Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine belongs to the category of long-term chronic diseases. In the process of development of the disease, the destruction of the intervertebral space occurs, which, if left untreated, inevitably leads to the formation of a herniated disc. In the modern world, both the elderly and children suffer from osteochondrosis. At the same time, the healing process is delayed for months, or even years, and does not always guarantee a positive result. Therefore, this problem should be approached with all seriousness, because the sooner the doctor can determine the presence of cervical osteochondrosis and prescribe treatment, the more chance the patient will have to restore his health.
The disease in question has rather characteristic manifestations, so it will be difficult not to notice them. However, before considering the information on how to determine cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to find out what its symptoms and the factors responsible for its onset are.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that causes the onset of degenerative processes within the connective cartilage tissue located between the individual vertebrae. Progression of the disease disrupts the normal functioning of the body and can cause disability. At the same time, destructive processes cause inflammation, which is transmitted to the nerve fibers that pass nearby. This development of events leads to muscle spasms, which overload, trying to prevent squeezing of blood vessels and nerve roots.
However, without external intervention, the body cannot cope with the disease, and as a result, a decrease in the gap between individual vertebrae, along with other consequences of osteochondrosis, will lead to significant difficulties in blood circulation, and the human brain will not receive oxygen and important nutrients in the required quantities. Of course, this will immediately affect the patient's self-awareness, therefore osteochondrosis can be determined by a number of characteristic symptoms.
The main symptoms
The most typical symptoms are:
- constant pain in the neck and head;
- regular bouts of nausea, sometimes vomiting;
- sharp and sudden changes in blood pressure;
- dizziness, fainting.
As you can see, the symptoms are quite specific and it is impossible not to notice them, so it will not be difficult to determine osteochondrosis in the neck area. However, only an experienced neurologist should make a diagnosis, as this disease affects the work of many functions, and during the examination it is necessary to draw up an accurate picture of what is happening in order to prescribe the most effective course of treatment.
To determine the nature of the course of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, the patient is sent for radiography and computed tomography. In some cases, an ultrasound may be prescribed. As a rule, this occurs with complaints of chest pains against the background of absent heart pathologies.
The manifestation of heart pain in a patient with osteochondrosis in the neck indicates the active spread of the disease along the spine. Such a symptom is rare, so the neurologist will certainly send the patient first for examination to a cardiologist, who must identify heart problems or confirm their absence. If the work of the heart system occurs without ailments, then there is nothing to worry about, since osteochondrosis itself does not in any way affect the activity of such an important organ as the heart.
The above symptoms appear from the first weeks of the onset of the disease. The only exceptions are dizziness and nausea, as these unpleasant sensations are found in patients in the 2-3 stages of the development of the disease.
In total, there are three stages of the development of the disease, of which the third manifests itself in the most insidious way. If osteochondrosis of the vertebrae of the neck is not treated, then its transition to a severe form will lead to disruption of the normal functioning of many vital systems of the human body.
Prerequisites for the appearance of osteochondrosis
There are many factors that are considered manifestations of osteochondrosis of the spine in the neck. However, the main one is the incorrect posture of the spine. For this reason, it is extremely important to create some kind of habit to maintain the correct body position during work and rest from childhood.
The second very significant factor is called a sedentary lifestyle. A modern person usually complains about the lack of time for sports, but at the same time he can spend a lot of time on carefree surfing on the waves of the Internet, empty communication on social networks or computer games.
Since childhood, most people have reported the great benefits of simple morning exercises. However, few modern people do, even though simple physical exercises in the morning can stimulate blood circulation, experience a real surge of liveliness, and help create a good mood for the whole day. Plus, morning exercises will keep your joints healthy and mobile for many years.
The last serious factor that causes osteochondrosis of the spine in the neck area, and at the same time many other problems, is the lack of vitamins. Usually, the human body is deficient in vitamins in winter and early spring, so during these times you should eat as many raw vegetables and fruits as possible or buy vitamin complexes that are sold in any pharmacy. You should also pay attention to other important microelements for the body. By the way, many people mistakenly believe that osteochondrosis appears due to a lack of calcium. This is not the case, although calcium should be used in the treatment of the disease, as it promotes the rapid healing of cartilage tissue.
The main stages of osteochondrosis
- First.At the initial stage, dull pain appears, which quickly disappears if a person keeps the body at rest for a while. Additionally, the patient may notice jumps in blood pressure, which is the first sign of oxygen deficiency in the brain.
- According to.The next stage already significantly darkens the usual way of life, as the pain syndrome in the neck becomes quite strong and does not always go away even after taking analgesics. This makes a person extremely irritable, which negatively affects the attitude towards him on the part of others. In addition, there is a constant feeling of fatigue, systematic headaches appear.
- Third.The last stage is considered the most dangerous. The patient develops intolerable pain in the neck and head, which even strong pain relievers cannot always cope with. Dizziness, nausea, limited movement and so on also appear.
As you can see, osteochondrosis has a rather pronounced symptomatology, however, at the initial stage, many people simply ignore the signs of impending disaster. It is extremely important to be vigilant and timely identify the disease already at its first weak manifestations.
As a rule, patients of a neuropathologist are people whose osteochondrosis has already passed to the second stage of its development. This complicates the healing process, since it is possible to effectively fight the disease only at the initial stage.
Do not forget that osteochondrosis is one of the most difficult back diseases. It can have a negative impact on the work of several vital systems at the same time. If you do not seek professional help in a timely manner, as a result, you can start a disease that will lead to the formation of a spinal hernia, where only surgical intervention will correct the situation.
The recovery process in osteochondrosis is delayed for a long time and can only be successful with strict adherence to all the doctor's prescriptions. In no case should you independently diagnose and prescribe treatment, as you can further aggravate the situation.
Many believe that osteochondrosis is the final sentence and it is impossible to fully recover from it. In fact, this is by no means the case if the disease has not progressed to the final stage of development. In other cases, the situation can be corrected, but for this you have to focus on long and hard work and, in addition, you will have to change your lifestyle, making sports and outdoor activities an integral part of it.