Cervical osteochondrosis of the neck is a common pathology accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. The disease is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine. They are caused by incorrect body position, posture disorders, insufficiently active lifestyle. To reduce the symptoms of the pathology, consult a doctor in a timely manner.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
This term is understood as a progressive degenerative-dystrophic lesion of intervertebral discs localized in the cervical spine. As a result, deformation and exhaustion of the vertebral body occurs. This leads to damage to blood circulation and conduction of nerves in the neck.
The disease can be isolated or combined with damage to other parts of the spine - lumbar or thoracic. According to ICD-10, cervical osteochondrosis of the spine is coded under the code M42.
Possible complications of the disease
Many people are interested in the danger of cervical osteochondrosis. In the absence of timely and adequate therapy, pathology can lead to negative health consequences. These include the following:
- bulging intervertebral discs and hernia formation;
- bursting of the disc with compression of nerves and blood vessels - if the spinal cord tightens, there is a risk of death;
- radiculopathy;
- appearance of osteophytes;
- paresis and paralysis.
Main symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease develops gradually and is initially asymptomatic. Therefore, the diagnosis is often made in advanced cases. The main symptoms of the pathology include the following:
- Pain in the neck and back of the head that is aggravated by physical exertion or coughing.
- Crunching with head movements.
- Loss of sensitivity in the hands, tingling in the shoulder blade area.
- Headaches that are localized in the back of the head and spread to the temples.
- General weakness, increased fatigue.
- Decreased visual acuity.
- Tinnitus.
- Hearing impairment.
- Increased pulse.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The first signs of the disease usually appear after the age of 35. However, in recent years, the pathology began to develop at a younger age - 18-30 years. The problem is most often faced by people who have to be in one position for a long time.
The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:
- hereditary tendency;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- infectious diseases, intoxication of the body;
- eating disorders - lack of fluids, vitamins, trace elements;
- overweight;
- traumatic spinal injuries;
- poor posture;
- spinal instability;
- insufficiently active lifestyle;
- flat feet;
- influence of adverse environmental factors;
- frequent changes in body position;
- has been in an awkward position for a long time;
- excessive physical activity;
- hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- using the wrong sleeping pillows.
What are the different degrees of the disease?
The disease develops gradually. There are 4 degrees of cervical osteochondrosis, each of which has specific features:
- The first is followed by the appearance of cracks on the intervertebral discs. This process is accompanied by mild aching pains, stiffness of movement. The pathology has a wavy flow. As the immune system deteriorates or the load increases, osteochondrosis worsens. If you do not take action in time, there is a risk of exacerbation of the abnormal process.
- Second - at this stage the destruction of the intervertebral discs continues and their protrusion is observed. This process is accompanied by constriction of the nerve endings. The person has constant pain that intensifies with movement. At this stage, there is a decrease in working ability, numbness of the hands occurs.
- The third is accompanied by the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. In such a situation, muscle tissue and nerve endings are involved in the pathological process. As a result, there is pain in the neck and nape, a feeling of weakness in the hands. With vascular lesions, there is a risk of decreased visual acuity, dizziness and tinnitus. Sometimes the disease leads to fainting.
- Fourth - this phase is accompanied by bone growth. As a result, the pressure on the nerve endings increases. With this form of osteochondrosis, the mobility of the neck is reduced, and the spine becomes less flexible. As a result, a person cannot perform simple head movements.
Why should you see a doctor right away?
If symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, consult a doctor - neurologist or orthopedist immediately. Otherwise, the pathology will cause dangerous health consequences.
First of all, the doctor should assess physical activity and the intensity of neck pain. Also, experts are interested in loss of sensitivity and other disorders.
Based on the results of the preliminary examination, additional procedures are prescribed. First of all, radiography is done. It is done in several projections. If a hernia is suspected, CT or magnetic resonance imaging may be needed. If there is a violation of blood flow, it becomes necessary to perform rheoencephalography and fundus examination.
Treatment is prescribed based on the results of a diagnostic examination. With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following drug categories are most commonly used:
- Analgesics - help cope with pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - remove inflammation and deal with swelling.
- Antispasmodics - help relieve muscle cramps.
- Preparations to improve blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors - help restore the structure of intervertebral discs.
- B vitamins - improve the functioning of nervous tissues.
In addition to drug therapy, other methods are prescribed. These include massage, remedial gymnastics, and physiotherapy. The use of osteopathy is very effective. In this case, a mild effect is exerted on the affected muscles and vertebrae. In some cases, the doctor is advised to wear a special orthopedic device - Shants collar.
Manual therapy is considered an effective way to treat pathology. Her methods are chosen individually. The procedure consists of a point effect on the musculoskeletal element. Thanks to that, it is possible to activate blood flow, improve lymph movement and normalize metabolic processes. Manual therapy improves the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, strengthens the immune system and helps prevent complications of osteochondrosis.
Spinal traction is often used. Special equipment is used for stretching. The procedure helps to increase the distance between the vertebrae to normal size and to deal with disorders in the structure of the spine.
If acute cervical osteochondrosis is observed and intervertebral hernias occur, which cause decreased sensitivity and impaired blood circulation, there is a need for surgical intervention.
The duration of treatment depends on the severity of osteochondrosis. Most often, the therapy is carried out in long courses. To improve your condition, you should definitely adjust your lifestyle. To do that, you have to eat properly, give up bad habits and do sports.
Prevention of neck osteochondrosis
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, you must follow certain recommendations:
- eliminate curvature of the spine in a timely manner;
- do sports to form a muscle corset;
- eat foods that provide the body with calcium and magnesium;
- normalize body weight;
- follow your doctor's recommendations when working at a computer.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious pathology that leads to negative health consequences. To deal with the violation, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis in time. Therefore, any discomfort in the neck area should be a reason to visit a doctor.
How's the treatment going?
Physician consultations: history taking, myofascial diagnostics, functional diagnostics.
How's it going?
Collection of anamnesis - analysis of the disease, determination of limitations and contraindications, explanation of the principles of kinesitherapy, characteristics of the recovery period.
Myofascial diagnosis is a method of manual diagnosis, in which the doctor assesses the range of motion of the joints, identifies painful seals, edema, hypo- or hypertonicity of the muscles and other changes.
Functional diagnostics (performed in the rehabilitation room) - the doctor explains how certain exercises are performed on the equipment and notes: how the patient performs them, with what range of movements he can work, which movements cause pain, with what weight the patient can work, how the cardiovascular system responds. Problem areas have been identified. The data is entered on the card. Emphasis is placed.
Based on the results of the initial examination by a doctor and functional diagnostics, a preliminary individual treatment program is developed.
It is desirable to have with you:
- for back pain - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) of the problem area;
- for joint pain - x-rays;
- in the presence of concomitant diseases - extracts from the history of the disease or outpatient card;
- comfortable (sports) clothes and shoes
Start teaching with an instructor
At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor together with the patient draws up a treatment plan, which includes the date and time of the treatment session, control visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).
The basis of the treatment process are treatment sessions in the rehabilitation room on exercise equipment and sessions in the gym.
Rehabilitation simulators allow you to accurately dose the load on individual muscle groups, providing an adequate way of physical impact. The treatment program is compiled by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the organism. Control is performed by qualified instructors. In all phases of recovery, it is important to adhere to proper movement and breathing techniques, to know your weight norms when working on simulators, to adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and to follow the recommendations of experts.
Joint gymnastics sessions help to restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and elasticity (flexibility) of the spine and is an excellent preventive system for independent use.
Each treatment cycle - 12 sessions. Each lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of one treatment is from 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The instructor compiles the program taking into account the accompanying diseases and the patient's condition on the day of training. He teaches the technique of performing the exercises and monitors the correctness of the performance. Every 6th lesson, a second consultation with a doctor is conducted, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.
How many loops will it take?
This is individual for each person and depends on the progression of the disease.
Important to know:
- how long have you had this problem (disease stage);
- how your body is prepared for physical activities (if you do gymnastics, any sport);
- what result you want to get.
If the disease is in its infancy and the body is prepared, one cycle of treatment is sufficient. (example - young people 20-30 years old who play sports. We direct their attention to the technique of performing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding "wrong" exercises harmful to problem areas. Such patients are trained, acquire the skill of "respecting their body"), Take recommendations in case of deterioration and continue to do it yourself).
Each organism is individual, and the program for each patient is individual.