More and more people are choosing jobs that don't 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 this disease, the joint cartilage and bone tissue change. Previously, this term united a large number of diseases, now it exclusively means degenerative conditions of the spine.
Why is the cervical region most commonly affected? It is he who has greater mobility and a large number of neurons and blood vessels. Before learning how to treat cervical osteochondrosis, eliminate the cause of the disease.
Causes of the disease
Osteochondrosis does not always occur with acute symptoms. Due to the 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, vertebrae;
- metabolic disease.
In addition, risk factors should be considered. They may not necessarily lead to a disease, but in adverse circumstances they can manifest:
- the body undergoes inevitable changes with age;
- whether there was cervical osteochondrosis in the ancestors;
- often hormonal disturbances lead to metabolic disturbances;
- some chronic diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or rheumatism, can lead to thinning of the cartilage;
- hypothermia.
Stages of the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis, like many other diseases, includes several stages of development.
- So in the first stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs is noted, the danger of this moment is that there is no intense pain, maximum discomfort in the neck. Due to changes in the structure of the disc, compression of the nerve roots occurs - this is the source of the disease. As a rule, with timely diagnosis, it is possible to completely cure the disease. It is important to correctly prescribe the treatment and follow all the recommendations of the doctor.
- In the second phase, in addition to the destruction of the 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" when it is necessary to keep the head in a certain position to relieve pain. A typical symptom is intense pain.
- The third stage is the development of hernias and protusions, as well as the effect on internal organs. Since with such a development of the disease, the cervical vertebrae compress the blood vessels, disturbances in the blood flow to the brain. For this reason, headaches, nausea, dizziness and the like appear. In rare cases, numbness of the limbs may appear. With bad development of events, a stroke is possible. The danger of this stage of the disease is that the pain is not that intense. Many people are sure that the disease is over, that everything is healed and, in the meantime, the destruction of the spine continues. It concerns the cartilage tissue, since she is the cause of the pain, but in the third stage it is completely destroyed. Sometimes hearing and coordination disorders develop.
There are also specific features of the course of cervical osteochondrosis. Depending on which parts of the spine are damaged, there are different syndromes. Each of them has a different type of pain.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
For example, cervical osteochondrosis can cause migraines. It happens with hypertension. As a result of its appearance, intracranial pressure increases, which leads to pain. Due to high blood pressure, there is a risk of developing a stroke.
In addition, the headache is often due to compression of the vertebral arteries.
With this syndrome, there is a decrease in visual acuity, dizziness, impaired coordination. All this happens due to the lack of oxygen supply to the brain. With sudden movements of the head, fainting is possible.
Compression of the spinal roots is much more dangerous, as this syndrome has a complex of symptoms. First, the pain is localized in the neck and radiates to the forearm, sometimes it can radiate to the hands. In the early stages of the disease, a crunch may be heard when turning the neck. With further pinching of the roots, respiratory disorders appear, sensations of a coma in the throat. Due to the fact that the nerves of the cervical vertebrae are closely connected to the face, when the roots are pinched, numbness of the tongue or reduced mobility can be observed.
If the spine is not treated in a timely manner, the symptoms will increase and become more pronounced. Due to the lack of oxygen in the brain, malfunctions begin which can lead to a number of mental illnesses (depression, anxiety disorder, hyperventilation, and so on).
It is important to promptly distinguish between cervical osteochondrosis and epilepsy. They are often confused due to the tension of the whole body and the brief loss of consciousness.
For this, modern diagnostic methods are used. Due to changes in the work of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, a violation in the work of the heart occurs, as a result symptoms of tachycardia and arrhythmia appear. Another non-obvious manifestation of the disease is swelling under the eyes. They arise due to compression of the lateral vessels of the spine.
Cervical Osteochondrosis Diagnosis
Before starting treatment of the spine, it is necessary to consult a neurologist to clarify the diagnosis. Thanks to modern methods of studying the body, medicine is armed with a large arsenal of techniques for finding the disease. More recently, the most a neurologist could offer was an x-ray and external examination. As a rule, such methods did not give an effective result, which is why osteochondrosis was often detected at severe stages of development. The disadvantage of X-rays is the inability to see the whole picture of the disease. She is currently scheduled for a CT scan or MRI. These are fast, high-quality studies with virtually no contraindications.
After receiving the images, you need to consult a doctor.
Medical assistance
When asked "how to treat cervical osteochondrosis" a doctor-verterbrologist will answer. This is a narrow focus of neurology, which studies the spine and related diseases. Before prescribing drugs, the doctor must prescribe a number of measures to restore blood circulation and relieve swelling. There is no unequivocal opinion about non-traditional methods of treatment. As a rule, in addition to consulting a neurologist, the patient will need the help of a surgeon, massage therapist, physiotherapist. In severe stages of the disease, the recovery period takes longer.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation?
In a pathological condition such as an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms manifest themselves in the form of pain, impaired mobility, various sensitivity disorders and tissue trophism. The first step is to relieve the pain. For this purpose, there are several drugs. For example, you can use a pepper patch. Due to the warming action, he copes with the task perfectly. Any pain reliever would be helpful. To get rid of edema, take any diuretic. As home remedies, you can make cranberries or cranberries or special herbal preparations.
If medications don't help, you can use a needle applicator. Thanks to the point effect, it helps relieve pain, reduce swelling and improve blood flow. The main thing to remember is that after giving first aid, you should always consult a doctor.
Treatment of vertigo in cervical osteochondrosis is not so fundamental. It is important to eliminate the root cause of the disease. To maintain the condition, doctors prescribe medications that can thin the blood and restore blood flow to the brain. An added bonus of these drugs: improve memory and normalize sleep.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine consists not only in taking drugs, but also in massage and physical education. To further prevent the occurrence of diseases of the cervical spine, it is necessary to form the correct muscular corset of the back. In some cases, self-massage can also be effective. For him, you can apply such simple techniques as rubbing and stroking, as well as vibrations.
Alternative medicine
One of the types of non-traditional treatment of osteochondrosis is manual therapy. Its essence lies in the impact on certain points of the body, which allows you to fix the bones and joints. In danger? The fact that a non-specialist can seriously injure a client, as the nerves are a delicate matter. Any careless movement can cause paresis or paralysis. How to treat osteochondrosis in other ways?
An ambiguous opinion develops around acupuncture. Unlike manual therapy, the impact on the diseased areas is carried out in a timely manner, using needles. The danger is that ignorance of the injection sites can seriously worsen the patient's condition. The applicator works on the same principle.
Even more controversy is the appointment of homeopathy. Its advantage is that the drugs have side effects and should not be taken frequently. Homeopathic remedies do not have this disadvantage. But their benefits have not been scientifically proven.
In any case, if you experience pain in your spine or neck, contact your doctor as soon as possible. It is best to treat any disease in the early stages, so the success of its cure is real enough forever. Do not refuse to take the medicine in times of exacerbation.