Osteochondrosis is a dystrophically depth disease, during which there is a violation of the structure and function of the intervertebral discs.Osteochondrosis of the neck is a damage to the cervical spine.
During the pathological process with osteochondrosis of the neck of the pulp of the intervertebral disk (its central, soft part) ossifies, losing its depreciation properties.The cervical spine loses flexibility, mobility, blood vessels and nerve endings are infringed in the canals between the vertebrae.The peculiarity of this pathology is that its symptoms can resemble signs of other diseases, as a result of which the diagnosis of the disease is difficult and adequate treatment is prescribed too late when irreversible changes have already begun in the cartilage tissue.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which will be described below, as well as cervical osteochondrosis, develop in middle and older age, earlier in men, and somewhat later in women, and in recent years a significant “rejuvenation” of the neck osteochondrosis has been noted.Of course, over the years, even in a healthy spine, the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is replaced by fibrous fibers over time, it is compacted and hardened.This process is natural, it leads to a decrease in the mobility of the spine, but by pain, as a rule, it is not accompanied, since the processes of fibrosing do not affect the nerve endings and do not provoke infringement.In contrast to natural physiological, pathological changes in the intervertebral discs, characteristic of osteochondrosis, spread outside the cartilage, which provokes the compression of blood vessels and nerve endings, pain and vascular syndrome.
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Partly in the development of osteochondrosis of the neck “guilty”, the upset of the modern person and the corresponding distribution of loads along the spinal column, as well as the natural processes of aging of the body tissues, in addition, there are a number of provoking the development and progression of this pathology:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- long stay in the same position during work;
- excess body weight;
- ongoing injuries of the spine in the neck;
- chronic stress, constant nervous tension;
- regular hypothermia of the muscles of the collar zone (for example, when it is near the air flow from the air conditioner);
- Congenital vertebral anomalies and intervertebral discs.
What is the dangerous osteochondrosis of the neck?
First of all, osteochondrosis of the neck complicates a number of movements, makes them painful, putting his contribution in the hypodynamy of the patient, who in itself is harmful.A vicious circle arises: small physical activity provokes osteochondrosis, which makes the patient even less active physically, which in turn contributes to the progression of the disease.
In addition, in the channels along the vertebrae of the cervical region, the most important nervous plexuses and blood vessels are held, the irritation and infringement of which causes reflex headaches, chronic dizziness, destabilization of blood pressure, which can make the patient inconsistent, significantly reduce the quality of his life.
The special danger of osteochondrosis of the neck is in its difficult diagnosis and high probability of improper, inadequate treatment.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are worn out, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.As a result, the patient, as a rule, addresses the doctor even when the processes in the intervertebral joints were an irreversible character.The most important symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck include:
- dizziness;
- headache;
- Sharp changes in blood pressure.
All of the listed signs are non-specific, they can be indicated not only for cervical or cervical osteochondrosis, but also for many other diseases.Therefore, it is very important for any of these symptoms to consult a doctor and undergo a full medical examination in order to find out the true cause of the condition.
In addition, cervicalgia is characteristic of the neck osteochondrosis, or pain in the neck.It can either localize in the back, “in the depths” of the neck, and give it to the shoulder, hand.The sudden beginning of a pain attack is characteristic - immediately after awakening, after sneezing or coughing, laughter, sharp movement.The pain, as a rule, is moderate, is combined with a crunch in the cervical vertebrae when trying to turn the head, and if the process has not yet accepted an irreversible current, after a while it subsides on its own.
Separately, it should be said about fluctuations in blood pressure in cervical osteochondrosis.This is a nonspecific symptom, but there are some signs according to which the connection of the jumps of blood pressure with osteochondrosis can be established.Such a connection is characterized by fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the day.Long -term hypertension, on the contrary, is atypical for osteochondrosis.The cause of pressure fluctuations lies in the reflex reaction of the nerve endings in the walls of blood vessels in response to their irritation and compression.As a rule, blood pressure leaps for osteochondrosis are accompanied by headache, pain in the limbs, impaired muscle and skin sensitivity in the collar zone.
In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by a number of syndromes (combinations of several symptoms):
- Vertebral - a number of symptoms associated with damage to the bone tissue of the vertebrae (the pain in the neck when trying to turn the head, violation of the mobility of the cervical spine, the morphological changes in the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs);
- Vail artery syndrome - A number of symptoms indicating the connection of the pathological process with the vertebral arteries.With insufficient blood flow in the artery, when it is compressed, the noise in the ears, dizziness, skills of blood pressure, nausea up to vomiting, a sense of stunning.The irritation of the nerve endings in the walls of the arteries is manifested by migraines, the flicker of “flies in the eyes”, and a temporary decrease in visual acuity.Oxygen starvation of brain tissue, which feed the vertebral arteries, is manifested by fainting, chronic drowsiness, a slight constant headache, a sense of weakness, a decrease in concentration of attention and performance.The syndrome is characteristic not only for osteochondrosis, but also for atherosclerosis and other pathologies of circulatory disorders in the vertebral arteries;
- Koreshka - It occurs due to compression of the roots of the spinal nerves, one -sided defeat is characteristic.Typical symptoms: pain, impaired sensitivity, paresis and paralysis of the hands, face and neck;
- cardiac - A number of symptoms that occur as a result of reflex disorders of the heart (pain, burning behind the sternum, shortness of breath, tachycardia).
The degree of osteochondrosis of the neck
The first degree - characterizes the initial stage of the disease, clinically manifested by pain in the neck after sudden movements, sneezing.The pain is acute, resembles the discharge of electric current.At the same time, damage to the capsule of the intervertebral disk is morphologically, which provokes irritation of the nerve endings.The pain in the neck may be accompanied by pain in the back of the head, noise in the ears, flickering flies in front of his eyes.
The second degree - The period of progression of the disease.At this stage, the pain in the neck becomes constant, there is a narrowing of the intervertebral holes and in this connection - the regular infringement of the roots of the spinal nerves and the vessels taking place in them.The capsule of the intervertebral joint is thinner, the pathological mobility of the spine in this area occurs.The muscles atrophy.The fluctuation of blood pressure is characteristic.In a severe course of the disease, a “symptom of a falling head” may appear - the need to support the head with a hand to relieve pain and fix it in a certain position.
The third degree It is characterized by the destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc, as a result of which the complications of osteochondrosis are possible: dislocations of vertebrae, intervertebral hernias, curvature of the spine.The pain is intense, gives his hand to the shoulder, in addition to pain in the neck is disturbed by headaches, dizziness, sharp jumps in blood pressure, the patient loses working capacity.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of “neck osteochondrosis” is made on the basis of the examination and survey of the patient, the degree of morphological changes in the intervertebral discs helps to establish an X-ray examination and magnetic resonance imaging.In addition, it is important to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms: heart attack, hypertension, organic brain damage, migraine, which requires consultations of related specialists.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The volume of therapeutic measures for osteochondrosis of the neck directly depends on the degree of the pathological process.Treatment will be the more effective than before it is started, therefore it is especially important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, with the first episodes of pain in the neck, dizziness, not hoping that painful symptoms will pass on their own.
At the initial stage of the disease, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is reduced to eliminating the pain syndrome using NSAIDs and painkillers of local (ointment, creams) or systemic (tablets, injections) of action.In addition, the restoration of normal metabolic processes in the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral disk plays a huge role, for which chondroprotectors are used - drugs that stimulate metabolism in cartilage and normalization of its structure.Chondroprotectors stimulate the processes of production in the cartilage tissue of proteoglycans that form the structure of the cartilage.At the same time, inflammation and destructive processes in cartilaginous tissue are suppressed.
With the progression of the pathological process, an addition to the described therapy can serve as antispasmodics and muscle relaxants to eliminate muscle spasm.The doctor may recommend novocaine blockade to relieve pain, however, this method can be attributed exclusively to palliative, allowing the elimination of painful symptoms, but does not affect the course of the osteochondrosis of the neck.With advanced osteochondrosis, surgical treatment can be the only effective remedy, since the possibilities of conservative treatment at this stage are exhausted.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treating osteochondrosis have proven themselves well: electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, ultrasonic therapy, mud.Traditionally important parts of the complex treatment of osteochondrosis are massage and manual therapy.
It should be remembered that all physiotherapy methods must be used only if the neck osteochondrosis is in the remission stage, otherwise you can only activate the pathological process.Any manipulations during massage should be as gentle as possible.
Medical physical education (exercise therapy) with cervical osteochondrosis
An important role in the treatment of osteochondrosis is acquired by exercise therapy.Methods of physiotherapy exercises are different, however, their general essence is unchanged: neat restoration of the healthy mobility of the affected area of the spine and, associated with this stimulation of blood supply and nutrition of cartilage tissue.With the diagnosis of “cervical osteochondrosis”, the exercises should be as sparing as possible, the load on the spine is minimal.Sudden turns, rotational movements, deep inclinations are unacceptable, which can contribute to damage to the capsule of the intervertebral joint and aggravate the pathological process.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
The cartilage is not restored, and therefore it is advisable to prevent its progression than to then try to treat the consequences.The basis of the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is a healthy lifestyle, reasonable mobility, rational nutrition, body weight control, small breaks in gymnastics with sedentary professional activity.In addition, at the first signs of dysfunction from the cervical spine, you should consult a doctor and if there are indications to start taking chondroprotectors that will help normalize the metabolism in cartilage and significantly slow down the progression of the disease.