Neck osteochondrosis - symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical column (shopping) is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.Each year, doctors are increasingly diagnosing this disease, and it takes place more and more.According to statistics, in women, dystrophic degenerative changes in the upper spine occur more often, especially for patients in the post-sertilizing period.The main symptoms of cervical osteochondosis in women are pain, limitation of mobility, cerebrovascular insufficiency, and this is dangerous not only for health, but also for life.To protect yourself from the dangerous consequences of pathology, you should start treatment in the early stages.It is important to carry out complete therapy, to modify the lifestyle in order to stop the destruction of vertebrates and to prevent serious complications.

The development of the disease

The cervical column is the most vulnerable to various injuries and degenerative changes.This is due to the fact that this segment is the most mobile and that the muscles here are weak.The small cervical vertebrae daily resist a strong load, which leads to the progressive destruction of the intervertebral discs.The vertebrae crowd, because of which the cartilaginous joints between them lose a lot of liquids, begin to degrade and deform.

In addition, osteochondrosis of the cervical column is developing due to insufficient nutrition of cartilage.And the spinal canal in this area is narrow, so it is often removed, which causes neurological symptoms.

Pathology in women in the early stages manifests itself by the weight at the back of the head, tingling in their hands and so on.Often, patients confuse the first signs of the disease with overwork.

A large number of blood vessels and nerve roots are located on the neck area, and neurological disorders can also occur with their compression.It is particularly dangerous if the distorted disc or the vertebrae compress the vertebral artery which nourishes important parts of the brain.During her compression, the coordination of movements is raped, a woman can lose balance, her vision, hearing worsens and the risk of increased stroke.

Reference.According to statistics, cervical osteochondosis is most often found in patients aged 25 to 40.This is due to a decrease in the mass of physical activity, seated work.In women, a disease is more often found than in men because they have more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue.

Doctors distinguish the 4 stages of the osteochondrosis store:

• STEP 1 - The intervertebral disc loses part of the humidity, its height decreases, the cracks can appear on the fibrous ring (outer shell).This is the stage of cervical chondosis, which is difficult to detect, because it has unexplained symptoms.The neck gets tired quickly, discomfort, severity in the damaged area occurs, sometimes slight pain appears, which passes quickly.
• 2 steps - Cracks on the surface of the disc increase, the pulpose core (discs of the disc frost) are offset and can exceed damaged areas.Thus, the projections of cartilage are manifested, which can compress the spinal cord and its roots.Periodically, the pain pronounced, the weakness, the limitation of mobility appears, the numbness of the face, the neck, the shoulders, the hands can occur.
• STEP 3 - The projection breaks the outer shell of the disc, so a hernia forms.The pain becomes more pronounced, there are neurological disorders.
• STEP 4 - The disc is almost completely destroyed, the vertebrae rub against each other, bone growth (osteophytes) appear on their parts, which are designed to stabilize the damaged segment.The nerve endings, the spinal cord, the blood vessels are raped.The neighboring joints are starting to be damaged.The clinical signs are pronounced.

It is easier to stop degenerative-dystrophic changes in the first two stages of hop osteochondosis.At 3 steps, complete treatment will help stop the additional destruction of the vertebral segment.At the last stadium, you cannot do without surgery.

Reasons

Schop osteochondosis is a complex and prolonged process that most often has several reasons.In most cases, pathology occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition and metabolic disorders.Often, the disease occurs due to injuries or due to the natural aging of the body and the weakening of its protective forces.

Doctors distinguish the main causes of osteochondrosis in women:

• Violation of metabolic processes.
• Passive lifestyle.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Chronic muscle tension around the cervical segment.
• Curved with posture.
• Liquid deficiency and nutrients in the body.
• Long -term stay in an uncomfortable position (neck extended forward and a vaulted back).
• Excessive weight.
• Frequent portage in heels.
• Buy injury.
• Raise heavy objects.
• Autoimmune pathologies.
• Frequent stress, chronic fatigue.
• Hypothermia.
• Infectious diseases.
• Too long or short neck and so on.

All these factors cause a violation of the nutrition of intervertebral discs and lead to their degeneration.

Female cervical osteochondosis can be caused by pathologies of the vertebral artery associated with genetic predisposition, intrauterine disorders, injuries during childbirth.The disease may occur due to rheumatism, endocrine disorders, excessive load on the cervical segment during pregnancy, local overloads.

Important.The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis in women are menopause, as well as changes associated with this period.At this stage, the concentration of progesterone is reduced in the body, which is very important for bone tissue.The probability of degenerative changes is associated with a weakening linked to the age of neck muscles and a weakening of the support of the vertebrae in this area.

Symptoms

Osteochondrosis is characterized by a wave type course, when the acute period is replaced by remission.Exacerbation can cause infections, injuries, hypothermia, long loads on the neck.

The first signs of cervical osteochondosis in women are headache, discomfort, gravity of the neck.It is important to distinguish in time to distinguish pain for migraine chondrosis or autonomous dysfunction.

Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis in women are caused by neurological syndromes:

• Cervical discs occur with the irritation of nerve endings with damaged cartilage installation fragments.Then, a specific crunch appears in the neck, the pain, which becomes more pronounced when the head moves and after sleep.
• The staircase muscles syndrome becomes the result of damage to the vessels and nerves of the plexus shoulder and the subclavian artery.This complex of symptoms is accompanied by pain from the inner surface of the shoulder by hand on the damaged side.The member becomes pale, fresh, edematous, numbness occurs.The pain in the neck spreads to the back of the head when the patient turns his head.
• Pose syndrome on the shoulder - dystrophic changes affect the tendon fibers surrounding the shoulder.Painful sensations of the neck radiate on shoulder and shoulder.There is a forced position of the neck - it is tilted on the affected side and the shoulder is slightly lowered.
• Vertebral artery syndrome - A compress of the blood vessel Fragments of a damaged disc or osteophyte (depending on the stage of the disease).The patient turns and headache, nausea, sometimes vomit vomiting.The pain is located at the back of the head, the crown and the temples.
• CARDIAL - The nerve beams of the spinal cord are damaged.There is heart pain, arrhythmia.In case of damage to C3, pain in half of the neck appears, the tongue swells, the patient cannot chew food normally.If the C4 is injured, then the discomfort appears in the green vegetable area, the collarbone, the heart.With damage to C5, the reaction of neck pain spreads to the shoulder, the inner surface of the shoulder.The irritation of C6 manifests itself by the pain of the neck and the shoulder blades on the shoulder and spreads through the hand to the thumb.If C7 is damaged, the pain syndrome extends to the back of green vegetables, grabs the whole hand, including the index and the middle finger.When compression of the C8, the pain spreads from the affected area to the elbow and the little finger.

In addition, a woman can be disturbed by the emotional sphere, weakness appears, she becomes anxious, delicate.Often there is insomnia, memory is weakening, attention due to regular headaches.

The symptoms of cerebrovascular traffic disorders appear when a woman throws her suddenly, inclines it or performs a work in which her hands and cervical column are loaded, for example, when she digs, paints the ceiling, tolerates gravity.

The violation of brain traffic manifests itself by dizzy, the trembling approach, the "flies" before the eyes, the noise in the ears, the weakness, the nausea.In some patients, the voice becomes hoarse, sometimes disappears, the pain in the throat appears.

Osteochondrosis during the menopause period is accompanied by migraines, improved by sweating of the body in the area between the neck and the shoulders.When compressing the vertebral artery, the work of the cardiovascular system is disturbed.

If the disease occurs for a long time, there is a lack of blood circulation of important centers which fulfill neuro-endocrine functions.Due to the increased permeability of the vascular walls, brain atherosclerosis and cardiac arteries develops.

Diagnosis

If you notice the symptoms of osteochondrosis, go to the therapist.After a visual inspection, the specialist will direct you to an orthopedist, a vertebrologist or a neurologist.

For the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, the following methods are used:

• X-Ray allows you to discover that the patient has the vertebrae in the patient, the osteophytes are present at their edges, the distance between the vertebrae has decreased.For this, the study is carried out in different plans.To detail the characteristic changes, the doctor takes images.
• The CT scope of the cervical service gives detailed information on pathological changes in the vertebrae.This method allows you to obtain volumetric images for a more detailed study, it is used in cases of serious diagnosis.
• MRI is used to precisely assess the state of soft tissues (nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles) on the affected area.
• Electromyography allows you to check the conductivity of the nerve fiber.

Doctors can also prescribe UZDG (ultrasound doppleraphy of the main arteries of the brain) to determine the state of blood circulation in this area.

Preservative

In the early stages, treatment with osteochondosis of chops in women can be done at home.However, a doctor should be compiled by a doctor.It is important to understand that it is a long process and it is unlikely that it is completely cured (especially elderly women).

The composition of a complex treatment includes:

• Take medication.
• Using orthopedic devices.
• Therapeutic gymnastics.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.
• Massage, manual exhibition.
• Alternative treatment methods.

Conservative techniques will help stop pain, inflammation, normalization of muscle tone, improvement of metabolic processes, nutrition of damaged spine segments.With a timely time therapy, it is possible to stop pathological changes.

Drugs for cervical osteochondosis will help get rid of inflammation and pain.

Treatment of cervical osteochondosis in women is carried out using drugs that will help improve the metabolism of cartilage joints between vertebrae, to stop inflammation, pain.The following drugs are used for this purpose:

• NSAIDs.Inflammation and pain of light or medium power will help relieve.
• Analgesics.Stop pain syndrome.
• Preparations to improve brain traffic.
• Musods help eliminate muscle spasms.
• Chondroprotectors.They help stop the destruction of discs, improve metabolic processes, accelerate recovery.
• Medicines based on majesty.
• Nootropics.They stimulate the functioning of the brain due to the normalization of its circulatory, have a slight sedative effect.

Reference.With intense pain, which is not stopped by oral drugs, therapeutic blocking, for example, with a solution of novocaine or NSAIDs, is used.

You can complete the treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic in the form of gels, creams and ointments.They will be effective at the stage of remission or in combination with oral agents.

The decision to choose medicinal combinations is made by the doctor.The specialist will write a drug taking scheme and will also determine their dosage.It is important to follow your recommendations because many of the above drugs threaten dangerous complications.

During the acute stage of osteochondrosis, the woman should abandon strong physical activity.To unload the cervical segment, you must wear a special corset (Shantsa necklace), which will fix the vertebrae in the right position.This device is recommended to be used for prolonged session or hard physical work.

Physiotherapeutic procedures will help weaken pain and improve blood circulation in the damaged area:

• Diadinamotherapy.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Electrophoresis.
• Electroantensia.
• Ultraviolette irradiation and so on.

The therapeutic effect manifests itself after the third session, then the headache, hearing disorders, vision, dizziness, sleep and the general state improve or disappear.

Using the underwater traction of the cervical segment, you can extend the distance between the vertebrae, release the nerve or the blood vessel from the compression and restore the normal position of the vertebrae.

Massage will normalize muscle tone, reduce the flow of lymphatic fluid, which causes swelling.After a few sessions, blood circulation in the damaged area improves.

Therapeutic gymnastics is one of the most effective methods for treating osteochondrosis in chop.LFK allows you to strengthen the low neck muscles, which will then take part of the spine load and help stop or slow down degenerative-dystrophic changes.During classes, blood circulation improves, metabolic processes, disks nutrition is accelerated, which positively affects their condition.

Women are expected to do a training every day.They consist of simple but effective exercises.The complex consists of turns, tilt of the head in different directions, as well as neck movements, during which the hands use.These elements can be done at home, but only after the doctor's permission.Medical physical education is only carried out at the stage of remission.

Complex treatment can be supplemented by reflexology (acupuncture), hiaudotherapy (leeches treatment), swimming, etc.

Surgical treatment

The operation is prescribed in the last stages of osteochondrosis of CHOP, which are accompanied by the serious destruction of bone structures.In addition, surgery cannot be carried out if the conservative methods were ineffective or considerably shrunk vertebral channels.

In the above cases, the anterior cervical discoctoie is carried out.During the procedure, the doctor immobilizes the damaged segment of the spine and eliminates the hernia, which tightened the vertebral nerve.Then the vertebrae, between which the disc was removed, are spent.If necessary, the space between the vertebrae is filled with a synthetic insert (cage).

After 3 to 5 days, the patient returned home.The rehabilitation period is approximately 12 weeks.To accelerate recovery, you need to take medication, wear a corset, lead the right lifestyle, go to physiotherapeutic procedures and carry out exercise therapy over time.

Life recommendations

In order to quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis and to stop the dystrophic degenerative changes in the cervical segment, you must adjust the lifestyle.To do this, the patient must follow the following recommendations:

• Go hiking daily, avoid running, jumping and other explosive stress.
• You cannot wear heavy objects.
• You cannot sit long, in extreme cases to wear a corset and periodically take a horizontal position.
• Perform special physical exercises for back at home muscles.
• Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a special pillow.
• Follow the diet, reconstruct the diet with products rich in magnesium, calcium (nuts, dairy products, seafood, legumes), as well as vegetable fiber, chondroitin (jelly, jelly).Refuse fat, fried, too salty, alcohol.Find out more about power rules will be advised by the doctor.But in any case, it should be correct.

Numbering cannot be authorized, warming will benefit in the absence of an inflammatory process.

Complications

In the absence of a timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a woman may feel the following consequences of the pathology:

• The probability of protruding occurs which, after a certain time, turns into hernia.The protrusion compresses the spinal cord, as well as its nerves, causing neurological disorders.
• Osteophytes appear with serious disc damage, they irritate the nerves of the spine and blood vessels.
• In advanced cases, a strong weakening of the neck muscles or incomplete paralysis is possible, then the head is involuntarily suspended to the side or the front.
• Compression of vertebral arteries, circulatory violation in the affected area.This condition can cause neuralgia (pain along the nerve), hearing impairment and a vision.
• Paralysis (incomplete or full).
• Brain stroke.

If a woman is engaged in solving the problem in the first stages of the boutique osteochondrosis, she may warn the above conditions.

Preventive measures

Ideally, the prophylaxis of CHOP osteochondrosis is necessary during the intrauterine development period.The future mother should exclude the factors that negatively affect the development of the fetus: infections, oxygen famine, poisoning.If there is a birth injury, the newborn must undergo treatment.

To reduce the probability of developing chop osteochondrosis, a woman must follow the following recommendations:

• Stop the spine uniformly, for example, wear a load in both hands or in turn on the right and then on the left.
• Do not lift too much weight yourself.
• Try to avoid injury from your neck, hypothermia.
• While working in the gardens, take a break every 1.5 hours, go for 20 minutes.
• Choose shoes with an elastic sole that will soften the blows during the race or the jump.
• With a long seat, use a chair with a high back and a headrest or put a corset.

It is also important to eat, control weight, avoid stress, take vitamin preparations for medical reasons, treat pathologies over time, which can cause osteochondrosis.At the stage of remission, it is recommended to visit the sanatoriums to undergo treatment.

The most important thing

As you can see, in women, osteochondrosis of the cervical column occurs more often than in men, because the former have more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue.Patients are particularly sensitive to patients from the post-climatic period.The disease is manifested by pain, neurological disorders, as well as the dangerous symptoms of the cerebrovascular accident.The treatment is recommended to start the first stages to avoid dangerous complications of osteochondrosis.To do this, a woman must take medication, adjust the lifestyle, visit physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, do physiotherapy exercises.Surgical treatment is only shown in advanced cases.To prevent pathology, you should observe moderate physical activity, treat injuries and diseases that can cause osteochondrosis over time.