Cervical osteochondrosis is a pathological alteration of the tissues of the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae themselves. As a result, the soft tissues become thinner and the cushioning effect of the vertebrae decreases. Compression of blood vessels and nerve fibers occurs and the mobility of the cervical spine decreases.
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the most dangerous localizations of osteochondrosis, since due to this disease the blood supply to the brain deteriorates.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
As a result, the normal functioning of the cervical spine is disrupted, its mobility decreases, and neck pains appear. 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.
Cervical osteochondrosis symptoms
The disease is characterized by acute pain in the neck, which radiates to the back of the head, shoulder blade and forearm. The pain can get worse when moving the head or in certain positions. Due to the pain syndrome and the inflammatory process, the cervical muscles are overloaded. Patients often have migraines, decreased hearing and visual acuity, dizziness, tinnitus, sudden changes in blood pressure, fainting. A symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can be a violation of the sensitivity of the fingertips.
Types of osteochondrosis
Localization distinguishes cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and common osteochondrosis. Most often, lumbar (more than 50% of cases), cervical (more than 25%) and diffuse (about 12%) osteochondrosis are diagnosed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Parents often say a common phrase aimed at children: "Don't turn your head! " Doctors ask 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 only to hold the head and turn it in different directions, which, by the way, over the years for inexperienced people who do not take care of their health, it becomes a rather difficult matter. The spinal cord, the arteries that feed the brain, roots and nerve trunks, which make a neural connection with the hands, heart and lungs, pass through the neck region.
Complaints with this type of osteochondrosis are very diverse: pain in the heart, 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 all the arm.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The pain that occurs from time to time in the thoracic spine is familiar to everyone who is engaged in hard physical work. As a rule, these painful and unpleasant sensations serve as the first sign that a rather unpleasant disease begins to develop in the body - osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Often this ailment affects people of the so-called sedentary professions: designers, computer operators, motorists.
But it's not at all necessary that you, even if you drag heavy objects every day or have to sit at your desk for long hours, will have osteochondrosis.
A reliable barrier to disease is correct posture. When walking, try to keep your back straight, shoulders straight. To form posture, as you yourself understand, it is necessary from an early age. But you can do it at 30 or 40. Indeed, better late than never!
Lumbar spine osteochondrosis
At first, there are dull pains in the lumbar region and legs, then numbness in the extremities is usually noted, 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 aging of the body and age-related changes in the tissues. However, lifestyle and related factors increase the risk of developing the disease. These include:
- low physical activity, sedentary work;
- excess weight and unhealthy diet;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system: flat feet, rheumatism, scoliosis, posture disorders;
- neck or nape injuries.
Also, osteochondrosis can be caused by other diseases of the spine. The spine is a single whole and must also be treated in a complex. That's why the first thing to do if osteochondrosis is suspected is to undergo a full spine examination.
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the cartilage surfaces of the bones of the musculoskeletal system, mainly of the spine (as well as of 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 canal 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 compacted on the slope side, and their nuclei are displaced in the opposite direction. Simply put, intervertebral discs are shock absorbers that soften the pressure on the spine under stress.
Mass morbidity is associated mainly with the vertical position of a person, in which the load on the spine and intervertebral discs is much higher than in animals. If you do not learn how to sit, stand, lie down, the disc will lose the ability to perform its function (amortization) and after a while the outer shell of the disc will crack and hernial protrusions will form. They compress the blood vessels (leading to impaired 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 of the back muscles.
According to statistics, almost one in two people between the ages of 25 and 55 suffers from osteochondrosis. But most people begin to feel the manifestations of osteochondrosis after 35 years. The development and exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the spine is facilitated by static and dynamic overload, as well as vibrations.
This can be caused by:
- work associated with frequent changes in the position of the trunk: flexion and extension, turns, jerking movements,
- lifting heavy loads,
- incorrect posture when standing, sitting, lying down and when 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 can be traumatic injuries.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment is prescribed after the examination. The doctor collects the medical history and refers the patient to the examination. Most often - for MRI. After finding out 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, kinesitherapy, shock wave therapy, physiotherapy exercises. These methods are aimed at strengthening the muscle corset, relieving tension and preventing attacks of the disease.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
- Get regular checks.The disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Annual examinations will identify the disease at an early stage and cure it before it progresses to a more severe stage.
- Watch your posture.Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed. If you work a lot at your computer or desk, choose a comfortable chair, sit properly and warm up every half hour or hour of work.
- Lead an active lifestyle.Walking more, being outdoors, playing sports, swimming is particularly useful.
- Use an orthopedic pillow while you sleep.
Osteochondrosis and its prevention
Taking care of one's 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 lifestyle, bad habits, physical inactivity, overeating already at the age of 20-30 takes himself into a catastrophic state. No matter how perfect the medicine is, he cannot save everyone. from all diseases. Man is the architect of his own health, for which one must fight. From an early age, it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, temperament, exercise and sports, observe the rules of personal hygiene - in a word, achieve genuine harmony of health in reasonable ways.
Exercise for a long time is a reliable prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Here is a series of exercises for the prevention of this type of osteochondrosis:
- Press your forehead to your palm and contract your neck muscles. Do the exercise 3 times for 7 seconds. Then press the back of the head on the palm of the hand also 3 times for 7 seconds.
- Straining the neck muscles, press with the left temple on the left palm (3 times for 7 seconds), then press on the right palm with the right temple (3 times for 7 seconds).
- Tilt your head back slightly. Overcoming the resistance of the tense neck muscles, press the 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 movement the same number of times.
- Lower your chin to your neck. Turn your head first 5 times to the right and then 5 times to the left.
- Throw your head back. Try touching the right shoulder with the right ear (5 times). Perform 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 and to perform them during the working day. You can do them both sitting and standing. However, in no case should you make circular rotational movements with your head. This could cause injury.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
If you also regularly perform the exercises (listed below) that develop and maintain the tone of the muscles of the back and abdomen, ensuring the normal mobility of all segments of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis will not overwhelm you.
- I. p. - standing; when inhaling, stand upright, hands down, feet together. Stretch your arms - exhale. Lean back and take a deep breath. Then lower your arms, bend forward, slightly rounding your back, lower your shoulders and head - exhale. Repeat 8-10 times.
- I. p. - sitting on a chair. Put your hands behind your head - inhale, bend back as much as possible 3 - 5 times, resting your shoulder blades on the back of the chair - exhale.
- I. p. - Get on all fours. Bend your back as much as possible and hold this position for 2 - 3 seconds. Keep your head straight. Back to i. p. and repeat the same exercise 5 to 7 times.
- I. p. - lie on your stomach and put your hands on the floor. Force back as much as possible, trying to tear the body off the floor.
- I. p. - lying on the stomach, arms along the body. Bend the thoracic spine, trying to raise the head and legs as much as possible.
It is recommended to perform these exercises, which relieve stress on the thoracic spine, throughout the day during short breaks from work. In exercises 3 to 5, breathing is arbitrary. Do the 4th and 5th exercise 5 - 8 times. These exercises can be incorporated into the morning exercises. It is very useful to perform some movements after work. The main thing is that you do the preventive complex every day, so you will reliably insure yourself against osteochondrosis.
How to sit correctly?
- avoid too 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 on rigid seats.
- the following requirements are imposed on the furniture on which you need to sit for a long time: the height of the chair, the chair must correspond to the length of the lower leg - it is necessary that the leg rests on the floor; for people of short stature it is recommended to replace a bench under the feet; the maximum seat depth is approximately 2/3 of the hip length.
- there should be enough leg room under the table so they don't have to bend too much.
- if you have to sit for a long time, try every 15-20 minutes. warm up a little, change the position of the legs.
- make sure your back fits snugly against the back of the chair.
- sit up straight, without tilting your head too much or bending your torso, so as not to strain the muscles of the body.
- If by the nature of your business you have to read for a long time every day, make a device on the table (lectern) that supports the book at a sufficient height and angled towards the table so that you do not have to tilt your upper body forward .
- while driving a car, try to sit relaxed. It is important that the back is well supported. To do this, place a thin cushion between the lower back and the back of the chair, which will preserve the lumbar curve. Keep your head straight. After several hours of driving, get out of the car and do basic gymnastic exercises: bends, pushups, squats - 8-10 times each.
- in front of the TV screen, do not sit or lie down in one position for a long time. Change it periodically, get up to stretch. We sit for 1-1, 5 hours, sit in a chair or chair, relax the muscles, take a few deep breaths.
How to stand correctly
When a person stands for a long time, their spine experiences significant stress, particularly their lumbar region.
- change the position every 10-15 minutes, while leaning on one or the other leg, this will reduce the load on the spine.
- if possible, walk in place, move.
- from time to time, lean back, stretching your arms, take a deep breath. This can somewhat relieve fatigue in the muscles of the shoulder girdle, neck, nape, back.
- if you are washing dishes, ironing laundry, alternately put one or the other leg on a small bench or box. For osteochondrosis sufferers, it is best to iron while sitting or resting the ironing board so you don't have to bend down.
- while cleaning the apartment, working with a vacuum cleaner, also try not to bend down, it is better to extend the hose with additional hoses. When cleaning under the bed, kneel on one knee under the table.
- to pick up an object from the floor, squat or bend with your knees bent, and place your hand on a chair or table. In this way you do not overload the lumbar spine.
How to lie correctly
It is better to sleep not on a soft bed, but not on the boards either. The bed must be semi-rigid so that the body, when a person is lying on his back, maintains physiological curves (cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis). For this:
- put a shield over the entire width of the bed or sofa and 5-8 cm thick foam on top Cover it with a wool blanket and spread a sheet.
- when the pain is in the leg, you can put a blanket roller under the knee joint - this reduces the stretching of the sciatic nerve and relieves leg pain.
- when the back hurts, many patients prefer to sleep on their stomach. Place a small pillow under your lower abdomen to prevent your lower back from flexing too much, causing even more pain.
- sleep lovers on their side can sleep with one foot on the other and one hand under the head.
Getting out of bed in the morning for patients with acute manifestations of osteochondrosis can be very difficult. Do this:
- do some simple arm and leg exercises first;
- then if you sleep on your back, turn on your stomach;
- lower one leg to the floor;
- leaning on this leg and arms, transfer the weight of the body to the knee and gradually rise without making sudden movements.
And another tip. For those who love 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 herniated intervertebral discs, especially in the lumbosacral region, is the lifting and carrying of heavy loads. Acutely, unexpectedly, there is pain in the lower back in cases when weights are lifted sharply, with a snap, and then a heavy object is pushed to the side, while turning the body.
How to properly carry weights
- Do not carry a heavy load in one hand, especially over long distances, in order not to overload the spine, separate the load and carry it with both hands. It is unacceptable to hold a weight, to bend sharply and to stretch out (lean back).
- in general, it is undesirable for a patient with osteochondrosis to lift and carry weights greater than 15 kg. We recommend that you buy a trolley or a bag on wheels.
- a backpack with wide straps is very convenient for carrying heavy loads over long distances. The weight of a full backpack is distributed over the weight of the spine and the hands remain free.
How to lift weights correctly
- wear, if you have, a weight lifter belt or a wide belt;
- squat, while the back should be straight, the neck should be straightened;
- Grabbing a weight with both hands, stand 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 should establish an accurate diagnosis, relieve pain, and develop a plan for further treatment.