Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which the discs between the vertebrae thin out and are replaced by bone tissue. As the degenerative process progresses, the surrounding structures are affected. This leads to the development of a whole set of symptoms that completely subjugate the patient's life.

general information

The intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous annulus surrounding it, with a layer of cartilaginous tissue on top. They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae during running, walking and jumping, and contribute to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spinal column.

In the process of natural aging, as well as in case of increased load, the height of the intervertebral disc gradually decreases. Metabolism is disturbed in its core, and cracks appear in the surrounding fibrous ring. There are disc protrusions - protrusions and herniations. As the disease progresses, cartilage tissues and bones are involved, osteophytes appear - bone growths that cause limited movement and severe pain.

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

The reasons

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

• excessive body weight;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• sedentary work;
• incorrect posture;
• chronic diseases of the locomotor system (spinal curvature, flat feet), which contribute to the uneven distribution of the load on the spine;
• congenital pathologies of the development of the spinal column, as well as injuries;
• excessive, repetitive stress 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 are:

• dizziness: usually systemic in case of osteochondrosis, i. e. it seems to a person that the surrounding objects are rotating in front of his eyes;
• pain in the back of the head, in the neck, in the collar zone: its intensity depends on the degree of development of the disease; in the early stage it is mild and episodic, it covers the whole head and is 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 changing body position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
• feeling of lack of air, inability to take a deep breath; severe shortness of breath develops in severe cases;
• nausea and vomiting: associated with circulatory disorders in certain areas of the brain, aggravated when trying to turn the head;
• reduced visual acuity, flickering flies or fog in front of the eyes: indicates insufficient blood supply to the brain; occurs in an advanced stage of the disease;
• blood pressure fluctuations that are difficult to correct with medication;
• sudden fainting due to vasospasm;
• feeling of a lump in the throat, sweating, dryness, swallowing problems: these are often the first signs of pathology.
• shoulder pain
• numbness of the fingers

In addition to the general signs of cervical osteochondrosis, many syndromes are also characteristic of this disease.

vertebral syndrome

The symptom complex is related to damage to the bones and cartilages of the spinal column. Includes:

• impaired mobility in the neck region;
• pain when turning the head;
• They are 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 partially responsible for the blood supply to the brain. It is manifested by the following symptoms:

• noise in the ears;
• dizziness;
• jump in blood pressure;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• vision impairment;
• decrease in working capacity;
• drowsiness;
• faint.

Cardiac syndrome

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

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

radicular syndrome

The condition is related to damage (compression or pinching) of the nerve roots exiting 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;
• numbness of the tongue;
• collarbone pain, difficulty swallowing, hiccups;
• discomfort in the shoulder area, aggravated by hand movements;
• pain in shoulder blades and forearms;
• numbness of the index and middle fingers;
• numbness of the ring finger and little finger.

Most often, several nerve roots are involved in the pathological process at the same time, as a result of which several characteristic symptoms can be observed at the same time.

platoon

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

• 1 section. The thickness of the intervertebral discs decreases slightly. Symptoms are practically absent, sometimes there is slight discomfort in the neck, for example, in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
• 2-stage. The height of the vertebral disc becomes even smaller, the abnormal growth of the cartilaginous tissue begins, protrusions (protrusions) are formed. The pain intensifies, accompanied by stiffness in the neck region.
• 3 stages. The fibrous ring that surrounds the core of the disc is torn, and an intervertebral hernia develops. The spinal column is noticeably deformed, the risk of dislocations and subluxations of the vertebrae increases. The pain becomes constant, other symptoms of osteochondrosis join it.
• 4 stages. Irreversible changes occur in the spinal column: bone growths appear, the intervertebral disc is replaced by scar tissue and loses its load-bearing capacity. The symptoms become pronounced and have a significant impact on the patient's lifestyle and well-being. The quality of life decreases.

Diagnostics

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

• radiography and computed tomography: effective only in the later stages of the development of the disease, when the changes become clearly visible;
• magnetic resonance imaging: thanks to the high degree of visualization, you can also see the initial changes; currently the main diagnostic method;
• duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck: allows assessment of the quality of blood flow, identification of vasoconstriction; used to determine the causes of headache and dizziness.

It is mandatory to assess and examine the patient, determine the degree of mobility of the pain zones and the spinal column, and evaluate the quality of the reflexes. For differential diagnosis with other diseases with similar symptoms, the following can be prescribed:

• EKG, heart ultrasound;
• daily monitoring of ECG and blood pressure;
• Chest X-ray;
• consultations of narrow specialists: cardiologist, otolaryngologist.

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 the nerve roots, and, if possible, stop or slow down the destruction of the cartilage tissue. Depending on the situation, they are assigned the following:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): aimed at relieving pain and inflammation; it is 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 conduct 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 be prescribed to improve the microcirculation of cerebral vessels, drugs to prevent nausea and dizziness, etc.

It is not a drug treatment

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

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

Non-pharmacological treatment can help reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations. It works indirectly:

• improves the blood supply, metabolism and regeneration processes of the affected area;
• enhances the effect of medicines;
• helps to strengthen the muscular skeleton and stabilize the spine;
• reduces the load on the discs;
• eliminates muscle spasms and muscle blocks.

Surgery

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

• surgical removal of a herniated disc (microdiscectomy, endoscopic or transfacet surgery);
• laminectomy: removal of the spinous processes or arch of the vertebra, thereby reducing the load on the spinal cord root;
• nucleoplasty: hernia repair 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 compiled individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, comorbidities and the unique 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 swallowing;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• loss or significant decrease in visual acuity.

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

Prevention

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

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

The ideal sport for osteochondrosis is swimming. Water relieves the spine, and active movements contribute to the development of the muscular skeleton.

Treatment at the clinic

The doctors of the clinic offer their patients complex methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis, including:

• vertebrologist consultation;
• modern drug systems for pain relief and condition relief;
• drug blockade for rapid pain relief;
• effective types of physiotherapy;
• exercises, therapeutic exercises under the supervision of an experienced instructor, complex development of homework;
• rehabilitation doctor consultation;
• massage therapy;
• acupuncture;
• manual therapist services if necessary.

Pathologies of the cervical spine

Violation of the cervical spine is often accompanied by weakness and headache, as important blood vessels, the vertebral arteries, pass through it. They are responsible for the proper nutrition of the brain, so if they are compressed by displaced vertebrae or other structures, the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. This leads to the development of tissue ischemia, which is accompanied by headache, weakness and many other symptoms. These include:

Nowadays, people of different ages, genders and social status are diagnosed with osteochondrosis and its complications - protrusions and intervertebral hernias. These diseases are characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs that separate the vertebrae. As a result, their height decreases, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae and creates prerequisites for the violation of the spinal roots passing through them.

If it is not treated, the degenerative-dystrophic changes of the discs progress, and over time a protrusion is formed - the protrusion of part of the disc. It gradually increases in size and subsequently turns into an intervertebral hernia. In such cases, the risk of nerve root compression increases dramatically.

In addition, osteochondrosis and its complications are associated with the formation of bone and cartilage growth - osteophytes - on the surface of the vertebral bodies. They can reach large sizes and, like hernias, mechanically compress the vertebral arteries, leading 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 include:

• cracking of the neck when tilting, when turning the head;
• neck pain that radiates to the back of the head and arms;
• reflex spasm of the neck muscles, which increases the pain;
• mobility restrictions;
• violation of the sensitivity of the upper limbs, occiput, various parts of the neck;
• swallowing difficulties etc.

The disease cannot go away on its own. It is characterized by periods of aggravation and remission, but it progresses continuously, in advanced cases surgical intervention is required to remove large hernias. Therefore, when symptoms appear, consult a neurologist immediately.

When to see a doctor urgently

In some cases, when a headache is accompanied by weakness, you should immediately consult a doctor, as they can indicate the development of dangerous diseases and conditions, including stroke and meningitis (inflammation of the brain membranes).

Warning symptoms include:

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

Diagnosis and treatment

Thus, headache and weakness can accompany relatively harmless conditions as well as serious diseases. If they appear with enviable regularity and there are other symptoms, then consult a doctor: neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist. But if it is difficult to figure out on your own what exactly caused the violation of general well-being and cephalalgia, then it is better to contact a therapist first. If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional research methods and based on their results, taking into account the clinical picture, makes a diagnosis or refers 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 - enables the detection of inflammatory processes, as well as abnormalities in the work and metabolism of individual organs;
• EKG, ultrasound of the heart, vessels of the neck and head - provide data on the work and condition of blood vessels and the heart muscle;
• EEG - enables the detection of changes in the functioning of certain parts of the brain;
• X-ray, CT, MRI of the cervical spine - used to detect pathologies of the spine and assess their severity.

Based on the results of the tests, it is almost always possible to determine the cause of the headache and weakness, so an effective treatment strategy can be chosen. It is developed individually for each patient and is aimed both at improving the general condition and eliminating the recognized disease. Therefore, it can be used to treat headaches and weakness:

• drug therapy, including individually selected drugs, especially NSAIDs, against migraine, 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 occur frequently. In such cases, you should definitely consult a doctor. This avoids increased weakness, progression of existing pathological changes, related complications and within a short time. After all, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it.