Speaking of osteochondrosis, we mean pathological changes in the intervertebral discs with degenerative changes in the cartilage. This pathology can affect all parts of the spine. At the same time, cervical osteochondrosis occurs in approximately a quarter of all cases of this condition. As a rule, it mainly affects patients of working age - from 30 to 50 years.
anatomical features
To understand why osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae develops, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the anatomy of the cervical spine. It consists of 7 vertebrae. And if in the thoracic and lumbar regions the vertebrae are relatively homogeneous, here they are different in their structure. Indeed, in the cervical region, shoulder girdle and head movements are great in complexity and range. In addition, the mobile neck passes into a relatively static thoracic region. Therefore, 1, 2 and 7 vertebrae differ significantly from each other
In addition to the spinal cord and spinal nerves, peripheral nerves originating from the brain pass through the cervical region. Some of them, like the vagus, innervate the diaphragm and abdominal organs. In addition to the nerves, major blood vessels pass through here. And if the blood supply through the carotid arteries and the flow through the jugular veins do not suffer from osteochondrosis, then the vertebral artery is often involved in pathology with osteochondrosis of the neck. It passes through holes in the transverse processes of 2 to 6 vertebrae and represents approximately 15% of the total volume of blood entering the brain. With cervical osteochondrosis, this artery may spasm or be squeezed by tight muscles or a dislocated disc.
The reasons
Why osteochondrosis of the cervical spine developed in this particular case cannot always be determined. It has been established that osteochondrosis is not an independent disease. This is a pathological condition or syndrome that is caused by other illnesses or negative factors, including:
- Heredity
- Systematic violations of posture in schoolchildren, office workers
- Malnutrition with vitamin and mineral deficiency
- sedentary lifestyle
- Frequent mechanical impacts such as shocks, tremors from drivers
- Concomitant diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, organs of the endocrine system
- Weakened immunity.
Symptoms
By itself, osteochondrosis is a painless process. Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are not felt by the patient. The disease makes itself felt only when the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis appear - displacement of the intervertebral disc in the posterolateral direction with irritation of nearby nerve fibers, impaired blood circulation through the vertebral artery. This is when various sensory, motor and neurological disorders appear. Osteochondrosis of the neck is distinguished by the following symptoms:
- Neck ache
- Pathological tension of the neck muscles
- Restriction of movement in the cervical region
- Decreased sensitivity and range of motion in the shoulder girdle and upper limbs
- Headache, dizziness
- Unsteady gait due to coordination disorders
- Nausea, urge to vomit
- Intermittent increases in blood pressure
- Visual disturbances - a feeling of darkening and flickering of flies before the eyes
- Sometimes pain or feeling of a lump in the throat, toothache
- Insomnia, or vice versa, pathological drowsiness
- Emotional lability - crying, irritability.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis is the main symptom. It is the pain syndrome that makes the patient seek a doctor. The nature of the pain depends on which cervical segment is affected by osteochondrosis. When the upper cervical segments are infringed, the skin on the back of the neck, crown and brow region hurts. If pathology has developed in the middle and lower sections, neck pain radiates to the interscapular space, shoulder girdle, and upper limbs.
An exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis starts with cervicago - a sharp pain that resembles a pain in the back. Later, cervical sciatica develops with pain, movement disorders, and muscle tension. The main cause of exacerbations is hypothermia. Along with the local symptoms, brain symptoms are also seen, due to vertebral artery syndrome. Headache and dizziness can be so severe that the patient may lose consciousness.
Flow characteristics
Osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology. And in the absence of treatment it is constantly progressing. In this regard, 4 grades are distinguished, which reflect symptoms and functional disorders in the cervical region.
- The intervertebral disc tissue thickens. Disc displacement is minimal, however, at this stage, the outer sheath of the fibrous disc is scaly. In the cervical vertebrae, the uncinate processes increase compensatory. Manifestations - neck pain, cervical.
- Narrowing of the intervertebral spaces and lumen of the spinal canal. Pathological mobility leads to subluxations of individual vertebrae and instability of the cervical spine as a whole. Sensory and motor disorders in the upper limbs. Vertebral artery syndrome.
- Additional narrowing of the spinal canal and spaces between the vertebrae. The formation of herniated discs as a result of increased symptoms.
- Irreversible structural disorders - spondylolisthesis (displacement of the vertebrae in relation to each other) and spondylosis (pathological growths of the bone tissue of the vertebrae). Destruction of discs with the expiration of their nucleus pulposus. Persistent brain and movement disorders.
Treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck is carried out with medications and physical therapy procedures. Massage, physical therapy exercises, manual therapy and acupuncture are also effective. The main group of drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Also, in relation to cervical osteochondrosis, local use of NSAIDs in gels and ointments is preferable. Among the means for the local treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, local irritants and chondroprotectors are shown. The treatment can be complemented by the ingestion of immunostimulants and vitamin-mineral complexes.
Physiotherapy procedures (UHF, amplipulse, electrophoresis) have a similar effect - they eliminate pain, relieve muscle spasm, increase blood circulation and metabolism in the tissues of the neck. This is also facilitated by massaging the collar area with osteochondrosis. The neck is a vulnerable area. The slightest damage to the cervical spine is fraught with serious consequences. Therefore, massage movements should be gentle, directed along the muscles. For the same reason of neck fragility, all special measures (manual therapy, cervical traction) must be carried out by experienced specialists with great care. And in the course of recreational gymnastics, preference is given to static loads with frontal and temporal areas resting on the palm surface of the hand, maximum forward and sideways head flexion.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is aimed at eliminating the provoking factors. Hypothermia must be avoided. Office workers, programmers, avid Internet users are recommended 15-minute breaks for health-enhancing gymnastics during each hour. And, of course, good nutrition and avoiding excess weight. And at the slightest feeling of pain and discomfort in the cervical region, it is better to use the Shants immobilizer collar. At the same time, attention should be paid to the treatment of existing chronic diseases of other organs and systems.
Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms, signs and treatment
Today, a disease like osteochondrosis is very common and in many people it causes feelings of fear and a lot of fear. As medical practice has shown, several main causes contribute to the onset of the disease, which, as a rule, are provoked directly by the patients. To avoid this disease and prevent its occurrence, you need to know its main symptoms and causes.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae
Most often, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae manifests itself in the form of a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc. As practice shows, the disease appears and develops against the background of metabolic disorders that occur in the cervical region. In this case, there is a significant change in the structure and structure of individual vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
The disease course in osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is slightly different from osteochondrosis, which affects other parts (we are talking about the lumbar and thoracic form of osteochondrosis). This type of disease is more dangerous, as it contributes to the direct violation of the root, which part of the brain from the spinal nerve, and thus interrupts the blood supply to the cerebral vessels due to the direct violation and compression of blood vessels .
In addition, the structure of the vertebrae (in this case, more intertwined) in the cervical region is slightly different from the others, therefore, with the appearance of any change in the pathology, one of them undergoes a noticeable disruption in the normal functioning of the entire spine. That is why, with cervical osteochondrosis, the patient can be disturbed by obvious signs such as: frequent dizziness, impaired sensitivity of the muscles and skin of the hands, neck, face, constant headaches, ringing and unpleasant noises in the ears or noises in the the head, hearing or visual impairment, increased feeling of fatigue, wobbly and unsteady gait, loss of coordination, and so on.
Therefore, you need to pay close attention to the fact that osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae appears as a result of:
- lifting heavy objects and loads;
- work that is directly related to a constant change in the position of the body - we are talking about extension, flexion, circular movements, turns;
- active sports and physical education;
- incorrect posture during lying, sitting, standing positions of the body, as well as when lifting and carrying weights;
- genetic disposition;
- Adverse weather conditions.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Often, the symptoms of osteochondrosis in the early stages of its manifestation may not manifest at all. Having already passed to a more advanced stage, the disease begins to manifest itself with frequent cramps during any movement of the head and neck. However, the symptoms of osteochondrosis are quite diverse and are explained by degenerative changes and disorders in the cartilage structure, or the result of severe impingement by a displaced disc of the vertebral artery, which passes between the discs.
Pain
The most important and early symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is pain, which in the first stage can pass quickly and then become chronic. The pain may appear in the region of the occipital muscles, shoulders and neck and become stronger when turning or tilting the head and neck. Depending on where the injury is located, the pain can be painful and permanent. And it can fade for a while or be photographed and sharp. Also, any head and neck movements become difficult over time, which is associated with constant muscle tension in the neck area.
When the spinal artery is squeezed by cartilaginous tissue, intervertebral disc or tight muscles, a person can be plagued by a cervical migraine (a headache that occurs as a result of lack of tissue oxygen and weakened blood circulation), a strong jump in pressure up, short-term loss and impairment of consciousness, appearance of ringing in the ears, hearing impairment, appearance of "flies" before the eyes, visual impairment. The headache is sometimes accompanied by vomiting or nausea.
Nausea
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae may be accompanied by nausea. In addition, nausea is associated with impaired blood circulation in the vessels of the brain. Often, a person loses his appetite as a result of the lack of nutrients in the body, and the overall weight goes down. In more severe cases, the disease is accompanied by vomiting, which appears during head tilts, turns and even walking. As already mentioned above, this is due to a violation of the blood flow process and insufficient supply of oxygen to the inner ear, where the balance center is located.
Shortness of breathe
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae include a symptom like shortness of breath. It appears with direct injury to the cervical region and is expressed in irritation of the phrenic nerve. As a result, it becomes difficult for a person to breathe, the patient does not have enough air, there is a lack of oxygen, shortness of breath begins to torment, and severe asphyxia can even occur.
As a rule, shortness of breath is accompanied by snoring, especially during an uncomfortable position of the head at rest. This condition leads to the fact that a person wakes up very tired and absolutely broken, disturbed by general malaise and weakness. Prolonged stay in this state leads to a decrease in concentration, memory impairment and irreversible changes in brain tissue.
ring and buzz
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis sometimes manifest in the form of ringing and ringing in the ears. But the vestibular apparatus is enriched with blood exclusively from the vertebral artery system. That is why with inflammation of the cervical region, a violation of the function of the inner ear occurs, as a result, a person is plagued by tinnitus and tinnitus. Hearing impairment is sometimes added to the symptoms described.
pharyngeal signs
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae can also manifest in this way. Often a person is disturbed by an unpleasant and constant feeling of dryness and sweating in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, tickling and itching, foreign body sensation. All these symptoms are directly related to the violation of vascular and nerve trunks leaving the spinal cord.
Visual impairment
The most common and frequent sign of cervical osteochondrosis is deterioration of visual acuity. This is due to the fact that the visual analyzer is enriched with blood not only from the carotid but also from the vertebral arteries. When these arteries are compressed, visual impairment occurs. In addition, patients may complain of:
- Low pressure;
- atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain;
- inability to concentrate on one subject;
- "swimming" or flashing points;
- sensation of a veil or mist before the eyes.
In this condition, doing eye exercises or wearing glasses does not show a positive effect. Only with proper treatment can vision improve.
sudden loss of consciousness
The most dangerous and unpleasant sign that occurs with osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra is an unexpected loss of consciousness. This is due to a temporary interruption of blood flow through the arteries of the brain. Thus, a pronounced spasm of the arteries is obtained, which occurs on the side of the deformed processes of the bones of the vertebrae, in response to irritation of the nerve endings.
But after losing consciousness, a person can recover quickly if they have time to lie down and lift their legs to improve blood supply to the brain and increase blood flow to the legs.
pressure instability
The symptoms of osteochondrosis do not end with the symptoms described above. There is often a spasm or instability of blood pressure, which appears due to impaired blood supply. In addition, the pressure drops dramatically or, conversely, increases. The person's condition is deteriorating and he needs complete rest.
Dizziness
Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by dizziness. In this case, such phenomenon may have a spontaneous character. Dizziness is caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the inner ear canals. These channels are located in the brain and are fully responsible for balance. Dizziness can occur with any movement of the neck or head. Often and with a sharp increase in the lying position.
How to cure osteochondrosis?
If a person notices one or more of the above and indicated symptoms behind it, his initial action should not be self-treatment on the advice of friends and relatives, but a timely visit to the appropriate doctor. The actions of a specialist are aimed at carrying out tests to identify the main cause of osteochondrosis, as well as choosing the appropriate treatment.
The treatment of the disease, taking into account the patient's condition and its degree, is complex. During treatment, the doctor may prescribe therapeutic exercises, massages, use of medications aimed at removing the causes of inflammation and relieving pain.
therapeutic treatment
The drug treatment regimen is represented by the following groups:
- Chondroprotectors - allow to stop the destruction of cartilage and contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue.
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - Effective removal of inflammation and pain, low risk of side effects, possibility of long-term use.
Treatment of osteochondrosis symptoms with ointments is quite popular, but ineffective. As a rule, ointments from the NSAID group or ointments that contain irritants are used for treatment.
Group B vitamins are used against osteochondrosis.
Folk methods of treatment
Friction and ointment recipes for the treatment of osteochondrosis:
- Lemon. In the juice of one lemon, you need to add as much iodine as the juice was squeezed. Mix. This composition is for external use only. With a cotton swab soaked in this solution, a strip is drawn every night along the entire spine.
- Rub honey. Mix a glass of honey, alcohol, aloe juice and radish. Add to 1 tbsp. I. dry mustard and mix well. Apply compresses for several hours.
- Vinegar and egg. Make a mixture of vinegar and an egg: add vinegar to the egg and let it dissolve completely. Then add 90 gr. butter and stir. A homogeneous white mass should come out, similar to oil. Rub the solution into the painful areas.
- Pepper with camphor and bile. It will be 300 gr. medical bile and a few bottles of camphor alcohol. Mix the ingredients in a glass bowl, add 3 pepper pods and let it ferment for a week. Apply compresses for 5-7 hours. Shake the paste well before using.
Osteochondrosis, like all other diseases, is much easier to prevent than to cure completely. To never suffer from this disease, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, alternating different sports. Nutrition should be fortified and complete, smoking should not be the norm. By following simple rules, you will have more opportunities to live to old age without deterioration in quality of life and pain.