Cervical osteochondrosis is a common disease, accompanied by degenerative and dystrophic changes of the spine. The symptoms of the disease are the same for men and women. The doctor prescribes treatment methods based on the severity of the lesion and the patient's condition.
Symptoms of male osteochondrosis
The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain. There are many other signs that can help determine whether there is spinal degeneration in the cervical spine.
Pain occurs in the background of the disorder in the surrounding area, which is the result of harmful effects on the adhesion of nerve roots and connecting tissues, intervertebral discs and muscles. Men with cervical osteochondrosis experience periodic or persistent pain. In the morning, the patient may feel boring pain deep in the neck.
Important!Head rotation, coughing and sneezing can cause discomfort.
Due to strong muscle tension, men cannot breathe deeply. The pain may spread to the occipital part of the head, which indicates occipital neuropathy.
When palpating the upper cervical spine, men may feel pain. When nerve root compensation occurs, the discomfort will spread to the shoulder and arm areas.
Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by intervertebral disc degeneration.
The deterioration of blood circulation in the ganglia causes the following symptoms:
- Burning pain at the back of the head;
- Hand numbness at night;
- Swollen hands;
- Irregular heart rhythm;
- It creaks when you turn your head.
Vascular signs appear when the brain stem is infected. Cervical chondropathy disrupts the normal blood flow of the vertebral artery. In the context of such pathological changes, nervous system failure occurs:
- insomnia;
- Irritability;
- Swinging gait;
- dizziness;
- Increased heart rhythm;
- Excessive sweating;
- Memory impairment.
In some cases, the performance of the visual equipment decreases. The danger of osteochondrosis is that it can trigger the development of the following syndromes:
- Narrow. When the cerebral blood vessels are squeezed by the herniated disc, this is the stenosis of the spinal canal. The upper and lower limbs began to numb.
- Reflex irritating. The syndrome is accompanied by burning pain at the back of the head.
- root. Through this pathology, the nerve root is compressed by the intervertebral disc. Pain is pain, burning and movement.
In most cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis in men are almost the same as in women. When the first episode of pain occurs, the patient does not always suspect that it is cervical osteochondrosis. Timely diagnosis will help avoid complications.
Diagnosis of cervical chondropathy
Take X-rays to diagnose diseases. This will help ensure that there is no spinal cord injury. However, this research method does not provide an opportunity to see osteophytes. For this, more modern diagnostic methods are used.
Make the assignment:
- computer tomography;
- Ultrasound scan of blood vessels in the neck.
Computed tomography involves creating a series of X-rays that show the volume of the cervical vertebrae. Such details make it possible to evaluate the nature of nerve compression, the height of the intervertebral disc and the structure of the osteophytes.
Magnetic resonance imaging is considered one of the most useful diagnostic methods. It allows you to assess the condition of the bone structure. During the MRI, the doctor may detect the presence of a hernia.
If the doctor suspects a bleeding disorder of the vertebral artery, a dual vascular scan is used.
Treatment of male osteochondrosis
The choice of treatment depends on the degree of damage and the general health of the man. In most cases, medication and physical therapy are recommended.
Help.Conservative therapy aims to relieve pain and relieve muscle spasms.
Physical therapy activates the regeneration process in cartilage tissue. Such procedures can be part of a comprehensive treatment or an independent approach.
The following process is assigned:
- Electrotherapy.The effect on the affected part of the spine is produced by electric current. This operation activates blood circulation. Contraindications include pacemakers or metal parts in the patient.
- Magnetic therapy.This method involves exposure to a constant magnetic field. A process lasts 20 minutes.
- Laser therapy.It uses a HeNe laser. They enhance the bioelectric processes in nervous system tissues. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing effects. Exposure to an area does not exceed 2 minutes, and the entire process takes about 14 minutes.
- Shockwave therapy.This type of exposure is rarely used, because its effectiveness is controversial. The shock is provided by sound waves. They help enhance metabolism and activate blood microcirculation.
- Balneotherapy.Treat with mineral water and therapeutic mud. All beneficial substances penetrate the skin and act on receptors and nerve endings.
In order to restore the mobility of the affected area, gymnastics should be done. They will help strengthen the muscles of the corset and make the ligaments more flexible. The first training should be conducted under the guidance of the coach, because the important thing is not the number of exercises, but their skills.
Important!If medical treatment and physical therapy do not achieve the expected results, then surgical intervention is required.
This is called cervical discectomy. The doctor will fix the affected part and remove the hernia, which can put pressure on the spinal nerves. Over time, the vertebrae will grow together. 3-5 days after the operation, the patient was transferred to the outpatient clinic.
The recovery period is about 3 months. The exact time of recovery depends on the implant and the professional activities of the surgical patient.
Anyway, it is worth seeing a doctor to start treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Self-treatment can aggravate the disease process and lead to surgery.
Therapeutic drugs
Medications for osteochondrosis should only be taken as directed by your doctor. He developed a treatment plan and chose the best dose.
The following types of drugs are prescribed:
- Analgesics;
- Antispasmodic;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Vasodilator;
- Cartilage protection agent.
Help.The active ingredients not only relieve spasms, but also reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings.
The doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs reduce pain and reduce inflammation.
It is recommended to use drugs to reduce blood viscosity as a vasodilator. They improve blood microcirculation. Taking such drugs can promote rapid recovery after treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
The role of chondroprotective agents is to activate the regeneration process in injured cartilage.
Choosing the wrong treatment method may cause a herniated disc. High blood pressure often occurs when suffering from cervical osteochondrosis. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe medication to relieve the symptoms of this pathological condition.
To make medical treatment as effective as possible, it must be combined with medical gymnastics and physical therapy.
After the chiropractic treatment, try not to jerk your neck. The muscles after the operation will be relaxed to the greatest extent, and you can reduce the positive effects of exercise.
Nutrition of osteochondrosis
People with osteochondrosis should pay special attention to diet. It must be balanced because the body must receive adequate amounts of vitamins and nutrients.
The following foods should be present in the diet:
- Vegetables and herbs;
- Berries and fruits;
- Dairy products and fermented dairy products;
- Foods rich in protein;
- Foods containing gelatin and collagen.
Plant foods are rich in vitamins and fiber. They have almost no energy value and help maintain a normal weight. Parsley, cauliflower, beets and broccoli are particularly beneficial.
It is recommended that patients with osteochondrosis include sea buckthorn in their diet. On the basis of fruits and berries, you can prepare jelly. Fermented milk products contain large amounts of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. These vitamins and nutrients can strengthen bone and cartilage tissue.
The daily menu should include the following foods:
- Fermented roasted milk;
- Preservative-free cheese;
- Yogurt;
- Curd.
The important thing is that dairy products and fermented dairy products must be natural and free of dyes and other harmful additives. Protein is essential for the formation of bone and cartilage tissue. Most are found in eggs, milk, whole grains and brewer's yeast.
Fish and seafood will benefit. They contain fatty acids and polyunsaturated acids, which are necessary for the normal recovery of the body. Collagen is found in jelly, aspic fish and aspic. It promotes the synthesis of cartilage tissue.
Help.It is recommended to use extra virgin olive oil instead of pure vegetable oil. Maintaining water balance is very important.
Use only filtered or bottled water.
When osteochondrosis is in its advanced stages, most men will see a doctor. There are many symptoms that indicate the development of a pathological condition. Timely diagnosis and treatment will help avoid surgery and complications.