Dystrophic changes on the intervertebral discs are called osteochondrosis. This problem can occur in a person at any age; intervertebral disc dysfunction leads to the development of many serious concomitant problems. How to prevent the development of cervical osteochondrosis? What drugs and alternative therapies are used in treatment?
Cervical osteochondrosis - what is it
The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae and 8 paired nerve nodes. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops against the background of degeneration of the intervertebral pulp into vitreous tissue. In this case, pathological changes affect the endings of nerve fibers and important vessels. Most often the pathology affects the 7th and 8th vertebrae.
The disease is carefully disguised in other pathologies, which is manifested by attacks of headache and discomfort in the neck. Patients may complain of dizziness, nausea, and pressure problems. The disease is most often confused with heart and blood vessel problems.
Important! Often, in the background of vertebral problems, a person begins to suddenly lose consciousness, feels short of breath and the tongue may become numb.
Cervical osteochondrosis is most often diagnosed in people older than 30 years, which is caused by the peculiarities of the location of the human skeleton, constant statistical and dynamic loads. The disease is getting younger, recently osteochondrosis occurs even in adolescents.
Causes of the disease
The development of osteochondrosis is influenced by physiological and pathological processes. They are closely related, in medical practice they are always considered together.
Physiological changes are caused by irreversible age-related processes of the cartilage of the spine. They are localized in the central part of the intervertebral disc, which is manifested as pinching of the pulp by fibrous tissues. Discomfort occurs during irritation of nerve endings.
Pathological changes - in this case the area of inflammation spreads beyond the cartilage tissue, causing severe irritation of the nerve endings, pinching of blood vessels. They occur in the background of improper diet, sedentary lifestyle, appear in adolescents and middle-aged people.
Important! In rare cases, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may disappear on its own or manifest itself in the form of short-term episodes. The human body has a number of compensatory and protective functions that can neutralize pathological changes in cartilage for some time.
Provocation factors:
- sedentary work, lack of regular physical activity;
- frequent forced stay in an awkward position;
- overweight;
- overload, stressful conditions;
- neck and nape injuries;
- hypothermia.
The cause of osteochondrosis can be congenital anomalies, autoimmune diseases.
Key Features
Cervical osteochondrosis is not always manifested by pain in a certain part of the spine, often the disease has a blurred clinical picture.
The main symptoms are dizziness, migraine, sudden changes in blood pressure.
When emergency hospitalization is required:
- numbness, loss of mobility of the muscles of the face or shoulder girdle;
- increased headache, accompanied by deterioration of well-being in general;
- lack of coordination;
- loss of consciousness.
Pain in the cervical spine often radiates to the shoulder girdle and upper limbs. A characteristic feature is that the pain syndrome is paroxysmal in nature, most often after waking up, sudden movements, while laughing, coughing and sneezing.
If osteochondrosis is in the initial stage, the pain subsides quickly, almost always accompanied by cramping of the neck, muscles become weak, the skin loses sensitivity.
Important! With pathological changes in the 6th vertebra, pain may be noticed in the thumb, with the defeat of the 7th vertebra affecting the middle finger.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women occur later than in men - the average age is 50-55 years.
How osteochondrosis is related to other diseases
Cervical osteochondrosis and blood pressure - the connection between these pathologies has long been established. For osteochondrosis, sharp pressure drops during the day are characteristic, persistent hypertension is not characteristic of this disease.
Increased pressure in osteochondrosis is accompanied by migraine, noise in the head, pain in the arms, legs, chest. At the same time, the sensitivity of the skin in the area of the collar is noticeably reduced, stress can cause a jump in pressure, prolonged stay in an awkward position.
Cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness - occurs in the background of severe pain syndrome, impaired cerebral circulation and transmission of nerve signals, problems with the vestibular apparatus.
Osteochondrosis most often manifests non-systemic dizziness - there is no feeling of rotation of the object, but the person is very ill, it is difficult to stay upright.
Important! With frequent attacks of dizziness, it is necessary to visit not only a neuropathologist, but also an ENT, in order to exclude the presence of pathological changes in the nasopharynx.
Headache accompanies osteochondrosis in almost 90% of cases. It occurs in the background of vascular spasms, constriction of nerve endings, increased intracranial pressure. It manifests in different ways - pulsating, boring.
Headache attacks in osteochondrosis are similar to the sensations of high blood pressure, angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke.
Panic attacks occur in osteochondrosis in the background of cerebral circulation disorders. At the same time, the person experiences unreasonable fear, physical discomfort. 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 feeling of a heavy head, incessant tears, apathy and lethargy. With severe seizures you need to take sedatives, visit a psychiatrist regularly.
Fears and depression occur in osteochondrosis in the background of constant pain, forced changes in the usual way of life.
Diagnostic Methods
People with osteochondrosis can feel pain in the back of the head, chest, arms - such a blurred picture of the disease significantly complicates the initial diagnosis.
Interferes with timely diagnosis and uncontrolled intake of painkillers by humans. The person feels healthy without pain. He seeks medical help late, when irreversible processes develop in the tissues of the cervical joints.
Important! Only a neurologist deals with the treatment of osteochondrosis.
External examination determines mobility and neck pain. After that, the doctor prescribes an X-ray in several projections and a computed tomography scan. If a hernia is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging should be performed. Doppler ultrasound is done to assess the condition of arteries and blood vessels.
Principles of drug treatment
Drug treatment is aimed at relieving pain, inflammation, restoring normal mobility and blood circulation.
Main drug groups:
- analgesics in the form of tablets and injections are intended to eliminate the pain syndrome; non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors help to regenerate cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxants relax muscles, they are used as pain relief aids - they contain glycerin, benzimidazole, they have a large list of contraindications;
- vitamin complexes - must contain all vitamins of group B, D, E, retinol, ascorbic acid;
- artificial histamine analogues - help eliminate problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- agent for external use in the form of gels, ointments - help improve blood circulation, relieve cramps and pain, warm, relieve pain.
Important! Vitamins contained in food are not enough to treat osteochondrosis.
Drugs that improve cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis are a mandatory ingredient of therapy, dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow. Nootropic drugs that improve metabolic processes in the brain, restore memory and thinking.
Surgery for osteochondrosis is rarely used. Surgery is necessary for signs of paralysis of the upper extremities, acute blood supply disorders and cerebral edema.
Additional treatments include massage, manual push-pull therapy, dosed traction, relaxation techniques, and acupuncture.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Home treatment includes regular performance of special exercises, use of special orthopedic aids. You can use traditional medicine recipes as a supportive therapy.
The Shants necklace is designed to remove tension in the spine, reduce stress, and strengthen the neck muscles. The head and neck are fixed in the correct position, which allows you to get rid of insomnia, prevent the progression of pathological changes. You should wear the necklace not all day, but 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Self-massage will help relieve pain and cramps while rubbing fats that improve blood flow. The procedure should be done sitting, the posture is comfortable, relaxed. It is necessary to do caressing, circular rubbing, touching not only the neck, but also the shoulder girdle.
Important! In cervical osteochondrosis, any type of heating is prohibited, except for the bath and sauna.
Medicinal baths relieve pain and inflammation, allow the spine to relax. Guided procedures should be performed every other day, the course consists of 15-20 procedures.
Recipes for bathing:
- Mix 150 g of chamomile and mint, boil 5 liters of boiling water in the mixture. Leave the infusion for 2 hours, filter.
- Take 20 g of mint, lemon balm and birch leaves. The collection is boiled in 6 liters of boiling water, filtered after 2 hours.
- To prepare the sage infusion you will need 300 g of herbs and 5 liters of boiling water. The healing solution will be ready in 2 hours.
You can prepare an infusion of yarrow for oral use - it will help you quickly remove inflammation, cramps and pain. Boil 230 ml of boiling water 6 g of grass, leave in a closed container 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, cool completely. Moisturize the natural fabric in the composition, apply to the back of the neck.
Possible complications
With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, cervical osteochondrosis passes without special complications. Otherwise, serious pathological changes develop that can cause disability.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
- Spinal artery syndrome - functional and organic changes caused by impaired blood circulation in the brain;
- high blood pressure, arrhythmia;
- numbness, weakness, atrophy of upper limb muscles;
- bulge, hernia;
- VSD;
- neurological disorders.
Physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis exercise therapy of the cervical spine is able to restore nutrition in damaged tissues, restore blood circulation.
During corrective gymnastics, it is forbidden to turn your head hard and make sharp turns. Only imitation of such movements is allowed. You can do a set of exercises for a maximum of 2 minutes - prolonged loads can lead to complications of osteochondrosis.
Shishonin has developed an effective set of exercises for cervical osteochondrosis. The principle is that all movements must be smooth, each position must be fixed for 15-30 seconds. There should be no painful sensations during gymnastics, each exercise should be repeated 5 times.
Exercise description:
- Sit up straight, tilt your head to the right. When muscle tension occurs, correct the position. Make 5 slopes on each side.
- Tilting the head back and forth is performed analogously to the previous exercise.
- Stretch your chin alternately to your left and right shoulders. The back is straight, you can’t round them.
- Turn your head left and right, in each position to hold for 30 seconds.
- Keep turning sideways, but use extra hands. When turning right, the right arm 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, take them to the sides and back a little, stretch 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 spend a lot of time sitting.
How to prevent osteochondrosis:
- take a hot shower every day for at least 10 minutes;
- regularly visit the spa, sauna to eliminate cramps and tightness in the neck;
- sleep on an orthopedic pillow and a special mattress;
- Do a little five minute warm-up every hour while sitting.
The best sports for the prevention of osteochondrosis are swimming, yoga, aerobic exercises, special gymnastics to strengthen the cervical muscles.
Vulnerable people are prohibited from running, jumping or body building. The critical weight is 10 kg, the weights should be carried on both hands. In addition, you can use a corset that protects the spine.
Sergei Bubnovsky describes well the preventive measures for osteochondrosis. In his book, you can find out which back pain is dangerous, how to restore health without injections and corsets, and find a series of special exercises.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that can affect anyone. Timely diagnosis and prevention, a healthy and active lifestyle will help avoid the development of serious pathological changes in the spine, it will provide you with good health and an excellent mood.