Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which there is a thinning of the discs located between the vertebrae, followed by their replacement by bone tissue. As the degenerative process progresses, surrounding structures become involved. This causes the development of a whole complex of symptoms that completely subdue the patient's life.

general information

The intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, covered on top by a layer of cartilage tissue. They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae during running, walking and jumping, and also contribute to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spine.

In the process of natural aging, as well as under conditions of increased load, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. Metabolism at its core is disturbed, cracks appear in the surrounding fibrous ring. There are disc protrusions - protrusions and herniations. As the disease progresses, cartilage tissue and bones become involved, osteophytes appear - bony growths that cause limited movement and severe pain.

Since pathological changes occur in the vicinity of the spinal cord and its roots, this leads to their compression and inflammation, as well as the reflex development of muscle spasm. As a result, a person experiences characteristic symptoms with which a disease can be suspected.

reason

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine refers to multifactorial diseases. It occurs against the background of a whole complex of factors, each of which worsens the course of the pathology. The list of reasons includes:

• excess body weight;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• sedentary work;
• wrong posture;
• chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet), contributing to the uneven distribution of the load on the back;
• congenital pathologies of the development of the spine, as well as injuries;
• excessive, repeated stress on the back;
• hereditary predisposition.

Symptoms and syndromes

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis do not appear immediately and are often disguised as other diseases.

The most common signs include:

• dizziness: as a rule, with osteochondrosis, it is systemic, d. m. th. it seems to a person that the surrounding objects rotate before his eyes;
• pain in the back of the head, neck, collar area: its intensity depends on the degree of development of the disease; mild and episodic at an early stage, spreads throughout the head and becomes permanent; periodically the attacks become unbearable, as a result of which a person cannot even move his head;
• noise or ringing in the ears: occurs when you change position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to breathe deeply; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath develops;
• nausea and vomiting: associated with blood circulation disorders in certain areas of the brain, aggravated when you try to turn your head;
• decreased visual acuity, fluttering flies or fog before the eyes: indicate an insufficient blood supply to the brain; appear in the advanced stages of the disease;
• fluctuations in blood pressure that are difficult to correct with medication;
• sudden fainting due to vasospasm;
• feeling of a lump in the throat, sweating, dryness, problems with swallowing: they are often one of the first signs of pathology.
• shoulder pain
• numbness of the fingers

In addition to the general signs of cervical osteochondrosis, there are several characteristic syndromes for this disease.

Vertebral syndrome

The complex of symptoms is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spine. It includes:

• impaired mobility in the cervical region;
• pain when turning the head;
• X-ray signs of damage to the vertebrae themselves and the space between them.

vertebral artery syndrome

The symptoms are caused by the narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partly responsible for the blood supply to the brain. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• tinnitus;
• dizziness;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• visual impairment;
• reduction of work capacity;
• drowsiness;
• faint.

Cardiac syndrome

It resembles a condition with damage to the heart muscle and includes:

• pain or burning sensation behind the chest;
• weakness and fatigue;
• rapid pulse.

radicular syndrome

The condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) to the nerve roots that exit the spinal column in the cervical region. Depending on the level of damage, a person may experience:

• numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• numbness of the tongue;
• pain in the collarbone, difficulty swallowing, hiccups;
• discomfort in the shoulder area, aggravated by hand movements;
• pain in the shoulders and forearms;
• numbness of index and middle fingers;
• numbness of ring finger and little finger.

Most often, several nerve roots are involved in the pathological process immediately, as a result of which certain characteristic symptoms are observed immediately.

stages

In the process of development, cervical osteochondrosis passes through four consecutive stages (grades), which determine the severity of the symptoms and the general condition of the patient.

• 1 stage. The thickness of the intervertebral discs is reduced. Symptoms are practically absent, sometimes there is a slight discomfort in the neck, for example, with a long stay in an uncomfortable position.
• 2 stages. The height of the disc becomes even smaller, the pathological growth of cartilage tissue begins, protrusions (protrusion) occur. The pain becomes stronger, stiffness in the cervical region joins it.
• 3 stages. The fibrous ring surrounding the core of the disc is torn, an intervertebral hernia is formed. The spine is significantly deformed, the risk of dislocations and subluxations of the vertebrae increases. The pain becomes permanent, other symptoms of osteochondrosis join it.
• 4 stages. Irreversible changes occur in the spine: bone growth appears, the intervertebral disc is replaced by scar tissue and loses its ability to absorb the load. Symptoms become pronounced and have a significant impact on the patient's lifestyle and well-being. The quality of life is declining.

Diagnosing

In search of the causes of pain or dizziness, the patient can turn to doctors of various specialties: therapist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist. For the diagnosis of osteochondrosis, a comprehensive examination is required, which includes:

• radiography and computerized tomography: effective only in the later stages of the development of the disease, when the changes become clearly visible;
• Magnetic resonance images: due to the high degree of visualization, it allows you to see even the initial changes; currently it is the main diagnostic method;
• duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck: allows you to assess the quality of blood flow, identify vasoconstriction; used to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness.

It is mandatory to carry out a study and examination of the patient, determine the areas of pain and the degree of mobility of the spine and evaluate the quality of reflexes. For differential diagnosis with other diseases with similar symptoms, the following can be described:

• ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
• daily monitoring of ECG and blood pressure;
• X-ray of the chest;
• consultations of close specialists: cardiologist, ENT.

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach and includes:

• medicinal effect;
• physiotherapy;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• massage;
• surgery.

Medical treatment

The main goal of drug treatment is to relieve pain and dizziness, restore the normal functioning of nerve roots and, if possible, stop or slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue. Depending on the situation, the following are assigned:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): aimed at relieving pain and inflammation; are used in the form of tablets, injections, ointments, plasters;
• steroid drugs (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone): also used to relieve inflammation when NSAIDs are ineffective;
• muscle relaxant (mydocalm): drugs that eliminate reflex muscle spasms, thus reducing pain and improving blood circulation;
• group B vitamins in the form of injections or tablets (milgamma, neuromultivit): help improve the conduction of nerve impulses;
• pain relievers for severe pain to improve sleep and reduce the emotional component of pain;
• decongestants for pinched nerve roots;
• chondroprotectors: drugs that help restore cartilage tissue.

Depending on the symptoms, drugs can also be prescribed to improve microcirculation in the vessels of the brain, drugs that block nausea and dizziness, etc.

Non-drug treatment

Non-pharmacological methods of treatment are used without aggravation. Depending on the clinical situation, the following are used:

• physiotherapy:
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• UHF therapy;
• phonophoresis and electrophoresis;

Non-drug treatment helps reduce the severity of symptoms and reduces the frequency and severity of flare-ups. It works indirectly:

• improves blood supply to the affected area, metabolism and regeneration processes;
• increases the effect of drugs;
• helps strengthen the muscular frame and stabilize the spine;
• reduces the load on the vertebral discs;
• eliminates muscle spasms and blockages.

Surgery

The help of surgeons is necessary in advanced cases of the disease, when medical methods are no longer effective. Several operations are currently in use:

• surgical removal of a herniated disc (microdiscectomy, endoscopic surgery or transfacet);
• laminectomy: removal of the spinous processes or arch of the vertebra, thus reducing the load on the root of the spinal cord;
• nucleoplasty: repair of a hernia by removing part of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc.

It is important to remember that only a doctor can decide how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The scheme is drawn up individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, concomitant diseases and the individual characteristics of the patient's body.

Complications

Osteochondrosis causes disruption of the most important structures: blood vessels and nerves. Without treatment, the disease can lead to the following complications:

• ischemic stroke;
• loss of sensation or motor function of the hand;
• difficulty in swallowing;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• loss or significant decrease in visual acuity.

In addition, damage to the discs and intervertebral joints leads to a significant limitation of neck mobility.

prevention

If attention is paid to the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis, even with the existing changes, their progress will be significantly slowed down. Doctors recommend:

• lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypodynamia;
• minimize or eliminate heavy lifting;
• sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• Do regular warm-ups if you need to work at the computer for a long time.

The ideal sport for osteochondrosis is swimming. Water unloads the spine and active movements contribute to the formation of the muscular frame.

Treatment in the clinic

Clinic doctors offer their patients complex methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis, including:

• consultations of a vertebrologist;
• modern drug regimens for pain relief and palliation;
• drug blockade for rapid pain relief;
• effective types of physiotherapy;
• exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of an experienced instructor, developing a complex for homework;
• consultation with a rehabilitation doctor;
• massage therapy;
• acupuncture;
• the services of a manual therapist if needed.

Pathologies of the cervical spine

Cervical spine injuries are often associated with weakness and cephalalgia, as important blood vessels, the vertebral arteries, pass through them. They are responsible for the proper nutrition of the brain, and therefore, when they are squeezed by displaced vertebrae or other structures, the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. This leads to the development of ischemia of its tissues, which is accompanied by headaches, weakness and a number of other symptoms. This includes:

Very often today, people of different ages, gender, social status are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, as well as its complications - intervertebral protrusions and hernias. These diseases are characterized by the appearance of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs that separate the vertebrae. As a result, their height decreases, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae and the creation of prerequisites for the infringement of the spinal roots that pass right there.

If left untreated, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs progress, and over time, a protrusion is formed - a protrusion of part of the disc from the outside. It tends to gradually increase in size, and then turn into an intervertebral hernia. In such cases, the risk of nerve root compression increases dramatically.

Also, osteochondrosis and its complications are associated with the formation of bone and cartilage growths - osteophytes - on the surface of the vertebral bodies. They can reach large sizes and, like hernias, mechanically compress the vertebral arteries, which will lead to weakness and headaches. At the same time, cephalgia is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, even in the absence of damage to the vertebral arteries.

Other symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are:

• crackling in the neck when leaning, turning the head;
• neck pain radiating to the back of the head, arms;
• reflex spasm of the neck muscles, which increases the pain;
• mobility restrictions;
• violation of the sensitivity of various parts of the upper limbs, nape, neck;
• difficulty in swallowing etc.

The disease cannot go away on its own. It is characterized by periods of irritation and remission, but is in continuous progression and in advanced cases requires surgical intervention for the removal of large hernias. Therefore, when its symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a neurologist.

When to see a doctor urgently

In some cases, when a headache appears in combination with weakness, you should immediately seek medical help, as they can indicate the development of dangerous diseases and conditions, including stroke and meningitis (inflammation of the brain membranes).

Warning symptoms are:

• severe headache that occurs suddenly;
• limited ability to tilt the head forward, pressing the chin to the chest, combined with general weakness;
• confusion;
• impairment of vision, speech;
• numbness of limbs.

Diagnosis and treatment

Thus, headache and weakness can accompany both relatively harmless conditions and serious diseases. If they appear with enviable regularity, and there are other symptoms, you should consult a doctor: a neurologist, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist. But when it is difficult to guess on your own what exactly caused the violation of general well-being and cephalalgia, it is better to first contact a therapist. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional research methods and, based on their results, taking into account the clinical picture, will make a diagnosis or refer the patient to a specific specialist for treatment.

To diagnose the causes of headache and weakness, the following are prescribed:

• KLA, OAM, biochemical blood test - allows you to detect inflammatory processes, as well as disorders in the work of individual organs, metabolism;
• ECG, echography of the heart, vessels of the neck and head - provide data on the work and condition of blood vessels, heart muscle;
• EEG - allows you to detect changes in the functioning of individual parts of the brain;
• X-rays, CT, MRI of the cervical spine - are indicated to detect pathologies of the spine and assess their severity.

Based on the results of the studies, it is almost always possible to determine the cause of the headache and weakness, and therefore, choose an effective treatment strategy. It is developed individually for each patient and aims both at improving the general condition and at eliminating the detected disease. Therefore, for the treatment of headache and weakness can be used:

• drug therapy, including individually selected drugs, in particular NSAIDs, against migraines, to improve blood supply to the brain, very specific drugs;
• physiotherapy procedures that help increase the effectiveness of other treatment methods and consolidate the results achieved;
• manual therapy, the main goal of which is to restore the spine, the condition of which depends on the work of all organs and systems.

In any case, alarming symptoms such as headache and weakness should not be ignored, especially if they appear frequently. In such cases, you should definitely consult a doctor. This will avoid the increase in weakness, the progression of existing pathological changes, the associated complications and in a short time. After all, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it.