A sedentary lifestyle, office work, lack of sufficient physical activity and features of modern nutrition lead to the spread of a large number of diseases that are natural in our urbanized society.
Leadership between them is rightly occupied by cervical osteochondrosis.
And all because of the weak muscle corset and the fact that these 7 discs have more mobility than any other part of the spine get a constant physical activity in the form of the need to constantly keep the head in the desired position, tilt and rotate.
Causes of the disease
Previously, osteochondrosis was considered an adult disease and people who lived for more than 40 years suffered from it. But every year the disease age threshold falls and it "relapses", which led to a predisposition to the disease of young people 18-20 years old.
The main reasons for the appearance of such pathologies:
Violation of residence in adolescence.Young people now do not want to monitor their attitude, which leads to its violation.
Overweight.The appearance of excess weight increases the load on the spine.
Bending of the back.The risk of osteochondrosis with a curvature of the spine increases.
Back injury.A back injury causes irreparable damage to any part of the spine.
Metabolic diseases.In the case of metabolic disorders, there is also a high probability of developing osteochondrosis.
Heavy physical work.Very heavy physical work also leaves indelible marks on the health of the spine in general and the cervical region in particular.
Low level of physical fitness.The level of physical fitness also affects the condition of the spine and the lower it is, the weaker the spine.
Mistakes when performing complex exercises.Athletes may have problems with osteochondrosis during training with large errors at work.
Stress.Modern human nervous tension and constant stress also cause disorders in the cervical vertebrae.
Sedentary lifestyle.A sedentary lifestyle or inactivity greatly affects the vertebrae.
Past diseases.Osteochondrosis can develop after infections and hypothermia.
The disease is actually a consequence of muscle spasm, which does not allow the cervical vertebrae to move easily, impairing the blood supply to the tissues, while the posture is disturbed, as a result of which dystrophic processes occur in the vertebrae themselves, si. as well as in the intervertebral discs, they begin to activate, causing narrowing of the intervertebral holes and constriction of the nerve roots.
The main symptoms
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are somewhat different from other parts of the spine.
A closer fit of the vertebrae leads to the fact that even the slightest change in one of them compresses or displaces any nerve or vessel, and also compresses the spinal cord.
It is because of this that a violation of body functions can be recorded: a disorder in skin sensitivity, dizziness.
Clinical manifestations:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders, which also extends to the back of the head, in the area of the ears and eyes and does not go away even at night.
- Pain in the upper extremities, which increases with exertion.
- Decreased sensitivity of the upper limbs, muscle weakness, movements become difficult.
- In the morning, the neck muscles are tense, and the head is tight, it seems that the neck is "rested".
- Turning or tilting of the head, sensation of pain in the neck.
- Occasionally, limbs become numb, there is a burning sensation or tingling sensation.
- An unpleasant throbbing pain appears periodically in the neck and neck.
- Violent head movements cause blurred vision, dizziness or may cause fainting.
- The appearance of tinnitus.
- Decreased visual acuity and hearing.
- There is a numbness of the tongue.
- There are pains in the heart that do not respond to trinitroglycerin, but their intensity changes due to the change in body position.
- Headache occurs in the occiput, crown and temples.
- In the region of the cervical region, so-called "fractures" arise, i. e. connective tissue grows.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervicalgia (pain and muscle tension in the neck)
Cervicalgia is a pain syndrome in which pain and tension of the neck muscles are characteristic, the cervical region loses its mobility, dizziness may appear, visual acuity is impaired, autonomic dysfunction may appear.
The pain can be tingling, throbbing and can also "explode".
It's worth the slightest movement, sneezing or coughing - once the muscle tension is relieved by the pain.
There are also problems with turning the head or tilting it sideways, when the patient has to do this with the whole body.
In addition, patients experience dizziness, occipital pain, tinnitus, numbness in the back of the head, and numbness of the hands.
The reasons for its appearance may be:
- Hypothermia.
- Uncomfortable position of the head during sleep.
- Sedentary work, which forces you to keep your head in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
- Physical activity that leads to muscle strain in the neck area, including sports training in the gym.
- Cervical spine injuries.
- Tissue infections or tumors.
Pain in the back of the head, shoulders and arms, as well as pain when turning the head, indicate the presence of the initial stage of a chronic disease, such as osteochondrosis.
Cervicocranialgia or posterior cervical symptom (pain in the cervico-occipital region)
Cervicocranialgia is a pain in the cervical-occipital region, the occurrence of which is closely related to a damage to the cervical spine, a degenerative lesion or its inflammation.
Its distribution often reaches the frontotemporal lobe, shoulder and arm, and can also be unilateral. In this case, the parties do not change.
The intensity of this pain is moderate, its intensification is noticed with the movements of the head, the touching of the cervico-occipital muscles, as well as with the prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position for the head.
Usually, the causes of these pains can be either osteoarthritis or osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
In these cases, the pain may be pressing, shooting, or throbbing. Slight head movements, coughing, muscle tension can cause periods of worsening pain.
The main complaints that patients complain about:
- Inability to turn and tilt the head, for which it is necessary to move the whole body.
- Numbness of the occipital region and hands.
- Noise in the ear.
- Dizziness.
- Pain in the occipital area, etc.
Cervicobrachialgia or shoulder-shoulder syndrome (brachiaglia)
Cervicobrachialgia is manifested by numbness of the hands, along with deep fractures and, often, stabbing pain in the hands or forearm, as well as a feeling of weakness in the upper limbs.
This usually happens at night.
The disease can develop reflexively, for the most part, those who are engaged in heavy physical work, and 9 out of 10 are women, are affected by the disease.
In this case, vegetative-vascular, muscular-tonic and neurodystrophic manifestations can be observed.
For reflex syndromes, a very characteristic feature is the presence of musculoskeletal reactions, such as muscle spasms.
Treatment
Treatment should be comprehensive.
At the same time, it is necessary to apply the principles of drug and non-drug treatment, not forgetting about the prevention of possible diseases.
By drug treatment we mean the use of drugs that relieve pain and inflammation, as well as medications that improve cerebral circulation.
If there is a pathology in the form of muscle tension, then it is recommended to take relaxing and vitamin-mineral complex medications in therapeutic doses.
An important role in treatment is given to physiotherapy methods:
- water procedures.
- Paraffin applications.
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetotherapy.
Extensive use of alternative therapies also helps to fight this disease. But, despite everything, therapeutic exercises remain the most effective means of treatment.
prevention
In order for all the problems associated with osteochondrosis to bypass you, you need to remember all the reasons that delay the onset of the disease.
Since the main reason is a sedentary lifestyle, do not forget the morning exercises and walking and make sure to include exercises with the neck muscles in your daily gymnastics. And remember that circular head movements can lead to neck injuries, so you should not include them in exercises.
And also remember that a preventive examination of school-age children by an orthopedist is mandatory.
Form a strong muscular corset, be athletic.
Eat those foods that can fill the body with minerals such as calcium and magnesium, vitamins.