Unfortunately, many people know about osteochondrosis. This disease has become a real disease of the century. First of all, a sedentary lifestyle is to blame for osteochondrosis, which is becoming the norm for most of us. The second problem is an unbalanced diet and alcohol consumption. Oddly enough, but this is the food that directly affects the condition of the spine.
The most common type of this disease is cervical osteochondrosis. The cervical spine is a particularly risky area because the size of the vertebrae here is smaller than in other areas of the spine. In addition, the neck does not have a muscular corset like the rest of the back.
Development of cervical osteochondrosis
The danger is that at first a person often does not even realize that he is sick. In the first stage of the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs experience a slight destructive effect - the elasticity decreases, the first small cracks appear, the height of the disc decreases (as a result, the nerve roots are compressed). Unpleasant feeling in the neck or aching pain.
If the first degree of osteochondrosis passes into the second, then the pain progresses. This is due to the fact that the destruction of the intervertebral disc continues, which leads to subluxations of the cervical vertebrae. The development of the disease may follow - the so-called falling head syndrome, which is characterized by severe pain. As a result, the patient must support his head - in this position, the pain will be slightly weaker.
The third degree of cervical osteochondrosis has many, even more unpleasant symptoms: nausea, neck "lumbago", dizziness, weakening of the sensitivity of the hands and, of course, pain.
Exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis and its causes
Aggravation of the disease can occur at any stage. This is usually due to:
- Sudden movements, excessive physical activity, heavy lifting. If a person with cervical osteochondrosis sharply turns or tilts his head, it is not known exactly how his intervertebral discs react to this.
- Nervous situations and stress. Stressful situations often "ignite" deep-rooted diseases in us: cervical osteochondrosis is no exception.
- Massage not performed by a professional. If you know you have osteochondrosis and go to a session, it is your responsibility to alert the massage therapist to the condition. Otherwise, the consequences can be the most unpredictable. And of course, you should not entrust your back and neck to a masseuse whose competence is doubtful.
- Weather changes and hypothermia. Especially often, the aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis occurs in autumn.
- Bathing during exacerbation. A visit to a bath or sauna can be beneficial in itself, as warming up is often beneficial for the patient. But it is necessary to abandon the desire to plunge into cold water or jump out warm in the cold, because osteochondrosis will not slowly "say hello" to even more seriousness.
- Old age. The intervertebral discs tend to wear out over the years, so the worsening of the disease in the elderly is not surprising.
- The neglected state of the disease. If osteochondrosis is not treated, exacerbations cannot be avoided.
Exacerbation symptoms
The symptoms of worsening of cervical osteochondrosis can be different - it all depends on the degree of progression of the disease. These may include pain in the parietal region, a decrease in skin sensitivity in the same area, pain in one side of the neck, a feeling of heaviness in the tongue, pain in the collarbone and shoulder girdle.
In the particularly acute phase of the exacerbation, respiratory failure and pain in the area of the heart or liver may occur. If vertebral artery syndrome occurs, a wavy headache may appear, especially the "pressure" of the eyes, temples and ears. It happens that the aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis causes pain only in the left or only the right side of the head, as in the case of a migraine. another indicator is the characteristic cracking of the back of the head when the head is tilted or rotated.
As for vision and hearing, fog, flashing dots and spots may appear in front of the eyes. Tinnitus and dizziness are also possible.
If the pain extends to the arm, muscle strength may be weakened. The pain can also be felt in the hand and fingers.
First aid for exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation should be prescribed by a specialist. Therefore, if the aggravation of the disease caught you when you were alone at home, it is better to call a doctor. Before your arrival, minimal movement is desirable, the optimal solution is to lie down in bed. You can take painkillers. These medications are designed to reduce pain and inflammation in the spine.
In addition, the doctor can prescribe chondroprotectors - these should help stop the destructive processes occurring in the disc. However, such drugs must be taken for a rather long time - about six months. But they help prevent osteochondrosis from getting worse again.
Muscle relaxants, drugs that reduce pathological muscle tension, will not be superfluous. Vascular drugs, B vitamins, diuretics (with constant monitoring) and nootropics are also usually prescribed.
How long does the exacerbation last?
The exacerbation phase progresses in its own way for each person. The same applies to the duration of the attack. If the treatment of the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis was started on time and correctly, then it is likely that the peak of the disease will subside within a few days. In more complicated and advanced cases, the period of exacerbations can last for several weeks. If the disease is not treated and the matter is left to chance, there is a great risk that the second exacerbation will not take long - in this case, the periods of "rest" will become shorter and shorter. To avoid this, it is recommended to prevent exacerbations.
How can the likelihood of relapse be reduced?
A person who has suffered from an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis at least once and felt its "magic" should do everything to prevent repeated attacks. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation should be intensive, but it does not follow that if the dangerit's over, you can relax.
It will be useful to see an experienced massage therapist, who should be informed in advance about neck problems. If it is not possible to register for a massage, you can limit yourself to self-massage. For this, stroking, kneading and vibration movements must be performed in the neck area.
Finding a good chiropractor is a big deal. Therefore, if you know this, you can contact him. Treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, as well as preventive procedures, may include the following manual effects:
- Relaxation massage, the purpose of which is to relieve tension in tight muscles and warm them up well.
- Mobilization. The purpose of such impact is to restore the functions of the joints with the help of traction.
- Manipulation. Its essence lies in the fact that the chiropractor gives a sharp push in the area of the problem area, as a result of which the joint returns to its natural position.
Acupuncture can also be very useful in preventing the worsening of cervical osteochondrosis. Of course, only a specialist can perform such a procedure.
Diet also plays a role. Patients are advised to focus on foods rich in magnesium and calcium (ie, legumes, nuts, seafood, fish, and dairy products). You should give up excessive drinking, as alcohol usually has a negative effect on the circulatory system, which already suffers from cervical osteochondrosis.
The lifestyle of a person with cervical osteochondrosis
Regarding daily life and daily routine, the following are recommended:
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress with a small pillow under your head.
- A hot shower, sauna and bath are useful (except for the period of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation).
- Swimming is very useful - it helps relieve cramps and strengthens muscles.
- If you work while sitting, you should take breaks to warm up from time to time. In addition, it is advisable to try to change your position every fifteen minutes, even when sitting.
- Hiking is useful, but it is better to refrain from jumping and running.
- Physical exercises aimed at strengthening the muscular ligaments of the neck are the key to fighting osteochondrosis.
Like any other disease, cervical osteochondrosis should be treated as early as possible. If the disease was hidden and "showed its claws" only when osteochondrosis had already started, do not despair. The above tips will definitely help you!