In the modern world of this disease almost all people over the age of 25 years. Cervical osteochondrosis and Marta, much more than in other parts of the spine. The importance of this topic cannot be overemphasized.
In this article we will look at what causes this disease, it appears that, the way to treat cervical osteochondrosis, which drugs effective in the treatment that drug-free methods exist as well as learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions of patients with a diagnosis similar.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and degenerative diseases of the un-dystrophic lesion (progressive) of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. For this reason, the changes in both the intervertebral discs vertebrae and the joints of the neck of the uterus.
The causes of osteochondrosis cervical
As a result of the following factors occurs increase on the load of the cervical spine, the neck muscles are trying to compensate for the excess load, there is un-spasm, the blood circulation in this area, which leads to degenerative changes. Due to various factors, there are changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical, changing its structure, Group the its offers a disturbed, changes occur in the small between the joints, vertebrae, appear bony growths bodies vertebral, because of the object the increase of the load on intervertebral discs changed.
The factors that contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine:
- Incorrect use of the posture and the presence of scoliosis
- The excess weight
- The lack of exercise, sedentary work
- Previously suffered a injury spinal
- The metabolic
- Great exercise
- The stress and constant tension
- A low level of physical fitness
- Genetic predisposition
- Usual wrong position of a body, for example, holding the telephone handset on the shoulder
- Constant tension back, neck due to the nature of work (ca stress a sitting position) drivers, office workers.
- Development of the abnormalities in the cervical spine
The degree of development of cervical degenerative disc disease
The degree of osteochondrosis and a clinical picture and complaints of the patient. There is the concept of degree that s confused with the stages of degenerative disc disease. On the stages will be discussed below.
First grade
clinical manifestations are minimal, the patient may complain of pain in the cervical spine and low intensity which can intensify when you turn your head. The physical examination may show a slight muscular tension of the neck.
Second degree
interested on pain in the cervical spine, the intensity, and much larger, the pain can be radiated to the shoulder, the arm. This occurs due to the reduction of the height of the intervertebral disc and pinched piegaro piegaro. The pain in the worse and stooping and turning head. The patient can decrease note the maximum performance, weakness, headache.
Third grade
the symptoms of cervical degenerative disk disease s extend, the pain radiates a constant on the arm or on the shoulder. Numbness or weakness the muscles in the hands, and are as well as herniated discs. Worried weakness, dizziness. When examination revealed reduced mobility in the cervical spine, pain on palpation of the neck of the uterus.
The fourth grade
there is a complete destruction of intervertebral disc and its replacement by connective tissue. The vertigo intensified s, there is the un noise in the ears, loss of coordination, because the process involves the artery vertebral supply the cerebellum lobe and the brain of the occipital.
The clinical picture of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine — symptoms and signs
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are different from the manifestations of the disease in other parts of the spine. Due to This, for the cervical vertebrae is located more close to each other, the intervertebral discs have a small relativament'height, in the clinic, resulting even in the smallest pathological processes. Also in the cervical spine, often the results of a compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord.
The most common symptoms degenerative disc disease cervical symptoms:
- Pain the pain may have different location that can be in the neck region in the occipital area, shoulder or upper limbs. Pain in the shoulder or arm appears when the process involves the nerve root, Innervate the upper limb. Pain in the back of the head are caused by spasm of the muscles of the neck that attaches to the occipital bone and the blood circulation in this area.
- Weakness of the hands occurs when damaged the spine, which includes engine piegaro Innervate the arm muscles.
- Decrease of sensation in the hand occurs when damaged the spine, which contains sensitive piegaro, innervating the skin of the upper limb.
- Limitation of movements of the cervical spine of the crisis and, when one produces the movement, due to the reduction of the height of the intervertebral disc, the appearance of bony growths in the bodies vertebral destruction and the of the small between the joints cervical vertebrae.
- Dizziness, loss of coordination, weakness - all these are symptoms due to the involvement of the artery vertebral, s, which runs on its own channel, located on the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. The development of cervical degenerative disc disease, formacio of fibrous tissue, the displacement of the vertebrae, worsening the flow of blood in these arteries, which leads to a deterioration of the un for the supply of blood to the lobes of occipital of the cerebrum and cerebellum.
- Numbness of the tongue, loss of hearing and vision
occur in cases of severe and serious impairment of blood supply to the lobes and occipital of the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem.
Symptoms in function of the vertebrae damaged
Separately, you can select the syndromes which leads to the different sensory and motor disorders. They differ in function of the vertebra is the spinal compressed nerve root:
- C1: supervisors numbness impairment of the sensations of the back of the head;
- C2: pain in the region of parietal and occiput;
- C3: violation of speech, sensitivity to language, the pain of reduction and sensation in the hand in disadvantaged spinal nerve;
- 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 towards the forearm of the from fins to the thumb, and from the neck to the shoulder blade;
- C7: pain in the back of the shoulder, from the neck to the shoulder-blade, gives un forearm for 2-4 fingers of a hand;
- C8: pain of the neck to the shoulder of the forearm with the little finger.
Diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease
The main methods of diagnosis:
- The x-ray of the cervical spine. Uninformative and a method, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- CT. Best show changes in the vertebrae, but a difficult to determine the size and the presence of intervertebral hernia, and the presence of the disco-medullary conflict (compression of the spinal hernia).
- The magnetic resonance imaging. The method more informative. Perfectly no visible only the bone structure, but also intervertebral discs, hernia, its size, its direction of growth.
- If you suspect a violation of blood flow in the arteries, vertebral, use of ultrasound duplex scanning. This method accurately determine if there is a decrease in the speed of blood flow, if there is un impediment to the normal flow of blood.
Radiographic stage of cervical degenerative disc disease.
- Stage 1 – minimal changes in the configuration of the vertebrae, the flattening of cervical lordosis (flexion).
- Stage 2 – instability between the vertebrae, possible displacement of one vertebra relative to the other, twisting (rotation around the axis of the spine), a slight decrease of the height of the intervertebral disc.
- Stage 3 – reduction of the height of the intervertebral disc ¼ relatively located the disc on the changes in the joints, intervertebral, posterior osteophytes (outgrowths of bone), intervertebral narrowing of the holes and the narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the spinal cord with its membranes.
- Stage 4 – a significant reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc, significant changes in the intervertebral joints, large rear osteophytes, significant reduction of the significant intervertebral holes and reduction of the spinal canal with formacio myelopathy.
Principles of treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease
Principles of The methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and the medication, physical therapy, massage neck and neck area, especially with exercises effective therapeutic cervical osteochondrosis. The main groups of drugs used are in the disease:
| The name of the group | 'action | |
| Anti-inflammatory drugs non-steroidal (Aine) | reduce the pain, reduce the inflammation and swelling of The spine of the damaged nerve. | |
| Vitamins of the B group | improve the processes in the metabolic and nervous tissue. | |
| Drugs that improve blood rheology and blood flow | improve the nutrition of the damaged nerve roots and improves blood flow 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, presented only for information.
Physiotherapy in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease
| Electrophoresis with drugs. | Under the action of an electric current the ions of the preparation of fall into place. Made for analgesia or novocaine aminophylline to improve the flow of blood. |
| Ultrasound | has anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect, the improvement of metabolic processes in the impact zone. |
| Magnetic therapy | has un analgesic effect due to the removal of tissue edema. |
| Laser therapy | because of the exposure to the light s get the anti-inflammatory effect on the circulation and improving the blood. |
Physiotherapy
The therapy with physical cervical osteochondrosis needs to be done outside of the acute exacerbation. The greater effectiveness of this technique in the recovery period. During the interpretation of a complex should not be the physical discomfort and pain!
| Exercise # 1 | Lying on your stomach, rest your hands on the floor, lift the head and torso, the back has to be straight. Stay in this position for 1-2 minutes. A little a poc'sink down to the floor. Repeat 2-3 times. |
| Exercise # 2 | Lying on your stomach, stretch your arms along the body, the turns to the left, try d to touch the ear floor, original works of art the head of a turn to the right. Repeat 6-7 times in each direction. |
| Exercise # 3 | In the sitting position, a inhale the leaning forward, and his head try to touch your chest, then exhale, bending backwards I will bend the head. Repeat 10-15 times. |
| Exercise # 4 | Sitting attached to the palm of the hand in front, the pressure with the palms of the hands to the front, and the front in the palm of your hand. Continue this exercise for 30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times. |
| Exercise # 5 | A little a little turn the head of an original work of art in a different direction. The 10 tirades in every direction. Be careful not to seem like dizziness. When it appears the exercise is terminated. |
The most frequently asked questions patients with cervical osteochondrosis and answers
Can require surgery cervical degenerative disk disease?
Indications for surgical intervention to the lack of treatment effectiveness conservative for 6 months, with persistent pain and signs of nerve root damage and myelopathy. In all other cases, the operation is not done.
How long you can use NSAID?
Given that the majority of the Aine have un effect on the membrana mucosa of the stomach, a prolonged and frequent reception of these drugs and is not recommended. At the time of taking of drugs this group has to follow strictly recommendations of the attending physician, the length of individualized treatment can be, it depends on The stage of osteoarthritis, the patient and their comorbidities.
Take the effectiveness and chondroprotectors?
In this moment there is no proof of the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of these drugs. In these cases, the doctors are of the opinion that the consumption of drugs and inappropriate.
How better to get vitamins in the form a pill or injection?
There is No difference in the level of assimilation of drugs in these two routes of administration number Given the painful injections and the incidence of complications, it is recommended to take vitamins In tablet form.
What steps need to resort to the aggravation?
The best to do physical therapy at home 2 times a any to visit massage cervical limit, and the excess of tension in the cervical spine.