Osteochondrosis of cervical spine

Almost the entire population of the country older than 25 years suffers from osteochondrosis 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 carry an increased burden on the spine, especially on its cervical spine. As a result, there is a spasm of muscles that disrupts 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 the wrong posture.
• Excess weight.
• Sedentary work.
• Injury of the spine.
• Great physical exertion.
• Heredity.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is manifested even with a 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 often suffers from circulatory 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, since the height of the intervertebral disc is reduced.
• Intervertebral discs squeeze the artery, thereby worsening blood flow. Because of this, the 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 the almost complete blockage of 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 region 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 the nerves are impaired.
• In the presence of the third degree, there are stronger painful sensations, giving to the arm or shoulder, the muscles of which grow numb. There is a formation of hernia discs. 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, 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 is performed at its various positions, palpation of the affected areas. These methods only allow one to suspect that the patient has osteochondrosis.

To diagnose an osteochondrosis with full confidence it is possible easily enough by means of inspection.

• By carrying out a radiography of a specific department of the spine. This method should not be used in the late stages of the disease 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 will show the slightest changes, the presence of hernias.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

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

Conservative treatment is to take non-steroidal 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 medicamental methods will not be 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 constant work at the computer, then it is necessary to include in the working rhythm some physical exercises for warming up the neck.

Magnificent results are achieved by the use of physiotherapy: electrophoresis, water procedures, massage, therapeutic gymnastics. Also significantly relieve the unpleasant sensations of hirudotherapy and manual therapy.

Everyone knows the statement that the disease is easier to prevent 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 we 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 doing sedentary work, it is recommended to periodically do self-massage, disperse stagnant blood and ensure the inflow of nutrients to the brain.

In addition, it is recommended to eat regularly, rest at night, do not gain excess weight. When the disease can not lift the severity, especially if physical training is at zero.