Cervical osteochondrosis is pathological changes in 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 as a result of 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 disturbed, its mobility decreases, and neck pain appears. Cervical osteochondrosis can lead to deterioration of blood flow to the brain, migraines, heart rhythm disturbances, deterioration of vision, coordination and attention, and the development of an intervertebral hernia.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease is characterized by a sharp pain in the neck, radiating to the back of the head, scapula and forearm. The pain may get worse when moving the head or in certain positions. Due to the pain syndrome and the inflammatory process, the cervical muscles are overworked. 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
The localization distinguishes cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and common osteochondrosis. Most often, lumbar osteochondrosis is diagnosed (more than 50% of cases), cervical (more than 25%) and generalized (about 12%).
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Parents often say a common phrase addressed to children: "Don't turn your head! Doctors on the contrary call: "make sure you turn your head". All ages. 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 untrained people who do not take care of their health, becomes quite a difficult affair. . The spinal cord, the arteries that supply the brain, nerve roots and trunks, which provide a neural connection with the hands, heart and lungs, run through the neck area.
Complaints about this type of osteochondrosis are very diverse: heart pain, headache, dizziness with short-term loss of consciousness (due to disturbances in the blood supply to the brain), pain in the shoulder jointor all over the arm.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The pain that occurs from time to time in the thoracic spine is familiar to anyone who performs heavy physical labor. As a rule, these painful and unpleasant sensations are the first sign that a rather unpleasant disease is beginning to develop in the body - osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. Often this disease affects people in so-called sedentary professions: designers, computer scientists, motorists.
But it is not at all necessary that you, even if you drag heavy objects every day or have to sit at your desk for long hours, have osteochondrosis.
Good posture is a reliable barrier against disease. When you walk, try to keep your back straight with your shoulders straight. To form a 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!
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
At first there are dull pains in the lumbar region and in the legs, then there is usually numbness in the extremities, 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 tissue changes. 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, postural disorders;
- injuries to the neck or back of the head.
In addition, osteochondrosis can be caused by other diseases of the spine. The spine is a whole, and it must also be treated in a complex. This is why the first thing to do if you suspect you have osteochondrosis is to have a complete spinal examination.
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the cartilage surfaces of the bones of the musculoskeletal system, primarily the spine (as well as 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 channel 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 side of the slope and their nuclei are displaced in the opposite direction. Simply put, intervertebral discs are shock absorbers that relieve pressure on the spine under stress.
Mass morbidity is mainly associated with the upright 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 to sit, stand, lie down, the disc will lose the ability to perform its function (damping), and after some time the outer casing of the disc will crack and hernial protrusions will appear. will form. They compress the blood vessels (resulting in 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 in the back muscles.
According to statistics, almost one in two people between the ages of 25 and 55 suffers from osteochondrosis. But most people start to experience 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 vibration.
It can be caused by:
- work associated with frequent changes in the position of the trunk - flexion and extension, turns, jerky movements,
- lifting heavy loads,
- poor posture when standing, sitting, lying down and carrying weights,
- physical education and sports without taking into account the influence of intense physical effort,
- adverse weather conditions - low temperature with high air humidity.
But it can not be said that if you follow all the instructions to the letter, osteochondrosis will not threaten you. After all, the cause of this disease can be traumatic injuries.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment is prescribed after examination. The doctor takes the history and directs the patient for an examination. Most often - for magnetic resonance imaging. After finding out the exact cause of the disease, they begin treatment.
In the acute period, the doctor prescribes pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In the period of remission - physiotherapy procedures - massage, physiotherapy, 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 reviews.The disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Annual check-ups 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 in front of a computer or desk, choose a comfortable chair, sit properly, and warm up every half hour or every working hour.
- Lead an active lifestyle.Walk more, be outside, play sports, swimming is especially useful.
- Use an orthopedic pillow while you sleep.
Osteochondrosis and its prevention
Taking care of their own health is everyone's immediate responsibility, they have no right to pass it on to others. After all, it often happens that a person with a bad lifestyle, bad habits, physical inactivity, overeating already 20-30 years old finds himself in a catastrophic state. all diseases. Man is the creator of his own health, for which he must fight. From an early age, it is necessary to lead an active life, to temper, to exercise and play sports, to observe the rules of personal hygiene - in a word, to reasonably achieve true harmonyhealth.
Exercising for a long time is a reliable prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Here are some exercises for the prevention of this type of osteochondrosis:
- Press your forehead into your palm and tense your neck muscles. Do the exercise 3 times for 7 seconds. Then press the back of your head on the palm of your hand also 3 times for 7 seconds.
- Using 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 tight muscles of the neck, press your chin against the jugular fossa. Do the exercise at least 5 times.
- Keep your head and shoulders straight. Slowly turn your head as far as possible to the right (5 times). Perform the movement to the left the same number of times.
- Lower your chin to your neck. First turn your head 5 times to the right and then 5 times to the left.
- Throw your head back. Try to touch your right ear to your right shoulder (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, as well as to perform them during the working day. You can do them both while sitting and standing. However, under no circumstances should you make circular rotational movements with your head. It could cause injury.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
If you also regularly perform the exercises (listed below) that build and maintain the tone of the back and abdomen muscles, ensuring normal mobility of all segments of the thoracic spine, then osteochondrosis will not defeat you. .
- I. p. - standing; As you breathe in, stand up straight, hands down, feet together. Stretch your arms - breathe out. Lean back and breathe deeply. Then lower your arms, lean 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, lean 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 for 2-3 seconds in this position. Keep your head straight. Back to i. p. and repeat the same exercise 5-7 times.
- I. p. - lie on your stomach and put your hands on the floor. Back up as much as possible, trying to pull the body off the ground.
- I. p. - lying on your stomach, arms at your sides. Bend the thoracic spine, trying to lift your head and legs as much as possible.
These exercises, which relieve the thoracic spine, are recommended throughout the day during short breaks from work. In Exercises 3-5, breathing is arbitrary. Do the 4th and 5th exercises 5 to 8 times. These exercises can be incorporated into morning exercises. It is very useful to perform some movements after work. The main thing is that you do the preventive complex every day, then you will reliably insure yourself against osteochondrosis.
How to sit properly
- avoid furniture that is too soft - it's not for you. In order for the weight of the body not to exert excessive pressure on the spine, the body must be supported by the ischial tubercles, and this is possible only on hard 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 should correspond to the length of the lower leg - it is necessary that the leg rest on the floor; for people of short stature, it is recommended to substitute a bench under their feet; the maximum seat depth is approximately 2/3 of the length of the hips.
- there should be enough legroom under the table so that they don't have to bend too much.
- if you have to sit for a long time, try every 15 to 20 minutes. Warm up a bit, change the position of the legs.
- make sure your back is tight 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 activity you must read for a long time every day, make a device on the table (desk) that supports the book at a sufficient height and tilted 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 curvature. Keep your head straight. After several hours of driving, get out of the car and do basic gymnastic exercises: turns, turns, squats - 8-10 times each.
- in front of the TV screen, do not sit or lie down for a long time in the same position. Change it periodically, get up to stretch. We sat for 1 to 1. 5 hours, sit in a chair or chair, relax your muscles, breathe deeply.
How to stand correctly
When a person is standing for a long time, the spine is under great stress, especially their lumbar region.
- change position every 10-15 minutes, leaning on either leg, it will reduce the load on the spine.
- if possible, walk in place, move.
- every now and then lean back, stretch your arms, breathe deeply. This can relieve some fatigue in the muscles of the shoulder girdle, neck, neck and back.
- if you do the dishes, iron clothes, alternately place one or the other foot on a small bench or box. For people with osteochondrosis, it is best to iron while sitting or placing the ironing board so that you do not have to bend down.
- when cleaning the apartment, working with a vacuum cleaner, also try not to lean low, it is better to extend the hose with additional tubes. When cleaning under the bed, kneel on one knee under the table.
- to pick up an object from the floor, squat or bend down with your knees bent and put your hand on a chair or table. This way you don't overload the lumbar spine.
How to lie correctly
It's best not to sleep on a soft bed, but not on planks either. The bed should 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 that:
- place a shield across the width of the bed or sofa and 5-8cm thick foam rubber, cover it with a woolen blanket and lay a sheet.
- when the pain is in the leg, you can put a blanket roll under the knee joint - this reduces the stretch of the sciatic nerve and relieves the pain in the leg.
- when they have back pain, many patients prefer to sleep on their stomachs. Place a small pillow under your lower abdomen to prevent your lower back from bending too much, which causes even more pain.
- sleep lovers on the other hand can sleep with one foot on the other, and one hand under their head.
Getting up in the morning for patients with acute manifestations of osteochondrosis can be very difficult. Do this:
- do some simple exercises for the arms and legs first;
- then if you sleep on your back, roll onto your stomach;
- lower one leg to the ground;
- leaning on that leg and arms, transfer your body weight to your knee and get up gradually without making any sudden movements.
And one more tip. For those who like the bath, dry steam (sauna) is preferable, and during an exacerbation, the sauna will have to be abandoned.
How to Lift and Move Weights Correctly
One of the main reasons for the exacerbation of osteochondrosis and the formation of hernias of the intervertebral disc, especially in the lumbosacral region, is heavy lifting and carrying. Acutely, unexpectedly, there is pain in the lower back in cases when weights are lifted sharply, with a jerk, then a heavy object is moved to the side, while turning the body.
How to properly carry weights
- Do not carry a heavy load with one hand, especially over a long distance, so as not to overload the spine, separate the load and carry it with both hands. It is unacceptable to hold a weight, to bend and to unfold strongly (to fold back).
- in general, it is undesirable for a patient with osteochondrosis to lift and carry weights of more than 15 kg. We recommend that you buy a cart or bag with wheels.
- a backpack with wide straps is very practical for carrying heavy loads over long distances. The weight of a full backpack is distributed over the weight of the spine and the hands are free.
How to Lift Weights Correctly
- put on, if you have one, a weightlifting belt or any wide belt;
- squat down, while the back should be straight, the neck should be straightened;
- grasping a weight with both hands, stand up without bending your back.
And finally, the most important tip. If there is sharp pain in any part of the spine, you should not self-medicate with pills and ointments. Seek help from a qualified neurologist - you need to make an accurate diagnosis, relieve pain and develop a further treatment plan.