Cervical osteochondrosis refers to the “disease of the century”. Its manifestation most often affects people aged 25-40, which creates a lot of inconvenience for them in everyday life.
The cervical spine is constantly in motion, so it is exposed to serious stress during the day.
In addition, a large number of nerve endings and vascular formations are concentrated here, which are responsible for the proper functioning of the brain and its timely saturation with blood.
The problem lies in the dysfunction of the articular cartilage located in the bone tissue.
Acute osteochondrosis with changes in the intervertebral discs and their movement leads to a decrease in blood flow, developing a lack of oxygen in the human brain.
The development of a dystrophic process on the intervertebral discs can lead to serious consequences, so the disease requires mandatory treatment.
Signs of disease
It is possible to determine the development of cervical osteochondrosis at an early stage by neck contraction that occurs during head rotation.
Affected people also report tinnitus and general discomfort in the neck area, which manifests as painful sensations (they can also appear in the fingers).
It is often not possible to locate pain. It all just depends on which parts of the cervical spine are damaged. Defeat of the intervertebral disc with displacement is described by patients in different ways, but they notice pain in the suture.
A pinched joint or damage due to friction with the spinal discs is described differently: dull pain in the region of the collar is present almost constantly and does not subside even in the absence of sudden movements.
How osteochondrosis of the neck manifests
If you start to develop incomprehensible back and neck pain, consult a doctor immediately. It is possible that this is all psychosomatics, however the illness is often confirmed by a doctor.
Therefore, we formed part of the excerpt and highlighted the main signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Headache accompanied by dizziness. This is the first and most common symptom in all patients. The spine creates additional pressure on the sensitive vessels of the head and neck, which slows down their filling with the required amount of blood. Due to the general background, efficiency and mental activity are reduced, the person gets tired quickly, even from simple tasks.
- Dizziness when turning his head to the side. For a short time, the access of blood through the vessels and capillaries was blocked, which caused the "blurring" of the activity of the human brain system.
- Chest and arm pain. Often, this manifestation of a serious illness is mistaken for growing angina pectoris or heart muscle pain, so you should not participate in making the correct diagnosis and subsequent self-treatment on your own.
- Lumbago in the cervical region. Back pain is also a common symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It resembles a point electric shock and can later spread to the elbow joints and fingers.
- Numbness of the tongue. Lack of blood in the vessels causes a restriction in the movement of the tongue. If you have a change in tone of voice or it has become much harder for you to speak, consult a doctor immediately so as not to trigger further development of the disease.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
In some patients, the disease may manifest with other signs, so if you are not sure what could have caused the back or neck pain, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
Ringing in the ears, worsening of the condition of the teeth and eyesight - all this can cause the development of osteochondrosis. Finger stiffness can occur at any time of the day, which is associated with a sharp compression of the nerve endings in the vertebrae.
Unfortunately, the disease is increasingly beginning to manifest itself in young people who do not pay enough attention to it. Over time, the disease can, for no apparent reason, take a chronic course with a change in posture, the appearance of excess weight and the development of infectious diseases.
Even experienced physicians in this case find it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the background of such indicators that differ in symptomatology.
Types of deterioration
Often people's carelessness towards their own health leads to worsening of cervical osteochondrosis. So what are the exacerbations and why are they caused?
On the nerves
Unfortunately, stressful situations that occur in the life of every person lead to a deterioration in the nutrition of the intervertebral disc.
We also do not notice that during strong arousal or excessive arousal we start to move chaotically, which leads to worsening of osteochondrosis with all the consequences that follow (dizziness, tinnitus, headache).
If you suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to take the sedative tablets "Glycesid" and "Novo-Passit" with a mandatory visit to a neurologist or psychotherapist.
After the massage
Massage for weight loss in most cases leads to worsening of the disease.
Before the session begins, the massage therapist must be informed that you have a confirmed diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Neurologists often advise occupational therapists who do massage taking into account the doctor's recommendations.
Seasonal
Changes in weather and climate conditions cause seasonal worsening of the disease, and this is a scientifically proven fact. Intervertebral discs are sensitive to changes in temperature and atmosphere, so pain and other symptoms may occur.
After drinking
Another typical example of worsening osteochondrosis is drinking alcohol. The body is affected not only by the alcohol contained in the drink, but also by the prolonged stay of the person in an awkward position.
Don't rule out situations where hot people, because of the "heat" that has flooded them, simply forget to dress warmly, exposing the nerve endings to hypothermia.
During your period
In women, menstruation is accompanied by a severe drop in estrogen levels, which is responsible for the integrity of bone tissue in the body.
If the pain in the lumbar region, chest and neck does not disappear for a long time, this is a reason to visit a doctor, because they can be caused not by the menstrual cycle and its symptoms, but by the manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
During a cold
Changes in body temperature during illness cause inflammatory processes in the nerve endings located in the intervertebral discs. Which in turn can cause deterioration.
What is the risk of cervical osteochondrosis?
Cervical osteochondrosis in advanced stages can lead to the development of vascular dystonia, hypertension, memory and hearing impairment. In extreme cases, patients have impaired hand function, as well as permanent pain in the forearms.
Hypertension is a scourge of society, not without reason it is called "silent death". Hardly any of the patients can imagine that untimely treatment of osteochondrosis can lead to the manifestation of hypertension, which runs without visible manifestations and symptoms.
Concerns should also concern possible changes in a person’s vascular system, as they can then develop a range of diseases and complications.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
The tactile method is used to diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It allows you to assess the painful sensations in the spine, the sensitivity of the nerve endings, as well as other features important for an accurate and correct diagnosis.
After examination by a neurologist, the patient is referred for an X-ray of the cervix which is performed in multiple projections to obtain a clearer picture.
If even after that the doctor cannot accurately diagnose the disease or there are other suspicions, computed tomography or MRI is done. Unlike X-rays, it shows the condition of soft tissues very well.
Treatment
Traditional and non-traditional methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are good in their own way, but do not forget the need to consult a doctor, because he is the one who can prescribe the right treatment.
Conservative treatments include:
- Analgesic therapy
- Taking NSAIDs
- Taking antispasmodics
A prerequisite in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the use of chondroprotectors that allow the restoration of the damaged structure and integrity of the intervertebral discs.
The doctor prescribes general and acupressure massage, and also prescribes B vitamins. In advanced cases it may be necessary to wear a Shants collar and exercise.
Thus, treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible, but it should be done at an early stage of disease manifestation in order to exclude its occurrence in the future.