Osteoarthritis not only affects the knee and hip joints.Occasionally degenerative processes develop in the cervical spine.In advanced cases, the vertebrae and even disability fusion can lead to complete loss of mobility.
How will you develop
The cervical region contains 7 vertebrae, the most mobilized of the entire spine column.If certain pathological processes occur in the body, the vertebrae of the cervix, which is covered with osteophytes (bone growth), protected by a flexible cartilage "plate" (plate).The cartilage, on the other hand, becomes thinner and destroyed, and adjacent soft tissue atrophy.
The intervertebral disc may swell and put pressure on close tissues or nerves.The vertebrae change their shape, which leads to spine deformation.If they are pronounced, the patient deforming cervix develops arthrosis.
Joint causes of cervical vertebrae
- Genetic pathologies for the development of the muscle bone system as a whole, such as dysplasia, flat leg, skoliosis (if some relationship of the spine is damaged, the entire biomechanical chain suffers).
- Distrophic changes in joints related to age -related changes.
- Cervical spine injuries.
- Excessive tension, such as overweight, is related to professional activities or sports.
- Herniated or outstretched plates.
- Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, rheumatism).
- Faulty operation of the endocrine system.
- Metabolic disorders, etc.
How to recognize
Arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae is a boring, painful pain, usually one -sided, which increases with movement.Patients complain about morning pain.The discomfort comes from the cervical area and then move to the blades and arms, and the syndrome increases with palpation.
Other typical symptoms of the disease are:
- paroxysmal dizziness or migraine;
- Reducing head movement due to pain (for example, a person can decide his head by 45-50 °);
- crunching when moving the neck;
- specific sounds in the ear;
- visual impairment;
- pain in the chest area;
- numbness in the lower part of the face.
In later stages, the deformation of the spinal column may occur in the joints of the synovial fluid and the systemic hypertension may occur - an inexplicable increase in blood pressure.If the disease is complicated by radical symptoms, such as the pinch nerve, it is diagnosed with its form - covering arthrosis.It is not easy to recognize the disease in itself: it can easily be confused with the pathology of the cardiovascular system or brain.
The difficulties of diagnosis
Before prescribing a complex treatment order or prescribing intraarticular injection of synovial fluid prostheses, the rheumatologist should ensure that the diagnosis is correct as the symptoms of the disease copy many other pathologies.After collecting anamitesis and studying blood tests, one of the following tests is performed:
- Radiography in multiple forecasts;
- CT or MRI;
- Vascular angiography.
As a result of the examinations, the doctor determines changes in the cartilage structure of the intervertebral discs, the changes in the articular space, the amount of synovial fluid and the lack of joints, the nature of the bone growth.
Why treat joint arthritis of the cervical vertebrae?
If the treatment of osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae is delayed, the disease can lead to the following complications:
- compression of nerve endings and, as a result, severe pain;
- clamping of spinal canals;
- Stroke.
Treatment of arthrosis of the cervical spine
As a general rule, people turn to the acute rheumatologist of the disease, so the primary purpose of therapy is:
- eliminate the pain syndrome;
- stop inflammation;
- Remove the spinal trunk nerve endings.
In addition, for the normal functioning of the vertebrae, the destroyed cartilage of the discs must be restored, and in the injured tissues, increasing blood circulation.
Therapeutic methods
1st medicine.
NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation and chondroprotectors are used to regenerate cartilage tissue.Nutrition of blood circulation and affected tissues can be normalized with vasodilator drugs.Muscle loosers are used to relieve muscle cramps.
2. Physiotherapy.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is auxiliary and aims to accelerate the metabolism of tissues.Most often, this diagnosis, manual therapy, magnetic and acupuncture therapy, phonophoresis and infrared radiation are prescribed.
If the drugs do not help and it is possible to have spinal arterial syndrome, they will require surgery for cervical carnulosis.This includes removing and replacing the damaged joint with endoprothesis.
In order not to damage your neck with arthrosis and help, exercise, for example, the following morning exercises:
What is orthopedic treatment for cervical arthrosis?
Patients with arthrosis, including patients with synovial fluid prostheses or other drugs, show special orthopedic treatment to help avoid complications:
- Your posture should be carefully checked, avoiding curvature.
- Sedient work requires short breaks for physical activity.
- The orthopedic collar from Shur helps to relieve stress of the cervix - according to the doctor's indications.
- The orthopedic mattress and the pillow will not be unnecessary.
A comprehensive treatment for cervical vertebrae arthrosis includes special gymnastics and professional massage.With the help of turns and rotations, bending and retracting the head under the supervision of an instructor, you can develop the motor capabilities of this part of the spine.
The intraarticular injections of synovial fluid replacement are not practiced by this type of arthrosis due to specific localization.Instead, the patient can offer professional massage or hardware methods for the local and safe development of deep and superficial back muscles.The most important thing is to find a good specialist, trust it and do not let the disease occur.