To date, osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease, since people leading a passive lifestyle are prone to it. As a rule, deformation of bone tissue and cartilage (code M42. 12) occurs in people whose age does not exceed 45 years.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a process of deformation of the articular cartilage itself and its bone tissue. It has an ICD-10 code - M42. 12 accepted by the International Forum of Physicians. This part of the spine is the most susceptible to disease because it is the most flexible and is surrounded by a weak muscular corset, especially in children. It is also characterized by a variety of vascular and nerve formations. Symptoms of manifestation directly depend on the stage of the disease and on the nature of the deformation of the intervertebral discs.
Causes of osteochondrosis
As mentioned above, the main cause of the onset of the disease is a lack of physical activity.
A passive lifestyle leads to:
- to a failure in the work of metabolic processes;
- Salts appear in the lymphatic fluid and bloodstream;
- Salts are deposited in the liver, kidneys and cervical region.
Inflammation also occurs in OSHOP (Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, code M42. 12) due to the fact that the intervertebral discs do not contain enough nutrients. It happens when a person eats unbalanced and wrong food.
Among the symptoms one can distinguish such. B. a temperature that lasts 20 minutes, a lump in the throat, pain in the spine and cervicothoracic area, severe pain attacks when a person cannot sleep normally and needs first aid in the form of painkillers for such pain. A strong cough, but it is worth noting that cough with osteochondrosis of the chest region is also common. Sport is contraindicated in this case, since sport can aggravate the problem. It is better to sleep on an orthopedic mattress.
Why is osteochondrosis dangerous?
Many people are interested in why cervical osteochondrosis is dangerous? This section contains the nerve roots and spinal cord, as well as an artery that supplies blood to the back of the brain and cerebellum. When a person develops OSOP, the artery becomes compressed, stopping blood flow to the brain. Then comes inflammation, fever, lasting 30 minutes, a lump in the throat, pain in the back and under the shoulder blade, which is sometimes difficult to remove.
With pain attacks, you need to urgently consult a doctor, he can prescribe you the necessary painkillers. Folk remedies or a forum where you can find a lot of advice will not help in this case. In acute attacks, exercise or massage is strictly contraindicated.
At an advanced stage, squeezing the artery can cause:
- coordination problems;
- deterioration of vision and hearing;
- temperature can appear;
- Sore throat;
- stroke.
If the disease was not recognized at the first stage and treatment was not started on time, the consequences appear in the form of herniated and bulging discs.
degrees of osteochondrosis
A disease like OSHOP develops gradually. And before you start treating cervical osteochondrosis, it is important to know its degree. Doctors name 3 degrees of the disease.
1 degree
From this stage, the deformation process of the intervertebral discs begins. The fibrous ring is covered with small cracks, the process of reducing the elasticity and strength of the disk occurs, its height decreases. All this contributes to the compression of the nerve roots. It is important to understand that in such a situation, only light sports are allowed.
The first sign of this stage is the appearance of aching pains, an increase in temperature and a sore throat when a person goes to bed. However, it often happens that osteochondrosis in the cervical area does not have clear clinical manifestations, and a person practically does not feel pain and discomfort in the cervicothoracic area.
2 degrees
This stage of the disease is chronic. It occurs when help was not provided on time at the first stage. A person feels constant pain, a lump in the throat, a high temperature can rise when going to bed, a sore throat appears. In some patients with cervical osteochondrosis there is a lack of air. The process of compaction and destruction of the intervertebral disc continues, causing small dislocations of the cervical vertebrae.
At this stage, the cider of the "falling" head develops. At the same time, a person feels severe pain in the head and has to hold his head with his hand for about 20 minutes to relieve the pain a little. You need to sleep on an orthopedic pillow, sports are contraindicated.
3 degrees
ICD-10 Code - M42. 12 - osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree is the most difficult stage of the disease. Has the following properties:
- severe headache that keeps you awake
- frequent nausea;
- high temperature rises;
- dizziness and loss of coordination;
- Loss of sensation in the upper extremities.
In stage 3, the fibrous ring is practically deformed, leading to serious complications such as herniated disc or hernia.
Due to the fact that the cartilage tissue is already completely destroyed, the person no longer feels acute attacks of pain, the pain persists because the nerve roots are pinched. The temperature can often rise. Any sport, even light, is strictly forbidden during this phase.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at a young age
In children, osteochondrosis of the cervical region (it has an ICD-10 code - M42. 02, established by its medical forum) is an extremely rare and at the same time dangerous disease. The spine in children still has a fragile structure, and therefore it is so easily affected by negative factors, especially since at this age the intervertebral discs and spine continue to grow.
Osteochondrosis in children can develop for several reasons:
- lack of useful minerals and vitamins in the child's diet;
- problems with the cardiovascular system;
- spinal injury;
- Allergy;
- Sports;
- somatic diseases;
- genetic predisposition;
- various pathologies in the development of bones;
- if the child's body regularly carries infectious diseases.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in children
Many parents are interested in how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis in children. First of all, in the treatment of this disease, which is accompanied by symptoms such as a lump in the throat, severe pain, due to which the child cannot sleep, inflammation and swelling, conservative methods of treatment are used.
- Drugs that have an analgesic effect. As a rule, with the help of such drugs, the pain disappears after 20 minutes.
- Drugs used to treat edema and reduce inflammation.
- The course of therapeutic massage, manual therapy and acupuncture, exercise therapy.
- Surgical intervention. It is prescribed in the rarest of cases and is aimed at treating radicular syndrome.
What is cervical osteochondrosis, and especially in children, few parents know, and therefore, if the child complains of frequent aching pains in the neck for the first time, you should immediately contact a vertebrologist.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
Nowadays, to diagnose osteochondrosis, it is necessary to visit a doctor who needs to conduct an initial examination. Then, if necessary, he sends for additional examination. For this purpose, the cervicothoracic region is examined using magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography. Thanks to this examination, it is possible to establish the diagnosis and the degree of the disease.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
To the patient's question how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis (code M42. 12), the doctor can answer by determining the degree of the disease and examining the main clinical manifestations. To date, there are many different treatment methods.
It is best to use complex treatment, which includes traditional and non-traditional methods: manual therapy, medication, exercise therapy, acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy and folk remedies. However, it is important to understand that with the latter method, it is better to visit and consult with a doctor. You should not go to the forum and seek information there.
In order for the treatment of the disease (code M42. 12) to be effective, you need to visit several specialists: a massage therapist, a spinal neurologist, a neurologist, a surgeon and a physiotherapist, who will prescribe these methods in combination will be most effective.
Osteochondrosis, like all diseases, is best treated at the first stage of the disease, when you can competently help. However, grades 2 and 3 are virtually untreatable, so a long recovery process is required in this case.