Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, lowered head while working at a computer, "sitting" in front of the TV for hours are factors that contribute to the appearance and development of the disease. .
Stages of disease development
The disease develops in stages:
- 1st degree cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by cartilage tissue damage, the patient feels muscle discomfort, mild weakness. Symptoms disappear, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis involves destruction of the fibrous ring, reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, which are constricted, painful symptoms appear;
- 3rd degree cervical osteochondrosis is expressed in further successive destruction of the vertebrae, change in the shape of their bodies, proliferation of bone processes, intervertebral hernia is variable. The patient feels difficulty, pain when trying to turn the door to the side
Symptoms
In the initial phase of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long stay with a bowed head or intense physical effort, there is a slight discomfort in the back of the head. The patient is not in a hurry to see a doctor, he mistakenly considers it a consequence of muscle strain. The pathology is progressing slowly but steadily.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensations in the problem area - "lumbago" is given on the arm, shoulder blade;
- overexertion of cervical muscles;
- numbness of the tongue - felt when eating, talking;
- paresis of the muscles of the arms, legs, accompanies every activity
As the intervertebral discs and vertebrae deform, the patient's condition worsens.
The course of osteochondrosis is complicated by neurogenic symptoms caused by compression of osteophytes or hernial protrusion of the spinal roots, vertebral artery. Headache, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, decreased visual and hearing acuity appear.
what to do
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of disease development, drug treatment is not used. Enough preventive procedures:
- Organization of a healthy lifestyle;
- Proper nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty, high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (performing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Give up lifting weights - load on the spine;
- Fighting bad habits;
- Take a proper position during sleep (orthopedic mattresses will help you) while working at the computer;
- Watch your gait.
Use of drugs
With age, osteochondrosis progresses. Treatment is aimed at suppressing the pathological property. It is worth to reduce pain (anesthetize), reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process and intensify metabolism in the cervical area.
Groups of drugs are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesics;
- muscle relaxants (medicines to relieve muscle cramps).
Doctors often prescribe medications that contain aspirin. Such drugs relieve pain, fever and fight minor weaknesses.
The course includes tranquilizers.
A doctor who develops an anti-disease complex will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of medication.
Injections
Blockade is a procedure that involves the introduction of a drug into an area affected by a progressive pathological process.
The operation is performed only by a doctor with a higher medical degree. Injection reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process, reduces pain.
Two types of injections are used to treat osteochondrosis.
In the first case, the active substance is injected in the direction of the nerve branches into the spinal cord, in the second - injections into the recurrent branch of the spinal nerve.
The last blockade has a more complex action, the technique of execution.
Fats
The option for the treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of drugs is the use of creams, ointments, gels - means for the external treatment of painful areas.
Therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Advantages:
- the use of ointments is inferior in price to magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- means for external use are convenient, affordable;
- there are no contraindications for use;
- you can use the products for a long time, because an allergic reaction to the components is excluded.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contain analgesic components;
- complex creams;
- irritating fats - improve local blood circulation;
- chondroprotectors, regenerate cartilage tissue;
- homeopathic products, containing natural plant extracts;
- massage mixtures (in the composition - mummy, herbal ingredients, bee venom).
Treatment of osteochondrosis without drugs
Therapeutic methods are selected by the doctor based on the analysis of the stage of development of the disease. In the first phase, the patient is advised to sleep on a hard surface. If the nerves are pinched, the cervical vertebrae are pulled out using a Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral zone stretch. The distance between the vertebrae increases, nerves and blood vessels are released. You can manually stretch your spine using manual therapy. The results are given by magnetotherapy, ultrasound.
An important place in the system of therapeutic measures to combat osteochondrosis is occupied by physical exercises - gymnastics, swimming.
Exercise is recommended for patients in remission, healthy people as a preventive measure. The intensity of the load gradually increases. For a start, do the exercises at half strength so as not to overload the spine.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is dangerous at first - in the fight for health you can harm the body. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor who has performed a comprehensive examination of the patient.
Correct body position
Most of the symptoms of osteochondrosis occur due to the fact that if the neck is in the wrong position, the nerve endings, blood vessels constrict, the local blood circulation is disturbed and "zones of stagnation" are formed. In this regard, doctors recommend constant monitoring of the anatomical correctness of posture, gait, posture.
Keep your back and neck straight during the day. If the work is static in nature, it is important to pay attention to the height of the chair, table. It must be identical so that the person sits upright, without bending over, without straining the muscles.
To sleep you will need a special bed, an orthopedic latex mattress. It is worth making sure that the pillow is at the correct height (measured as the distance from the neck to the shoulder joint). This position relaxes the muscles of the cervix during sleep, providing a healing effect.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease that requires an integrated approach to the organization of therapeutic and prophylactic measures to combat it. It is worth being warned about self-medication, which leads to irreversible negative health consequences. Competent medical care will cure the disease.