Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are called osteochondrosis. This problem can occur in a person of any age; Dysfunction of the intervertebral discs causes many serious problems. How to prevent the development of cervical osteochondrosis? What drugs and alternative therapies are used in treatment?
What is cervical osteochondrosis
The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae and 8 pairs of nerve nodes. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops against the background of the transformation of the intervertebral pulp into vitreous tissue. In this case, pathological changes affect the ends of nerve fibers and important blood vessels. Often the pathology affects the 7th and 8th vertebrae.
The disease, like other pathologies that occur with attacks of headaches and discomfort in the neck, is carefully hidden. Patients may complain of dizziness, nausea and blood pressure problems. The disease is often confused with cardiovascular problems.
Important! Often, against the background of problems with the vertebrae, a person suddenly begins to lose consciousness, feels short of breath and may become numb.
Cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed in people over the age of 30, which is due to the location of the human skeleton, constant statistical and dynamic loads. The disease is rapidly rejuvenating, and recently osteochondrosis has occurred even in adolescents.
Causes of the disease
Physiological and pathological processes affect the development of osteochondrosis. They are closely related to each other and are always considered together in medical practice.
Physiological changes are caused by irreversible processes in the spinal cartilage. They are localized in the central part of the intervertebral disc, manifesting themselves as compression of the pulp by fibrous tissues. Anxiety occurs when nerve endings become irritated.
Pathological changes - in this case, the area of inflammation extends beyond the cartilage tissue and causes severe irritation of nerve endings and constriction of blood vessels. Malnutrition occurs against the background of a sedentary lifestyle, is seen in adolescents and middle-aged people.
Important! Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may rarely resolve spontaneously or present as a short-term episode. The human body has many compensatory and protective functions that can neutralize pathological changes in cartilage for some time.
Triggers:
- sedentary work, lack of regular physical activity;
- often forced to stay in an anxious situation;
- overweight;
- nervous load, stressful situation;
- neck and occiput injuries;
- hypothermia.
Osteochondrosis can be caused by congenital anomalies, autoimmune diseases.
Key Features
Cervical osteochondrosis does not always manifest itself with pain in a certain part of the lower back, in most cases the disease shows a blurred clinical picture.
The main symptoms are dizziness, migraine, sudden changes in blood pressure.
In case of emergency hospitalization:
- numbness, mobility of the muscles of the face or shoulder girdle;
- increased headache, generally accompanied by deterioration of well-being;
- lack of coordination;
- loss of consciousness.
Cervical back pain often spreads to the shoulder girdle and upper extremities. A distinctive feature is that the pain syndrome is paroxysmal, most often after waking up, during sudden movements, laughter, coughing and sneezing.
If osteochondrosis is in the early stages, the pain decreases rapidly, there is almost always a crisis in the neck, the muscles weaken, the skin loses sensitivity.
Important! Pathological changes in the 6th vertebra can cause pain syndrome in the thumb, and if the 7th vertebra is damaged, it affects the middle finger.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear later in women than in men - the average age is 50-55 years.
Relationship of osteochondrosis with other diseases
Cervical osteochondrosis and blood pressure - the link between these pathologies has long been established. Osteochondrosis is characterized by sharp drops in blood pressure during the day, persistent hypertension is not typical of this disease.
Increased pressure in osteochondrosis is accompanied by migraine, noise in the head, pain in the arms, legs and chest. At the same time, the sensitivity of the skin in the neck area is significantly reduced, stress can lead to a jump in pressure, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.
Cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness - occurs against the background of severe pain syndrome, cerebral circulatory and nerve signal transmission, problems with the vestibular apparatus.
With osteochondrosis, non-systemic dizziness is most common - there are no rotating objects, but the person is very sick and difficult to stay upright.
Important! With frequent attacks of dizziness, it is necessary to go not only to a neurologist, but also to an ENT to rule out the presence of pathological changes in the nasopharynx.
Headaches are accompanied by osteochondrosis in almost 90% of cases. Vascular spasms occur on the background of compression of nerve endings, increased intracranial pressure. It manifests itself in different ways - pulse, dull.
Headache attacks in osteochondrosis are similar to high blood pressure, angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke.
Panic attack occurs with osteochondrosis against the background of cerebrovascular disorders. At the same time, a person experiences unfounded fears and physical anxieties. The duration of the attack is from 2-3 minutes to an hour, they can be repeated several times a day. Panic attacks are accompanied by a severe headache, constant tears, indifference and lethargy. Severe attacks require taking a tranquilizer and visiting a psychiatrist regularly.
Fear and depression The constant pain of life with osteochondrosis occurs against the background of a forced change in normal life.
Diagnostic methods
People with osteochondrosis may feel pain in the back of the head, chest and arms - such a blurred picture of the disease significantly complicates the initial diagnosis.
Prevents people from being diagnosed in time and taking painkillers uncontrolled. A person feels healthy without pain. When irreversible processes develop in the tissues of the cervical joints, consult a doctor late.
Important! Only one neurologist treats osteochondrosis.
External examination is to determine mobility and pain in the neck. The doctor then prescribes X-rays and computed tomography in several projections. If you suspect a hernia, a magnetic resonance imaging examination should be performed. Doppler ultrasound is performed to assess the condition of arteries and blood vessels.
Principles of Drug Control
Drug treatment aims to relieve pain, inflammation, restore normal mobility and blood circulation.
Main drug groups:
- tablets and injections of analgesics are intended to relieve pain syndrome;
- non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors help to restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxant relaxes muscles, is used as an adjuvant to relieve pain - contains glycerin, benzimidazole, has a long list of contraindications;
- vitamin complexes - must contain all vitamins of group B, D, E, retinol, ascorbic acid;
- artificial analogues of histamine - helps to eliminate problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- gel, ointment for external use - helps to improve blood circulation, relieve spasms and pain, warms, reduces pain.
Important! The vitamins in food are not enough to treat osteochondrosis.
In cervical osteochondrosis, drugs that improve cerebral circulation are a mandatory part of therapy, dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow. Nootropic drugs that improve metabolic processes in the brain, restore memory and thinking.
Osteochondrosis surgery is rarely used. Surgery is important for symptoms of upper extremity paralysis, acute blood supply disruption, and cerebral edema.
Additional treatments include massage, forward and forward hand therapy, dose traction, relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Treatment at home involves regular special exercises and the use of special orthopedic devices. Traditional medicine prescriptions can be used as supportive therapy.
Shants collar is designed to relieve tension in the spine, reduce stress and strengthen the neck muscles. The head and neck are stabilized in the correct position, which helps to get rid of insomnia and prevent the development of pathological changes. You should wear the collar 2-3 hours before bed, not all day.
Self-massage, rubbing with ointments that improve blood flow, will help relieve pain and cramps. The procedure should be done while sitting, posture is comfortable, relaxed. Stroking, rubbing in a circle, you need to touch not only the neck, but also the shoulder girdle.
Important! With cervical osteochondrosis, any heat outside the bath and sauna is prohibited.
Healing baths relieve pain and inflammation, allow the spine to relax. Water procedures should be performed every day, the course consists of 15-20 procedures.
Bath recipes:
- Mix 150 g of chamomile and mint, infuse the mixture in 5 liters of boiling water. Keep the infusion for 2 hours, filter.
- Take 20 g each of mint, lemon balm and maple leaves. The collection is brewed in boiling water for 6 hours, filtered after 2 hours.
- To prepare the sage infusion, you will need 300 g of grass and 5 liters of boiling water. The treatment solution will be ready in 2 hours.
You can prepare an infusion of yarrow for oral administration - it will help to quickly eliminate inflammation, cramps and pain. Infuse 6 g of grass in 230 ml of boiling water, keep in a closed bowl for an hour. Take 15 ml 3 times a day.
A solution of 15 g of sea salt and 1 liter of water helps to cope with osteochondrosis. Bring the mixture to a boil and cool completely. Moisturize the natural fabric in the composition, pull on the back of the neck.
Possible complications
With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, cervical osteochondrosis continues without any special complications. Otherwise, serious pathological changes develop that can lead to disability.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
- vertebral artery syndrome - functional and organic changes caused by circulatory disorders in the brain;
- high blood pressure, arrhythmia;
- insomnia, weakness, muscle atrophy of the upper extremities;
- bulge, hernia;
- VSD;
- neurological diseases.
Physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis
Sports therapy for cervical spine osteochondrosis is able to restore nutrition and restore blood circulation in damaged tissues.
During therapeutic gymnastics, it is forbidden to turn the head sharply, to make sharp curves. Only imitation of such actions is allowed. You can do a series of exercises for no more than 2 minutes - long-term loads can lead to a complication of osteochondrosis.
An effective set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis was developed by Shishonin. The principle is that all movements should be carried out smoothly, each position should be stabilized for 15-30 seconds. There should be no pain during gymnastics, each exercise should be repeated 5 times.
Description of exercises:
- Sit up straight, tilt your head to the right. Correct the situation when muscle tension appears. Make 5 slopes on each side.
- Bending the head back and forth is done in a similar way to the previous exercise.
- Extend the chin to the left and right shoulder in turn. The back is straight, you can't round it.
- Turns his head left and right to stay in each position for 30 seconds.
- Keep turning from the side, but use extra arms. When turning to the right, the right hand should be on the left shoulder, and vice versa.
- Close your palms, raise your arms above your head, turn to the sides.
- Straighten your arms, bring them to the sides and pull back a little, stretching your chin forward.
Preventive measures
Prevention of osteochondrosis consists of simple steps, if done regularly, serious health problems can be avoided. Prevention is especially necessary for the elderly and those who often sit.
How to prevent osteochondrosis:
- Take a hot shower for at least 10 minutes every day;
- Eliminate sore throats and tightness by regularly visiting the bath, sauna;
- sleep on an orthopedic pillow and a special mattress;
- Take a small warm-up every hour for five minutes while sitting.
The best sports for the prevention of osteochondrosis are swimming, yoga, aerobics, special gymnastics to strengthen the cervical muscles.
People at risk are not allowed to run, jump or exercise. Critical weight 10 kg, weights should be carried with both hands. In addition, you can use a corset that protects the spine.
Sergey Bubnovsky describes well the preventive measures for osteochondrosis. In the book you will find what back pain is dangerous, how to restore health without needles and corsets, and a number of special exercises.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that can affect anyone. Timely diagnosis and prevention, a healthy and active lifestyle will help to avoid the development of serious pathological changes in the spine, will give you good health and excellent mood.