Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a degenerative process of damage to the intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue, which gradually passes into the vertebrae. Untreated, osteochondrosis leads to such terrible diseases as radicular syndrome, humeroscapular periarthrosis, etc.
Currently, cervical osteochondrosis, the causes of which can be very different, affects every third person. But despite his massive character, he is extremely insidious and does not forgive a careless attitude towards himself. How to treat cervical osteochondrosis, regardless of the stage of development? First of all, you need to understand what kind of disease it is - cervical osteochondrosis and its causes.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main reason for the development of the disease is the same as in the case of other parts of the spine - a sedentary lifestyle. This applies both to the young generation over the age of 20 and to people who have just crossed the 40-year mark: as they age, the consequences of an unbalanced diet, vitamin and calcium deficiency in the body, metabolic disorders, salt deposition. are felt more sharply.
Add infectious, toxic, endocrine diseases and genetic predisposition, and now you have a headache in osteochondrosis, it is difficult to turn your neck to the side, the dull aching pain does not allow you to think about anything else. This causes an increase in pressure and damage to nerve endings. There is a numbness, tingling, heaviness - symptoms that turn into a headache in osteochondrosis and begin to feel. By the way, cervical osteochondrosis and pressure, especially increased pressure, is a natural process, as the arteries become clogged and interfere with outflow.
Initially, the development of cervical osteochondrosis begins with the intervertebral discs: under the influence of negative factors, the nucleus pulposus loses its moisture and elasticity, and microcracks appear. As a result, the shock-absorbing functions of the disc deteriorate and the load on the underlying vertebrae increases. Microcracks also form in them and osteophytes (bone growths) appear so that the vertebra can cope with the increasing load area. But the additional mass of osteophytes puts pressure on the nerve roots or compresses the vertebral artery. And a headache with cervical osteochondrosis is the very first symptom that you should pay attention to.
In the future, subluxations will occur in the intervertebral joints, and the neck muscles must be constantly under tension in order for the vertebrae to remain in their previous state. But the muscles get tired from the tension, and the load again falls on the vertebrae, thereby aggravating the development of osteochondrosis.
If you have a headache with osteochondrosis, you feel constant spasms in the neck muscles, you want to get a regular massage - consult a doctor. The clinics offer specialized 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 of the muscles of the neck and back, headache - hurry to the doctor, there are obvious signs of osteochondrosis. Cervical-brachial osteochondrosis, which manifests itself with the above symptoms, is an unpleasant disease if it is not treated.
The risk group is as follows:
- experienced drivers;
- people who constantly sit in front of the computer;
- people with spinal disease;
- I'm learning.
All these people spend most of their time in a position where there is a fixed position of the muscles, which leads to spasms.
Grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by sharp pain and lumbago. Similar backaches occur in the case of lumbago of lumbosacral osteochondrosis. Untrained muscles do not receive enough nutrients due to a sedentary lifestyle and begin to age. This can happen between the ages of 20 and 50. Degenerative destruction of the vertebrae then turns into 2nd degree osteochondrosis of the cervical region.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the 2nd stage are inflammatory processes, capsule tears and the appearance of osteophytes. This process can last for several years, then die and then flare up again, and can also cause the "falling head syndrome", when you have to hold your head with your hands to reduce the headache. Another symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is dizziness, which cannot be treated. can be started.
Previously, only an external examination and an X-ray were needed to make a diagnosis. But in this case, the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis would not be reliable, since X-rays cannot show a complete picture of the development of the disease. This requires CT and MRI - procedures that indicate inflammatory foci, circulatory disorders, pathologies and neoplasms.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine begins with the diagnosis, first of all, with the restoration of the tone of the spasmodic muscles. The pain of cervical osteochondrosis in the initial stages of the disease is not so strong and does not require medical treatment. It is enough to perform a special massage or manual therapy, review the working conditions and switch to a healthier lifestyle: sit less in front of the computer, move more and do light physical work.
But if you feel dizzy, osteochondrosis does not allow you to turn your neck, and the pain does not give you peace - you need comprehensive and medical treatment. In this case, to alleviate the pain, the doctor prescribes painkillers (in the acute stage - injections), then tablets, ointments and gels with a warming effect. Professional massage of cervical osteochondrosis also brings great relief and relieves pain for some time.
The main stages of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are as follows:
- removal of pain syndrome;
- removal of edema;
- normalization of blood circulation;
- strengthening muscles and increasing tone;
- restoration of tissue regeneration.
Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis consists of medication and acupuncture techniques, acupuncture and reflexology, manual therapy and massage, folk remedies and homeopathic preparations.
All medical prescriptions and therapeutic procedures can be obtained at the clinics, where offices equipped with modern equipment, hospitals and highly experienced professional doctors await your service. For the correct diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis and the appropriate treatment, you will need a whole team of doctors with a narrow specialty: vertebrologist and surgeon, massage therapist and neurologist, physiotherapist.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical region
Cervical osteochondrosis, headache, dizziness, back pain, burning pain in the neck and shoulders are symptoms that prevent a person from leading a normal life. But all this can be avoided if we stick to the simple things: a correct and healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, more physical activity and exercise.