More and more people are choosing jobs that do not require a lot of physical activity. This inevitably affects human health. Cervical osteochondrosis is therefore one of the most common diseases.
As a result of this disease, articular cartilage and bone tissue change. Previously, this term grouped together a large number of diseases, it now refers exclusively to degenerative conditions of the spine.
Why is the cervical region most commonly affected? It is he who has increased mobility and a large number of neurons and blood vessels. Before learning how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, eliminate the cause of the disease.
Causes of disease
Osteochondrosis does not always occur with acute symptoms. Due to anatomical features, changes in the intervertebral discs do not always cause pain or the like. Therefore, the disease often goes unnoticed.
Cervical osteochondrosis often develops for several reasons:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- lack of physical activity, salt deposits develop in the liver, kidneys, vertebrae;
- metabolic disease.
In addition, risk factors must be taken into account. They do not necessarily lead to a disease, but in unfavorable circumstances they can manifest themselves very well:
- the body undergoes inevitable changes with age;
- whether there was cervical osteochondrosis in the ancestors;
- hormonal disorders often lead to metabolic disorders;
- certain chronic diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or rheumatism, can lead to thinning of the cartilage;
- hypothermia.
Disease stages
Cervical osteochondrosis, like many other diseases, includes several stages of development.
- So, at the first stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs is noted, the danger of this moment is that there is no severe pain, maximum discomfort in the neck. Due to changes in the structure of the disc, compression of the nerve roots occurs - this is the source of the disease. As a rule, with timely diagnosis, it is possible to completely cure the disease. It is important to correctly prescribe the treatment and follow all the doctor's recommendations.
- At the second stage, in addition to the destruction of the discs, displacements of the cervical vertebrae begin. If the treatment was not successful or the diagnosis was not made earlier, osteochondrosis becomes chronic. The patient may have "tilted head syndrome", when you have to keep your head in a certain position to relieve pain. A typical symptom is severe pain.
- The third stage is the development of hernias and protrusions, as well as the effect on internal organs. Since with such a development of the disease, the cervical vertebrae compress blood vessels, disrupting blood flow to the brain. Because of this, headaches, nausea, dizziness and the like appear. In rare cases, numbness of the limbs may appear. With improper development of events, a stroke is possible. The danger of this stage of the disease is that the pain is not so intense. Many people are sure that the disease is over, everything is cured, and in the meantime the destruction of the spine continues. This is cartilage tissue, since it is she who causes pain, but in the third stage she is completely destroyed. Sometimes hearing and coordination disorders develop.
There are also specific features of the course of cervical osteochondrosis. Depending on which parts of the spine are damaged, there are several syndromes. Each of them has a different type of pain.
Syndromes of cervical osteochondrosis
For example, cervical osteochondrosis can cause migraines. It happens with hypertension. Due to its appearance, the intracranial pressure increases, which causes pain. Due to high blood pressure, there is a risk of developing a stroke.
In addition, headaches are often due to compression of the vertebral arteries.
With this syndrome, there is a decrease in visual acuity, dizziness, impaired coordination. All this happens due to a lack of oxygen supply to the brain. With sudden movements of the head, fainting is possible.
Compression of the roots of the spine is much more dangerous, since this syndrome has a complex of symptoms. First, the pain is localized in the neck and radiates to the forearm, sometimes it can radiate to the hands. In the early stages of the disease, a crackle can be alerted by turning the neck. With further pinching of the roots, breathing disorders appear, feelings of coma in the throat. Due to the fact that the nerves of the cervical vertebrae are closely connected with the face, when the roots are pinched, numbness of the tongue or reduced mobility can be observed.
If the spine is not treated in a timely manner, the symptoms will only increase and worsen. Due to the lack of oxygen in the brain, dysfunctions begin and this can lead to a number of mental illnesses (depression, anxiety disorder, hyperventilation, etc. ).
It is important to distinguish between cervical osteochondrosis and epilepsy in a timely manner. They are often confused due to whole-body tension and a brief loss of consciousness.
For this, modern diagnostic methods are used. Due to changes in the work of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, a violation occurs in the work of the heart, which leads to the appearance of symptoms of tachycardia and arrhythmia. Another non-obvious manifestation of the disease is swelling under the eyes. They arise due to compression of the side vessels of the spine.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
Before starting treatment for the spine, you need to consult a neurologist to clarify the diagnosis. Thanks to modern methods of studying the body, medicine is armed with a huge arsenal of techniques for finding disease. More recently, the maximum that a neurologist could offer was an x-ray and an external examination. As a rule, these methods did not give an effective result, which is why osteochondrosis was often detected at serious stages of development. The downside of x-rays is the inability to see the full picture of the disease. She is currently due for a CT scan or MRI. These are rapid, high-quality studies with virtually no contraindications.
After receiving the images, you must consult a doctor.
Medical assistance
The question "how to treat cervical osteochondrosis" will be answered by a doctor-vertebrologist. It is a narrow field of neurology, which studies the spine and related diseases. Before prescribing drugs, the doctor should prescribe a set of measures to restore blood circulation and relieve swelling. There is no unequivocal opinion about non-traditional methods of treatment. As a rule, in addition to consulting a neurologist, the patient will need the help of a surgeon, masseur, physiotherapist. In severe stages of the disease, the recovery period requires more time.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation?
In such a pathological condition as an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms are manifested in the form of pain, limited mobility, various disorders of sensitivity and tissue trophism. The first step is to relieve the pain. For this purpose, there are various drugs. For example, you can use a pepper patch. Due to the warming action, it perfectly copes with the task. Any painkillers would help. To get rid of edema, take any diuretic. As home remedies, you can prepare cranberries or lingonberries or special herbal preparations.
If medication does not help, you can use a needle applicator. Due to the point effect, it helps relieve pain, reduce swelling and improve blood circulation. The main thing to remember is that after giving first aid, you should always consult a doctor.
Treatment of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis is not so primary. It is important to eliminate the main cause of the disease. To maintain the condition, the doctor prescribes medications that can thin the blood and restore blood flow in the brain. An additional bonus of these drugs: improve memory and normalize sleep.
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine consists not only of medication, but also of massage and physical education. In order to further prevent the occurrence of diseases of the cervical spine, it is necessary to form the correct muscle corset of the back. In some cases, self-massage can also be effective. For him, you can apply simple techniques such as rubbing and stroking, as well as vibrations.
Alternative medicine
One of the non-traditional types of treatment for osteochondrosis is manual therapy. Its essence lies in the impact on certain points of the body, allowing you to fix bones and joints. In danger? The fact that a non-specialist could seriously injure a client, because nerves are delicate matter. Any careless movement can cause paresis or paralysis. How else to treat osteochondrosis?
An ambiguous opinion develops around acupuncture. Unlike manual therapy, the impact on diseased areas is carried out punctually, through needles. Its danger is that ignoring the injection areas can seriously aggravate the patient's condition. The applicator works on the same principle.
The appointment of homeopathy is even more controversial. Its advantage is that the drugs have side effects and do not have to be taken frequently. Homeopathic remedies do not have this drawback. But their benefits have not been scientifically proven.
In any case, if you experience pain in the spine or neck, contact your doctor as soon as possible. It is better to treat any disease in the early stages, then the success of its cure is real forever. Do not refuse to take the drug in moments of exacerbation.