In 70% of people diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - the symptoms and treatment for such a particular ailment. This disease is rightfully considered a "disease of the century". Every year more and more people become victims of it, moreover, the disease "gets younger". The pathology revealed at the initial stage is faster and easier to treat.
Cervical osteochondrosis - the causes of
The development of this disease is provoked by various factors. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes such reasons:
- overweight;
- scoliosis ;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- excessive stress;
- spine trauma;
- strong physical activity;
- pathological development of the spine;
- hereditary predisposition.
All these factors contribute to increasing the burden on the cervical vertebrae. There is a muscle spasm. Blood circulation is disturbed on this site, which leads to a malfunction in the metabolic processes and provokes degenerative changes. Intervertebral discs are thinned, deformed and begin to protrude. More often it can affect adjacent departments and nearby located bone tissue.
Degrees of cervical osteochondrosis
It is impossible to identify this disease at the initial stage. You can determine its presence only on X-rays. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is as follows:
- Initial or 1st stage - the disk capsule is ruptured. In addition, there are changes in muscle tissue.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical stage of the 2nd stage is the result of an unsuccessful or untimely treatment of the disease at an early stage. The intervertebral lumen decreases, which causes irritation of the roots.
- The last or third stage - the vertebral body ruptures and a hernia is formed. This stage is characterized by loss of control over the limbs.
Cervical osteochondrosis - symptoms
Identify the disease will help its characteristic features. Osteochondrosis of the cervical part may have the same symptoms as other diseases. For this reason, it is unreasonable to prescribe a self-diagnosed and follow-up self-treatment. Such an unwise approach will exacerbate the situation. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - symptoms and treatment in his department. With this ailment, patients note such signs:
- pain (in the cervical region, in the hands, head);
- weakness;
- dizziness ;
- burning in the shoulder blades;
- tinnitus;
- memory impairment;
- lack of coordination ;
- blood pressure jumps;
- decreased vision.
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis
More often such an unpleasant condition occurs in the morning after sleep on an inconveniently matched pillow. It lasts from 2-3 minutes to several hours. In addition, other signs of cervical osteochondrosis can be simultaneously observed with dizziness. These include ringing in the ears, visual impairment and hearing loss. Among the reasons provoking dizziness, distinguish the following:
- compression of the artery;
- irritation of nerve endings;
- subluxation of the articular process.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis
Such unpleasant sensations can have different localization. The most common symptom of this ailment is headache. It can occur for the following reasons:
- nerve roots are jammed;
- there are spasms of blood vessels;
- reflexively raises blood pressure.
Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical region may be similar to those experienced by patients with stroke, hypertensive crisis or angina pectoris. They have the following character:
- constant;
- paroxysmal;
- stupid;
- pulsating.
Another sign of osteochondrosis is cervicalgia. This is a pain in the neck, which can give to the shoulder area and various parts of the hands. This condition arises suddenly: after awakening, with sudden movements. In this case, the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine symptoms and treatment provides for special ones. Only those doctors know about these subtleties, so do not take off pain without a preliminary medical examination. Inept manipulation can make a patient disabled.
Syndromes of cervical osteochondrosis
There are several symptom-complexes of the disease:
- Vertebral syndrome - affects bone and cartilaginous tissue. With it, the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has the following symptoms: the mobility of this area is disturbed, here morphological changes are observed. In addition, the patient experiences severe pain when the neck turns.
- Syndrome of the vertebral artery - it affects that blood vessel that delivers a vital fluid to the brain. Characteristic for him are such symptoms: dizziness, migraines, "midges" before the eyes, drowsiness, fainting and so on.
- Cardiac syndrome - very similar in its course with pre-infarction. His symptoms: shortness of breath, weakness, increased pulse, burning in the chest.
- Radicular syndrome - associated with the pathology of nerve conduction. The condition is characterized by such symptoms: difficulty in chewing food, numbness of tongue or hands, pain in the occipital region.
Cervical osteochondrosis - treatment
To properly choose the means to combat the disease, the doctor will send the patient to a complete examination. More often use such diagnostic methods:
- radiography;
- ultrasound scanning;
- MRI;
- CT.
After receiving the results of the examination, the doctor will carefully examine the patient to decide exactly how to treat cervical osteochondrosis. The choice of manipulations depends in part on the stage of the disease and the concomitant pathologies present in the person. If you independently diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, taking into account the symptoms only partially, and treating yourself to prescribe, you can cause serious harm to health. At best, manipulation will be useless, and at worst - dangerous pathologies will arise.
LFK with cervical osteochondrosis
If you regularly do the exercises, this will achieve the following results:
- blood circulation will increase;
- improve the state of the disks;
- muscles will strengthen;
- the spasms will go away.
Unmistakably to pick up exercises at an osteochondrosis of a cervical department of a backbone the expert on ЛФК can only. He correctly calculates the optimal load. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine exercises should be carried out in compliance with the following rules:
- In the acute phase of the disease, it is impossible to conduct classes.
- All movements must be smooth.
- You can not use the devices for stretching your vertebrae yourself. Is it dangerous!
More often prescribed such exercises for cervical osteochondrosis:
- slopes and turns of the head;
- shoulders movements;
- circular movements with brushes;
- mahi hands;
- rotation in the elbow and shoulder joints.
Massage with cervical osteochondrosis
This procedure helps to achieve this result:
- decreased swelling;
- muscles are strengthened;
- the stagnation of blood is removed;
- muscle spasms are removed.
Massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may be as follows:
- traditional;
- point;
- canned;
- honey.
Ointments for cervical osteochondrosis
These medications are prescribed in the treatment of a mild manifestation of the disease. They can also be used in the complex therapy of a disease in a neglected stage. Cervical osteochondrosis is treated with such ointments:
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal agents (Voltaren, Finalgel);
- ointments with chondroprotective effect (Chondroxide);
- preparations with painkiller and anti-inflammatory effects (Dolobene);
- vasodilators (Capsicum, Finalgon);
- homeopathic ointments (Liverpool, Objective T).
Nyxes with cervical osteochondrosis
In the treatment of this disease, injections have obvious advantages:
- They have an instant effect.
- Entered directly into the lesion.
- There is such a dosage of the drug that is needed to relieve the pain syndrome. Unlike injections, tablets lose part of the active substance during movement through the digestive tract.
- In most cases, no side effects are observed.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical department provides for blockade. With this method of therapy can be used drugs of one or different groups of medicines. Before treating the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the doctor will make sure that the patient's prescription has no allergy. More often appoint such nyxes:
- Analgesic agents (Analgin, Baralgin);
- myotropic drugs ( Midokalm );
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ketorolac, Ibuprofen, Ketonal);
- glucocorticosteroids (Ambien).
Orthopedic pillow with cervical osteochondrosis
Sleep helps in the treatment of many ailments. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the choice of pillow. If cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed, treatment at home involves an integrated approach. It should be that everything that surrounds the patient, contributed to his recovery. Pillow with cervical osteochondrosis should meet the following requirements:
- Be rigid so that the head does not "drown", and at the same time ergonomic.
- If the drug is intended for sleep on its side, it should have a special recess. This is necessary for comfortable placement of the shoulder.
- The cushion for sleeping on the back should have a "hump". He repeats the natural curve of the spine.
- Means for sleeping on the abdomen are softer and thinner.
In addition, when choosing an orthopedic pillow, attention should be paid to the filler. It can be this:
- latex;
- wool;
- husk;
- down;
- foam with memory and so on.