Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by 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 provokes the development of a whole complex of symptoms that completely overwhelm the patient's life.

general informations

Intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous ring around it, covered with a layer of cartilage tissue. They perform a shock-absorbing function, prevent damage to the vertebrae during running, walking and jumping, and also contribute to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spine.

During the natural aging process, as well as under conditions of increased load, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. The metabolism in 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 are involved in it, osteophytes appear - bony 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 spasms. 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 an 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 are spinning in front of 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, it spreads to the whole 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 changing position after a long period of immobility, often accompanied by dizziness;
• a feeling of lack of air, the inability to breathe deeply; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath develops;
• nausea and vomiting: associated with circulatory disorders in certain areas of the brain, aggravated by trying to turn the head;
• decreased visual acuity, flickering flies or fog in front of the eyes: indicate 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;
• lump in the throat, sweating, dryness, swallowing problems: these 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 syndromes characteristic of this disease.

Vertebral syndrome

The symptom complex is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spine. He understands:

• reduced 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 a narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partly responsible for the blood supply to the brain. It is manifested by the following symptoms:

• noise in the ears;
• dizziness;
• blood pressure jumps;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• visual impairment;
• decrease in working capacity;
• drowsiness;
• fainting.

Heart syndrome

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

• pain or burning sensation behind the breastbone;
• weakness and fatigue;
• Rapid impulse.

radicular syndrome

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

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

steps

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

• 1 step. The thickness of the intervertebral discs is slightly 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 floor. The height of the disc becomes even smaller, the pathological growth of cartilage tissue begins, protrusions (protrusions) occur. The pain becomes stronger, stiffness in the cervical region joins it.
• 3 step. The fibrous ring surrounding the core of the disc is torn, an intervertebral hernia is formed. 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 step. Irreversible changes occur in the spine: bone growths appear, 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 lifestyle and well-being of the patient. The quality of life deteriorates.

Diagnostic

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

• x-ray and computed tomography: effective only in the later stages of the development of the disease, when the changes become clearly visible;
• magnetic resonance imaging: due to the high degree of visualization, it allows you to see even the initial changes; is currently the main diagnostic method;
• duplex ultrasound 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 conduct a survey and examination of the patient, to determine the areas of pain and the degree of mobility of the spine, and to assess the quality of reflexes. For differential diagnosis with other diseases with similar symptoms, the following may be prescribed:

• ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
• daily ECG and blood pressure monitoring;
• pulmonary radiography;
• consultations of narrow specialists: cardiologist, ENT.

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach and includes:

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

Medical treatment

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

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): intended to relieve 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 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 root;
• chondroprotectors: drugs that help restore cartilage tissue.

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

Non-drug treatment

Non-pharmacological methods of treatment are used without exacerbation. Depending on the clinical situation 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 exacerbations. This 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.

Operation

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

• surgical removal of a herniated disc (microdiscectomy, endoscopic or transfacet surgery);
• laminectomy: removal of the spinous processes or the 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 core 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 established individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, comorbidities and 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 swallowing;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• loss or significant reduction in visual acuity.

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

Prevention

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

• lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypodynamia;
• minimize or eliminate heavy loads;
• sleeping on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• Do regular warm-ups if you have to work for a long time in front of the computer.

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

In-clinic treatment

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

• consultations with a vertebrologist;
• modern therapeutic regimens for pain relief and disease relief;
• drug blockade for quick pain relief;
• effective types of physiotherapy;
• exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of an experienced instructor, development of a complex for homework;
• consultations with a rehabilitation doctor;
• massage therapy;
• acupuncture;
• the services of a manual therapist if necessary.

Pathologies of the cervical spine

These are violations of the cervical spine, which are very often accompanied by weakness and headaches, since important blood vessels, the vertebral arteries, pass through it. They are responsible for proper nutrition of the brain, and therefore, when compressed 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. These include:

Very often today, people of different ages, sexes and social status are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, as well as its complications - protrusions and intervertebral hernias. These diseases are characterized by the occurrence of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs separating the vertebrae. As a result, their height decreases, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae and the creation of prerequisites for reaching the vertebral roots passing through them.

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

In addition, osteochondrosis and its complications are accompanied by the formation of bone and cartilaginous growths - osteophytes - on the surface of the vertebral bodies. They can grow to large sizes and, like hernias, mechanically compress the vertebral arteries, which will cause weakness and headaches. 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:

• crackle in the neck when tilting, turning the head;
• neck pain radiating to back of head, arms;
• reflex spasm of the neck muscles, which increases pain;
• mobility restrictions;
• violations of sensitivity of various parts of the upper extremities, occiput, neck;
• swallowing difficulties, etc.

The disease cannot go away on its own. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, but it constantly progresses and, in advanced cases, requires surgery to remove 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 occurs in combination with weakness, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this may indicate the development of dangerous diseases and conditions, including strokes and meningitis (inflammation of thebrain membranes).

The warning symptoms are:

• severe headache that comes on suddenly;
• 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, headaches and weakness can accompany both relatively harmless ailments 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 for yourself what exactly caused the violation of general well-being and headache, 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, make 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 work 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 different parts of the brain;
• X-ray, CT scan, MRI of the cervical spine - are indicated for detecting pathologies of the spine and assessing their severity.

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

• drug therapy, including individually selected drugs, in particular NSAIDs, for 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 achieved results;
• manual therapy, the main purpose 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 headaches and weakness should not be ignored, especially if they occur frequently. In such cases, you should definitely consult a doctor. This will prevent increased weakness, progression of existing pathological changes, associated complications and in a short time. After all, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it.