Ever since the distant human ancestor Homo Erectus stood on his feet, humanity, in addition to all possible advantages related to upright walking (protection from wild animals, improved visibility, expanded work functionality), has also received a rich set of musculoskeletal diseases. Cervical osteochondrosis is one of them. Some people do not take the disease seriously, considering it an annoying but insignificant nuisance. This is especially true in situations where there is no severe pain.
Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention
Vertigo in cervical osteochondrosis is generally perceived as a symptom separate from the main disease, but as a result, the disease can lead to serious complications and even disability. In this article, we will look at what drugs to take for vertigo with cervical osteochondrosis, learn how to get rid of vertigo with cervical osteochondrosis, and analyze what exercises to do for vertigo with cervical osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The term osteochondrosis comes from the ancient Greek words ὀστέον – "bone" and χόνδρος – "cartilage". Doctors use this term to denote a group of dystrophic changes in articular cartilage caused by an increase in the volume of bone tissue. More than other joints, the cartilaginous seal between the vertebrae, called the "disc" in medicine, suffers.
Osteochondrosis is divided by type into "cervical", "thoracic" and "lumbar". Cervical is the most common. Today, this disease is a constant companion of every person over 40 years old. Despite the belief that this disease develops over years and that young people do not suffer from it, modern medical practice proves the opposite, showing disappointing statistics among people over 30 years old.
Causes
The causes of osteochondrosis include direct (compression of vertebral vessels and nerves - compression of cervical vertebrae) and indirect, related to the patient's lifestyle and physiological characteristics of his body.
Types of compression complications of osteochondrosis:
- Spondylolisthesis. Displacement of the spinal disc from the back or front. At significant rates, displacement is fraught with paralysis and death.
- Osteophytes. Abnormal, pathological growth of bone tissue due to calcium salts.
- Protrusion. Protrusion of the intervertebral disc without rupture of the integrity of the collagen ring.
- Hernias. Displacement of the core of the intervertebral disc with rupture of the collagen ring.
Reasons for compression:
- intensive physical work;
- physical inactivity, "computer" disease, sedentary entertainment;
- weight greater than normal;
- metabolic disorder;
- genetic predisposition;
- improper posture;
- weak tone of neck and back muscles in general;
- overstrain, fatigue of back and neck muscles;
- tendency to a certain position of the neck, for example, the habit of tilting the head to one side;
- "old" injuries of the cervical spine;
- nervous shocks and stress.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are sporadic and constant pain in the neck, upper shoulder girdle, collarbones and head. In advanced disease, vertigo (vertigo) and loss of consciousness are possible.
The complete symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are so diverse that the patient is often unable to independently identify one or another symptom of neck osteochondrosis. Even a doctor must conduct a thorough examination to make an accurate diagnosis.
The symptoms of the disease change according to the progression. Modern medicine distinguishes 4 stages of progression of osteochondrosis:
I – minor changes in normal cervical lordosis. There may be slight pain when turning the head. Mild discomfort when bending the neck;
II – smaller displacements between the vertebrae, torsion (uncoordinated rotation of the vertebrae in relation to the spinal cord), reduction of the thickness of the intervertebral cartilage. There is pain of mild to moderate intensity in the neck and head, tingling in the fingertips, tinnitus, when turning the head, the patient hears a slight creak;
III – the intervertebral cartilage is displaced by a quarter compared to the other, the thickness and size of the disc selectively changes, becomes thinner, changes its normal shape, posterior osteophytes narrow the spinal canal, injure the spinal cord. The pain becomes intense, loses its sporadic nature, becomes stable in nature, fluctuating from average to severe. Weakness appears in the hands, hearing is impaired. When you turn your head, the crunching sound is not only heard by the patient, but also by those around you. Possible loss of movement coordination. By the way, dizziness with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a very alarming sign, in which you should immediately consult a doctor if this has not already been done;
IV – intervertebral discs are significantly displaced, posterior osteophytes and protrusions become abnormally large, the spinal canal is significantly narrowed and curved, myelopathy is formed (compression syndrome of the spinal cord and its vessels). Frequent dizziness, loss of consciousness. Strong and very strong pain in the neck, head, collarbone, shoulders. The face, tongue and palate go numb. Sight and hearing are significantly impaired. Weakness throughout the body. Legs and arms were taken away. Temporary paralysis of limbs. Very significant loss of coordination in space. Swallowing reflex disorder. Complete loss of sensation in the hands and the whole body.
Treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
When we ask the question "how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? ", we must remember that with cervical osteochondrosis treatment must be timely, there is no way to delay it.
Therapeutic and preventive measures are closely related to each other in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Conventionally, the difference between them lies in the severity of the disease. Prevention of osteochondrosis is applied before the onset of the disease and during its first three stages. Treatment of the disease begins from the moment of its occurrence.
In this section, we will find out whether it is possible to remove many unpleasant symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at once, what exercises can be done for vertigo with cervical osteochondrosis, which tablets, drugs and folk remedies are best to use for complicated osteochondrosis, how to treat vertigo, how to treat vertigo incervical osteochondrosis osteochondrosis with folk remedies.
Prevention
Removes many signs of osteochondrosis at once. It includes four types of therapy:
- The traditional way to remove the signs of cervical osteochondrosis and dizziness is to constantly lead a healthy lifestyle;
- physical therapy (not recommended already in the third stage of the development of osteochondrosis, although the final decision rests with the vertebrologist);
- massage and self-massage (although manual therapy is very effective in cervical osteochondrosis and can easily relieve pain, it is not recommended in the last stages of the disease);
- apply orthopedic advice and orthopedic devices (Kuznetsov Applicator, furniture, household items) in everyday life.
ethnoscience
Osteochondrosis of the neck can be treated at home using traditional medicine. The products she created are a creative composition of herbs, essential oils, fats, poisons, roots of various plants with alcohol and iodine.
Can traditional medicine relieve dizziness and pain? Here the situation is the same as in the case of drug treatment - the pain may disappear almost immediately, and the prevention of dizziness will take time. Treatment with traditional medicine must be started as soon as possible, then it will surely bring a positive result.