Cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis in the usual sense is a disease of the spine, manifested by a decrease in the height of the discs. But this is a natural process in the body associated with its aging and retribution for bipedality. Changes of this kind can be found in most people in the age group of 25-40 years and above.

The structure of the cervical spine includes seven vertebrae C1-C7 connected by elastic tissue of the intervertebral discs. There are seven interconnected processes in the arch, and blood vessels and nerve endings pass through their small openings. In disease, the disc loses strength and elasticity.

The main purpose of X-ray examination of the cervical spine is to rule out spondylitis, osteoporosis or tumors.

If osteochondrosis is described on the X-ray, this has no important clinical significance.

In general, the prognosis of the pathology is favorable, for the most part there is recovery, but it can be delayed for several weeks or months.

Incident statistics

Most people prone to osteochondrosis are adults. On average, only 15% of cases are in patients under 30 years of age. In persons aged 30 to 49, the problem with the cervical vertebrae occurs in 65% of cases. Over the years, more and more complaints about the disease have appeared due to the sedentary lifestyle of many workers.

how it goes	Female age	Age of men
Not progressing	58	65
It's slowly progressing	46	46
progressing rapidly	49	fifty

The ratio of severity and dynamics of the disease is approximately the same in men and women (~ 50/50). The age is also almost the same. The difference is only for the group in which the disease did not progress - it is noticeable that the average age of men in this case is 7 years higher.

	city dwellers	A peasant	Brain work	Physical labor
Not progressing	41	56	55	55
It's slowly progressing	31	31	29	28
progressing rapidly	28	fourteen	fifteen	17

It is also noticeable that fast-acting osteochondrosis occurs more often in urban residents than in rural ones.

Causes of the disease

Many factors, individually or in combination, affect the condition of the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region - degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs in the cervical region.

It manifests itself with pain, general weakness, numbness of the hands and neck, sometimes tinnitus.

In order to determine the degree of cartilage tissue damage and the involvement of vessels and nerves in the process, X-ray, CT, MRI and other studies are performed.

Medical and physiotherapy treatment, lifestyle correction.

The list of causes contributing to malnutrition of the intervertebral disc:

• lack of physical activity or a sedentary lifestyle;
• improper metabolism;
• salt deposits;
• unbalanced diet;
• sedentary work, including driving a vehicle or working on a computer;
• obesity;
• posture disorder;
• depression, stress, overstrain;
• viral diseases in chronic form;
• abrupt cessation of training in athletes or incorrect movements during physical exertion;
• injury;
• genetic predisposition;
• birth;
• disorders in the formation of bone tissue of the spine;
• hypothermia;
• weight lifting;
• flat feet.

This list can be supplemented, it all depends on the individual characteristics of development, lifestyle and the presence of concomitant diseases.

The degree of development of pathology of the intervertebral disc

The pathology develops gradually and has a total of 4 degrees:

1 degree

The signs of the disease are minimal, the pain in the cervical region is insignificant. When turning the head, they can intensify and create discomfort. When examined by a doctor, there is slight muscle tension in the neck and collar area.

2 degree

The pain in this case is stronger than in the description above. And they can give in the arm or in the shoulder area. This manifestation is provoked by a decrease in the height of the spinal disc and a violation of the nerve endings in it.

Pain is noted when turning or tilting the head. At the same time, the patient's ability to work decreases, there are attacks of headache, general weakness of the body.

3 degree

The pain becomes stronger, numbness of the limbs and weakness in the muscles of the hands appear, which means the formation of intervertebral hernias. This degree of the disease is accompanied by frequent dizziness and general weakness of the body.

4 degree

This is the most dangerous condition of the body, because there is complete destruction of the disc and replacement of bone tissue with elastic. At the same time, dizziness becomes frequent, noise appears in the back of the head and ears, coordination of movements is disturbed.

This is due to the violation of the artery that supplies the cerebellum and the back of the head. In the fourth stage of the disease, the pain in the neck decreases significantly due to the regeneration of cartilage tissue, but nerve endings remain pressed.

The pain syndrome is not always associated with the presence of protrusions, hernia in the spine, more often it is a non-specific pain in the back.

Symptoms

Pain can manifest itself in different parts of the body, so special examinations should be carried out. For example, pain may appear in the area of the eyeballs, in the dental nerves or in the ears. In some cases, they can spread to the shoulders, arms, shoulder blades, and lower back.

Pains in the heart muscle are not excluded, they can easily be confused with heart disease. If you use drugs that help eliminate the pain of heart failure, they will not help.

Due to cervical osteochondrosis, the arteries that supply the brain with blood can be compressed (which is extremely rare and only in massive osteophytes or large hernias), so dizziness, noise in the head, nausea, headache, loss of orientation, decreasedvisual function appear and hear.

Place of manifestation	characteristic sensations
Cervical	It hurts and dizzy, breathing is difficult, hearing and vision deteriorate, a hoarse voice appears in the voice, hands go numb.
Lumbar	Low back pain - sharp or dull, trouble sweating, leg cramps, cold feet, menstrual disorders, erectile dysfunction.
pectoral	Difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest or back, pain radiates to the heart area and occurs when bending over and breathing.

After a long time in a vertical position of the body and sudden lifting, severe dizziness may appear. The fingers, toes and tip of the nose are often cold.

Each case is individual and before prescribing drugs, an examination should be done.

Syndromes with cervical osteochondrosis

A syndrome is a group that combines several clinical features. The following varieties are distinguished.

Hearty

The symptoms are similar to the picture that occurs in heart failure, as well as a condition preceding a heart attack. This category includes:

• burning and pain in the chest;
• increased fatigue;
• dyspnea;
• general weakness;
• frequent heart palpitations.

To distinguish cervical osteochondrosis from heart diseases, functional tests and electrocardiography are used.

Vertebrates

Such a syndrome indicates the connection of the pathological condition with cartilage and the body of bone tissue. It includes three main symptoms:

• sorenessduring neck rotation;
• changes inspacebetween the vertebrae and their body;
• violationmobilityin the neck area.

These characteristics are directly related to each other. If any of the symptoms are absent, then we are not talking about vertebral syndrome.

Vertebral artery

It shows the relationship between the pathological processes and the arteries that feed the brain tissue. The syndrome includes the following symptoms, which are directly related to the dysfunction of blood flow in the brain:

• nervous irritationendings, which is manifested by migraine, severe headache, tinnitus, numbness of the limbs;
• dysfunctionbleedingin the trunk, which will be indicated by attacks of nausea and vomiting, dizziness, changes in blood pressure;
• shortcomingoxygen, manifested by drowsiness, depression, fainting, reduced work capacity.

The development of the syndrome is facilitated not only by cervical osteochondrosis, but also by other pathological processes.

root

The manifestation is based on the connection of 1 of 8 pairs of roots innervating the cervical spine. Usually only one side of the body is affected.

The following symptoms will indicate a conduction disorder:

• 1-2 pairs- pain in the back of the head;
• third- difficulty chewing food, numbness of the tongue;
• fourth- hiccups, pain in the collarbone;
• fifth- Difficulties in moving the shoulder joint;
• sixth- discomfort in the forearm and shoulder blades;
• seventh- numbness of the middle and index fingers of the upper limbs;
• eighth- impaired mobility of the little fingers and ring fingers.

Since in most cases several couples are involved in the pathological process at once, mixed symptoms are observed.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose the presence of the disease, an analysis of the patient's lifestyle, including his professional activity, is initially carried out. Summarizes information about symptoms. In addition, a study is conducted on the presence of a similar pathology among family members to determine the factors of hereditary predisposition.

A direct examination of the neck and back is then performed in various positions so that changes in posture and visible disc locations can be determined. Painful areas and places of muscle tension are felt. But these are only external reviews, and a more detailed picture can only be made using instrumental methods.

X-ray of the cervical vertebrae

The informativeness of this method for the diagnosis of hernia is small.

CT

This is a more sophisticated way to detect changes in the vertebrae, but it is difficult to determine the size and presence of hernias, as well as places of compression of the spinal cord.

MRI

This method is the most progressive compared to the previous two. With it, you can make a detailed conclusion about the size, location and structure of intervertebral changes.

Ultrasound duplex scan

It is used for suspected changes in blood flow in the spinal arteries, including its speed and the presence of obstructions.

Rheoencephalography or REG

This study is aimed at investigating the normal blood supply and outflow of blood from the brain. Currently, it is rarely prescribed due to low information content.

The above diagnostic methods can be used individually or in combination to determine the cause of the disease.

Treatment

It is completely impossible to cure cervical osteochondrosis, but with the help of some methods this process can be slowed down.

When this disease is aggravated, as a rule, drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and together with them vitamins and muscle relaxants, the latter are aimed at increasing the elasticity of soft bone tissues. Specialists prescribe massage procedures wearing a Shantz collar. Electrophoresis and ultrasound procedures are also effective.

You can do a massage yourself, but only after consulting a specialist. The main methods are:

• kneadingmuscles - deep external impact, gripping the fold, relatively strong contraction and pressure;
• lightvibration- tapping and shaking;
• trituration- a small application of effort to apply friction to the condition of warming up the muscles;
• caressing- movements are gentle, without using effort;
• squeezing- Light pressure and release.

With the help of manual therapy, you can get rid of pain of a chronic nature, as well as correct your posture. Its direction is to warm up the muscles, relieve tension, restore the normal functions of the joints, and with a sharp effect on the pathogenic areas, the restoration of the cervical vertebrae is carried out.

Acupuncture - this method promotes the release of the hormone cortisol, which has anti-inflammatory properties, into the blood.

Exercise therapy at home

Correctly performed therapeutic exercises have the most positive effect. The main principle of the exercise is based on the normalization of blood flow in the damaged area.

Strong tilts and rotations of the head should not be used during exercise therapy. Movements are allowed in which the joints are in their original position.

There are a number of effective exercises for cervical osteochondrosis.

First

Lie on your stomach, rest your hands on the floor. Raise the head and torso. The back forms a straight line. You should stay in this position for about two minutes. Then slowly take the starting position. The number of repetitions is no more than 3.

Second

Sit and lean forward as you inhale. In this case, the head should touch the chest. On exhalation, the head is tilted and tilted back. You should repeat up to 15 times.

third

In a sitting position, rotate your head alternately in each direction. In this case, the movements should be smooth and shallow. If dizziness occurs, the exercise should be stopped.

Exercise therapy is allowed only in the absence of exacerbation of the pathology. The best effect is achieved during recovery.

The absence of pain and discomfort will indicate the correct use of the complex.

Orthopedic pillows

As a rule, most of the time a person is in a sedentary state. As a result, back pain begins to appear. Rest of the spine is possible only at night during sleep. That's why it's important to choose the right pillow.

Orthopedic sleep elements help reduce stress and normalize the physiological position of the spine at night.

Before choosing a pillow, you should consult your doctor. An experienced specialist will choose the most suitable options, taking into account the rigidity, the presence of rollers on the edges, intended for placement under the door.

If a person is overweight, a pillow with a shoulder slot may be recommended.

To achieve maximum effect, it is important to consider the following criteria:

1. The size. If a person is used to sleeping on his back, the optimal height will be 9 cm. If he is on his stomach, then less.
2. Degreehardness. You should also consider your favorite sleeping position here. If you sleep on your stomach most of the time, a softer product will do, and on your back, it is better to choose a firm pillow.
3. The form. For rest at night, doctors advise to take a rectangular model. For a short break, the crescent option is suitable.

The main disadvantage of orthopedic pillows is that with the wrong choice, a person will constantly feel discomfort.

Needle applicator

It is a device consisting of a fabric base and an elastic material on which plastic plates with spikes are fixed. Additionally, the kit may include magnetic stripe inserts.

The operation of the device is based on the acupuncture effect on the human body. Using the applicator for cervical osteochondrosis contributes to:

• eliminationspasmsand muscle relaxation
• suction cupspainfullyback syndrome;
• normalizationblood circulation;
• improvementmobilityjoints;
• revitalizationmetabolic processes in tissues.

The main contraindications for use:

• chronicdiseases;
• pregnancy;
• oncologicalpathology;
• epilepticattacks;
• tendency tobleeding;
• cordialdisease and lung damage.

The therapeutic course lasts 14-21 days, subject to compliance with all prescriptions of the attending physician. Use the device only in a well-ventilated area.

Diet

Adherence to proper nutrition is an important component in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.

General recommendations

A properly composed diet has its own characteristics. First of all, there are no strict food restrictions. The menu provides for the use of a variety of healthy foods. In any case, the energy value per day is calculated individually. It is important that proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fibers are constantly present in the diet.

To prevent tissue dehydration, it is recommended to drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water per day. In summer, the daily rate increases significantly.

In addition, salt intake should be reduced. Its excessive amount in the body contributes to the appearance of edema and additionally burdens the vascular system. No more than 5 grams of this product is allowed per day.

It is also recommended to reduce the consumption of starch and sugar.

All dishes are prepared by steaming, in the oven, by boiling.

Prohibited products

Patients with cervical osteochondrosis will have to give up a large amount of coffee, sweets and sweet products.

You should completely exclude from the diet:

• dried fish;
• carbonated drinks;
• pickles;
• preserves and sausages;
• cakes;
• fatty broths;
• food additives.

In addition, strong tea, sweet grapes, spicy dishes, marinade and smoked meat are prohibited.

Complications and consequences

Pain resulting from cervical osteochondrosis is not yet a severe symptom of the disease. But if you do not react to them in a timely manner and do not take any action, then later there may be irreversible processes. The most dangerous disease as a result of displacement or herniation of the spinal discs can be cardiovascular pathology.

When the arteries passing through the spine are compressed, cerebral blood circulation is disturbed and the brain feels hungry. As a result, the function of the cerebellum and the upper parts of the spinal cord is disturbed, noises appear in the back of the head.

Due to poor blood supply, vision is impaired and hearing is lost. Co-morbidities such as thyroid disease, migraine, spinal curvature begin. Cervical osteochondrosis can provoke a violation of the normal function of the digestive system and genital organs.

Investigating the pathogenesis of the disease, experts found that its origin is often provoked by an unhealthy lifestyle, malnutrition, as well as stress and increased body load. That is why it is recommended that if minor signs appear, contact your doctor to avoid their development into a more serious pathology.

Prevention

Preventive measures to prevent such a disease must be different. Experts recommend:

• a dreamon a medium firm mattress and a low pillow;
• visit periodicallybathroomor a sauna. This helps relieve muscle tension;
• take dailyshowerwith hot water;
• walk moreon foot, swim or do yoga exercises;
• noturnside of head sharply;
• after work forcomputerat the end of each hour, rest for five minutes while working with your hands, making small turns of the torso, remembering to maintain your posture;
• atstuckwork to keep your back straight;
• specially selectedarmchairsor comfortable work chairs.

In addition to the physical impact on the proper function of the cervical vertebrae, it is necessary to adjust the nutritional diet. To do this, you need to eat a little, but often - at least 5 times a day.

Steamed meals will ensure good digestion and will not have a negative effect on soft bone tissue. It is necessary to drink at least one and a half liters of clean water per day and to completely exclude alcoholic beverages and smoking. Salad dressing is recommended with olive oil.

The following foods should be included in a nutritious diet:

• rabbit meat,Chickenor lean beef
• tomatoesand cucumbers, cabbage, beets, avocados, celery, spinach, lettuce, peppers, carrots and onions;
• leancheese, cottage cheese and milk;
• fish, squid, crabs and oysters;
• aspicand jelly;
• seedsunflower, almonds and hazelnuts;
• cereals, eggs and mushrooms.

It is recommended to exclude from the diet or limit the amount of consumption:

• fatty soups;
• beans;
• beans;
• grape;
• smoked meats;
• flour products and spicy dishes.

For preventive purposes, you can perform simple physical exercises:

1. lie down onthe stomachand rest your hands on the floor. Then slowly and carefully raise your head and fix this position for a minute. After returning to the starting position. So repeat 3 or 4 times.
2. Lying on stomach, handsarrangealong the body, then turn the head slightly to the right. Return to the starting position and also turn your head to the left. Repeat on both sides 5 times.
3. Sitting on a chairI disappointthe head until the chin touches the body. Do this exercise while exhaling. Then take a starting position. After inhaling air from the lungs, tilt your head back. Repeat the exercise - 10 times.
4. Rotatehead 4 times clockwise and counterclockwise, but if the state of health allows this to be done.

Complexes of exercises can be different, the medical worker will help you choose them.

In any case, before performing gymnastics, it is necessary to consult a specialist, and if during the exercises you feel dizzy or feel pain, then they should be stopped and consult your doctor.

Answers to frequently asked questions

What doctor treats?

At the first signs of the development of pathology, you should contact a therapist who, after an initial examination, will give a referral to a neurologist (he is the one who treats problems of the nervous system), a radiologist and a tomography specialist. The vertebrologist performs subsequent diagnostics and prescribes treatment. An osteopath will help you determine the location of the lesion.

What pillow to sleep on with cervical osteochondrosis?

Experts recommend using only orthopedic pillows for sleep. They must meet the following requirements: elastic, moderately dense, rectangular in shape, small in size.

How long does an exacerbation last?

The duration of the attack is on average 2-5 days. However, after this period, for another 2-3 weeks, the patient will feel discomfort in the affected area of the spinal region. Thus, the exacerbation phase can last from several days to several months.

How long should it sit on the needle applicator?

With cervical osteochondrosis, one session lasts no more than 7 minutes. At the same time, every 60 seconds you need to slightly change the position of the head and back. It is necessary to do 2-3 procedures per day.