When we speak of osteochondrosis, we mean pathological changes in the intervertebral discs with degenerative changes in the cartilage. This pathology can affect any part of the spine. At the same time, cervical osteochondrosis occurs in about a quarter of all cases of this disease. 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 features of the anatomy of the cervical spine. It consists of 7 vertebrae. And if in the thoracic and lumbar region the vertebrae are relatively homogeneous, then here they are structurally different. In fact, the movements of the shoulder girdle and the head in the cervical area are of great complexity and amplitude. In addition, the movable neck transitions into a relatively static chest region. Therefore, 1, 2 and 7 vertebrae are significantly different 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, the main blood vessels run here. And if the blood supply through the carotid arteries and the outflow through the jugular veins do not suffer from osteochondrosis, then the vertebral artery is often involved in the pathology with osteochondrosis of the neck. It passes through the holes in the transverse processes of 2-6 vertebrae and accounts for approximately 15% of the total volume of blood entering the brain. In cervical osteochondrosis, this artery can spasm or be crushed by tight muscles or a displaced disc.
The reasons
It is not always possible to determine why osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has developed in this particular case. It was established that osteochondrosis is not an independent disease. This is a pathological condition or syndrome caused by other diseases or negative factors, including:
- inheritance
- Systematic bad posture in school children, office workers
- Poor nutrition with a lack of vitamins and minerals
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Frequent mechanical impacts, such as shocks, vibrations from drivers
- Concomitant diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, organs of the endocrine system
- weakened immunity.
symptoms
In itself, osteochondrosis is a painless process. Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are not perceived by the patient. The disease becomes noticeable only when the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis appear - displacement of the intervertebral disc in the posterolateral direction with irritation of adjacent nerve fibers, impaired blood circulation in the vertebral artery. Then various sensory, motor and neurological disorders appear. Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by the following symptoms:
- pain in the neck
- Pathological tension of the neck muscles
- Restricted movement in the neck area
- Decreased sensitivity and range of motion in the shoulder girdle and upper limbs
- headache, dizziness
- Unsteady gait due to coordination disorders
- Nausea, nausea
- Intermittent rise in blood pressure
- Visual disturbances - a feeling of darkening and flickering flies before the eyes
- Sometimes pain or a lump in the throat, toothache
- Insomnia or, conversely, pathological drowsiness
- Emotional lability - lacrimation, irritability.
Pain in cervical osteochondrosis is the leading symptom. It is the pain syndrome that drives the patient to see a doctor. The nature of the pain depends on which cervical segment is affected by osteochondrosis. When the upper segments of the neck are injured, the skin of the back of the head, crown and brow region hurts. If the pathology has developed in the middle and lower sections, then the pain in the neck radiates to the interscapular space, to the shoulder girdle and to the upper limbs.
An exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis begins with cervicago - a sharp pain resembling back pain. As a result, cervical sciatica develops with pain, movement disorders and muscle tension. The main cause of exacerbations is hypothermia. In addition to the local ones, cerebral symptoms are also noted due to the syndrome of the vertebral artery. Headaches and dizziness can be so severe that the patient loses consciousness.
characteristics of the river
Osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology. And in the absence of treatment, it steadily progresses. A distinction is made between 4 grades, which reflect the complaints and functional disorders in the neck area.
- The disc tissue thickens. Disc displacement is minimal, but even at this stage the outer fibrous disc envelope is scaly. In the cervical vertebrae, the uncinate processes increase to compensate. Manifestations - cervicalgia, cervical.
- Narrowing of the intervertebral spaces and lumen of the spinal canal. Pathological mobility leads to subluxation of individual vertebrae and instability of the entire cervical spine. Sensory and motor disorders in the upper extremities. Vertebral Artery Syndrome.
- Further narrowing of the spinal canal and the spaces between the vertebrae. The formation of herniated discs, causing the symptoms to increase.
- Irreversible structural disorders - spondylolisthesis (displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other) and spondylosis (pathological growths of the bone tissue of the vertebrae). Destruction of intervertebral discs with expiration of their nucleus pulposus. Persistent brain and movement disorders.
treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck is carried out with the use of drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures. Massage, physical therapy exercises, manual therapy and acupuncture are also effective. The main group of drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition, with regard to cervical osteochondrosis, local application of NSAIDs in gels and ointments is preferable. Local irritants and chondroprotectors are shown among the means for the local treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Treatment can be supplemented by taking immunostimulants and vitamin-mineral complexes.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (UHF, amplipulse, electrophoresis) have a similar effect - they eliminate pain, relieve muscle spasms, increase blood circulation and metabolism in the tissues of the neck. This is also facilitated by massage of the collar zone with osteochondrosis. The neck is a vulnerable area. The smallest damage to the cervical spine is fraught with serious consequences. Therefore, massage movements should be gentle and directed along the muscles. For the same reason of neck fragility, all special measures (manual therapy, cervical traction) should be carried out with great care by experienced specialists. And within the framework of recreational gymnastics, preference is given to static loads with frontal and temporal surface pads on the palms of the hands, maximum bending of the head forward and to the side.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is aimed at eliminating provoking factors. Hypothermia should be avoided. Office workers, programmers, enthusiastic Internet users are recommended to take 15-minute breaks for healthy gymnastics every hour. And of course good nutrition and avoiding obesity. And at the slightest pain and discomfort in the neck area, it is better to use the Shants immobilization 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
Nowadays, such a disease as osteochondrosis is very common and causes feelings of anxiety and great anxiety in many people. As medical practice has shown, several main causes contribute to the occurrence of the disease, which, as a rule, are directly provoked by patients. In order 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 occurs and develops against the background of metabolic disorders that occur in the throat area. This leads to a significant change in the structure and structure of individual vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
The course of the disease in osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is slightly different from osteochondrosis affecting other parts (we are talking about the lumbar and thoracic form of osteochondrosis). This type of disease is more dangerous because it contributes to the direct injury to the root that emanates from the brain of the spinal nerve and thus disrupts the blood supply to the cerebral vessels through direct injury and compression of the blood vessels.
In addition, the structure of the vertebrae (in this case more closely intertwined) in the cervical region is slightly different from the others, therefore, when a change in pathology occurs, one of them experiences a noticeable disruption in the normal functioning of the entire spine. That is why the patient with cervical osteochondrosis can be disturbed by such obvious signs as: frequent dizziness, impaired sensitivity of the muscles and skin of the hands, neck, face, constant headaches, unpleasant ringing and noise in the ears or noise in the head, hearing or visual impairment, increased sensory fatigue, shaky and unsteady gait, loss of coordination and so on.
So, you need to be very careful that osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae occurs as a result of:
- lifting heavy objects and loads;
- Work that is directly related to a constant change in body position - we are talking about stretching, bending, circular movements, twists;
- active sport and physical education;
- incorrect posture when lying, sitting, standing the body, as well as lifting and carrying weights;
- genetic disposition;
- unfavorable weather conditions.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Often, in the early stages of its manifestation, the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not show themselves in any way. After the disease has already passed to a more advanced stage, it begins to manifest itself with frequent cramping pains with all movements of the head and neck. However, the symptoms of osteochondrosis are very diverse and are explained either by degenerative changes and disorders in the structure of the cartilage, or by severe constriction by a displaced disc of the vertebral artery, which passes between the intervertebral discs.
Pains
The main and very first symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae are pain, which at the first stage quickly passes, and then can become chronic. Pain can occur in the occipital muscles, shoulders, and neck, and can be worse when the head and neck are rotated or tilted. Depending on where the lesion is, the pain can be painful and permanent. And it may subside or be shooting and sharp for a while. In addition, any head and neck movements become more difficult over time, which is accompanied by constant muscle tension in the neck area.
When the artery of the spine is squeezed by cartilage tissue, intervertebral discs or strained muscles, a person can be tormented by a cervical migraine (a headache that occurs as a result of lack of oxygen in the tissues and weakened blood circulation), a sharp jump of pressure upwards, momentary loss and disabilityof consciousness, the appearance of ringing in the ears, impaired hearing, the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes, blurred vision. Headaches are 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 cerebral vessels. Very often a person loses his appetite, as a result of which there is a lack of nutrients in the body and a decrease in overall weight. In more severe cases, the disease is accompanied by vomiting, which occurs when tilting the head, turning, and even walking. As mentioned above, this is due to a disruption in blood flow and insufficient oxygenation of the inner ear, where the balance center is located.
lack of air
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae include such a symptom as lack of air. It occurs with a direct lesion of the cervical region and is manifested by 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 there may even be severe suffocation.
A lack of air is usually associated with snoring, especially when the head is not in a comfortable position at rest. This condition causes a person to wake up very tired and absolutely broken, it is disturbed by general malaise and weakness. Prolonged stay in this state leads to loss of concentration, impaired memory and irreversible changes in brain tissue.
ringing and tinnitus
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis sometimes manifest themselves in the form of ringing and noise in the ears. It's just that the vestibular apparatus is enriched exclusively with blood from the system of vertebral arteries. That is why with inflammation of the cervical region there is a violation of the functioning of the inner ear, as a result of which a person is tormented by ringing and tinnitus. Sometimes the symptoms described are accompanied by a hearing impairment.
throat sign
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae can also manifest itself in this way. Often a person is disturbed by an unpleasant and constant feeling of dryness and perspiration in the throat, difficulty swallowing, tickling and itching, a foreign body sensation. All of these symptoms are directly related to the violation of the vascular and nerve cords that radiate from the spinal cord.
visual impairment
The most common and common sign of cervical osteochondrosis is deterioration in visual acuity. This is because the visual analyzer is enriched with blood not only through the carotid artery, but also through the vertebral arteries. When these arteries are compressed, visual impairment occurs. In addition, patients may complain about:
- low pressure;
- atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain;
- inability to focus on a subject;
- "floating" or flashing dots;
- Sensation of haze or fog before the eyes.
In this state, eye exercises or wearing glasses will not have a positive effect. Only with appropriate 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 stop in blood flow through the arteries of the brain. Thus, a pronounced spasm of the arteries is obtained, which occurs from the side of the deformed processes of the vertebral bones in response to irritation of the nerve endings.
But after losing consciousness, a person can recover quickly if they are given time to lie down and raise their legs to improve blood supply to the brain and increase blood flow from the legs.
pressure instability
The symptoms of osteochondrosis do not end with the symptoms described above. Often there is a spasm or instability in blood pressure due to impaired blood supply. In addition, the pressure either drops sharply, 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 a phenomenon can have a spontaneous character. Dizziness is caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the ducts of the inner ear. These channels are located in the brain and are entirely responsible for balance. Any movement of the neck or head can cause dizziness. Often and with a strong increase from a lying position.
How can osteochondrosis be cured?
If a person notices one or more of the above and indicated symptoms behind him, his first measure should not be self-treatment on the recommendation of friends and relatives, but a timely visit to the appropriate doctor. The actions of a specialist are aimed at conducting tests to determine the main cause of osteochondrosis and choosing the right treatment.
Treatment of the disease, taking into account the patient's condition and degree, is complex. During treatment, the doctor can prescribe therapeutic exercises, massage and the use of drugs aimed at eliminating the causes of inflammation and reducing pain.
therapeutic treatment
The drug treatment regimen is represented by the following groups:
- Chondroprotectors - allow stopping the destruction of cartilage and contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - effective elimination of inflammation and pain, low risk of side effects, the possibility of long-term use.
Treating symptoms of osteochondrosis with ointments is very popular, but ineffective. As a rule, ointments of the NSAID group or ointments containing irritants are used for treatment.
Group B vitamins are used against osteochondrosis.
Folk methods of treatment
Recipes for rubbing and ointments for the treatment of osteochondrosis:
- Lemon. In the juice of one lemon you need to add as much iodine as the juice was squeezed out. Mix. This composition is for external use only. With a swab soaked in this solution, a strip is drawn along the entire spine every evening.
- rub honey. Mix a glass of honey, alcohol, aloe juice and radish. Add to 1 tbsp. l. 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 90gr. butter and stir. A homogeneous mass of white color, resembling oil, should come out. Rub the solution into the painful areas.
- Peppercorns with camphor and bile. It takes 300 gr. medicinal bile and a couple of bottles of camphor alcohol. Mix the ingredients in a glass bowl, add 3 pods of peppers and leave for a week. Apply compresses for 5-7 hours. Shake the paste well before use.
Osteochondrosis, like any other disease, is much easier to prevent than to cure completely. In order never to suffer from this disease, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle with alternating sports. Diet must be fortified and complete, smoking should not be the norm. If you follow simple rules, you will have more opportunities to live into old age without a decline in quality of life and without pain.