How osteochondosis develops the cervical region - the causes and the first signs

Hello, Dear readers.Osteochondrosis is understood as a degenerative disease of intervertebral cartilaginous layers.This problem has accepted the global proportions today.In Europe alone, around 60% of adults suffer from cervical osteochondosis.Doctors associate this fact with the staticity of people, their low mobility and a type of sedentary work.If it is not so long, this disease has developed somewhere at the age of fifty, it is now impossible not to notice that the disease has rejuvenated considerably - the average age threshold has decreased to 24 years.But more and more often 18 -year -olds approach this problem.Speaking of osteochondrosis in the cervical region, symptoms and treatment cannot be ignored because these questions are very interested.

How osteochondosis develops the cervical region - the causes and the first signs

Everyone knows that the spine is formed by bone vertebrae, between which are the cartilaginous "pillows" - intervertebral discs.

Due to an alteration of blood flow and low quality nutrition, the cartilage fabric here does not receive a nutrient complex.

This leads to a change in the structure of cartilage, their deformation and their narrowing.They gradually lose their old elasticity, become less durable.

Since the intervertebral layers absorbing shocks dry, the vertebrae are eaten on each other.Consequently, nerve endings and blood trunks are transmitted, which causes pain and numbness in muscles, migraines and a number of other symptoms.

Over time, the cartilage is destroyed, turns into fibrous.Little by little, in this pathological process, adjacent vessels, nerve fibers, bone structures are involved.

The main factors for the development of cervical osteochondosis

The fundamental cause of the development of osteochondrotic pathologies is considered to be dystrophic degenerative changes.There are a number of factors that contribute to it.

Consider the main causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical column.

1. Congenital predisposition.
2. The aging of the body.
3. Criminations in metabolic processes.
4. Excess weight, obesity.
5. Errors in food are a lack of mineral compounds and a systematic lack of liquid.
6. Traumatic damage.
7. The weakening of skeletal muscles, an incorrect posture, flat feet.
8. Hypodynamia, sedentary work.
9. Physical overloads, the specifics of the profession, when you have to work in an uncomfortable position, make muscle efforts of the jerk type, etc.
10. The end of the sports career and the termination / reduction of electricity charges associated with this.
11. On -Psycho -emotional.
12. Dependence on nicotine.
13. The appearance of tumor structures.

It should be noted that the causes of pathological chondrotic changes in the cervical column today are not sufficiently studied.

But it is reliably known that a long stay in a standing or seated position without a special movement is an excessively soft bed, from the not trained muscles on the back and the belt of the upper limbs, the lower nutrition create an ideal combination for the development of cervical osteochondosis.

Development of the disease

Osteochondrosis does not suddenly appear.It is gradually developing for quite a long time - from several years to decades.

The initial dystrophic changes in vertebrates do not in any way give themselves.They can only be found by accident on an image of X -rays or during CT.

At the following stage of the development of the disease, a decrease in the thickness of the cartilage layer is observed.Microscopic cracks appear on intervertebral cartilage.The nun of individual muscles may appear.Over time, the protrusion develops, the hernias are possible.The patient is tormented by the head and muscle pain.

At the last stage of the progression of the disease, bone tissue develops pathologically, nerve endings are damaged and chronic pain develops.Due to cervical osteochondosis, a curvature of the upper part of the spine, a radiculitis, a stenosis (narrowing of the light of the vertebral canal) can be observed.

Osteochondrosis in the cervical region - symptoms and treatment

We have examined the first signs of osteochondrosis, now we will talk directly about the symptoms of cervical osteochondosis.

Symptoms

For cervical osteochondosis, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• Numbness and spasm of the neck, shoulders and upper back muscles.
• Shooting sensations, pain in the back and cervical.
• The pain can be given to their hands.
• Headaches, especially in the occipital region, migraines.
• Stunning, ears in the ears, visual anomalies (defecting, appearance of "flies" and colored spots).
• Regular numbness of the fingers of the upper limbs.
• Stiffness of the movements of the head, restriction of rotation and inclination, everything is accompanied by pain and sensations of traction.
• Pain on the palpation of the reciprocal area.
• A tendency to increase the pressure.

Due to muscle weakness, violations of the coordination of movements can be observed.In the presence of cardiological problems, their worsening is possible due to spasms of the vertebral artery.Pain can spread to the sternum and rally area.

As you can see, the symptoms are diverse.This leads to the fact that people, revealing certain differences in themselves, turn to the help of this specialist (cardiologist, orthopedic, traumatologist).This complicates the diagnosis and rapid detection of cervical osteochondosis.

Which doctor should you contact osteochondrosis

When a complex of symptoms described in osteochondrosis appears, you should request medical aid without delay.

You must get an appointment with a therapist or a neurologist.After the initial clarification of the clinical picture following an investigation, an examination of the patient and a palpation of the affected area, the doctor will grant a reference for the tests and will prescribe an additional examination.

You may have to go through:

• X -Ray.
• Computer tomography.
• MRI.
• Electromyography.

The X -ray will determine the location of the lesions and the degree of neglect of the disease.A tomographic study will help to assess the state of adjacent tissues, and myographie is the conductivity of muscle fibers and their innervation.

All of this will make a diagnosis correctly and describe an effective treatment regime.The process will be long, requiring patience and will work on oneself.

It will not be possible to completely restore the structures of cartilage, but considerably improve the quality of life and get rid of chronic pain is a fulfilling task.

The exams will have to come back more than once.After all, it will be necessary to follow the evolution of the disease, to adjust the treatment program, to predict possible complications or improvements.

Therefore, even if the pain has fallen, it is not a reason to refuse to carry out repeated diagnostic measures.

How to manage the neck osteochondrosis

In order for the disease to release the disease, an entire set of various methods should be used.Active treatment in most cases takes several months.But here it depends a lot on the enthusiasm, good faith of the patient and his will.In some cases, surgery is necessary.

At the start of treatment, it is necessary to adhere to the following principles.

1. Medical recommendations should be followed regularly.About all changes in the state and adverse reactions should be informed of the attending physician.
2. It is necessary to learn to dose the load, to avoid excessive muscle activity and muscle overraising of the cervical region.
3. It is necessary to abandon sports overloads and, if necessary, modify the work.
4. Medical and physical education courses are a prerequisite.They must be carried out systematically and preferably daily.Special gymnastics for the neck must be selected individually, taking into account the possibilities of the patient and the degree of negligence of the disease.All the exercises are carried out under the direction of an instructor.
5. The use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs should be justified and strictly dosed.All drugs, especially hormonals, are prescribed by a doctor.
6. It is important to maintain an anatomically correct body position.Even in a dream.Therefore, the mattress should have sufficient rigidity.With an orthopedic pillow is determined by direct selection.
7. If necessary, you should sit for a long time regularly, with an interval of a few hours, perform a hot court-up for the neck.It is advisable to get up, although a sitting position is also authorized.

Why warm up?

This simple way will allow:

• Restore normal blood flow;
• knead the steep muscles;
• Get rid of numbness, tingling, drawing sensations;
• relieve muscle tension;
• prevent from launching the muscles and their groups;
• Avoid overloading the cervical region.

All exercises are as simple as possible.They have been familiar to everyone since childhood and do not take much time.A few minutes are enough.They can be done at home and at work.

Get out of the opinions of employees without tact?Resolve on the stairs or in the toilet cabin.Perhaps you can even do exercises discreetly transporting, avoiding unnecessary attention.

All exercises must be performed with a straightened back.It is recommended to extend your shoulders and sprinkle the chest somewhat.Make maximum turns allowed with the head towards the sides.

Act carefully and without fanaticism so as not to harm a weakened spine.After that, several times, lower your head to one or the other shoulder.You can now make several rotation movements-10-15 on each side.

Another good exercise.Develop the spine as much as possible, as if you were suspended by the crown.Now tilt your head slowly, trying to press the edge of the chin towards the chest.Then you must slowly and very carefully perform the opposite action.

Attention!In the presence of certain damage, you cannot reject your head back!Consult your doctor.

The exercise execution procedure does not matter.A set of actions and the number of rehearsals are individually selected.Small your neck, don't forget the chest region.They are closely connected.

It is recommended to try to collect the shoulder blades from time to time.Maybe you will hear a crunch.Do not be afraid - these are the vertebrae in place.After that, as a rule, relief is felt.

To relieve tension in the trapezoidal muscle, increase the shoulders as much as possible.The actions are carried out several times.After that, close your shoulders and shake hands.

Drugs

For cervical osteochondosis, several types of drugs are used.These drugs are used during periods of exacerbation of the disease.

They are designed to solve a number of problems:

• elimination of pain;
• the fight against inflammation;
• Strengthening metabolic processes in affected tissues.

Preparations, including hormonal and vitamin, are also used, which stimulates the restoration of cartilage.

Other methods of fighting pain

In addition to exercise therapy and drugs, all measures to get rid of the manifestations of osteochondrosis in the cervical zone includes the following exposure methods.

1. An increase in intervertebral spaces due to the elimination of the spine.To do this, the load dosed is applicable.The impact is carried out in different ways, in particular by using special tables.This measure allows the spine to turn the previous length, give it the correct shape and release the agitated nerves.Some patients, desperate to find an effective way to get rid of chronic pain, turn to bone rights.Here, the spine is subject to aggressive effects.This method can help provided that there is a professional who has medical training.
2. Massage also gives good results.This procedure helps disperse blood, improving nutrition and exchange of cartilage gas, relieving tensions and muscle clamps and getting rid of pain.If possible, you should use self-massage.But you must act properly, after adopting the appropriate briefing.You can massage the neck, shoulders, scalp, arms, collar area alone.Rub, knead, a small pressure is used.Supreme massage is effective when exposure is made on active body points.But here we need special knowledge and considerable experience.Therefore, only a professional manual therapist must be addressed.
3. The physiotherapeutic effect implies the use of various means: magnetic field, laser, ultrasound, low frequency, etc.Medicines are often used here.This method to introduce them has a local effect, improves their effectiveness and avoids a number of side effects.Physical procedure helps fight pain, inflammation, accelerate post-traumatic and postoperative rehabilitation.
4. Acupuncture, such as manual therapy, improves or inhibits various processes in the body due to the effects on the biologically active points of SO on the body.Reflex therapy allows you to adjust metabolism, improve blood circulation and relieve pain.But despite its effectiveness, this method is not suitable for everyone, because it implies the use of needles, which some patients do not categorically accept.

The greatest efficiency of these measures is obtained when using it in a single complex under medical supervision.To a large extent, the success of therapy depends on the determination of the patient and his desire to cope with osteochondrosis.