According to medical statistics, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease in recent years. Every person at least once in his life has experienced its unpleasant symptoms.
The disease itself is a dysfunction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. After all, this part of the human spine shows the maximum constant load.
The cervical region consists of 7 discs. Due to its weak muscles and their constant loads, various injuries and disturbances at work can occur. Due to all these factors, cervical osteochondrosis begins to develop.
Types of diseases
Osteochondrosis is an insidious disease that may not manifest for a long time. There are several stages in the development of this disease:
- 1st degree cervical osteochondrosis (manifested by initial disorders of the spine).
- Grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis (the distance between the discs of the cervical spine begins to decrease).
- Grade 3 cervical osteochondrosis (complete destruction of the intervertebral disc ring occurs and severe deformity of the entire spine begins).
- 4th degree cervical osteochondrosis (the final stage of disease progression, which can lead to disability).
Causes of onset and development of the disease
Like any other disease, cervical osteochondrosis has its own causes and growth factors. Until a few decades ago, only the elderly were prone to this disease. Also, osteochondrosis of the neck hit men after 40 years engaged in heavy physical work.
Today, neck osteochondrosis is becoming more common, affecting young people over the age of 20. There are many reasons for the development of diseases of the cervical and thoracic spine:
- existing overweight;
- incorrect posture and, as a result, curvature of the spine 1 or 2 degrees.
- hard physical work or professional sports, due to which various spinal injuries were received;
- reasons that cause anxiety and intense emotional stress.
- weak muscles of the cervical thoracic region.
- abrupt cessation of sports after prolonged training.
- work related to sitting at a computer or being in one place for a long time.
If you find yourself with the reasons mentioned, then you belong to the so-called risk group. In this case, it is necessary to avoid osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Manifestation of the disease
With grade 1 osteochondrosis, a person feels virtually no symptoms of a developing disease. Only the initial sting of the neck muscles begins.
Grade 2 osteochondrosis of the cervical spine usually manifests as minor pains that may occur in the cervix and thorax. This is due to pinching of the nerve endings due to a reduction in the distance between the discs of the spine.
Grades 3 and 4 of the disease can not go unnoticed. In this case, the deformity of the spine can be felt with the naked eye, not to mention the sensations experienced by a person.
The main and most common symptoms of this disease include:
- severe persistent headaches;
- ringing in the head.
- disturbed movement and coordination;
- deterioration of vision and dental health;
- cerebrovascular accident, insomnia and various neurological problems.
In 1, 2, 3 or 4 degrees of the disease, the pain can spread to the area of the shoulder and arm joint. Characteristic of this symptom, which distinguishes it from other diseases, is that the discomfort changes its strength and concentration depending on the position of the neck and head.
Disease syndromes
All the symptoms that occur in osteochondrosis can be misinterpreted and, therefore, a misdiagnosis is possible. This is why, with the existing symptoms, it is necessary to know all the reasons for their appearance. Thus, medicine knows several syndromes that distinguish between the causes of origin:
Radical syndromes
In this case, the nerves sting and the person feels pain and numbness in one part of the throat. Unpleasant sensations can spread to the back, shoulder area, and arm.
Irritant reflex syndromes
It is manifested by intense, unbearable pain in the back of the head, which spreads throughout the neck. Most often it occurs with a sudden movement or turn of the head.
Spinal artery syndrome
In this case, the name speaks for itself. There is a stinging of the artery and the person feels a severe headache which can cause loss of consciousness or vomiting.
Heart syndrome
Manifested by increased heart rate, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Very often, in this case, a wrong diagnosis is made and the treatment of angina begins.
Treatment
With osteochondrosis, a person is always treated immediately. Its tactics are chosen depending on the degree of the disease. Thus, in 1 or 2 degrees, complete recovery after treatment is possible. In the later stages, medical correction usually aims to prevent complications as well as improve the quality of life.
First aid
What to do when the first symptoms of the disease appear? First you need to relieve the pain from the cervical area. To do this, you need to take a regular painkiller, lie down or just relax.
The next step is to visit a doctor for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Conservative therapy
With confirmed osteochondrosis, conservative treatment is usually prescribed. The patient appears to be taking anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs. It is possible to use various gels or ointments to relieve swelling and inflammation. Also, the doctor may prescribe a course of massage, therapeutic exercises. Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is prescribed in almost all cases.
Surgery
In rare cases, with severely advanced osteochondrosis, surgery may be performed. In this case, the patient is put to sleep with the help of general anesthesia, after which the bone formations between the discs of the cervical spine are removed. After the operation, the patient receives further conservative treatment or physiotherapy.
Precautionary measures
Due to the reduction of the age of onset of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary for every person to carry out his prevention. This is especially true for those people who are at risk.
Important rules
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis consists of the following simple but very important rules:
- watch your posture, do not let it bend.
- do not expose the spine to heavy loads.
- you can not make sudden movements of the head.
- do not be nervous, avoid stress.
- do not get cold, do not overcool.
- Get rid of bad habits, switch to the right diet.
Special exercises
To protect yourself from such a disease, you need to do preventive exercises:
- put your palm on your forehead, tighten your neck muscles, then move your hand to the back of your head and repeat the exercise, you should do it for 7 seconds in 3 sets.
- put your palm on your temple, then also tighten your neck muscles, repeat a similar action on the other side, the time, the number of approaches is the same as in the first paragraph.
- Get your head back, then slowly reach your chin to the chest area, you need to do the exercise 3 times.
- turn your head in different directions - you should do this exercise slowly, without sudden movements.
- Tilt your head back, first touch one shoulder with your ear, then the other, repeat the exercise 5 times.
If one or more symptoms of the disease occur, contact your doctor immediately. Maybe you will only be prescribed physiotherapy and that will be the end of it. Do not delay, do not start the disease.
Do your daily exercise. It is better to do basic exercises than to get sick later.
Ask your doctor how to sleep for cervical osteochondrosis. Follow all the rules, be healthy!