Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, types, symptoms and methods of treatment

If you list the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis - almost every adult will say that he has felt them.This disease is indeed a significant spread: in developed countries, osteochondrosis occurs in 60-80% of the population.In order to distinguish whether a person really has cervical osteochondrosis or manifestations of a different condition, it is necessary to have information about this pathology.The article describes the causes of the disease, its characteristics and manifestations, methods of diagnosis and treatment.With information about the pathology, patients will be able to recognize it at home and seek help in a timely manner.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

The disease has a degenerative nature and damages the structure of the spine with the primary and secondary mechanism.The pathogenic mechanism of the pathology is that the structure of the spinal bond is damaged.

Usually there is a layer between these areas - pulpula tissue.It depreciated the spine and optimizes the motor process.With cervical osteochondrosis, this soft substance is calculated and converted into solid tissue.This damages the nerve endings and blood vessels, disrupting their function.

Depending on the level of damage, osteochondrosis may manifest through pain or high pressure, impaired consciousness or tingling of the tongue.This can be symptoms of the chest or back.This significantly complicates the diagnostic process.Patients may undergo several diagnostic consultations before reaching a profile specialist.The diagnosis process uses several methods that allow the exclusion of pathology from other organs and systems.

Gradually, the cervical osteochondrosis "is becoming more married" and is increasingly found in young patients.Modern young people are beginning to experience neck problems much earlier than their parents.

Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of the cervical region, which is customary to consider in two positions:

• Physiological changes.In fact, cartilage degeneration is a natural part of the development that is regulated by neuro -endocrine mechanisms and is irreversible.The process begins with the center of the pulpic layer and gradually goes to the periphery.The soft tissue is replaced with fibrous fibrous elements.Such a process does not practically bother the patient and manifests only when it affects the nerve endings.
• Pathological changes.Destruction of the vertebrae as a result of the effect of a set of factors.This process is ahead of physiological changes and leads to impaired spinal function.Symptoms accompany this condition almost always, as they spread beyond the structure of the cartilage and damage the nerve endings, the blood vessels.

The course of the disease can be of a different nature: sometimes pathology is compensated independently or vice versa - there are periods of exacerbation.At the same time as the pathological process, compensation mechanisms are included that temporarily prolong the function of the vertebrae and eliminate the symptoms.

However, the more increasing course of the disease leads to the destruction of the fibrous ring, the appearance of micro -cracks.The vertebrae lose their stability and fixation, which is manifested by a clinical picture of the disease.

In addition, cervical osteochondrosis is the impregnation of the pulp of the intervertebral space with calcium.This forms a type of hernia because the damaged vertebra is pressed into the body of the adjacent.These structures wear out and as a result there is a massive ossification of adjacent structures.

The course of cervical osteochondrosis has several stages:

• Stage 1 is the instability of the spinal structures and disruption of the discs;
• 2 stages - reduced spinal fixation and bulge of the disc;
• Stage 3 - rupture of a fibrous ring, severe symptoms and pain;
• The fourth stage is accompanied by difficulties in movement, acute pain and widespread bone spread.

Characteristics of the anatomical arrangement of the muscles and blood vessels - make the neck a vulnerable area of the body.The long course of osteochondrosis leads to many complications, including vascular nature.Many of them can cause significant harm to the patient's health and draw a pronounced risk.

Symptoms

The danger of cervical osteochondrosis is that it has not manifested itself in symptoms for a long time.This is facilitated by the masking of signs of the disease for another pathology, as well as independent administration of analgesic drugs.This makes the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis long and difficult.It is important not to slow down the diagnosis until the structure of the vertebrae is replaced by bone tissue.

Consider the main groups of symptoms found in osteochondrosis of the cervical region and their characteristics.

Dizziness

As mentioned above, most symptoms of osteochondrosis may be characteristic of other conditions.Thus, dizziness is accompanied by vascular pathologies of the central nervous system, damage to the hearing aid, malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus and cardiovascular disease.Dizziness is accompanied by intoxication, inflammatory processes.It is important to take into account a holistic clinical picture, not individual symptoms.Also, one must learn to distinguish between the main types of dizziness because of the causes of its occurrence.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a systematic type of dizziness occurs.It seems to the patient that the surrounding objects are beginning to be in motion.Such a disorder can be observed after injury to the head and neck, as well as in the background of diseases of the vestibular apparatus.

Headache

Again, it is extremely difficult to call this symptom specific.Head pain can accompany fatigue, increased pressure, and serious acute conditions.With osteochondrosis, headache manifests as a result of compression of nerve endings.This leads to spasm of the arteries that blend the brain, as well as to increase the pressure in the central nervous system system.The result is a pronounced feeling of headache.

The characteristics of the headache in this case are dull character and a sense of pulsation.Sometimes the pain can manifest itself with attacks, and sometimes it is permanent.Osteochondrosis pain parameters resemble the characteristics of that with hypertension, angina.The differences in headache in cardiology pathology are that it is accompanied by chest pain, heart rate, changes in ECG.Therefore, only a doctor can finally determine the cause of the pain.

Pain syndrome with different localization

In addition to the headache, the patient is often concerned about neck pain.This is called cervical and complication of osteochondrosis.Painful sensations can radiate to the upper limb.Patients note that the pain in their hands occurs after waking up, against the background of sudden movements.The painful sensations go away on their own after a short break.

The characteristic characteristics of cervical osteochondrosis pain syndrome are listed below:

• The unpleasant sensations are located in deep tissues of the neck;
• Head turns are often accompanied by pain and crunch;
• There is muscle weakness, numbness, cooling of the hands.

Most often, osteochondrosis of the neck affects two lower vertebrae - 6 and 7. For small self -diagnosis, this method is recommended.It is necessary to pay attention to the combination of neck pain and fingers.Most often, if the sixth vertebrae is affected will be felt in the thumb, and changes in the 7th vertebra are accompanied by discomfort in the middle finger.

Changes in blood pressure

Such a symptom occurs when nerve endings and blood vessels are affected by changes in the vertebrae.How to distinguish this phenomenon from hypertension?First of all, hypertension for cervical osteochondrosis is not permanent and has its own jumps within a day.

Osteochondrosis consists of the following syndromes:

• VertebralSIt is also called vertebrae, indicating that bones and cartilage tissue are involved in the pathological process.This leads to the formation of such symptoms: limiting the motor activity of the neck, the soreness of its turns, the radiological changes in the picture of the cervical spine.It is the simultaneous appearance of these signs that is the vertebrae syndrome.
• Spinal artery syndromeSIt occurs when the vascular rays are involved in the process that are responsible for the blood supply to the tissues of the central nervous system.Symptoms suggest that brain tissue has ceased to receive the right amount of nutrients.How to recognize this syndrome?The first signs are dizziness, a sense of tinnitus, differences in blood pressure, the appearance of a "veil" in front of the eyes.This suggests that one of the vertebrates is in a strangled state.Each vessel has its own nerve endings.If you drain those who innervate the vertebrae - migraines, numbness, short -term visual reduction on the one hand will appear.As a result, changes in the vessel lead to the fact that the brain needs oxygen.At that time, a person experienced drowsiness, short -term disorders of consciousness, loses attention and control, works worse and remembers information.With such a clinical picture, it is necessary to differentiate osteochondrosis of the cervical cervix with atherosclerosis of the spinal arteries and to squeeze the tumor or inflammation.
• Carden syndromeSIt is manifested by burning in the chest area, the appearance of shortness of breath.One feels his frequent pulse, becomes tired and irritable.This picture is also characteristic of cardiology pathology, such as angina, coronary syndrome, heart attack.The exact conclusion about the causes of such symptoms can be made after the ECG passed.
• Rook syndromeSThe cervical department innervates 8 pairs of nerves, each of which has roots - the place to get out of the nerve from the vertebrae.When participating in osteochondrosis, the patient has a decrease in sensitivity or vice versa - severe pain.It is possible to tingle whether its soreness, reducing the sensitivity of the tongue, the freezing area, the pain in the area of the surveillance can be observed.Sometimes there are disorders of swallowing, movements in the belt of the upper limb, numbness of the fingers.

The causes of cervical osteochondrosis

The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is the improper distribution of load on the spine.The reasons may be different - a person can carry a bag or weight in one hand, make an incorrect posture when sitting or sleeping on an uneven surface.It increases the load and high pillow and shoes that do not match the anatomical characteristics of the foot.Such causes may seem insignificant, but they have been working for a long time and, as a result, lead to a logical consequence in the form of osteochondrosis.

Among the risk factors that increase the possibility of the disease:

• Low level of physical activity;
• increased body weight;
• transmitted spinal injuries;
• impaired posture or pathology of the foot;
• Reduced blood supply to the cervical spine.

All this leads to the fact that the wrong position of the vertebrae is formed.The weight is not evenly distributed to all sections of the cervical region, and some of the departments carry heavy loads.The answer is a change in tissues.

To one degree or another, the situation may worsen:

1. Suffered a serious illness or injury leading to a depleted health;
2. Frequent tensions;
3. Impaired metabolism in the body, decreased consumption of trace elements, increased consumption or lack of absorption in the intestine;
4. Occupational diseases (more special, vibration disease);
5. Hereditary tendency to osteochondrosis;
6. Scoliosis and other disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
7. Violation of the drinking regime;
8. Low quality nutrition and bad habits;
9. Pregnancy.

As you can see, there is not only a reason for osteochondrosis.There are only a set of factors that can provoke it.Again, the same reason affects different people in different ways.The state of health, duration, intensity and number of risk factors, background pathologies and lifestyle play a role.

Modern methods of treatment

Even before prescribing the therapy, the patient must change the lifestyle.For this, it is necessary to change the level of loads that the cervical department is experiencing.It is necessary to monitor the quality of the diet, to distribute the necessary time for sleep and rest to beware of stress.If the body has a background pathology that exacerbates the course of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment and eliminate it.The choice of treatment depends on the stage of osteochondrosis and the well -being of the patient.

Treatment can be:

• Non -drug;
• medicines;
• Surgical.

Also consider folk methods and rehabilitation measures.

The treatment methods that are not targeted consist in the use of therapeutic exercises, special simulators or devices, manual therapy, as well as physiotherapy methods.The right goal is facilitated by improving the blood supply to the vertebrae or slowing the ossification process.

As for manual therapy or massage, be sure to consult a doctor about their appropriateness.Do not assign these methods independently.In some stages of osteochondrosis, massage can only harm and lead to long immobilization.If manual therapy is performed according to indications, it is able to relieve the symptoms and improve the patient's well.

From physiotherapy techniques, with cervical osteochondrosis, the following are used:

1. magnetotherapy;
2. therapeutic baths;
3. Therapeutic shower;
4. mud;
5. Electrophoresis.

The use of medicines is shown in the event of an exacerbation of the situation.Many of them eliminate inflammation and acute pain, improve the blood supply to the tissues, restore cartilage structures and provide mobility of the joints.This is a complete approach to the causes and symptoms, not a unilateral solution to the problem.After taking properly selected medicines, the patient is again able to move his neck, ceases to experience irritation, worsened mood, returns to normal work and sleep.

Consider groups of medicines used for cervical osteochondrosis:

Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs

They are used to reduce inflammatory phenomena in the tissues, eliminate pain, relieve the pressure of the roots and blood vessels.With minor symptoms, ointments and gels are used, and more intensive pain syndrome is stopped by tablet forms.The administration of injection is prescribed with severe pain intensity and its sharp occurrence.

They may have other trade names, but the active substance remains unchanged.The patient should take medication with the course only after the approval of the attending physician.Please note that these agents should be taken after a meal as they can irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

Vasodilators

Their function is the expansion of vessels that are narrowed against the background of the course of osteochondrosis.Medicines - pentoxifillin, Actovegin, Berlithion.These drugs will relieve vertebral artery syndrome, improve blood flow to the vertebrae and the patient's good.It is necessary to monitor the lack of contraindications to these substances in the patient, as well as their compatibility with other medicines that a person is taking.

Muscle relaxants

The purpose of this group is to reduce the spasm of the neck muscles.This accelerates and optimizes the treatment process as muscle tension acts on vessels and nerve endings.Regular intake normalizes the tone of blood vessels, reduces the feeling of pain.

Chondroprotectors

Take to improve the condition of the cartilage elements of the spine and to protect their structure from destruction.It is necessary to take these substances long, otherwise they will not have the right effect.Patients may not like that the effect occurs only after 6 months of use.However, if this effect is achieved, it will be constant and will significantly improve the clinical picture.

Soothing

They are used as an auxiliary substance to eliminate depressive manifestations and stress.In mild cases, valerian, mothers, mint and lemon balm are used.If depression progresses, more serious substances are needed.They will improve sleep and mood, help the patient adjust to effective treatment.

Vitamins

Taking B vitamins. They can be recommended by food - this time the introduction of vitamins is the most physiological and does not carry a special load on the liver.If vitamin deficiency is observed, vitamin complexes and medicines may be used.This will improve sensitivity and innervation, speed up the process of tissue repair.

As the treatment process is lengthened and gradually carries the effect, all stages of medication are important.Make sure the medicines are stored in the correct place as indicated on the package.If the box is written that you have to store medicines in a dark or cool place - do it, otherwise the medicine will lose its properties.Observe the duration of the course and the frequency of administration - some substances tend to accumulate in the body and only then have the right effect.

If the entry path is injected, the procedure should be performed by medical staff or a trained person, as the correct introduction increases efficiency.The forms of the tablet should be taken after a meal washed with water.Pay attention to this point as other liquids are not suitable for it.The combination of grapefruit juice and medicines is especially dangerous - enzymes contained in this fruit, slow down liver function and reduce the delivery of medicines to the tissue.

Surgical treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

This method is used when cervical osteochondrosis leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the spine.This can happen as a result of hernia or bulge on the disc.The narrowing of the channel is accompanied by significant stenosis of the vessels and compression of the nerve rays.If isolated hernia is observed on the intervertebral discs, it is also an indication of surgery.The operation is necessary for a spondylist - shifting the vertebrae from the axis.In addition to these indications, the doctor draws attention to the quality of life of the patient, his or her condition, the severity of the symptoms.

Types of surgical interventions:

• Supported spondylodesis.The essence is to eliminate the damaged disk and replace it with a movable connection, a prosthesis that performs the function of a remote structure;
• Dynamic stabilization of the spine.A silicone implant is introduced between the rotating processes along the spine, which properly distributes the load and stabilizes the vertebrae;
• Evaporation of the disk core with a laser beam.This is a modern technique that shows good results.The laser affects the nucleus of the disc, reducing its size and eliminating hernia.The intervention is atraumatic, it can be performed under local anesthesia.However, a set of indications for such manipulation is limited, it can only be done at this stage.When the size of hernia is not more than 6 mm.This again focuses on why early search for a doctor and timely diagnosis is useful.

Surgical interventions are performed in hospital.Depending on the degree of complexity of treatment, the duration of the postoperative period and the rehabilitation differs.Conducting surgery implies an additional complex of medicines - medicines for the preparation of the patient, analgesics, antibacterial therapy to prevent septic complications.

Diagnostics

The onset of the diagnosis is the onset of the patient's address to the doctor and the list of symptoms.The doctor listens to the patient's complaints, describes them in detail, forms them from symptoms of syndromes.Also, the specialist needs details about clinical manifestations: time of occurrence, whether the methods of treatment and what influence, the nature of the pain, the periods of high pressure and others are used.Important information is information about the uncomfortable position during sleep, work, bad habits, background diseases.All this is clear during the conversation.

X -ray is carried out in direct and side projections.A functional radiological examination is performed at the same time as the neck rotation.The contrast of the spinal canal is used to better visualize the affected areas.The contrast can be introduced into the vessel or the disc itself, depending on which method is called angiography or discography.In the photo you can see tissue seals, calcification deposits, displacement of the structures of the spine.

As for magnetic resonance imaging, this is the most information method, which is also painless and fast.The doctor can see damage and determine the severity of the process.Scanning the tomograph will help the surgeon to prepare for surgery, determine hernia, changes in nerve endings and blood vessels.

MRI is performed in the absence of contraindications, which are metal objects in the body, claustrophobia.Pregnancy.

Computer tomography also gives an accurate diagnostic picture.The study does not take long - about 10 minutes and does not require special preparation.The radiation load in this study is small, which makes tomography safe for health.Contraindications - pregnancy and lactation, childhood.

In addition to the methods that allow you to visualize the pathological process, it is necessary to use additional diagnostic manipulations.

These include an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the head and neck.Diagnosis indications are dizziness, headache, pressure drop.The specialist will determine the patency of the blood vessels and the condition of the blood flow.In this case, the most information method is the duplex scan of blood vessels.

Prevention

As you can see, cervical osteochondrosis has a diverse clinic, many syndromes and requires a serious approach in both diagnosis and treatment.If you pay attention to your sensations, listen to your body and respond to its signals, an early diagnosis is possible.In the first stages of the disease - treatment has a high effect.

To do this, contact a profile specialist and go through the required examination methods.High quality and timely treatment will avoid complications, improve well -being and quality of life, eliminate depression and normalize sleep.Adjust yourself in a positive way and you can again feel freedom of movement.