Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology in which the vertebrae, cartilaginous discs and ligaments suffer.If you decipher the term literally, osteo - denotes “bone”, chondrosis - “cartilage”.Those.Cervical osteochondrosis is associated with a change in the tissue structures of the spine in which the intervertebral discs lose their functionality, and along the way, the power of the vertebral bodies themselves is disturbed.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today, is a fairly common disease.According to statistics, after 35 years osteochondrosis is found in 40 - 85% of the population, regardless of the standard of living and country of residence.The share of pathologies of the cervical region is up to 30% of all identified cases.
Most often, the disease develops in the area with 5 - from 7, because they are the most mobile, important blood vessels that feed the brain can be involved in the painful process.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are diverse, and clinical manifestations depend on which vertebra is susceptible to the disease.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sudden “bastards” in which the patient experiences a sharp pain that limits movement, crunching with head turns.Consider the pain symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, depending on the localization of the vertebral damage:
- 1 vertebra - pain and numbness of the back of the head;
- 2 vertebra - pain in the back of the head, unpleasant sensations in the crown;
- 3 vertebra - pain in the neck, possibly impaired speech, sensitivity and innervation of the language;
- 4 vertebra - a decrease in the tone of the neck muscles, headache, discomfort during breathing, pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, in the heart, right hypochondrium;
- 5-6 vertebra - pain in the shoulders, forearms, shoulder blade, thumb of the hand;
- 7 Verk - pain in the shoulder blade, brush, 2-4 fingers, loss of sensitivity in these areas is possible.
With extensive osteochondrosis, which affects several vertebrae, the symptoms can overlap, making accurately accurate diagnostics.
Dizziness for cervical osteochondrosis deserves special attention, because it is the main sign of the disease.It occurs suddenly, it is strong enough.
The headache for cervical osteochondrosis may be accompanied by dizziness and not removed by analgesics, because it is a consequence of compression of the vertebral arteries.Muscle pains with cervical osteochondrosis are not always present, but headaches can be a constant symptom.
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis
The vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis occurs against the background of compression of the vertebral arteries and includes many manifestations:
- exhausting headache, which intensifies when turning or tilting the head;
- Visual impairment: by double, a decrease in severity, a sense of rubber and dry eyes, flickering flies;
- malaise by type of angina pectoris, complain of chest pain, shortness of breath, blood pressure difference.It is very important to correctly and timely differentiate the diagnosis, because angina pectoris and syndromes for cervical osteochondrosis are treated not only with different medicines, but also by various specialists;
- short -term auditory disorders - the sudden appearance of noise or ringing in the ears, associated with short -term dizziness and darkening in the eyes;
- Possible vomiting and concomitant violations of consciousness.Most often, such signs provoke sharp inclinations or turning the head;
- Brain violations similar to ischemic stroke.Here, again, timely differentiated diagnosis is very important.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine begins only after a detailed medical examination.Diagnostics is carried out using the x -ray of the neck, as well as modern methods - CT or MRI of the spine.If the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is confirmed, a neurologist will be treated.With the initial manifestations of the disease, drugs can be prescribed only during the period of exacerbation, and the basics of therapy during remission are physiotherapy, massage and correction of the patient's regime.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes several mandatory aspects:
- Correction of the regime.You must correctly organize your night vacation, it is advisable to use orthopedic pillows.
- Exclusion of loads.If you spend the whole working day at the office table, every 2 hours find a few minutes to warm up your neck, and also perform eye exercises.
- Drug therapy, taking the drugs prescribed by the doctor.Once again, we strongly recommend not using the tips of homegrown doctors.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.You will receive a direction from them from a neurologist, and a doctor, physiotherapist, will prescribe detailed therapy.Do not be seduced on the promises of unprofessional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible department.If the massage or manual procedures will be carried out by a non -professional, the case may end in complications.
A lot of literature is written about how to treat osteochondrosis in the cervical region.Be careful, other folk recipes do not withstand any criticism.Discuss any method of folk therapy with a doctor before using.