Unlike the other two types of osteochondrosis, such as lumbar or thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis has several distinctive features. This is because in this area the structure of the vertebrae is different, in structure they are much smaller than the rest. The neck must rotate freely, this is the most mobile part and, in addition, it is more subject to stress. In this regard, painful sensations arise more often.
Since a large number of nerve and vascular formations pass in the neck area, the patient suffers from a headache, ischemia of the spinal cord or brain may develop. At night, the fingers go numb, it is difficult to fully control the hand, the temperature drops, blue color and swelling may appear in the hand. This hinders the blood supply 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 for the vertebrae to move. You can overextend your 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.
Pain can affect not only the neck, but also the extremities, most often the arms. This is the result of compression of the spinal cord.
Osteochondrosis can be cured, but this requires systematization and perseverance. Often, when the first symptoms are eliminated, the patient stops the treatment, while the disease does not slow down to return again, since it will only start.
How to understand that the disease needs to 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 early stage, then cure is impossible. It is not worth treating osteochondrosis on your own, only a doctor can choose the appropriate 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 curing it.
Such treatment proceeds in a complex way, different methods are combined, factors that affect the way the disease progresses and progresses are taken into account, only then can it be localized or cured.
Activities for osteochondrosis
- anesthesia;
- the use of antispasmodics;
- tissue repair stimulants using ointment;
- manual therapy;
- massage therapy;
- hirudotherapy;
- physiotherapy;
- Surgical intervention.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the second 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 stage 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 older people, who are not afraid of the 2 and 3 degrees of the disease.
Increasingly, young people suffer from osteochondrosis, which is why the disease is getting younger and younger. And this is due to some factors:
- violation of posture;
- trauma;
- scoliosis;
- altered metabolism;
- stress;
- large body weight;
- lack of physical fitness.
Young people spend many hours, or even days, in front of the computer, and this leaves a mark, the percentage of healthy young people is decreasing. But not only the lack of physical activity can affect the onset of the disease, but also excessive work, 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. In fact, this is a manifestation of the disease not in one place, but in several at once, it is more difficult to cure it. As you know, the spine is divided into several sections:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- sacrum;
- coccygeal.
Problems, even in one place, cause a lot of trouble and pain, and if the disease has affected more than one department, it is quite difficult to determine the disease from the symptoms. There are too many painful manifestations and they are all mixed together, making diagnosis difficult. This can only be done by contacting a qualified specialist, and there is no need for 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 greatly worries the patient.
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 heart region, 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 of treatment. Taking an X-ray of an area of the spine is not enough to diagnose the degree and area affected. But do not be afraid, for a specialist this problem is quite solvable, since 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 is rehabilitation started. It is this period that is directly treated, since it will not be possible to completely cure osteochondrosis, it quickly turns into a chronic form.
Currently, many alternative treatments are offered, but they should be treated with caution, as manual therapy only helps if carried out by a competent specialist. Physiotherapy according to the Bubnovsky method, for example, causes a lot of controversy. And treatment with medicinal leeches can lead to allergies.
Prevention
Do not forget that it is easier to prevent any disease than to treat 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 good to strengthen and stretch these muscles to prevent the development of diseases.