Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a degenerative process of damage to the intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue, gradually passing to the vertebrae. In an untreated state, osteochondrosis leads to such terrible diseases as radicular syndrome, humeroscapular periarthrosis, etc.
Currently, cervical osteochondrosis, the causes of which can be very different, affects one in three people. But, despite its mass character, it is extremely insidious and does not forgive a careless attitude towards itself. How to treat cervical osteochondrosis at any stage of development? First you need to understand what kind of disease it is - cervical osteochondrosis and the reasons that caused it.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main reason for the development of the disease is the same as for other parts of the spine - a sedentary, more sedentary lifestyle. This applies both to the younger generation over 20 and to people who have just turned 40: with age, the consequences of an unbalanced diet, the lack of vitamins and calcium inbody, metabolic disturbances and salt deposits. are felt more acutely.
Add here infectious, toxic, endocrine diseases and genetic predisposition, and now your head hurts with osteochondrosis, it is difficult to turn your neck to the side, a dull aching pain does not allow you to think about anything elsething. This causes an increase in pressure and a violation of the nerve endings. There is a state of numbness, tingling, heaviness - symptoms that turn into headaches with osteochondrosis, which begins to make themselves felt. By the way, cervical osteochondrosis and pressure, especially increased pressure, is a natural process, as arteries clog and interfere with outflow.
Initially, the development of cervical osteochondrosis begins with the intervertebral discs: under the influence of negative factors, the pulpy nucleus begins to lose moisture, elasticity, and microcracks are formed. As a result, the shock absorbing functions of the disc deteriorate and the load on the underlying vertebrae increases. Microcracks also form there and osteophytes (bone growths) appear so that the vertebra can cope with the increased load surface. But the extra mass of osteophytes begins to press on the nerve roots or compress the vertebral artery. And a headache with cervical osteochondrosis is the very first symptom that you need to pay attention to.
In the future, subluxations occur in the intervertebral joints, the neck muscles must be in tension all the time in order to maintain the vertebrae in their previous state. But the muscles get tired from the tension, and the load falls on the vertebrae, thereby aggravating the development of osteochondrosis.
If you have a headache with osteochondrosis, you feel a constant spasm of the muscles of the neck, you periodically want to massage - consult a doctor. Clinics provide qualified medical care in many areas, including medical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, manual therapy and massage.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
If you began to suffer from dizziness, numbness in the muscles of the neck and back, headache - hurry to the doctor, there are clear signs of manifestations of osteochondrosis. Cervicobrachial osteochondrosis, manifested by the above symptoms, is an unpleasant disease if left untreated.
The risk group is:
- experienced drivers;
- people who are constantly sitting in front of the computer;
- people with diseases of the spine;
- students.
All of these people spend most of their time in one position with a fixed position of the muscles, which leads to their spasm.
Cervical osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is characterized by sharp pain, lumbago. Similar back pain occurs with lumbosacral osteochondrosis lumbago. Untrained muscles due to a sedentary lifestyle do not receive enough nutrition and begin to age. It can happen at 20 as well as at 50. The degenerative destruction of the vertebrae then turns into osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 2nd degree.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in stage 2 are inflammatory processes, capsule ruptures and the appearance of osteophytes. This process can last for several years, then die down, then become inflamed again, simultaneously causing the "dropping head syndrome", when the patient is forced to clasp his head with his hands to reduce the headache. Another symptom indicating cervical osteochondrosis is dizziness, the treatment of which cannot be started.
Previously, to make a diagnosis, only an external examination and X-rays were required. But in this case, the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis would be unreliable, since X-rays cannot show a complete picture of the development of the disease. This requires computed tomography and MRI - procedures that indicate foci of inflammation, circulatory disorders, pathologies and neoplasms.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine begins with diagnosis, first of all, restoring the tone of spastic muscles. Pain in cervical osteochondrosis at the initial stage of the disease is not so strong and does not require medical treatment. It will be enough to take a course in special massage or manual therapy, review working conditions and switch to a healthier lifestyle: sit less in front of the computer, move more and engage in physical laborlight.
But, if you feel dizzy, osteochondrosis does not allow you to turn your neck, and the pain does not give you rest - you need full medical treatment. In this case, to relieve pain, the doctor prescribes painkillers (at the acute stage - injections), and then tablets, ointments and gels with a warming effect. Massage for cervical osteochondrosis, performed professionally, will also bring great relief and relieve pain for some time.
The main stages of the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are:
- elimination of pain syndrome;
- elimination of edema;
- normalization of blood circulation;
- strengthen muscles and increase tone;
- restoration of tissue regeneration.
Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis consists of treatment with acupuncture drugs and techniques, acupuncture and reflexology, manual therapy and massage, folk remedies and homeopathic preparations.
All medical prescriptions and therapeutic procedures can be obtained in clinics, where you will have at your service offices equipped with modern equipment, hospitals and professional doctors with extensive experience. In order for the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis to be made correctly and appropriate treatment to be undertaken, a whole team of doctors of a narrow specialty will be needed: a vertebrologist and a surgeon, a massage therapist and a neurologist, a physiotherapist.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Cervical osteochondrosis, headaches, dizziness, back pain, burning pains in the neck and shoulders are symptoms that prevent a person from leading a normal life. But all this can be avoided if you stick to simple things: a correct and healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, more physical activity and therapeutic exercises.