Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative spinal diseases, which include
Distrophy, deformation and gradual deletion of vertebrates.This can lead to pain, a number of unpleasant consequences and in advanced cases - even in disability.It is important to pay attention to your health and consult a doctor in a timely manner when suspicious symptoms appear.
The cervical and chest spine is less common than the lumbar, however, the appearance of osteochondrosis in these areas can be fraught with severe consequences.Due to the proximity of the cervical region, a violation of blood supply to the brain sometimes develops in the head, which involves many complications.In addition, changes can lead to damage to the nerve roots - as a result, the patient feels severe pain and numbness.
The reasons for the appearance
Osteochondrosis occurs in a large number of people, especially today, when citizens lack adequate physical activity, nutrition and proper behavior.The reasons that can provoke the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical and chest region include:
- age -related changes;
- genetic predisposition;
- Sitting life, hypodynamia;
- behavioral disorders;
- Serious excess weight;
- injuries;
- overload;
- flat feet and other imperfections of the musculoskeletal system;
- stress and bad habits;
- Smoping back and extended stay in the cold.
Recently, osteochondrosis has become increasingly respected by young people, which is mainly associated with the wrong way of life.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Like most chronic diseases, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic region is quite secret and does not appear immediately.In the early stages, the patient may not notice anything, but periodic discomfort in the spine, but the progression of the disease leads to deterioration of symptoms:
- Pain in the head or neck, which sometimes falls into the shoulder belt and upper limbs and, depending on the course of the disease, can be acute and painful or painful, dumb, manifested by periods;
- dizziness, visual impairment and hearing, coordination of movements;
- numbness, burning or tingling in the upper limbs;
- asthenia, fatigue, loss of normal working capacity;
- International neuralgia, heart pain, pressure drops.
Most negative symptoms are caused by the fact that deforming areas of the spine squeeze blood vessels and nerve roots, as a result, their normal functioning is disturbed.Subsequently, such complications can lead to serious malfunctions in the body and even disability if you do not start treatment in time.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The doctor begins to suspect osteochondrosis in the patient based on his complaints and the collected anamnesis.To confirm or reject the diagnosis, the specialist determines the diagnostic measures, the main of which is the spine radiography in a direct and lateral projection.To get more detailed information, CT and MRI are performed: they help to follow complications in time.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, treatment is prescribed comprehensive.As a rule, it includes some key guidelines:
- Medication therapy is mainly painkillers and anti -inflammatory, which allow for decreased pain;In addition, muscle spasms, chondroprotectors for the strengthening of cartilage tissue and B vitamins are often described to remove the condition of the nerve tissue;
- Physiotherapy includes massage and other procedures (ultrasound, magnetotherapy, etc.) aimed at improving the condition of the spine and removing the restriction of mobility;
- Physical therapeutic education allows you to activate blood flow, strengthen your muscles, thereby removing excess load on the back, bringing the body to tone and regulate behavior;It also helps to reduce pressure on the roots of the nerves.
The procedure for stretching the spine is applied periodically, aimed at returning the original shape to it.