Cervical osteochondrosis - symptoms and treatment

What is the cause of accelerated osteochondrosis in the cervical region? What is the manifestation of its specific symptoms? How can you cure cervical osteochondrosis yourself, in a calm home? Many people suffering from osteochondrosis want to hear the answer to these questions.

neck pain with osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is the most common and unpleasant disease that affects modern young people aged thirty to thirty-five. Cervical osteochondrosis develops due to long stays in incorrect and tense positions - when working at a personal computer all day, and also due to the habit of holding the phone on your shoulders. Quite often, this disease appears due to prolonged exposure to vibrations, or rather, if powerful construction equipment is used during work or frequent driving. Also, this disease develops with incorrect posture, uncomfortable beds, sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predispositions and other factors. The back of the neck hurts most often in people with this disease.

Osteochondrosis of the neck is considered a degenerative-dystrophic damage to the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. It appears due to metabolic disorders in the cervical spine, in connection with which there is a change in the structure of the intervertebral disc, that is, a special seal between the vertebrae.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are significantly different from osteochondrosis in other areas. This is one of the most dangerous types of osteochondrosis, because the nerve root of the spinal cord is damaged and the blood supply to the brain is damaged as a result of compression of the blood vessels. The reason is the peculiarity of the structure of the spine in the neck area.

The large artery that supplies the brain is vertebral and passes into the foramen of the process of the cervical vertebra. The pathological change in it leads to growth of bone and fibrous tissues and compression of the artery. Due to the displacement of the spine, the normal functioning of these arteries is also disturbed.

The structure of the cervical vertebrae is slightly different - the vertebrae are in close contact with each other. With any even minor pathological changes, the normal functioning of all departments is disturbed - nerves and vessels are pressed and displaced. As a result, the functions are disturbed - the sensitivity of the skin is disturbed, signs of vertigo are observed. You will have tinnitus, headache, severe fatigue, vision and hearing will deteriorate, and you will stagger when walking.

The most important symptoms are:

  • Pain in the neck, shoulders and arms. You will feel muscle weakness, a creak in your neck when you turn your head.
  • Sensation of a pulling pain in the heart. You will feel pain in your left arm. You will feel burning and pain in your shoulder blades.
  • Do not be surprised by periodic headaches and increased fatigue, as well as a feeling of weakness.
  • Pain is painful. Difficulty moving the head.
  • Neck pain radiates to the arm, which can cause numbness in the fingers.
  • Hearing and vision will deteriorate, pain in the hands will appear, the work of the heart and lungs will be disturbed, dizziness, nausea, numbness of the tongue and face will appear.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

gymnastics for the neck with osteochondrosis

Initially, osteochondrosis occurs in a mild form and does not cause discomfort to a person. At this stage, drug treatment is not necessary, it is only necessary to carry out preventive measures to avoid more serious complications. It is necessary to improve working conditions, to revise the way of life and to give up bad habits.

Be active, do morning gymnastics, follow a diet, stop smoking and avoid lifting weights. Maintain an upright posture, take the correct posture when sitting and lying down. Sign up for a therapeutic gymnastics course.

Over the years, cervical osteochondrosis can progress and pass into a more complex form. After that, the treatment is carried out using a conservative method. At this stage, you will need to wear special collars, do physiotherapy, go for a massage.

In the most severe cases, the use of drug therapy will be required, i. e. the treatment will already be with the help of analgesics, antispasmodics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.