More and more people choose jobs that do not require a lot of physical activity. This inevitably affects human health. So, one of the most common diseases is cervical osteochondrosis.
As a result of the disease, joint cartilage and bone tissue changes. Previously, this term combined many diseases, now it only means degenerative conditions of the spine.
Why is the neck region most commonly affected? He is the one with increased mobility and a large number of nerve cells and blood vessels. Before learning how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, eliminate the cause of the disease.
Causes of the disease
Osteochondrosis does not always present with acute symptoms. Due to anatomical features, changes in the intervertebral discs do not always cause pain or the like. Therefore, the disease often goes unnoticed.
Cervical osteochondrosis often develops for several reasons:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- lack of physical activity, salt deposits develop in the liver, kidneys, and vertebrae;
- metabolic disease.
In addition, risk factors must be considered. They do not necessarily lead to illness, but they can manifest themselves in unfavorable circumstances:
- the body goes through inevitable changes with age;
- did the ancestors have cervical osteochondrosis;
- often hormonal disorders lead to metabolic disorders;
- some chronic diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or rheumatism, can lead to cartilage thinning;
- hypothermia.
Stages of the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis, like many other diseases, involves several stages of development.
- So, in the first stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs is detected, the danger of this moment is that there is no severe pain, maximum discomfort in the neck. Due to the changes in the structure of the disc, nerve roots are compressed - this is the source of the disease. As a general rule, if diagnosed in time, the disease can be completely cured. It is important to correctly prescribe the treatment and follow all the recommendations of the doctor.
- In the second stage, in addition to the destruction of the cartilage discs, the displacements of the cervical vertebrae begin. If the treatment was unsuccessful or the diagnosis was not made earlier, osteochondrosis becomes chronic. The patient may have "tilted head syndrome" where they have to hold their head in a certain position to relieve the pain. A typical symptom is severe pain.
- The third stage is the formation of hernias and protrusions, as well as the effect on the internal organs. As the disease progresses, the cervical vertebrae compress the blood vessels, disrupting the blood flow to the brain. This causes headaches, nausea, dizziness and the like. In rare cases, numbness of the limbs may occur. In the event of a bad development of events, a stroke is possible. The danger of this stage of the disease is that the pain is not so intense. Many people are sure that the disease is over, everything is healed, and until then the destruction in the spine continues. It's all about the cartilaginous tissue, as it is the cause of the pain, but in the third stage it is completely destroyed. Sometimes hearing and coordination disorders develop.
The course of cervical osteochondrosis also has its own characteristics. Depending on which parts of the spine are damaged, there are several syndromes. Everyone has different pain.
Syndromes of cervical osteochondrosis
For example, cervical osteochondrosis can cause migraines. It occurs with hypertension. As a result of its appearance, intracranial pressure increases, which causes pain. There is a risk of stroke due to high blood pressure.
In addition, headaches often occur due to compression of the vertebral arteries.
With this syndrome, visual acuity decreases, dizziness, and coordination disorders occur. All this happens due to the lack of oxygen supply to the brain. Fainting is possible with sudden movements of the head.
Compression of the spinal roots is much more dangerous, as this syndrome has a set of symptoms. First of all, the pain is localized in the neck and radiates to the forearm, sometimes to the hand. In the early stages of the disease, it may crackle when the neck is turned. With further pinching of the roots, breathing disorders appear, a feeling of coma in the throat. Given that the nerves of the cervical vertebrae are closely connected to the face, numbness or limited movement of the tongue can be observed when the roots are pinched.
If the spine is not treated in time, the symptoms will only increase and become more pronounced. Due to the lack of oxygen in the brain, malfunctions begin, and this can lead to many mental illnesses (depression, anxiety disorder, hyperventilation, etc. ).
It is important to distinguish between cervical osteochondrosis and epilepsy in time. They are often confused due to whole body tension and brief loss of consciousness.
Modern diagnostic methods are used for this. Due to changes in the work of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, there is a violation in the work of the heart, as a result of which the symptoms of tachycardia and arrhythmia appear. Another non-obvious manifestation of the disease is swelling under the eyes. They are caused by the compression of the lateral veins of the spine.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
Before starting the treatment of the spine, you need to go to a neurologist to clarify the diagnosis. Thanks to modern methods of studying the body, medicine is equipped with a wide arsenal of techniques to find disease. More recently, a neurologist was at most an X-ray and an external examination. In general, such methods did not give effective results, therefore, osteochondrosis was often detected in severe stages of development. The disadvantage of X-rays is that it is not possible to see the entire picture of the disease. Currently scheduled for CT or MRI. These are fast, high-quality tests with virtually no contraindications.
After receiving the images, you should consult a doctor.
Medical care
The question "how to treat cervical osteochondrosis" is answered by a doctor-verterbrologist. It is a narrow focus of neurology that studies the spine and related diseases. Before prescribing the drug, the doctor must prescribe a series of measures to restore blood circulation and reduce swelling. There is no clear opinion on non-traditional treatment methods. In general, in addition to the consultation with the neurologist, the patient will need the help of a surgeon, masseur, and physiotherapist. In severe stages of the disease, the recovery period requires more time.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation?
In such a pathological condition as the aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms appear in the form of pain, limited mobility, various sensitivity disorders and tissue trophism. The first step is to relieve the pain. There are different medicines for this purpose. For example, you can use pepper paste. Thanks to the warming action, it copes with the task perfectly. Any pain reliever would be helpful. To get rid of edema, take any diuretic. As a home remedy, you can brew cranberries or lingonberries or special herbal preparations.
If medicines do not help, you can use a needle applicator. Due to its point effect, it helps to relieve pain, reduce swelling and improve blood flow. The most important thing is to always consult a doctor after first aid.
Treatment of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis is not so primary. It is important to eliminate the primary cause of the disease. To maintain the condition, the doctor prescribes drugs that can thin the blood and restore blood flow to the brain. An additional bonus of these drugs: improving memory and normalizing sleep.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes not only taking drugs, but also massage and physical education. In order to prevent the further occurrence of diseases of the cervical spine, it is necessary to develop the appropriate muscle ligament of the back. In some cases, self-massage can also be effective. For him, you can use simple techniques such as rubbing and stroking, as well as vibration.
Alternative medicine
One of the types of non-traditional treatment of osteochondrosis is manual therapy. Its essence lies in the effect on certain points of the body, allowing the fixation of bones and joints. In danger? The fact is that a non-professional can seriously offend the client, since nerves are a delicate matter. Any careless movement can cause paresis or paralysis. How to treat osteochondrosis in other ways?
There is an ambiguous opinion about acupuncture. In contrast to manual therapy, the effect on the diseased areas is carried out precisely, through needles. The danger is that ignoring the injection zones can seriously worsen the patient's condition. The applicator works on the same principle.
Even more controversial is the appointment of homeopathy. The advantage is that the drugs have side effects, so they should not be taken often. Homeopathic medicines do not have such disadvantages. But their beneficial effects have not been scientifically proven.
In any case, if you feel pain in your spine or neck, see your doctor as soon as possible. It is better to treat any disease in the first stages, then the success of the treatment is real forever. Do not refuse to take the drug in moments of exacerbation.