Cervical osteochondrosis is considered the most common disease of the spine in people of working age. The progressive degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs repeatedly lead to pathological changes in the vertebrae and the ligaments.
The disease is rarely recognized at the first stages of its development, since at first a sick person may confuse its symptoms with ordinary fatigue or mental stress.
But especially with the first injuries, it is possible to prevent further pathological processes in the cervical spine through conservative treatment and lifestyle changes.
Symptoms indicating cervical osteochondrosis
The most common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:
- Pains. Painful sensations of varying severity can appear not only in the neck, but also in the hands and head.
- Weakness in the upper limbs. It occurs due to damage to the root of the motor nerves that innervate the muscles of the hands.
- Decreased sensation occurs when a sensory nerve is compressed and damaged.
- Restricted movement in the neck.
- Dizziness.
- loss of coordination of movements.
- With severe compression, the blood supply to the brain is significantly deteriorated, which can lead to visual impairment, neurological disorders and hearing loss.
Cervical osteochondrosis with a long course disrupts the functioning of the lungs and heart. The most characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis in the neck area are pain and dizziness, they have their own developmental features.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis
Painful manifestations in people with cervical osteochondrosis appear due to damage to the peripheral parts of the nervous system. Pain sensations can be constant, in medicine they are called cervicalgia, and pain can also appear suddenly, sharply, that is, a "cervical chamber" is formed.
The main role in the development of pain is attributed to pain impulses emanating from the receptors present in the area of the pathologically altered part of the spine.
Pain in osteochondrosis has the following characteristics:
- Neck pain usually occurs in the morning. Aggravated by turning, clumsy movements, coughing. From the neck, the pain can spread to the shoulders, upper back, and chest. Gradually, by the evening, the pain will become less pronounced.
- Periodically, a sick person can feel severe pain, called "shooting", "piercing".
- The pain often radiates up the arm and reaches the hand, where it manifests itself as numbness in the fingers.
- Cervical osteochondrosis is a common cause of recurrent occipital pain.
- Pain in the chest area is possible, such ailments in their manifestations often resemble cardiac pathology.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis leads to limitation of movement, to muscle stiffness. In addition to pain, there is also a decrease in sensitivity in the neck, arm and shoulder girdle.
dizziness
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis occurs due to a violation of the patency of blood vessels that oxygenate and supply different parts of the brain.
The degree of vascular compression affects the intensity and duration of dizziness. The manifestation of this symptom of osteochondrosis is often accompanied by:
- feeling that the ground is shaking under your feet;
- loss of balance;
- nausea;
- ringing in the ears;
- Deterioration of vision, flickering flies and flashes in front of the eyes.
Dizziness can stop after rest and immobility, but this phenomenon completely disappears only after treatment of osteochondrosis.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Changes that occur in osteochondrosis in the cervical spine are due to malnutrition and blood circulation. A similar pathology develops under the influence of the following reasons:
- Disturbed metabolism.
- Hypodynamia, that is, insufficient physical activity.
- Referred Injuries.
- Constant forced posture of the body. Prolonged neck muscle tension is common in drivers and office workers.
- Anomalies in the development of the spine, these include scoliosis, incorrect posture.
In recent years, the number of patients with cervical osteochondrosis in adolescents has tended to increase. Doctors attribute this to computer games and nervous overexertion.
treatment
Drug treatment of patients with diagnosed cervical osteochondrosis should begin as early as possible. This prevents further changes in the tissues of the spine and quickly improves general well-being.
Below we consider the main groups of drugs used in the treatment of osteochondrosis.
| Drug / group name | use |
|---|---|
| NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) | These drugs reduce inflammation and swelling, under the influence of which pain disappears. |
| Vasodilators (platelet aggregation inhibitors) | Drugs that improve blood flow and nutrition to damaged nerves. |
| muscle relaxants | Drugs that relieve muscle spasms. |
| B vitamins | Assign to improve the flow of metabolic processes in the body. |
| chondroprotectors | Medicines that restore diseased cartilage tissue. |
| analgesics | Prescribed for severe pain. |
Since NVPS have a number of side effects, the dosage of drugs and the general course of their use must be selected for each patient individually with a doctor. Be sure to consider all contraindications.
treatment at home
Against the background of drug therapy and during the period of recovery, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is also carried out using other methods. The group of the most common of them includes herbal medicine, exercise therapy, physical therapy, adherence to a special diet. All these methods help to improve metabolic processes, normalize blood circulation, strengthen the muscular corset and reduce inflammatory reactions. Compliance with the whole complex of therapeutic measures allows you not only to get rid of unpleasant sensations, but also to prevent further pathological changes in the intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
exercises
After relieving acute pain in patients with osteochondrosis, the doctor recommends physical exercises. A specially selected movement therapy strengthens the neck muscles and the entire spine, promotes nutrition of the intervertebral discs and blood circulation.
In the early stages of the development of osteochondrosis, it is exercises that lead to the full restoration of joint mobility.
The simplest exercises for cervical osteochondrosis are tilting the head sideways, forwards and backwards. A doctor, taking into account all the changes in the spine detected during the examination of the patient, will help you choose the right exercises.
Herbs
The use of herbs in osteochondrosis is aimed at reducing inflammation, swelling and metabolic processes in the body. The following recipes are popular:
- 10 grams of sea buckthorn, 40 grams of birch leaves and 50 grams of willow bark need to be chopped and mixed well. The broth is prepared from two spoons of the collection and half a liter of water, everything is boiled for 10 minutes, infused and cooled. You need to drink this decoction in a glass twice a day for at least two weeks.
- horseradish compress. A leaf of horseradish should be poured with boiling water, fastened around the neck and fixed with a scarf. Such a compress is best done at night, when you use it, a slight burning sensation is felt.
way of life
Proper nutrition in osteochondrosis contributes to the normalization of metabolism. Hard diets for this disease do not exist, except when you need to lose weight, since obesity often involves changes in the intervertebral discs.
Be sure to include proteins in the daily menu for people with osteochondrosis. They are found in meat, dairy products, fish, poultry, legumes and grains. Protein is well absorbed when these products are combined with plant foods.
Strong coffee, tea and alcohol should be avoided, as these drinks do not allow the absorption of important trace elements.
In addition to medication, exercises, diet, physiotherapy will help a person with osteochondrosis in the treatment. Massage, swimming and yoga give excellent results in reducing pain and strengthening the muscular corset. Most importantly, the selected methods of treatment should be carried out several times a year, which allows you to forget about the exacerbations of osteochondrosis.
movement is everything
Osteochondrosis develops with physical inactivity, which means that improving the functioning of the spine in this area requires a change in your lifestyle. Physical activity, daily exercises and sparing sports will make you forget about the unpleasant sensations associated with osteochondrosis. People who are sedentary need to take regular breaks during the workday to perform simple physical exercises.