How dangerous is cervical degenerative disc disease, if left untreated, photos, videos

If you are concerned about pain in the neck, and you still haven't went to the doctor, you need to know how dangerous is cervical osteochondrosis, which fatal consequences it may bring. Awareness of the danger should motivate you to action.

Cervical osteochondrosis is considered to be one of the most dangerous lesions of the spine, as in the neck, a huge number of vital vessels and arteries and capillaries. It is therefore among the unpleasant consequences of the disease include dystonia, hypertension, anoxia, etc.

Cervical osteochondrosis can not proceed unnoticed, because in most cases accompanied by severe pain, bright symptoms. Pain syndrome is an indicator that disrupted the entire body. If you ignore these signs, the result can be disastrous, ranging from irreversible lesions of the spine and even death.

After reading the below stated information, you will see that the effects of cervical degenerative disc disease is really serious, and therefore in no event it is impossible to postpone a complete treatment.

The overall clinical picture

Disorders in the cervical spine, mostly affecting the lower segments, which is associated with physiological characteristics and way of life. If you feel aching pain in the neck, shoulders, head, this is evidence of degenerative changes in this area of the pinched nerve, muscle spasms or by displacement of the vertebral artery.

Cervical degenerative disc disease affects the spine segments responsible for the operation of the shoulder and elbow joints, thyroid, hands, esophagus and trachea. The most common symptoms include pain in these parts of the body, hypothyroidism, convulsions, numbness of face and hands, cough, difficulty swallowing.

At the beginning of the disease there been complaints of constant headaches, fatigue, poor hearing and vision, dizziness, fainting. Of course, in parallel with this ever-present sharp or nagging pain in the neck and shoulders. It is important at this stage of the disease to see a doctor, establish a diagnosis and begin treatment, including the administration of specific drugs, and physical therapy, manual therapy of cervical osteochondrosis.

Otherwise, the disease will proceed to the next level, begin complications of cervical degenerative disc disease that is very difficult, if not impossible, to win.

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Lesions of the spine

If in the spinal column on any area to be a pinched nerve vertebrate disks, then there is a herniation and protrusion. These pathologies are of chronic nature, then escalate, then subside. If the bouts of severe pain and are not concerned about even a few weeks, this does not mean that the disease has receded and everything goes by itself. "Self" can't pass, treatment protrusions, and then the hernia require complex treatment over several months or even years.

Herniated disc immediately entails bony growths vertebral bodies, salt deposits, sclerotic plaques in blood vessels. In addition, the danger comes from squashed by the vertebral arteries, which are unable to properly transport oxygen and nutrients to the brain, inner ear, upper division of the spinal cord. Occurs oxygen starvation, which leads to dizziness, fainting, constant fatigue. Suffering the pituitary gland, there are disturbances in the hypothalamus, difficulty breathing and swallowing.

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The difficult work of the heart, it starts to work faster, increasing the rhythm, automatically increases blood pressure, and this, in turn, affects the blood vessels.

Disruption of vascular system

Medicines – analgesics, antispasmodics, analgesic ointments, etc. – without a parallel exercise, therapeutic massage, relieve pain and other symptoms, but only for a short period of time. The body will quickly get used to the active substances, will cease to react to them, the disease will return and the symptoms will increase significantly.

It threatens dystonia –what threat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine the most. As a result of compression of the vertebral artery that provides a third supply of the brain and other vital organs, the whole body suffers.

By the way, many doctors do not consider vegetovascular dystonia independent disease. Experts believe that it is only a consequence of violations of other systems. And osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often the main "provoker" of cardiovascular ailments.

The first to suffer vasomotor centre responsible for the regulation of life, heart function and normal blood pressure. Due to the lack of normal blood circulation in the upper part of the body, the person feels numbness in their hands, to notice difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Deteriorating motor skills, possible disorientation in space, frequent fainting, "vatnost" in the head.

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Due to poor blood flow, the heart attempts to compensate for the "shortfall", and so starts to work faster and faster. Because of this increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, tachycardia starts. After a time of such rapid work of the heart muscle is stretched.

Compression of blood vessels and the spread of the complications adjacent to the neck parts of the spine causing dysfunction of many internal organs. In particular, adrenal glands, perform redundant work and produce a hormone called cortisol in quantities that exceed the norm.

Over time, the disease will progress. Tachycardia, nervous disorders, as well as hypertension and hypotension, will disturb the person running cervical osteochondrosis.

Hypertension and hypotension

More dangerous than the cervical degenerative disc disease is causing hypertension, one of the most terrible diseases. Initially, it is completely imperceptible to humans, without obvious symptoms. Unfortunately, rarely pain in the neck associated with the onset of hypertension. Without proper treatment it can develop into coronary heart disease, can cause myocardial infarction, to provoke a stroke. As you know, the mortality rate caused by cardiovascular diseases ranks first in the world.

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As for hypotension, it is not able directly to deprive the patient of her life, but it entails a very unpleasant symptoms.

Hypotension is oxygen starvation caused by insufficient nutrition of the brain, the cerebellum, the inner ear. Due to the fact that the brain gets enough oxygen and other nutrients, it cannot ensure proper functioning of the body. The person does not have enough life energy, it senses weakness, chronic fatigue, nausea, drowsiness. Of course, he's always in a bad mood, its performance decreases. In the long run, a deteriorating memory, vision and hearing, loss of concentration.

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One of the most striking consequences of degenerative disc disease of the cervical and the resulting hypotension is the so-called drop-syndrome – sudden fainting, and one of the most common headaches and disorders of the nervous system.

Headaches and disorders of the nervous system

What to do if you have no flu, cold, pressure, and you still suffer from constant headaches? It is possible that the consequences of degenerative disc disease of the cervical. Zaselyalsya nerves, compressed blood vessels, the blood is not supplied to the brain in the right amounts, the result – sick and dizzy, throbbing in the temples, pressure in the occipital region.

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That condition is still efficiently perform his work, to be in a good mood, to concentrate, to play sports. If you prefer to swallow headache tablets, painkillers, and do not go to the doctor and to conduct a full examination, you risk running disease and to provide serious disorders of all body systems, including nervous.

Depression, panic, apathy, irritability, aggression is the indicators of a disorder in the functioning of the human nervous system.

If the disease moved to the late stages, restricts your movements, limiting activity, causing continued pain, and you suffered, the appearance of neurosis – it is a natural symptom. Furthermore, if not treated cervical osteochondrosis can develop certain syndromes related to dysfunction of certain organs.

Syndromes

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can lead tothe unpleasant experience any of the following syndromes:

• Vestibular-stem syndrome – ruins the man's life and causes great amount of inconvenience. The main symptoms include disorientation in space, loss of hearing and vision, fainting. May spontaneously decompress hands, there will be weakness in the legs.
• Due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus can not function properly, it may be a cochlear disorder will be noise in the ears, dark eyes.
• Sometimes laryngeal syndrome. Then the patient is difficult to swallow, it seems that in the throat is com, the voice becomes more quiet and rude.

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The list of consequences of cervical degenerative disc disease is not the end. The above are the main, what causes this insidious disease. Remember that when the first complaints and suspicions on whether you have diseases of the spine, consult a specialist.

He will conduct a survey and compose an individual course of treatment. Only way to avoid the terrible consequences of osteochondrosis of the cervical, described in the article. But if you are healthy and this disease has not touched you, then don't forget about preventive measures that continue to remain healthy.