Currently, according to medical statistics, almost all people over the age of 25-30 complain of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. The disease affects this part of the spine more often than others. Pathology is a progressive degenerative process that affects the intervertebral discs and vertebrae located in the neck. The disease is equally common among men and women.
This is a dangerous and complex form of osteochondrosis, as there are large blood vessels in the neck that supply the brain and a large number of nerve endings. Disorders of innervation and blood flow lead to deterioration of the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Signs of Disease
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced than in other parts of the spine, even with minor damage. This is due to the fact that the vertebrae in the neck are located close to each other, and the intervertebral discs are of low height. This anatomical feature contributes to the fact that with osteochondrosis, nerve endings, spinal cord and blood vessels are more often compressed.
General symptoms:
- pain syndrome;
- weakness and decreased sensitivity in the upper limbs;
- restriction of neck movement;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- frequent dizziness;
- general weakness;
- deterioration of the functioning of the organs of perception (hearing, sight, touch, taste).
The pain is most often localized in the neck, radiating to the back of the head, shoulders, arms. The upper limbs are injured if the nerve root responsible for their innervation is crushed by the damaged vertebra. Pain in the back of the head is caused by spastic contractions of the neck muscles attached to the occipital bones and impaired blood circulation in this area.
Weakness of the hands is observed in patients if a nerve root is involved in the pathological process, which provides innervation of the muscular structures of the upper extremities.
Limited mobility and a characteristic chewing when turning or tilting the neck occur if bone growths appear in the cervical vertebrae, the height of the intervertebral discs decreases and the joints located between the vertebrae are affected.
The vertebrae in the neck have transverse processes that form a channel in which an artery that feeds the brain functions. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the vertebrae are displaced, connective tissue grows on them. This leads to compression of the cervical artery, deterioration of the blood supply to the cerebellum and the back of the brain. As a result, a person has frequent dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, and general weakness. In advanced cases, if the artery is involved in a pathological process or is severely compressed, then the blood supply to the cerebellum, occipital part, and cerebral cortex is significantly impaired. In this case, the functionality of the hearing organs, vision is reduced, numbness of the tongue and fingers is observed.
The symptoms of the disease also depend on which of the eight vertebrae is affected by a degenerative or inflammatory process. Sensitivity and movement disorders are caused by damage to the spinal roots, which are affected by certain vertebrae. Depending on this, the following manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are observed:
- the first vertebra - the neck and the occipital part of the head grow numb, their sensitivity decreases;
- second - there is soreness in the crown and occipital region;
- third - bitterness is felt and tenderness is reduced in the part of the neck where the compressed spinal root is located, the intensity of taste sensations is reduced, speech disorders are present;
- fourth - painful sensations radiate to the shoulder, shoulder, the patient worries about cardiac pain, respiratory disorders, neck muscle tone decreases;
- fifth - pain is noted in the neck, given on the outer surface of the shoulder;
- sixth - neck pain radiating to the shoulder, felt in the forearm and thumbs;
- seventh - pain is given to the shoulder, back of the shoulder, forearm and fingers (from the second to the fourth);
- eighth - the pain spreads from the neck to the shoulders, forearms and little fingers.
There are four degrees of cervical osteochondrosis, depending on the degree of the lesion. These are not the stages of the disease, but the severity of the symptoms, due to how widespread is the pathological process, in which the vertebrae are affected.
- In the first degree, clinical symptoms are absent or minimal. Patients complain of mild pain, aggravated by head movements. Treatment started at this stage of the disease will be effective. However, people often ignore the alarming symptoms or do not feel them, so they do not go to the doctor.
- Worsening of the pathological process increases the symptoms. In the second stage, the pain becomes more pronounced, it is given to the upper limbs, the shoulders. At this stage of development of the degenerative process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, as a result of which it finishes the nerve. This becomes the cause of the increased pain. For second degree osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, headaches, deteriorating health, and decreased performance are characteristic. Third degree osteochondrosis of the cervix is characterized by the formation of a herniated intervertebral disc herniation. The mobility of the neck is limited, during touching, the patient feels severe pain. With such a spread of the pathological process, the pain becomes constant, radiating to the upper limbs. There is a feeling of tension in the muscles attached to the occipital bones. Patients complain of frequent dizziness, general weakness, numbness in the hands.
- Fourth degree cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed when the intervertebral disc is completely destroyed by the degenerative process. It is replaced by fibrous tissue, which leads to a significant restriction of mobility. The spinal cord and blood vessels in the neck are affected. Such changes are characterized by a significant deterioration in the blood supply to the cerebellum and the occipital part of the brain. Oxygen starvation leads to impaired coordination of movements, impaired hearing, vision, numbness of the tongue, and speech disorders.
Treatment methods
A timely visit to a doctor when the first alarming symptoms appear, neck discomfort, reactions from the nervous system will prevent the progression of degenerative changes. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis consists of a number of therapeutic measures. Among them:
- taking medication;
- massage;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- physiotherapy procedures.
Treatment is performed at home and on an outpatient basis, under the supervision of a physician. In some cases, more radical methods may be required, then the patient is hospitalized.
Drug therapy
The following groups of medications are used to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxants;
- medicines that improve the rheological parameters of the blood;
- vitamin B
Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the intensity of pain, to reduce inflammation and swelling of the nerve root. Chondroprotectors restore damaged cartilage tissue to the intervertebral disc. Muscle relaxants relax the neck muscles, relieve spasms. Medications to improve blood flow help restore the damaged blood supply to the brain. B vitamins activate metabolism in nerve tissues. With severe pain, the doctor may prescribe analgesic medication. If the patient has severe pain syndrome, then analgesics are administered parenterally, once the pain subsides, they switch to pills.
In addition to pharmacy medications, the patient can use traditional methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis. Before using them, you should consult a doctor so that there is no conflict between medicines and non-traditional means. Decoctions and infusions from fennel seeds, hop cones, lilac flowers help stop the inflammatory process and relieve pain.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an effective way to fight osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It is necessary to treat this disease using such techniques, as a result of which the following results are achieved:
- pain intensity decreases;
- activates the restoration of affected bones, cartilage and muscle tissue;
- spasms and muscle tension are relieved;
- inflammatory process stops;
- improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the affected area and the brain.
The following types of procedures are considered most effective in treating osteochondrosis:
- drug electrophoresis (an electric current is applied to the affected area, which, in addition to activating blood flow and tissue restoration, improves the delivery of the active substance of the drug to the tissues affected by the degenerative process);
- ultrasound therapy (metabolic processes in the diseased area are activated, bitterness is reduced, inflammation stops);
- magnetotherapy (relieves swelling from the affected area, which helps reduce the intensity of pain);
- laser therapy (improves blood circulation in the area of the pathological process, has an anti-inflammatory effect).
Your doctor may also advise acupuncture, balneological procedures.
Physiotherapy exercises
Exercises are prescribed during the period when acute manifestations of the disease are prohibited. During gymnastics, there should be no worry and sorrow.
Complexation should be performed upon achieving a lasting remission to prevent relapse.
- Take a prone position, raise your head and body, leaning on your hands. The back is straight, the breathing is deep and even. Hold in position for a minute or two, then slowly get to the starting position. The number of repetitions is 3.
- Position - lying on the abdomen, arms along the body. Slowly turn your head, trying to touch your ear to the floor. Repeat 6 times on each side.
- Sitting or standing, tilt your head while sucking, trying to reach your chin with your chin. As you exhale, gently pull your head back, raising your eyes to the ceiling. The number of repetitions is 10-15.
- A good exercise to strengthen the neck muscles is to press the forehead into the hands. To achieve the effect, you need to press with the palms on the forehead and the forehead on the palms for 30 seconds. Repeat three times.
- Rotate your head in a circle. Exercise should be done slowly, smoothly. In each direction - 10 turns. The occurrence of dizziness when performing movements is unacceptable. If this happens, you should stop immediately.
All exercises should be done normally, without sudden movements, in case of deterioration of health, the appearance of nausea, dizziness, stop immediately.
Massage
The course is prescribed by the doctor in the absence of acute pain, can only be performed by a specialist with medical education. With such an illness, it is not recommended to contact non-professionals.
Healing effects of neck massage:
- improves blood and lymph flow to the affected area;
- muscles relax, spasm relieves;
- the intensity of painful sensations decreases.
Specialists use the full arsenal of massage movements: stroking, rubbing, kneading, squeezing and shaking.
Surgery
Surgery is indicated if conservative therapy does not bring results within six months, the patient suffers from severe pain, signs of nerve fiber damage and myelopathy are observed. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine continues with complications, there is a threat of stroke, there is a strong compression of the spinal cord, then surgery is necessary.
According to the indications, the following types of surgical interventions are used:
- endoscopic discectomy - removal of part or all of the intervertebral disc;
- laminotomy - incision of bone ligaments and overgrown bone tissue particles (often combined with laminoplasty - installation of artificial plates to widen the spinal canal);
- laser evaporation of the nucleus of the disc - the separation of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc with a laser beam simultaneously with the destruction of its destroyed fragments;
- cold plasma nucleoplasty - instead of an endoscope, a long, thin hollow needle is used, which is inserted into the intervertebral disc, through which an electrode is delivered to the site of the lesion, which hasa cold plasma effect.
The neck is a complex organ containing large blood vessels, the spinal cord. They are easily damaged, so surgical interventions are required in no more than 5% of cases. Surgical treatment is often associated with the development of complications. Among them:
- inflammatory process in the tissues or membranes of the spinal cord;
- osteomyelitis;
- scars leading to narrowing of arterial and spinal canals.
Cervical spine surgery is difficult and requires a long period of rehabilitation. A patient's recovery after surgery takes six months or more.
Prevention
To prevent the development of cervical osteochondrosis it is necessary:
- monitor the position of the spine and neck;
- leads an active lifestyle, moves more;
- while doing physical exercises, you should be careful, observe the correct execution, as even small injuries can affect the condition of the musculoskeletal system;
- take care of the correct body position during sleep, buy an orthopedic or anatomical mattress;
- properly equip a workplace where a person spends a lot of time;
- regularly engage in physical education;
- monitor your diet, ensure the supply of all the useful minerals needed for strong bones, especially magnesium and calcium;
- constantly undergo dispensary examinations for early detection of osteochondrosis.
Prevention will help prevent degenerative changes in the cervical spine, protect against painful sensations, dizziness, numbness of the limbs and other unpleasant symptoms.