In the modern world, the resonance of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis can hardly be overestimated. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is much more common than in other vertebral regions. Almost everyone over the age of twenty-five has this condition to one degree or another.
Cervical osteochondrosis develops mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle, which is especially facilitated by the historical transition of a person from physical to mental work, which, albeit to a moderate extent, is accompanied by awork in a seated position.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the cervical spine, resulting in damage to the intervertebral discs, which is common in general for the disease of osteochondrosis. Since this section of the spine is, by nature, quite mobile, but at the same time vulnerable due to poorly developed muscle corset, therefore, any negative impact on the neck or back first affects the regioncervical. Due to the fact that degenerative changes most often develop in the most mobile vertebral sections, it is precisely the nerve endings at the level of C5 . . . C7 who suffer most often in the cervical region.
Since the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are very controversial, they are not always considered only symptoms of this disease, which quite often leads to seeking help from specialists from other areas of medicine. Let's consider them in a little more detail.
Symptoms
Due to the fact that the cervical spine is quite compact, compared to its other departments, even a slight tension in the muscles of the neck or displacement of the vertebrae of the cervical spine can cause compression or pinching of the nerve roots, whichcan also affect ships located in this department. Well, osteophytes - bone growths, in popular treatment called "salt deposition" and formed in the conditions of the development of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis, lead, accordingly, only to a significant deterioration in the course ofdisease.
The clinical manifestations of the disease of cervical osteochondrosis, that is, its symptoms, can be divided into reflex symptoms and radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
Reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the so-called "lumbago", which is manifested by the appearance of sharp, sharp pains in the neck and noticeably intensifies with each movement. Given this, patients often adopt a kind of forced head position, which is the most comfortable. In addition, it is quite possible that a typical "crunch" occurs during rotation or other head movements.
With cervical osteochondrosis, patients often experience headaches of a compressive nature and radiating to the eyeballs or the temporal part of the head. Also, sometimes at the same time, the sharpness of visual perception may decrease, as if "everything is floating in front of the eyes. "
Vertebral artery syndrome can also develop, when his nerve plexus is irritated, which is very often, due to dizziness in the patient, misdiagnosed as a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. Such a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can be manifested by sudden movements of the head and be complicated by nausea and possibly vomiting.
In addition to the above, the reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis also include a cardiological syndrome, in which there are sensations similar to an attack of angina pectoris. But such a manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis is usually combined with a complex of other signs of this disease, so it usually does not cause difficulties in making a correct diagnosis.
Root symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
As a rule, root symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear due to compression of the spinal nerve ending - the root. In this case, the sensory disturbances that affect motor functions are entirely dependent on the particular nerve root that is injured, namely:
- C1 - decreased sensitivity in the back of the head;
- C2 - the appearance of pain in the parietal or occipital region of the head;
- C3 - violation of sensitivity and the appearance of pain in the neck, where the vertebral root was injured, with a very possible violation of the function of speech, due to the loss of sensitivity of the tongue and its control;
- C4 - the appearance of pain and a decrease in sensitivity in the dorsal humeroscapular region, as well as pain in the region of the heart and liver, with a simultaneous decrease in muscle tone of the neck and possible disorders of the respiratory functionrespiratory;
- C5 - decreased tenderness and pain on the outer surface of the shoulder;
- C6 - pain radiating from the cervical region to the scapula, to the outer surface of the shoulder, to the forearm and further from the wrist to the thumb;
- C7 - the same pain as in C6, but radiating from the scapula to the posterior surface of the shoulder, and further up the forearm to the 2nd-4th fingers, with decreased tenderness in the painful area;
- C8 - decreased sensitivity and pain from the neck to the shoulder, then from the forearm to the little finger of the hand.
Treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis is a rather complex and extremely unpleasant disease, the treatment of which requires consistency, duration and stages. Therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is aimed, first of all, at the complete cessation of the painful symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and the elimination of inflammation in the region of the neck affected by the disease.
Patients in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are treated with standard painkillers, such as analgin, ketorol or baralgin. Although recently, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have also been very popular in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, effectively relieving pain and reducing inflammatory activity.
Among other things, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors are also used, which slow down the process of destruction of cartilage tissues and, according to many experts, also contribute to the process of their regeneration. Also, patients are prescribed the use of B vitamins, which improve metabolic processes in the patient's body.
But the use of external gels or ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is not effective, but it makes sense, because by rubbing them into the skin, an additional massage of the cervical region of the spine iscarried out.
Physiotherapy procedures are additionally associated with traditional drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, and in particular, the use of magnetic therapy through special medical devices that have gained well-deserved fame among specialists and patients is especiallyefficient. In addition to the above, therapeutic massage, physiotherapy exercises and manual therapy are also used. But, in particularly severe cases of the disease, surgery may also be required.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis disease
In itself, the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is not difficult. Recommended:
- maintain an active and healthy lifestyle,
- sports, or at least morning exercises,
- competent organization of the workplace,
- compliance with the work and rest regime,
- during prolonged work in a sitting position - during working hours, warm up several times and ensure the correct position of the head and posture during work.
It is also important to choose a comfortable pillow and mattress for sleeping. But for those who already suffer from this disease, the daily use of specialized orthopedic products for comfortable sleep is highly recommended.