Features and varieties of cervical osteochondrosis

Unlike the other two types of osteochondrosis, such as lumbar or thoracic, cervical osteochondrosis has a number of characteristic features. This is due to the fact that in this area the structure of the vertebrae is different, they are much smaller in structure than the others. The neck should rotate freely, this is the most mobile part, and besides, it is most exposed to stress. In this regard, painful sensations most often occur.

neck pain with osteochondrosis

Because a large number of nerve and vascular formations pass in the neck area, the patient is accompanied by a headache, ischemia of the spinal cord or brain may develop. At night the fingers become numb, it is difficult to fully control the hand, the temperature drops, blueness and swelling may appear in the hand. This makes it difficult for the brain to supply blood, because the vertebral artery is constricted, and this leads to symptoms such as impaired coordination, loss of sight and hearing, and often dizziness.

Even a small load is enough to move the vertebrae. You can overload the cervical muscles. The result is compression of blood vessels and nerve endings. Over time, osteophytes also form that make the situation worse, and the disease is difficult to cure.

The pain can affect not only the neck, but also the limbs, most often the arms. This is the result of spinal cord compression.

Osteochondrosis can be cured, but it requires systematicity and perseverance. Often, when the first symptoms are removed, the patient stops treatment, while the disease will not slow down to come back again because it is just beginning.

How to understand that the disease should be treated?

First of all, it should be noted that it is important to consult a specialist at the first symptoms of the disease, because it is an efficiency factor that can cure the patient and not get rid of the problem for some time. If the disease progresses and it is no longer possible to name the stage early, then cure is impossible. It is not worth treating osteochondrosis on your own, only a doctor can choose the right treatment regimen, make an accurate diagnosis and how far the disease has gone.

Without qualified help, you can make the situation worse and even harm your body, not to mention the treatment.

Such treatment takes place in a complex way, combining different methods, taking into account the factors that affect how the disease progresses and progresses, only then can it be localized or cured.

Activities for osteochondrosis

  • anesthesia;
  • use of antispasmodics;
  • fat regenerating stimulants;
  • manual therapy;
  • mass therapy;
  • hirudotherapy;
  • physiotherapy;
  • surgical intervention.

Grade 2 osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, this is a disease at the time of exacerbation, and can be treated with painkillers with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. And only when the acute phase passes, you can start treatment with other methods, not forgetting that nutrition is also important.

It is a delusion to believe that this disease occurs more often in middle-aged and elderly people, that they are not afraid of grade 2 and 3 diseases.

Young people are increasingly suffering from osteochondrosis, so the disease is getting younger. And this is due to some factors:

  • violation of posture;
  • trauma;
  • scoliosis;
  • impaired metabolism;
  • stress;
  • high body weight;
  • lack of physical fitness.

Young people spend many hours and even days at the computer, and this leaves a mark, the percentage of healthy young people is declining. But not only a lack of physical activity can affect the onset of the disease, but also overwork, overload and a wrongly chosen training regimen for athletes.

pain in cervical osteochondrosis

Polysegmental osteochondrosis

There is such a concept as polysegmental osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, and this concept is not clear to everyone. In fact, this is a manifestation of the disease not in one place, but in several at once, it is more difficult to cure. As you know, the spine is divided into several parts:

  • cervical;
  • chest;
  • lumbar;
  • sacral;
  • tailbone.

Problems even in one place cause a lot of problems and pain, and if the disease has affected multiple departments, then it is quite difficult to determine the disease by symptoms. There are too many painful manifestations, and they are all mixed up, so it is difficult to diagnose. This can only be done if you consult a qualified professional and there is no need to delay.

For example, cervical disease manifests as a severe headache, and pain in the lumbar region occurs on exertion. For a long time, the thoracic region cannot manifest in any way, even if problems have arisen, but then it suddenly turns into intercostal neuralgia, and this syndrome is of great concern to the patient.

Manifestation and symptoms

The general condition of the patient is not important, as painful feelings can be felt almost all over the body. Tingling, headache, pain in the heart area, malfunction of internal organs, especially if there are chronic diseases. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the cause of all the ailments, the degree of the disease, and it is easy to make a mistake and choose the wrong direction in treatment. It is not enough to do an X-ray of one part of the spine to diagnose the degree and the affected area. But do not be afraid, for an expert this problem is quite solvable, because it is not so rare.

pain in cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment

First of all, the pain syndrome is alleviated with the help of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, and only then does rehabilitation begin. This is a period that is directly treated, because it will not be possible to completely cure osteochondrosis, it quickly turns into a chronic form.

There are currently many alternative treatments on offer, but they should be treated with caution, as manual therapy only helps if it is performed by a competent professional. For example, physical therapy according to Bubnovski's method causes a lot of controversy. And treatment with medical leeches can cause allergies.

Prevention

Remember that it is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it for a long time, and sometimes unsuccessfully. Therefore, as a preventive method, it is possible to recommend performing special exercises that develop neck flexibility. It is also good to strengthen and stretch these muscles to prevent the development of disease.