Cervical osteochondrosis refers to the "disease of the century". Its manifestation most often affects people aged 25 to 40, which gives them a lot of inconvenience in everyday life.
The cervical spine is constantly in motion, so it is subject to severe stress during the day.
In addition, it is here that a large number of nerve endings and vascular formations are concentrated, responsible for the proper functioning of the brain and its timely saturation with blood.
The problem lies 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 lack of oxygen in the human brain.
The development of a dystrophic process in the intervertebral discs can lead to serious consequences, therefore, the disease requires mandatory treatment.
Signs of disease
It is possible to determine the development of cervical osteochondrosis at an early stage by the crunch of the neck that occurs during rotation of the head.
Affected people also report tinnitus and general discomfort in the neck area, which manifests itself as painful sensations (they can also appear in the fingers of the hand).
It is often not possible to localize the pain. It all just depends on which parts of the cervical spine were damaged. Defeat of the intervertebral disc with displacement is described by patients in different ways, but they note stitching pains.
A pinched joint or friction injury with the discs of the spine is described differently: a dull pain in the neck region is present almost constantly and does not subside even in the absence of sudden movements.
How osteochondrosis of the neck manifests itself
If you have started to develop incomprehensible back and neck pain, you should immediately consult a doctor for treatment. It is possible that this is all psychosomatic, however, the disease is often confirmed by a doctor.
That is why we have formed some extracts and highlight 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 on the sensitive vessels of the head and neck, which slows down their filling with the required amount of blood. Against the general background, efficiency and mental activity decrease, a person quickly gets tired even from simple tasks.
- Vertigo when turning the head to the side. For a short period of time, the access of blood 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 ailment is confused with increased angina pectoris or pain in the heart muscle, so you should not be busy yourself with establishing the correct diagnosis and subsequent self-medication.
- Low back pain in the cervical region. Back pain is also a common symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It resembles a one-time electric shock and can subsequently spread to the elbow joints 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 tone of voice or it has become much more difficult to speak, consult a doctor immediately so as not to trigger further 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 the back or neck pain, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
Ringing in the ears, deterioration of the condition of the teeth and vision - all this can cause the development of osteochondrosis. Numbness in the fingers can occur at any time of the day, which is associated with severe compression of the nerve endings in the vertebrae.
Unfortunately, the disease increasingly begins to manifest itself in young people who do not pay enough attention to it. Over time, the disease can acquire a chronic course with a 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 against the background of indicators that differ in symptomatology.
Types of Exacerbations
Often, people's carelessness for their own health leads to an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis. So what are exacerbations and what are they caused by?
On the nerves
Unfortunately, stressful situations that occur in the life of every person lead to a deterioration in the nutrition of the intervertebral disc.
We do not even notice that during strong arousal or overexcitation we begin to move in a chaotic way, which leads to an exacerbation of osteochondrosis with all the ensuing consequences (dizziness, tinnitus, headache).
If you suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is recommended to take the sedative tablets "Glycesid" and "Novo-Passit" with a compulsory visit to a neurologist or psychotherapist.
After the massage
Slimming massage in most cases leads to an exacerbation of the disease.
Before the session begins, the massage therapist must be informed that you have a confirmed diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Neurologists often recommend professional massage therapists who perform massages taking into account the recommendations of doctors.
Seasonal
Changes in weather and climatic conditions cause seasonal exacerbation of the disease, and this is a scientifically proven fact. The intervertebral discs are sensitive to temperature and atmospheric changes, so pain and other symptoms may appear.
After drinking
Another typical example of an exacerbation of osteochondrosis is the consumption of alcohol. The body is affected not only by the alcohol contained in drinks, but also by the stay of a person in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
It should not be ruled out that hot people simply forget to dress warmly due to the "heat" that has lapped them, exposing the nerve endings to hypothermia.
During the loop
In women, menstruation is accompanied by a severe decrease in the level of estrogen, which is responsible for the integrity of bone tissue in the body.
If the pain in the lumbar region, chest and neck does not go away for a long time, this is a reason for a visit to the doctor, since they can be caused not by the menstrual cycle and its symptoms, but by the manifestation of osteochondrosisof the cervical spine.
During a cold
Changes in body temperature during the disease cause inflammatory processes 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, memory and hearing impairments. In extreme cases, patients experience impaired hand function and persistent pain in the forearms.
Hypertension is a plague of society, it is not without reason that it is called "silent death". It is unlikely that any of the patients can imagine that premature treatment of osteochondrosis can lead to the manifestation of hypertension, which proceeds without visible manifestations and symptoms.
Concerns should also relate to possible changes in a person's vascular system, as a lot of diseases and complications may develop after this.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
A tactile method is used to diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It allows you to evaluate painful sensations in the spine, the sensitivity of nerve endings and other important characteristics for a correct and accurate diagnosis.
After being examined by a neurologist, the patient is referred to a cervical x-ray, which is performed in several projections to obtain a clearer image.
If even afterwards the doctor cannot accurately diagnose the disease or there are other suspicions, a computed tomography or MRI scan is done. Unlike X-rays, it shows the state of soft tissues very well.
Treatment
Traditional and non-traditional methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are good in their own way, but do not forget about the need to consult a doctor, since it is he who is able to prescribe the correct treatment.
Conservative treatments include:
- Analgesic therapy
- Taking non-steroidal drugs
- Taking antispasmodics
A mandatory requirement in the process of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the use of chondroprotectors, which allow to restore the damaged structure and integrity of the intervertebral discs.
The doctor prescribes general and acupressure massage, and also prescribes B vitamins. In advanced cases, it may be necessary to wear a Shants collar and physical therapy.
Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible, but it should be done at an early stage of the manifestation of the disease to exclude its occurrence in the future.