Osteochondrosis in modern society is considered almost a variant of the physiological norm due to the literally total spread of pathology among people of even very young age.It is already habitual to hear in response to a complaint about the pain in the neck that this is “just” osteochondrosis and do not worry.This is not true!It is worth starting to start at the very early stage of the degenerative dystrophic process, since in the future a very sad clinical picture can be expected, depriving the opportunity to live normally and work.
All degrees of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine carry a certain danger, but as the process of destroying the intervertebral disc is deepened, an increased risk of hernia and loss of control over some functions of the body arise.About what the degrees of osteochondrosis of the cervical region, what symptoms they manifest and how treatment can be carried out using manual therapy methods, read in this article.Put the acquired knowledge into practice and keep your health until old age.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical spine
This is not the very beginning of the disease, as is customary to think.In the beginning there is a prerequisite for a violation of the diffuse nutrition of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc.This is the initial stage.If it remains not noticed, then osteochondrosis of the 1st degree develops in the cervical spine. He is provoked by the following reasons and prerequisites:
- long static tension of the neck muscles;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- lack of regular physical exertion on the muscles of the neck and collar zone;
- improper organization of a berth for night rest (using too high or soft pillows);
- wearing clothes that put pressure on soft tissues in the neck;
- violation of posture, the habit of stooping;
- injuries in the neck;
- inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
- Violation of metabolic processes in the body.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 1st degree for a long time is not manifested by characteristic symptoms.Periodic headaches, dizziness, shoulders, etc. may occur.When examining the protrusion and the destruction of the intervertebral disc are not detected.
Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the cervical spine
More developed osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the cervical region is no longer in doubt in the fact of its presence.It is manifested by frequent pain in the neck.Pain occurs after a long static tension of the neck muscles.Secondary disorders arise against the background of cerebrovascular failure.Patients often have headaches, dizziness of orthostatic nature, nausea, and a decrease in mental performance.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 2nd degree, a structural change in the intervertebral discs already occurs.In an X -ray, you can see a mesh of small cracks on the surface of a fibrous ring.They are gradually filled with calcium salts.This further exacerbates the process of disturbance of diffuse nutrition.Calcinated (ossified) intervertebral disc is not able to absorb the liquid from the surrounding muscle fibers.He quickly loses his elasticity and the disease goes into the next stage.
Osteochondrosis of the 3rd stage of the cervical spine
With osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree, degenerative changes in a dystrophic nature occur in the cervical spine. They are the following pathological disorders:
- The intervertebral disk completely loses the ability to absorb liquid from the outer space when the muscle fibers are reduced;
- The process of absorption of fluid from the internal structure of the pulpoose nucleus begins, as a result of which it quickly decreases in volume and loses the ability to exert shock absorbation during physical exertion;
- dehydration of the outer (fibrous) ring of the intervertebral disc leads to a violation of its elasticity;
- large cracks occur;
- They can penetrate the pulpoose core that is reduced in size - this is how hernias arise;
- The stage of protrusion is preceded by the stage of protrusion, during which the intervertebral disk quickly loses its height and increases in the area so much that it goes beyond the bodies of the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 3rd degree leads to very unpleasant consequences.In the patient, mental performance is disturbed, paresis of the upper limbs develops, somatic pathologies, such as heart rhythm and arterial hypertension, may occur.It is necessary to immediately begin effective and safe treatment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree
It is quite difficult to recognize the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 1st degree, since they can be disguised as VSD, migraine attacks, myosites and other pathologies that are not customary to pay serious attention to.Nevertheless, it is worth understanding that the 1st degree is the condition in which the minimum conditions are enough to treat.Unfortunately, the duration of this stage is very short.The degeneration of the intervertebral disk quickly reaches the second stage, in which typical pathological changes are visible even in a simple radiographic picture.In particular, the partial destruction of the disk, subsidence of its height (fragmentarily or diffusely) is noticeable.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 2nd degree, symptoms can be expressed as follows:
- pain in the neck and collar area after any static loads;
- The pain extends to the shoulders and is tearing, stitching, pulling and cutting;
- numbness of the upper limbs and their fingers;
- dizziness and headache;
- a feeling of numbness in the neck;
- sharp changes in blood pressure;
- The pain of the skin in the scalp.
If you have symptoms of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree osteochondrosis, it is already impossible to postpone treatment.Typically, in such conditions, patients are accepting to the therapist.There they are provided with a temporary disability sheet for a period of 10 - 12 days.Symptomatic anti -inflammatory treatment is prescribed.It does not lead to the restoration of the damaged cartilage disk.But the patient is relieved of all symptoms and therefore is discharged to work after 10 days.Meanwhile, the destruction of the spine continues and osteochondrosis goes to the next stage.
The emerging symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 3rd degree are severe neurological.This is due to the fact that with a similar development of the disease, the radicular nerves are damaged. It is the spine syndrome that determines the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 3rd degree, which consist in the appearance of the following signs:
- depressive mood and severe headaches localized in the back of the head;
- dizziness and ataxia;
- The pain in the neck is constant and it radiates into the shoulders, arms, under the shoulder blade;
- Any movement causes an attack of increased pain;
- muscles in the neck and collar zone are overstrain;
- mobility is sharply limited (there is no way to turn your head freely or tilt it forward and back);
- sharp numbness in the upper limb on the side of the lesion;
- pain, tingling and convulsions in the fingers;
- Hypershecy or, on the contrary, a decrease in sensitivity up to numbness in the area of the scalp, face, tongue and lips;
- disorder of the fluid and food swallowing process;
- Violation of the speech function.
In addition, arrhythmias, an increase in blood pressure, and thyroid disorders may occur.In case of damage to the vagus nerve, which originates from the radicular nerve fiber, which extends between 5 and 6 cervical vertebrae, pancreatitis occurs, a violation of the outflow of bile and other pathologies of the digestive system.
The most serious symptoms of the 3rd degree of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occur with the development of the syndrome of the vertebral artery.In this case, transient disturbance of cerebral blood supply can develop.The patient loses consciousness, loses control of the functions of his body, is paralyzed, etc.
To prevent the risk of developing such complications, it is important to start the treatment of the disease in a timely manner.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree
For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical spine, it is enough to eliminate the cause of its occurrence.To do this, restore diffuse nutrition of cartilage.This can only be done with manual therapy.Osteopathy and therapeutic massage are used that improve the condition of muscle fiber, kinesitherapy and gymnastics, strengthen the muscle frame of the neck.In addition, it is important to follow all the recommendations of the manual therapist.A manual therapy for each patient is developing individual recommendations.They relate to changes in the regime and diet, introduction into the daily life schedule of special physical exercises, the correct organization of the working and berth, etc.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 2nd degree, it will take much more time.It is important to restore the physiological structure of the cartilaginous intervertebral disc.Methods of reflexology and traction traction, massage and therapeutic exercises are used.If it is necessary to stop the pain syndrome, a pharmacopuncture can be shown.
Correctly performed treatment of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree cervical region guarantees the absence of relapse of the disease for several years.If the patient performs all the recommendations of the attending physician, then there is no re -development of degenerative destruction of the intervertebral disc.
The most difficult thing is to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 3rd degree, since there is a pronounced protrusion.In order for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree of the cervical spine, it is not enough to restore diffuse nutrition of cartilage tissue.It is important to return the normal height and elasticity of the intervertebral disc.The course of therapy includes a comprehensive effect.It is also important to follow all the doctor's recommendations in everyday life.