Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are called osteochondrosis. This problem can occur in a person at any age; dysfunction of the intervertebral discs 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 the treatment?
Cervical osteochondrosis - what it is
The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae and 8 paired nerve nodes. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops against the background of the degeneration of the intervertebral pulp into glassy 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 masked by other pathologies, manifested by attacks of headache and neck discomfort. Patients may complain of dizziness, nausea, and pressure problems. Most often, the disease is confused with problems of the heart and blood vessels.
Important! Often, against the background of problems with the vertebrae, a person suddenly begins to lose consciousness, feels a lack of air, and the tongue can become numb.
Cervical osteochondrosis is often diagnosed in people after 30 years of age, due to the peculiarities of the position of the human skeleton, constant statistical and dynamic loads. The disease is rapidly growing younger, recently, osteochondrosis also occurs in adolescents.
Causes of the disease
The development of osteochondrosis is influenced by physiological and pathological processes. They are closely related to each other, in medical practice they are always considered together.
Physiological changes are caused by irreversible age-related processes in the cartilage of the spine. They are located in the central part of the intervertebral disc, manifesting as pinching of the pulp by the fibrous tissues. Discomfort occurs during irritation of the nerve endings.
Pathological changes - in this case, the area of inflammation extends beyond the cartilage tissue, causing severe irritation of the nerve endings, pinching of the blood vessels. They arise against the background of improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, appear in adolescents and people of the middle-aged category.
Important! In rare cases, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can disappear on its own or manifest itself in the form of short-term episodes. The human body has many compensatory and protective functions, which for some time can neutralize pathological changes in cartilage.
Provoking factors:
- sedentary work, lack of regular physical activity;
- frequent forced stay in an uncomfortable position;
- overweight;
- nervous overload, stressful conditions;
- neck and occiput injuries;
- hypothermia.
The cause of osteochondrosis can be congenital anomalies, autoimmune diseases.
Main features
Cervical osteochondrosis does not always manifest itself with pain in a specific part of the spine, often the disease has a blurred clinical picture.
The main symptoms are dizziness, headache, sudden changes in blood pressure.
When urgent hospitalization is needed:
- numbness, loss of mobility of the muscles of the face or shoulder girdle;
- increased headache, which is accompanied by a deterioration in general well-being;
- lack of coordination;
- loss of consciousness.
Pain in the cervical spine often radiates to the shoulder girdle and upper limbs. A distinctive 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 a crunch in the neck, the muscles weaken, the skin loses sensitivity.
Important! With pathological changes in the 6th vertebra, pain syndrome can be observed in the thumb of the hand, with damage to the 7th vertebra, it affects the middle finger.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women appear later than in men - the average age is 50-55 years.
How osteochondrosis is associated with other diseases
Cervical osteochondrosis and blood pressure: the connection between these pathologies has long been established. For osteochondrosis, it is precisely the sharp drops in pressure during the day that are characteristic, persistent hypertension is not inherent in 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 collar area is noticeably reduced, stress can provoke a jump in pressure, a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.
Cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness - occurs against a background of severe pain syndrome, impaired cerebral circulation and transmission of nerve signals, problems with the vestibular apparatus.
With osteochondrosis, non-systemic dizziness occurs more often - there is no sensation of spinning objects, but the person is very sick, it is difficult for him to stand.
Important! With frequent attacks of dizziness, it is necessary to visit not only a neurologist, but also an ENT specialist to exclude the presence of pathological changes in the nasopharynx.
Headache accompanies osteochondrosis in almost 90% of cases. It occurs against the background of vascular spasms, pinching of nerve endings, increased intracranial pressure. It manifests itself in different ways: pulsating, boring.
Attacks of headaches in osteochondrosis are similar to the sensations of hypertension, angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke.
Panic attacks occur with osteochondrosis against the background of cerebral circulation disorders. At the same time, a 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 heavy-headed feeling, incessant tears, lethargy and lethargy. With severe attacks, it is necessary to take tranquilizers, regularly visit a psychiatrist.
Fears and depression occur with osteochondrosis against the background of constant pain, a forced change in the usual way of life.
Diagnostic methods
People with osteochondrosis can experience pain in the back of the head, chest, arms - such a blurry picture of the disease significantly complicates the initial diagnosis.
It hinders the timely diagnosis and uncontrolled taking of painkillers by people. A person feels healthy without pain. Seek 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 is used to identify mobility and neck pain. Subsequently, the doctor prescribes X-rays in several projections and computed tomography. If a hernia is suspected, an MRI scan should be done. Doppler ultrasound is done to assess the condition of the arteries and blood vessels.
Principles of drug treatment
Drug treatment is aimed at eliminating pain, inflammation, restoring normal mobility and blood circulation.
Main drug groups:
- analgesics in the form of tablets and injections are aimed at eliminating the pain syndrome;
- non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors help restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxants relax muscles, are used as auxiliary agents for pain relief - they contain glycerin, benzimidazole, have a large list of contraindications;
- vitamin complexes - must contain all vitamins of group B, D, E, retinol, ascorbic acid;
- artificial analogues of histamine - help to eliminate problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- means for external use in the form of gels, ointments - helps improve blood circulation, relieve spasms 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 an obligatory component 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. An operation is imperative for signs of upper limb paralysis, acute blood supply disturbances and cerebral edema.
Additional treatments include massage, push-and-forward manual therapy, dosed traction, relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Home treatment involves regular performance of special exercises, the use of special orthopedic devices. As a supportive therapy, you can use the recipes of traditional medicine.
Shants collar is designed to relieve tension in the spine, reduce stress, strengthen 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 need to wear a collar not all day, but 2-3 hours before going to sleep.
Self-massage will help to eliminate pain and spasms, while rubbing an ointment that improves blood flow. The procedure should be done sitting, the posture is comfortable, relaxed. It is necessary to carry out stroking, circular rubbing, to touch not only the neck, but also the shoulder girdle.
Important! With cervical osteochondrosis, any kind of heating is prohibited, with the exception of a bath and a sauna.
Healing baths relieve pain and inflammation well, allow the spine to relax. Water procedures should be carried out every other day, the course consists of 15-20 procedures.
Recipes for the bathroom:
- Mix 150 g of chamomile and mint, the mixture brew 5 liters of boiling water. Leave the infusion for 2 hours, filter.
- Take 20 g of mint, lemon balm and birch leaves. The harvest is produced in 6 liters of boiling water, filtered after 2 hours.
- To prepare an infusion of sage you need 300 g of aromatic herbs and 5 liters of boiling water. The healing solution will be ready in 2 hours.
For oral administration, you can prepare an infusion of yarrow - this will help quickly get rid of inflammation, cramps and pain. Prepare 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. In the composition, moisten the natural fabric, apply to the back of the neck.
Possible complications
With timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, cervical osteochondrosis proceeds without any particular complications. Otherwise, severe pathological changes develop that can cause disability.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
- vertebral artery syndrome - functional and organic changes caused by impaired blood circulation in the brain;
- hypertension, arrhythmia;
- numbness, weakness, muscle atrophy of the upper limbs;
- protrusion, hernia;
- VSD;
- neurological disorders.
Physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis
Physical therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is able to restore nutrition in damaged tissues, restore blood circulation.
During corrective gymnastics, it is forbidden to turn the head strongly, make tight turns. Only imitation of such movements is allowed. You can do a set of exercises for no more than 2 minutes - prolonged loads can lead to a complication of osteochondrosis.
Shishonin has developed a series of effective exercises for cervical osteochondrosis. The principle is that all movements must be performed smoothly, each position must be fixed for 15-30 seconds. During gymnastics there should be no painful sensations, each exercise should be repeated 5 times.
Description of the exercises:
- Sit up straight, tilt your head to the right. When muscle tension appears, fix the position. Make 5 runs on each side.
- Bending the head back and forth is done by analogy with the previous exercise.
- Stretch your chin alternately on the left and right shoulder. The back is straight, you can't round it.
- Turn your head left and right in each position to linger for 30 seconds.
- Continue making side turns, but use additional 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 side and slightly back, stretch your chin forward.
Preventive measures
Prevention of osteochondrosis consists of simple steps, if done regularly, you can avoid serious health problems. Prevention is especially necessary for the elderly and for those who spend a lot of time sitting.
How to prevent osteochondrosis:
- take a hot shower every day for at least 10 minutes;
- regularly visits the bathhouse, the sauna to eliminate spasms and a sense of constriction in the neck;
- sleeping on an orthopedic pillow and a special mattress;
- does a small five-minute warm-up every hour while sitting.
The best sports for the prevention of osteochondrosis are swimming, yoga, aerobic exercise, special gymnastics to strengthen the cervical muscles.
People at risk are prohibited from running, jumping or bodybuilding. The critical weight is 10 kg, the weights must be carried with two hands. Also, you can use a corset that protects the spine.
Sergei Bubnovsky describes the preventive measures for osteochondrosis well. In his book you can find out which back pains are dangerous, how to restore health without injections and corsets, and find a set of special exercises.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that can affect everyone. Timely diagnostics and prevention, a healthy and active lifestyle will help avoid the development of severe pathological changes in the spine, give you good health and a great mood.