Cervical osteochondrosis — a disease of the intervertebral discs in the cervical region of the spine (usually C5, C6 and C7), wearing degenerative-degenerative in nature and characterized by the growth of bone tissue in the cervical region of the spine column. Generated on vertebral osteophytes (salt deposits, growths) irritates the muscles, which leads to their reflective compression and increasing the pressure on the vertebrae. As a result of the intervertebral discs are narrowed, their thickness is reduced, which also contributes to the pressure of the vertebral artery and the infringement of nerve endings in the rotation of the head.
For these reasons, cervical degenerative disc disease is a very dangerous disease. Violates the blood supply to the brain and causes lack of oxygen parts of the brain with potential complications.
The danger of cervical degenerative disc disease
Cervical osteochondrosis — is a serious disease, the symptoms of which are not limited by pain discomfort in the neck when moving the head. If left untreated, with the development of the disease the patient is struggling with numerous complications, which brings significant discomfort and can become the cause of various dysfunctions of the human body.
Violation of the arteries, produced as a result of the fact that the vertebrae of deformed and collected, which leads to the so-called vertebral-basilar syndrome. Insufficient blood supply to the brain becomes the cause of infringement of balance, dizziness, regular or permanent impairment of vision, the emergence of tinnitus, a semi-conscious state and loss of consciousness. Depending on the degree of displacement of the artery of the cervical spine, and general functions of the organism the consequences can manifest themselves in varying degrees of severity and combined among themselves.
Pinching of the occipital nerve in the cervical osteochondrosis becomes the cause of persistent headaches, gives in the neck and in the temple. The most dangerous is the pinching of the spinal cord and its nerve processes. While it may be observed, severe dysfunction, and violation of coordination of the limbs, reducing their sensitivity, loss of strength. Also the patient may have problems with control of bladder and bowel, often observed in spastic, uncontrolled movements of the limbs.
Without treatment, osteochondrosis of the cervical leads to complications — for example, to protrusion and hernia of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. Also, it supports the emergence and development of cardiovascular diseases, which cause various disorders of the brain up to the death of its individual parts.
Causes of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
Even if traditional medicine considers the degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical disease, from the point of view of osteopathy — it is just a manifestation of more deep-seated disorders in the body.
So the real causes of degenerative disc disease of the cervical, are:
- Violation of posture. Scoliosis, stoop, round back, kyphosis and other postural disorders, even when wearing a modest nature, cause serious disruption of the balance of the spinal column. As a result the load on the intervertebral discs unequally distributed, causing their deformation and increased wear. The vertebrae begin to closer, causing a pinched nerve processes, rather quickly develops cervical osteochondrosis. Similar effects have also disorders of posture, caused by the change of the natural position of the ribs.
- Muscle spasms. The spasmodic reaction of the muscles of the back, the chest, in the press may lead to the fact that the individual parts of the body they find themselves in a strongly strained. In consequence, it disturbed the overall equilibrium position of the body, which causes the position changes of the spine. Deformation can touch the area of the neck or other parts of the vertebral pillar, causing degenerative disc disease of the thoracic, cervical, lumbar divisions.
- Violation of blood supply. So as the vertebrates, discs do not have a direct connection with the bloodstream, the food they receive from the surrounding tissue. Violation of the blood supply to the neck leads to the fact that the discs do not have enough fluids for re-hydration (restoration of shape due to moisture absorption), the update of the cartilage. As a result of their wear and tear is accelerating, there has been a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae of the neck, which leads to osteochondrosis.
- Violation of innervation. A decrease in the sensitivity of the nerve roots leads to morbid changes in their structure, causing displacement and deformation of the vertebrae of the neck remains unnoticed by the patient. After all, the feelings of pain when this is missing due to a failure of sensitivity.
- Diseases of the internal organs. Irregular position of the internal organs, their offset and receding due to various dysfunction leads to disruption of the overall balance in the body. As a result it is desperate to affect the position of the vertebrae of the pillar — neck, the lumbar vertebrae are moved and deformed, which leads to the corresponding types of degenerative disc disease.
In general, degenerative disc disease of the cervical develops due to the influence of adverse external factors that disrupt the natural equilibrium position of the vertebral column and other systems of the human body. Often these disorders are visible, not immediately, and cervical osteochondrosis progresses, leading to severe consequences. Why it is so important to regularly visit an osteopath who will be able to determine the exact cause, caused osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, and not to prescribe treatment of symptoms, as it does classical medicine.
Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease
Depending on what kind of affects the vertebrae of the cervical osteochondrosis the symptoms can manifest themselves in many ways. But if you have at least one, it is worth suspected osteochondrosis of the cervical, so it makes sense to appeal to the expert, to conduct a comprehensive examination and diagnosis. The main symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine:
- Feelings of pain. The first symptom is pain, which is in the early stages manifests itself only when rotation and tilt of the head. The discomfort is usually localized in the right or left section of the neck, sometimes the symptoms include and the surrounding area. With the development of cervical degenerative disc disease pain radiates in the occipital and frontal parts of the head, acquires the character of a migraine.
- Deterioration in the sensory organs. In essence, they begin to notice problems with vision. Clear symptoms — blurred, double vision, darkening of the eyes, wearing a regular character, is often observed tinnitus.
- Vertigo. Almost always osteochondrosis of the cervical accompanied by characteristic vertigo, arising on a sharp movement or rotation of the head, slopes, changing posture. While it may occur nausea and vomiting.
- Fainting. A semi-conscious state and loss of consciousness are common symptom of the late stages of cervical degenerative disc disease. In some patients these symptoms can be observed and during the initial development of the disease;
- Cardialgia. Along with other symptoms are often observed feelings, typical for seizures of angina pectoris;
- Disorders of sensitivity. Depending on what vertebrae affected by cervical osteochondrosis, an indication of the presence of the disease becomes a partial loss of sensation in the occipital and parietal region of the head, in the frozen area of the forearm. In some cases, the numbness can spread from the neck to the hand to the little finger or thumb, respectively, on the outer or external side of the limb;
- Violation of speech. It is a very common symptom and it arises due to loss of control over language, due to the squeezing of the nerve roots C3 and C4. Also, when it can observe the difficulty breathing.
Usually, the symptoms of which are characterized by osteochondrosis of the cervical, manifest themselves quite clearly — both individually and in complex. Therefore, to diagnose it can be also separately. At the first symptoms is recommended to consult a specialist-osteopath, for which there is a cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment — one of the areas of professional activity.
Osteopathic treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
To date osteopathic treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical is the most effective. It is aimed at removing the underlying causes, and not only fights the symptoms, which manifest themselves in the form of deformation and protrusion of intervertebral discs.
Handle with cervical osteochondrosis, specialist-osteopath soon as possible to diagnose the disease and its localization in the department of the neck, it is determines what vertebra is distorted and deformed. This can be done as guided by the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, and the fact that each examination of the patient.
The initial phase is the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease — relief of painful sensations. It is often the cause of serving the cervical spasm, which treatment and performs specialist. The spasmodic reaction of the muscles of the neck in response to the disruption of the overall balance in the body, leads to pressure of the nerve roots. In the result, and there are feelings of pain in the neck (osteochondrosis).
Often the removal of the cramps in itself is a sufficiently effective treatment of the cervical spine. Removes muscle tension, osteopath not only relieves the painful feelings, but also normalizes the position of the spinal column. The cervical department on the proper treatment comes in the equilibrium position and the unloading.
Already after a few sessions at the osteopath symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease lessen or disappear completely. This is due to the ways she fought against the normalization of blood circulation, which often prevents just muscle spasms. The cervical section of the spine and intervertebral discs get normal food along with blood, and in consequence, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae retreats.
In the later stages of the disease, when damage are global in nature and often affect other organs, may require more complex and longer treatment. In this specialist treats not only himself osteochondrosis of the spine, but also the accompanying disorders and dysfunction, including the displacement of internal organs, oxygen starvation of the brain, pinching processes of the spinal cord, etc.
Despite the severity of the disease, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is quite well treat just the methods of osteopathy. But to consolidate the results achieved, and also to prevent complications and relapses of the disease specialist is recommended other methods — exercise therapy, correction of nutrition, mild exercise, massage and physiotherapy.
Depending on the extent to which the expressed and the reasons for osteochondrosis, the treatment is designed by the expert individually. Depending on the outcome of treatment can be corrected and complemented by other procedures is that it helps to effectively and quickly treat osteochondrosis of the department.
Prevention of cervical degenerative disc disease
If you are diagnosed with "osteochondrosis of the cervical", the treatment can take a long time. Much easier to avoid this disease at all, by leading a healthy lifestyle. Avoid lengthy and complex treatment of degenerative disc disease (which is usually late stages) can be relatively simple methods of prevention.
Parenting correct posture from an early age helps to avoid to treat degenerative disc disease in adulthood. Very often suffer from the disease of office workers, leading a sedentary way of life and spend a long time in one and the same position. In order to prevent degenerative disc disease of the spine, it is necessary to regularly do the exercise, changing posture, to carry out the sails and turns his head, slightly loading the shoulder belt.
Exercises aimed at overall strengthening of muscles, joints, bones of the skeleton significantly reduce the likelihood of developing degenerative disc disease of the lumbar or cervical.
Even if you have already available osteochondrosis (its symptoms manifest themselves quite clearly), preventive exercises, to help ease the course of the disease. But it must be remembered that by themselves they are not treatments. You are sure, must take a course from a professional-an osteopath. Follow-up of prevention thus becomes a guarantee that the signs of degenerative disc disease of the already prepared themselves and the disease will return.