Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Almost the entire population of the country older than 25 years suffersosteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It is the neck that suffers most. Why this disease occurs and how to deal with it, the article will tell.

Causes of osteochondrosis

Why there is an osteochondrosis?Some actions in life bear an increase in the burden on the spine, especially on its cervical spine. As a result, a muscle spasm arises that disrupts the blood circulation in the compression zone. In the absence of sufficient blood supply to an organ, changes begin to occur in it. So in the case of intervertebral discs of the spine. With spasm there are changes in their structure, vertebrae, there are sprouting.

Because of what there is a pathology?

• Because of incorrect posture.
• Excess weight.
• Sedentary work.
• Injury of the spine.
• Great physical exertion.
• Heredity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is manifested even with minor pathology, which is due to the very close arrangement of the vertebrae to each other.

• Pain.It can be localized in various areas: the neck, the nape, the shoulder. If the hand is touched, then it is a question of squeezing the specific root of the nerve responsible for the given area. The back of the head suffers from blood circulation disorders due to spasm of the neck muscles.
• Weakness in the hands, the sensitivity of the hands decreases.
• Freedom of movement in the cervical region is limited, as the height of the intervertebral disc is reduced.
• Intervertebral discs squeeze the artery, thereby worsening blood flow. Because of this, brain tissue, lacking sufficient nutrition, starve, causing dizziness.
• The most severe cases of osteochondrosis are manifested in numbness of the tongue, decrease in hearing and vision due to almost completely blocking the blood flow to the brain.

Osteochondrosis develops in the following four degrees, differing in the clinical picture and complaints of the diseased. In this case, we are not talking about the stages of the disease.

• During the first degree, the cervical department does not ache intensely, the patient can not complain about his condition. Only an examination will reveal strained muscles.
• If there is a second degree, the pain is much more intense than in the first degree. This is because the height of the intervertebral disc has decreased, and the roots of nerves are impaired.
• With a third degree, morestrong painful sensations, giving in the arm or shoulder, the muscles of which are numb. There is a formation of disc herniation. With this degree often there is dizziness, very limited mobility of the cervical region.
• If it is a question of the fourth degree, the intervertebral disc is completely destroyed, there is a strong dizziness, coordination of movements is disrupted.

Diagnosis of the disease

The doctor who comes to the examination of the patient at first polls in detail, finding out his way of life, the work, disturbing his symptoms. It also turns out whether the person is genetically related to such a disease.

Then a thorough examination of the neck at its various positions, palpation of the affected areas is performed. These methods only allow one to suspect that the patient has osteochondrosis.

To diagnose osteochondrosis with complete certainty can be easily enough with the help of a survey.

• By carrying out a radiography of a specific department of the spine. This method should not be used in the late stages of the illness due to the fact that it gives a minimum of information.
• With computer tomography, changes in the vertebral discs will be visible, but it is impossible to consider a hernia.
• The best method of diagnosis in this case is magnetic resonance imaging. The picture shows the slightest changes, the presence of hernias.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Effective treatment of cervical osteochondrosisis to apply an integrated approach to the disease. It combines medicines and physiotherapy. If these methods can not achieve beneficial effects, resort to surgery.

Conservative treatment consists in receivingnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, muscle relaxants. The first are designed to reduce inflammation and pain. If the pain is not strong, then ointments or gels that are used externally will help. The intake of vitamins helps improve blood circulation, leading to increased brain nutrition.

But all the medicines will beIt is not enough if the cause of osteochondrosis lies in the way of life of a person, and it remains unchanged. If the pain in the neck arises from a permanent job at the computer, then it is necessary to include in the working rhythm some physical exercises for neck warming.

Excellent results are achieved by applyingphysiotherapy: electrophoresis, water procedures, massage, therapeutic gymnastics. Also greatly facilitate the unpleasant sensations of hirudotherapy and manual therapy.

Everybody knows the statement that the disease is easierto warn than to cure it later. This fully applies to osteochondrosis. All the achievements in the fight against the disease will be reduced to zero, if you continue to do the same as before the illness: little to move, do not play sports, allow excess weight. All this can again lead to pathologies of intervertebral discs and osteochondrosis. Therefore, when sedentary work is recommended to periodically do self-massage, dispersing stagnant blood and ensuring the flow of nutrients to the brain.

In addition, it is recommended to eat regularly, rest at night, do not gain excess weight. In case of a disease, you can not lift weights, especially if physical training is at zero.