In today's world this disease is more than almost all people 25 years of age. Cervical osteochondrosis is more common much as in other parts of the spine. The importance of this topic cannot be stressed too much.
In this article I will look at what causes this disease, what looks like, how to deal with cervical osteochondrosis, that sen the drugs effective in the treatment, where the drug-free methods exist as well as learn the answers to questions frequently asked by patients with a similar diagnosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion (progressive) of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. For this reason, changes and as well as vertebrae, intervertebral discs and joints of the cervical spine.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
As a result of the following factors paid, increase the load on the cervical spine, the neck muscles are trying to compensate for the extra load, there is a spasm, blood flow to this region, which leads to degenerative changes. Because of several factors, there are changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervix, by changing their structure, their food is disturbed, changes occur in the small joints between the vertebrae, appear bony growths vertebral bodies, because of the increased load on the intervertebral discs changed.
Factors for the development of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine:
- Wrong position-and English scoliosis
- Overweight
- Lack of exercise, sedentary work
- Before suffering a spinal injury
- Metabolic
- A good exercise
- Stress and constant tension
- Low physical fitness
- Genetic predisposition
- The normal wrong position of the body, for example, holding the handset of the shoulder
- Constant tension back, neck due to the nature of Work (stress in the sitting position) drivers, office workers.
- Developmental abnormalities of the cervical spine
Waste the development of cervical degenerative disc disease
The degree of osteoarthritis of the clinical picture and the patient's complaints. Should the concept of degree to be confused with the stages of degenerative disc disease. About steps discussed below.
Published for the first degree
clinical symptoms are minimal, patients may complain of pain in the cervical spine is slight, it can intensify when you turn your head. Physical examination may reveal slight muscle tension of the neck.
Secondary
patients worried about the pain, the cervical spine, its intensity is much higher, the pain can radiate to the shoulder, arm. This is due to the reduced payment and the height of the intervertebral pinched nerve in the nerves. The pain is worse when the ny-bending by turning the head. The patient may notice decreased performance, weakness, headache.
Third degree
cervical degenerative disc symptoms are of the disease supplemented, the pain is constant radiating to the arm or shoulder. Numbness or weakness in the muscles of the hands, so how are herniated discs. Concerned about the weakness, dizziness. When examination revealed reduced mobility of the cervical spine, pain on palpation of the cervix.
The fourth degree
is the complete destruction of the intervertebral disc replacement and its connective tissue. The dizziness intensifies, is in the ears, loss of coordination, because the process associated with the vertebral artery little brain work and brain in the occipital lobe.
The clinical picture of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine — symptoms and signs
Degenerative disc Symptoms are a variety of cervical spine disease manifestations in other parts of the spine. This is due to the fact that the cervical vertebrae are located closer to each other, the intervertebral discs have a relatively small height, allowing the clinic to even the most minor pathological processes. The cervical spine Also leads to frequent compression of the nerve and roots of the spinal cord.
The most common symptoms degenerative disc disease cervical symptoms:
- Pain: pain can be of different localization, they can be the neck, occipital region, shoulder or upper extremity. Pain in the shoulder or arm visible, when associated with the process of the nerve root innervating the upper limb. Pain in the back of the head is caused by a spasm of the neck muscles, which keep the neck lump blood circulation and in this area.
- Weakness in hands to pay, when damaged the spine, which includes motor nerves that innervate the muscles.
- Decreased hand paid the feeling when the damaged spine, which contains sensitive nerves, innervate the skin of the upper limb.
- Limitation of motion of the cervical spine crunch and, when children are paid, because of the decreased height of the intervertebral disc, the appearance of bony growths vertebral bodies, and small destruction of the joints of the cervical vertebrae.
- Dizziness, loss of coordination, weakness - these symptoms are due to involvement of the vertebral artery, which runs its own channel, which is located in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. The development of cervical degenerative disc disease, formation of connective tissue, displacement of the vertebrae, worsening blood circulation to these blood vessels, which leads to deterioration of the blood supply to the occipital lobes of the brain and cerebellum.
- Numbness of the tongue, hearing and vision
occur in severe cases, serious deterioration of the blood supply to the occipital lobes of the brain, cerebellum and stem.
Symptoms depend on the damaged vertebrae
Separately, you can select radicular syndrome, which leads to different sensory motor and disorders. They differ from each other depending on which is the vertebrae compressing the spinal nerve root:
- C1: lead to numbness and feeling weakened back of the head;
- C2: pain in the parietal area and the occiput;
- C3: violation of speech, language, sensitivity, pain, fell to the side and feeling where disadvantaged spinal nerves;
- C4: heart pain, left upper quadrant, shoulder, scapula, respiratory disorders, decreased tone of the muscles of the neck;
- C5: shoulder pain in the outer region;
- C6: pain that radiates to the forearm the thumb of ny, ny from neck to shoulder blade;
- C7: pain behind the shoulder, the neck of the stage, giving the forearm 2-4 fingers of a hand;
- C8: pain neck shoulder forearm on the little finger.
Diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease
The main diagnostic methods:
- Radiography of the cervical spine. Is uninformative method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- CT. To show changes in the vertebrae Better, but it is difficult and determine the size of the English of the vertebrae hernia, and English disco-medullary conflict (compression of spinal hernia).
- Magnetic resonance imaging. The most informative method. Perfectly visible not only bone structure, but also the intervertebral discs, hernia, their size, the growth of education student riekkinen has worked.
- If you suspect a violation of blood circulation in the vertebral arteries, using ultrasound duplex scanning. This precise method allows you to determine whether to decrease the speed of blood circulation, is preventing normal blood boy flow.
X-rays in the stage of cervical degenerative disc disease.
- Stage 1 – minor changes in the settings of the vertebrae, flattening the cervical lordosis (bending).
- Stage 2 – instability between the vertebrae, the possible displacement of one vertebra relative to another, torque (rotation around the axis of the spine), a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.
- Step 3 – reduce the height of the intervertebral disc ¼ relatively above the plate, changes in the intervertebral joints, rear osteophytes (outgrowths of bone), narrowing of the intervertebral holes and the narrowing of the spinal canal which the spinal cord house and its membranes.
- Step 4 – a significant reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc, significant changes in the intervertebral joints, huge rear osteophytes, significant narrowing of the intervertebral holes and a significant narrowing of the spinal canal, where the formation of myelopathy.
Principles of treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease
The main method of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is the medication, occupational therapy, neck massage and neck region, particularly effective therapeutic exercises with cervical osteochondrosis. The main groups of drugs used in this disease are:
| Group of my name | Training | |
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nsaids), | to reduce pain, reduce inflammation and swelling in the spine of the damaged nerve. | |
| B-vitamins | improve the metabolism of nerve tissue. | |
| Drugs that improve the rheology and blood boy blood boy flow | to improve the nutrition of the damaged nerve roots and improves blood circulation to the brain. | |
| Chondroprotectors | drugs that restore cartilage tissue, including damaged intervertebral disc. | |
| Muscle relaxants | drugs that relieve muscle spasm. |
Attention! These Drugs are not intended in vain for information presented.
Occupational therapy for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease
| Electrophoresis of drugs. | Under the influence of electric current of ions in the preparations fall into place. Do novocaine pain relief or for improving aminophylline blood circulation. |
| Ultrasound | anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect, improves the metabolism in the impact area. |
| Magnetic therapy | has an analgesic effect due to the removal of tissue edema. |
| Laser treatment | because exposure to light is to achieve anti-inflammatory effect and improves blood circulation. |
Occupational therapy
Physical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be done outside the acute. The great efficiency of this technique the recovery time. During a complex performance and is not a stabilisation and association agreement discomfort pain!
| Teach # 1 | Lying on his stomach, rest your hands on the floor, the head and lift the upper torso, the back should be a nun. Stay in this position for 1-2 minutes. Slowly sank sadly to the floor. 2-3 for the Second time. |
| Teach # 2 | Lie on your stomach, stretch your arms along the body, the head turned to the left, trying to touch the ear field of the floor, then turn your head to the right. Repeat 6-7 times in each direction. |
| Teach # 3 | In the sitting position, exhale bend forward and his head try to touch the chest, then exhaling, bend backward and bend your head. 10-15 the Second time. |
| Teach # 4 | Sitting pay palm on his forehead, the pressure of the palms on the forehead, and the forehead to the palm of your hand. Continue this teaching for 30 seconds. 2-3 for the Second time. |
| Teach # 5 | Turn Slowly the head first in one direction, then in another direction. 10 spins in each direction. Be careful not to get dizzy. When it comes to teach ended. |
The most common questions patients with cervical osteochondrosis and answers
May require surgery for cervical degenerative disc disease?
The indications for surgical intervention is the lack of effectiveness of conservative treatment for 6 months, with persistent pain and signs of nerve root damage and myelopathy. In all other cases, the measure is not implemented.
How long can you use NSAIDS?
Because most Nsaids have side effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach, long-term use of the camera and the reception of these drugs is not recommended. When taking this group of drugs strictly follow the recommendations of the attending physician, the length of treatment can be individualized, it depends on the stage of osteoarthritis, the patient and his comorbidities.
How is the effectiveness kun chondroprotectors?
Currently, there is no evidence, that efficiency and these ineffective drugs. In such cases, doctors are of the opinion that drug use is inappropriate.
How to get better vitamins in pill form or injection?
No difference in the level of assimilation of the drugs for these two routes of administration no. And Because of the painful injections of complications, it is recommended to take vitamins in tablet form.
What steps need to take poi aggravation?
It is best to do occupational therapy at home 2 times a year to visit the area and massage the cervix to limit excessive load on the cervical spine.