In the modern world this disease almost all people over the age of 25 years. Collar of the osteochondrosis is found more frequently than in other departments of the spinal column. The relevance of this topic is difficult to overestimate.
In this article we are going to see, why it produces this disease, which manifests itself, how to treat the neck osteochondrosis, what medications are effective in their treatment, what non-drug based methods exist and also know the answers to the most frequently asked questions of patients with the same diagnosis.
The osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a and on the other hand, the degenerative loss (progressive) the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. For this reason, changes occur both in the intervertebral discs, and at the vertebrae and the joints in the cervical region.
The causes of the degenerative disc disease cervical
As a result of the following factors, produces an increase of the load on the cervical region of the spine, the neck muscles are trying to compensate for the excess of load, it produces its spasm, it alters the circulation of the blood in that area, so that it produce degenerative changes. Due to a number of factors that cause the changes in the intervertebral discs in the cervical region, modifies its structure, concerned about your diet, changes occur in the small joints between the vertebrae, appear bony expansion of the vertebral bodies, due to the increase of the load which have changed the discs of the spine.
Factors that favor the development of the degenerative disc disease of cervical spine:
- Poor posture and the presence of scoliosis
- The excess weight
- The sedentary lifestyle is sedentary work
- Previously transferred injuries of the spine
- The alteration of metabolism
- Large physical loads
- The stress and constant nervous tension
- The low level of physical preparation
- Hereditary predisposition
- Typical of the incorrect position of the body, for example, the retention of the headset with the shoulder
- The constant tension of the back, the neck, due to the characteristics of the job (stressful situation in the sitting position) drivers, office employees.
- Developmental anomalies in the cervical region of the spine
Degree of development of the degenerative disc disease cervical
The degree of the degenerative disc disease you to determine the model of the clinic and the patient's complaints. Does not fit the concept of degree of confused with the phases of the degenerative disc disease. On the steps is below.
The first degree of the
the clinical manifestations are minimal, the patient may complain of pain in the cervical spine, low intensity, can be increased when turning the head. When examining a physical inspection may be a slight tension of the muscles of the neck.
The second degree of
the patient is concerned about pain in the cervical region of the spine, the intensity of his much more, the pain may be the irradiacin in the shoulder, in the hand. Occurs is due to the reduction of the height of the intervertebral disc and the violation of nerve roots. The pain is intensify when you bend over and around in the head. The patient can mark a lower work capacity, the weakness of the, headache.
Third grade
the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, cervical intensified, the pain becomes constant with the irradiacin in the hand or on the shoulder. Appears numbness or weakness in the muscles of the hand, as well as are hernias of the intervertebral discs. Concerned about the weakness, dizziness. If the inspection reveals a limitation of motion of the cervical spine, tenderness to palpation in the cervical region.
The fourth level
it produces the complete destruction of the intervertebral of the unit and replacement of your connective tissue. It strengthens dizziness, noise appears in the ears, impairment of coordination, as well as in the process involving the vertebral artery that feeds the cerebellum and the occipital part of the brain.
The clinical presentation of degenerative disc disease, cervical spine — symptoms, signs
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease cervical spine are different from the manifestations of this disease in other departments of the spinal column. This is because in the cervical region vertebrae are closer to each other, the discs of the spine have a relatively small height, which leads to the appearance of the clinic, even with the smaller pathological processes. Also in the cervical region is the most frequent compression of the nerve roots and the spinal cord.
The most common signs of degenerative disc disease, cervical symptoms:
- Pain syndrome: the pain may have a different location, may be in the neck, in the occipital area, shoulder or upper extremity. The pain in the shoulder or in the hand appear when in the process participates in the spine of a nerve, Innervating the superior of the leg. Pain in the occipital part of the head corresponds to spasm of the neck muscles, that are attached to the occipital bone and the violation of the circulation of the blood in that area.
- Weakness in the arms occurs when you break the spine, in which there is a motor nerve, Innervating the muscles of the hand.
- The reduction of sensation in the hand occurs when it breaks the spine, in which the delicate nerves, Innervating the skin of the upper limb.
- The limitation of the movements of the cervical spine and the crack when movement occurs due to the reduction of the height of the intervertebral of the unit, the appearance of bone growths on the bodies of the vertebrae and of the defeat of the small joints between the cervical vertebrae.
- Dizziness, lack of coordination, weakness, all these symptoms are derived from the participation in the process of the vertebral artery, which passes in the own channel, located in the cross section of the spindles of the cervical vertebrae. Consequently, the development of the degenerative disease of the cervical disc, the formation of fibrous tissue, the dislocation of the vertebrae, worsens the blood flow in these arteries, which leads to an impairment of the vascularization occipital lobe of the brain and the cerebellum.
- The numbness of the tongue, loss of hearing and sight
occur in serious cases, with a strong impairment of the vascularization occipital lobe of the brain, the cerebellum and the trunk.
The symptoms, depending on the damaged vertebra
Separately, you can distinguish the root of the syndromes, which are carried to one or other of the sensitive and motor violations. Are different depending on what type of vrtebra compresses the spine, the spine:
- C1: it leads to numbness and changes in sensation in the back of the head;
- C2: pain in the parietal area and the nape of the neck;
- C3: disorders in speech, the sensitivity of the tongue, the pain and the reduction of the sensitivity at the side where the harmed spinal nerve;
- C4: pain in the heart, the left hypochondrium, in the shoulder, the shoulder, the breathing techniques of the violation, the decrease of the tone of the muscles of the neck;
- C5: pain in the shoulder on the outside of the sphere;
- C6: pain radiating into the forearm towards the thumb of the hand, and also from the neck of apis;
- C7: pain in the back of the shoulder, from the neck to the shoulder, given in the forearm up to 2-4 fingers of the hand;
- C8: the neck pain in the shoulder, of the forearm to the little finger.
Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease cervical
The main methods of diagnosis:
- The x-ray of the cervical spine. Is for informational method, especially in the late stages of the disease.
- Ct. Best shows the change in the vertebrae, but it is difficult to determine the size and the presence of intervertebral hernias, as well as the existence of disk-medullary conflict (compression hernia of the spinal cord).
- The magnetic resonance imaging. More informative method. Well visible, not only of the bone structure, but the disks of the spine, hernia, its size, the direction of its growth.
- If you are suspected of violation of blood flow in vertebrate arteries apply duplex ultrasound analysis. This method allows to determine with accuracy if there is a decrease of the velocity of blood flow, if there are obstacles normal to the flow.
Radiological stage of the degenerative disc disease cervical.
- 1 stage – minimal changes in the configuration of the vertebrae, easing cervical lordosis (curvature).
- 2nd stage of instability between the vertebrae, it is possible the displacement of one vertebra over another, twisting (rotation around the axis of the spine), a slight reduction of the height of the intervertebral disc.
- 3 stage is the reduction of the height of intervertebral disc in ¼ relatively greater than is unity, changes in the intervertebral joint, osteophytes (bony growths), narrowing of the intervertebral holes and the contraction and of the vertebral canal, in which lies the spinal cord with their shells.
- 4 important stage of the reduction of the height of the intervertebral disk, significant changes in the intervertebral joints, huge rear osteophytes, the drastic contraction and intervertebral holes and significant narrowing of the spinal canal with the formation of myelopathy.
The principles of treatment of the degenerative disc disease cervical
The main methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the administration of medications, physiotherapy, massage sheyno-of nuchal translucency, is especially effective for the gymnastics of the osteochondrosis of cervical. The main groups of drugs used in this disease are:
| The name of the group | The action | |
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) | reduce the pain syndrome, contributing to the uprising aseptic inflammation and edema spine damaged nerve. | |
| Vitamins of group In | improve the metabolic processes in the nervous tissue. | |
| Drugs that improve the rheological properties of the blood and blood flow | improve the power supply damaged the nerve roots and improve the flow of blood to the brain. | |
| Chondroprotectors | drugs that renew the tissue of cartilage, shaving, including damaged intervertebral disc. | |
| Muscle relaxants | drugs that remove the spasm of the muscles. |
Attention! These drugs are not the destination, are only for your reference.
Physiotherapy in the treatment of degenerative disc disease cervical
| Electrophoresis of drugs. | Under the action of an electric current, the ions of medications come in the place. It is made with novocain for anesthesia or with the aminophylline to improve the flow of blood. |
| The ultrasound | it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic action, as well as the improvement of the change processes in the impact zone. |
| Magnetic therapy | analgesic due to the elimination of the edema of the tissues. |
| Lazeroterapiya | thanks to the light of the exposure is achieved by an anti-inflammatory effect and improves blood circulation. |
Therapeutic exercise
Lfk the osteochondrosis cervical must be done outside of acute exacerbation. The greater efficiency of this methodology in the period of convalescence. During the execution of a series should not be discomfort and pain!
| Exercise no. 1 | Being in the womb, and to support the hands on the floor, lift the head and torso, the back should be straight. Stay in this position for about 1-2 minutes. Slowly falling on the ground. Repeat 2-3 times. |
| Exercise no. 2 | Being in the belly, stretch the arms along the body, the head, turn to the left, then try to touch the ear sex, and then turn the head to the right. Repeat 6-7 times on each side. |
| Exercise no. 3 | In the sitting position, in the inhalation lean forward, your head and try to touch the chest and then exhale to lean towards is a player and put your head. Repeat 10 to 15 times. |
| Exercise no. 4 | Sitting place the palm of the hand to the forehead, apply pressure with the hands on the front and the front in the palm of the hand. Continue this exercise for 30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times. |
| Exercise no. 5 | Slowly turn the head first to one side, then to the other side. Of 10 spins on each side. Make sure there is no dizziness. When the exercise stops. |
The most frequently asked questions of patients with neck band of the osteochondrosis, and the responses of
Can you require an operation when osteochondrosis cervical?
The indications to the type of surgical intervention is the lack of effectiveness of conservative treatment in the period of 6 months, accompanied by a permanent tolerance to the pain syndrome and signs of damage of the nerve roots, as well as myelopathy. In all other cases, the operation does not pass.
How much time you can apply nsaids?
As most of the nsaids have side effects in the mucous membrane of the stomach, is of long duration and the frequent reception of data medicines, is not recommended. When you receive this group of medications is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's recommendations, the duration of the treatment can be individual, which depends on the stage of the degenerative disc disease, patient complaints, and its co-morbidities.
How effective for is to take chondroprotectors?
At this time there is no evidence of the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of these medications. In such cases, doctors are of the opinion that the drug is not viable to apply.
As it is better to get vitamins in pill form or injection?
No difference in the level of assimilation of the drug in the case of these two paths of the introduction of the not. Taking into account the pain of injecting and the frequency of the complications, it is recommended to take vitamins of group "b" In pre-formed shapes.
What steps are you taking out of the sharpening?
It is best to practice physiotherapy exercises at home 2 times a year to visit massage sheyno-nuchal translucency and limit the excessive load on the cervical spine.