Osteochondrosis is a disease, which is one of the most popular in the world. Most people after the age of 35 osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in another form or. Has recently been a tendency to increase suffering from severe and form of the disease of the rejuvenation of the disease, to reduce its lower age limit. This is due to the fact that a growing number of people around the world are engaged in sedentary work and lack of exercise. At the same time, the disease is quite dangerous, and everyone should know what it is – low back pain, and how it manifests itself, how it is cured, can recognize the symptoms in time and start treatment.
Causes of cervical degenerative disc disease
Lower back pain is one of the few diseases which are peculiar only to humans. Other animal the disease is not found. The reason for this is that feature is the people walking upright. The vertical position causes the spine of the vertebrae against each other and press the osteochondral tissue of the spine is gradually break down and change shape. The human spine begins in the cervix. All this Department of seven vertebrae from the first to the seventh. The vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs. The cervical spine is particularly vulnerable part of him, which is linked primarily to the increased mobility of the vertebrae in the area. Cervical disease appears primarily on the discs, which are the weak point in the structure of the spine. The prevalence of cervical degenerative disc disease affect the factors also like the small size and the vertebrae of the relative weakness of the neck muscles. The development of cervical degenerative disc disease is greatly affected by lack of blood supply to the cartilage. Thus, disease development is a complex lengthy process ny, ny is not one of the reasons. Even if the relationship and Work to sit for the English cervical degenerative disc disease, however, the disease is found in many educated people, especially athletes, because of the increased load on the cervical spine when lifting weights. Older people, as a rule, the decomposition of the backbone structures is an inevitable process, which is associated with aging and weaken its protective power. However, the most common pathological type of cervical degenerative disc disease, where the main role is or external internal negative factors.
Factors for the development of degenerative disc disease in the neck:
- Posture
- Curvature of the spine
- Back injury
- Overweight
- Heavy physical Work
- Sedentary
- Lack of exercise
- Metabolic process
- Often hypothermia
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep
- Stress, fatigue
- Hereditary factors
- Infectious diseases
- The individual characteristics of the body structure, for example, too long or too short neck
Waste the development of cervical degenerative disc disease
The disease has four stages. It is not always level to determine the stage of the disease, based on the analysis of the symptoms, because sometimes the degree of degeneration of bone and cartilage tissue symptoms not necessarily correspond to the experienced the patient.
Published for the first degree
Begin the destructive processes and bone cartilage tissue of the vertebrae. This stage Usually symptoms are osteochondrosis of the cervical mild. No, or don't notice, or related to spinal disorders and is considered to be due to stress and overwork.
Secondary
Starting to decrease the plate height on its surface cracks. Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease at this stage is manifested in constant pain, weakness, numbness in certain areas of the face.
Third degree
Formed in the herniated discs, the damaged cervical vessels and muscles. The patient appears dizziness, pain in the back of the head.
The fourth degree
Views of osteophytes – bone growth of tissue that protects the vertebrae of the load, which leads to pinched nerves. This leads to stiffness in the limbs to damage and to the adjacent joints.
Cervical degenerative disc disease: symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- Muscle weakness
- Excessive sweating
- Numbness in the hands
- Impaired coordination
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision and hearing
- Increased blood pressure
- Headaches
These are typical of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine symptoms can be present in all stages of the disease. In most cases observed a few symptoms from the list, and the rest can be missing People, the first time faced with such signs of the disease is not always suspected myself, the cervical osteochondrosis. So it can appeal to different therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons. Diagnosis And the right result can be delivered to significant delay.
Syndromes
With cervical osteochondrosis there are some syndromes that is typical to States a number of characteristic features. They look depending on what and nerves of blood vessels, affects the consequences of the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- heart syndrome
- hypertension syndrome
- radicular syndrome
- syndrome cervical migraine
Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications, cervical osteochondrosis. It is because of reduce blood son flow through the arteries that run along the spine to nourish the brain. The syndrome is manifested in such symptoms as systemic or recurrent dizziness, impaired vision hearing and. In some cases, can happen fainting. Often there is a kind of syndrome, states that in the normal condition of the blood of the son flow in the artery is normal, but when the head rotating in either direction he can drop sharply. Cardiac syndrome develops when compression of the nerve roots carrying the innervation of the diaphragm or chest muscles. As a result, the patient can experience pain, remind cardialgia, although direct effects on the heart during this procedure. However, the syndrome can be characterized by such side effects as tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmias. Hypertension syndrome is also one of the most dangerous complications. Instead, vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by the compression will not the arteries and veins that prevents the blood of the son flow to the head. The syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can manifest itself in such symptoms as nausea, vomiting, headache. Syndrome cervical migraine has little in common with the etiology of classic migraine. It is manifested by severe pain in the back of the head. The pains are paroxysmal in nature, lasting up to ten hours and is accompanied by vomiting. Radicular syndrome is the most common syndrome osteochondrosis of the cervical. It is caused by compression of individual nerve roots of the cervical spine vertebrae. It can be a pain in the neck, neck, shoulder blades, shoulders, numbness deterioration of the individual tone and parts of the arms (impossible to perform any manipulation) and the neck. Very often can be detected in syndromes or multiple individual symptoms associated with different syndromes. As you can see, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine the symptoms of the disease are always multi-faceted and the patient is not able to correctly identify the causes of their occurrence. If you have similar symptoms, it is cause for seeking medical attention.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis it is recommended to consult a therapist. He gave a referral to orthopedic, spine, neurology. Diagnosis the following studies:
- Radiography
- Computed tomography of the
- Magnetic imaging
- Ultrasound scanning of the neck vessels
X-rays allows to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, england growths – osteophytes salt deposits and, seals, plates. Computed tomography is to create a series of x-rays, allowing three-dimensional representation of the body in this case – of the cervical spine. It allows you to determine the extent of the pathological process, the nature of the compression of the nerves, the structure of osteophytes, the height of the plate, etc. magnetic resonance imaging is based on the physical effect of magnetic resonance imaging will provide more accurate structural images of the spine. Ultrasound of the neck vessels helps to identify changes in the blood of the son flow in the great vessels of the neck caused by the disease.
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease at home
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home and treated, if anything? To combat the disease, the medicine is developed in many methods. You can use Some treatments at home. Process But this is the most complete and long lasting cure is unlikely, especially in the elderly. However, slow down the process and prevent a devastating spine at any time can stages of the disease. In the early stages of the disease methods are usually conservative. The treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease are used in several ways:
- Drugs
- Occupational therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Massage
- Special means of fixation of the spine
If the disease has progressed to the last stage, and there is severe destruction of bone and structures of the spine cartilage, degenerative disc treatment can be used for cervical spine disease and surgery.
Drugs
The following medications:
- Chondroprotectors
- Vitamins
- Analgesics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Antispasmodics
Acute pain syndrome is associated with osteochondrosis, the first priority is removal. Generally used oral drugs, or as Dipyrone Baralgin, but their ineffectiveness in severe cases, the use of novocaine blockade. Muscle cramps apply antispasmodics. The maximum efficiency of the osteoarthritis shows, created the disease of the drug against this, even though other use of muscle relaxants. And As an anti-inflammatory pain medications, you can use ointments containing non-steroidal drugs. The presence of the syndrome and is associated with blood circulation of blood flow to the brain – hypertension and vertebral artery syndrome, the drug, removing the unwanted effects of these syndromes – pressure nootropic reduce and substances.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is easily affordable and shape of cervical degenerative disc disease and, at the same time, quite effective. Care to teach at home can be done. Osteochondrosis of the intensity of training is not critical, in vain the frequency. First, the physical training is designed to strengthen the neck muscles, which form the lack of functionality of the spine to help and support the weakened vertebrae. Strengthen the muscles of the neck is recommended daily activities. They can be quite simple, consisting of rotations and head tilts in different directions, and the more complex, including using the neck muscles of the arms. He can perform both at work and at home. For example, if your Work is sedentary, it is useful to do these exercises for an hour after sitting at a desk or monitor. However, to comply with them in vain outside of time and without exacerbation of pain. Otherwise, he may unnecessarily aggravate the condition. Equally effective and strengthen the muscles of the shoulder girdle, for example, with the help of regular exercise light weight. However, heavy lifting (kettlebells, barbells) are against the theme. Useful regular bathing also reduces the load on the spine.
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy – method of treatment using the effects on the body field and some of the physical radiation. The positive quality of occupational therapy is that it is minimum number of contraindications. For the treatment of degenerative disc disease, the following methods of occupational therapy:
- Ultrasound effect
- Laser treatment
- The effect of the magnetic field
- Under an electric current (electrophoresis)
The magnetic field has a positive effect on the damaged tissues of the body and anti-inflammatory analgesic and effect. Ultrasound improves metabolic processes in the tissues, reducing swelling. The same can be said about laser treatment. Electrophoresis most often used in conjunction with medications, because they use electric power to accelerate the absorption of the body.
Massage
Massage decreases muscle tone, causes spasms and reduce the flow of lymph, causing swelling. The procedure promotes improved circulation in the affected area, which will stop the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Other treatments
What to do, cervical osteochondrosis, if the treatment the classical method at home does not help? Reduce the load on the cervical tennent's special – collar of the Trench, which locks the neck constantly in the normal position. It is recommended to use the exacerbations of pain during or prolonged sedentary work. In order to avoid relapse, also a man should arrange a place to sleep. Should cause the curvature of the Pillow and the neck of the mattress should be and a rigid smooth. In some cases, can help a special sleep – mattress and pillow.