Cervical osteochondrosis is considered to be the most common spinal disorder in the working-age population. Persistent degenerative dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc steadily lead to pathological changes in the vertebral and ligamentous organs.
The disease is rarely detected in the earliest stages of its development, as the patient may at first mistake his symptoms for ordinary fatigue or mental stress.
But it is at the first violation, with conservative treatment and lifestyle changes, that it is possible to prevent further pathological processes in the cervical spine.
Symptoms suggestive of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- pain. Pain of varying severity can occur not only in the neck, but also in the hands and head.
- Weakness of upper limbs. It occurs due to damage to the motor nerve roots that innervate the muscles of the hand.
- When sensory nerves are compressed and damaged, the sensation is reduced.
- Limit neck movement.
- Dizziness.
- Movement loss of coordination.
- Severe compression can significantly deteriorate the blood supply to the brain, which can lead to visual disturbances, neurological disorders, and hearing loss.
Long-term cervical osteochondrosis can disrupt lung and heart function. The most typical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are pain and dizziness, which have their own developmental characteristics.
cervical osteochondrosis pain
Pain presentation in patients with cervical osteochondrosis is due to damage to the peripheral part of the nervous system. Painful sensations can be constant, medically known as neck pain, or pain can appear suddenly and sharply, known as "neck" development.
A dominant role in the development of pain is assigned to pain impulses that leave receptors present in the pathologically altered parts of the spine.
Pain in osteochondrosis is characterized by:
- Neck pain mainly occurs in the morning. Aggravated by turning, clumsy movements, coughing. From the neck, the pain can spread to the shoulders, upper back, and chest. Gradually, at night, the pain became less pronounced.
- Occasionally, the patient may experience sharp pains, which are described as "shooting", "stinging".
- The pain often radiates to the arm and reaches the hand, manifesting as numbness in the fingers.
- Cervical osteochondrosis is a common cause of recurrent pain in the occipital region of the head.
- Pain in the chest is possible, and the symptoms of this discomfort are often similar to heart disease.
The pain of cervical osteochondrosis results in restricted movement and muscle stiffness. In addition to pain, there is also decreased sensitivity in the neck, arms, and shoulder girdle.
Dizziness
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis is due to disruption of the patency of the blood vessels that supply and supply oxygen to different parts of the brain.
The degree of vascular compression affects the intensity and duration of vertigo. This manifestation of osteochondrosis symptoms is often accompanied by:
- Feel the floor shaking under your feet;
- lost balance;
- nausea;
- tinnitus;
- Decreased vision, blinking flies and flashes of light appear before eyes.
Dizziness may stop after rest, guaranteed immobility, but this phenomenon will not completely disappear after a course of osteochondrosis treatment.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The changes that occur in cervical osteochondrosis are due to poor nutrition and blood circulation. Similar pathologies occur under the influence of:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Insufficient exercise, that is, insufficient physical activity.
- Transfer damage.
- Constant forced position of the body. Long-term tension in the neck muscles often occurs in drivers and office workers.
- Abnormal development of the spine, including scoliosis and incorrect posture.
In recent years, the number of adolescent cervical osteochondrosis patients is increasing. Doctors attribute this to computer games and nervousness.
treat
Medical therapy should be started as early as possible in patients diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis. This prevents further changes in the spinal tissue and rapidly improves overall health.
Below we consider the main groups of drugs used to treat osteochondrosis.
| Drug Name/Group | application |
|---|---|
| NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) | These medications reduce inflammation and swelling, which can reduce pain. |
| Vasodilators (antiplatelet agents) | Drugs that improve blood flow and nutrition to damaged nerves. |
| muscle relaxant | Medications to relieve muscle spasms. |
| B vitamins | Distributed to improve the flow of metabolic processes in the body. |
| chondroprotective agent | Drugs to restore pathologically altered cartilage tissue. |
| pain reliever | For severe pain. |
Because NVPS has many side effects, the dose of the drug and the general course of its use must be chosen individually for each patient by a physician. Be sure to consider all contraindications.
treatment at home
In the context of drug therapy, during the recovery period, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is also carried out by other methods. One of the most common groups includes herbal medicine, exercise therapy, physical therapy, adherence to special diets. All of these methods help to improve metabolic processes, normalize blood circulation, strengthen muscle corsets, and reduce inflammatory responses. Adherence to the entire comprehensive treatment measures not only eliminates uncomfortable sensations, but also prevents further pathological changes in the discs and vertebrae.
practise
After acute pain relief in osteochondrosis patients, doctors recommend physical exercise. Specially selected exercise therapy strengthens the muscles of the neck and entire spine, enhancing disc nutrition and blood circulation.
In the early stages of osteochondrosis development, it is exercise that leads to a full restoration of joint range of motion.
The simplest exercise for cervical osteochondrosis is to tilt the head to the sides, forward, and back. A doctor who will consider any spinal changes found during a patient's examination will help you choose the right exercise.
herbal
The purpose of using herbal medicine for osteochondrosis is to relieve inflammation, swelling and enhance metabolic processes in the body. The following recipes are popular:
- 10 grams of sea buckthorn, 40 grams of birch leaves, 50 grams of willow bark, chopped and mixed well. The broth is made from two scoops of collectibles and half a liter of water, all of which are boiled for 10 minutes, infused and cooled. You need to drink this decoction in a glass twice a day for at least two weeks.
- Horseradish compress. A piece of horseradish should be soaked in boiling water, attached to the neck, and secured with a scarf. This compress is best done at night, and there is a slight burning sensation when applied.
lifestyle
Proper nutrition for osteochondrosis will help to normalize metabolism. Unless you need to lose weight, there is no strict diet for this disease, as obesity often occurs with changes in the intervertebral discs.
Make sure that people with osteochondrosis have protein in their daily menu, which is found in meat, dairy, fish, poultry, beans, grains. If these products are combined with plant-based foods, the protein is absorbed very well.
Espresso, tea, alcohol should be given up as these drinks do not allow the absorption of important trace elements.
In addition to medications, exercise, and diet, physical therapy can help people with osteochondrosis. Massage, swimming, and yoga are excellent at relieving pain and strengthening muscle corsets. On top of that, the chosen treatment should have several sessions per year, which will allow you to forget about the deterioration of osteochondrosis.
exercise is everything
Osteochondrosis develops with physical inactivity, which means that in order to improve the function of the spine in this area, it is necessary to make changes to your lifestyle. Physical exercise, daily exercise, and frugal exercise make you forget about the discomfort of osteochondrosis. People with sedentary jobs need regular breaks during the workday for simple physical activity.