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 (aged 25-40). The development of cervical osteochondrosis is facilitated by prolonged stay in the wrong, tense position - for example, working on a computer during the day or the habit of holding the phone with your shoulder.
It is often caused by prolonged exposure to vibration, for example when working with construction equipment or driving a car. Improper posture, uncomfortable bed, sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predisposition and other factors can also lead to cervical osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis and its causes
Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc in the cervical spine. This occurs against the background of metabolic disorders in the cervical vertebrae, in which the structure of the intervertebral discs (special spacing elements between the vertebrae) and the bodies of the vertebrae themselves change.
In terms of its symptoms, cervical osteochondrosis is slightly different from osteochondrosis of other parts. This is the most dangerous type of osteochondrosis, as it often leads to disruption of the nerve root extending from the spinal cord and disruption of the 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 supply the brain - the spinal cord - passes right into the openings of the processes of the cervical spine. Therefore, the pathological changes in them - the proliferation of bone and fibrous tissue, the displacement of the vertebrae - 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 more closely adjacent to each other. Therefore, any, even insignificant, pathological change in one of the vertebrae disrupts the normal functioning of the entire area - 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, in cervical osteochondrosis, significant dysfunctions can be observed - impaired sensitivity of the skin and muscles of the neck, face, arms, dizziness. There may be noise or noise in the ears and head, constant headaches, increased fatigue, blurred vision and hearing, instability when walking, etc.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
From the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis we note the following:
- Pain in the neck, nape, shoulder or arm. In addition, there is often weakness in the muscles of the arms, difficulty moving the head, crunching in the neck when turning or tilting the head to the side.
- There is often a pulling pain in the left side of the chest that radiates to the left arm. There may be a burning sensation or pain between the shoulder blades.
- Cervical osteochondrosis causes recurrent headaches, weakness and increased fatigue. As a rule, the pain is painful 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 arm with tingling in the fingers. In this case, patients sometimes complain of "itching" or "electric shock" on the arms and legs when bending the neck.
- Cervical osteochondrosis can also cause hearing and vision impairment, hand pain, heart and lung dysfunction, 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 initially does not cause much discomfort to the person. Medical treatment at this stage is usually not required, it is enough just to prevent further complications, improve working conditions and reconsider the lifestyle in favor of a healthier one.
To prevent cervical osteochondrosis, you should lead an active lifestyle, exercise in the morning, follow a moderate-calorie diet, get rid of bad habits and avoid heavy lifting. Upright posture, proper posture while sitting and sleeping, a comfortable bed are also important factors for its prevention. Gymnastics treatment courses will also be helpful.
However, with age, cervical osteochondrosis progresses and can progress to more severe 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 need drug therapy - analgesics, antispasmodics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Physiotherapeutic procedures (paraffin, drug electrophoresis, etc. ) are also prescribed.
Chondroprotectors as well as B vitamins (B6, B12) are indicated for the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Medicines for external use are widely used - ointments, creams, gels that contain NSAIDs, local irritants and stimulators 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 a medical patch
In the therapeutic treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, various agents are used, such as NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics. All of these remedies are effective, but with prolonged use they can harm the body. That is why it is very important to minimize side effects and improve the effectiveness of treatment. A new generation drug - an anesthetic anti-inflammatory medical patch - can help.
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 painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a medical patch is applied to the anxious area of the neck, avoiding the anterior surface, especially the area of the carotid arteries and lymph nodes. A course of treatment of 9 days or more is recommended. It is usually recommended to use the patch in the morning at 12 o'clock, but it is possible to apply it at night.
High efficiency, uniqueness of the composition, long-term therapeutic effect, ease of use and affordable price make the drug patch a tool of choice in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.