Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are one of the most common diseases in the soil.Few people manage to avoid them completely, especially after 40 years, though experts admit that problems with the spine, muscles and joints have become "younger", and many young people are increasingly complaining about pain.
This is due to a lifestyle that is already known to many people: inactivity, prolonged stay in one position (more often behind tools and monitors), lack of physical activity.As a result, behavior is interrupted, salts and other harmful substances accumulate in the body, the functions of the skeletal muscle system are interrupted, and as a result, the internal organs can be deformed.
The most common of these diseases is osteochondrosis, which affects both elderly and right young people, and among osteochondrosis - problems with the lumbosacral spine and cervix.The second most common type of osteochondrosis, cervix, is an unpleasant disease, and besides, is progressive, without treatment it significantly worsens the way of life, even to the point of disability.This means that you need to know the symptoms of this disease immediately and immediately contact an orthopedic or vertebologist for treatment.
How does cervical osteochondrosis develop?
If a person runs a sedentary lifestyle or, due to their profession, is in the same position for a long time, then their risk of encountering osteochondrosis is very high.As the disease develops, changes occur in the intervertebral discs, they become deformed and change their structure.
The intervertebral discs are located between the beads, their task is to support the spine, make it flexible and strong.There are seven beads in the neck, with the help of which the head rests and rotates, the neck bends, etc.The cervical vertebrae are located very close to one another, so they are injured and shifted from minor physical exercises.The risk of the disease lies in the fact that it affects the nerve endings of the spinal nerve, which damages vessels that supply blood to the brain.On the other hand, the brain does not take enough vital substances, and this can lead to the development of a number of other, more serious diseases that can cause disability and even the patient's death.
There are many reasons for the emergence and development of cervical osteochondrosis.Among the most common and most common reasons are:
- Damaged metabolism in the body, especially in the cervical region, hormone imbalance;
- Salt deposition;
- low physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
- staying in a long time position (on the computer, driving a car, etc.);
- Poor food;
- excess weight;
- damage and bruise in the neck;
- Hypothermia of the body.
Osteochondrosis also occurs against the backdrop of chronic diseases of the muscular system, such as scoliosis or rheumatism.
In addition, a genetic body predisposition often leads to osteochondrosis.
But whatever the reasons, osteochondrosis should be treated as soon as its first symptoms appear.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis in this part of the spine does not always occur suddenly and suddenly.Most often, it develops slowly, and the symptoms intensify over time and their number increases.The more severe beads are damaged and the nerve roots are fixed, the more obvious the symptoms are.
The first symptom you need to pay attention to is the pain of different strength in the cervical back, which radiates to other parts of the body - the back of the head, forehead, ears, forearm, shoulder, chest, etc.If you experience pain, you should consult a doctor to determine if it is really osteochondrosis, which is often similar in symptoms with other diseases.
Other signs of osteochondrosis
- Neck pain increases with exercises or turning his head;
- The patient feels numbness, burning or tingling in the limbs;
- Headaches and dizziness, loss of strength are common, the patient may complain of darkening and stains on the eyes, tinnitus;
- Fainting is likely if you turn your head suddenly.
Cervical osteochondrosis is also characterized by:
- lack of coordination;
- pain in the heart area;
- Deterioration of vision and hearing.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the type of suppressed nerve and the nature of the disease, doctors distinguish several syndromes:
- radical syndrome;
- Vertebral artery syndrome;
- Cardiac syndrome.
Radicular syndrome is the top of the first pairs of cervical nerve endings.The pain is felt in the neck, radiating on the shoulder blade, lower back, shoulder and forearm.
With vertebral artery syndrome, the patient experiences shaken pain in the back of the head or temples, or a burning pain in the neck, the back of the head, which intensifies when turning the head, during sleep, when coughing, and radiates to the chest and shoulder.
With cardiac syndrome, symptoms initially resemble angina pector, but the pain does not go away after taking nitroglycerin, lasts for several hours and can intensify with deep movement and breathing.
Symptoms of damage to specific vertebrae
The treatment of osteochondrosis is prescribed on the basis of which the nerve ending was damaged.There are eight of them in total, each of them is above the cervical vertebra.You can determine which beads are affected by symptoms that correspond to a specific nerve root.
Impairment of nerve ending and its characteristic pain
- First and second sections: damaged sensitivity of the back of the head, pain in the parietal and occipital region;
- Section Three: neck numbness in the cut area, impaired speech, language sensitivity;It rarely happens;
- Fourth section: pain and numbness in kolalarbon and/or spatula, respiratory system disorders, pain in the heart area;
- Fifth section: shoulder pain, pain on the outer surface of the shoulder, damaged limb sensitivity;
- Sixth and Seventh sections: neck pain, shoulder blade, forearm, spine, spine, damaged sensitivity of hands and fingers;the most common lesion;
- Section Eighth: neck pain, spine, elbow, numbness of small fingers of all extremities, cyanosis of the feet and hands due to poor circulation, lack of skin sensitivity, radiation in the foot.
Diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To make sure a diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis", you need to consult a doctor.Many symptoms of osteochondrosis are similar to the signs of other diseases, so it is important not only to start the treatment of osteochondrosis in time, but also not to lose other pathologies.
If osteochondrosis is suspected and there are signs of suppressed nerve endings, the doctor prescribes radiographs;If there is insufficient data, calculated or magnetic resonance images, Doppler and Duplex ultrasound scan.
Based on research data, the nature of the pain syndrome and the combination of other symptoms, it is possible to determine which discs are damaged and begin the necessary treatment that will restore the affected vertebrae and nerve roots and prevent the development of osteochondrosis complications.
The treatment is prescribed by a doctor, usually complex.First of all, it should relieve the symptoms of pain, which in case of cervical osteochondrosis are sometimes almost unbearable and spread not only to the neck but also to other parts of the body.
For this purpose, painkillers are used in tablets, but in the event of very severe pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are indicated, as well as lifts and analgesic oils.
Since medicines and ointments relieve only pain and other symptoms of neck osteochondrosis but do not escape its cause.After reducing the pain, the patient is prescribed massages, physical therapy and physical therapy.The patient is prescribed a diet, medicines that improve blood circulation and support body functions, tablets and injections, as well as chondroprotectors that help protect and restore intervertebral disc tissue.
In some cases, as additional treatment, the patient is prescribed baths, paraffin baths, reflexology and hirudotherapy.Traditional methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis often help quickly return the patient to a normal lifestyle, but they should only be used in combination with traditional methods and after consulting a physician, as traditional medicine may have contraindications, and the use of its recipes may damage an already weakened organism.
Complications and prevention of the disease
Remember: treatment for cervical osteochondrosis should be started as soon as possible.The longer you wait to see a doctor, the harder it will be to cure the disease, and in the meantime it can cause different complications.The cervical spine osteochondrosis is very dangerous because this part contains many blood vessels and nerve plexuses that supply the brain.
Any disturbance can cause problems with cerebral circulation, neurological disorders, including migraines and hypertension, and affect the heart, respiratory system, hearing and vision.
If you start osteochondrosis, more serious consequences are possible in the form of cerebral ischemia, spinal cord or radiculopathy - a disease in which processes are formed in the affected vertebrae, partially or completely depriving the body of sensitivity and movement.But this is not the worst thing, as in severe cases of osteochondrosis, the spinal cord is compressed, which can cause the patient's death.
Therefore, it is very important to listen to the symptoms as soon as possible and contact a specialist who will help you return to a full life.And to avoid a disease such as cervical osteochondrosis, you need to move more, not avoid physical activity, monitor your weight, eat a healthy and balanced diet and visit an orthopedic or vertebologist regularly.