Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative diseases of the spine, which include
Dystrophy, deformation and gradual effacement of vertebrates.This can lead to pain, a number of unpleasant consequences and in advanced cases, even disability.It is important to pay attention to your health and consult a doctor in a timely manner when suspicious symptoms appear.
The cervical and thoracic spine is less common than the lumbar, however, the presence of osteochondrosis in these areas can be fraught with serious consequences.Due to the proximity of the cervical region, a violation of the blood supply to the brain sometimes develops in the head, which leads to many complications.In addition, the changes can cause damage to the nerve roots - as a result, the patient feels severe pain and numbness.
The reasons for the apparition
Osteocondrosis occurs in a very large number of people, especially today, when citizens lack adequate physical activity, adequate diet and posture.The reasons that can cause the development of osteochondosis of the cervical and chest region include:
- age -related changes;
- genetic predisposition;
- sedentary lifestyle, hypodynamia;
- posture disorders;
- Serious excess weight;
- injuries;
- overload;
- Feet dishes and other imperfections of the musculoskeletal system;
- stress and bad habits;
- Smopping back and prolonged living room in the cold.
Recently, osteochondrosis has increasingly started to be observed in young people, which is mainly associated with the wrong way of living.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondosis
Like most chronic diseases, osteochondosis of the cervical and thoracic region is rather insidious and does not appear immediately.In the early stages, the patient may not notice anything but periodic discomfort in the spine, but the progression of the disease brings to the aggravation of the symptoms:
- Pain in the head or neck, sometimes falling on the shoulder girdle and upper extremities and, depending on the course of the disease, can be sharp and aching or aching, dull, manifested by periods;
- Dizziness, visual and hearing impairment, coordination of movements;
- numbness, burning or tingling in the upper limbs;
- asthenia, fatigue, loss of normal working capacity;
- Intercostal neuralgia, pain in the heart, pressure drops.
Most of the negative symptoms are caused by the fact that the deforming areas of the spine squeeze the blood vessels and nerve roots, as a result, their normal functioning is disturbed.Subsequently, such complications can lead to serious malfunctions in the body and even disability, if timely treatment is not started.
Diagnostics and treatment
The doctor begins to suspect osteochondrosis in the patient based on his complaints and the collected anamnesis.In order to confirm or refute the diagnosis, the specialist prescribes diagnostic measures, the main one of which is x-ray of the spine in a direct and lateral projection.To obtain more detailed information, CT and MRI are performed - they help to track complications in time.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, treatment is prescribed comprehensively.As a rule, it includes several main directions:
- Drug therapy is mainly painkillers and anti-inflammatories, which reduce pain;In addition to them, muscle spasms, chondroprotectors to strengthen cartilage tissue and B vitamins to remove the state of nervous tissue are often prescribed;
- Physiotherapy includes massage and other procedures (ultrasound, magnetotherapy, etc.) emitted to improve the state of the spine and remove the limitation of mobility;
- Therapeutic physical education allows you to activate blood flow, strengthen muscles, thereby removing excess load on the spine, bring the body to tone and adjust posture;It also helps reduce pressure on the nerve roots.
The procedure for lengthening the spine is periodically applied, aimed at returning the original shape to it.