Widespread in the world, osteochondrosis of the cervix and other areas of the ridge to one degree or another affects more than half of women and men aged thirty and older, as well as children. For a child, this is a particularly dangerous disease that affects the intervertebral discs and joints, leading to devastating consequences for the emerging spine. The complications to which the disease leads are of varying degrees. One of them may be a hernia, the signs of which must be considered separately.
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis cause the most problems for a person. This is due to the fact that a huge number of nerve endings and fibers are located in this part. In addition, the most important blood vessels for feeding the brain are concentrated here. So, the main signs of this disease:
- pain;
- dizziness;
- pharyngeal symptoms, "lump in throat";
- nausea and vomiting?
- noise and ringing in the ears.
- loss of consciousness (fainting);
- lack of air;
- jumps in blood pressure;
- vision problem;
- local temperature changes.
According to the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), cervical osteochondrosis has several positions, each of which corresponds to a separate code. The classification is made according to the affected areas of the spine, as well as the age of the patients, according to which osteochondrosis is "juvenile" and "adult". Cervical osteochondrosis has the general code M42. On the Internet, using the ICD-10 table, you can find the necessary information, including all signs of cervical osteochondrosis.
Pain in osteochondrosis
Attack of pain in cervical osteochondrosis (ICD code -10 - M42) is a very common symptom. This attack can be limited only to the cervical region and can spread to the shoulders, neck muscles.
However, more often patients complain of a headache. This pain of varying degrees (aching, popping) may increase when turning the head. A person feels pressure in the eyeball, there may be discomfort in the region of the heart, under the shoulder blades, numbness of the hands. The attack of pain is explained by strong mechanical irritation of the nerve endings passing between the vertebrae.
The branched nervous system provides thermoregulation, control of motor, sensory functions, is responsible for coordination of movements, muscle tone. Even the violation of the receptors by fragments of intervertebral discs or bone spurs causes pain in cervical osteochondrosis.
Dizziness
Dizziness, as a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis (ICD-10 code - M42), can appear after sleep, but not only. Especially if the person was sleeping on a high pillow. A vertigo attack can also cause sudden movements of the head (they may be accompanied by a twisting of the vertebrae). With this phenomenon, there is a sharp darkness in the eyes, the patient loses his orientation in space. Also, dizziness can be combined with nausea, vomiting, other symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and lead to fainting. Of course, it is not the dizziness itself that needs to be treated, but its cause, namely osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of the pharynx, "lump in the throat"
Sometimes almost the only manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae (ICD code -10 - M42) is the so-called pharyngeal symptoms. There is a sore throat, the presence of a foreign body ("lump in the throat"), as well as dryness, itching, difficulty swallowing.
Lump in the neck and other pharyngeal symptoms are caused by degeneration and degeneration of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, located at the level of the neck.
In addition, they are caused by an attack on the nerve endings of the spinal cord, inflammation of the nerves, circulatory failure, pathological tension of the pharyngeal muscles.
Nausea and vomiting
An attack of nausea in cervical osteochondrosis (ICD code -10 - M42), as well as a "lump in the neck", can occur suddenly, especially in closed spaces with poor ventilation or with a sudden change in body position. Sometimes the patient has not only nausea, but also uncontrollable vomiting, which can be provoked by turning the head, leaning and even ordinary walking. Again, nausea and vomiting, as well as a "knot in the throat", are characteristic not only of osteochondrosis, but also of a number of other diseases of the body. For example, during pregnancy in women, nausea and vomiting are of a completely different nature. Therefore - diagnostics, and once again - diagnostics. And, if needed, sick leave.
Noise (buzzing) in the ears
The vestibular apparatus is supplied with blood only from the system of vertebral arteries, therefore, in the case of cervical osteochondrosis (ICD code -10 - M42), symptoms associated with inner ear dysfunction are very often observed. In common parlance, they are called "noise (or ringing) in the ears. "To this can be added the often occurring deafness of various degrees. And all together it was called "cochlear (cochlear) syndrome".
"Noise and ringing" and general deterioration of hearing of varying degrees manifest due to the long stay of the patient in an unpleasant position favorable to the development of this disease.
Loss of consciousness (fainting)
It is better to go on sick leave without waiting for it. Sudden loss of consciousness occurs in patients with cervical osteochondrosis (ICD-10 code - M42) due to severe spasm of arteries. This spasm occurs in response to the attack of nerve endings by deformed processes of the bones of the vertebrae.
As a rule, the patient can recover quite quickly when providing emergency care. For this, a person should be transferred to the "lying" position and raise his legs. This is done to improve blood flow from the leg veins.
There are cases when, after fainting, the patient has some motor and (or) speech disorders of various degrees.
Lack of air
Attack of lack of air in the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae (ICD-10 code - M42) is a symptom of irritation of the phrenic nerve (this nerve is involved in regulating the depth and frequency of breathing). A person begins to experience a lack of oxygen and shortness of breath, up to suffocation. An attack of respiratory arrest is possible at night. If there is a chronic lack of oxygen, then an irreversible change in brain tissues is possible. The latter leads to absent mind and memory impairment. And this is already much more dangerous than, say, nausea, vomiting or "lump in the throat".
Breathing and other exercises, including yoga, have been shown to be effective in treating this symptom. However, yoga should only be practiced under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.
Jumps in blood pressure
Hypertension is a fairly common diagnosis, as a result of the exacerbation of osteochondrosis (ICD code 10 - M42), that is, with the development of intervertebral hernias or protrusions of the cervical region.
One of the main signs in this case should be considered jumps, drops in blood pressure, which accompany an attack of dizziness and headache. Arterial hypertension (hypertension) is often aggravated by so-called brain starvation, which occurs when the cervical region is affected to varying degrees.
vision problem
Since the organs of vision are supplied with blood not only from the vertebral arteries, but also from the carotids, disorders in their work due to osteochondrosis of the cervical region (ICD code -10 - M42) are somewhat less frequent than, letsay, "knot in the neck. "But even these cases should not be ignored and the opportunity to take sick leave to fight the disease should not be neglected. With eye complications with osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, patients more often complain of a veil in front of their eyes, a decrease in sharpness and visual acuity, and flashing of points, swimming "motes".
In a short period of time, vision can improve, and then vice versa.
Temperature changes
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (ICD code -10 - M42), usually the general body temperature does not deviate from the norm. Its increase, "knot in the neck" may indicate other diseases (for example, with a cold), when you need to apply for sick leave. But an increase in skin temperature in a certain area of the body may well occur in the area of direct spinal damage with osteochondrosis. This requires an accurate diagnosis.
Characteristics of cervical osteochondrosis symptoms in children
The main manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis in children are the same as in adult men and women. However, for example, a headache attack in a child has a slightly different character. Adults suffer from painful sensations of varying degrees, which first appear in the occipital region and then spread to the forehead, eyes and ears. When you turn your head, the pain increases. But in children there is no such clear pattern, the pains are less local.
A headache attack in a child can be of such a degree that it will not let you do your homework, take classes, attend school normally and you will need to take sick leave. With osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae in children, patients try to fix their head in a certain position and are afraid to move it. Other symptoms of the disease are less pronounced in the child. But the sensation of crushing and cracking when turning the head in a child is very common.
Frequent osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in children may be the result of spinal injury at birth.
Diagnosing the disease at a young age in children is not so difficult.
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, if detected early, the diagnosis of the disease in women, men and children is the right key that will allow you to fight for the healing of the cervical spine and prevent possible complications. Among the methods of struggle are special procedures, gymnastics, yoga classes.
Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis requires urgent treatment. To confirm the diagnosis, a preliminary examination is carried out. It is important to determine the stage, localization and complexity of the process.
The reasons
Osteochondrosis is a damage of the spine, caused by damage to the inner surfaces of the joints of the vertebrae. This disease is very common and can occur at any age. More often, the pathology affects people who work in difficult conditions. The risk group includes people who lead a sedentary life.
Spinal pathology to varying degrees occurs in all people - this is a normal manifestation of the aging of the body. Atrophic changes occur in the vertebral discs, but injuries and diseases cause early development of the pathology. Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is often present.
Experts identify 6 main causes of worsening osteochondrosis:
- Exhausting stressful situations - it has been proven that continuous and prolonged experiences cause spasm of the muscular apparatus of the neck. Because of this, the normal flow of blood in the vessels is disturbed, sleep, the full activity of the intervertebral discs and a headache occurs.
- Long-term stress in the cervical area - the causes of the exacerbation of osteochondrosis lie in the prolonged leakage of muscles.
- Sharp turns of the head - a relapse of the disease occurs after an uncomfortable turn of the head. Head shots appear, indicating severe structural changes in the neck. They last several minutes.
- Acute injuries, hormonal imbalance, exacerbation of chronic diseases - such conditions weaken the body, worsen the course of osteochondrosis. In this case, the asymptomatic course turns into a vivid clinical picture.
- Time. It has been proven that autumn is the most frequent period of exacerbation of spinal diseases. This is associated with sudden temperature changes, frequent hypothermia of the neck and restructuring of the body's biological clock.
- Ineffective fight against the disease - exacerbation of lumbar osteochondrosis often occurs with non-professional massage, gymnastics or physiotherapy in cases where they cannot be done. Such procedures cause deterioration due to displacement of the vertebrae, compression of nerves or blood vessels.
The causes of the disease include unfavorable heredity, natural aging of the body and abnormalities in the development of bone and cartilage tissue.
Main characteristics
Acute osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not manifest itself in any way. Therefore, patients live a normal life, worsening their condition. An attack of osteochondrosis occurs suddenly. Suddenly, a person gets sick, there are complaints about such deviations:
- stiffness, neck pain.
- weakness in limbs;
- dizziness, ringing in the ears.
- the appearance of emotional fluctuations.
- memory impairment;
- Headache;
- bowel problems;
- violation of urination;
- development of pathological changes.
The earlier an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is detected, the better. The point is that the primary manifestations of the disease are much easier to treat. The progression of the damage inevitably leads to more serious manifestations that are difficult to treat (heart attack, arteriopathies).
A neglected pathology is the main cause of frequent pain in the head, pain between the shoulder blades and in the region of the heart.
In severe cases, an attack of cervical osteochondrosis can become chronic. Painful manifestations will accompany a person constantly. Ignoring the disease leads to irreversible structural changes in the spine itself.
With an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the symptoms are always similar. Before starting treatment, it is important to determine the location of the lesion. Pain in the area of the shoulder blades and heart can be a manifestation of not only cervical, but also thoracic spine injuries. Therefore, only a specialist can choose diagnostic methods and adequate treatment for the disease.
With the exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, treatment includes the use of painkillers. It is important to relieve the pain and then fight other manifestations of the disease.
Methods of Treatment
The course of treatment includes a set of procedures aimed at enhancing blood flow and metabolism in the affected area. In addition, physiotherapy is included. It is always necessary to treat the exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with medication. Do a block with painkillers. This allows you to minimize pain, relieve the tone of the muscles of the spine.
How long does a flare last? It all depends on the timeliness and adequacy of treatment. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the long and latent course of the disease. If you experience recurring episodes of head pain, it is important to consult a specialist for advice immediately.
Osteochondrosis can worsen at any time. The fight against the disease is multi-stage. The first step is to prescribe medication. To combat the pathology, various drugs are used:
- anti-inflammatory;
- anesthetics;
- chondroprotectors;
- Muscle relaxants;
- vitamins;
- various types of topical medications (ointments, gels, sprays).
Non-pharmacological treatment
In the second stage, after stabilization of the condition, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is treated conservatively. As soon as the pain and muscle tension disappear, they proceed to other ways of dealing with the disease:
- manual therapy;
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- laser treatment.
It is recommended to treat osteochondrosis according to the above scheme under the supervision of a doctor. The course of treatment is at least 2 weeks. There are folk remedies available and easy to use. Often, with osteochondrosis on a nerve basis, horseradish leaf compresses are prescribed. Cabbage leaves, burdock are used to relieve inflammatory changes. A mixture of dry mustard and propolis has a warming effect.
Many traditional medicines are taken internally. It can be an infusion of celery, which is prepared from the plant and warm water. Doctors recommend using sunflower root infusion for back pain.
How to increase the effectiveness of treatment? Each patient is able to increase the effectiveness of each method of conservative treatment. For this, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations. The massage should be done from top to bottom. It is best to have therapeutic massage before going to bed. This will allow the relaxed body to fully relax. Ideally, if the kneading of the back of the head and the sides of the neck ends with a massage of the shoulders.
Disease prevention
Activating blood flow and muscle condition is possible at home. An additional cupping massage therapy is ideal for this. Treatment should be continued until you feel better. This is a folk technique, widely known and effective. During such procedures, all movements must be smooth. You cannot touch the spine.
The signs of the disease are easier to prevent than to treat. To avoid the occurrence of such a disease, it is important to follow certain recommendations:
- refusal of soft beds to sleep on.
- hard back in work chair;
- you cannot be in one place for a long time: you need to move periodically.
- It is important to keep a safe distance when reading books or the computer screen.
- overexertion should be avoided, don't be nervous.
Compliance with such simple recommendations will protect against the painful symptoms of aggravated osteochondrosis. Relapse of the disease is successfully treated. To do this, it is important to choose the right treatment method. At the first sign of pathology, you should consult a specialist.