Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease symptomatically expressed by dystrophic disorders in articular cartilage. Most often occurs osteochondrosis of the spine, when changes occur in intervertebral discs and intervertebral joints. Depending on localization, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished. Osteochondrosis is also often found, in which all spinal parts suffer. Pathology requires consultation with a doctor and an integrated approach to treatment.
Description
Diseases of the spine, like other chronic diseases, are rapidly "getting younger". If earlier the pain in the back and joints bothered the elderly, today patients of 18-30 years old are increasingly treating doctors.
Scientists consider the directness of a person a prerequisite for the development of this disease, an osteochondrosis is also facilitated by a prolonged sitting position. In addition, with age, articular cartilage loses elasticity and elasticity, thin out; Intervertebral discs lose moisture and shock absorbing ability, become vulnerable in the time of physical exertion.
Reasons
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis lie in loads and they affect the cervical region under different circumstances. Accordingly, the muscles in the neck begin to decrease intensively, thereby compensating for this load, as a result of which a spasm occurs, as well as a violation of blood flow in this area.
- Violation of posture scoliosis, stoop, round back, kyphosis and other disorders of posture, even if they are insignificant, cause a serious violation of the equilibrium of the spinal column. As a result, the load on the intervertebral discs is distributed unevenly, which provokes their deformation and increased wear. The vertebrae begin to get closer, causing infringement of nerve processes, cervical osteochondrosis develops quite quickly. Similar consequences have violations of posture caused by a change in the natural position of the ribs.
- Muscle spasms spasmodic reactions of the muscles of the back, breast, press can lead to the fact that individual parts of the body are very tense. As a result, the general equilibrium position of the body is disturbed, causing a change in the position of the spine. Deformations can affect the region of the cervical region or other parts of the spinal column, causing osteochondrosis of the chest, cervical, and lumbar parts.
- Violation of blood supply, since vertebrates do not have a direct connection with the circulatory system, they receive nutrition from surrounding tissues. Violation of the blood supply to the cervical spine leads to the fact that the discs do not receive enough liquids for rehydration (the restoration of the form due to the absorption of moisture), and the renewal of cartilage tissue. As a result, their wear is accelerated, there is a decrease in distances between the vertebrae of the cervical region, which leads to osteochondrosis.
- Violation of the innervation, a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve roots leads to pathological changes in their structure, as a result of which the displacement and deformation of the vertebrae of the cervical region remain unnoticed by the patient. After all, pain is absent due to sensitivity disorders.
- Diseases of internal organs are the wrong position of the internal organs, their displacement and lowering due to various dysfunctions leads to a violation of general equilibrium in the body. As a result, this acutely affects the position of the spinal column - the cervical, the lumbar vertebrae are displaced and deformed, leading to the corresponding types of osteochondrosis.
In general, osteochondrosis of the cervical region develops due to the effects of adverse external factors that violate the natural equilibrium position of the spinal column and other systems of the human body.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis begins with the collection of all the necessary information about the patient. The specialist asks about complaints that bother the person, is interested in his professional activities, as well as how he spends his weekend. An important point is the presence of osteochondrosis in parents, grandparents, because this is a disease of hereditary nature.
Then the doctor proceeds directly to the visual examination of the patient. He studies the cervical compartment and his back to curvature of posture, palpates the cervical region. This allows a specialist to evaluate the degree of development of the disease, because in advanced cases, palpation of the cervical region causes a sharp pain.
When examining, you should pay attention:
- on the severity of cervical lordosis;
- the height of the shoulders in the patient;
- the possibility of asymmetry of the supraclock areas;
- the possibility of asymmetry of the neck (for example, a consequence of congenital pathology or sharp muscle spasm);
- the condition of the muscles of the shoulder girdle and the upper limbs (for example, one -sided muscle atrophy may indicate a compression of the cervical spinal spine);
- The location of the chin - the chin is normal should be located along the middle line;
- The movement of the neck (bending-extinguishing, tilting the right and rotation and rotation).
Palpation is carried out in the initial position of the patient:
- lying on the back;
- lying on the stomach;
- Sitting in a chair.
The study of the volume of movements is also carried out. It is carried out in the initial position of the patient sitting on a chair (in order to fix other spine).
Distinguish the following basic movements in the cervical region:
- flexion;
- extension;
- slopes to the right and left;
- Rotation.
About half of the flexion and extension volume occurs between the back of the head, the vertebrae of C1 and C2. The rest of the movement is carried out due to the underlying vertebrae, with a large scale of movements in the C5-C7 vertebrae. The side inclinations are distributed evenly between all the vertebrae.
To accurately make a diagnosis, additional studies are prescribed:
- X -ray of the cervical region. This method is appropriate in the early stages of the disease, but it can be useless in advanced forms.
- CT (computed tomography). Allows you to see structural changes in the vertebrae, but with the help of this method it is impossible to determine the size of Hernia between the vertebrae.
- MRI. It is considered the most effective method of diagnosing cervical osteochondrosis. You can determine the size of Hernia between the discs, as well as the degree of their development.
- The doctor can also prescribe a duplex scan that allows you to determine a violation of normal blood circulation in the arteries.
Treatment
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a complex therapy that includes taking drugs, gels, as well as various physiotherapeutic measures. An important role is played by therapeutic gymnastics, as well as massage of the problem area.
Medication
It is impossible to eliminate the consequences of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine without the use of drugs. The use of medicines in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is one of the main points of the complex approach to healing, used by most traditional medicine specialists.
It is designed to solve several problems, including:
- stop the pain symptom and eliminate the inflammatory process;
- remove muscle spasm;
- stimulate the process of regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue cells;
- strengthen the protective properties of the body, increase immunity;
- Improve the general condition by eliminating other symptoms that interfere with recovery.
Depending on these purposes, all the drugs prescribed by a doctor suffering from cervical osteochondrosis can conditionally be divided into the following groups:
- Analgesics (non -steroidal drugs that relieve pain).
- Anti -inflammatory (steroid) are hormonal drugs that relieve inflammatory phenomena and, thereby eliminating pain.
- Chondroprotectors are drugs containing substances that replace the components of cartilage tissue - chondroitin, hyaluronic acid.
- Musorelaxants. These are drugs that relax muscle tone. They are used in surgery and orthopedics as auxiliary remedies for stopping pain. Such drugs are administered by Parentel, and therefore always under the supervision of a doctor.
- Vitamins. With osteochondrosis of the cervical region, vitamins are prescribed, beneficially affecting the peripheral nervous system and improving conductivity. Water -soluble vitamins: B1, B6, B12, fat -soluble vitamins: A, C, D, E. In recent years, combined drugs containing both painkillers and vitamin components more often.
- Ointments and gels for external use.
Physiotherapeutic
The main goal of physiotherapeutic treatment is to stimulate the regeneration process in the body and eliminate pain. The most popular methods in the treatment of cervical chondrosis are the following:
- Ultrasound. Physiuming with ultrasound waves is used to relieve serious pain manifestations and inflammatory reaction. Ultrasound is massage the neck tissue, after which the metabolism is activated.
- Vibration massage. The impact on the area of pain during vibration massage is through mechanical oscillatory movements. For the proper conduct of this physiotherapy, a strip vibrorser is usually used.
- Electrophoresis. This method of conducting physiotherapeutic care for cervical osteochondrosis is carried out using diadynamic and modulated currents, as well as electric fields when the body is administered into the tissues of drugs. Electrophoresis perfectly relieves spasmodic syndromes and eliminates pain in inflamed muscles.
- Magnetotherapy. The essence of magnetotherapy as physiotization in osteochondrosis of the cervical region is explained by the use of constant or variables of fields with a magnet, a frequency of different sizes. This method can help the patient remove pain and stop the inflammatory process in the hearth. The procedure is often carried out at home after acquiring a special magnetograph device.
- Dutoenzor-therapy. Currently, a rather popular physiotherapy method, consisting in stretching the spinal column under the mass of the patient's body. To carry out such a procedure, a mattress arranged in a special way is necessary, which has inclined ribs and they change the location under the weight of their own body. The muscle tone is normalized, which leads to their relaxation.
- Laser therapy. The laser has a complex effect on the focus of inflammation, it activates biological processes in the tissues of the nervous system. This allows you to get a positive effect from treatment. A complex effect on the body consists in anti -inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing effect. One laser treatment procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. This is the optimal time of the sectoral exposure of the Helic-neon laser on the affected areas. In this case, the duration of the laser on one pain should not exceed 2 minutes.
- Balneotherapy. The benefits of mineral water have been known for a long time, this is what balneotherapy is based. The procedure implies the active use of water resources in the treatment of osteochondrosis. In addition to the adoption of baths, different types of souls and active swimming in the pool, therapy involves the use of the applications of therapeutic mud to painful areas of the body. The therapeutic effect is achieved by the simultaneous effect of chemically active substances contained in water at various temperature conditions. The technique allows you to stop the pain syndrome by improving local microcirculation in the tissues.
Exercise therapy
It should be remembered that exercise therapy is not carried out when signs of exacerbation begin: pain. After the LFK complex, they can intensify and cause inconvenience.
There are a number of general recommendations for charging:
- Physical education should take place indoors with good ventilation, an excellent option on the street.
- Classes are carried out only during the period of remission of the disease (when there are no symptoms).
- Clothing in exercise therapy is supposed to be wide, not embarrassing movements and breathing.
- All movements are smooth, the amplitude and the number of repetitions gradually increase.
- If pain begins, you should immediately stop the lesson.
- Precedes classes and end the measurements of pressure and pulse. When these indicators differ from normal, the load should be reduced.
- It is advisable to listen to your breathing throughout the lesson, this will increase efficiency. All stretching exercises are performed on exhalation.
- It is very important to gradually increase the load and the number of repetitions, this will reduce the risk of injuries and prevent overwork.
- Exercises are important to perform regularly, so you can achieve speedy result.
- Before starting independent classes, you need to consult a doctor and agree with him a set of exercises.
Recommended exercises in the starting position lying on the stomach:
- The head is in the end on the forehead, hands on the back of the head, elbows parallel to the floor. Raise your head with your hands from the floor, hold this position to 4 accounts, lower and relax. Repeat 2-4 times.
- The head is in the stop on the chin, palms under the chin. Time in time, stretch your arms forward, two - spread to the sides, three - stretch forward, four - the starting position. Repeat 2-4 times.
- Hands extended forward. Swimming the "rabbit" style, repeated 4-8 times.
- Palms under the chin, emphasis on the palm of your forehead. Alternately, taking out the heel of the buttocks. Repeat 4-8 times.
Recommended exercises in the starting position lying on the side (on the right, then on the left):
- The right hand is extended, the right ear lies on it, raise the right hand with your head, hold the position to 4 accounts, lower and relax. Repeat 2-4 times.
- The left hand rests on the floor in front of the chest, the left leg makes the fly movements back and forth. Repeat 6-8 times.
- The left hand along the body, raise the left hand up and out, lower, lower. Repeat 2-4 times.
- The left hand on the thigh. Pulling up both knees to the chest on exhalation, straighten your legs on inspiration. Repeat exercises 2-4 times.