Cervical osteochondrosis - a disease of the cervical spine, which is accompanied by degenerative and dystrophic processes in intervertebral discs.
Over 80 % of the population complain of pain in the neck. In addition, 30 % of headaches are directly linked to cervical osteochondrosis.
If earlier the disease experienced the elderly, but more and more are suffering from degenerative disc disease neck 20-30-year-old patients.
Reasons
The most unfavourable causes of degeneration of the vertebrae of the neck are:
- lack of exercise, simply put, lack of physical activity;
- irrational nutrition;
- prolonged physical activity;
- salt deposits;
- a variety of injuries;
- violation of metabolism and excess weight;
- prolonged sedentary work (e.g., computer) without interruption;
- incorrectly organized place to sleep (mattress, pillow);
- on long trips or constant driving.
Also risk factors are: hypothermia cervical, heredity, hormonal disorders.
In addition, to promote the development of cervical degenerative disc disease can autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus.
The disease develops slowly, but is prone to progression.
Symptoms
Key symptoms of degenerative disc disease neck:
- pain. It can be both minor and severe pain in the neck;
- numbness. Usually this is in the area of the arm, shoulder, scapula, neck, also can be a feeling of tingling. A characteristic feature is the crunch in the neck while turning the head;
- noise and ringing in the ears. Sometimes hearing loss;
- migraines and headaches, muscle weakness of arms and legs;
- nausea, shortness of breath. It seems that he can't breathe, it leads to oxygen starvation;
- blurred vision. Observed blurring of the vision, reduction of visual acuity, there are the so-called "flies" before eyes;
- instability of blood pressure. Patient plagued by high or low pressure, the result is dizziness.
As for pain, then most often it pursues the patient when turning the head or after sleep, minimal exercise at hand, cough or sneeze. Pain can, so to speak, to "give" in the occipital region, shoulders and arm. If you tilt your head forward, often have pain under the shoulder blade.
Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease, you should consult your doctor-orthopedist or neurologist. He will conduct inspection and survey of the patient, sent for x-rays of the cervical from several perspectives. In some cases, may require MRI scanning and MRI diagnosis.
Treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis needs a long, systematic and phased treatment. Mostly the therapy is aimed at elimination of pain and combat inflammation.
In the early stages of the disease enough manual therapy, therapeutic exercises. In a more running - you need medication.
It is also important to create conditions for regeneration of damaged tissues, to do this, use products with vitamin B in the form of injections or tablets.
It is necessary to observe the regime of work and rest, to take care of comfortable sleep, not to lift weights and to quit addiction.
Complications
Osteochondrosis of the cervical many consider a rather insidious disease. After all, since the cervical vertebrae are located close to each other, then at their slightest deformation of the compressed nerve roots and blood vessels. As a result of impaired cerebral blood flow, which eventually leads to headaches, migraines. In severe cases this can lead to ischemia of the brain or spinal cord, and even stroke.
At risk is the and cardiovascular system. Some people observed at the cardiologist because of the pain in the heart, continually "beat" the high pressure, and the reason lies in osteochondrosis of the neck.
Also due to the compression of nerve endings, the patient may suffer hearing, sight, disturbed coordination of movements.
In advanced forms and without proper treatment, the formation of hernias, treatment which need surgical intervention.
In the elderly cervical osteochondrosis is often combined with deforming arthrosis of the cervical, vertebrae wear etc.
Prevention
To avoid cervical degenerative disc disease, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat a healthy diet, perform regular exercise. A big role for the proper organization of the workplace, as well as adherence to work and rest.