Cervical osteochondrosis refers to the "disease of the century". Its manifestation affects more frequently people aged 25-40 years, which brings them many disorders in their daily lives.
The cervical spine is constantly in motion, so it is subject to great stress during the day.
Furthermore, this is where a large number of nerve endings and vascular formations are concentrated, which are responsible for the correct functioning of the brain and its timely saturation with blood.
The problem is in the dysfunction of the articular cartilage located in the bone tissue.
Acute osteochondrosis with changes in the intervertebral discs and their displacement leads to a decrease in blood flow, developing oxygen deprivation in the human brain.
The development of a dystrophic process in the intervertebral discs can lead to serious consequences, so the disease requires mandatory treatment.
Signs of disease
It is possible to determine the development of cervical osteochondrosis at an early stage by the compression in the neck that occurs during head rotation.
People with the disease also report tinnitus and general discomfort in the neck, which manifests itself as painful sensations (may even appear on the fingers).
Often, pain cannot be located. It all depends only on which parts of the cervical spine have been damaged. The defeat of the intervertebral disc with displacement is described by patients in different ways, but they notice stitch pains.
A compressed joint or friction damage with the spinal discs is described differently: an uncomfortable pain in the collar region is present almost constantly and does not stop even in the absence of sudden movements.
How osteochondrosis of the neck manifests itself
If you start experiencing strange back and neck pain, see a doctor immediately for treatment. It is possible that all of this is psychosomatic, however, the disease is usually confirmed by a doctor.
That's why we formed a stretch and highlighted the main signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Headache accompanied by dizziness. This is the first and most common symptom among all patients. In the spine, additional pressure is created in the sensitive vessels of the head and neck, which slows their filling with the necessary amount of blood. In the general context, the efficiency and the decrease of mental activity, a person quickly gets tired, even of simple tasks.
- Dizziness when turning your head sideways. For a short period of time, blood access through the vessels and capillaries is blocked, which causes "turbidity" in the activity of the human brain system.
- Pain in the chest and arms. Often, this manifestation of a serious illness is mistaken for growing angina pectoris or pain in the heart muscle, so you should not endeavor to establish the correct diagnosis and subsequently self-medicate.
- Lumbago in the cervical region. Back pain is also a common symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It resembles a punctual electric shock and can later spread to the joints of the elbow and fingers.
- Numbness of the tongue. The lack of blood in the vessels causes a restriction in the movement of the tongue. If you have a change in your tone of voice or if it becomes much more difficult to speak, see a doctor immediately so as not to trigger the development of the disease.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
In some patients, the disease can manifest itself with other signs, so if you are not sure what may have caused your back or neck pain, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
Ringing in the ears, deterioration of the conditions of the teeth and vision - all of these can cause the development of osteochondrosis. Numbness of the fingers can occur at any time of the day, which is associated with strong compression of the nerve endings of the vertebrae.
Unfortunately, the disease is increasingly beginning to manifest itself in young people who do not pay enough attention to it. Over time, the disease can take a chronic course with the change in posture, the appearance of excess weight and the development of infectious diseases for no apparent reason.
Even experienced doctors, in this case, find it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the context of indicators that differ in symptoms.
Types of exacerbations
Often, people's inattention to their own health leads to an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis. So, what are exacerbations and why are they caused?
On the nerves
Unfortunately, stressful situations that occur in each person's life lead to deterioration of intervertebral disc nutrition.
We don't even realize that during a strong excitation or overexcitation we start to move chaotically, which leads to an exacerbation of osteochondrosis with all the consequences (dizziness, tinnitus, headache).
If you suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to take the sedative pills "Glycesid" and "Novo-Passit" with a mandatory visit to a neurologist or psychotherapist.
After the massage
Slimming massage in most cases leads to an exacerbation of the disease.
Before starting the session, the massage therapist should be notified that you have a confirmed diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Neurologists usually advise professional massage therapists who perform massages taking into account doctors' recommendations.
Seasonal
Changes in meteorological and climatic conditions cause the seasonal exacerbation of the disease, a scientifically proven fact. Intervertebral discs are sensitive to temperature and atmospheric changes, so pain and other symptoms can appear.
After drinking
Another typical example of an exacerbation of osteochondrosis is alcohol consumption. The body is affected not only by the alcohol contained in the drinks, but also by the prolonged stay of a person in an uncomfortable position.
Do not exclude situations in which people with heat, because of the "heat" that hits them, simply forget to wrap themselves up, exposing nerve endings to hypothermia.
During your period
In women, menstruation is accompanied by a marked decrease in the level of estrogen, which is responsible for the integrity of the body's bone tissue.
If the pain in the lower back, chest and neck does not go on for a long time, then this is a reason for a medical consultation, as they may be caused not by the menstrual cycle and its symptoms, but by the manifestation of osteochondrosis of the spinecervical.
During a cold
Changes in body temperature during the disease cause inflammation in the nerve endings located in the intervertebral discs. Which, in turn, can cause an exacerbation.
What is the danger of cervical osteochondrosis?
Cervical osteochondrosis in advanced stages can lead to the development of vascular dystonia, hypertension, loss of memory and hearing. In extreme cases, patients have impaired hand function, as well as persistent pain in the forearms.
Hypertension is a scourge of society, it is not without reason that it is called "silent death". Almost no patient can imagine that early treatment of osteochondrosis can lead to the onset of hypertension, which continues without visible manifestations and symptoms.
Concerns must also be the possible changes in a person's vascular system, as after that he can develop a lot of diseases and complications.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
A tactile method is used to diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It allows assessing painful sensations in the spine, the sensitivity of nerve endings, in addition to other characteristics that are important for the correct and accurate diagnosis.
After being examined by a neurologist, the patient is referred for a cervical radiography, which is performed in multiple projections to obtain a clearer image.
If, even after that, the doctor is unable to accurately diagnose the disease or there are other suspicions, a CT scan or MRI is performed. Unlike radiography, it shows the condition of soft tissues very well.
Treatment
The traditional and non-traditional methods of treating cervical spine osteochondrosis are good in their own way, but don't forget the need to consult the doctor, as he is the one who can prescribe the correct treatment.
Conservative treatments include:
- Analgesic therapy
- Taking non-steroidal medications
- Using antispasmodics
A prerequisite in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is the use of chondroprotectors, which allow to restore the damaged structure and the integrity of the intervertebral discs.
The doctor prescribes general and acupressure massages and also prescribes vitamins B. In advanced cases, it may be necessary to use a Shants collar and exercise therapy.
Thus, treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible, but it must be done at an early stage of the disease's manifestation to exclude its occurrence in the future.