Since the distant ancestor of man, Homo Erectus, stood up, humanity, in addition to all the possible advantages associated with walking upright (protection from wild animals, better visibility, expansion of working functionality), has received a rich set of musculoskeletal diseases . Cervical osteochondrosis is one of them. Some people do not take the disease seriously, considering it an annoying but insignificant obstacle. This is especially true in situations where there is no intense pain.
Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis is usually perceived as a separate symptom from the main disease, but as a result, the disease can lead to serious complications and even disability. In this article we will look at what medications should be taken for dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis, learn how to get rid of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis and analyze what exercises should be done for dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The term osteochondrosis comes from the ancient Greek words ὀστέον – "bone" and χόνδρος – "cartilage". Doctors use this term to designate a group of dystrophic changes in articular cartilage caused by an increase in the volume of bone tissue. More than other joints, the cartilaginous seal between the vertebrae, which in medicine is called the "disc", suffers.
Osteochondrosis is divided by type into "cervical", "thoracic" and "lumbar". Cervical is the most common. Today, this disease is a constant companion of anyone over 40 years old. Despite the opinion that this disease develops over the years and young people do not suffer from it, modern medical practice proves the opposite, demonstrating disappointing statistics among people over 30 years old.
Causes
The causes of osteochondrosis include direct (compression of vertebral vessels and nerves - compression of the cervical vertebrae) and indirect, related to the patient's lifestyle and the physiological characteristics of his body.
Types of compression complications of osteochondrosis:
- Spondylolisthesis. Displacement of the spinal disc from the back or front. At significant rates, displacement is fraught with paralysis and death.
- Osteophytes. Abnormal and pathological growth of bone tissue due to calcium salts.
- Protrusion. Protrusion of the intervertebral disc without disruption of the integrity of the collagen ring.
- Hernias. Displacement of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc with rupture of the collagen ring.
Reasons for compression:
- intense physical work;
- physical inactivity, "computer" illness, sedentary pastime;
- weight is above normal;
- metabolic disorder;
- genetic predisposition;
- incorrect posture;
- weak muscle tone of the neck and back in general;
- excessive tension, fatigue of the back and neck muscles;
- tendency to a certain neck position, for example, the habit of tilting the head to the side;
- "old" injuries of the cervical spine;
- nervous shocks and stress.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are sporadic and constant pain in the neck, shoulder girdle, collarbones and head. With advanced disease, vertigo (dizziness) and loss of consciousness are possible.
The complete symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are so diverse that the patient often cannot independently identify one or another symptom of cervical osteochondrosis. Even the attending physician must carry out a detailed examination to make an accurate diagnosis.
The symptoms of the disease change according to its progression. Modern medicine distinguishes 4 stages of osteochondrosis progression:
I – small changes in normal cervical lordosis. There may be slight pain when turning the head. Mild discomfort when bending the neck;
II – small displacements between the vertebrae, torsion (uncoordinated rotation of the vertebra in relation to the spinal cord), reduction in the thickness of the intervertebral cartilage. Pain of mild to moderate intensity appears in the neck and head, tingling in the fingertips, tinnitus, when turning the head the patient hears a slight clicking sound;
III – the intervertebral cartilage is displaced by a quarter in relation to the other, the thickness and size of the disc change selectively, it becomes thinner, changes its normal shape, the posterior osteophytes narrow the spinal canal, damaging the spinal cord. The pain becomes intense, loses its sporadic character, becomes stable in nature, ranging from medium to intense. Weakness appears in the hands, hearing is impaired. When you turn your head, the screeching sound is heard not only by the patient, but also by those around him. Possible loss of coordination of movements. By the way, dizziness with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a very alarming sign, which is why you should immediately consult a doctor if you have not already done so;
IV – the intervertebral discs are significantly displaced, posterior osteophytes and protrusions become abnormally large, the spinal canal is significantly narrowed and curved, myelopathy is formed (compression syndrome of the spinal cord and its vessels). Frequent dizziness, loss of consciousness. Severe and very intense pain in the neck, head, collarbone, shoulders. The face, tongue and palate become numb. Vision and hearing are significantly impaired. Weakness throughout the body. Legs and arms are removed. Temporary paralysis of the limbs. A very significant loss of coordination in space. Swallowing reflex disorder. Total loss of sensitivity in the hands and throughout the body.
Treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
When asking the question "how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? ", we must remember that with cervical osteochondrosis, treatment must be timely, there is no need to delay.
Therapeutic and preventive measures are closely related in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Conventionally, the difference between them is in the severity of the disease. Osteochondrosis prevention is applied before the onset of the disease and during the first three phases. Treatment of the disease begins from the moment it occurs.
In this section we will find out whether it is possible to eliminate many of the unpleasant symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at once, what exercises can be done for dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis, which pills, medicines and folk remedies are most often used for complicated osteochondrosis, how to treat dizziness, how treat dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis osteochondrosis with folk remedies.
Prevention
Eliminates many signs of osteochondrosis at once. Includes four types of therapy:
- The traditional way to remove signs of cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness is to constantly lead a healthy lifestyle;
- physiotherapy (not recommended already in the third stage of osteochondrosis development, although the final decision rests with the vertebrologist);
- massage and self-massage (although manual therapy is very effective for cervical osteochondrosis and can easily relieve pain, it is not recommended in the last stages of the disease);
- apply orthopedic advice and orthopedic devices (Kuznetsov applicator, furniture, household items) in everyday life.
ethnoscience
Neck osteochondrosis can be treated at home using traditional medicine. The products she created are a creative composition of herbs, essential oils, fats, poisons, roots of various plants with alcohol and iodine.
Can a traditional medicine relieve dizziness and pain? Here the situation is the same as with drug treatment - the pain can pass almost immediately, the prevention of dizziness will take some time. Treatment with traditional medicine should be started as early as possible, as it will definitely bring a positive result.