Cervical osteochondrosis of the neck is a common pathology that is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. The disease is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine. They are caused by incorrect body position, posture disorders, insufficiently active lifestyle. To reduce the symptoms of pathology, you need to consult a doctor in time.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
This term is understood as a progressive dystrophic-degenerative lesion of the intervertebral discs, which are located in the cervical spine. As a result, there is deformation and exhaustion of the vertebral bodies. This leads to disturbances of blood circulation and nerve conduction in the neck.
The disease can be isolated or combined with damage to other parts of the spine, lumbar or thoracic. According to the ICD-10, cervical osteochondrosis of the spine is coded with the code M42.
Possible complications of the disease
Many people are interested in the danger of cervical osteochondrosis. In the absence of timely and adequate therapy, pathology can have negative health consequences. These include the following:
- protrusion of intervertebral discs and hernia formation;
- ruptured disc with compression of nerves and blood vessels: if the spinal cord is pinched, there is a risk of death;
- radiculopathy;
- the appearance of osteophytes;
- paresis and paralysis.
The main symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease develops gradually and is initially asymptomatic. Therefore, the diagnosis is usually made in advanced cases. The main symptoms of the pathology include the following:
- Pain in the neck and occipital region that worsens with physical exertion or coughing.
- Crackling in head movements.
- Loss of sensation in the hands, burning in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Headaches that are located in the occiput and extend to the temples.
- General weakness, increased fatigue.
- Decreased visual acuity.
- Tinnitus.
- Hearing impairment.
- Increased heart rate.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The first signs of the disease usually appear after the age of 35. However, in recent years, the pathology began to develop at an earlier age - 18-30 years. Most of the time, the problem is faced by people who have to be in one position for a long time.
The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:
- hereditary tendency;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- infectious diseases, intoxication of the body;
- alterations in the diet: deficiency of fluids, vitamins, microelements;
- overweight;
- traumatic spinal injuries;
- bad posture;
- spinal instability;
- insufficiently active lifestyle;
- flat feet;
- influence of unfavorable environmental factors;
- frequent changes in body position;
- being in an awkward position for a long time;
- excessive physical activity;
- hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- using the wrong sleeping pillows.
What are the different degrees of disease?
The disease develops gradually. There are 4 degrees of cervical osteochondrosis, each of which has specific characteristics:
- The first is accompanied by the appearance of cracks in the intervertebral discs. This process is accompanied by mild pain, stiffness of movements. The pathology has a wavy course. With the deterioration of the immune system or an increased load, osteochondrosis worsens. If you do not take action in time, there is a risk of aggravating the abnormal process.
- Second: in this stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs continues and their bulge is observed. This process is accompanied by pinching of the nerve endings. A person has constant pain that increases with movement. At this stage, there is a decrease in working capacity, numbness appears in the hands.
- The third is accompanied by the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. In such a situation, muscle tissue and nerve endings are involved in the pathological process. As a result, there is pain in the neck and occipital region, a feeling of weakness in the hands. With vascular injuries, there is a risk of decreased visual acuity, dizziness, and tinnitus. Sometimes the disease causes fainting spells.
- Fourth: this stage is accompanied by bone growth. As a result, pressure on the nerve endings increases. With this form of osteochondrosis, the mobility of the neck decreases, the spine becomes less flexible. As a result, a person cannot perform simple movements of the head.
Why should I see a doctor immediately?
If symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, neurologist or orthopedist. Otherwise, the pathology will lead to dangerous consequences for health.
First, the doctor should assess the physical activity and intensity of neck pain. In addition, the specialist is interested in loss of sensation and other disorders.
Based on the results of the preliminary examination, additional procedures are prescribed. First, an X-ray is done. It is done in several projections. If a hernia is suspected, a CT scan or MRI may be required. If there is a violation of blood flow, it is necessary to conduct a rheoencephalography and an examination of the fundus.
Treatment is prescribed based on the results of the diagnostic examination. With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following categories of drugs are most often used:
- Pain relievers: help to cope with pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Eliminate inflammation and cope with swelling.
- Antispasmodics: help relieve muscle spasms.
- Preparations to improve blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors: help to restore the structure of the intervertebral discs.
- B vitamins: improve the functioning of nervous tissues.
In addition to drug therapy, other methods are prescribed. These include massages, recovery gymnastics, physical therapy. The use of osteopathy is very effective. In this case, a mild effect is carried out on the affected muscles and vertebrae. In some cases, the doctor is advised to wear a special orthopedic device - the Shants collar.
Manual therapy is considered an effective way to treat pathology. Its methods are selected individually. The procedure consists of a specific effect on the musculoskeletal elements. Thanks to this, it is possible to activate blood flow, improve lymph movement and normalize metabolic processes. Manual therapy improves the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, strengthens the immune system and helps prevent the complications of osteochondrosis.
Column pull is often used. To stretch, special equipment is used. The procedure helps to increase the distance between the vertebrae to a normal size and to cope with disorders in the structure of the spine.
If acute cervical osteochondrosis is observed and intervertebral hernias develop, causing decreased sensitivity and impaired blood circulation, there is a need for surgical intervention.
The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the osteochondrosis. Most often, therapy is carried out in long courses. To improve your condition, you definitely need to make lifestyle adjustments. To do this, you need to eat well, break bad habits, and play sports.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the neck
To prevent the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis, you must follow certain recommendations:
- timely eliminate the curvature of the spine;
- plays sports to form a muscular corset;
- eat foods that provide the body with calcium and magnesium;
- normalizes body weight;
- follow the advice of doctors when working on a computer.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious pathology that has negative consequences for health. To cope with the violation, it is necessary to make the correct diagnosis in time. Therefore, any discomfort in the neck area should be a reason to see a doctor.
How is the treatment going?
Medical consultation: taking anamnesis, myofascial diagnosis, functional diagnosis.
How is it going?
Gather anamnesis: analyze the disease, identify limitations and contraindications, explain the principles of kinesitherapy, the characteristics of the recovery period.
Myofascial diagnosis is a manual diagnostic method, in which the doctor assesses the range of motion of the joints, identifies painful seals, edema, hypo or hypertonicity of the muscles and other changes.
Functional diagnosis (carried out in the rehabilitation room): the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs them, with what range of motion they can work, what movements cause pain, with what weight they canhow the patient works, how the cardiovascular system reacts. Problem areas are identified. The data is entered on the card. Emphasis is put.
Based on the results of the initial examination by a physician and the functional diagnosis, a preliminary individual treatment program is developed.
It is convenient to have with you:
- for pain in the spine: MRI or CT scan (MRI or CT scan) of the problem area;
- for joint pain: x-rays;
- in the presence of concomitant diseases: extracts from the medical history or an outpatient card;
- comfortable clothing and shoes (sports)
Start classes with an instructor
At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor together with the patient draw up a treatment plan, which includes the date and time of the treatment session, follow-up visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).
The basis of the treatment process consists of treatment sessions in the rehab room on exercise equipment and sessions in the gym.
Rehabilitation simulators allow you to precisely dose load on individual muscle groups, providing an appropriate mode of physical impact. The treatment program is compiled by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the organism. The control is carried out by qualified instructors. At all stages of recovery, it is important to observe correct breathing and movement technique, know your weight standards when working on simulators, adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen, and follow the recommendations of specialists.
Joint gymnastics sessions help restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and elasticity (flexibility) of the spine, and are an excellent preventive system for independent use.
Each treatment cycle - 12 sessions. Each lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of a treatment session is from 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The instructor develops a program, taking into account the comorbidities and the patient's condition on the day of training. Teaches the technique of performing exercises and supervises the correctness of the execution. Every sixth lesson, a second consultation with a doctor is made, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.
How many loops will it take?
This is individual for each person and depends on the progression of the disease.
Important to know:
- how long have you had this problem (stage of the disease);
- how your body prepares for physical activity (you do gymnastics, any type of sport);
- what result you want to get.
If the disease is in an early stage and the body is ready, one cycle of treatment is sufficient. (Example: young people in their 20s and 30s who play sports. We focus their attention on the technique of performing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding the "wrong" exercises harmful to problem areas. These patients receive training, they acquire the ability to "take care of your body », Receive recommendations in case of exacerbation and continue to do it themselves).
Each organism is individual and the program for each patient is individual.