Most doctors know that when a middle-aged patient comes to them with complaints of sudden dizziness, panic attacks, developing depression, it is first necessary to check for diseases of the spine, in particular, the cervical spine. How are cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness, fears and depression related, we will consider in this article.
The relationship between diseases
Cervical osteochondrosis, despite the seeming harmlessness, is a serious ailment. Violations of the normal position of the vertebrae in this area leads to a lack of oxygen entering the brain with blood flow. Especially if it is an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.
Large vessels, as well as the vertebral artery, are pinched or squeezed . Their patency decreases, the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the brain come in much smaller quantities than required.
In addition, the vertebrae of the neck are very close to each other, in contrast to the vertebrae of other areas of the body. Accordingly, even minor changes will lead to the same result - impaired functioning of brain cells.
Cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness, fears and depression are certainly interrelated.
Causes of concomitant ailments
Knowing the mechanism of action of the disease, one should not be surprised at the frequent occurrence of problems with the nervous system in patients. Deprived of a large fraction of oxygen, the brain begins to send danger signals to the body, to which it reacts in an accessible way. An explanation of the development of depressive anxiety includes the following factors:
- The disease is lingering in nature, so pain attacks occur regularly. To endure them, you have to make a lot of effort. Pretty soon, a person’s margin of safety runs out, because it is very difficult to endure pain constantly. Living in constant stress due to a pain syndrome provokes the appearance of depression.
- Serious problems and severe pain often force a person to radically change their lifestyle - from changing jobs to giving up their favorite hobbies. In middle age, this is extremely difficult, especially if limiting the mobility of the body becomes a concomitant effect. This is dangerous exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.
- Patients living for a long time waiting for an attack of pain are in a state of severe nervous tension. It’s not possible to relax, because subconsciously you still have to fear that the pain may come at any time. Life in such conditions leads not only to depression, but also to more serious mental health problems.
- Medicines designed to relieve pain attacks and muffle the inflammatory process have many side effects that can replace one pain with another. For example, irritation of the gastric mucosa, leading to constant heartburn and nausea, does not contribute to maintaining calm. Stress from pain of different localization is also capable of provoking the appearance of fears, anxiety and depression.
Here's how interconnected cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness, fears and depression.
Causes and signs of the disease
Women suffer from cervical osteochondrosis more often than men, because among the common factors affecting the development of the disease, there is also a hormonal imbalance. The female endocrine system is less stable than the male one, and besides, huge loads often fall on it - menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, menopause. In general, both men and women are at risk if:
- lead an unhealthy lifestyle;
- move a little;
- are overweight and bad habits;
- there are diseases of the rheumatic spectrum and arthritis that pose a threat to cartilage;
- endocrine disruption is detected;
- there is a genetic predisposition;
- there were injuries of the spine, especially the neck.
Sensations in women
Cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness, fears and depression develop in women most often in the area of 40 years, when the level of reproductive hormones drops and the body begins to rebuild before losing fertility. The set of sensations experienced by a woman is extensive and unpleasant:
- often there are severe pulling pains in the neck, extending to the shoulders, forearms, head, or just the temples, usually the sensations appear immediately after the morning rise and can remain for almost the whole day;
- turning the head can provoke a sharp pain of a shooting character in the neck or temples;
- there is a clamping of the muscles of the neck, which impedes its movement;
- the neck, shoulders, nape are often numb, there is a burning sensation and a desire to properly stretch the sore spot;
- the joints of the neck can clearly click, which indicates their defeat.
The consequences of cervical osteochondrosis can be very serious.
In men
Men are susceptible to the disease at an even earlier age - 30 years is the most frequent term when the male sex visits doctors with complaints of the following symptoms:
- burning or sharp pains in the cervical muscles resembling a puncture;
- when coughing, sneezing, yawning, discomfort intensifies;
- the same posture held for a long time, for example, in a dream or at work, causes numbness, burning, drawing pain in the neck, shoulders, sometimes all over the back;
- weakness in the arms and legs is possible.
Complicated course of the disease
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis are much sharper when they strongly compress blood vessels or the vertebral artery, and develop thrombosis. This condition is called vertebrobasilar insufficiency, often accompanying osteochondrosis of the neck. Vessels undergoing constant cramping lose their blood supply function. What can be the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis:
- severe headaches up to migraine;
- frequent and prolonged dizziness due to hypoxia, accompanied by the appearance of tinnitus and partial loss of vision;
- violation of body coordination in space;
- fainting, nausea, and vomiting;
- depression caused by constant mental stress;
- numbness of the extremities, especially at night;
- aches and loss of sensitivity of different parts of the face;
- sleep disturbances, insomnia.
Pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which lasts for a long time, exhausts the patient's psyche, making him irritable, aggressive, prone to uncontrolled outbursts of rage. A person begins to experience constant fears, often unfounded. Any trifle is capable of provoking a panic attack. The quality of life of the patient is significantly reduced. Indeed, dizziness and nausea are often present with cervical osteochondrosis.
Signs of depression
As a rule, a person for a rather long period of time may not suspect that he has depression, especially associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. In fact, this disease threatens with serious problems, so you should definitely visit a doctor, noticing the following symptoms:
- Apathy, lack of energy, lack of desire to perform any action.
- Loss or loss of appetite.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Unreasonable irritation or even hatred of others.
- Persistent drowsiness or, conversely, inability to fall asleep.
- Decrease in interest in life, pleasures, entertainments.
- Self-doubt, falling self-esteem, daily deliberation of imaginary or real flaws.
- Concentration on negative and pessimistic thoughts.
- Violations of the sexual sphere.
- The emergence of thoughts of suicide.
Exhausted by constant pain, a person loses the ability to reason reasonably, weigh facts, the adequacy of perception is violated. At this stage, the help of relatives and friends is needed in order to have time to see a doctor, otherwise the consequences may become sad.
Treatment methods
What medications are prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis? About it further.
The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, complicated by a depressive mental disorder, suggests an immediate start to treatment, including a whole range of measures. The following drugs are used:
- antidepressants, if necessary, tranquilizers;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- vasodilators, if necessary;
- possibly sleeping pills;
- a complex of polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
Other medications may be prescribed by decision of the doctor and the results of the examination.
A good effect is usually given by a massage course performed by a professional manual therapist. It is able to relieve muscle tightness, partially relieve blood vessels from pressure, increasing the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. As a result, the symptoms of osteochondrosis are significantly reduced. Unfortunately, the courses will have to be repeated periodically, since cervical osteochondrosis in women, and men, is classified as chronic.
An additional way to combat the disease - physical therapy, carried out with cervical osteochondrosis, gives good results in facilitating the course of the disease. The main goal of the exercises is to strengthen the muscles of the neck, improve the extensibility of the ligaments and the mobility of the joints. It is advisable to start classes under the supervision of a doctor, so as not to harm even more. You can continue training at home, there is nothing complicated in medical gymnastics. This should be done, especially if cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness are present. Treatment should be comprehensive.
Standard implementation recommendations are as follows:
- training should be carried out in open space, in extreme cases - in a well-ventilated area, providing free access to oxygen;
- clothing should not tighten or overly fit the body, it is worth giving preference to free home dresses, wide trousers and t-shirts;
- all movements must be performed slowly and smoothly, avoiding the appearance of painful sensations;
- heart rate and blood pressure should be monitored to calculate a safe level of exercise;
- breathing during exercise should be carried out calmly, without delay, measured;
- Be sure to observe the regularity of classes, otherwise they will not bring any effect.
Often found in the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is tinnitus. This symptom will also go away with regular classes.
Examples of a set of exercises
It should be extremely careful when conducting exercise therapy, as the risk of damage to joints and muscles as a result of awkward or careless movement is quite high. Like any training session, physiotherapy exercises for cervical osteochondrosis should begin with a warm-up:
- Standing or sitting with a straight back, you need to press your hand on the forehead, counteracting the back muscles of the neck.
- On the contrary, with your hands press on the back of the head, preventing the head from dropping by tension of the front cervical muscles.
- Do the same manipulations on the right and left sides of the head and neck.
It takes about 10 seconds to stay in a static position. The resistance pressure should increase gradually.
The main complex is performed in a standing position:
- Leaning your head slightly back, stretch your ears to the right and left shoulders.
- After aligning the position of the head, make smooth turns alternately left and right, trying to place the chin over the shoulder.
- Move your head in a circle in slow movements. The tilt of the head back is not carried out to the maximum deviation, there should not be a feeling of discomfort.
- Tilt your head back and forth to the stop, the backward movement is smooth and accurate.
- Raising and lowering the shoulders with maximum amplitude.
- The chin is slowly pushed forward and slightly raised, then lowered back. This exercise has a nice bonus - tightening the skin of the neck and eliminating the second chin, giving clarity to the oval of the face.
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be performed in three approaches, 5-10 times in each exercise. Daily repetition will help relieve the sensations of pulling pain, burning in the muscles, improve the supply of oxygen to tissues, at the same time making the neck slender and beautiful.
Conclusion
Could there be depression from cervical osteochondrosis? Definitely, maybe.
It is impossible to completely cure acquired cervical osteochondrosis. But the disease is well amenable to adjustment and the establishment of a long-term remission, subject to the implementation of a treatment and prophylactic complex. Here the patient is in his hands.
Be sure to give up alcohol and stop smoking. To establish a diet by introducing more vegetables, fruits, herbs, cereals, lean meat into it, minimizing the consumption of fried, fatty, salty foods that contribute to the destruction of cartilage. How else is cervical osteochondrosis, tinnitus and other unpleasant symptoms treated?
According to many patients, the practice of meditation, self-control, proper breathing and comprehension of the art of relaxation bring considerable relief. It is very important to keep calm, try to limit the occurrence of stressful situations.
It is advisable to more often relax in nature, engage in physical activity in the fresh air. It’s better to spend your free time not in front of the TV, but doing your favorite hobby, meeting friends and getting enough sleep. In this case, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck will be significantly smoothed out, a good mood and a feeling of fullness will return. It will help exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.