Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are one of the most common diseases on earth.Few people manage to avoid them completely, especially after the age of 40, although experts admit that problems with the spine, muscles and joints have become “younger”, and the very young increasingly complain of pain.
This is due to a lifestyle that has already become familiar to many: inactivity, prolonged stay in one position (most often behind gadgets and monitors), lack of physical activity.As a result, posture is disrupted, salts and other harmful substances accumulate in the body, the functions of the musculoskeletal system are disrupted, and as a result, internal organs can become deformed.
The most common of these diseases is osteochondrosis, which affects both elderly and quite young people, and among osteochondrosis - problems with the lumbosacral and cervical spine.The second most common type of osteochondrosis, cervical osteochondrosis, is an unpleasant disease and is also progressive, without treatment it significantly worsens the way of life, up to disability.This means that it is necessary to timely recognize the symptoms of this disease and timely contact an orthopedist or vertebrologist for treatment.
How does cervical osteochondrosis develop?
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle or, due to his profession, remains in the same position for a long time, the risk of contracting osteochondrosis is very high.As the disease develops, changes occur in the intervertebral discs, they deform and change their structure.
Intervertebral discs are located between the vertebrae, their job is to support the spine, make it flexible and strong.There are seven vertebrae in the neck, with the help of which the head is supported and rotated, the neck bends and so on.The cervical vertebrae are located very close to each other, so they are injured and displaced even by minor physical effort.The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it affects the nerve endings of the spinal nerves, damaging the vessels that supply blood to the brain.In turn, the brain does not receive enough vital substances, and this can lead to the development of a number of other more serious diseases that can cause disability and even death of the patient.
There are many reasons for the appearance and development of cervical osteochondrosis.Among the most common and frequent reasons we remember the following:
- impaired metabolism in the body, especially in the cervical region, hormonal imbalance;
- salt deposition;
- poor physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
- stay in the same position for a long time (at the computer, driving a car, etc.);
- poor nutrition;
- excess weight;
- neck injuries and bruises;
- hypothermia of the body.
Osteochondrosis also occurs against the background of chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as scoliosis or rheumatism.
In addition, a genetic predisposition of the body often leads to osteochondrosis.
But whatever the reason, osteochondrosis must be treated as soon as the first symptoms appear.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis in this part of the spine does not always occur suddenly and unexpectedly.Most often, it develops slowly, and the symptoms intensify over time and their number increases.The more severely the vertebrae are damaged and the nerve roots are pinched, the more noticeable the symptoms.
The first symptom you need to pay attention to is pain of varying intensity in the cervical spine, radiating to other parts of the body: the back of the head, forehead, ears, forearm, shoulder, chest and so on.If you experience pain, you should see a doctor to determine whether it is indeed osteochondrosis, which is often similar in symptoms to other diseases.
Other signs of osteochondrosis
- neck pain increases with effort or turning the head;
- the patient feels numbness, burning or tingling in the limbs;
- headache and dizziness, loss of strength are common, the patient may complain of darkening and spots in the eyes, tinnitus;
- You are likely to faint if you suddenly turn your head.
Cervical osteochondrosis is also characterized by:
- lack of coordination;
- pain in the heart area;
- deterioration of vision and hearing.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the type of pinched nerve and the nature of the disease, doctors distinguish several syndromes:
- radicular syndrome;
- vertebral artery syndrome;
- cardiac syndrome.
Radicular syndrome is pinching of the first pairs of cervical nerve endings.The pain is felt in the neck, radiating to the shoulder blade, lower back, shoulder and forearm.
With vertebral artery syndrome, the patient feels a shooting pain in the back of the head or temples, or a burning pain in the neck, at the back of the head, which intensifies when turning the head, during sleep, when coughing and radiating to the chest and shoulder.
In cardiac syndrome, the symptoms initially resemble angina pectoris, but the pain does not disappear after taking nitroglycerin, lasts for several hours and can intensify with movement and deep breathing.
Symptoms of damage to specific vertebrae
Treatment of osteochondrosis is prescribed based on the damaged nerve ending.There are eight of them in total, each of them is located above the cervical vertebra.It is possible to determine which vertebrae are affected by the symptoms corresponding to a specific nerve root.
Damage to the nerve ending and its characteristic pain
- first and second sections: reduced sensitivity of the back of the head, pain in the parietal and occipital region;
- third section: neck numbness in the pinched area, speech disturbances, tongue sensitivity;occurs very rarely;
- fourth section: pain and numbness of the collarbone and/or shoulder, respiratory system disorders, pain in the heart area;
- fifth section: shoulder pain, pain on the external surface of the shoulder, reduced sensitivity of the limbs;
- sixth and seventh sections: pain in the neck, shoulder blade, forearm, back, lower back, reduced sensitivity of the hands and fingers;most common lesion;
- eighth section: pain in the neck, back, elbow, numbness of the little fingers of all extremities, cyanosis of the legs and hands due to poor circulation, lack of sensitivity of the skin, radiating to the legs.
Diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To reliably establish a diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis", you need to consult a doctor.Many symptoms of osteochondrosis are similar to signs of other diseases, so it is important not only to start treatment for osteochondrosis on time, but also not to miss other pathologies.
If osteochondrosis is suspected and there are signs of crushing of the nerve endings, the doctor prescribes x-ray;if data are insufficient, magnetic or computerized resonance imaging, Doppler ultrasound and duplex scanning.
Based on research data, the nature of the pain syndrome and the combination of other symptoms, it is possible to determine which discs are damaged and begin the necessary treatment that will restore the affected vertebrae and nerve roots and prevent the development of complications of osteochondrosis.
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, it is usually complex.First of all, it should relieve the symptoms of pain, which in the case of cervical osteochondrosis are sometimes 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 case of too severe pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as warming ointments and analgesics are indicated.
Since drugs and ointments only relieve pain and other symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck, but do not eliminate its cause.After the pain subsides, the patient is prescribed massage, physiotherapy and exercise therapy.The patient is prescribed a diet, drugs that improve blood circulation and support the functions of the body, in tablets and injections, as well as chondroprotectors that help protect and restore the tissue of the intervertebral disc.
In some cases, as an additional treatment, the patient is prescribed baths, paraffin baths, reflexology, hirudotherapy.Traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis often also help quickly return the patient to a normal lifestyle, but they should be used only in combination with traditional methods and after consulting a doctor, since traditional medicine may have contraindications, and the use of its recipes can harm an organism already weakened by the disease.
Complications and prevention of the disease
Do not forget: treatment for cervical osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible.The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more difficult it will be to treat the disease, which in the meantime can cause various complications.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very dangerous because this section contains many blood vessels and nerve plexuses that supply the brain.
Any disorder can cause problems with cerebral circulation, neurological disorders, including migraines and hypertension, and affect the heart, respiratory system, hearing and vision.
If osteochondrosis sets in, more serious consequences are possible in the form of cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke or radiculopathy - a disease in which processes form on the affected vertebrae, partially or completely depriving the body of sensitivity and mobility.But this is not the worst thing, since in severe cases of osteochondrosis the spinal cord is compressed, which can cause the patient's death.
Therefore, it is very important to listen to the symptoms as soon as possible and contact a specialist who will help you return to a full life.And to avoid such a disease as cervical osteochondrosis, you need to move more, not avoid physical activity, monitor your weight, follow a healthy and balanced diet and regularly visit an orthopedist or vertebrologist.