Osteochondrosis in the cervical area is a serious pathology characterized by degenerative disease changes in the structure of the intervertebral disc. This violation can often lead to dangerous complications. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ignore it. To deal with this disease, you should consult an expert in a timely manner.
The nature of pathology
Osteocartilage degeneration in the cervical vertebra is a pathology in which soft vertebrae plasma is converted into bone tissue. This can lead to pinching of blood vessels and nerve fibers.
Characteristics of the disease include pain syndrome. It is located on the neck, shoulders, upper back, and head. Many patients face dizziness, stress fluctuations, nausea, and insufficient air.
The incidence of cervical areas is usually in middle age and older. This is due to the vertical position of the bone and the characteristics of the load distribution.
Doctors noted that the disease occurred earlier in men. This happened in 45-50 years. Women face cervical osteochondrosis, later than 50-55 years old.
reason
A variety of factors lead to the development of this disease form. The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Inadequate physical exercise. People who live an inactive lifestyle can exhaust the back muscles that support the spine. This state is exacerbated by the deposition of salts caused by lactic acid. The weakened spine is prone to deformity and has less mobility.
- obesity. Excessive weight appearance poses great danger to the musculoskeletal system. In addition to increasing the load on the spine, the adipose tissue also uses the beneficial substances needed to maintain muscle tone and cartilage.
- Stay in a motionless position for a long time. This disease is often found in drivers and people who work in intellectual labor. After staying in a strangulation state for a long time, the cartilage fabric gradually loses its elasticity. Over time, the disc will gain an unnatural configuration.
- Nutritional diseases. In order for the body to work correctly, the diet should be in sufficient quantities of protein, fat, minerals and vitamins in the diet. Irrational nutrition promotes violations of tissue structures and leads to their rapid destruction.
- Back injury. This may cause the pressure to be redistributed to the cartilage, which causes changes in its structure and shape.
- Pathology of the musculoskeletal system. This category includes scoliosis, rheumatism, bone tuberculosis.
Usually, cervical osteochondrosis is the result of a genetic trend. In this case, pathological development is not affected by important factors.
To prevent the disease from appearing, you need to start treatment in time.
Disease stage
Several stages of pathology, each with certain characteristics:
- The first - The key characteristic of the state is the instability of the spine. It manifests in the initial lesions of the intervertebral disc.
- The second - the main performance is outstanding. This condition is characterized by a decrease in fractures between the vertebrae, which gradually invades the integrity of the annulus. Often, nerve compression can cause pain.
- Third - At this stage, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. This requires the occurrence of disc hernia. This condition is characterized by severe damage to the spine.
- The fourth is the most difficult. At this stage, with any exercise, acute pain occurs. Sometimes this condition improves, but this indicates the emergence of the bone structure connecting the vertebrae. This requires reducing sports activities and provoking disability.
symptom
This form of osteochondrosis is characterized by a special manifestation. This is due to the close position of the cervical spine and the low height of the disc. Therefore, even small changes can cause serious manifestations. Additionally, this form of osteochondrosis is usually accompanied by compression of the cerebrospinal root.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:
- pain. They are located in various areas - the head, neck, shoulder straps, the back of the hands. Discomfort in the hands or shoulder straps is due to pinching the nerves. Pain syndrome in the occipital area is associated with spasm and circulatory diseases of the neck muscle tissue.
- Weakness in hand. This sign is caused by damage to the electric nerve, leading to hand innervation.
- Weak sensitivity. This function is due to damage to the roots, which include sensitive fibers responsible for manual innervation.
- Reduce movement of the neck, i. e. a tight appearance. This symptom of cervical osteocartilage degeneration is the result of reduced disc height. They are also defeated by the formation of bones on the vertebrae joints and vertebrae.
- Weakness, loss of coordination between exercise and dizziness. These manifestations are due to damage to the vertebral artery. The formation of fibrous tissue and vertebrae displacement can cause problems with blood flow in the arteries. As a result, blood flow in the occipital area of the brain and cerebellum worsens.
- Hearing worsens, numbness in language, and reduced vision. These symptoms of cervical osteocartilage degeneration are due to this aggravation of this condition and the progression of cerebral circulation diseases.
Diagnostic method
To identify neck osteochondrosis, you need to perform many diagnostic procedures.The most useful research includes the following:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most useful study, which allows you to evaluate the condition of the vertebrae and disc between them. Likewise, with the help of this process, hernia can be detected, their size and positioning can be evaluated.
- X -Ray - This process is one of the most affordable research methods. However, it often becomes ignorant, especially in the final stages of the disease.
- Computed tomography - allows you to identify changes in the vertebrae structure. However, it is very difficult to diagnose hernia or compression of the spinal cord in this way.
- Double-stranded ultrasound scan - helps detect blood flow disorders in vertebral arteries. This process allows you to detect obstacles and slower blood flow.
Treatment method
Taking into account various factors, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis was chosen. This is done according to the stage of the disease, the form of the disease, and the severity of the symptoms.
Key treatment methods include the following:
- Conservative therapy - can be both drug and non-pharmaceutical;
- surgical intervention;
- A combination of conservative approaches and surgical treatment.
Physical therapy
The treatment of osteocartilage degeneration in the cervical spine must require the use of major physical therapy methods.
The most effective programs include the following:
- Electrophoresis of drugs is used. Under the influence of current, the particles of the drug penetrate the required area. Eufillin and Novocaine are used in this process. Therefore, it is possible to stimulate blood circulation and obtain analgesic effects.
- Ultrasound exposure. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to cope with pain and stop inflammation. The technology also activates metabolic processes in the body.
- Magnetic therapy. With its help, edema can be dealt with and achieved analgesic effects.
- Laser exposure. This approach helps normalize blood circulation and helps cope with inflammation.
The most effective exercises should include the following:
- Lie on your belly, place your hands on the floor, and raise your head and torso. It's worth making sure your back stays straight. In this position, it is necessary to hold for 1-2 minutes. Then carefully sink into the floor. Perform 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on your belly, stretch your hand, turn your head to the left, and touch your ears to the floor. Similar actions are performed to the right. Do it 6-7 times in each direction.
- Sit down, hold your breath, and bend down. Touch your chest with your chin. After that, exhale, deflect, lean backward. Perform 10-15 repetitions.
- Sit down and place your palm on your forehead. Press your head on your arm for 30 seconds. A total of 2-3 repetitions are required.
- Slowly rotate the head in different directions. In each direction, you need to do 10 rotations. When dizziness occurs, the exercise must be stopped.
massage
To eliminate the signs of cervical osteochondrosis, you should definitely massage. The program must be executed as carefully as possible without effort. The movement should extend to the neck, collar area and back area.
It is best to massage the stomach while lying down.In extreme cases, the use of the program is allowed.
This technology is based on the use of such technologies:
- Touch - Impressing the effect on the skin surface area. To do this, the palm or fingertip of the hand needs to stroke the back, moving from the head to the back one-third. You can also perform twisty movements.
- Squeeze - The effect on the deep areas of the skin in the upper third of the back. To do this, the skin was captured with the thumb and index finger. This should be very cautious without affecting the fabric in the vertebral area.
- Friction - This surgery is performed to warm the skin and increase blood circulation in the collar area. It should be done very carefully without affecting the spinous process of the vertebrae.
- Kneading - Very rare because it means the effect on the fabric of geographical location. This will only exacerbate the abnormality.
There is osteocartilage degeneration and can be self-massed.For this, it is convenient to sit down and use the method of stroking and rubbing your neck and shoulders. It is recommended to supplement the procedure by rubbing the ointment, which will help increase blood flow and relieve pain in the affected area.
Surgical treatment
Surgical intervention is shown in the following cases:
- The existence of neurological bias is a violation of motor activity, weakness or loss of hand sensitivity, loss of control of defecation. When this symptom occurs, you may suspect persistent nerve damage. Therefore, it is important to perform operations to eliminate compression.
- The existence of persistent pain violates a person's quality of life and cannot be eliminated through conservative methods.
With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following operations can be performed:
- Anterior cervical discectomy and spinal spine. The operation is performed through the front surface of the neck. The process is designed to remove the affected intervertebral disc, decompression of nerve fibers, and implant special devices to maintain the required distance between the vertebrae.
- Replace the intervertebral disc. In this case, the affected intervertebral disc will be removed and instead inserted into artificial. Thanks to this process, sports activities can be maintained.
It is very efficient to perform surgical interventions to eliminate neurological symptoms. According to separate estimates, it is 80-90%. However, this method is not effective enough when eliminating pain associated with osteochondrosis.
Possible dangers
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious pathological type. In this area of the spine, there are many nerves and blood vessels responsible for the nutrition of the brain. In addition, the cervical spine is suitable for tightness. Therefore, even a slight change in this area can cause squeeze or displacement of blood vessels and nerves.
Cracial blood flow diseases cause migraines, plant dystonia, and the emergence of hypertension. There are also problems with the function of the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels. Many people are disturbed by hearing, reduced vision, and impaired coordination of movement.
In difficult situations, cervical osteochondrosis can promote syndromes of vertebral arteries. This blood vessel is responsible for the blood supply to the cerebellum and rectangular brain. As arteries compress, the risk of cerebral ischemia and the development of spinal stroke.
Furthermore, pathology may promote damage to the nerve roots. This is reflected in the form of growth and formation, the emergence of radiation diseases, and the loss of motor activities. The most difficult consequence of the disease is compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to fatal consequences.
prevention
To avoid pathological development, simple rules are worth observing:
- Move systematically;
- Eat the right diet;
- Take vitamin preparations and cartilage protective agents prescribed by your doctor;
- Avoid long stays;
- Use orthopedic furniture;
- Choose seasonal clothes and shoes, especially in winter.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous disease that can cause negative effects.
To avoid serious complications, you should consult your doctor in time and follow his advice clearly.