What are the causes of cervical osteochondrosis? What are the symptoms? How to effectively treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home?
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the widespread diseases that more and more affects young people (25 - 40 years old). The development of cervical osteochondrosis is facilitated by prolonged stay in an incorrect, tense posture - for example, working at a computer during the day or the habit of supporting the telephone receiver with your shoulder.
This disease often occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to vibration, for example, when working with construction equipment or driving a car. Also, incorrect posture, uncomfortable bed, sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predisposition and other factors can lead to cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis and its causes
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc in the cervical spine. It occurs against the background of metabolic disorders in the cervical spine, in which the structure of the intervertebral discs (special spacers between the vertebrae) and the bodies of the vertebrae themselves change.
In terms of its symptoms, cervical osteochondrosis is somewhat different from osteochondrosis of other parts. This is the most dangerous type of osteochondrosis, since it often leads to the infringement of the root of the nerve extending from the spinal cord and disruption of the blood supply to the brain due to compression of the blood vessels. The reason is the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the spine in the cervical zone. So, one of the large arteries feeding the brain - the vertebral one - passes precisely in the openings of the processes of the cervical vertebrae. Therefore, pathological changes in them - the proliferation of bone and fibrous tissue, displacement of the vertebra - lead to disruption of the normal functioning of this artery.
In addition, the very structure of the spine in the cervical spine is somewhat different - the vertebrae are more closely adjacent to each other. Therefore, with any, even insignificant, pathological change in one of the vertebrae, the normal functioning of the entire section is disrupted - depression or displacement of nerves and blood vessels, as well as more frequent compression of the spinal cord than with lumbar or thoracic osteochondrosis. As a result, with cervical osteochondrosis, significant dysfunctions can be observed - a disorder of the sensitivity of the skin and muscles of the neck, face, hands, dizziness attacks. There may be noise or ringing in the ears and head, persistent headaches, increased fatigue, deterioration of vision and hearing, unsteadiness when walking, and so on.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, we note the following:
- Pain in the neck, back of the head, shoulder or arm. In addition, weakness in the muscles of the hands, difficulty with head movements, a crunch in the neck when turning or tilting the head to the side is often observed.
- Often there is a pulling pain in the left side of the chest, which radiates to the left arm. There may be a burning sensation or pain between the shoulder blades.
- Cervical osteochondrosis causes recurrent headaches, a feeling of weakness and increased fatigue. As a rule, the pain is aching in nature and is concentrated in the side and back of the neck, as well as in the back of the head. Patients often have difficulty moving the head, especially when it turns in different directions.
- Neck pain can radiate to the arm and extend from the shoulder to the hand with numbness in the fingers. In this case, sometimes patients complain of "itching" or "passage of electric current" along the arms and legs when bending the neck.
- Cervical osteochondrosis can also cause impairment of hearing and vision, pain in the hands, disturbances in the functioning of the heart and lungs, dizziness, nausea, double vision, numbness of the face and tongue.
What is cervical osteochondrosis? What are the symptoms? How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
As a rule, cervical osteochondrosis begins in a mild form and does not cause any particular inconvenience to the person at first. Medical treatment at this stage is usually not required, it is enough only to prevent further complications, improve working conditions, and revise the lifestyle in favor of a healthier one.
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, you should lead an active lifestyle, do morning exercises, follow a moderate-calorie diet, get rid of bad habits and avoid heavy lifting. Erect posture, correct posture while sitting and sleeping, a comfortable bed are also important factors in its prevention. Remedial gymnastics courses will also be useful.
However, with age, cervical osteochondrosis progresses and can flow into more serious forms. In this case, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out by conservative methods. Among them: wearing special collars, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage. In more severe cases, the patient may require drug therapy - analgesics, antispasmodics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Physiotherapeutic procedures are also prescribed (paraffin, medicinal electrophoresis, and so on).
For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, chondroprotectors are shown, as well as B vitamins (B6, B12). Drugs for external use are widely used - ointments, creams, gels that contain NSAIDs, local irritants and tissue regeneration stimulants.
Recently, a new drug has appeared in pharmacies that can provide serious assistance in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis - a therapeutic analgesic anti-inflammatory patch.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with a medical plaster
In the therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, various agents are used, such as NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics. All of these funds are effective, but with prolonged use, they can harm the body. Therefore, it is very important to minimize side effects and improve the effectiveness of treatment. This can be helped by a new generation drug - an anesthetic anti-inflammatory medical patch.
The healing patch is very effective, it allows you to relieve pain and inflammation, improve blood circulation in the affected area, and allows you to reduce the dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a medical patch is applied to the disturbing area of the neck, avoiding the front surface, especially the area of the carotid arteries and lymph nodes. A course of treatment of 9 days or more is recommended. It is usually recommended to use the patch in the morning at 12 o'clock, but it is possible to apply it at night.
High efficiency, uniqueness of the composition, long-term therapeutic effect, ease of use and affordable price make the medicinal patch a means of choice in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.