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Cervical osteochondrosis

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

symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

general information

The intervertebral disc consists of a gel-like nucleus and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, covered with a layer of cartilage tissue. They perform shock-absorbing functions, prevent damage to the vertebrae when running, walking and jumping, and also contribute to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spine.

In the natural aging process, as well as in conditions of increased load, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. The metabolism in the core is disrupted, cracks appear in the fibrous ring around it. There are disc protrusions - protrusions and hernias. As the disease progresses, cartilage and bone tissue are involved in it, osteophytes appear - bony growths that cause limited movement and severe pain.

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

The reasons

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine refers to a multifactorial disease. 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:

  • overweight;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • sedentary work;
  • incorrect posture;
  • chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet), contributing to uneven load distribution on the spine;
  • congenital pathologies of the development of the spinal column, as well as injuries;
  • excessive and repeated pressure on the spine;
  • hereditary tendency.

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, i. e. it seems to a person that the surrounding objects rotate before his eyes;
  • pain in the back of the head, neck, collar zone: the intensity depends on the stage of development of the disease; mild and episodic in the early stages, it spreads throughout the head and becomes permanent; periodically the attacks become unbearable, as a result of which a person cannot move his head;
  • noise or ringing in the ears: occurs when changing position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
  • feeling of lack of air, inability to take a deep breath; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath develops;
  • nausea and vomiting: associated with circulatory disorders in certain areas of the brain, aggravated when trying to turn the head;
  • decreased visual acuity, flickering flies or fog in front of the eyes: indicate insufficient blood supply to the brain; occurs at an advanced stage of the disease;
  • fluctuations in blood pressure that are difficult to correct with medication;
  • sudden fainting caused by vasospasm;
  • sensation of a lump in the throat, sweating, dryness, problems with swallowing: they are often one of the first signs of pathology.
  • shoulder pain
  • finger numbness

In addition to the general signs of cervical osteochondrosis, there are several features of this disease syndrome.

Vertebral syndrome

The symptom complex 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

Symptoms are caused by 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:

  • noise in the ears;
  • dizziness;
  • jump in blood pressure;
  • dizziness and vomiting;
  • Headache;
  • visual impairment;
  • decreased work capacity;
  • drowsiness;
  • passed out

Cardiac syndrome

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

  • pain or burning sensation behind the sternum;
  • weakness and fatigue;
  • fast pulse

radicular syndrome

This condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) of nerve roots emerging from the spinal column in the cervical region. Depending on the extent of the damage, a person may experience:

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

Often, several nerve roots are involved in the pathological process at once, as a result of which several characteristic symptoms are observed at once.

level

In the process of development, cervical osteochondrosis goes through four successive stages (degrees), which determine the severity of the symptoms and the general condition of the patient.

  • 1 level. The thickness of the intervertebral disc is slightly reduced. Symptoms are almost absent, sometimes there is a slight discomfort in the neck, for example, with a long stay in an uncomfortable position.
  • 2 levels. Disc height becomes smaller, pathological growth of cartilaginous tissue begins, protrusions (protrusions) occur. The pain becomes stronger, stiffness in the cervical region accompanies it.
  • 3 levels. The fibrous ring that surrounds the nucleus of the torn disc, an intervertebral hernia is formed. The spinal column appears deformed, the risk of vertebral dislocation and subluxation increases. The pain becomes permanent, other symptoms of osteochondrosis accompany it.
  • 4 levels. Irreversible changes occur in the spine: bone growth appears, the intervertebral disc is replaced by scar tissue and loses its ability to absorb loads. Symptoms become noticeable and have a significant impact on the patient's lifestyle and well-being. The quality of life is deteriorating.

Diagnostics

To find the cause of pain or dizziness, patients can turn to doctors of various specialties: therapists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists. For the diagnosis of osteochondrosis, a comprehensive examination is required, which includes:

  • radiography and computed tomography: effective only in the late stages of disease development, when changes become clearly visible;
  • magnetic resonance imaging: due to the high level of visualization, it allows you to see even early changes; is now the main diagnostic method;
  • duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck: allows you to assess the quality of blood flow, to identify vasoconstriction; used to determine the cause of headaches and dizziness.

It is mandatory to conduct a survey and examination of the patient, determine the pain zone and the level of mobility of the spine, and evaluate the quality of reflexes. For differential diagnosis with other diseases with similar symptoms, the following may be prescribed:

  • ECG, heart ultrasound;
  • daily monitoring of ECG and blood pressure;
  • chest x-ray;
  • narrow specialist consultation: cardiologist, ENT.

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach and includes:

  • medical effects;
  • physiotherapy;
  • physiotherapy exercises;
  • massage;
  • surgery.

Medical treatment

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

  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): aimed at relieving pain and inflammation; used in the form of tablets, injections, ointments, plasters;
  • steroid drugs (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone): also used to relieve inflammation when NSAIDs are ineffective;
  • muscle relaxants (mydocalm): drugs that eliminate reflex muscle spasms, thereby 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;
  • sedatives 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 brain vessels, drugs that prevent nausea and dizziness, etc.

Treatment is not medicine

Non-pharmacological treatment methods are used without exacerbation. Depending on the clinical situation used:

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

Non-drug treatments help reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations. It works indirectly:

  • increase blood supply to the affected area, metabolism and regeneration processes;
  • increase the effect of the drug;
  • helps strengthen the muscular skeleton and stabilize the spinal column;
  • reduce the load on the vertebral disc;
  • relieves muscle spasms and restrictions.

Surgery

The help of a surgeon is needed in advanced cases of the disease, when medical methods are no longer effective. Some operations are in use:

  • surgery to remove a herniated disc (microdiscectomy, endoscopic or transfacet surgery);
  • laminectomy: removal of the spinous process or vertebral arch, thereby reducing the load on the spinal cord root;
  • nucleoplasty: hernia repair by removing part of the intervertebral disc nucleus.

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

physiotherapy for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Complications

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

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

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

Prevention

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

  • lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypodynamia;
  • minimize or eliminate heavy lifting;
  • sleep on orthopedic mattresses and pillows;
  • Do a regular warm-up if you have to work in front of the computer for a long time.

The ideal sport for osteochondrosis is swimming. Water unloads the spinal column, and active movement contributes to the formation of the muscular skeleton.

Treatment at the clinic

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

  • vertebrologist consultation;
  • modern drug regimens to relieve pain and relieve the condition;
  • drug restrictions for quick pain relief;
  • effective types of physiotherapy;
  • exercise therapy training under the supervision of an experienced instructor, complex development for homework;
  • rehabilitation doctor consultation;
  • massage therapy;
  • acupuncture;
  • manual therapist services if necessary.

Pathology of the cervical spine

It is a violation of the cervical spine that is very often accompanied by weakness and cephalalgia, because an important blood vessel, the vertebral artery, passes through it. They are responsible for adequate nutrition of the brain, and therefore, when they are squeezed by displaced vertebrae or other structures, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This leads to the development of tissue ischemia, which is accompanied by headaches, weakness and several other symptoms. This includes:

Often today, people of different ages, sexes, social status are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, as well as its complications - intervertebral protrusions and hernias. This disease is characterized by the occurrence 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 violation of the spinal roots passing there.

If left untreated, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the disc develop, and over time, a protrusion is formed - a partial protrusion of the disc outwards. It tends to increase gradually 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 accompanied by the formation of bone and cartilage growths - osteophytes - on the surface of the vertebral bodies. They can reach a large size and, like a hernia, mechanically compress the vertebral artery, which will cause weakness and headaches. At the same time, cephalgia is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, even without damage to the vertebral arteries.

Other symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are:

  • crunch in the neck when leaning, turning the head;
  • neck pain radiating to the back of the head, arms;
  • reflex spasms of neck muscles, which increase pain;
  • mobility restrictions;
  • violation of the sensitivity of various parts of the upper limbs, occiput, neck;
  • difficulty swallowing, etc.

This disease cannot go away by itself. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, but it is constantly developing, and in advanced cases requires surgery to remove a large hernia. Therefore, when the symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a neurologist.

When you need to see a doctor immediately

In some cases, when a headache occurs in combination with weakness, you should immediately seek medical help, because it may indicate the development of diseases and dangerous conditions, including stroke and meningitis (inflammation of the brain membrane).

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;
  • visual impairment, speech;
  • limb numbness.

Diagnosis and treatment

Therefore, headaches and weakness can accompany both relatively harmless conditions and serious diseases. If it happens with enviable frequency, and there are other symptoms, you should see a doctor: neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist. But when it is difficult to guess on your own what exactly causes a 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 prescribe a diagnosis or refer the patient to a specialist for treatment.

To diagnose the cause of headache and weakness, the following is prescribed:

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

Based on the results of the study, it is almost always possible to establish the cause of headache and weakness, and therefore, to choose an effective treatment strategy. It is developed individually for each patient and aims to improve the general condition and eliminate the detected disease. Therefore, for the treatment of headaches and weakness can be used:

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

In any case, worrying symptoms such as headaches and weakness should not be ignored, especially if they occur frequently. In such cases, you should definitely see a doctor. This will prevent increased weakness, the development of existing pathological changes, related complications, and in a short time. After all, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it.