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 most widespread diseases that increasingly affects young people (25 - 40 years). The development of cervical osteochondrosis is facilitated by prolonged stay in an incorrect and tense posture, for example, working at a computer during the day or the habit of holding the telephone receiver with the shoulder.
It is often due to prolonged exposure to vibrations, such as 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, as it often leads to infringement of the nerve root that runs 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 area. Then, one of the large arteries that feed the brain, the vertebral, passes precisely through the openings of the processes of the cervical vertebrae. Therefore, pathological changes in them, the proliferation of bone and fibrous tissue, the displacement of the vertebra, lead to the disruption of the normal functioning of this artery.
Also, the very structure of the spine in the cervical spine is somewhat different: the vertebrae are closer to each other. Therefore, with any pathological change, even insignificant, in one of the vertebrae, the normal functioning of the entire section is interrupted: depression or displacement of nerves and blood vessels, as well as a more frequent compression of the spinal cord than with lumbaror 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, attacks of dizziness. There may be noise or buzzing in the ears and head, persistent headaches, increased fatigue, blurred vision and hearing, unsteadiness when walking, etc.
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 arms, difficulty with head movements, a cracking in the neck when turning or tilting the head to the side is often observed.
- There is often a pulling pain on the left side of the chest, radiating to the left arm. There may be a burning or aching sensation between the shoulder blades.
- Cervical osteochondrosis causes recurring headaches, feelings of weakness, and increased fatigue. As a general rule, the pain is painful in nature and is concentrated in the side and back of the neck, as well as the back of the head. Patients often have difficulty moving their head, especially when it turns in different directions.
- Neck pain can radiate to the arm and spread from the shoulder to the hand with numbness in the fingers. In this case, patients sometimes complain of "itching" or "passing electrical current" along the arms and legs when bending the neck.
- Cervical osteochondrosis can also cause hearing and vision problems, 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 general rule, cervical osteochondrosis starts out mild and does not cause any particular inconvenience to the person at first. Usually no medical treatment is required at this stage, it is only enough to prevent further complications, improve working conditions and revise the lifestyle in favor of a healthier one.
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, you need to lead an active lifestyle, do morning exercises, follow a moderate calorie diet, get rid of bad habits, and avoid lifting heavy objects. Upright posture, correct posture when sitting and sleeping, a comfortable bed are also important factors in its prevention. Recovery gymnastics courses will also be helpful.
However, with age, cervical osteochondrosis progresses and can develop 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: pain relievers, antispasmodics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Physiotherapeutic procedures (paraffin, medicinal electrophoresis, etc. ) are also prescribed.
For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, chondroprotectors are shown, as well as B vitamins (B6, B12). Medicines for external use are widely used: ointments, creams, gels containing NSAIDs, local irritants and stimulants of tissue regeneration.
Recently, a new drug has appeared in pharmacies that can be of great help in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis - a therapeutic analgesic anti-inflammatory patch.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with medical plaster.
In the therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, various agents are used, such as NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics. All 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 the treatment. This can be improved with a new generation drug - an anti-inflammatory anesthetic 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 pain relievers and anti-inflammatories.
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a medical patch is applied to the bothersome 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 generally recommended to wear the patch in the morning at 12 o'clock, but it is possible to apply it in the evening.
The high efficiency, the uniqueness of the composition, the long-term therapeutic effect, the ease of use and the affordable price make the medicinal patch a means of choice in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.