Cervical osteochondrosis.

Neck pain is an alarming signal.Perhaps this is just an over -teaching and you just have to relax and relax.But what happens if the pain is associated with the osteochondrosis of the cervical column?It is important to carefully consider symptoms and treatment, because complications can affect the most important organ: the brain.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

The osteochondrosis of the cervical column is a degenerative disease of the bone cherry system of the body.It leads to the destruction of cervical intervertebral discs, the growth of the bone tissue of the vertebrae, the formation of growth on their surfaces.

The cervical column consists of seven vertebrae, the first of which is articulated with the skull.The anatomical and functional unit of the column is the spinal-motor segment.This is a joint complex, due to which the spinal column moves.The complex consists of two vertebrae, the intervertebral disc, the articular surfaces of the vertebrae (facet), nerves, ligaments and muscles.

Osteochondrosis begins with damage to the intervertebral disc and affects all surrounding tissues.Over time, the process leads to a violation of the biomechanics of the column as a whole.With the development of osteochondrosis, you can form hernias of intervertebral discs, nerve roots and blood vessels.

The pathological processes on the intervertebral disc take four stages: diet, ligament weakening, disk damage and nerve compression.

• Stage 1.The conditions of the power and metabolism of the intervertebral disk are violated.Due to the characteristics of the structure, the discs are eaten only during the movement.If not, the changes of distribution tissue begin: the album dies of hunger and dehydrates.Water loss leads to the fact that the intervertebral disc cannot perform the depreciation functions.The load in the fibrous ring intensifies, cracks and tears appear in it.At this time, a minor pain may appear.
• Stage 2.In the second stage, the vertebral segment ligament apparatus occurs.The connection becomes pathologically mobile.The pathological process on the disc is aggravated, the hernia (prolapse) begins, filtering the octopo core through cracks in the fibrous ring.The pain becomes newspaper.
• Stage 3.In addition, the intervertebral disc is completely damaged.The nucleus of octopoos of the disc goes beyond the fibrous ring.The resulting hernia can violate nerve roots.The inflammatory process develops.This is manifested by an exacerbation of pain, the root syndrome called.
• Stage 4.In the fourth stage, defeat affects nearby fabrics.It is possible to squeeze the root artery, which leads to the lack of blood supply to the spinal cord.As a result, the column can be completely immobilized.

The first main signs and symptoms

At the beginning of the development of the osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the discomfort, the limitation of movement, neck pain.Often this does not give importance.

Over time, the pain intensifies, it hurts, burned, the head, the neck, the shoulder blades, the shoulders hurt, perhaps this develops the syndrome of the vertebral artery.The artery is squeezed or spasmodic, the blood flow is altered.

In 1-2 stages of cervical osteochondrosis, ophthalmological problems associated with spasm in the vessels often occur.Darkening in the eyes, blinking, the appearance of "flies", colored spots in front of the eyes, all these are symptoms of osteochondrosis.

The most frequent symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. Migraines, dizziness, nausea and cough.
2. Auditory disability, ear in the ear, face.
3. Motor disorders in the hands, legs.The sensitivity of the skin in the head can be a gap.
4. Pain in hand.If a nervous column is pinched, then the entire area in which it sends impulses can hurt or "fall".

In addition to the previous symptoms, you can distinguish three main pain syndrome, accompanying the osteochondrosis of the cervical column.Syndrome is a complex of symptoms.The determination of the main pain syndrome is important, since the entire treatment regime is built precisely to eliminate pain.And it is impossible to eliminate it without knowing the origin.

• Mífascial syndrome- pain in skeletal muscles and adjacent fascia.The violation is associated with an overload, in which spasm, hypertonicity, painful nodes inside the muscles (activation points) are produced.
• Syndrome- The pain caused by the prolonged tightness of the roots of the spinal nerves.The hernial formation process for the spine osteochondrosis leads to a pinch of nerve fibers and the subsequent inflammatory reaction.The pain spreads along the nerve.
• Facetage syndrome- Pain in vertebrates.The vertebrae of the second cervical have joint processes, which are interconnected by arched joints (facets).With the osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, their height decreases and this leads to the fact that the capsules of the joints of the arched joints are in constant tension.This causes pain.In addition, pain increases at the end of the day, especially with a long -term forced position.

The causes of osteochondrosis in the cervical column

One of the key causes of osteochondrosis is the evolution of the spine to a high vertical load.People's ancestors walked on four legs, like other mammals.They did not suffer from osteochondrosis, since in the horizontal position of the body intra -discarded pressure is half of the vertical.According to evolution standards, the straightened transition occurred not long ago, and the backbone simply did not have time to adapt to a high vertical load.Then, together with the smoothing, a person also acquired diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

An even more vulnerable neck of a person makes its structure.The department of Cervical of a person consists of seven small mobile vertebrae, which are articulated by the type of child pyramid.This design can hardly be called stable outside the rest of the rest.In addition, the muscular frame in this area is weak and loads can be high, all this makes the neck vulnerable.Any injury is full of consequences.Even if the damage was in another column, the redistribution of the load can cause osteochondrosis.

Another factor is aging.Skeleton formation and cartilage fabric ends in 21 and after that the irreversible aging process begins (degeneration).Cartilage foods are carried out only due to diffusion, and if the intervertebral disc does not receive nutrients, it begins to collapse gradually.

In addition, the development of cervical osteochondrosis contributes to:

1. Autoimmune diseases.They involve their own body cells in the pathological process of the destruction of cartilage tissue.
2. Infections, hormonal insufficiency, deceleration in metabolism: all these circulatory disorders can also serve as factors for the development of osteochondrosis.
3. A sedentary lifestyle, working conditions under which a person spends most of the time in a forced static position.
4. High loads that lead to lesions can cause compression.
5. Genetic defects associated with the weakness of the musculoskeletal system and the inferiority of cartilage tissue.

The spinal channel in the cervical column is very narrow, so high loads, any violation or injury can cause compression of the spinal cord.And this is very dangerous.

In addition, a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels pass in this area.If blood stops flowing to the brain in the proper volume, a stroke can occur.

Diagnosis

In the primary diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor collects the patient's history.He discovers that and how it hurts, with what intensity, with a load or at rest, what time of the day it hurts, if the cervical column has happened.

During the neck exam, the doctor feels the cervical vertebrae and muscles, lymph nodes;Evaluate the volume of movements, excludes or confirms Rooser's syndrome.

After that, a laboratory diagnosis is prescribed to exclude autoimmune diseases: a general blood analysis, ESR, rheumatoid factor, HLA B27 antigen.

The main role in the diagnosis is given to radiography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance.

• RntgenographyIt helps evaluate the condition of bone structures, soft tissues and cartilage in the images are not shown.To visualize these structures, the contrast medium is introduced: angiography, discography, myelography.
• Computed tomography (CT).This method also uses the radiography principle, but using computer processing, you can obtain a series of images of longitudinal and transverse sections in which you can see bone and cartilage.
• Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRI).It is a "gold standard" in the diagnosis of pathologies, including cartilage and soft tissues.Magnetic resonance gives an idea not only about the structure of organs and tissues, but also its functioning.In the case of osteochondrosis with a frequent complication, there is a hernia of the spine.Magnetic resonance allows you to diagnose the hernia formation process in the early stages.

Treatment

The treatment of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column is reduced to conservative methods.Initially, pain syndrome is eliminated and several procedures are prescribed.But in the most extreme cases, when the pain does not happen for more than three months and the medications do not help, the surgery becomes the only way out.

Non -surgical treatment methods

Osteochondrosis has hit the bone system -ocal for more than a year and, therefore, the treatment will take time.You must gain patience.Conservative treatment tasks:

1. Eliminate pain.
2. Eliminate inflammation.
3. Restore the functions of spinal roots.
4. Strengthen muscle corset and ligaments.

Conservative treatment includes drug and physiotherapy therapy.The preparations help to relieve pain during exacerbation and physiotherapy, to launch the processes of auto -stirred from the body.

During severe pain with root syndrome, the "block" is called so: the drug is administered in the vicinity of the inflamed spinal nerve column.

Physiotherapeutic treatment is based on recreated natural and artificial physical factors: cold, heat, electric current, magnetic radiation, laser and others.For reconstruction, special devices, devices, manual methods are used.

• Laser therapy- Biological activation of the regeneration processes of intervertebral discs.The body begins to self -contain.
• Plasmotherapy (PRP therapy)- Plasma injections isolated from the patient's blood.The plasma is rich in platelets, growth factors, hormones.After injection, local immunity is launched, regeneration processes are launched.
• Acupuncture- Stimulation of nerve endings with special needles.Improves metabolism in affected areas, it relieves pain.
• Shock wave therapy- Exposure to high frequency waves.It allows you to begin natural recovery processes.
• Kines butapy- Movement therapy.It can be active (exercise therapy) and liabilities (massage, traction).LFK strengthens back muscles, traction relieves tension and pain.It is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.
• Manual therapy and massage- Exposure to soft tissues and joints to restore balance in the body and synchronization of processes.Return mobility and eliminates pain.
• Adhesive tape- Paste special plaster in the skin in places where it is necessary to affect the receptors of stretching and compression of the muscles.It can relax and increase the tone.

In the period of acute pain, the patient is recommended to wear special bandages and necklaces on the neck.

The positive effect of conservative treatment is achieved in 2-3 months.If there is no result, the patient is recommended.

Surgical methods of treatment of osteochondrosis

The operation in the case of cervical osteochondrosis is an extreme measure for which special indications are needed.Operation is recommended:

1. Pain cannot be eliminated by therapeutic treatment for more than 3 months.
2. There is an intervertebral album hernia.
3. Sensitivity in the limb disappears

Postoperative rehabilitation also takes time and may include therapeutic treatment.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a complex degenerative disease.You can't treat it.Such serious violations in the musculoskeletal system can lead to disability.Neck pain can become chronic, osteochondrosis will spread to several parts of the spine.Timely prevention can prevent the development of this disease.

Prevention

To maintain the health of the cervical column, daily physical activity is necessary.The food of the intervertebral discs occurs in motion, so it is extremely necessary.It is important that the loads are optimal and regular.

If the work is related to the constant finding in a static position, a warm newspaper is needed.And at home after a working day, you can go to bed on your back on a flat surface for some time, placing a roller under the neck.This method will help restore the cervical curve of the column, eliminate muscle tension.

In the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis, the right possession during sleep is important.If a person in the morning leaves pain in the neck, then the muscles did not have time to relax and recover.

Here, an orthopedic pillow, which is selected individually, for 3-5 years will help.

Do not postpone treatment

A doctor will help you choose a recovery program.It will evaluate the condition of the spine in the magnetic resonance images, will report the probability of resorption and the possibility of treatment.