Osteochondrosis in the cervical region is a degenerative process of damage to the intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue, gradually passing to the vertebrae. In the untreated state, osteochondrosis can lead to dreaded conditions such as radiculopathy, humeral peri-scapular joint disease, and more.
Currently, the etiology of cervical osteochondrosis can be very different, affecting every third of people. However, despite his mass nature, he is very insidious and will not forgive a careless attitude towards himself. How is cervical osteochondrosis treated, regardless of stage of development? First you need to understand what kind of disease it is - cervical osteochondrosis and what causes it.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The main reason for the development of the disease is the same as for the rest of the spine - a sedentary lifestyle. This applies both to the younger generation over the age of 20, and to those who have just crossed the 40-year-old mark: as we age, the results of an unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins and calcium in the body, metabolic disturbances and salt deposits feel sharper.
Add in infectious, toxic, endocrine and genetic predispositions, and now you have a sore head from osteochondrosis, it's hard to turn your neck to one side, and the throbbing pain keeps you from thinking about anything else. This can lead to increased pressure and damage to nerve endings. There's a state of numbness, tingling, heaviness -- symptoms that turn into headaches with osteochondrosis and start to make themselves feel. By the way, cervical osteochondrosis and stress, especially increased stress, is a natural process as arteries can block and interfere with outflow.
Initially, the development of cervical osteochondrosis begins in the intervertebral disc: under the influence of unfavorable factors, the nucleus pulposus begins to lose moisture, elasticity, and microcracks form. As a result, the shock absorbing function of the intervertebral disc decreases and the load on the underlying vertebrae increases. Microcracks also form in them, and osteophytes (bone growths) develop to allow the vertebrae to cope with the increased load area. But the extra osteophytes begin to put pressure on the nerve roots or compress the vertebral arteries. A headache from cervical osteochondrosis is the first symptom you need to be aware of.
Subluxation of the intervertebral joints will occur in the future, and the neck muscles must always be tense to keep the vertebrae in their previous state. But the muscles get tired of being tense, and the load falls on the vertebrae again, exacerbating the development of osteochondrosis.
If you have a headache due to osteochondrosis, you experience constant spasms in your neck muscles, and you need regular massages - consult your doctor. These clinics provide qualified medical services in many areas, including cervical osteochondrosis treatment, manual therapy and massage.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
If you start to experience dizziness, numbness in neck and back muscles, headache - see your doctor immediately, there are obvious signs of osteochondrosis. Cervical-brachial osteochondrosis, manifested with the above-mentioned symptoms, is an unpleasant disease if left untreated.
The risk groups are:
- an experienced driver;
- people who often sit in front of the computer;
- people with spinal disorders;
- students.
All of these people spend most of their time in a position where the muscles are in a fixed position, which causes their spasms.
1st degree cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain, low back pain. Similar back pain can occur with low back pain from lumbosacral osteochondrosis. Due to a sedentary lifestyle, untrained muscles don't get enough nutrients and begin to age. This can happen in your 20s and 50s. Degenerative destruction of the vertebrae then becomes osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree cervical region.
Signs of stage 2 cervical osteochondrosis are an inflammatory process, rupture of the capsule, and the appearance of osteophytes. This process can last for years before disappearing and then re-inflaming, causing "falling head syndrome, " when patients are forced to squeeze their heads with their hands to relieve headaches. Another symptom that indicates cervical osteochondrosis is dizziness and the inability to start treatment.
Previously, only external tests and X-rays were required to make a diagnosis. But in this case, the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is not reliable because X-rays do not show a complete picture of the development of the disease. This requires CT and MRI - procedures that indicate inflammation, circulatory disturbances, pathology and tumor lesions.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis begins with diagnosis, starting with restoring the tone of the spastic muscles. Cervical osteochondrosis is less painful in the early stages and does not require medication. It is enough to take a special massage or manual therapy session, check the working conditions and switch to a healthier lifestyle: less sitting in front of a computer, more exercise, light physical work.
However, if you feel dizzy, osteochondrosis won't let you turn your neck, and the pain won't let you rest—you'll need full medical attention. In this case, to relieve pain, doctors prescribe pain relievers (in the acute phase - injections), followed by tablets, ointments and gels, which have a warming effect. Professional massage for cervical osteochondrosis will also bring great relief and relieve pain for a period of time.
The main stages of cervical osteochondrosis treatment are:
- Eliminate pain syndrome;
- remove edema;
- normalization of blood circulation;
- strengthen muscles and increase tone;
- Restore tissue regeneration.
Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes medication and acupuncture techniques, acupuncture and reflexology, manual therapy and massage, folk remedies and homeopathic preparations.
All doctor's prescriptions and treatment procedures are available at the clinic, where you will have service offices with modern equipment, hospitals and experienced specialist doctors. To correctly diagnose cervical osteochondrosis and treat it appropriately, a team of doctors specializing in stenosis is required: a chiropractor and a surgeon, a massage therapist and a neurologist, a physiotherapist.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis, headaches, dizziness, back pain, and burning pain in the neck and shoulders are symptoms that prevent people from living a normal life. But all of this can be avoided if you stick to simple things: a correct and healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, more physical activity and therapeutic exercise.