Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are one of the most common diseases of the Earth.Few people manage to avoid them completely, especially after 40 years, although experts admit that problems with the spine, muscles and joints become "younger" and many young people are increasingly complaining about pain.
This is due to a lifestyle that has already met many: inaction, prolonged stay in one position (most often behind gadgets and monitors), lack of physical activity.As a result, the stand is impaired, salts and other harmful substances accumulate in the body, the functions of the musculoskeletal system are impaired and as a result the internal organs can be deformed.
The most common of these diseases is osteochondrosis, which affects both adults and relatively young people, and among osteochondrosis -problems with the lumbosacral and cervical spine.The second most common type of osteochondrosis, cervical, is an unpleasant disease and in addition, it is progressive, without treatment significantly impairs lifestyle, even to a degree of damage.This means that you should immediately recognize the symptoms of this disease and contact an orthopedist or vertebologist immediately for treatment.
How does cervical osteochondrosis develop?
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle or because of his or her profession is at the same time for a long time, then their risk of meeting osteochondrosis is very high.With the development of the disease, changes occur in the intervertebral discs, they deform and change their structure.
The intervertebral discs are located between the vertebrae, their job is to keep the spine, to make it flexible and strong.There are seven vertebrae in the neck, with the help of which the head is maintained and rotated, the neck bends, etc.The cervical vertebrae are located very close to each other, so they are injured and displaced even by minor exercise.The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it affects the nerve endings of the spinal nerves, which damages the vessels that supply blood to the brain.The brain, in turn, does not receive enough vital substances and this can lead to the development of a number of other, more serious diseases that can cause damage and even death of the patient.
There are many reasons for the onset and development of cervical osteochondrosis.Among the most common and common reasons are the following:
- Impaired metabolism in the body, more special in the cervical region, hormonal imbalance;
- salt deposition;
- low physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
- Staying one position for a long time (computer, driving a car, etc.);
- poor nutrition;
- excess weight;
- neck injuries and bruises;
- Body hypothermia.
Osteochondrosis is also found against the background of chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as scoliosis or rheumatism.
In addition, the genetic predisposition of the body often leads to osteochondrosis.
But whatever causes, osteochondrosis should be treated as soon as its first symptoms occur.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis in this part of the spine does not always occur suddenly and unexpectedly.Most often it develops slowly and the symptoms increase over time and their number increases.The increasingly damaged the vertebrae and the roots of the nerves are pressed, the more noticeable the symptoms are.
The first symptom you should pay attention to is the pain of different force in the cervical spine that is radiating to other parts of the body - the back of the head, forehead, ears, forearm, shoulder, chest, etc.If you are experiencing pain, you should consult a doctor to determine if it is indeed osteochondrosis, which is often similar to the symptoms of other diseases.
Other signs of osteochondrosis
- Neck pain increases with load or rotation of the head;
- The patient experiences numbness, burning or numbness in the limbs;
- Headache and dizziness, loss of strength are common, the patient may complain of darkening and spots in the eyes, tinnitus;
- The seizure is probably if you turn your head suddenly.
Cervical osteochondrosis is also characterized by:
- lack of coordination;
- pain in the heart;
- Vision and hearing deterioration.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the type of pinch nerve and the nature of the disease, doctors distinguish several syndromes:
- radicular syndrome;
- Spinal artery syndrome;
- Cardiac syndrome.
Radicular syndrome is the pinching of the first pairs of endings of the cervical nerve.The pain is felt in the neck radiating to the shoulder blade, lower back, shoulder and forearm.
With spinal artery syndrome, the patient experiences throbbing pain in the back of the head or temples or burning pain in the neck, the back of the head, which increases when the head is rotated, during sleep, with cough and radiates to the chest and shoulder.
In cardiac syndrome, symptoms initially resemble angina, but the pain does not disappear after taking nitroglycerin, lasts several hours and can be increased with movement and deep breathing.
Symptoms of damage to specific vertebrae
The treatment of osteochondrosis is prescribed based on what the end end is damaged.There are a total of eight of them, each of them is located above the cervical vertebra.You can determine which vertebrae are affected by the symptoms corresponding to a specific nerve root.
Damage to the end of the nerve and its characteristic pain
- First and second section: impaired sensitivity of the back of the head, pain in the parietal and occipital regions;
- Third section: numbness of the neck in the pinched area, disturbed speech, sensitivity of the tongue;is very rare;
- Fourth section: pain and tingling in the clavicle and/or shoulder, respiratory disorders, heart pain;
- Fifth section: shoulder pain, pain in the outer surface of the shoulder, impaired sensitivity of the limbs;
- Sixth and seventh section: neck pain, shoulder blade, forearm, back, lower back, impaired sensitivity of the arms and fingers;The most common lesion;
- Eighth section: neck pain, back, elbow, tingling of the small toes of all limbs, cyanosis of the legs and hands due to poor circulation, lack of sensitivity to the skin, radiation of the legs.
Diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To reliably diagnose cervical osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor.Many symptoms of osteochondrosis are similar to signs of other diseases, so it is important not only to start the treatment of osteochondrosis on time, but also not to miss other pathologies.
If osteochondrosis is suspected and there are signs of pressed nerve endings, the doctor prescribes radiography;If there is insufficient data, calculated or magnetic resonance images, Doppler ultrasound and duplex scan.
Based on the data from the study, the nature of the pain syndrome and the combination of other symptoms, it is possible to determine which discs are damaged and to start the necessary treatment, which will restore the affected vertebrae and nerve roots and prevent the development of complications of osteochondrosis.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, usually complicated.First, it should relieve the symptoms of pain, which in the case of cervical osteochondrosis are sometimes almost unbearable and spread not only to the neck but also to other parts of the body.
For this purpose, painkillers in tablets are used, but in the case of too severe pain, non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are indicated, as well as warming and analgesic ointments.
Because medicines and ointments only relieve pain and other symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck, but do not get rid of its cause.After the pain decreases, the patient is prescribed massages, physical therapy and physical therapy.The patient is prescribed a diet, medicines that improve blood circulation and maintain body function, in tablets and injections, as well as chondroprotectors that help protect and restore intervertebral disc tissue.
In some cases, the patient is prescribed baths, paraffin baths, reflexology and hirudotherapy.Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis often also quickly help to return the patient to a normal lifestyle, but they should only be used in combination with traditional methods and after consulting a doctor, as traditional medicine may have contraindications, and the use of its recipes can harm the body that is already weakened by the disease.
Complications and prevention of illness
Remember: the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should start as soon as possible.The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more difficult it will be to cure the disease, and in the meantime it can cause various complications.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very dangerous as this section contains many blood vessels and nerve plexuses that supply the brain.
Any disorder can cause problems with cerebral circulation, neurological disorders, including migraines and hypertension, and affect the heart, respiratory system, hearing and vision.
If you start osteochondrosis, more serious effects in the form of brain ischemia, spinal stroke or radiculopathy are possible - a disease in which the processes are formed on the affected vertebrae, partially or completely deprived the body of sensitivity and mobility.But this is not the worst, because in severe cases of osteochondrosis, the spinal cord is compressed, which can cause the patient's death.
Therefore, it is very important to listen to the symptoms as early as possible and to contact a specialist who will help you return to full life.And in order to avoid disease such as cervical osteochondrosis, you need to move more, not avoid physical activity, monitor your weight, eat a healthy and balanced diet and regularly visit an orthopedist or vertebologist.