Unlike the other two types of osteochondrosis, such as lumbar or thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis has a number of distinctive features. This is due to the fact that in this area the structure of the vertebrae is different, in the structure they are much smaller than the others. The neck should rotate freely, this is the most mobile part and is also more prone to stress. In this regard, painful sensations most often arise.
Since a large number of nerve and vascular formations pass into the neck area, the patient is haunted by a headache, ischemia of the spinal cord or brain can develop. At night, the fingers become numb, it is difficult to fully control the hand, the temperature drops, it may appear bluish and swelling in the hand. This makes it difficult to supply blood to the brain, as the vertebral artery is compressed and this leads to symptoms such as impaired coordination, loss of vision and hearing, and dizziness often occurs.
Even a small load is enough to make the vertebrae move. You can overstretch the cervical muscles. The result is compression of both blood vessels and nerve endings. Over time, osteophytes also form, which aggravate the situation, and the disease is difficult to cure.
The pain can affect not only the neck, but also the limbs, most often the arms. This is the result of compression of the spinal cord.
Osteochondrosis can be cured, but this requires systematicity and perseverance. Often, when the first symptoms are removed, the patient stops the treatment, while the disease will not slow down to return again, as it will only have begun.
How to understand that the disease must be treated?
First of all, it should be noted that it is important to consult a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease, since it is the efficiency factor that can cure the patient and not get rid of the problem for a while. If the disease progresses and it is no longer possible to call the stage in advance, healing is impossible. It is not worthwhile to cure osteochondrosis on your own, only a doctor can choose the right treatment regimen, accurately establish the diagnosis and how far the disease has come.
Without qualified help, you can aggravate the situation and even harm your body, not to mention cure it.
Such treatment proceeds in a complex way, several methods are combined, factors affecting the way the disease proceeds and progresses are taken into account, only then can it be localized or cured.
Activities for osteochondrosis
- anesthesia;
- the use of antispasmodics;
- stimulants for tissue repair using ointment;
- manual therapy;
- massage therapy;
- hirudotherapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Surgical intervention.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 2nd degree, this is a disease at the time of exacerbation and can be treated with painkillers with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. And only when the acute phase passes, you can start treatment with other methods, not forgetting that diet is also important.
It is an illusion to believe that this disease occurs more in middle-aged and elderly people, who are not afraid of grades 2 and 3 of the disease.
More and more young people suffer from osteochondrosis, so the disease is getting younger. And this is due to some factors:
- violation of posture;
- trauma;
- scoliosis;
- impaired metabolism;
- fatigue;
- large body weight;
- lack of physical fitness.
Young people spend many hours, or even days, on the computer, and this leaves a footprint, the percentage of healthy young people is decreasing. But not only the lack of physical activity can affect the appearance of the disease, but also overwork, overload and an incorrectly selected training regimen for athletes.
Polysegmental osteochondrosis
There is such a concept as polysegmental osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and this concept is not clear to everyone. Indeed, this is a manifestation of the disease not in one place, but in addition at the same time, it is more difficult to cure it. As you know, the spine is divided into several sections:
- cervical;
- Strongbox;
- lumbar;
- sacral;
- coccygeal.
Problems even in one place cause a lot of trouble and pain, and if the disease has affected more than one ward, it is quite difficult to determine the disease based on symptoms. There are too many painful manifestations and they all mix, making diagnosis difficult. This can only be done by contacting a qualified specialist and there is no need to delay.
Cervical disease, for example, manifests itself as a severe headache, and pain in the lumbar region occurs with exertion. For a long time, the thoracic region may not manifest itself in any way, even if problems have arisen, but then it suddenly turns into intercostal neuralgia, and this syndrome worries the patient a lot.
Manifestation and symptoms
The general condition of the patient is not important, since painful sensations can be felt almost throughout the body. Tingling, headache, pain in the region of the heart, malfunction of internal organs, especially if there are chronic diseases. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the cause of all ailments, the degree of the disease, while it is easy to make a mistake and choose the wrong direction in treatment. It is not enough to take an x-ray of an area of the spine to diagnose the grade and area affected. But do not be afraid, for a specialist this problem is quite solvable, as it is not so rare.
Treatment
First of all, the pain syndrome is relieved with the help of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, and only then rehabilitation is started. It is this period that is directly the treatment, since it will not be possible to completely cure osteochondrosis, it quickly turns into a chronic form.
Many alternative treatments are currently offered, but they should be treated with caution, as manual therapy only helps if performed by a competent specialist. Physical therapy according to the Bubnovsky method, for example, causes a lot of controversy. And treatment with medicinal leeches can cause allergies.
Prevention
Do not forget that it is easier to prevent any disease than to cure it for a long time and sometimes without success. Therefore, as a preventive method, it is possible to recommend performing special exercises that develop neck flexibility. It is also helpful to strengthen and stretch these muscles to prevent disease development.