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 common diseases that increasingly affects young people (25-40 years). The development of cervical osteochondrosis is facilitated by prolonged stay in the wrong and tense posture, for example by working at the computer during the day or by the habit of supporting the telephone receiver with the shoulder.
It is often caused by prolonged exposure to vibrations, such as when working with construction machinery or driving a car. In addition, poor posture, an uncomfortable bed, a sedentary lifestyle, a 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 symptoms, cervical osteochondrosis is slightly different from osteochondrosis of other parts. This is the most dangerous type of osteochondrosis, as it often leads to violation of the nerve root extending from the spinal cord and disruption of blood supply to the brain due to compression of blood vessels. The reason is the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the spine in the cervical area. Thus, one of the large arteries that feed the brain - the vertebral one - passes right into the openings of the processes of the cervical vertebrae. Thus, the pathological changes in them - the proliferation of bone and fibrous tissue, the displacement of the vertebra - lead to disruption of the normal functioning of this artery.
In addition, the very structure of the spine in the cervical spine is slightly different: the vertebrae are closer to each other. Thus, with any, even insignificant, pathological changes in one of the vertebrae, the normal functioning of the entire section is disrupted: depression or displacement of nerves and blood vessels, as well as more frequent compression of the spinal cord than in lumbar or thoracic osteochondrosis. As a result, with cervical osteochondrosis, significant dysfunctions can be observed: a disturbance of the sensitivity of the skin and muscles of the neck, face, hands, attacks of dizziness. There may be noises or ringing in the ears and head, persistent headaches, increased fatigue, blurred vision and hearing, unsteadiness in walking, and so on.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Among the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, we note the following:
- Pain in the neck, nape, shoulder or arm. In addition, weakness in the muscles of the arms, difficulty with head movements, a crunch in the neck when turning or tilting the head to the side is often observed.
- There is often a pulling pain in the left chest, which radiates to the left arm. There may be a burning sensation or pain between the shoulder blades.
- Cervical osteochondrosis causes recurring headaches, feelings of weakness and increased fatigue. As a rule, the pain is painful in nature and is concentrated in the side and back of the neck, as well as in 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 extend from the shoulder to the hand with numbness in the fingers. In this case, patients sometimes complain of "itching" or "passing of electric current" along the arms and legs when they bend the neck.
- Cervical osteochondrosis can also cause damage to hearing and vision, 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 rule, cervical osteochondrosis begins in a mild form and at first does not cause any particular inconvenience to the person. Medical treatment at this stage is usually not required, it is enough only to prevent further complications, improve working conditions and revise lifestyle in favor of a healthier one.
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, you should lead an active lifestyle, do morning exercises, eat a moderate calorie diet, get rid of bad habits and avoid heavy lifting. The upright posture, the correct posture when sitting and sleeping, a comfortable bed are also important factors in its prevention. Corrective gymnastics courses are also useful.
However, with age, cervical osteochondrosis progresses and can lead to more severe forms. In this case, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out by conservative methods. Among them: wearing special collars, physiotherapy, physical therapy, massage. In severe cases, the patient may require drug therapy: analgesics, antispasmodics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Physiotherapeutic procedures are also prescribed (paraffin, medicinal electrophoresis, and so on).
For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, chondroprotectors and vitamins of group B (B6, B12) are shown. Medicines for external use are widely used: ointments, creams, gels that contain NSAIDs, local irritants and stimulants for tissue regeneration.
Recently, a new drug has appeared in pharmacies that can provide serious assistance 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 helped by a new generation drug - an anesthetic anti-inflammatory medical patch.
The healing patch is very effective, allows you to relieve pain and inflammation, improve blood circulation in the affected area, and allow you to reduce the dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a medical plaster is applied to the disturbing area of the neck, avoiding the anterior surface, especially the area of the carotid arteries and lymph nodes. A treatment course of 9 days or more is recommended. It is usually recommended to use the patch in the morning at 12, but it is possible to apply it at night.
High efficiency, uniqueness of composition, long-term therapeutic effect, ease of use and affordable price make the medicinal patch a means of choice in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.