Cervical osteochondrosis is a pathological change in the tissues of the intervertebral discs and in the vertebrae themselves. As a result, the soft tissue becomes thinner and the cushioning effect of the vertebrae diminishes. Compression of blood vessels and nerve fibers occurs and the mobility of the cervical spine decreases.
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the most dangerous locations for osteochondrosis, as the blood supply to the brain deteriorates as a result of this disease.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
As a result, the normal functioning of the cervical spine is disrupted, its mobility diminishes, and neck pain develops. Cervical osteochondrosis can cause deterioration of blood circulation in the brain, migraines, heart rhythm disturbances, deterioration of vision, coordination and attention, and the development of intervertebral hernia.
Symptoms of Cervical Osteochondrosis
The disease is characterized by acute pain in the neck, radiating to the back of the neck, scapula, and forearm. Pain may be worse when moving the head or in certain positions. As a result of the pain syndrome and the inflammatory process, the cervical muscles are overloaded. Patients often experience migraines, decreased hearing and visual acuity, dizziness, tinnitus, sudden changes in blood pressure, fainting. A symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can be a violation of fingertip sensation.
Types of osteochondrosis
Location distinguishes cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and common osteochondrosis. Most of the time, lumbar (more than 50% of the cases), cervical (more than 25%) and disseminated (about 12%) osteochondrosis is diagnosed.
Cervical spine osteochondrosis
Parents often say a common phrase addressed to their children: "Don't turn your head! " Doctors say otherwise: "Make sure you turn your head. "Any age. This is the only way to avoid a dangerous disease - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The neck is designed by nature not just to hold the head and rotate it in different directions, which, by the way, over the years for untrained people who don't take care of their health becomes a very difficult issue. The spinal cord, arteries that supply the brain, nerve roots and trunks that make a neural connection with the hands, heart and lungs, pass through the neck region.
The complaints with this type of osteochondrosis are very diverse: heart pain, headache, dizziness with short-term loss of consciousness (due to disturbances in the blood supply to the brain), pain in the shoulder joint or in the whole arm.
Thoracic spine osteochondrosis
The pain that occasionally occurs in the thoracic spine is familiar to everyone who does heavy physical work. As a rule, these painful and unpleasant sensations serve as the first sign that a very unpleasant disease is starting to develop in the body—osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. This disease often affects people in so-called sedentary professions: designers, computer operators, car drivers.
But it is not absolutely necessary that you, even if you drag heavy objects every day or have to sit for long hours at your desk, to have osteochondrosis.
A reliable barrier to illness is correct posture. When walking, try to keep your back straight and shoulders straight. To form the posture, as you understand yourself, is necessary from an early age. But you can do it in your 30s or 40s. In fact, better late than never!
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
At first, there are dull pains in the lower back and legs, then it is usually noted numbness in the extremities, a significant increase in pain with sudden movements of the body, with tremors.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis are usually associated with the aging of the body and age-related tissue changes. However, lifestyle and related factors increase the risk of developing the disease. These include:
- low physical activity, sedentary work;
- overweight and unhealthy diet;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system: flat feet, rheumatism, scoliosis, postural disorders;
- neck or neck injuries.
Also, osteochondrosis can be caused by other spinal disorders. The spine is a unique whole and also needs to be treated in a complex way. That's why the first thing to do if you suspect osteochondrosis is to undergo a complete spinal exam.
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the cartilaginous surfaces of bones in the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine (as well as the hip and knee joints). Osteochondrosis has four stages of development.
To understand the essence of this disease, it is necessary, at least in general terms, to understand the structure of the spine. The vertebrae are connected to each other by ligaments and intervertebral discs. The holes in the vertebrae form the channel in which the spinal cord is located; its roots, containing sensory nerve fibers, extend between each pair of vertebrae. When the spine is flexed, the intervertebral discs are somewhat compressed on the slope side and their nuclei are displaced in the opposite direction. Simply put, the intervertebral discs are shock absorbers that ease the pressure on the spine under stress.
Mass morbidity is mainly associated with a person's vertical position, where the load on the spine and intervertebral discs is much greater than in animals. If you do not learn to sit, stand, lie down, the disc will lose its ability to perform its function (amortization) and after a while the outer shell of the disc will crack and hernial protrusions form. They constrict blood vessels (which leads to compromised spinal circulation) or the roots of the spinal cord and, in rare cases, the spinal cord itself. These changes are accompanied by painful sensations and reflex tension in the back muscles.
According to statistics, almost one in two people aged between 25 and 55 years suffer from osteochondrosis. But mostly people start to feel the manifestations of osteochondrosis after 35 years. The development and exacerbation of spinal osteochondrosis is facilitated by static and dynamic overload, as well as vibration.
This could be caused by:
- work associated with frequent changes in trunk position - flexion and extension, turns, sudden movements,
- lifting heavy loads,
- improper posture when standing, sitting, lying down and carrying weights,
- physical education and sports without taking into account the influence of heavy physical exertion,
- unfavorable weather conditions - low temperature with high air humidity.
But it cannot be said that if you follow all the instructions exactly, osteochondrosis will not threaten you. After all, the cause of this disease could be traumatic injuries.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment is prescribed after the exam. The physician collects the anamnesis and directs the patient for examination. Most of the time - for MRI images. After discovering the exact cause of the disease, they begin treatment.
In the acute period, the doctor prescribes painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In the period of remission - physiotherapy procedures - massage, kinesiotherapy, shock wave therapy, physiotherapy exercises. These methods aim to strengthen the muscular corset, relieve tension and prevent attacks of disease.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
- Get regular checkups.Disease is easier to prevent than cure. Annual exams will identify the disease at an early stage and cure it before it progresses to a more severe stage.
- Observe your posture.Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed. If you work a lot at a computer or desk, choose a comfortable chair, sit up straight, and warm up every half hour or hour of work.
- Lead an active lifestyle.Walk more, be outdoors, play sports, swimming is especially useful.
- Use an orthopedic pillow while sleeping.
Osteochondrosis and its prevention
Taking care of his own health is everyone's immediate responsibility, he has no right to transfer it to others. After all, it often happens that a person with a wrong way of life, bad habits, physical inactivity, eating too much already at 20-30 years, reaches a catastrophic state. No matter how perfect medicine is, it cannot save everyone from all diseases. Man is the creator of his own health, for which he must strive. From an early age, it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, temperament, exercise and sports, to observe the rules of personal hygiene - in a word, to reasonably achieve a genuine harmony of health.
Exercising for a long time is a reliable prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Here are some exercises for preventing this type of osteochondrosis:
- Press your forehead into the palm of your hand and tighten your neck muscles. Do the exercise 3 times for 7 seconds. Then press the back of the head into the palm of your hand also 3 times for 7 seconds.
- Stretching the neck muscles, press the left temple onto the left palm (3 times for 7 seconds), then press the right palm against the right temple (3 times for 7 seconds).
- Tilt your head back slightly. Overcoming the resistance of the tense muscles of the neck, press your chin against the jugular fossa. Do the exercise at least 5 times.
- Keep your head and shoulders straight. Slowly turn your head as far to the right as possible (5 times). Perform the left move the same number of times.
- Lower your chin to your neck. Turn your head 5 times to the right and then 5 times to the left.
- Throw your head back. Try touching your right ear to your right shoulder (5 times). Do the same movement, trying to touch the left shoulder with the left ear (5 times).
It is recommended to include these exercises in the morning hygiene exercises, as well as performing them during the working day. You can do both sitting and standing. However, in no case should you make circular rotational movements with your head. This could result in injury.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
If you also regularly perform the exercises (listed below) that build and maintain muscle tone in your back and abdomen, ensuring normal mobility of all segments of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis will not dominate you.
- IP- standing; as you inhale, stand with your hands down and your feet together. Extend your arms - exhale. Bend back and take a deep breath. Then lower your arms, lean forward, slightly rounding your back, lower your shoulders and head - exhale. Repeat 8-10 times.
- IP- sitting in a chair. Place your hands behind your head - inhale, lean back as much as possible 3-5 times, resting your shoulder blades on the back of the chair - exhale.
- IP- Get on all fours. Bend your back as much as possible and hold for 2-3 seconds in this position. Keep your head straight. Return to i. P. and repeat the same exercise 5 to 7 times.
- IP- Lie on your stomach and place your hands on the floor. Force back as far as possible, trying to pull the body off the ground.
- IP- lying on his stomach, arms at his sides. Bend your thoracic spine, trying to lift your head and legs as much as possible.
These exercises, which relieve stress on the thoracic spine, are advised to be performed throughout the day, during short breaks from work. In exercises 3-5, breathing is arbitrary. Do the 4th and 5th exercises 5 to 8 times. These exercises can be incorporated into morning exercises. It is very useful to perform a few moves after work. The main thing is that you take the preventive complex every day, then you will have insurance insurance against osteochondrosis.
how to sit correctly
- avoid very soft furniture - it's not for you. In order for the body weight not to exert excessive pressure on the spine, the body must be supported by the ischial tubercles, and this is only possible in rigid seats.
- The following requirements are imposed on furniture that you must sit on for a long time: the height of the chair, the chair must match the length of the leg - the leg must rest on the floor; for people of short stature, it is recommended to replace a bench under their feet; the maximum seat depth is approximately 2/3 of the hip length.
- there should be enough legroom under the table so they don't have to bend over too much.
- if you have to sit for a long time, try every 15 to 20 minutes. warm up a little, change the position of the legs.
- make sure your back is snug against the back of the chair.
- Sit upright, without bending your head too much or bending your torso so as not to strain the muscles of your body.
- If by the nature of your activity you have to read a lot of time every day, make a device on the table (music stand) that supports the book high enough and tilts towards the table so that you don't have to tilt your book. upper body forward.
- when driving a car, try to sit relaxed. It is important that your back is well supported. To do this, place a thin cushion between your lower back and the back of the chair, which will preserve your lower back curve. Keep your head straight. After several hours of driving, get out of the car and do the basic gym exercises: turns, turns, squats - 8 to 10 times each.
- in front of the TV screen, do not sit or lie in the same position for a long time. Change it periodically, stand up to stretch. We sit for 1-1, 5 hours, sit in a chair or chair, relax your muscles, take a few deep breaths.
how to get up correctly
When a person is standing for a long time, the spine experiences significant stress, especially in the lower back.
- change position every 10-15 minutes, leaning on one leg or the other, which will reduce the load on the spine.
- if possible, walk on site, move.
- from time to time, bend back, stretching your arms up, take a deep breath. This can relieve some of the fatigue of the muscles in the shoulder girdle, neck, neck, and back.
- if you are washing dishes, ironing clothes, alternately place one leg or the other on a small bench or box. For those who suffer from osteochondrosis, it is better to iron sitting down or put on the ironing board so that you don't have to bend over.
- when cleaning the apartment, working with a vacuum, also try not to bend down, it is better to extend the hose with additional tubes. When cleaning under the bed, kneel under the table.
- to pick up an object from the floor, squat or bend with your knees bent and rest your hand on a chair or table. That way you don't overload your lumbar spine.
how to lie correctly
It's better not to sleep on a soft bed, but not on planks either. The bed must be semi-rigid so that the body, when the person lies down on their back, maintains the physiological curves (cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis). For this:
- place a shield over the entire width of the bed or sofa, and cover it with foam rubber 5 to 8 cm thick, cover it with a fleece blanket and lay out a sheet.
- when the pain is in the leg, you can place a roll of blanket under the knee joint - this reduces stretching of the sciatic nerve and relieves leg pain.
- when the back hurts, many patients prefer to sleep on their stomachs. Place a small pillow under your abdomen to keep your lower back from flexing too much, which causes even more pain.
- lovers of sleep on their sides can sleep with one foot on the other and one hand under their head.
Getting out of bed in the morning for patients with acute manifestations of osteochondrosis can be very difficult. They do this:
And one more piece of advice. For those who enjoy bathing, dry steam (sauna) is preferable, and during an exacerbation, the sauna will have to be abandoned.
How to properly lift and move weights
One of the main reasons for the exacerbation of osteochondrosis and the formation of intervertebral disc hernias, especially in the lumbosacral region, is lifting and carrying heavy loads. Acutely, unexpectedly, there is pain in the lower back in cases where weights are lifted abruptly, with a jolt, and then a heavy object is moved to the side while turning the body.
How to carry weight properly
- Do not carry heavy load with one hand, especially over long distances, so as not to overload the spine, separate the load and carry it with both hands. It is unacceptable to hold a weight, bend and bend sharply (bending backwards).
- in general, it is undesirable for a patient with osteochondrosis to lift and carry weights greater than 15 kg. We advise you to purchase a cart or bag on wheels.
- a backpack with wide straps is very convenient for carrying heavy loads over long distances. The weight of a complete backpack is distributed over the weight of the spine and your hands are free.
How to lift weights correctly
- wear, if you have, a weight lifting belt or any wide belt;
- squat down while your back should be straight, your neck should be straight;
- Grasping a weight with both hands, lift yourself up without bending your back.
And finally, the most important advice. If there is acute pain in any part of the spine, you should not self-medicate with pills and ointments. Seek help from a qualified neurologist - you must make an accurate diagnosis, relieve pain and develop a plan for further treatment.