Considering the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, we can conclude that this disease is extremely common.It is found mainly after reaching the age of 25 years.When selecting medical measures, it requires a serious approach, so self -medication is excluded.
Causes causing a disease
At its core, osteochondrosis is the process of developing dystrophic disorders that affect joint cartilage and intervertebral discs.
In addition to the imbalance of mineral metabolism, there are a number of reasons provoking this disease in the cervical region:
- neck or spine;
- overweight;
- an unbalanced diet;
- activities related to a long seat (office workers, drivers);
- violation due to scoliosis, flat feet of posture;
- frequent occurrence of stressful situations;
- heredity;
- Congenital or acquired pathological disorders of the development of the spine.
It can provoke cervical osteochondrosis, both a lack of physical activity and its excessive intensification, exceeding the capabilities of the body.Under the influence of all these adverse factors due to an increase in pressure on the vertebrae, muscle spasm is manifested.An unpleasant result is a decrease in blood flow, a deterioration in metabolic processes, which are gradually leading to degenerative changes.The thinned intervertebral discs begin to deform.
Stages and degree of development
With osteochondrosis, in accordance with the gradual destructive change in the spine, 4 stages of development are distinguished.They are characterized by a specific degree of expression of symptoms of the disease that allows prescribing effective treatment.
- 1 degree (in characteristic symptoms, this stage was called preclinical)
The beginning of the development of osteochondrosis is expressed by periodically emerging pain that are localized in the neck area, which usually become especially sensitive when tilted or turning the head.The doctor during the examination may state the tension of the cervical muscles.
- 2 degree
With a change in the direction of reducing the height of the intervertebral discs, the second stage is diagnosed.Due to infringement of nerves, the pain becomes more intense.It can be given to the shoulders, hands, causing special suffering in the movements of the head.Also, osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 2nd degree is expressed in a periodically arising headache, the appearance of absent -mindedness, and rapid fatigue, which negatively affects performance.
- 3 degree
Symptoms in the third stage are becoming more obvious.Enhancing pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with irradiation in the shoulders, as well as hands begin to bother almost constantly.Due to the formation of hernias of intervertebral discs, dizziness appears, the muscles of the hands are weakened and flashed, the amplitude of the head rotation is limited.
- 4 degree
The final result at the final stage is the replacement of the connecting fabric of the destroyed intervertebral discs.The emerging noise in the ear with osteochondrosis of the cervical region becomes an indicator of the development of the 4th degree.Also, specific symptoms are severe pains in any turns of the head, the frequent dizziness.Motor coordination may be disturbed.
Symptoms
Dizziness, pain syndrome, weakness and reduction of the sensitivity of the hands, restriction of head movements are symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which intensify as it develops.With a careful attitude to your own health, it is advisable to consult a doctor with the slightest deviations from the norm.
There are other signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, which can appear at any of the stages of its development.One of them is difficulty breathing, as well as pains that bring suffering during swallowing.
The arising lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is caused by severe discomfort.Patients complain, which is sometimes impossible to swallow saliva freely.The cause of such a phenomenon is bone growths that gradually occur along the periphery of deforming vertebrae.Nervous roots experience squeezing, causing, among other things, infringement of the guttural nerve.
Many people increase pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, which is a consequence of a decrease in cerebral blood supply due to compression of the vertebral artery.If timely treatment does not begin, then serious disorders of auditory perception occur, vision worsens, it becomes almost impossible to completely eliminate the headache even with potent drugs.
Diagnostics
To identify the stage of osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe the necessary studies:
- Magnetic resonance tomography.The result of this examination is the reflection of bone structures, the formed hernias, the degree of their development, location, dimensions.
- Radiography.It does not always give a complete picture of the disease, especially in the third or fourth stage.
- Ultrasound duplex scanning.Such an examination becomes necessary if there is a suspicion of insufficient blood flow in the arteries.The presence of obstacles to blood movement is revealed, and the speed of its movement is determined.
- Computed tomography.Gives a less clear picture of the presence of hernias than an MRI.
These diagnostic techniques can be carried out in a complex if it is required to make a diagnosis.It is important to evaluate all the disorders, since the patient may develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with identical symptoms.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
Drug treatment
In a complex of therapeutic procedures prescribed by a doctor, when cervical osteochondrosis is detected, drug therapy plays a dominant role.
When it is difficult to bear the painful syndrome, painkillers are taken with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine as first aid.
After the examination, a decision is made, what injections, ointments, pills for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will be relieved:
- To relieve edema, relieve pain, elimination of inflammatory manifestations in the zone of nerve roots, drugs from the group of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are prescribed;
- To normalize metabolic processes in nervous tissue structures, take vitamins from group B;
- If you need to restore cartilage tissue, you need medicines from a group of systemic drugs;
- To improve blood flow, special drugs are used to improve blood circulation;
- They will relax the muscles and remove spasm of medicines from the group of muscle relaxants.
It is believed that injections for osteochondrosis of the cervical region have a more effective effect, so the doctor can recommend using many drugs in the form of injections.It is preferable to take vitamin complexes in tablets to avoid sensitive pain from injections.
Physiotherapeutic methods
The complex of therapeutic measures with osteochondrosis includes some methods of physiotherapy:
- Electrophoresis.Since during this procedure the drug ions enter directly to the sore area, it is carried out with drugs.
- Ultrasound.Provides anesthesia and removal of inflammation.Allows you to normalize metabolic processes.
- Magnetotherapy.After this procedure, swelling is noticeably reduced, and therefore an analgesic effect is observed.
- Laser therapy.Improves blood circulation, cures inflammation.
Any technique from the arsenal of physiotherapy is assigned strictly according to indications.Only in this case you can get a predicted positive result.
Medical physical education
The medical physical culture recommended by the doctor: further in the text - exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is included in the therapeutic complex, if there is no exacerbation.The best results can be achieved at the stage of getting rid of pain.
In accordance with the recommendations, exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are performed at a slow calm pace, avoiding jerks.What movements should be included in the complex is solved individually for each patient during consultation with a specialist.They are selected from the basic list of medical training.
- Starting position: sitting with a straight back (for each exercise they do 10 repetitions)
- Slowly turn their heads.The movements are performed alternately, then to the right, then to the left.
- They slowly lower their heads, trying to touch the chin of the chest.
- Carefully tilting their heads back.
- They include their head alternately to the right, then to the left shoulder.
- Starting position: lying on the stomach (the surface should be solid).You need to do 6 repetitions for each exercise
- They raise their heads, shoulders, crossing point blank on their hands, holding them in front of them.The back is flat.They delay for a minute and fall.
- Extend your hands along the body.At a leisurely calm pace, they turn their heads, trying to reach the floor with his ear.First in one, then in the other direction.
- Starting position: sitting at the table
- Having rested on the table with his elbows, put their forehead in the palm of your hand and pressed with a tension down.Exercise is performed 10 times on exhalation.
- Starting position: standing (be sure to ensure that the back is even, the legs are installed on the width of the shoulders).Each exercise is performed for 8 repetitions
- The right palm is slightly crushed on the forehead.At the same time, they have opposed their heads for 9 to 10 seconds to this movement.
- Alternately perform a similar movement, putting the palm first on the left and then the right ear.
- Smoothly and slowly raise their shoulders, clenching the fists.In the upper position, they are delayed for 10 - 15 seconds, then lowered, relaxing the palms.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes simple movements in a circle with shoulders, and then with the hands that can be practiced from a convenient position standing.
Consisting even of several exercises with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine accelerates recovery.It must be borne in mind that during the training there should not be pain.The inclusion of such a complex in the traditional morning warm -up serves as a preventive measure.
Home treatment
As an addition to the main therapy, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home requires preliminary consultation with the doctor.In the popular piggy bank, you can find many recipes that relieve pain and relieve the condition.
- Compresses
- The horseradish sheet is scalded, cooled and fixed on the sore area in the inside to the skin.Do at night.
- With a break of seven days, they make a compress with grated raw potatoes connected to honey.The components are taken in equal volumes.For 2 hours, cover the mass with a film and wrapped with a warm scarf.After removal, the remains are washed off and wipe the patient with fir oil.
- Add 10 drops of vinegar to 100 g of cottage cheese (9%).After mixing, set the compress at night.
- Grinding
- Leave 125 g of butter at room temperature for softening.Pour flour (tablespoon) and knead.Then drive an egg, and pour vinegar (tablespoon).They hold a mass without lighting for two days.After that, remove the surface film and use the mixture for rubbing if severe pain begins to torment.Store in a closed glass vessel in the refrigerator.
- In a grated radish (one and a half cup), honey (glass) is laid out.Pour vodka (half a glass), pour salt (2 tablespoons).Insist without access to light in cool conditions for 7 days.Used for rubbing.
Treatment with folk remedies of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes compounds for internal use:
- Fresh celery root (3 g) is rubbed on a fine grater and poured with a liter of boiling water.After eight hours, infused is filtered.They drink three times a day before each main meal on a dessert spoon.
- Pine buds collected in the spring are washed.For grinding, pass through a meat grinder and covered with sugar in a ratio of 2: 1.In a glass dish, a mixture is kept in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.They use a teaspoon three times a day, absorbing in the mouth, and then swallowing.A healing agent is stored for about a year in the refrigerator.
You can make infusions of a variety of herbs that are purchased at the pharmacy.They use them in accordance with the instructions.There are special fees that help to cope with neck osteochondrosis.For example, dandelion, calendula, chamomile, motherwort in a mixture with an immortality, field horsetail and a donnik.
Therapeutic massage
If the patient, in addition to exercise therapy, is recommended for massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, then you do not need to take risks and turn to random people.
The specialist must carry out this procedure.Then the massage will fulfill its tasks:
- relax the muscles;
- improve blood circulation in the painful zone;
- will reduce inflammatory manifestations.
There is no massage if there is an exacerbation of osteochondrosis or other chronic diseases.
The following pathological conditions of the body are also contraindications:
- serious cardiovascular diseases;
- bronchial asthma;
- cold;
- tuberculosis;
- elevated temperature;
- the presence in the zone of manipulations of skin lesions;
- syphilis;
- malignant neoplasms.
Some experts believe that manual therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical region is able to work miracles.Regarding this technique, opinions diverge, so the patient should carefully select a specialist who can competently work with the spine.
Selection of pillows
A properly selected pillow for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is able to provide a full sleep without causing a neck flow and an increase in pain.
It is advisable to use a rectangular or square pillow of about 9 cm high. The width should be slightly wider than the shoulders.The rigidity is selected average.
Currently, the assortment of stores has a wide selection of orthopedic pillows.Among them, the suitable option is selected without problems in the presence of cervical osteochondrosis.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the cervical region at home, you need to determine the list of procedures that may not require going to the medical institution.At the same time, all safety measures are observed.
Be healthy!