Rarely does not collide with the manifestation of this widespread disease: according to statistics, about 60% of the population in the developed countries, to a different extent, are suffering from the manifestations of degenerative disc disease. The main causes of so wide a diffusion – sedentary work and the lack of motion of the modern man.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (Osteohondroz) is the degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs, in which the damaged disks themselves, the vertebrae and the joints of the cervical spine, it is observed the reduction in height of the intervertebral disc. The disease progresses, if not treated, it can cause headaches, circulatory disorders and also a hernia. Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs because of disorders of mineral metabolism, causing the bones and joints become less resistant.
Back pain can result in instability of the cervical spine (the symptoms and treatment are similar with chondrosis, but have a range of characteristics), which is often accompanied by displacement of the vertebrae. In its turn, accelerates the development of degenerative disc disease, destroying the spinal department.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: the symptoms
In the early stages of the disease practically does not manifest the painful symptoms: you may feel unpleasant sensations in the neck after a great physical exertion or long periods of sitting in tight position, after the strong movement or tilt of the head.
The main symptoms are headache, dizziness, and lack of coordination, light crunch during the movement of the head, general weakness; more rarely it is observed the weakness of hands, numbness of the tongue and language disorder, breathing problems, vision, hearing, increased sweating, abnormally high blood pressure. The main areas – head, neck, collar area. In most cases, it is interrupted, it occurs only a few of these signs of an disease.
In general, the symptomatology of the degenerative disc disease is not obvious, often hides the use of pain medications. This is one of its dangers: the majority of symptoms are possible, and in other diseases, which makes difficult the diagnosis of cervical arthrosis.
Dizziness with osteochondrosis of the cervical
This condition does not always indicate clearly the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Dizziness can be the result of:
- inflammation in the middle or inner ear;
- spasms of cerebral vessels;
- violation of transmission of nerve impulses;
- problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
It is not clear the criteria of dizziness osteochondrosis. However, there are crash and non-systemic dizziness, have obvious differences.
You should know the differences of your system and non-systemic dizziness, this will help you determine the causes unusual state:
- system, the vertigo is a sensation of circular motion of surrounding objects or of the body, which is the consequence of dysfunctions in the vestibular and visual analyzers, and receptors in joints, muscle and skin (low back pain, of different etiology);
- no system of dizziness is the feeling of nausea, feeling dizzy, uncertain of the state in a vertical position. When a non-system dizziness sense of circular rotation is missing, and this is an important difference with respect to signs.
Man, feel dizzy, one of the following types, which must be observed by a doctor with experience in the first place, to a neurologist or (if you suspect a disease of the ear and the nasopharynx) an otolaryngologist.
The opportunity for emergency admissions, not related to osteocon chondrosis cervical spine, is the identification of the patient (with the exception of dizziness) of such signs, as:
- the paralysis of the facial muscles, and numbness of the shoulder belt;
- strong headaches in a context of deterioration of well-being;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- the loss or lapse of consciousness.
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical
This is one of the most common signs are not specific to many human diseases. Headache is very common in the female population. It can be difficult to determine the cause of the headaches, and, even more, to associate her with spinal cord injuries. Revealed about 14 different causes of headaches human.
The most common causes of headaches when we describe malocclusion:
- spasms of the blood vessels of the brain;
- crushing of the nerve roots;
- out of reflex, increased intracranial pressure.
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical can remember the feeling of high blood pressure, angina, or stroke. Especially in people of middle age and older, usually, there are the risks of developing stroke or heart attacks.
She feels the pain can be pristupoobrazna, constant, button, and stupid.
When heart disease, patients complain of discomfort in the sinus area, accompanied by a violation of the heart rhythm. Determine the cause can only be a qualified doctor. In case of headache, combined with nausea, dizziness, and retrosternal pain, not necessarily did the ECG.
Pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical
Not always the pain is localized in the area of the head and the nape of the neck. Are known cases of different location of the pain.
Neck pain may radiate to the shoulder and various parts of the hand. The peculiarity of these feelings is the speed of the attacks after sleep, sudden movements, discrete for the man to stress, for example, when laughing or sneezing. The pain associated with osteocon chondrosis, if the job has not accepted of a chronic nature, usually disappears after a short period of time and combined with a creaking in the cervical vertebra.
Without the prior the exam does not take away the pain with the help of manual therapy (massage). In some cases, inept handling can only aggravate the malocclusion, stop the stimulus and cause disability of the patient.
The intensity of the pain can be moderate or strong. Duration – such as short-and long-term.
It is noted that the back pain cervical most often associated with the defeat of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae.
There are tests to determine the location of the hearth of the pain impulse. The defeat in the field of the sixth vertebra is completed, the pain to a finger of the hand, and the defeat in the field of the seventh vertebra accompanied by pain in the middle finger.
The blood pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical
Communication cervical arthrosis with jumps of blood pressure from the time you installed. The cervical vertebrae are the nerve endings and blood vessels.
Characterized by pressure peaks during the day. Hypertension for a long time is not typical for this disease. Reflex, the irritation of nerve endings, and short spasms of the blood vessels that cause the hopping of the daily dynamic of arterial hypertension.
The distinctive feature of a pressure increase with osteochondrosis of the cervical is the combination with the following symptoms:
- headaches;
- pain in the limbs and chest;
- reduction of sensitivity in the neck area;
- the occurrence of pressure peaks after stress, muscle tension, a long stay in an uncomfortable position, and other similar situations.
Spikes HELL and the rapid deterioration of health are the base to search for emergency medical attention and treatments.
Stages of development of degenerative disc disease
In the development of cervical osteoarthritis has decided to allocate 4 phases. But it is quite conditional division, as well as most of the symptoms of the disease can also occur in other diseases.
The first phase (preclinical)
In the initial phase, the symptoms are mild and are often attributed to stress or other diseases. Considered unpleasant stiffness in the neck, pain on sudden movements or slopes. In this phase it is possible to get rid of incipient degenerative disc disease with the help of medical gymnastics, or simply move around more, adjust the power supply.
The second phase
The pain intensified, become permanent, with hairpin bends or slopes are already strong. There are severe headaches, the patient begins to get tired quickly, becomes widespread, periodically numb the areas of the face.
The third phase
The formation of a herniated disc often causes dizziness, weakness of the hands, the pain gives in head and hands, you feel constantly behind.
The fourth phase
At the end, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, they are replaced by connective tissue. Nerves zaselyalsya, which leads to difficulty in the movement of acute pain, strengthening of dizziness, appears to be the tinnitus.
Causes and risk factors
Strangely, the chance of developing osteoarthritis of the man is due to one of its benefits of the evolutionary – erect posture: vertebrae under pressure to each other, and with age the connective tissue degrades. As a result, in the elderly, it is almost inevitable process. But there are many factors that contribute to the early and intense development of cervical osteoarthritis:
- In the first place – it is sedentary, and a sedentary lifestyle, often observed in modern life (employees, drivers, and other "sedentary" specialty, tv, long hours at the computer), the lack of physical exercise
- Thesis, unnatural posture during the work: for example, to the computer of a person often tilts forward, holding the pose
- The opposite reason – too high, unusual for this a man of responsibility; but in an area at risk – even those of athletes, for example, lifting of weights;
- Any causes that do violate the natural posture of man: wear uncomfortable shoes, especially high-heeled, a bad posture during sleep, flat foot, rheumatism, scoliosis;
- Excess weight, which often is caused by malnutrition
- Frequent stress, strong tension, the constant exertion.
- Local hypothermia
How dangerous is cervical back pain
In the neck area of concentrate is very vital blood, arteries, capillaries, and then any infringement there may have unfortunate consequences, including lack of oxygen, hypertension, vascular dystonia.
Cervical back pain affects the segments of the vertebral column, check the functioning of the shoulder and elbow, thyroid, hands and other organs. Osteochondrosis, if not treated, the likelihood of crushing of the nerves, the constriction of the blood vessels, which inevitably affect the functioning of other organs.
How to cure cervical back pain
Real, stable success in the treatment of cervical osteoarthritis can be achieved only with an integrated approach that includes medication, massage of the neck, treatment, exercises, physiotherapy. In many cases it may be necessary a surgical intervention.
It is recommended that you do not recommend that you use him in the first place to the fact that the symptoms of degenerative disc disease can mean a completely different disease, not only select the drugs do not help cure, can still and damage.
The removal of the acute pain
Back pain, especially in the later stages, accompanied by a strong pain, then the first task of the doctor – relieve your suffering. You will assign pain killers, anti-inflammatory medications, vitamins, chondroprotectors to restore cartilage tissue, medications to improve circulation and reduce muscle spasm.
Medical gymnastics with osteochondrosis of the cervical
The method is more simple and accessible, including the house, a way – medical gymnastics. If it is effective enough, as it strengthens the muscles of the neck, and restore the circulation of the blood in bad sectors, compensate for the lack of movement in daily life. Curative physical education is possible to integrate the swimming water.
Physiotherapy – the simplest and most accessible type of treatment, cervical osteoarthritis and, at the same time, quite effective. Treatment exercise can be done in-house. Osteochondrosis intensity, does not play a decisive role, it is only necessary to their regularity. In the first place, the exercise is designed to strengthen the muscles of the neck, which can compensate for the lack of functionality of the spinal column and help to keep the vertebrae weakened.
To strengthen the muscles of the neck are recommended daily activities. They can be very simple, consisting of twists and tilts the head in different directions, and the more complex, such as the support of the neck muscles on the part of the hands. You can perform at home and at work. For example, if the work is sedentary, it is useful to do these exercises after hours of sitting at a desk or a monitor.
Physiotherapy
The correct and constant application of physiotherapy techniques helps to improve the blood circulation in damaged areas, reducing the inflammation and the pain, slows down the process of ossification.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical using electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, bath and shower, mud baths, and other methods.
Massage the neck with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the massage can be very effective: it improves the circulation, reduces the likelihood of cramps by reducing the tone of the muscles, relieves the symptoms of pain and improves the general health of the patient.
But the massage and reiki should be used with extreme caution, as inept and serious impact on the sick areas of the body can only do harm.
The surgical treatment
In a lot of cases, it is not excluded even surgery: narrowing of the spinal column, the formation of hernia of the intervertebral disc with spondylolisthesis.
The decision about the necessity and the mode of surgery takes the surgeon, he defines the operations of preparation, the duration of the postoperative period and rehabilitation.