What is osteochondrosis in the cervical region, what is dangerous and how to treat it?

The appearance of uncomfortable sensations in the neck, the shoulder belt, as well as the thoracic spine - are the first swallows of the fact that cervical osteochondosis has occurred.In this case, of course, there are mainly uncomfortable sensations in the neck.The remaining signs will vary considerably, depending on the stage of the disease.

Thus, with cervical osteochondrosis, the main symptoms are:

• Backfire, periodic or constant.
• The pain is pronounced or exhausted.Cervicobrachiolgia - Intense pain in the neck - in the bottom of cervical osteochondosis.
• The constraint in the amplitude of engine rotations and the scope of the upper limbs, as well as the limited rotation of the head.
• Numbness of the limbs and various areas of the back - a change in sensitivity occurs.
• Face numbness.
• Dizziness and pain.
• Increased fatigue.
• Hypotonia in the shoulder belt muscles.

Various symptoms of osteochondrosis for the cervical column depend on the individual characteristics of the body and the degree of the disease.Thus, the 3 -step symptoms of osteochondrosis manifest themselves more widely and in a diverse way.

Dizziness

Luries appear when sharp turns of the head are made or after sleep.This condition can be accompanied by darkening in the eyes, noise in the ears, shaking the condition of the body.

This condition is caused by the fact that the muscles adjacent to the deformed vertebrae are in a inflamed state.The muscles are often spasmodic.This causes a reduction in access to oxygen to the brain, which in turn causes a specific state of disorientation.

There is also a vertebrobasicular deficiency (VBN) in the context of cervical osteochondosis, which is accompanied by persistent changes in the brain.This happens due to the fact that all areas of the brain are not uniformly irrigated by oxygen and nutrients.And also osteochondrosis can lead to the appearance of a state in which the vertebral artery is compressed, which occurs due to excessive pressure of the vertebrae on the artery.This condition causes the following symptoms - disorientation, dizziness, burning pain, etc.

Headache

This symptom is also caused by a reduction in blood flow of the brain and spinal cord.The pressed arteries, due to the displacement of the vertebrae, reduce oxygen in the blood.This obliges the separate areas of soft tissues.The particularity of this type of pain is that it may not pass even after taking powerful paint drugs.

The noise, the feeling of the ears, the dizzy, as well as other unusual conditions in the ears - the data and other symptoms are the result of a cervical osteochondosis.They are not treated independently.You can only eliminate them by removing the deep cause of their appearance - clips and destructive processes in the neck.

Lack of air

Degenerative changes in the cervical region also cause:

• Heaviness in the chest.
• Pressing sensations.
• The difficulty of breathing.
• Lack of air.

Osteochondrosis and scoliosis, completing each other, compact and pinch the spine of the nerve.Thus, the initial stage of osteochondrosis, which begins to involve only scoliosis causes a feeling of lack of air, only as a context of innervation.

With the subsequent development of the disease, the organs located inside the chest will suffer from it - this is how cardiopulmonary insufficiency is formed.And also a part of the muscles on the head is numb, which causes the face to numb with cervical osteochondosis.

Nausea

Nausea attacks visit the patient usually in the morning.At first, such symptoms do not appear often and do not last long.But in the case of not treating the disease and with the appearance of an old osteochondosis, the morning nausea will become regular and the duration of the attacks will become greater.

The main thing in this case is to abandon sleep on a high pillow.

Vision problems

This symptom only manifests itself after the disease becomes a more serious form (second part).Since the development of pathology occurs continuously, as a result, it affects the brain and the nervous system, completely different fractions of hemispheres can be affected.Therefore, this can affect the quality of the transmission and the processing of a signal from the eyeball to certain parts of the brain.

Signs:

• During in the eyes.
• Reduce visual acuity.
• The appearance of black or dark spots and flies which, so to speak, swim in front of the look.
• In addition to vision, ears with cervical osteochondosis can arise - the phenomenon is associated with changes in the vessels.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondosis are also manifested by an increase in blood pressure in the case when the projection with vertebral mobility syndrome is formed.If you relieve high pressure, without taking into account the causes of it, then a condition occurs in which the blood flow in the vertebral artery decreases.This phenomenon contributes to the occurrence of the brain.

And this one is in turn, leads to:

• During in the eyes.
• Confusion.
• Dizziness.
• Drowsiness.
• Fatigue.
• Lethargy and weakness.

To distinguish a fainting caused by other diseases of a state of fainting suffering from cervical osteochondosis, attention must be paid to the fact that:

1. The pain should occur strongly.
2. The subanity of consciousness appears quickly, but also quickly and passes.

It is very important to take into account the fact that cervical osteochondosis can lead to a stroke.But this influence is indirectly, because it is not caused by osteochondosis itself, but by the changes that imply.

Green symptoms

In the early stages of the disease, luminous differences in the form of a distortion that do not arouse much concern can be observed.But here is what symptoms occur with cervical osteochondrosis in the future:

• The feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the throat.
• Dry, endolori and itching state.
• Difficult swallowing process.

Due to the fact that these symptoms can accompany other diseases, it is necessary to listen with sensitivity your body.After all, the pharyngeal symptoms caused by cervical osteochondosis will also be accompanied by other manifestations.Then, as an exceptionally uncomfortable sensations in the pharynx, they most likely serve as a sign of another disease.

As a rule, the temperature of cervical osteochondosis occurs due to the compression of the nerves, the presence of projections, when the spine is protruding.These are the first symptoms of the formation of vertebral hernia.

The intervertebral disc (abbreviated MPD) is an aqueous pulp nucleus in the center and the elastic and strongest fibrous shell that surrounds it.The bodies of the neighboring vertebrae are adjacent to it and below.

The receipt (and excretion) of substances and water in the intervertebral disc occurs due to the diffusion (direct and reverse filtration, the penetration of the molecules in the disc and the back) of the bone tissue of the vertebrae.

The progressive aging of the tissues of the intervertebral disc leads to the fact that the reception of the necessary substances slows down and under the influence of provocation factors (pressure, load), it ceases completely.

• MPD loses height;
• The bodies of the vertebrae are shifted, the nerve roots are pressed and begin to grow with bone points, trying to distribute the increasing pressure (spondylosis) uniform.

Over time, the ligaments are involved in the ossification process, they are impregnated with calcium instead of attachment to the vertebrae and become the cause of rigidity, the constraint of the neck.

Since people continue to load the spine - they are actively moving, sitting in an uncomfortable position:

• The bodies of the neighboring vertebrae are increasingly compressed by the MPD;
• This leads to the fact that the pulpose nucleus (rather what remains) is pushed towards the front or back (more often towards the anterior longitudinal ligament, because it is quite thin in the cervical region).

Such a protrusion is called projection (the disk of the disc has not yet exploded, but has only changed its shape), it puts pressure on the adjacent tissues, which leads to the occurrence of muscle tension, pain and other pronounced symptoms with which cervical osteochondosis takes place.

Over time, the fibrous shell of the disc is nevertheless torn, and part of the pulp nucleus is tight in the fabric (this breakthrough is called a hernia).

At this stage (these are 4 steps), all the acute symptoms of the disease can calm down (a small part of the nucleus is absorbed or covered with calcium and ceases to irritate the surrounding tissues), or, conversely, will lead to the development of the ischemic race of the brain (oxygen start, the death of an area of hunger) and the index.

With osteochondrosis in the cervical column, all manifestations intensify from one stage to another, the more changes on the intervertebral disc - the more the symptoms of cervical osteochondosis are strong.

At the initial stage of a person, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be disturbed, because of which they are quickly tired.Then, the main sign of pathology appears - the pain that gives the back of the head, shoulders, arms, chest, can be disguised as dental pain.A person begins to stun, the concentration of attention weakens, vision and hearing falls, it aggravates the quality of life and does not affect their ability to work well.

Gradually, the symptoms increase and intensify - a person wakes up with a feeling of stiffness in the spine, during periods of exacerbations any net movement (for example, sneezing or a heel on the ground) causes cutting pain in the neck and along the affected nerves, it becomes difficult to lift the hand or keep the object in the neck.

At night, the heart rate can intensify or the appearance of a feeling of lack of air can be concerned - the patient cannot breathe deeply, because of the pain, a person is unable to move, turn his neck or raise his hand.

In symptoms, osteochondrosis in men is almost not different from osteochondrosis in women (they are more often concerned with headaches).

1st step (degree)

The intervertebral disc lost its elasticity and has grieved.

At this stage, with osteochondrosis in the cervical region, tension appears, fatigue, muscle fatigue and neck pain.

The causes of osteochondrosis

The insidiosity of cervical osteochondosis, as well as any other, is that it is able to develop for a long time, without showing external signs.Then strongly painful and uncomfortable sensations occur at the same time.

Among the causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical column, consequently, there is a degeneration of cartilage and bone tissue, are:

• Incorrect distribution of loads when you carry bags.
• Incorrect position during the session.
• An overly gentle sleep place in which the spine is deferred in a unnatural position.

• The bad pillow is generally too high, which causes a unnatural position of the head compared to the body.

• A sedentary lifestyle.
• Age changes associated with the degenerative transformation of cartilage.
• Stress and nervous - emotional tension.
• Metabolic disorders.
• The harmful working conditions, for example, operate on vibration platforms.
• Hereditary and genetic predisposition.
• When with active growth of the body, there is a violation of the posture, that is to say the formation of scoliosis.
• Uncomfortable shoes, especially if she has high heels.
• Regular dehydration of the body, which leads to a violation of the metabolism of water salt.
• Dinner with nutrition vitamins and micro-elements.
• Smoking and other bad habits.
• Pregnancy.

The main reasons that contribute to the occurrence of osteochondrosis are:

1. Not an appropriate nutrition and the weight gain that accompanies it, creating improved loads on the spine;
2. Courbure of the spine, incorrect position of the body, myodinia, deformation of the foot;
3. Hypodynamia, lack of physical activity;
4. damage the cervical vertebrae and the spine;
5. Excessive physical activity for the body;
6. atmosphere tense at work and at home;
7. Pathological development of the cervical column;
8. The transfer of the disease by inheritance.

For the above reasons, excessive load is placed on the cervical vertebrae, which is the cause of subsequent muscle spasm.As a result, circulatory disorder occurs, metabolic processes slow down and degenerative changes occur in the structure of intervertebral discs.They read to overtake outside the spine, become thinner and change their appearance.

Often, osteochondrosis occurs due to the increase in the disc which applies to neighboring vertebrae.The arrangement manifests itself after a long -term physical effort, during which the cervical and lumbar departments are intensively involved, but not involved in the chest.

Given the causes of osteochondrosis, it should be noted that the basis of violations is the natural aging of the tissues of the intervertebral disc.

1. Hereditary predisposition.
2. Congenital defects in the development of the cervical column (deformation of the body of the first cervical vertebra).
3. Surgical damage and interventions.
4. Excessive mobility of the cervical region (for example, in sports training).
5. Lack of physical activity (sedentary work).
6. Posture violation (Stoop).
7. Age.
8. Nervous stress.
9. Hypothermia.

Factors that affect the occurrence and the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra:

• Lightweight.
• Sitting work, inactivity.
• Previously transferred vertebral lesions.
• Mental disorders, nervous tension, stress.
• Poor physical preparation.
• The curvature of the spine, scoliosis, a bad posture.
• Incorrect positions of the body which are in the habit.
• Stress of the neck, back, by means of the operation.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• The unusual body for the body, an increase in activity.
• Violation of healthy diet rules.

The cervical section of the crest undergoes an increase in the load that the muscles of the neck try to balance, during the influence of the factors called above.A spasm of the muscle occurs, the blood circulation of the body is disturbed.Anatomical damage appears.

A complete list of the causes of osteochondrosis is very large.It includes both individual factors and their combinations caused by the displacement of intervertebral discs.But most often osteochondrosis develops for the following reasons:

• Heredity - If one of the parents had osteochondrosis, then a person falls in danger, because the structure of intervertebral cartilage is often inherited;
• hard work, charges in which to go beyond the authorized health standards for workers;
• A long stay in a position can also become an important factor.Often, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in people of sedentary professions;
• Various back diseases, leading to the curvature of the spine;
• deficiency in vitamins and hypovitaminosis;
• back injuries;
• infectious diseases;
• Congenital defects in the spine, which results in rapid erasure of the intervertebral discs;
• natural aging of the body;
• obesity;
• constant constraint;
• hypothermia.

People of young people and elderly people are subject to the disease, who are at risk.Among the main causes of the disease, they distinguish:

1. Unusual physical activity and their incorrect distribution on the spine.They are characteristic of people involved in amateur and professional sports, heavy physical work.
2. A sedentary lifestyle and sitting work.This also implies uneven pressure on the spine and the muscles that are formed around it.For people leading a sedentary lifestyle, excessive muscle tension in the neck is characteristic.
3. Traumatic damage to the spine and neck.In most cases, they lead to rapid destructive dystrophic changes in cartilaginous and bone tissues in the spine.
4. Anomalies in the development of the spine, injuries at birth.Often accompanied by additional unequal charges, therefore, in most cases, they also lead to the development of cervical osteochondosis.
5. Salt depot, high level of blood salts and lymph.It occurs with a lifestyle seated with stagnation of the blood circulation.Consequently, the salts are worse with soft tissues, which contributes to their deposit in the spine and to a greater degradation of the tissues.
6. Violation of metabolic processes.In such cases, the balance of minerals in hard and soft tissues is disturbed, the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs become fragile and vulnerable.Consequently, destructive changes occur in the zones of the spine subjected to the greatest pressure.
7. Violation of posture, scoliosis, lordosis and cyphosis.For these vertebral column diseases, accompanied by the curvature of the latter, the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs are also uneven pressure, which contributes to destruction.

When you carry out a healthy lifestyle and a timely medical care, the causes listed can be eliminated and the probability of osteochondrosis in the cervical region, the treatment of which is long and difficult, will be reduced to a minimum.But in the presence of risk factors, this probability can be increased several times.Among the other conditions prior to the disease, they distinguish:

• hereditary predisposition to vertebral diseases;
• obesity and significant increase in body weight;
• frequent shocks and nervous stress;
• Low quality and unbalanced nutrition;
• weakness of the neck and back muscles;
• Hormonal disorders, endocrine pathologies.

In the early stages of the progression of osteochondrosis of the cervical column, symptoms and treatment are simplified.The regulation and elimination of risk factors considerably reduce the probability of a young age and also relieves the symptoms of the first manifestations of destruction.

Symptoms and signs of the disease

• numbness of the language;
• Crunch turning his head;
• hearing deterioration;
• decrease in visual acuity;
• Optical effects, "flies" under the eyes;
• nausea and vomiting;
• neurotic changes (increased irritability and excitability, insomnia, anger epidemics, depressive state);
• fainting;
• tingling in the upper limbs and the neck (mainly during sleep);
• A feeling of instability.

For men and women with cervical osteochondosis, symptoms and treatment are identical.In addition, accompanied cardiovascular diseases, lesions that generate blood pressure jumps can occur.In certain situations, manifestations are diagnosed with incorrect and symptomatic and therapy against hypertension is carried out.

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondosis can be carried out on the basis of conservative (drugs and non-drugs) and radical (surgical) methods.The basis of the use of conservative measures (as a rule, both together) may be the first degree of progression of cervical osteochondosis.

At the subsequent stages of the development of the disease, surgery is necessary with the elimination of growth (if applicable), the restoration of the posture and the installation of prostheses.After the operation, patients have a period of rehabilitation.

Therapeutic effect methods in most cases are combined.With osteochondrosis of the cervical column, symptoms and treatment require an integrated approach to obtain a lasting result.

The use of drugs implies treatment with courses, as drugs have a strong symptomatic effect, but does not make it possible to completely eliminate the disease.In the therapy process, are used:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They help reduce inflammation and swelling of soft tissues, as well as the severity of pain syndrome caused by the compression of nerve roots with vertebrae.At the early stages of the development of cervical osteochondosis, NSAIDs are more often used in the form of gels and ointments, intense pain decreases due to tablet agents.In difficult situations, analgesic injections are possible.
2. Musorelaxants.The main purpose of the funds is the elimination of muscle tension and spasms in the neck.Consequently, the supply of blood and the nutrition of oxygen are restored, the severity of the pain syndrome is reduced and one of the causes of osteochondrosis in the cervical region is eliminated.
3. Chondroprotectors.These are not direct medicines, but help to considerably improve the state of the cartilage fabric.They contribute to the restoration processes of the intervertebral discs and strengthen them.They are used during treatment and recovery period after surgery.The action of chondroprotectors is felt six months later from the start of reception and is constantly preserved with systematic use.
4. Vasodilators.Improve blood circulation and blood supply, develop vessels, improve the overall well and contribute to the regulation of blood pressure.They are used in the form of injections.
5. Sedatives.They help relieve stress as one of the risk factors.With serious stable disorders, antidepressants can be used.
6. Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used by short -term courses in cases where NSAIDs do not have the right effect.The long -term use of glucocorticosteroids is not authorized due to side effects in the form of a decrease in immunity, the deterioration of the state of internal organs, bones, joints.
7. Paravertebral blockade.They are used in emergency situations to quickly relieve high intensity pain.The injections are placed directly in the affected area.The effect of anesthesia lasts several hours.
8. Vitamins.They help restore metabolic processes in nervous tissues.Products rich in vitamins are also included in the catering regime.

Medicine therapy is almost never prescribed as the principal and or or the only method of therapeutic effect.Treatment with drugs is combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy, diet.

The main indication of surgery is the narrowing of the light of the spine, which is generally the result of the protrusion or the hernia.The phenomenon is often accompanied by stenosis, compression of nerve endings and blood vessels.In such situations, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical column are pronounced and treatment with surgical methods becomes a necessary measure.

The choice of surgical intervention as a method of processing osteochondrosis in the cervical region is carried out individually.The patient can be shown an operation in the absence of a positive effect of conservative therapy, carried out for six to eight months before.

Surgical methods are used to treat osteochondrosis in the cervical region:

1. Dynamic stabilization of the spine.It is the installation of a strong high high silicone stabilizer, which redistributes the pressure on the spine.The implant is introduced between the thorny processes along the back.
2. Spondylodez.It is a question of removing the disk from the damaged cartilage, followed by its replacement by an implant.The mobility of back, neck and individual vertebrae is restored and preserved.
3. Laser surgery.During the operation, the laser beam is directly directed to the core of the disc, after which the protrusion is reduced.Such treatment is effective in cases where a hernia does not exceed six millimeters.