Unfortunately, to date, due to cervical osteochondrosis symptoms are feeling headaches and pain in the neck familiar to almost every adult person. And 70% of the population older than 25 years(maybe sooner) similar to the symptoms occur regularly. Doctors diagnosed: cervical degenerative disc disease and prescribe treatment, depending on the stage and nature of the disease.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
It is the degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the vertebral pillar, formed due to the uneven load on the spine. The body of the vertebra, the first to the seventh cervical while gradually deformed, depleted and destroyed. The main and the main symptom of cervical degenerative disc disease is pain of the head, in this feeling of pain can be reflected in the neck, chest, as well as in the shoulder and in other departments, the spinal pillar. The cervical spine is associated with all its departments: thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal. All the vertebrae consistently linked vertically. And any violation of the vertebrae of the cervical influence on the work of the whole spine.
Why headaches can be considered the main symptom of cervical degenerative disc disease?
The cervical department is the most moving of all departments of the spine and the most vulnerable. In it are very small vertebrae, much thinner the vertebrae of the other divisions. In addition, the neck must all the time keep your head in the upright posture of your body. The tension of the muscles in the neck area has resulted in constant spasserovannye blood vessels of the head and neck. From here headaches, emerging from time to time, either lasting for hours and hours and days. A large number of muscles, they connect the head with the neck. Eight short deep muscles provide the connection of the occipital bone with the first and second cervical vertebrae. Two deep muscles connect the head with each of the seven cervical vertebrae. The longest muscles of the neck and head are attached to the head and each vertebra to each other. The tension and spasm of any muscle can cause pain head and pain in the neck. So, to fight with a headache you need, starting with the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease.
Other causes of cervical degenerative disc disease
The causes of cervical degenerative disc disease it is possible to call the following factors:
- hereditary predisposition
- a sedentary way of life
- overweight
- heavy loads on the spine
- stress and nervous shocks
- metabolic disorders
- wearing the wrong shoes
- defective food
- the period of pregnancy
As you can see, the specific reason which sees to the development of cervical degenerative disc disease is not. Degenerative process of the intervertebral disc usually happens slowly and imperceptibly.
Stages of development of cervical degenerative disc disease
Very often the person has no idea about the availability of such diseases as cervical osteochondrosis symptoms feeling and a headache and a pain in the neck, he decides to pay attention, helena's limited income, of drugs killing. However, the development of degenerative disc disease occurs in several stages:
- In the first phase starts with discomfort in the neck area with prolonged walking, prolonged sitting at the computer helena behind the wheel in one position. In the intervertebral disks when they start to form a small seal. Degenerative changes of the vertebrae to its original phase.
- In the second stage of development of degenerative disc disease arise from a persistent pain in the neck, in the temporal part of the head, in the neck area. It can appear a ringing in the ears, pain when tilting and rotation of the head. The mobility of the vertebrae of the neck begin to decline, it is possible protrusion of the intervertebral discs.
- In the third phase of bouts of headaches more pronounced. The person feels dizziness, lack of air, shortness of breath. Can be present pain in the shoulders and different departments, the spinal pillar. The mobility of the neck in this limited. Fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the gelatinous nucleus loses its elasticity. Degenerative changes on the discs of the vertebrae is more pronounced.
- The last phase of the development of cervical degenerative disc disease is characterized by intervertebral hernia. Most of the destructive changes are irreversible. Amazed, virtually all departments of the spine. Treatment is possible only through operational intervention.
Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease
Along with headaches and pain sensations in the neck area, depending on the stage of the development process, cervical degenerative disc disease, can be called a number of symptoms related to this disease:
- A feeling of heaviness in the head
- Click the vertebrae when cornering helena head tilt
- Feel the crunch in the neck area
- Tinnitus and a feeling of congestion
- Dizziness
- Numbness in the shoulder area helena blades
- Chest pain
- Feeling of lack of air
- Com in my throat
- A feeling of nausea
- Double vision in the eyes, flies before my eyes
- Increase in body temperature
- Increase in blood pressure
Symptoms may appear suddenly, helena have a regular character. Often the pain in the neck and the occipital part of the head are felt to night. Affects many hours sitting in one position. Vertebrates the arteries carrying blood to the main brain pinch and spazmiruyutsya. In the result, shows on the disorders of blood circulation suffering from particular brain. Often, a spasm of arteries and muscles in the neck area leading to limited mobility. A person temporarily, or more often, a long time can not rotate the neck. Dizziness, noise and ringing in the ears, a feeling of congestion arises also due to the reduction in the flow of blood from vertebrate arteries in the head. Dizziness can be systemic and not systemic. At systemic dizziness, it is in man there is a feeling of circular rotation of the objects around you. If there is no system of dizziness, feelings of circular rotation no, but it is present uncertain status when position your body in a standing position, can also indicate the presence of disease.
Often when cervical osteochondrosis arises a pinched nerve. This condition is caused by a shift of the vertebrae in a side of the spinal column. The Offset of the vertebrae squeezing the nerve endings, this leads to spasm of blood vessels, a feeling of lack of air. When a long lack of oxygen in man can begin to shortness of breath. Heart pounding, compressing pain in the heart area, increase in blood pressure – a common accompanying symptoms when damage to the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine.
The consequences and complications of cervical degenerative disc disease
In violation of the normal blood flow in the vessels of the vertebrates suffer from autonomic nervous system. Spasserovannye blood vessels and jumps in blood pressure may lead to the unconscious state. In the case of fainting, you should immediately give the person first aid. It is necessary to give the body so that his feet were above his head, it will lead to a normal blood circulation in the neck area and activates flow to the brain. Sometimes, in order to create the neck vertebrae and stretch the satexpo neck during prolonged the finding of your body in one position, the person begins to forcefully and rapidly rotate your head to the left and to the right. Finally, the vertebral artery t, and the location state of the relief, a person begins to feel dizzy, ringing in the ears, sharp pain of the head, which may also lead to an increase in blood pressure and in unconscious state.
The main and most common complication of cervical degenerative disc disease is the formation of intervertebral hernia and protrusion. Hernia of the spine – this is the result of degradation and destruction of the intervertebral disc. When hernias and protrusions is happening squeezing and ballooning content of the fibrous rings on any side. When a person feels a constant pain due to the friction numbed the intervertebral disc to each other. The most severe complication of cervical degenerative disc disease can be regarded as disease – myelopathy , which is destroyed by the spinal cord. Myelopathy most commonly localized exactly in the cervical region of the spine. In this disease, the person feels numbness helena tingling in the area of the limbs, weakness and involuntary twitching of muscles in the body, there is pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades.
Diagnosis and identification of cervical degenerative disc disease
In the presence of one helena a few symptoms pointing to the occurrence of cervical degenerative disc disease, it is necessary to seek medical help. The doctor the neurologist helena orthopedic surgeon performs a physical examination of the patient with the assessment of pain and mobility of the neck, reveals the accompanying symptoms and recommend perform the necessary diagnostic activities. Most reliable nowadays is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The result of the examination, the patient can detect, with 100% accuracy the availability of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as extrusion, helena hernia. As contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis can be attributed to the presence in a patient of a pacemaker. Children's age and pregnancy to contraindications are not relevant due to the fact that when the MRI happens the x-ray irradiation. Unlike x-ray picture, where you see only the bones of the skeleton, in the magnetic resonance visible for all the soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, discs, the spinal cord in the neck region and nerve fibres. X-rays, as a way of identifying cervical degenerative disc disease is only applicable in the early stages of the disease. The advantage of this method of investigation can be considered as the speed, availability and low price. Using x-ray can reveal only the degree of change in the intervertebral disks, in addition to the examination of the soft tissues, muscles and nerve fibres in the neck area.
Prevention of cervical degenerative disc disease
As the prevention of cervical degenerative disc disease, it is possible to give some tips:
- Avoid uplifts severity. In case of need to lift heavy, you need to properly distribute the load on the entire spine.
- Avoid long seats in one position, to exclude the hours of viewing television shows, without changing the position of your body.
- The bed and pillow to sleep and rest should be comfortable. It is desirable orthopaedic mattress and anatomical orthopedic pillow, select the customized size.
- It is necessary to follow the rules, to prevent the curvature of the posture of your body. Correct and straight position of the head, neck and back pain when walking and sitting to ensure the health of not only cervical, but of the entire spine.
- Proper nutrition with plenty of protein foods, cereals, fruits and vegetables provide the body with essential vitamins and trace elements.
- Inclusion in the diet of foods such as jellies, jellies, sea fish and seafood containing collagen, will be undoubtedly useful for the bones of the skeleton, ligaments and cartilage.
- Proper and sufficient drink, simple pure water, will prevent the drying out of the contents of the intervertebral disc and the occurrence of cervical degenerative disc disease.
- A very important exercise and physical activity at any age. In addition to the walks in the fresh air is very helpful jogging, swimming, aqua aerobics, yoga and pilates.
Treatment. Cervical osteochondrosis symptoms feeling
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease applied drug resources, rehabilitation – procedures, massage, special exercises and gymnastics, and in extreme cases are not excluded, and surgical intervention. To facilitate pain syndrome successfully applied analgesics. For the relief of the inflammatory process shows a non-steroidal medication. When muscle cramps doctors recommend relaxers. When regular spasms of the muscles of the neck need to wear a special orthopedic collar. To reduce the pain applying anti-inflammatory ointments. In slow cervical osteochondrosis, without exacerbations are prescribed rehabilitation treatments. Well they showed in the treatment of Sanogo degenerative disc disease: magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, UHF, and shock-wave therapy. During rehabilitation – treatments occurs remission of the inflammatory processes in the body, improves the blood supply to the cervical spine. Regular massages are also featured in osteochondrosis.
Between exercises for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease is the widely used 5 basic, carried out at a slow pace. Repeat the exercise should be three to five times.
- Exercise is the first thing. It is in the slow turns of the head to the left and to the right. The shoulders remain motionless.
- Exercise the second. It is necessary pressure on the forehead with the palm, slightly straining the muscles of the neck.
- Exercise third. Is slopes head left and right, and tilt to the left, it is necessary, how is it possible to omit the head and touch the left ear to the left shoulder, while tilting to the right – touch right ear to right shoulder.
- Exercise fourth. Recommended pressure of the left palm on the temple on the left side of the head, like the right palm to push the temple on the right side of the head.
- Exercise fifth. Slowly tilt the chin to the neck, while he turned his head first left, then right.
These simple but effective exercises can be performed every day, has up his sleeve 10-15 minutes of free time.
Conclusion
In our body the spine has five departments. The cervical department of the spine deserve special attention. Referring to a complex symptomatology, the presence of many comorbidities and a lack of sufficient control, the occurrence of cervical degenerative disc disease is a serious problem. Begins with the conventional mild discomfort in the neck area, without adequate treatment, the intervertebral discs begin to suffer degenerative changes, which a person a lot of discomfort. Vertigo, pain in the occipital and temporal parts of the head, pain in neck, ringing and humming in the ears – the main but not the only symptoms, symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease. To cervical degenerative disc disease at the stage of its formation is not switched to irreversible changes and impacts, it is necessary to observe simple rules of nutrition and water regime, exercise regularly, watch the possession of your body and the position of the head when walking, standing, helena session. It is strictly contra-indicated longer stay of body in solid condition.