Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The cervical back osteochondrosis is the result of a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition.The first signs of the disease can occur at the age of 25, if you do not start treatment, severe complications will occur.In the therapy of the disease, an integrated approach is used - medication treatment, diet therapy, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

Causes of cervical back osteochondrosis

Changes of osteochondrosis-degenerative-district of the cervix in the 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 the bones and joints become less strong. 

Why there is cervical osteochondrosis:

• overweight, sedentary lifestyle;
• violation of behavior, scoliosis;
• rheumatism;
• flat feet;
• VSD;
• Improper food.

Investments in the deformation of cervical vertebrae can provoke injuries, spinal bruises, excessive physical activity, stress.In women, osteochondrosis often occurs during pregnancy, menopause - against the backdrop 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, muscle spasms occur, cervical spine vessels are compressed, the circulatory process is disturbed, dysfunctions occur in metabolic processes - the structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are deformed, began to push beyond the column.

How the osteochondrosis of the cervical region manifests:

• Rook syndrome - against the background of compression of nerve endings, the pain occurs, which spreads from the neck to the shoulder blade, forearms, covers the front wall of the chest;
• Muscle weakness in the hands, visible edema of the neck;
• When the head moves, a characteristic crisis is heard;
• weakness, chronic fatigue, changes in blood pressure;
• Violation of coordination, often staggering heads, attacks are associated with vomiting, vomiting;
• Vision of vision and hearing, noise, ear ringing;
• numbness of limbs, tongue;
• frequent migraines;
• In women aged 45-65, pain appears during sleep, numbness, tingling in the upper extremities, attacks can be repeated several times a night.

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

Classification of cervical osteochondrosis

As osteochondrosis develops, several stages of development pass, each of which has characteristic characteristics.It looks like the affected spine at different stages, you can see in the picture.

The degree of development of the disease:

1.  First -degree osteochondrosis - the initial phase continues without particularly pronounced symptoms, a person is concerned about rare and minor pain when turning and bending the head, the posterior muscles quickly tire.
2.  The 2nd degree osteochondrosis - vertebrae becomes unstable, snapped nerve, unpleasant sensations in the neck acquire a pronounced character, gives it the shoulder, the hand.Additional symptoms are increased fatigue, frequent headaches in the occipital region, distraction.
3.  The 3rd degree osteochondrosis - the pain acquires a chronic character, covers the upper back, the arms, the pronounced muscle weakness is observed, the limbs are numb, the intervertebral hernia develops and often dizziness occurs.
4.  4 -degree osteochondrosis - there is a complete destruction of the intervertebral discs, they are replaced with connective tissue, the pathological process covers several segments of the spine.There is a violation of coordination, the dizziness periods are fast to increase, and the noise appears in the ears.

Acute osteochondrosis - a consequence of the chronic form of the disease, is characterized by a severe attack of sharp pain, which occurs suddenly after waking.

Which doctor to contact with?

When signs of cervical osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to visit a neuropathologist, in some hospitals there is a more vertebologist - the specialist is treating exactly spinal diseases.

Diagnostic methods

Painted forms of osteochondrosis have a pronounced clinical appearance, which allows you to make an initial diagnosis already during the initial examination.Instrumental diagnosis methods will help identify the degree of degenerative changes in the beads.

The main types of examinations for osteochondrosis:

• X -Ray - the method is effective only in the early stages of development of pathology;
• MRI - on the screen, the structure of bone structures, the size and direction of the development of intervertebral hernias, the state of the spinal cord;
• CT - the method is less effective than MRI, as it does not provide accurate information about the presence and size of the hernia;
• Duplex scan - allows you to see blood flow disorders;
• Electroneurography - indicates the presence of clamps, inflammation, other nerve damage;
• Rheoencephalogram - described for violation of blood supply to the brain.

For the intended and complete study of the condition of certain beads, the discography is made - a contrast medium is introduced into the intervertebral disc, which allows you to see the smallest changes in the tissues, to distinguish cicatric changes from hernia.

Ways for treating cervical back osteochondrosis

In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medication, it is enough to review diet, daily regimen and regularly perform a complex of special exercises.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is only possible if the use of various medicines that help suspend degenerative changes in the beads.

The therapeutic masses complex necessarily includes physiotherapy - electrophoresis with medicines, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.These methods help to cope with pain, inflammation, swelling of the tissue, improvement of metabolic processes and blood circulation.

Physical education

LFK is prescribed during recovery, during a deterioration of osteochondrosis, physical exercises are contraindicated, gymnastics is simple, can be done at home, you have to do regularly.

Bubnovsky gymnastics for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. In the standing position, lower your hands freely along the body.Tilt your head forward, try on your beard chest, adjust the position to the 3th account. Tilt your head back, the beard looks up, count to 3. Return to the starting position.
2. In the standing position, turn your head to the right, left, at each extreme point to adjust the position for a few seconds.Repeat 3 times in each string.
3. In a standing position, glue your head to the right, left, try to reach your shoulder with your ear, hold the position for 30 seconds.Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
4. On the foot, hands on the belt, the beard is parallel to the floor, lying forward.Turn your head, beard to live on the shoulder, turn your body a little, wake up half a minute.Make 6 repetitions in each direction, a slight pain in the back can occur.
5. In a sitting position, the back is right, the hands to the knees.Dilute the right arms to the sides, slightly back, simultaneously glue your head back, return to its original position, repeat 5 times.
6. In a position by lowering your head to turn to the right, the palm of the left hand to live on the right shoulder, the elbow parallel to the floor, the right hand extends to the knee and return to its original position.Perform 6 repetitions in each direction.
7. In a sitting position, raise your hands on your head, okay to tie, bend your elbows slightly, turn your head to the side until you appear slight pain, adjust the position to the extreme for a few seconds.Repeat 6 turns in each direction.

Among the exercises, take a 30 -second break.Before starting gymnastics, it is necessary to take a warm shower, make some smooth scalp tilts in different directions to warm the muscles.After the charging is completed, a slight stretch will help to avoid the appearance of unpleasant sensations the next day.

Treatment

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at eliminating unpleasant sensations, restoring vertebra mobility, slowing degenerative changes in the tissues.Sharp pain attacks are removed by injections of NSAID 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 tools for external use, eliminated edema, pain;
• corticosteroids - stop acute pain syndrome;
• B vitamins, restore metabolic processes to tissues;
• Chondroprotectors - contribute to restoring cartilage clothes;
• Drugs to improve blood flow, brain nutrition;
• nootropics - improve brain function, memory;
• Musorelaxants - eliminate muscle spasm;
• For local treatment, ointments and gels with anti -inflammatory heat effects are used.

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

Folk remedies

Popular treatment should be used as an addition to medication therapy and physical education, non -traditional methods will not completely escape the disease.

To do with the cervical osteochondrosis at home:

1. Pour the fresh horseradish leaf with boiling water, cool slightly, glue the neck to the inside, adjust with a thin natural cloth.Do the procedure before bedtime, leave the compression all night.
2. Great raw potatoes in fine grater, mix in equal proportions with warm liquid honey.Use the mixture for compresses, the procedure is performed 1-2 times a week.
3. Mix a raw egg with 100 ml of sunflower oil, 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g flour, remove the mixture in a dark place for 48 hours, remove the film from the surface.A tool to invent inflamed area before bedtime, store in the refrigerator.
4. In May, collect the pine buds up to 2 cm long, cut into thin circles, fold in a container of dark glass.For 1 piece of raw material, take 2 parts of sugar, remove the medicine in a dark place for 2 weeks.Drink 5 ml a mixture three times a day, do not swallow immediately, hold for 2-3 minutes in the mouth.The duration of the course is 15-20 days, repeat 2-3 times a year.
5. Grind 150 g of peeled garlic and 400 g of cranberry, fold the mixture in a glass container, add 800 ml of honey after 24 hours, mix.Take 5 ml of medicine three times daily before meals.

To cope with severe pain, to prolong the excess salts will help a leaf of honey -coated cabbage, a compress to arrange on the neck with a warm scarf, to leave for the whole night.

Massage with osteochondrosis of the cervical

Massage helps to strengthen the muscle tone, improve blood circulation in the tissue and a specialist conducts sessions in severe forms of osteochondrosis.With mild forms of the disease, itself - the size will help prevent - treatment is performed at home.

Massage technique:

1. Heat the muscles - with both hands, intensely spent along the back, side of the neck from top to bottom.Heating time - 2 minutes.
2. Press the edge of the palm at the bottom of the neck, moving the movements in the hair growth area, then to the shoulder joints.
3. The fingers of both hands make the rubbing of circular movements in the occipital region from the hair growth line to the forearm - from the spine to the ears and back.
4. Pink the cervical muscles from the bottom up, then in the opposite direction.
5. Hitting from the back of the head to the shoulder blade - perform after each type of exercise.

Possible consequences and complications

In the cervical region, the beads are located close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is small, so various complications of osteochondrosis also occur with insignificant degenerative changes in bone tissue.

What is dangerous osteochondrosis of the cervical region:

• frequent periods of migraines;
• heart rate, atherosclerosis;
• extension, intervertebral hernia, east of the bone river;
• serious brain pathology;
• narrowing of the lumen of the vertebral artery, which leads to the development of SDE, brain hypertension, disability;
• Spinal cord.

Contraindications for cervical osteochondrosis

To lead a complete lifestyle with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid actions that can provoke the appearance of pain, worsening the disease.

What cannot be done with cervical osteochondrosis:

• Sleep on a very difficult or soft mattress, on a high pillow;
• Raise weights if you need to raise something heavy, you should do this with a straight back with a bent knee;
• Wear a bag on one shoulder;
• With the irritation of the pathology, make active movements of the head, neck;
• smoke, drink alcohol;
• Walk without a scarf in cold weather, sit in a draft, near the air conditioner;
• For a long time to be in an unpleasant position, a sitting position;
• Wear high -heeled shoes;
• Crying the neck.

Heat procedures - heat compresses, visiting a bath, heating with a blue lamp, can only be done in the stage of remission of the disease.With irritation, heat will only relieve pain for a short time, but soon the unpleasant sensations will return, the rate of their manifestation will increase.

Prevention of the disease

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

How to avoid cervical osteochondrosis:

• get rid of excess weight;
• Morningdo morning make gymnastics, swim, yoga, dance;
• More time to pass into the fresh air, morning walks are especially useful;
• Eat properly, check the salt intake, observe the drinking regime;
• When lowering work every hour, make a warm place for the neck, monitor the behavior;
• Keep your neck warm;
• Farm, avoid excessive physical, mental and emotional work.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic, slowly progressive disease, signs of the disease do not manifest immediately.A competent combination of traditional and popular methods of treatment, gymnastics and diet will help cope with unpleasant symptoms, and simple preventive measures can avoid restoring pathology.