In the modern world, the resonance of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis can hardly be overestimated. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is much more common than in other vertebral regions. Almost all people over the age of twenty-five have this disease, in one way or another.
Cervical osteochondrosis develops mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle, which is particularly facilitated by a person's historical transition from physical to mental work, which, although to a moderate extent, is accompanied by work in a sitting position.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the cervical spine, which leads to damage to the intervertebral discs, which is common in general for osteochondrosis disease. Since this section of the spine is, by its nature, quite mobile, but at the same time vulnerable due to a poorly developed muscular corset, therefore, any negative impact on the neck or back primarily affects the cervical region. Due to the fact that degenerative changes most often develop in the most mobile vertebral sections, it is precisely the nerve endings at the level of C5. . . C7 who suffer most often in the cervical region.
Since the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are very controversial, they are not always considered only as symptoms of this disease, which very often leads to seeking the help of specialists in other fields of medicine. Let's consider them a little more in detail.
Symptoms
Due to the fact that the cervical spine is quite compact, compared to its other departments, even a slight tension in the neck muscles or displacement of the vertebrae of the cervical spine can cause compression or pinching of the nerve roots, which can also affect the vessels located in this department. Well, osteophytes - bone growths, in the folk treatment called "salt deposition" and formed in the conditions of development of the disease with cervical osteochondrosis, consequently lead only to significant deterioration in the course of the disease.
Clinical manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis disease, that is, its symptoms, can be divided into reflex symptoms and radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
Reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the so-called "low back pain", which is expressed in the appearance of sharp sharp pains in the neck and noticeably intensifies with any movement. In view of this, patients often assume a forced and comfortable head position. Also, it is entirely possible that a typical "crunch" occurs when turning or performing other head movements.
With cervical osteochondrosis, patients often experience headaches of a compressive nature and radiate to the eyeballs or the temporal part of the head. Also, sometimes at the same time, the sharpness of visual perception can decrease, as if "everything is floating before the eyes".
Vertebral artery syndrome can also develop, when its nerve plexus is irritated, which is very often, due to dizziness in the patient, misdiagnosed as a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. Such a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can manifest itself with sudden movements of the head and be complicated by nausea and possible vomiting.
In addition to the above, the reflex symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis also include a cardiological syndrome, in which there are sensations similar to an attack of angina. But such a manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis is usually combined with a complex of other signs of this disease, so it usually does not cause difficulties in making a correct diagnosis.
Root symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Radicular symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, as a rule, appear due to compression of the spinal nerve termination - the root. In this case, the sensory disturbances affecting motor functions depend entirely on which particular nerve root is injured, namely:
- C1 - decreased sensitivity in the back of the head;
- C2 - the onset of pain in the parietal or occipital region of the head;
- C3 - violation of sensitivity and the appearance of pain in the neck, where the spinal root was injured, with a possible violation of the function of speech, due to the loss of sensitivity of the tongue and control over it;
- C4 - the appearance of pain and decreased sensitivity in the dorsal humeroscapular region, as well as pain in the region of the heart and liver, with a simultaneous decrease in the muscle tone of the neck and possible respiratory disorders of the respiratory function;
- C5 - decreased sensitivity and pain on the outer surface of the shoulder;
- C6 - pain that radiates from the cervical region to the shoulder blade, to the outer surface of the shoulder, to the forearm and farther from the wrist to the thumb;
- C7 - the same pain as C6, but radiating from the scapula to the posterior surface of the shoulder, and farther from the forearm to the 2nd to 4th finger, with a decrease in sensitivity in the pain area;
- C8 - decrease in sensitivity and pain from the neck to the shoulder, then from the forearm to the little finger of the hand.
Treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis is a rather complex and extremely unpleasant disease, the treatment of which requires consistency, duration and stages. Therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, first of all, is aimed at the complete cessation of painful symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and elimination of inflammation in the neck area affected by the disease.
Patients, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, are treated with classic analgesics, such as analgin, ketorol or baralgin. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have recently become widely used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, effectively relieving pain and reducing inflammatory activity.
By the way, chondroprotectors are also used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, which slow down the process of destruction of cartilage tissues and, according to many experts, also contribute to the process of their regeneration. Also, patients are prescribed the use of vitamins of group B, which improve metabolic processes in the patient's body.
But the use of external gels or ointments for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is not effective, but it makes sense, since in the process of rubbing the skin, an additional massage of the cervical region of the spine is performed.
Physiotherapy procedures are also combined with traditional pharmacological treatment of cervical osteochondrosis and, in particular, the use of magnetotherapy through special medical devices that have earned the well-deserved reputation among specialists and patients is particularly effective. In addition to the above, therapeutic massage, physiotherapy exercises and manual therapy are also used. But, in particularly severe cases of the disease, surgery may also be necessary.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis disease
By itself, the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is not difficult. Recommended:
- maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle,
- sports, or at least morning exercises,
- competent organization of the workplace,
- compliance with the work and rest regime,
- during prolonged work in a sitting position - during working hours, warm up several times and ensure the correct position of the head and posture while working.
It is also important to choose a comfortable pillow and mattress for sleeping. But for those who are already suffering from this disease, the daily use of specialized orthopedic products for a comfortable sleep is strongly recommended.