The causes of headache, numbness of the fingers, numbness in the heart sometimes should be sought not in the place of their localization but on the neck.The osteochondrosis of this department affects the condition of the belt of the head and shoulders, as well as the organs of these areas.
It is a dystrophic disease of the connecting intervertebral discs that serve as shock absorbers in the spine.Depending on the level and volume of the lesion, appropriate symptoms develop.
The cervical department is the most mobile and vulnerable section of the spine.The influence of adverse factors leads to a disruption of cartilage nutrition, thinning of the discs, the formation of hernia or the growth of bone tissue.The nerve roots are pressed, the blood flow to the peripheral vessels is disturbed.
Reasons
The factors that can lead to osteochondrosis are very diverse:
- sedentary lifestyle, lack of training for the muscle monitoring apparatus;
- Long forced posture with increased neck load - stuck working with a bowed head;
- neck injuries;
- metabolic disorder;
- improperly selected pillows and mattress;
- obesity;
- systemic connective tissue diseases;
- Hereditary predisposition.
The following causes are a direct effect on the development of the symptoms of the disease:
- The skill of the intervertebral disc develops quite rarely, but this condition leads to the development of paralysis;
- Reducing the height of the disc - equalization leads to a decrease in the diameter of the intervertebral opening, resulting in the nerve roots is pressed;
- The hernia of the intervertebral discs is a protrusion that can pull the root;
- The osteophytes are located on the side of the vertebrae bodies, irritate the adjacent muscles, cause their edema, an increased tone, which increases the load on the disc and leads to a decrease in its height.If the growth is directed to the spinal canal, it will lead to its narrowing.
Symptoms of the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by grouping symptoms in syndromes that determine the clinical manifestations and complaints of patients.
Vertebrae syndrome
The manifestations of the signs are related to the condition of the bone or cartilage tissue of the vertebrae.In order to diagnose this syndrome, there must be all its symptoms:
- change in mobility in the cervical region;
- pain during movement;
- Disruption of the morphological structure of the discs and bodies of the vertebrae.
The lack of one of the signs allows you to suspect another disease with similar symptoms.There is a decrease in mobility without changes in morphology in myositis - muscle damage.Pain is characteristic of many other diseases.
Spinal artery syndrome
Symptoms that form it as follows:
- Compression of the artery and impaired blood flow to its trunk, which leads to dizziness, tinnitus, fluctuations in blood pressure, nausea or vomiting;
- Irritation of the nerve processes of the artery manifests with a severe headache of the type of migraine, reduction of sensitivity, numbness, flipping flies in front of the eyes, temporary reduction of vision;
- Brain hypoxia or oxygen starvation is expressed by reducing productivity, seizures, lethargy, drowsiness, deterioration, in severe cases even depression.
The spinal artery lesion is reduced from the blood supply to the corresponding parts of the brain.But such a syndrome can be observed in other pathologies - atherosclerotic lesions of the vessels, compression of their growing tumors, inflamed tissues.
Carden syndrome
The appearance of signs of angina, pain in the heart does not always show the pathology of this organ.These may be signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, which include:
- Loaded pain;
- shortness of breath;
- Rapid fatigue and weakness.
In this situation, the exclusion method works - the diagnosis of heart disease is carried out using ECG, resulting in no changes characteristic of angina.There is no atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries on angiography.
Rook syndrome
These symptoms have a single manifestation and are associated with damage to the roots of the respective pair of spinal nerves.It is characterized by pain, paralysis or paresis, impaired sensitivity from the respective side.
The first and second root is characterized by pain or numbness in the back area.The third couple is manifested by numbness and a feeling of bursting of the tongue, the difficulty of swallowing and chewing, impaired sensitivity behind the ear sinking.
The compression of 4 pairs leads to hiccups, pain in the clan and in the throat when swallowed.The fifth pair is expressed in limiting movement in the shoulders, the sixth - pain and numbness in the shoulder blades and forearms.
The seventh causes numbness in the hands, more often in the index and middle fingers, the eight - paresis and impaired sensitivity in the ring and the little finger.
The pathological process is very rarely limited to a pair of nerve roots, often several are affected at once, which confuses the clinical picture and leads to difficulty in diagnosis.
Lack of treatment or wrong selection of the methodology can lead to complications in the form of hernial convexity, rupture of the disc, and a sharp displacement of the vertebrae, which may end with damage or death.
Diagnostics
The justification of the diagnosis is possible after conducting X -ray study at direct and side projection.In the photos, reducing the height of the disc, narrowing the intervertebral opening and the pathological growth of the bones is obviously noticeable.
Treatment
When diagnosing, cervical osteochondrosis symptoms of treatment at home may occur if patients follow the prescribed regimen rather than a complex course of the disease.
Modern medicine offers several areas of therapy:
Medication>
Taking certain drug groups is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, improving cartilage nutrition, antioxidant protection.
After the appropriate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat treatment with osteochondrosis medicines for the cervix, you cannot prescribe you.
The following drug groups are used:
- No -high anti -inflammatory anti -inflammatory.They eliminate pain and inflammation, reduce proliferative processes.The preparations of this group may be prescribed in tablets, but in the acute period an intramuscular administration is possible.It is not recommended to use them for a long time, taking maximum doses for more than a week leading to the development of non -rescue ulcers, causing toxic damage to the liver.
- Chondroprotectors begin to be used from the moment the diagnosis is installed.The manifestation of their effect should be very long.
- This applies to a greater degree of tablet forms and capsules for oral administration.Injection drugs are prescribed courses, their effect is more quickly manifested.They contain glucosamine, which affects the metabolism in cartilage and chondroitin, which slows down the destruction of the disc.There are natural chondroprotectors - these are dishes with gelatin - jelly, jelly, as well as fish.
- Vasodilating drugs eliminate vascular spasm, improve blood flow to the muscles and help reduce inflammation.
- Diuretics use when symptoms of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occur.Treatment is performed in a short course to relieve inflammatory edema and nerve compression.
- Vitamin preparations are aimed at antioxidant protection of cartilage tissue, damaged nerves, brain cells.This requires A, E, with vitamins.Group B is required to improve the condition of the peripheral nerves.They will use the alternation of vitamin B6 and B12 every day.Taking groups of group vitamins in a short course is effectively affected.
- If cervical osteochondrosis of the ointment is worsened, helps to eliminate pain, has a warming effect and improves blood flow.It is applied on a very small amount using a special massage in the area of lesion.
Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs have a small local analgesic effect.Unlike tablets, they can be used for a long time.
>Physiotherapy
This method is used in addition to the basic method of treatment.Physiotherapy acts selectively on the affected area, relieves pain, edema and inflammation, improves microcirculation and local immunity.
The following methods are applicable:
- Electrotherapy produces a local warming effect, which is why blood circulation improves, swelling is removed.But this method is contraindicated for those who have pacemakers and metal implants.
- Induction magnetic fields act for about 20 minutes on pathological focus, relieve pain and inflammation.
- Laser therapy activates bioelectric processes in nerve tissues, improves their regeneration.The procedure is performed in the ground of inflamed roots of the spinal cord, no more than 2 minutes per zone.
- Treatment of Balneo - the use of therapeutic mud, mineral waters, ozoc.It is performed during the period of exacerbation and remission to prevent and consolidate the effect of treatment.
Medical physical education
This method cannot be used in the acute period of the disease and perform exercises, overcoming the pain.They are all produced smoothly without rattling.You can't throw your head back and make circular motions.If there is hernia on the intervertebral disc, then consultation of a neurologist or neurosurgeon is required.
A set of osteochondrosis exercises of the cervical spine:
- Warm -up.Within 2-3 minutes, walk in place with full leg, socks, heels (how to treat the spur on the heel).
- Take straight, gradually strain your fists, hands, shoulders, hold for half a minute, relax and talk with your hands.
- Carefully fill the head and right shoulder inclinations, stay in any position for 10 seconds.
- In a sitting position or strictly up the shoulders, then, as if straightening them, lower them a little back.
- Standing or sitting slowly lower your head down and touch your chin on your chest.Slowly take the starting position.
- Extend your hands from the side, squeeze your fists.Perform brushes 4 times in each direction.
- Get up, spread your hands on the side.Make a rotary movement in the elbows in series and forth.
- In the same way, a circular motion in the shoulder joint is performed.
- Relaxation - Raise your hands up and release them freely, relaxing as much as possible.
Massage
An experienced mass master will tell you how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home using massage and self -massage.
The basic principles can be called the following:
- All actions are performed with peaks at the top;
- You need to move from the spine into the periphery;
- You cannot apply force, only light massive action;
- All movements are implemented smoothly, without hurrying.
Usually use rubbing, mixing, caressing the neck.
Surgical treatment
It is used to narrow the spinal canal of hernia, which is accompanied by compression of the vessels and nerves of the spine.
The indication is also the instability of the cervical spine.Hernia is not an indication of surgery.
In this case, they continue from the effectiveness of drug treatment, the patient's condition, the severity of the symptoms of osteochondrosis.The hernia is removed using a scalpel or in a more modern way - using a laser.
But often after surgical treatment, the symptoms of the disease are eliminated for some time and later resumed.
Prevention
In order not to wonder how to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical region at home, it is necessary to prevent the disease.First is the adjustment of the stand.Store creates an extra load of the cervical vertebrae, causing an inflammatory reaction
The long -term forced position with a bow bowed should also be avoided when there is a large load in this department.
If you need to be uncomfortable for a long time, you should perform your neck exercises periodically.You also need to choose the right sleep pillow.