Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are often disturbing for young people and are characterized by degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the intervertebral discs in the neck. The formation of such a pathological process is largely facilitated by the uncomfortable position of the body. Low mobility, poor posture, uncomfortable bed, and hereditary predisposition also play a negative role in the development of this disease. Signs of cervical osteochondrosis, as a rule, develop very slowly, and begin to progress with age. In older people, the disease is often combined with interspinous and unvertebral arthrosis, spondylosis and other processes of degeneration.
Causes of Cervical Osteochondrosis
Modern science has not yet fully studied the pathogenesis of this disease, however
found that the main problem is a violation of metabolic processes of the
vertebrae of the cervical spine . In this case, a gradual change in the structure of the intervertebral discs is observed, after which there is a lesion of the vertebral bodies. Cervical osteochondrosis is a very serious danger to human health, since with this disease the nerve root, which leaves the spinal cord, as well as blood vessels, is compressed, as a result of which the blood flow to the brain is disrupted. The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are frequent pain associated with
pinching of the nerves. In addition, the patient may be disturbed by back pain and lower back, which indicates the spread of the pathological process, there may be increased fatigue, as well as impaired hearing and vision.
Syndromes of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Radicular syndrome occurs with pinching of the cervical nerve endings and is accompanied by a tingling sensation.
- Spinal artery syndrome is characterized by burning throbbing pain in the temporal and occipital region, which is paroxysmal or permanent.
- Irritative-reflex syndrome is characterized by a burning sensation in the neck and neck, especially with a sharp turn of the head, coughing, sneezing, and also after prolonged rest, while soreness can spread to the chest and shoulder.
- Cardiac syndrome consists of a whole group of symptoms that, with their manifestations, resemble angina pectoris. The development of this syndrome occurs as a result of irritation of the nerve roots of the diaphragm or pectoral muscle, while the patient complains of pressing pain in the heart, which is paroxysmal in nature and lasts several hours. It should be noted that such pain attacks do not reveal any abnormalities on the cardiogram.
Disease treatment
The mild form of cervical osteochondrosis, as a rule, does not cause tangible problems for a person, therefore, at this stage there is no special need for drug therapy. To eliminate the main unpleasant symptoms, it is often sufficient to correctly carry out preventive measures, as well as revise the lifestyle and working conditions. A healthy diet combined with moderate exercise will help you quickly and effectively get rid of discomfort. If possible, it is necessary to give up smoking, try not to lift weights, choose the correct posture for sleeping and sitting at the computer. If the disease begins to progress and spread to the sternum, some preventive measures will not bring relief. In such cases, it is advisable to wear special collars, as well as attend massage sessions and physiotherapeutic procedures. If you have been diagnosed with
cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, treatment should be based on drug therapy with the use of analgesics, antispasmodics, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In the chronic course of the disease, the patient is prescribed B vitamins and chondroprotectors.