Unfortunately, many people are familiar with osteochondrosis. This disease has become a true disease of the century. First, a sedentary lifestyle is the culprit behind osteochondrosis, which has become the norm for most of us. The second problem is an unbalanced diet and alcoholism. Strangely, food has a direct effect on the condition of the spine.
The most common type of this disease is cervical osteochondrosis. The cervical spine is a particularly dangerous area because the vertebrae here are smaller in size than other areas of the spine. Also, the neck does not have a muscular corset like the rest of the back.
The development of cervical osteochondrosis
The danger is that a person often does not even realize they are sick at first. In the first stage of the development of the disease, the intervertebral disc is subjected to a mild destructive effect - the elasticity decreases, the first small cracks appear, the height of the intervertebral disc becomes smaller (as a result, the nerve roots begin to be compressed). Neck discomfort or soreness.
If the first-grade osteochondrosis progresses to the second-grade, the pain gets worse. This is due to the continued destruction of the intervertebral disc, resulting in cervical subluxation. The development of the disease may follow - the so-called head-drop syndrome, which is characterized by severe pain. As a result, the patient has to support his head - in this position, the pain becomes a little weaker.
Third-degree cervical osteochondrosis has many more unpleasant symptoms: nausea, neck "back pain", dizziness, diminished sensitivity of the hands, and of course pain.
Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis and its causes
Exacerbation of the disease can occur at any stage. The reasons for this are usually:
- Sudden movements, excessive physical activity, heavy lifting. If a person with osteochondrosis of the neck turns or tilts his head sharply, it is unclear how his discs will respond to this.
- Stressful situations and stress. Often, stressful situations "ignite" a disease deep within us: cervical osteochondrosis is no exception.
- Massage by non-professionals. If you know you have osteochondrosis and attend a session, it is your responsibility to warn your massage therapist about the disease. Otherwise, the consequences can be the most unpredictable. And, of course, you can't entrust your back and neck to a massage therapist whose competence is questioned.
- Weather changes and hypothermia. The exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis often occurs especially in autumn.
- Take a bath when your condition worsens. On their own, a bath or sauna may be useful, as warming up is often beneficial for the patient. But the desire to jump into cold water or jump out of hot water in the cold must be given up, because osteochondrosis doesn't "thank" you slowly, or even worsens.
- old age. Intervertebral discs tend to wear down over time, so it's not surprising that the disease worsens in older adults.
- A neglected disease state. Without treatment of osteochondrosis, deterioration cannot be avoided.
aggravating symptoms
Symptoms of worsening cervical osteochondrosis can vary - it all depends on how advanced the disease is. These may be pain in the parietal area, decreased skin sensitivity in the same area, pain in the neck half, a heavy feeling in the tongue, pain in the collarbone and shoulder girdle.
In the particularly acute phase of exacerbation, respiratory failure and pain may occur in the heart or liver area. If vertebral artery syndrome occurs, fluctuating headaches may occur, especially "pressing" on the eyes, temples, and ears. Just like migraines, an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis causes pain only on the left or right side of the head. Another indicator is the characteristic tightening of the back of the head when the head is tilted or rotated.
As for sight and hearing, fog, flickering dots and spots may appear before the eyes. Tinnitus and dizziness are not excluded.
If the pain extends to the arm, muscle strength may be diminished. Pain can also be felt in the hands and fingers.
First aid measures for aggravated cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbations should be prescribed by a professional. So if your condition worsens while you're home alone, it's best to see your doctor. Until he arrives, it is best to move as little as possible, and the best solution is to lie in bed. You can take pain relievers. These drugs are designed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation present in the spine.
Additionally, doctors may prescribe chondroprotective agents—they should help stop the destructive process that occurs in the disc. However, such drugs should be taken for a considerable period of time - about six months. But they will help prevent osteochondrosis from getting worse again.
Muscle relaxants, drugs that reduce pathological tone of muscles, are not superfluous. Vascular medications, B vitamins, diuretics (continuous monitoring), and nootropics are also often prescribed.
How long does the deterioration last?
Each person's stage of deterioration progresses in its own way. The same applies to the duration of the attack. Treatment of Worsening Osteochondrosis of the Cervical Spondylosis If treatment is started correctly and promptly, it is likely that the peak of the condition will subside within a few days. In more complex and severe cases, the exacerbation period may last for several weeks. If the disease is left untreated, there is a high risk of a second exacerbation, in which case the period of "calm" becomes shorter and shorter. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to prevent deterioration.
How to reduce the possibility of further deterioration?
People who have had at least one exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis and feel it "charm" to themselves should do everything possible to prevent recurrences. Treatment for cervical osteochondrosis should be intensive during exacerbations, but that doesn't mean you can relax if the danger has passed.
It can be helpful to visit an experienced massage therapist who must be notified in advance of neck problems. If there is no opportunity to sign up for a massage, you can limit yourself to self-massage. For this, stroking, kneading and vibrating movements in the neck area are recommended.
Finding a good chiropractor is a big deal. So if you know that, you can contact him. Treatment and prevention procedures for exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis may include the following manual effects:
- A relaxing massage designed to relieve tension and warm up tight muscles.
- mobilization. The purpose of this shock is to restore the function of the joint with the help of traction.
- manipulate. The essence is that the chiropractor creates a sharp push in the area of the problem area, with the result that the joint returns to its natural position.
Acupuncture is also very useful for preventing the deterioration of osteochondrosis of the neck. Naturally, only experts can perform such procedures.
Diet also plays a role. Patients are advised to focus on foods rich in magnesium and calcium (ie, beans, nuts, seafood, fish, and dairy products). You will have to give up drinking excessively, as alcohol tends to negatively affect the circulatory system in those who already suffer from osteochondrosis of the neck.
Lifestyle of patients with cervical osteochondrosis
Regarding daily life and daily life, the recommendations are as follows:
- Sleep on an orthopaedic mattress with a small pillow under your head.
- Hot showers, saunas, and baths are useful (except during periods of exacerbation to treat cervical osteochondrosis).
- Swimming is great - it helps relieve cramps and strengthens muscles.
- If you're sitting and working, you'll need to take regular breaks to warm up. Also, changing positions every fifteen minutes is recommended, even when sitting.
- Hiking is useful, but better not jumping and running.
- Physical exercise, which aims to strengthen the neck muscles corset, is the key to combating osteochondrosis.
Like any other disease, cervical osteochondrosis should be treated early. If the disease only hides and "shows up" when osteochondrosis has already begun to develop, don't despair. The tips above can definitely help you!