Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - a dangerous disease, as compression of spinal nerve roots, blood vessels and the spinal cord itself in this area can lead to a malfunction of the brain and placed it vital centers.

Manifestations

The initial symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease associated with exposure to the nerve roots, plexus, and nerves, that is, the peripheral nervous system. The pain may be constant or in the form of attacks (lumbago) cervical sciatica Neck sciatica - a painful violation . Can appear as pain in the muscles in the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints, chest (in the liver and heart).

Most often the pain worse in the morning after sleep and when you try to turn over in bed, to lift his head from the pillow, sudden movement, an awkward turn of the head. Then, during the day the pain may decrease and disappear completely. Against this background there may be bouts of acute pain - backache.

Pain is always accompanied by more or less pronounced strain of the neck muscles. As a result, the neck takes a forced situation: it is slightly tilted forward and to the side. When turning in the neck there is a feeling the crunch. Pain may be exacerbated as a cold.

Besides, can develop cervical and cervicobrachial radiculitis, the symptoms of which are a pain in the neck and upper neck, worse when moving head. Thus initially increases the sensitivity of the skin at the site of pain, but then it is, on the contrary, reduced. Sometimes the pain extends to the shoulder girdle, and hands (called osteochondrosis hand, osteochondrosis of the fingers - the informal name). In such cases often develop numbness in hands Numbness of hands - not such a harmless symptom   osteochondrosis.

Complications

Cervical osteochondrosis may be complicated by shoulder-humeral periarthritis (scapular osteochondrosis), which arises as a result of violation of innervation shoulder - the shoulder region and degenerative changes in the tissues of the area. Complication seen burning aching pain in the shoulder girdle and the shoulder joint, appearing most often at night. It is necessary to raise a hand or get it behind his back, the pain intensified. Due to the tension of the muscles contracture occurs (restriction of movement) of the shoulder joint, muscle atrophy, and shoulder blades. Violated and skin sensitivity in this area - there is a feeling pins and needles, tingling and so on. Osteochondrosis of the blade is prolonged and greatly complicates the life of the patient.

Another complication of cervical degenerative disc disease is an osteochondrosis of the elbow - inflammation of the epicondyle of the elbow (epicondylitis). The elbow osteochondrosis manifest constant and increases with the slightest movement of the hand pain.

When squeezing the arteries feeding the brain (of vertebral arteries), disturbed nutrition of brain cells neurons. In connection with these dizziness osteochondrosis is a constant feature. There are also headaches, nausea, fainting, numbness of the tongue. Tinnitus in osteochondrosis is also a permanent symptom, often joins him incoordination. Influence of osteochondrosis vision manifested "flying flies before our eyes", blurred vision. Cervical osteochondrosis and vision - concepts are closely related - the disease can manifest itself reduced vision.

For example, very similar to low back pain and hypertension, so the appearance of a severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision, it is necessary to measure blood pressure. Osteochondrosis, and the pressure does not have a clear connection, but when squeezed vegetative fibers may be signs of IRR as unstable blood pressure, with frequent small drops and rises.

With HDR syndrome are also associated with pain in the internal organs, which can feel sick osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis and heart linked infringement of autonomic nerve fibers of the spinal nerves. Influence of degenerative disc disease on the heart may manifest pain in the heart of the most different character, sometimes similar to angina Angina - oxygen deficiency But I do not remove the nitroglycerine. It is not dangerous to life and limb pain, but they can be very intimidating patients. The appearance of such pain requires examination of the patient and the exclusion of heart disease. Shortness of breath with osteochondrosis, osteochondrosis, and tachycardia Tachycardia - the body to the limit?   - All this is a manifestation of the IRR.

Similar pain may occur in the right hypochondrium - easily confused with an attack of cholecystitis. In this case also requires examination of the patient.

Treatment of sciatica

Treatment for sciatica should be comprehensive, taking into account its causes and mechanisms of development. Treatment begins always with conservative methods, and only if their inefficiency resorting to surgery.

Conservative treatment of sciatica Treatment for sciatica - medical approach   carried out by a variety of painkillers, removing tissue swelling and soothing drugs. To improve the metabolic processes are appointed by vitamin-mineral complexes. Of great importance in the treatment of patients with sciatica have physiotherapy, which can be done in a period of acute (ultrasound, phonophoresis, electrophoresis with painkillers and other).

An important place in the treatment of sciatica caused by spinal osteochondrosis Osteochondrosis - Causes and symptoms It takes spine traction, especially underwater in radon bath.

Physiotherapy and massage join when acute pain is gone. Thanks to a specially designed exercise creates a muscular corset, which increases the distance between the vertebrae, thereby reducing the compression of the spine.

In the period of acute pain it is recommended diet: Do not eat products that retain water (salted, smoked, spicy). Should limit fat meat and lard, strong broths. Useful meatless vegetarian soups, cereals, potatoes.

During the acute stage these patients demonstrated a spa treatment with the use of hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, mud applications (for example, Matsesta, Pyatigorsk).

The precipitated intervertebral discs can be returned to its original position by means of manual therapy Chiropractic: the main thing - to choose the competent expert . When resistant pain, paralysis and inability to straighten the spinal disc using manual therapy, the disc is removed surgically.

Nonsurgical

In most cases, the doctor recommends the first non-surgical methods for the treatment of sciatica. These include: receiving anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, stretching exercises for the spine. Many patients have symptoms at 6 weeks become much weaker. If the symptoms of sciatica Symptoms of sciatica - what could be the manifestation   will not pass through the 2-3 month of therapy, surgery may be required.

Surgical treatment of sciatica

Generally, surgical treatment of sciatica is assigned only in those cases where the conservative methods have been tried and did not give significant results. The operation can be scheduled sooner if the patient has symptoms of sciatica dangerous, such as progressive muscular dystrophy - in these cases, surgery to avoid severe and irreversible damage that can lead to a reduction of capacity. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat this disorder. The choice of treatment depends on several factors, primarily - on the cause of sciatica.

Endoscopic disketomiya appointed, as a rule, if the main cause of sciatica is a gap or displacement of the intervertebral disc. This minimally invasive surgery, which is usually performed under local anesthesia.

The operation is performed with an endoscope - a thin, hollow instrument, which is located at the end of the camera, allowing close review site that will operate. Through the same thin tube is inserted surgical instruments, so the risk of damage to the muscles and other tissues surrounding the spine is minimized. After causing the sciatica intervertebral disc detect and eliminate the problem, the doctor sews up the incision, and the patient goes home the same day. Since the endoscope can be inserted through a small incision after surgery remains a very small scar. The recovery period after endoscopic discectomy lasts significantly less than after open surgery.

Endoscopic Foraminotomy effective when sciatica is caused by a variety of degenerative changes in the spine, spondylolisthesis, and some other disorders. Typically during surgery is necessary to delete a portion of one of the vertebrae to gain access to the nerves causing sciatica characteristic pain. This is also a minimally invasive surgery, and recovery after it happens pretty quickly.

Aggravation of sciatica

Aggravation of sciatica is called the appearance of very severe back pain associated with inflammation of the spinal cord. The pain can be so severe that the patient becomes temporarily totally disabled. Typically, the pain increases with movement and in the supine position weakens, but not always completely. Acute sciatica is usually seen in people over 35-40 years, and very rarely occurs in younger patients.

First aid for sciatica is usually required in exacerbations; chronic sciatica rarely causes such pain that a person absolutely can not tolerate. Often a person for some time remains in the position in which he was when he had an attack of acute sciatica, which is why it can be difficult to walk without assistance. If this happened to you out there and a number of friends or acquaintances, ask someone of them to help you get home. If you are alone, call a cab to get to the house or if you feel that it is necessary for an ambulance. Those who are caught sciatica aggravation at home, you just need to get to the first-aid kit (there should always be a pain medication - just in case), and then - to the bed, where you have to try to take a position in which the pain is felt the least.

Treatment of acute sciatica primarily involves analgesics, as well as the limitation of physical activity - for a few days after an exacerbation should not lift weights and perform any strength exercises. From physical labor, if possible, should be avoided. If OTC pain relievers do not help, see your doctor - he may prescribe you opioids that are more potent drugs against pain, but long-term use can lead to addiction. In addition, the doctor will do an exam to determine the cause of sciatica. Depending on the results, it can refer you to a physical therapist or prescribe surgery.