow compensate asymmetry.However, this does not help, but only brings big problems.
The osteochondrosis of the cervical column is the most dangerous variety of this disease.It is in the area of the neck that the largest number of nerve roots and blood vessels is located, in this place the vertebral arteries are the closest to the spine with vertebral spine and 30% provide the brain.Due to hernias, movements, protrusions and osteophytes caused by osteocondrosis, nerves and blood vessels can be damaged, which involves serious systemic diseases in the body.
Reasons
The main cause of the occurrence of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, due to which nutrients seem to "restore" and not reach the destination: the spine.However, there are others:
- Lack of physical activity and sport, consequently, a poorly developed muscle corset
- Excessive physical activity
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- abuse of too oily and salty foods, "fast" carbohydrates
- Excess weight
- inheritance
- generic or other lesions
- Initially curved posture
- Infectious diseases transferred with complications on the spine
- Natural aging of the body
Symptoms
There are more than 20 symptoms in the disease and only some of them.
- Neck pain, shoulders
- Paroxysmal headache, scarcely raised by painkillers
- Limited movements, inability to turn the head
- Increase in pressure
- Symptoms of alleged heart disease: tingling in the heart, lack of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Decrease in visual acuity and hearing, the effect of the double in the eyes and noise in the ears
- Difficulty during swallowing, swelling of the language
- Numbness, tingling or tremor in the limbs
- Numbness or pain in the jaw
- Lack of muscle tone or excessive tone
- Drying of one of the limbs
- Sleepiness, aggression, irritability
Complications
The complications of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column and their symptoms are generally the cause of the patient's research, but this means that the disease is already in the following stages.Cervical osteocondrosis itself can take a lot of asymptomatic time or expressed in mild pain in the neck.
The osteochondrosis of the cervical column causes a change in the geometry and anatomy of the spine: the release of discs or even the vertebrae outside the normal position of position or the formation of osteophytes.The so made "primary complications":
- intervertebral hernia (breaking of the fibrous ring of the disc, its movement)
- Protrusion of the disc ("output" of the intervertebral disc beyond its anatomical limits)
- The formation of osteophytes - spondylosis (with the help of these bone growths, the body tries to compensate for the imbalance to the spine)
In addition, the degenerative processes to the spine, which have caused movements or formation of bone growths, most likely cause the pinch of nerve roots, vase or vertebral artery.
This is fraught with "secondary" complications:
- Dystonia-Vsd vegetable (violation of brain circulation work)
- The cord of the vertebral artery, vertebro-bazicular insufficiency (compression of the vertebral artery)
- Radicolor syndrome - Radicolite (violation of the nerve roots)
- Cervicobrachialgia (constant pain in the neck and head, poorly relieved by painkillers)
The complications of cervical osteochondosis are very dangerous, they can cause a violation of the circulatory system, blood vessels, change brain functions and even cause stroke.
Diagnostics
The first diagnostic method is the inspection, the conversation, the anamnesis.An expert vertebrologist, with complaints, will be able to determine if you have cervical osteochondosis.He will ask - on nature, the duration and location of pain, will perform the palpation of painful areas, approximately locates the injury area.To exclude other diseases, a blood and urine test will be prescribed.Subsequently, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of an X -ray exam.
Basic diagnostic methods:
- Tomographer for computer (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging tomography (MRI)
- X -raggi
To say which method is preferable, the doctor should, depending on the characteristics of the body, of the nature of the complaints, of the contraindications.The most expensive and information image is magnetic resonance imaging, soft tissues are visible on the image, therefore in case of damage to blood vessels, cartilage, nerves, the doctor will be able to locate the sick area.However, a computer tomographer provides a clear picture of bone tissues, which will allow you to measure the distance between the vertebrae, determine the stage of the disease.The advantage of the X -ray is cheap, speed (the procedure will require a maximum of 20 minutes), as well as the ability to conduct a study with functional tests (the image is taken in the maximum decline and maximum extension of the neck).
Treatment of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column
The basic principle of effective treatment is an integrated approach, a combination of many methods, prolonged therapy even after removing an acute state.
Medicines
- The anti -anesthetic and non -pound anti -inflammatory drugs will help to relieve pain attacks, will allow you to move on to further stages of the treatment.Injections or oral use are possible.
- Condroprotectors - drugs that slow down the degradation of cartilage tissues.
- Musorelaxants - Relax the tense muscles.
- Vasodilative drugs.Are prescribed in case of violation of the circulation.
- Nootropi drugs.They are prescribed if the brain system is damaged and it is necessary to improve depressed brain activity due to the violated nerve roots with osteochondosis and lack of blood flow.
- Vitamins and antioxidants to generally improve brain functions.
- Diuretics - to control the level of potassium and sodium in the blood.
Physiotherapy
Effective electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy are effective.The price of the session varies according to the level of the clinic, specialists and equipment.In total, the 10-15 sessions will need.
Life -style change: physical exercises, massage, swimming.
This phase of treatment must start after removing acute pain.It is necessary to increase the muscle corset of the spine to redistribute the load on it.A massage course and exercise therapy sessions are prescribed.It is more profitable to buy a subscription that includes a visit to the pool, Masseur and instructor of therapists for exercises.
Dream
The correct dream on the orthopedic pillow and the orthopedic mattress.
Adequate nutrition
Compliance with the diet and some rules: exclusion of alcohol, tobacco, fats and savory products, reduction of fast carbohydrates.