Someone once thought that this disease was related to age, but recently more and more people have been diagnosed with "osteochondrosis" under 35. This is due to changes in the pace of life-more and more people are involved in sedentary and sedentary work. The most important thing is that physical activity reduces flexibility, so blood circulation is impaired, which is the main content of spinal disc nutrition and repair.
An interesting fact: According to statistics, more than 80% of the population’s spine has changed more or less after 30 years.
Reason
Osteochondrosis is the general term for spinal aging. This process is directly related to changes in the structure of vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Under the influence of internal and external factors, the optical disc becomes thinner. Appears-herniation, hernia, vertebral instability, changes in bone tissue, appearance of osteophytes (spins, growth). All these phenomena are complications of osteochondrosis. The course of the disease is chronic, and it is difficult to continue a normal life without complicated treatment.
You may be familiar with the factors that cause malnutrition, but we point out again:
- Low power-causes impaired blood circulation in the neck and weakens the muscle corset.
- Spine curvature (curvature, lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis).
- Staying in a static position for a long time, and vice versa-increased load and weight lifting.
- Injured.
- Overweight, pregnant.
- Genetic and metabolic disorders.
Humans are the only creatures on earth suffering from cervical spine problems. This is due to our ability to walk fully upright, as well as muscle weakness and excellent neck mobility.
plays an important role in the formation of cervical osteochondrosis with genetic susceptibility. Moreover, relatives do not have the need for osteochondrosis. The danger zone includes people with a family history of degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the bone and joint system (arthritis, spondylitis, hernia, etc. ).
The neck is an important part. Many blood vessels and nerves reach the brain through it. Problems in this part of the body will definitely affect the blood circulation of the brain and the work of the upper half (shoulder, arm). Degradation develops gradually and is increasing.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
In the first stage, there will be local pain syndrome, accompanied by sharp muscle tension, which will increase the unpleasant feeling and limit exercise.
Pain is expressed in 2 forms:
- Cervical spondylosis-"Neck and back pain", severe sharp pain when moving.
- Cervical pain-stretching, pain, constant muscle tension. Even if the treatment is correct, it may take more than two weeks.
In the second stage, the "radiculopathy" syndrome was added-nerve compression due to thinning of ligaments and intervertebral discs. Pain occurs when sneezing or coughing. If the patient lies on his back and passively moves his head, a painful sensation will occur.
Numbness in the hands from the neck to the fingertips is characteristic, especially after sleeping. Active exercise or hands behind the head, the symptoms disappear quickly. If numbness or pain persists, complications (protrusion, hernia) may develop.
In addition, due to the appearance of "shoulder-hand" syndrome, the circulatory system disease of osteochondrosis begins to cause arthritis of the shoulder and hand, so there may be a "freezing" feeling.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Headache and dizziness.
- Local pain, and may irradiate the shoulder, back pillow or shoulder irradiation bone (especially the part of the neck and thoracic cavity).
- Numbness and weakness in the arm.
- My throat is swollen.
- Arterial hypertension (persistent high blood pressure).
- Hearing and vision loss, tinnitus (development of vertebral artery syndrome).
What’s interesting is that changes in the disease affect the important blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain. Patients with rickets may develop the "Sistine Chapel" syndrome-fainting after throwing their heads back vigorously.
The pain and its location are often disguised as a serious disease-angina.
Diagnosis and treatment
At the beginning of the degenerative process, it is very important to treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. For this, you need to seek the help of a neurologist or vertebral surgeon immediately. But practice has shown that they seek help and have complications-herniation, hernia, and vertebral instability.
The patient should be thoroughly examined-ultrasound of the heart, blood vessels in the brain and neck, electrocardiogram, urine collection and blood tests. It is imperative to take X-rays and stack them in multiple projections with open mouths (to observe the vertebrae covering the teeth).
Unfortunately, due to lack of time, experience, and desire to determine the cause of one symptom or another, doctors adjusted many diseases based on the diagnosis of osteochondrosis. A treatment that can be temporarily relieved is prescribed, but the real cause has not been discovered. As time goes by, everything will reappear or cannot be relieved at all. It is this situation that makes people self-medication.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment should be as complete as possible.
- Physical therapy.
- Medication.
- Massage.
- Physical therapy.
- Stretch.
- Stretch the cervical spine according to Shishonin's method.
- Quit smoking habits.
Physical Therapy
With the help of physiotherapy and physiotherapy bath, the effectiveness of treating cervical osteochondrosis has been effectively proved.
- They can relieve pain syndrome.
- Eliminate inflammation.
- Improve the effectiveness of drug therapy and other treatments for cervical osteochondrosis.
The therapeutic effect of physical therapy combined with low-frequency pulse electromagnetic therapy and ra bath (sometimes with bromine bath) is enhanced.
Medications
When cervical spine osteochondrosis complications, hernias or large protrusions, nerve root compression and inflammation will occur. Therefore, in order to relieve the symptoms of inflammation and stop the pain, you need to pierce the process of intramuscular injection of vitamin B1, B6, and B12. Moreover, with the obstruction of blood circulation, the viscosity of blood increases, which disrupts the blood supply of oxygen to the brain. It is necessary to take antiplatelet drugs.
Medication.
- Eliminate pain and inflammation.
- Speeds up the metabolism in tissues damaged by impaired blood supply.
- Thin blood, improve blood circulation.
Massage
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis must include the process of massage of the neck.
- Muscle tension is relieved, thereby releasing the compressed arteries.
- Improve blood circulation and tissue nutrition, and have a positive effect on the heart and brain.
- Reduce muscle pain.
Unfortunately, good massages are not free and many people refuse to accept the procedure due to the high price. But in the medical complex, in order to make the case better, cervical massage must be included. Even if they advise against physical therapy exercises.
Physiotherapy practice
Cervical physiotherapy is the main method to treat osteochondrosis. Without this method, recovery is impossible. There is no exercise therapy, no medicine can cure osteochondrosis. Adjust the fact that you will have to do gymnastics every day for the whole year to forget the symptoms of this disease forever.
Important note: Exercise therapy is to overcome 70% of osteochondrosis. Even if the pain disappeared, the disease did not disappear anywhere. You can't relax
The goal of exercise therapy.
- A corset that strengthens the deep muscles of the neck and the muscles of the shoulders, so that the muscles keep the head in the correct position, and there is no stress on the intervertebral discs and no protrusions that squeeze the nerve endings. Increase the intervertebral space, thereby eliminating nerve root compression.
- Resume painless movement while enhancing flexibility and mobility.
Important reminder: Train yourself to practice 3 times a day for the first 4 weeks, and then practice once a day during the year.
Neck exercises
Before doing any exercise, you need to warm up your muscles.
Warm up
We heat the muscles of the chest and cervical spine. Slowly move your shoulders in circular motions-back and forth. Every muscle should function as much as possible.
Circular motion with the shoulders-as high as possible, backward, downward and forward. When pulling back, we put the shoulder blades together. And the same circle, each shoulder in turn.
Add an arm-and repeat with the elbow bent. We will put the shoulder blades together step by step while pulling the hand back. Then we will also move our shoulders forward as much as possible.
This ends the warm-up. Let's start doing some basic neck exercises.
Exercise skills
Perform all movements slowly to avoid hurting yourself and prevent nerve pinning.
Assume correct posture. Lie back slightly with your shoulders down and your chin parallel to the floor. Static exercise aims to train the deep muscles of the neck. Each movement maintains resistance for 5-8 seconds. Release for two seconds, then repeat again. So 5 times.
- We press the palm of the hand on the temple, and then press on it to try to bend the head, we use the head to resist, thus preventing the hand from slanting to the side. Do the same thing on the other side.
- Put your hand on the lock, support your chin, and press the resistance head.
- We boycotted with our foreheads.
- From behind the head
- Or, the head resists from the side of the bone
In addition to strengthening the neck muscles, it is also necessary to strengthen the shoulder straps at the same time. It is necessary to perform several exercises using the expander in the treatment complex 2 to 3 times a week.
Additional load
Exercise in the form of running, brisk walking, swimming, and aerobic exercise will improve the overall blood circulation in the body. Especially due to insufficient blood supply, the brain will suffer pain, which requires oxygen to solve cervical spine problems. Exercise at least 20-30 minutes, up to 2 times a week.
Cervical spine traction force
The dry stretching methods are horizontal and vertical. This method is called traction-an effective treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine. In the treatment process, only one kind of traction is used, and young people can easily recover completely. Since the CD recovery in youth is much faster. Of course, age will inhibit the ability to restore and restore cartilage tissue, but traction is still an important point in the comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Stretching problem
- Increase the internal cavity between the vertebrae.
- Eliminate the pain caused by nerve root compression.
This procedure has contraindications, so please do not do it without consulting a doctor. Previously, this method was only used in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.
It is now possible to use the treatment neck brace to use stretching techniques at home. The traction process lasts 15 minutes every day.
We have analyzed the entire cervical spine treatment plan. What remains to be discussed is the usual lifestyle, which should also be changed in an orderly manner.
Important note: All the above methods should be discussed with your doctor.
Quit Smoking Habits
We understand that laziness and excuses can lead to early osteochondrosis. If you do not overcome them, then this article is not needed. Drink painkillers and continue living as usual. Although you can try to correct some bad habits.
- Sleep on orthopedic pillows and mattresses.
- Do not lie on a high pillow for a long time when you raise your head while reading or playing on the phone. At this time, the cervical vertebrae press on the blood vessels, destroying blood circulation.
- The fixed posture of the computer when there is no time control. Set an alarm every hour to heat up the stiff neck muscles.
- Move more-do sports, outdoor sports, walk 10, 000 steps a day.
Summary
Course procedures-injections, massage and physical therapy for 1 month every 6 months. During this period, physical therapy exercises are increased up to 3 times a day.
In other months of the day:
- Exercise therapy-once a day.
- Stretch.
Repeat the steps after 5 months. And this rate is at least one year. A positive result was achieved within a month.
The above techniques are not applicable to all algorithms for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. All points need to be discussed with the doctor. However, if the doctor prescribes only one method, such as physical therapy, massage, then the effect will be temporary. The treatment time is long, so it is best to return to normal immediately. Believe me, you will not return to your old lifestyle by starting to practice and feeling relieved.
How to treat cervical chondropathy
Several types of drugs are prescribed for essential drug treatment.
- Pain relievers are used in tablet form, or for particularly severe pain, use a Norfocaine blocker.
- Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs-Nurofen, diclofenac.
- Irritant ointment-finalgon, capsaicin.
- A preparation for relaxing neck muscles-muscle relaxants.
- The course of intramuscular injection of B vitamins
During the relief of major pain syndromes, water flow, massage, and warm-up support (canned, mustard plaster) are prescribed. During the worsening period, there will always be pain. In order to relieve pain and muscle tension, the above-mentioned pepper can be used in conjunction with exercise therapy for the above-mentioned treatment.
Important note: If the blood vessels of the neck are clamped due to osteochondrosis, in the case of vertebral artery syndrome, any head turning movement is prohibited.
At home, it is effective to take a relaxing bath with herbal decoctions, compresses and rubbing (for example, using propolis, aloe). Russian bath can cope with muscle tension well. A traditional steam bath with brooms can relax, relieve pain and cheer up.
In extreme cases, when there is a risk of disability due to complications caused by compression, it is necessary to resort to surgery. That is-blood vessels or nerves are completely compressed, osteophytes grow significantly or intervertebral disc herniated. Surgery is performed according to all the rules of neurosurgery-under a microscope with minimal incisions.