Unfortunately, many are familiar with osteochondrosis. This disease has become a real disease of the century. First of all, osteochondrosis is caused by a sedentary lifestyle, which for most of us becomes the norm. The second problem is an unbalanced diet and alcohol abuse. Surprisingly, but it is the food that has a direct effect on the condition of the spine.
The most common type of this disease is cervical osteochondrosis. The cervical spine is an area of particular risk, as the size of the vertebrae is smaller here than in other areas of the spine. In addition, the neck does not have as much of a muscular corset as 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. At the first stage of the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs show slightly destructive effects - the elasticity decreases, the first small cracks appear, the height of the disc becomes smaller (as a result, the nerve roots begin to be compressed). There is neck discomfort or pain.
If the first degree of osteochondrosis passes into the second, then the pain develops. This is due to the fact that the destruction of the intervertebral disc continues to progress, leading to subluxations of the vertebrae of the neck. 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.
The third degree of cervical osteochondrosis has a number of even more unpleasant symptoms: nausea, "lumbar" in the neck, dizziness, weakening of the sensitivity of the hands and, of course, pain.
Aggravation of osteochondrosis in the neck and its causes
Exacerbation of the disease can occur at any stage. The reason for this is usually:
- Sudden movements, excessive physical activity, lifting weights. If a person suffering from osteochondrosis in the neck makes a sharp turn or tilt of the head, it is not known exactly how their intervertebral discs will react to this.
- Nervous conditions and anxiety. Often, stressful situations "ignite" diseases that are deeply rooted in us: cervical osteochondrosis is no exception.
- A massage performed by a non-professional. If you know you have osteochondrosis and you go to a session, it is your responsibility to warn the massage therapist about the disease. Otherwise, the consequences can be the most unpredictable. And, of course, you can't trust your back and neck to a massage therapist whose competence is questionable.
- Weather changes and hypothermia. Especially often, exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis occur in the fall.
- Go to the bathroom during a flare-up. By itself, a visit to the bath or sauna can be helpful, since warming often benefits the patient. But the desire to dive into cold water or jump out warm in the cold should be abandoned, as osteochondrosis will soon "thank" you with even greater aggravation.
- Old age. Intervertebral discs tend to wear down over the years, so it is not surprising that the disease flares up in the elderly.
- A neglected disease state. If osteochondrosis is not treated, exacerbations cannot be avoided.
Exacerbation symptoms
The symptoms of an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis can be different - it all depends on the degree of progression of the disease. These can be pains in the parietal region, a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin in the same region, pain in one half of the neck, a feeling of weight in the tongue, pain in the collarbone and shoulder girdle.
In a particularly acute phase of exacerbation, there may be respiratory failure and pain in the region of the heart or liver. If vertebral artery syndrome occurs, then wave-like headaches may occur, particularly "pressing" on the eyes, temples and ears. It happens that the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis causes pain only in the left or only in the right half of the head, as is the case with migraine. Another indicator is a characteristic tingling in the back of the head when the head tilts or rotates.
As for vision and hearing, there may be fog before the eyes, flashing dots and spots. Ringing in the ears and dizziness are not excluded.
If the pain extends into the arm, then muscle strength may be impaired. Pain may also be felt in the hand and fingers.
First aid for the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation must be prescribed by a professional. Therefore, if the aggravation of the disease caught you when you were alone at home, it is better to call a doctor. Before his arrival, it is desirable to move a little, the optimal solution is to lie in bed. You are allowed to take pain medication. These medications are designed to reduce pain and reduce inflammation present in the spine.
Also, the doctor can prescribe chondroprotectors - they should help stop the destructive processes occurring in the disc. However, such drugs must be taken for a fairly long time - about six months. But they will help prevent osteochondrosis from re-escalating.
Muscle relaxants, drugs that reduce the pathological tension in the muscles, will not be superfluous. Vascular drugs, B vitamins, diuretics (with continuous monitoring) and nootropics are also commonly prescribed.
How long does a flare last?
The arousal phase for each person proceeds in its own way. The same applies to the duration of the attack. If the treatment of the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis was started in time and correctly, it is possible that the peak of the disease will subside in a few days. In more complicated and advanced cases, the period of exacerbations can last several weeks. If the disease is not treated and the matter is left to its own devices, there is a great danger that a second flare-up will not be long in coming - in this case, the periods of "calm" will be shorter and shorter. To prevent this from happening, prevention of exacerbations is recommended.
How to reduce the chance of a relapse?
A person who has suffered at least one flare-up of cervical osteochondrosis and felt its "charm" in himself should do everything possible to prevent repeated attacks. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation should be intensive, but it does not follow from this that if the danger has passed, you can relax.
It will be useful to visit an experienced massage therapist, who should be informed in advance about neck problems. If there is no opportunity to register for a massage, you can limit yourself to self-massage. To do this, it is recommended to make stroking, kneading and vibrating movements in the neck area.
Finding a good chiropractor is a big deal. So if you know him, you can contact him. Treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, as well as preventive procedures, may include such manual effects:
- Relaxing massage, which is designed to relieve tension from tight muscles and warm them up well.
- Mobilization. The purpose of such an impact is to restore the functions of the joints with the help of traction.
- Handling. Its essence lies in the fact that the chiropractor produces a sharp impulse in the region of the problem area, as a result of which the joint returns to its natural position.
Acupuncture can also be very helpful in preventing flare-ups of osteochondrosis in the neck. Of course, only a specialist should 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 alcohol consumption, as alcohol tends to adversely affect the circulatory system, which is already suffering from osteochondrosis of the neck.
Lifestyle of a person suffering from cervical osteochondrosis
In terms of daily life and daily routine, the following are recommended:
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress with a small pillow under your head.
- A warm shower, sauna and bath are useful (except during the treatment period of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation).
- Swimming is very useful - it helps relieve spasms and strengthens muscles.
- If you work sitting down, you need to take periodic breaks to warm up. In addition, it is good even when sitting to try to change position every fifteen minutes.
- Walking is useful, but it is better to refrain from jumping and running.
- Physical exercises, the purpose of which is to strengthen the muscular corset of the neck, are the key to combating osteochondrosis.
Like any other condition, cervical osteochondrosis should be treated as early as possible. If the disease hid itself and "showed its claws" only when osteochondrosis had already begun to develop, do not despair. The above tips will surely help you!