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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 are involved. This causes the development of a whole complex of symptoms that completely subjugate the patient's life.

symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

General information

Intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, covered on top by a layer of cartilaginous tissue. They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae when running, walking and jumping, as well as contributing to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spine.

In the process of natural aging, as well as in conditions of increased load, a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc occurs. The metabolism in its core is disturbed, cracks appear in the surrounding fibrous ring. There are disc bulges - bulges and hernias. As the disease progresses, cartilaginous tissue and bones are involved, osteophytes appear - bone growths that cause limited mobility and severe pain.

Since pathological changes occur 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 spasm. As a result, a person experiences characteristic symptoms by which a disease can be suspected.

The reasons

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

  • excess body weight;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • sedentary work;
  • incorrect posture;
  • chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet), contributing to uneven distribution of the load on the spine;
  • congenital pathologies of the development of the spine, as well as injuries;
  • excessive and repetitive stress on the spine;
  • 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, that is, it seems to a person that surrounding objects rotate before his eyes;
  • pain in the back of the head, neck, collar zone: its intensity depends on the degree of development of the disease; mild and episodic at an early stage, spreads over the entire head and becomes permanent; periodically the attacks become unbearable, as a result of which the person cannot even move his head;
  • noise or ringing in the ears: occurs when changing position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
  • feeling short of breath, inability to take a deep breath; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath occurs;
  • nausea and vomiting: associated with circulatory disorders in certain areas of the brain, aggravated by trying to turn the head;
  • decreased visual acuity, fluttering flies or fog in front of the eyes: these indicate an insufficient blood supply to the brain; occur in 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, perspiration, dryness, problems swallowing: they are often one of the first signs of pathology.
  • pain in the shoulder
  • finger numbness

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

spinal syndrome

The symptom complex is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spine. 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 supplying blood to the brain. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

  • noise in the ears;
  • dizziness;
  • jumps in blood pressure;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • headache;
  • Visual impairment;
  • decreased work capacity;
  • somnolence;
  • faint.

heart syndrome

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

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

radicular syndrome

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

  • numbness or pain in the back of the neck;
  • 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 once, as a result of which several characteristic symptoms are observed at the same time.

stages

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

  • 1 stage. The thickness of the intervertebral discs is slightly reduced. Symptoms are practically absent, sometimes there is slight discomfort in the neck, for example, with a long stay in an uncomfortable position.
  • 2 stage. The height of the disc becomes even less, pathological growth of cartilaginous tissue begins, bumps (bumps) appear. The pain grows stronger, stiffness in the cervical region joins it.
  • 3 stage. The fibrous ring around the nucleus of the disc is ruptured, forming an intervertebral hernia. The spine is noticeably deformed, the risk of dislocations and subluxations of the vertebrae increases. The pain becomes permanent, other symptoms of osteochondrosis join it.
  • 4 stage. Irreversible changes occur in the spine: bone growths appear, the intervertebral disc is replaced by scar tissue and loses its ability to absorb load. The symptoms become pronounced and have a significant impact on the patient's lifestyle and well-being. Quality of life is declining.

Diagnosis

In search of the causes of pain or dizziness, the patient can turn to doctors of different specialties: therapist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist. For the diagnosis of 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;
  • MRI: due to the high degree of visualization, it allows you to visualize even the initial changes; it is currently the main diagnostic method;
  • duplex scan of the arteries of the head and neck: it allows to evaluate the quality of the blood flow, to identify vasoconstriction; used to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness.

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

  • ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
  • 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 objective of drug treatment is to relieve pain and dizziness, restore normal functioning of nerve roots and, if possible, stop or delay the destruction of cartilaginous tissue. Depending on the situation are assigned:

  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): intended to relieve pain and inflammation; they are 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 to improve the conduction of nerve impulses;
  • sedatives for severe pain to improve sleep and reduce the emotional component of pain;
  • decongestants for pinched nerve root;
  • chondroprotectors: drugs that help restore cartilage tissue.

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

non-drug treatment

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

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

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

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

Surgery

The help of surgeons is needed 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 or transfacet surgery);
  • laminectomy: removal of the spinous processes or arch of the vertebra, thereby reducing the load on the root of the spinal cord;
  • nucleoplasty: repair of a hernia by removing part of the nucleus from 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, comorbidities and individual characteristics of the patient's organism.

physiotherapy for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Complications

Osteochondrosis causes rupture 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;
  • significant loss or reduction of 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, then even with existing changes, its progression will significantly slow down. Doctors recommend:

  • lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypodynamia;
  • minimize or eliminate heavy lifting;
  • sleep on orthopedic mattress and pillow;
  • Warm up regularly 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 structure.

Treatment at the clinic

Doctors at the clinic offer their patients complex methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis, including:

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

Cervical spine pathologies

These are violations in the cervical spine that are often accompanied by weakness and headache, since important blood vessels, the vertebral arteries, pass through it. 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 disrupted. This leads to the development of ischemia of its tissues, which is accompanied by headaches, weakness and a number of other symptoms. These include:

Often today, people of different ages, gender, social status are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, as well as its complications - intervertebral bumps and hernias. These diseases are 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 not treated, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs progress, and over time a bulge forms - a bulge of part of the disc outward. It tends to gradually increase in size and later 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 cartilaginous 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 headache. At the same time, headache 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:

  • crunching in the neck when stooping, turning the head;
  • neck pain radiating to the back of the head, arms;
  • reflex spasm of the neck muscles, which increases pain;
  • mobility restrictions;
  • disturbances of sensitivity of various parts of the upper limbs, occiput, neck;
  • swallowing difficulties, etc.

The disease cannot go away on its own. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, but it is in constant progression and, in advanced cases, requires surgery to remove large hernias. Therefore, when your symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a neurologist.

When to see a doctor urgently

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

The 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

Thus, headache and weakness can accompany relatively harmless conditions and serious illnesses. If they occur 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 headache, it is better to initially contact a therapist. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional research methods and, based on their results, taking into account the clinical picture, will establish a diagnosis or refer the patient to a specific specialist for treatment.

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

  • KLA, OAM, biochemical blood test - allow you to detect inflammatory processes, as well as disorders in the functioning of individual organs, metabolism;
  • ECG, ultrasound 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-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging 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 establish the cause of the headache and weakness and therefore choose an effective treatment strategy. It is developed individually for each patient and is aimed at both improving the general condition and eliminating the detected disease. Therefore, for the treatment of headache and weakness, you can use:

  • drug therapy, including individually selected drugs, in particular NSAIDs, against migraine, to improve blood supply to the brain, highly specific drugs;
  • physiotherapy procedures that help to increase the effectiveness of other treatment methods and consolidate the results achieved;
  • manual therapy, the main purpose of which is to restore the spine, the state 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 will prevent further weakness, progression of existing pathological changes, associated complications, and in a short time. After all, the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the easier it will be to eliminate it.