Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are one of the most common diseases on Earth.Some people have successfully avoided them, especially after 40 years, although experts acknowledge that problems with spine, muscles and joints have become "younger", and very young people are complaining about pain.
This is due to a lifestyle that is already common to many: inactivity, prolonged accommodation in one position (most often behind the tool and monitor), lack of physical activity.As a result, disrupted posture, salts and other harmful substances accumulate in the body, the function of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted, and as a result, the internal organs can be defective.
The most common disease is osteochondrosis, which affects both older and younger people, and among osteochondrosis - a problem with lumbosacral and cervical spine.The second most common type of osteochondrosis, cervix, is an unpleasant disease, and in addition, it is progressive, without treatment, it significantly worsens the way of life, even to the point of defect.This means that you need to recognize the symptoms of the disease immediately and immediately contact an orthopedic or vertebrologist for treatment.
How does cervical osteochondrosis develop?
If a person brings an inactive lifestyle or, because of their profession, is in the same position for a long time, then their risk of facing osteochondrosis is very high.As the disease develops, changes occur in the intervertebral disc, they become defective and change their structure.
The intervertebral disc is located between the vertebrae, their job is to support the spine, making it flexible and strong.There are seven vertebrae in the neck, with the help of the head supported and rotated, the neck, and so on.The cervical vertebra is very close to each other, so they are injured and moved even from small physical energy.The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it affects the nerve endings of the spinal cord, which damages the vessels that supply blood to the brain.On the other hand, the brain does not receive enough important substances, and this can lead to the development of several more serious diseases that can cause disability and death of the patient.
There are many reasons for the occurrence and development of cervical osteochondrosis.Some of the most common and frequent reasons are as follows:
- Metabolism is affected in the body, especially in the cervical region, hormone imbalance;
- salt deposition;
- low physical activity, inactive lifestyle;
- stay in one position for a long time (on a computer, drive car, etc.);
- poor nutrition;
- Overweight;
- neck and bruised injuries;
- Hypothermia of the body.
Osteochondrosis also occurs in the background of chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as scoliosis or rheumatism.
In addition, the genetic tendency of the body often leads to osteochondrosis.
But for whatever reason, osteochondrosis must be treated as soon as the first symptom appears.
Sign of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis in this part of the spine does not always happen suddenly -unexpectedly and unexpectedly.Often, it develops slowly, and symptoms are increasing over time and their numbers increase.The more the vertebrae is damaged and the nerve root is pinched, the symptoms the symptoms.
The first symptoms you should notice are different strength pains - different in the cervical spine, which radiates to other parts of the body - back of the head, forehead, ears, arms, shoulders, chest, and so on.If you are in pain, you should consult your doctor to determine if it is osteochondrosis, which is often the same as symptoms to other diseases.
Other signs of osteochondrosis
- Neck pain increases with hard work or turning heads;
- The patient feels numbness, burning or tingling in the limbs;
- Headache and dizziness, loss of strength is common, patients can complain of darkness and spots in the eyes, tinnitus;
- Fatigue is possible if you turn your head on a sudden.
Cervical osteochondrosis is also characterized by:
- lack of coordination;
- pain in the heart area;
- deterioration of vision and hearing.
Type of osteochondrosis
Depending on the type of pinching nerve and the nature of the disease, the doctor distinguishes some syndrome:
- Radicular syndrome;
- vertebral artery syndrome;
- Heart Syndrome.
Radicular syndrome is pinching the first pair of cervical nerve endings.Pain is felt in the neck, radiating to the shoulder blade, lower, shoulder, and lower arm.
With vertebral arterial syndrome, the patient suffers from pulsating pain in the back of the head or temple, or the pain in the neck, back of the head, which increases during the head, during sleep, during coughing, and radiates to the chest and shoulders.
With cardiac syndrome, the symptoms initially resemble angina pectoris, but the pain does not disappear after taking nitroglycerin, lasting for several hours and can be intensified with deep movement and breathing.
Symptoms of damage to a particular vertebrae
Treatment of osteochondrosis is prescribed based on which ends with damaged nerves.There are eight of them, each located on the cervical vertebra.You can determine which vertebrae is affected by the symptoms that correspond to certain nerve roots.
Damage to the ending nerves and the pain of its characteristics
- The first and second parts: the sensitivity of the back of the head, pain in the parietal and occipital region;
- Third section: numbness from the neck in the pinching area, the adverse speech, the tongue sensitivity;occurs very rarely;
- Fourth part: pain and numbness in the collarbone and/or shoulder, disruption of the respiratory system, pain in the heart area;
- Fifth section: shoulder pain, pain on the outer surface of the shoulder, the sensitivity of the limbs;
- Sixth and seventh sections: pain in the neck, shoulder blades, lower arm, back, lower back, disturbed sensitivity of hands and fingers;the most common wound;
- Eighth section: pain in the neck, back, elbows, finger numbness -small in all feet, foot and hand cyanosis due to poor circulation, lack of skin sensitivity, radiating to the feet.
Diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To certainly establish the diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis," you must consult your doctor.Many symptoms of osteochondrosis are similar to other signs of diseases, so it is important not only to start treatment for osteochondrosis on time, but also not miss other pathologies.
If osteochondrosis is suspected and there are signs of pinching nerve endings, doctors prescribe radiography;In the event of insufficient data, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound doppler imaging and duplex scanning.
Based on the research data, the nature of the pain syndrome and the combination of other symptoms, it is possible to determine the damaged disc and initiate the necessary treatment that will restore the affected vertebra and nerve root and prevent the complications of osteochondrosis from developing.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, usually complex.First and foremost, it should relieve the symptoms of pain, which if the cervical osteochondrosis sometimes is almost unbearable and spread not only to the neck, but also to other parts of the body.
For this purpose, painkillers in tablets are used, but in the case of severe pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as heating and analgesic ointments, are indicated.
Because medications and ointments only relieve pain and other symptoms of neck osteochondrosis, but do not eliminate the cause.After the pain decreases, the patient is prescribed massage, physical therapy, and physical therapy.Patients are prescribed diets, medications that improve blood circulation and body function, in tablets and injections, as well as chondroprotectors that help protect and restore intervertebral disc tissue.
In some cases, as an additional treatment, the patient is prescribed bathing, paraffin baths, reflexology, and hirudotherapy.Traditional methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis often help to return the patient to a normal lifestyle, but they only need to be used in combination with traditional methods and after consulting with a doctor, as traditional medicine may have contraindications, and the use of recipes can harm the organisms that are already weak by the disease.
Complications and Prevention of Disease
Remember: Treatment for cervical osteochondrosis should be started as soon as possible.The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more difficult to cure the disease, and in the meantime it can cause a variety of complications.Cervical spinal osteochondrosis is very dangerous as it contains many blood vessels and nerve plexus that supplies the brain.
Any disorders can cause problems with cerebral circulation, neurological disorders, including migraines and hypertension, and affect the liver, respiratory system, hearing, and vision.
If you start osteochondrosis, the more serious consequences are possible in the form of cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke or radiculopathy - a disease in which the process of forming the affected vertebrae, partially or completely inhibits the body of sensitivity and mobility.But this is not the worst thing, because in the case of severe osteochondrosis, the spinal cord is compressed, which can cause the patient's death.
Therefore, it is very important to hear symptoms as early as possible and contact a specialist who will help you return to full life.And to prevent diseases such as cervical osteochondrosis, you need to move more, avoid physical activity, monitor your weight, eat healthy and balanced diets, and regularly visit orthopedics or vertebrologists.