A sedentary lifestyle, office work, lack of sufficient physical activity and the peculiarities of modern nutrition lead to the spread of a huge number of diseases inherent in our urbanized society.
Leadership among them is rightfully occupied by cervical osteochondrosis.
And all because the weak muscular corset and the fact that these 7 discs have more mobility than any other part of the spine receive constant physical activity in the form of the need to constantly keep the head in the desired position, tilt and turn.
Causes of the disease
Previously, osteochondrosis was considered a disease of adulthood, and people who lived for more than 40 years suffered from it. But every year the age threshold of the disease is lowered, and it "rejuvenates", which has led to a predisposition to the disease of young people between the ages of 18 and 20.
The main reasons for the appearance of such pathologies:
Violation of posture in adolescence.Young people now do not want to monitor their posture, which leads to its violation.
Overweight.The appearance of excess weight increases the load on the spine.
Curvature of the back. The risk of osteochondrosis with a curvature of the back increases.
Back injury.A back injury causes irreparable damage to any part of the spine.
Metabolic disease.In case of metabolic disorders, there is also a high probability of developing osteochondrosis.
Hard physical work.Physical work that is too strenuous also leaves indelible marks on the health of the spine in general and on the cervical region in particular.
Low level of fitness.The level of fitness also affects the condition of the spine and the lower it is, the weaker the spine.
Mistakes when performing complex exercises.Athletes can have problems with osteochondrosis during training with serious errors in work.
Fatigue.The nervous tension of modern man and constant stress also cause problems in the cervical vertebrae.
Sedentary lifestyle.A sedentary or inactive lifestyle greatly affects the vertebrae.
Past illnesses. Osteochondrosis can develop after infections and hypothermia.
The disease is, in fact, the result of a muscle spasm, which does not allow the cervical vertebrae to move easily, worsening the blood supply to the tissues, while the posture is disturbed, as a result of which dystrophic processes in the vertebrae themselves, as well as as in the intervertebral discs, they begin to activate, causing a narrowing of the intervertebral holes and pinching the nerve roots.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are somewhat different from other parts of the spine.
A tighter 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.
That is why a violation of the functions of the body can be registered: a disturbance in the sensitivity of the skin, dizziness.
Clinical manifestations:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders, which also extends to the back of the head, the region of the ears and eyes and does not subside even at night.
- Pain in the upper limbs, which increases with exertion.
- Decreased sensitivity of the upper limbs, weakness of the muscles, movements become difficult.
- In the morning, the neck muscles are tense and the head stiffens, it seems that the neck has been "rested".
- Turning or tilting the head, pain sensations in the neck.
- From time to time, the limbs become numb, there is a burning or tingling sensation.
- Periodically there is an unpleasant shooting pain in the neck and nape.
- Violent head movements cause blurred vision, dizziness, or can cause fainting.
- The occurrence of tinnitus.
- Decreased visual acuity and hearing.
- There is a numbness of the tongue.
- There are heart pains that do not respond to glyceryl trinitrate, but their intensity changes due to a change in the position of the body.
- Headache occurs in the occiput, crown and temples.
- In the region of the cervical region arise the so-called "withers", that is, the connective tissues grow.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis
Neck pain (pain and muscle tension in the neck)
Neck pain is a pain syndrome in which pain and tension in the neck muscles are characteristic, the cervical region loses its mobility, dizziness may occur, clarity of vision is impaired, autonomic dysfunction may appear.
The pain may be tingling, throbbing, and may even "go through".
Even the slightest movement, sneezing or coughing is worthwhile as soon as the muscle tension is caused by pain.
There are also problems with turning the head or tilting it to the side, when the patient has to do it with the whole body.
Additionally, patients experience dizziness, occipital pain, tinnitus, numbness in the back of the head, and numbness in the hands.
The reasons for its occurrence can 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 fatigue in the neck area, including sports training in the gym.
- Injuries of the cervical spine.
- 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 pain in the cervical-occipital region, the occurrence of which is closely associated with an injury to the cervical spine, a degenerative injury or its inflammation.
Its distribution often reaches the frontotemporal lobe, shoulder and arm and can also be unilateral. In this case, the parts do not change.
The intensity of this pain is moderate, its intensification is observed with head movements, palpation of the cervico-occipital muscles, as well as with prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position for the head.
Usually, the causes of these pains can be osteoarthritis or osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
In these cases, the pain can press, shoot, or throb. Light movements of the head, coughing, muscle tension can cause attacks of exacerbation of 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 ears.
- Dizziness.
- Pain in the occipital area, etc.
Cervicobrachialgia or shoulder-shoulder syndrome (brachiaglia)
Cervicobrachialgia is detected with numbness of the hands, along with deep tears and, often, shooting pain in the hands or forearms, 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 intense 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 muscle-tonic reactions, such as muscle spasm.
Treatment
Treatment should be complete.
At the same time, it is necessary to apply both pharmacological and non-pharmacological principles of treatment, not forgetting the prevention of possible diseases.
Drug treatment means the use of drugs that relieve pain and inflammation, as well as drugs that improve cerebral circulation.
If there is a pathology in the form of muscle tension, it is recommended to take relaxing drugs and vitamin-mineral complexes in therapeutic doses.
An important role in the treatment is given to the methods of physiotherapy:
- water procedures.
- Paraffin applications.
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetotherapy.
The widespread use of alternative therapies also helps fight this disease. But, despite everything, therapeutic exercises remain the most effective means of treatment.
Prevention
In order for all problems related to osteochondrosis to get around you, you need to remember all the reasons that lead to the appearance of the disease.
Since the main reason is a sedentary lifestyle, don't forget about morning exercises and a walk, and be sure to include exercises with the neck muscles in your daily gymnastics. And don't forget that circular movements of the head can cause neck injuries, so you shouldn't include them in the exercises.
Also, do not forget that a preventive examination of children of school age by an orthopedist is mandatory.
Form a strong muscular corset, be athletic.
Eat those foods that can replenish the body with minerals such as calcium and magnesium, vitamins.