Cervical osteochondrosis - a disease of the cervical spine, accompanied by degenerative nerve and degenerative processes that occur in the intervertebral disks.
More than 80 % of the population complains of pain in the neck. In addition, 30% of the headaches, which are directly linked with cervical osteochondrosis.
If earlier with this disease faced by older people today increasingly suffer from osteochondrosis of the neck for 20-30-summer patients.
Reasons
The most unfavorable causes degeneration of the vertebrae of the neck are:
- the lack of movement, simply put, little physical activity;
- irrational nutrition;
- long-term physical load;
- saline deposits;
- various injuries;
- violation of the metabolism and lose weight;
- long sedentary work (e.g. at the computer), no breaks;
- a poorly organized place for sleeping (mattresses, pillows);
- long transfers or permanent management of the car.
As risk factors are considered: hypothermia, cervical, heredity, hormonal disorders.
In addition, to promote the development of cervical degenerative disc disease can autoimmune disease, e.g. rheumatic fever, lupus erythematosus.
The disease develops slowly, but dependent on progression.
Symptoms
Key symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the neck:
- painful. It can be both small and strong pain in neck;
- numbness. Usually it refers to the area of the arm, shoulder, scapula, neck, may also be a tingling feeling. A characteristic sign is the crunch in the neck when turning the head;
- noise and ringing in the ears. Sometimes, impaired hearing;
- migraines and headaches, weakness of the muscles of the hands and feet;
- nausea, lack of air. Man it seems that she can't breathe a full breast, it leads to a lack of oxygen starvation;
- violation of view. There has been blurred, visual acuity reduced, with the emergence of the so-called "flies" before the eyes;
- instability of blood pressure. The patient is beset, high or low blood pressure, consequently, will appear dizziness.
As for the pain syndrome, then it is very often monitors the patient during rotation of the head or after sleep, minimum physical exertion on the hands, coughing or sneezing. Pain they can, so to speak, to "give" in the occipital area, shoulders and arms. If you tilt your head forward, then, often arise from feelings of pain under the scapula acromion.
Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease, it is worth it to turn to a doctor-a podiatrist or a neurologist. This is done examination and survey of the patient, will refer for chest x-rays of the neck at several levels. In individual cases it may be necessary magnetic resonance imaging scan and MRI diagnostics.
Treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis needs in the prolonged, systematic, and gradual treatment. Mostly therapy will be focused on the removal of pain syndrome and fight against the inflammatory process.
In the early stages of the disease enough manual therapy, therapeutic exercises. In more advanced - must be medically treated.
It is also important to create conditions for the regeneration of damaged tissue, for this apply the products with the B vitamins in the form of injections or tablets.
It is necessary to observe the regime of work and rest, take care of comfortable sleep, not to lift weights and throw harmful habits.
Complications
Osteochondrosis of the cervical many believe, is quite treacherous disease. Because just as the neck vertebrae are placed close to each other, then it is at least their deformation of the compressed nerve roots and blood vessels. Due to disturbed cerebral blood circulation, which in consequence leads to headaches, migraines. In more advanced cases, it is fraught with ischemia of the brain or spinal cord, and even brain stroke.
In the risk zone is located and the cardio-vascular system. Some people years observed in a cardiologist because of the pain in the heart area, constantly "churning out" high blood pressure, and the reason lies in osteochondrosis of the neck.
Also because of the squeezing of the nerve endings of the affected can suffer hearing, sight, be broken coordination of movements.
In more advanced forms and without proper treatment can be education of a hernia, for treatment that will need surgery.
In older people, is cervical osteochondrosis is often in combination with deforming joint arthrosis suffer from neck, wear of the vertebrae, etc.
Prevention
To avoid cervical degenerative disc disease, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, fully eat, perform regular physical activity. A big role is assigned to ensure the proper organization of the working places, but also of observance of a mode of work and rest.