In the world, few such diseases belong to a person just because he's the man. For example, vascular lesions of and hearing, the walls, cholesterol is also found in the animal world. The symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the neck can be mistaken for symptoms of other diseases. Increase in blood pressure is characteristic of all warm-blooded animals. Improper nutrition can lead to exhaustion, lack of protein, vitamins, chicken, and an elephant, and clam, as well as the wrestling of the freestyle. But osteochondrosis refers to diseases can be proud of one man, who, even your closest relatives – the primates, the disease is almost absent. Let's examine the symptoms of the symptoms, methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis, what is it?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine — a disease of the bone, cartilage, that belongs to the dystrophic — degenerative. The underlying disease (malnutrition cartilage), and the destruction or degeneration. In fact, osteochondrosis primarily suffer cartilaginous inter-vertebral discs, and the "snowball" is added to the reaction to bone (joints), the appearance of the protruding parts, as well as hernias of the root symptoms, the occurrence of instability in the cervical spine, as well as severe headaches, chronic muscle spasm of the deep muscles of the neck, the disease, the regional blood flow. The cause of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral discs in the neck or the cervical – thoracic only one: the historically determined vertical position of the person. No cats or cows or hippos there are no such constant axial load vertically from the well, the spine relaxed, "loose" state of intervertebral discs feel. The person also to the development of degenerative cervical disc disease, predisposing factors, the following factors:
- Often a vertical position;
- Injuries, rapid movement of the head shots, for example, the low ceiling;
- The goods on their shoulders, in some countries the head;
- The lack of active movement. This leads to weak muscles, which is critical in the cervical spine.
In addition, further factors on it in the winter, hard collar, and fur hat, with the aim to "serve" mode, decreased fluid intake, which dehydration of the primary cartilage. This increases the fragile the disk, and asks "the crisis" (narrowing thickness), reducing the buffer-elastic properties. The young people, the degenerative disc disease may result in the violation of posture, the written assignments, and computer work. Congenital changes in the spine, for example, scoliotic deformity of the thoracic spine. Remember — the higher the ridge, the stronger the pulse, which is an adverse effect, similar to the "whiplash" injury. Therefore, the failure or violation of compensatory mechanisms, which protect the skull of the excessive concussion lead to degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. Here is the reason:
- Flat feet, both longitudinal transverse direction. The arch, devoid of cushioning, you can't keep the intervertebral discs in the neck, the concussion and the fracture;
- Underlying degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. If the flexibility of the lower back is broken, do not expect good protection of the cervix.
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very diverse, but all of them can be classified into local and remote displays. Local symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease include:
- Pulled, sore muscle pain, low intensity, worse after prolonged sitting, for example, if you work in the office, or on the computer;
- Crunching when moving the neck. Definitely felt like, when finally morning exercise, in the case where the connector is finger in his ear. Then, bone conduction sound exceeds the air, and when turning neck crunch heard it right. This symptom indicates that the appearance of joints, which violates the congruency (assembly accuracy) of the cartilage, and vertebrae;
- Pain in the neck, all while driving (mostly sharp). These pains are called the Servicio, by analogy, "lumbago" in the back, which is hereinafter referred to as lumbago. Such pain management radiculáriszt manifestations of osteochondrosis. They arise when a sudden concussion of the nerves that occurs with laughing, coughing, sneezing, straining. This pain reminds me of neuralgia, and similar to an electric shock, the power suddenly. Most often this occurs in the thoracic spine;
Remote signals the following:
- Headache, osteochondrosis. It may be quiet, reminds me of the "helmet" or "helmet", often symmetrical. The intensity is low, may be associated with the movement, but not necessarily. Often the "go," the head, the neck, and accompany a sedentary lifestyle.
- Leading diseases sensitivity. Often arise at night awake, the man feels that he's now numb fingers. Most often it is the little finger and half ring finger on the side of the little finger. To restore sensitivity, you need to move your arm, neck, and then trade places.
This is due to a nerve of the cervical plexus to the places of output of nerves. It is important that the roots are violated the most spasserovannye neck muscles, which are next to the vertebrae. Degenerative cervical disc disease, and symptoms, which, we know, may be complicated by instability of the cervical spine. The height of both intervertebral discs of the cervical spine is evenly reduced, the necks or "anomalous mobility", or the tendency to the pain, the different strains of the movement. If this condition occurs, common appearance of the infringement of the nerve roots, as well as to increase the protrusion and hernia.
The role of muscle spasm
There is a secondary muscle spasm, which is called myofascial — tonic syndrome. This condition can occur in many different parts of the spine, anywhere where there is skeletal muscle. As a result, reduce the height of inter-vertebral discs, as well as the growth of the marginal joint -, muscle-or "tightened", the blood supply to deteriorate. Accordingly, reducing the venous outflow. Such a situation leads to swelling of the muscles, as well as chronic spasm, which is manifested by pain, stiffness in the neck and back.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical
In the typical case, the degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine occurs in the above symptoms. That's why, the stage, the diagnosis was, and remains, the identification of the patient, establishing the presence of muscle spasm associated with simple palpation of the muscles along the spine. To confirm the diagnosis of osteoarthritis using radiographic studies:
- X-ray of the cervical spine, even in the functional tests, the bending – extension is not visible cartilage as the tissue to transmit the x-rays.
Despite this, the location of the vertebrae may be to draw general conclusions about the height of the intervertebral discs, overall straightening of the physiological curvature of the cervical lordosis, and the presence of the regional growths in the vertebrae during prolonged irritation of the surfaces of fragile, dehydrated intervertebral discs. Functional tests allow the diagnosis of instability in the cervical spine;
- Magnetic resonance and x-ray computed tomography is shown to clarify the internal structure of the cartilage, and the formation of the protruding parts, as well as the hernia.
So what exactly showed in the diagnosis of complications of the disease, the result of the test indicates the operative treatment of hernia in the neurosurgery Department.
Treatment of degenerative cervical disc disease, drugs
Treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is always complex: at first, removed acute pain, the drug, when the cervical osteochondrosis (pain reduction) regress, join physiotherapy massage techniques after cupping this acute phase starts secondary prevention, that its purpose is to prevent repeated exacerbations. Sometimes the patient is assigned to a Spa treatment. The main group of drugs for relief of acute pain:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Cut inflammatory component;
- Muscle relaxants Central action . Lowering the tone of the spastic muscles, reducing the pain, stiffness of the muscles;
- Vitamin B – contribute to the improvement of the nutrition of the nervous tissue;
- Drugs improving capillary blood microcirculation — improve the outflow and normalize the function of the muscles.
These funds are assigned to, or inside, or intramuscular injection for greater efficiency. The goal is to relieve the acute pain. Then 2-3 days of reception of tablets, actively apply ointments, or gels to be rubbed on the neck and back. The second stage is connected to physiotherapy – electrophoresis with vitamins, hydrocortisone, massage, underwater traction, then shower, iglorefleksoterapevta techniques. Sometimes prescribed drugs – chondroprotectors, but if you're taking them in the efficacy is not yet proven. Just within the introduction of a substitute for synovial fluid to reduce the crunch to facilitate movement and eliminate the pain. But osteochondrosis, this technique worked in the large joints, is almost never done. Surgical treatment is carried out in severe compression of protrusion or hernia of the sensory or motor root. The indications for surgery stubborn pain, expressed during a month, intractable to treatment, or the progression of the weakness, the muscles of the arms, expanding the zone of lower sensitivity, the confirmation of the diagnosis, the protrusion, and herniation in the MRI or CT.
Exercises with cervical osteochondrosis
Gymnastics in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is no different than rational adherence to, physical activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle: the osteochondrosis can be found all, without exception, the people from your childhood, or even in some places it is considered a "normal variant". Because there is no such person, especially in adulthood, no signs of degenerative disc disease, the goal of the tournament, to leave only the objective radiological signs of the disease, or to eliminate all complaints. It is known that even the old old man can not be present complaint is that the neck and back, but only if you have enough time, prevention.
Prevention of cervical degenerative disc disease
You can, for example, degenerative disc disease, may take the principles of prevention, which has been shown to everyone, as a result, we get rules for a healthy lifestyle. Here they are:
- The free movement, not too much weight to the exercises without load, just the weight of the body;
- Drink plenty of clean water, as dehydration causes the cartilage tissue;
- The retention or the normalization of body weight;
- The occupation of such a load, which reduces the load on the back (swimming);
- Avoiding harmful habits;
- The alternation of mental load, physical. Every hour and a half of intellectual work proposed activity, the physical activity;
- Prevent hypothermia of the neck, back, waist, especially in the spring and fall.
Just stick to these simple recommendations osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the symptoms, treatment, which, we learn, they won't bother you for years.