Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease caused by the spread of bone tissue on both sides of the spine, causing trauma to the surrounding muscles, ligaments, nerves, and spinal cord membranes. These disorders most often cause pain in the neck or other parts of the body, and can also lead to the rupture of herniated spinal discs.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be caused by prolonged standing in a static position and repeated head movements of the same type.
The most common manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are often headache and dizziness, blurred vision, hearing loss, tinnitus, hoarseness, hoarseness, snoring, loss of coordination, teething, numbness or coldness, pain in the scalp. . in the neck, in the throat.
Causes
Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine occurs due to destructive changes in cartilage tissue. This process can occur for a number of reasons:
- genetic predisposition to this disease;
- overweight;
- spinal injuries (fractures, bruises);
- intoxication, infection, metabolic diseases in the body;
- deficiency of vitamins, trace elements and body fluids;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- curvature of the spine, poor posture;
- straight legs;
- instability of spinal column segments;
- hypothermia;
- frequent changes in body position, heavy lifting, work associated with excessive physical force;
- stress, nervous tension.
symptoms
The symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis are directly related to the target. In this regard, a group of syndromes that accompany this disease are selected.
Radicular
Radicular syndrome occurs when nerve roots are compressed in the cervical region (compressed nerve). This is also called cervical radiculitis. The pain in the neck is transmitted downwards and can spread to the scapula and even to the fingers on the outside of the forearm. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include, in some cases, a tingling, numbness, or running gas in the forearm, hand, or fingers.
Irriate-reflex
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in reflex-reflex syndrome may include acute burning pain in the neck or occiput, which occurs when moving after a static position (with sudden dizziness, sneezing, lying down). The pain may spread to the shoulder and chest.
Heart
In this syndrome, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis mainly coincide with the symptoms of angina pectoris. In this case, it is very important not to make a mistake in the diagnosis. The nature of pain with cardinal syndrome is paroxysmal and long (up to several hours). Increased pain is caused by sudden movements that occur as a result of coughing, sneezing and a sharp dizziness. Often the appearance of tachycardia and extrasystole is observed against the background of complete absence of signs of circulatory disorders.
Vertebral Artery Syndrome
In this condition, cervical osteochondrosis is often accompanied by symptoms such as a supercooled area, occiput, temple, a tingling sensation that feels dark, or a burning headache. Pain, as a rule, practically does not stop and is only paroxysmal in some cases. Increased pain occurs when moving or after staying in a restless state for a long time.
There is a possibility of hearing and vision disorders (decreased hearing and visual acuity, tinnitus, vestibular disorders, pain in the eyes). Against the background of general weakness of the body, nausea or loss of consciousness is possible.
Summarizing the above, we can identify a number of symptoms characteristic of cervical spine osteochondrosis:
- Persistent pain in the neck spreads to the shoulder girdle, ears and eyes, back of the head and does not stop at night;
- Pain in hands, wrists, shoulders, worsens even with a light load;
- Weakness of muscle strength and decreased sensitivity of hands, arms, fingers and difficulty in movements;
- pain in the neck when turning and tilting the head;
- neck muscle tension, feeling of stretching in the morning;
- burning, numbness, tingling in legs or arms;
- extensive headache with initial localization in the occiput;
- darkening of the eyes, tinnitus, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, fainting with a sharp dizziness,
- decreased visual acuity and hearing;
- spread of connective tissue in the cervical spine;
- Pain in the heart area.
Home treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
The effectiveness of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis depends on the timely implementation of therapeutic procedures aimed at eliminating pain and neutralizing inflammatory processes. Therapeutic activities are carried out in three stages:
- pain neutralization;
- activation of blood supply and metabolic processes in the affected areas of the spine;
- physiotherapy and manual methods.
In order to stop the pain syndrome and relieve muscle tension in the area of the spinal segment, the patient is prescribed during the exacerbation of cervical spine osteochondrosis accompanied by severe pain:
- paravertebral blockade with local medication;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics;
- ointments and gels.
To improve blood circulation in the spine, a patient with cervical osteochondrosis is given medications to improve blood microcirculation, vitamin complexes and nicotinic acid.
Pain medications only relieve symptoms, but do not combat degradation of the intervertebral discs. Regular activity and properly selected exercise therapy complexes are the only right decision at any stage of the disease.
Healing gymnastics
Exercise therapy for cervical osteochondrosis is performed only in remission, avoiding significant effort and pain.
A series of exercises to improve the flexibility of the neck muscles, as well as the mobility of the cervical vertebrae.
Repeat each task 5-10 times.
- Exercise 1. With the arms lowered across the body and sitting or standing straight back, the alternate smooth head turns to the extreme left and right, keeping the chin firmly above the shoulder.
- Exercise 2. The starting position is the same. The head is bent down until the chin touches the chest. The back muscles of the neck should be as relaxed as possible. With summer exercises, the head can be lowered even further.
- Exercise 3. The starting position is the same. The neck is pulled back, the chin is pulled, and the head is held straight.
When the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis is reduced and, on the recommendation of the attending physician, a course of manual treatment, including massage of the affected areas, is carried out.
Massage for cervicothoracic osteochondrosis
Before starting the massage procedure, the patient's back should be prepared by intensively massaging the surface for 2-3 minutes. The direction of stroking is from the lower border of the shoulder blades to the neck, then from the neck to the shoulder girdle. The last moment of warming is to knead and shake alternately on the right and left sides.
As a rule, start the massage from the back, alternately stroking, squeezing and kneading. First, the area of the shoulder blades is massaged, gradually moving to the shoulder girdle. The neck massage starts from the scalp, descending from the back. In the absence of back pain, squeezing with fingertips is done very carefully along several lines.
Pectoralis major muscle massage is performed during sleep. In this case, rubbing, squeezing, kneading are used.
Sitting massage is performed in a special massage chair. At the same time, the head is bent forward and the neck muscles are relaxed as much as possible. The massage begins with the occipital bone, directing all movements backwards.