Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical column is the result of a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition.The first signs of the disease may appear at 25, if you do not start treatment, serious complications will occur.In the therapy of the disease, an integrated approach is used - drug treatment, food therapy, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

The causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

Degenerative Dystrophic Dystrophic Dystrophic Cervical in intervertebral discs, joints, which leads to a decrease in neck mobility, the appearance of severe pain syndrome.The main reason for the development of the disease is a violation of mineral metabolism, due to which bones and joints become less strong. 

Why is there cervical osteochondrosis:

• overweight sedentary lifestyle;
• Posture violation, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• flat feet;
• VSD;
• Incorrect nutrition.

Investments in the deformation of the cervical vertebrae can cause injuries, bruises of the spine, excessive physical activity, stress.In women, osteochondrosis often occurs during pregnancy, menopause - In the context of hormonal changes, the amount of calcium decreases, bone tissue becomes fragile.

Symptoms and general signs

With a constant increased load on the cervical vertebrae, the muscular spasm occurs, the vessels of the cervical column are compressed, the circulatory process is disturbed, the dysfunctions occur in metabolic processes - the structure of changes in intervertebral disks, they are deformed, begin to prove beyond the spine.

How does osteochondrosis in the cervical region manifest:

• Rook syndrome - On the bottom of the compression of nerve endings, the pain occurs, which spreads from the neck to the shoulder blades, forearm, covers the front wall of the chest;
• muscle weakness in the hands, notable edema of the neck;
• When the head moves, a characteristic crunch is heard;
• weakness, chronic fatigue, variation in blood pressure;
• The violation of coordination, the head often stunned, the attacks are accompanied by nausea, vomiting;
• Vision of vision and hearing, noise, ringing in the ears;
• numbness of members, language;
• frequent migraines;
• In women aged 45 to 65, pain appears during sleep, numbness, tingling in the upper limbs, attacks can be repeated several times per night.

With cervical osteochondosis, nutrition and blood supply to the brain are disturbed, neurotic disorders occur - anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disorders.

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

As osteochondrosis develops, several development stages pass, each with characteristic characteristics.To what the spine affected at different steps looks like, you can see in the photo.

The degree of disease development:

1.  Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree - The initial stage takes place without particularly pronounced symptoms, a person is concerned with rare and minor pain during filming and tilt of the head, the back muscles tired quickly.
2.  Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree - the vertebrae become unstable, pinched the nervous and unpleasant sensations in the neck acquire a pronounced character, gives it to the shoulder, the hand.Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headache in the occipital region, distraction.
3.  The 3rd degree osteochondrosis - pain acquires a chronic character, covers the upper back, the arms, a pronounced muscle weakness is observed, the limbs are numb, the intervertebral hernia develops and the dizzy often occur.
4.  Osteochondrosis of the 4th degree - There is a complete destruction of the intervertebral discs, they are replaced by the connective tissue, the pathological process covers several segments of the spine.There is a violation of coordination, stunning is quick to increase and noise appears in the ears.

Acute osteochondosis - a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, is characterized by a strong attack of acute pain, which suddenly occurs after awakening.

Which doctor contact?

When signs of cervical osteochondosis appear, it is necessary to visit a neuropathologist, in certain hospitals, there is more vertebrologist - the specialist specifically deals with the diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic methods

The forms of osteochondosis in a pronounced clinical image have a pronounced clinical image, which allows you to make an initial diagnosis already during the initial examination.Instrumental diagnostic methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The main types of osteochondrosis exams:

• X -Ray - The method is only effective in the first stages of the development of pathology;
• MRI - On the screen, the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of the development of intervertebral hernies, the state of the spinal cord;
• CT - The method is less effective than MRI, because it does not give precise information on the presence and size of hernias;
• Duplex analysis - allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• Electronography - shows the presence of pliers, inflammation, other damage to the nerve;
• Rheoencephalogram - prescribed for violation of blood supply to the brain.

For the study targeted and in -depth of the state of certain vertebrae, the discography is carried out - a contrast support is introduced into the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see the smallest changes in the tissues, to distinguish the scar changes from the hernia.

Means of treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

At the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be healed without medication, it is enough to revise the diet, the daily diet and regularly perform a special exercise complex.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is only possible if the use of various drugs that help suspend degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The therapeutic measurement complex necessarily includes physiotherapy - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasounds, magnetotherapy, laser treatment.These methods help cope with pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improving metabolic processes and blood circulation.

Medical physical education

LFK is prescribed during recovery, during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, physical exercises are contraindicated, gymnastics is simple, it can be done at home, you must do regularly.

Bubnovsky gymnastics for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondosis:

1. In a standing position, freely lower the hands along the body.Tilt your head forward, try to your chest with a chin, fix the position on account 3. Tilt your head back, the chin lift your eyes, count up to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In a standing position, turn your head on the right, left, at each extreme point to fix the position for a few seconds.Repeat 3 times in each chain.
3. In a standing position, tilt the head to the right, on the left, try to reach the shoulder with your ear, keep the position for 30 seconds.Perform 6 rehearsals in each direction.
4. Standing, hands on the belt, the chin is parallel to the ground, stretched forward.Turn your head, chin to live on the shoulder, turn your body a little, linger half a minute.Doing 6 repetitions in each direction, slight pain in the spine can occur.
5. In a sitting position, the back is straight, hands on the knees.Dilute the straight arms on the sides, slightly back, simultaneously tilt your head back, return to its original position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a position sitting your head to turn to the right, the palm of the left hand to live on the right shoulder, the elbow parallel to the ground, the right hand is on the knee and returns to its original position.Perform 6 rehearsals in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your hands on your head, agree to connect, fold your elbows a little, turn your head on the side until you talk to a slight pain, fix the position to the extreme for a few seconds.Repeat 6 turns in each direction.

Between the exercises, take a 30 -second break.Before the start of gymnastics, it is necessary to take a hot shower, to make several smooth inclinations of the head in different directions to warm the muscles.Once the load is finished, a light stretch will help avoid the appearance of unpleasant sensations the next day.

Drugs

The drug treatment of osteochondrosis aims to eliminate unpleasant sensations, restaurants the mobility of the vertebrae, slowing down degenerative changes in the tissues.Net pain attacks are eliminated with injections of NSAIDs or corticosteroids, the chronic form of the disease is treated with ointments, pills.

How to treat osteochondrosis:

• NSAIDs, they are produced in the form of tablets and means for external use, eliminated edema, pain;
• Corticosteroids - stopping acute pain syndrome;
• B vitamins, restore metabolic processes in tissues;
• Chondroprotectors - contribute to the restoration of the cartilage fabric;
• drugs to improve blood circulation, brain nutrition;
• Nootropics - Improve brain function, memory;
• Musorelaxing - Eliminate muscle spasms;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory warming effects are used.

In order for pharmacotherapy to be effective, it is necessary to combine it with exercise therapy, to adhere to a diet, otherwise no medication will help get rid of osteochondrosis.

Folk remedies

Popular treatment should be used as adding to drug treatment and physical education, non -traditional methods will not completely get rid of the disease.

What to do with cervical osteochondosis at home:

1. Pour the fresh horseradish sheet with boiling water, cool a little, fix your neck inside, fix it with a slim natural fabric.Do the procedure before bedtime, leave the compress overnight.
2. Grate the raw potatoes on a thin grater, mix equal with hot liquid honey.Use the mixture for compresses, the procedure is carried out 1 to 2 times a week.
3. Mix a raw egg with 100 ml of sunflower oil, 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g of flour, remove the mixture in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the film from the surface.A way to dirty the ignited area before bedtime, keep in the refrigerator.
4. In May, collect pines up to 2 cm long, cut into thin circles, fold in a dark glass container.For 1 part of the raw material, take 2 parts of sugar, remove the medication in a dark place for 2 weeks.Drink 5 ml of a mixture three times a day, do not swallow immediately, keep 2-3 minutes in the mouth.The duration of the course is 15 to 20 days, repeat 2 to 3 times a year.
5. Growing 150 g of Pelé garlic and 400 g of cranberries, folding the mixture in a glass container, adding 800 ml of honey after 24 hours, mix.Take 5 ml of medicine three times a day before meals.

To cope with intense pain, to stretch the excess salts, will help a gray honey cabbage sheet, a compress to repair on the neck with a hot scarf, to leave all night.

Massage with cervical osteochondrosis

Massage helps strengthen muscle tone, improve blood circulation in tissues and a specialist leads sessions in serious forms of osteochondrosis.With light forms of the disease, self -massage will help prevention - treatment is carried out at home.

Massage technique:

1. Reheat the muscles - with both hands, spent intensively along the posterior lateral surface of the neck from top to bottom.Heating time - 2 minutes.
2. Press the paume's edge to the bottom of the neck, moving the movements to the hair growth area, then to the shoulder joints.
3. The fingers of both hands make circular friction movements in the occipital region of the hair growth line in the forearm - from the spine on the ears and on the back.
4. Pinch the cervical muscles from bottom to top, then in the opposite direction.
5. The rear caresses of the head towards the shoulder blades - carry out after each type of exercise.

Possible consequences and complications

In the cervical region, the vertebrae are located near each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is low, therefore various complications of osteochondosis even occur with insignificant degenerative changes in bone tissue.

What is the dangerous osteochondrosis of the cervical region:

• frequent episodes of migraines;
• heart rate, atherosclerosis;
• Protrusion, intervertebral hernia, actions in the bone river;
• serious brain pathologies;
• Divide the light of the vertebral artery, which leads to the development of VSD, hypertension of the brain, handicap;
• AVC of the spine.

Contraindications for cervical osteochondosis

In order to lead a full -fledged lifestyle with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that can cause pain, exacerbation of the disease.

Which cannot be done with cervical osteochondrosis:

• Sleep on a very hard or soft mattress, on a high pillow;
• Lift the weights if you need to raise something heavy, you should do it with a straight back with folded knees;
• Wear a bag on a shoulder;
• With the exacerbation of the pathology, make active movements of the head, neck;
• smoke, drink alcohol;
• Walking without a scarf in cold weather, sit in a project, near the air conditioner;
• For a long time, to be in an uncomfortable position, a sitting position;
• Wear high themed shoes;
• Cry your neck.

Thermal procedures - Warming compresses, visiting a bath, warming with a blue lamp, can only be carried out in the stage of the disease's remission.With exacerbation, the heat will only relieve pain for a short period, but soon the unpleasant sensations will return, the degree of their manifestation will increase.

Disease prevention

To maintain the health of the spine, it is enough to observe simple prevention rules.

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• Each morning, make gymnastics, swimming, yoga, dance;
• More time to pass in fresh air, morning walks are particularly useful;
• Eat properly, control the salt intake, observe the alcohol consumption diet;
• When you sit every hour, make a hot for the neck, watch the posture;
• Keep your neck warm;
• Close, avoid physical, mental and emotional overwork.

Cervical osteochondosis is a chronic and slowly gradual disease, signs of the disease do not appear immediately.A competent combination of traditional and folk treatment, gymnastics and diet methods will help cope with unpleasant symptoms, and simple preventive measures can avoid relapses of pathology.