Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which the discs between the vertebrae become thinner, after which they are replaced by bone tissue. As the degenerative process progresses, the surrounding structures are involved. This causes the development of a whole complex of symptoms that completely subjugate the patient's life.

general information

Intervertebral discs consist of a gel-like core and a dense fibrous ring that surrounds it, covered on top by a layer of cartilage tissue. They perform the function of cushioning, preventing damage to the vertebrae when running, walking and jumping, and also contribute to the mobility and flexibility of the entire spinal column.

In the process of natural aging, as well as in 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 hernias. As the disease progresses, cartilage tissue and bones are affected, 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, it leads to their compression and inflammation, as well as the reflex development of muscle spasm. As a result, a person experiences characteristic symptoms that can be suspected of the disease.

Reasons

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

• excess body weight;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• sedentary work;
• improper posture;
• chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (scoliosis, flat feet), contributing to the uneven distribution of the load on the spine;
• congenital pathologies of the development of the spinal column, as well as injuries;
• excessive, repetitive stress on the spine;
• hereditary predisposition.

Symptoms and syndromes

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis do not appear immediately and are often masked by other diseases.

The most common signs include:

• dizziness: as a rule, in osteochondrosis it is systemic, i. e. it seems to a person that the surrounding objects are turning before his eyes;
• pain in the back of the head, neck, collarbone area: its intensity depends on the degree of development of the disease; mild and episodic in the early stage, spreads to the whole head and becomes permanent; occasionally the attacks become unbearable, due to 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 of lack of air, inability to take a deep breath; in severe cases, severe shortness of breath develops;
• nausea and vomiting: associated with circulatory disorders in certain parts of the brain, worsen when trying to turn the head;
• reduced visual acuity, flickering flies or fog in front of the eyes: they 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;
• feeling of a lump in the throat, sweating, dryness, problems with swallowing: these are often one of the first signs of pathology.
• shoulder pain
• numbness of the fingers

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

Vertebral syndrome

The complex of symptoms is associated with damage to the bones and cartilage of the spinal column. This includes:

• 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

The symptoms are caused by a narrowing or spasm of the vertebral arteries, which are partially responsible for blood flow to the brain. It is manifested by the following symptoms:

• tinnitus;
• dizziness;
• spikes in blood pressure;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• visual impairment;
• reduction of working capacity;
• drowsiness;
• fainting.

Cardiac syndrome

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

• pain or burning behind the sternum;
• weakness and fatigue;
• rapid pulse.

radicular syndrome

The condition is associated with damage (compression or pinching) of the nerve roots that exit the spinal column in the cervical region. Depending on the degree of damage, a person may experience:

• numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• numbness of the tongue;
• pain in the collarbone, 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, which is why several characteristic symptoms are observed at once.

phases

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

• 1 phase. 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 stages. The height of the disc becomes even smaller, the pathological growth of cartilage tissue begins, protrusions appear. The pain becomes stronger, it is joined by stiffness in the cervical region.
• 3 stages. The fibrous ring surrounding the core of the disc is torn, an intervertebral hernia is formed. The spinal column is noticeably deformed, the risk of dislocation and subluxation of the vertebrae increases. The pain becomes permanent, and other symptoms of osteochondrosis join.
• 4 stages. Irreversible changes occur in the spinal column: bony growths appear, the intervertebral disc is replaced by scar tissue and loses its ability to absorb the load. Symptoms become pronounced and significantly affect the patient's lifestyle and well-being. The quality of life is declining.

Diagnostics

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

• radiography and computed tomography: effective only in the later stages of disease development, when changes become clearly visible;
• magnetic resonance: due to the high degree of visualization, it allows you to see even initial changes; is currently the main diagnostic method;
• duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck: enables assessment of the quality of blood flow, identification of vasoconstriction; it is used to determine the cause of headache and dizziness.

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

• ECG, ultrasound of the heart;
• daily monitoring of ECG and blood pressure;
• chest x-ray;
• consultations of narrow specialists: cardiologist, ENT.

Treatment

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach and includes:

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

Treatment

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

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, diclofenac, nimesulide, etc. ): aimed at relieving 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, thus 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 roots;
• chondroprotectors: drugs that help restore cartilage tissue.

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

Treatment without drugs

Non-pharmacological methods of treatment are used without worsening. 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 flow to the affected area, metabolism and regeneration processes;
• enhances the effect of drugs;
• helps to strengthen the muscle frame and stabilize the spine;
• reduces the load on the spinal discs;
• eliminates spasms and muscle blockages.

Operation

The help of a surgeon is necessary 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 vertebral arches, thereby reducing the load on the spinal cord root;
• nucleoplasty: repair of a hernia by removing part of the intervertebral disc core.

It is important to remember that only a doctor can decide how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The scheme is created individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, comorbidities and individual characteristics of the patient's body.

Complications

Osteochondrosis causes disorders 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 of visual acuity.

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

Prevention

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

• lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypodynamia;
• minimize or eliminate heavy lifting;
• sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• Do a regular warm-up if you need to work longer at the computer.

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

Treatment in the clinic

Clinic doctors offer their patients complex methods of cervical osteochondrosis treatment, including:

• Vertebrologist consultations;
• modern pain and palliative drug regimens;
• blocking drugs for rapid pain relief;
• effective types of physiotherapy;
• exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of an experienced instructor, development of complexes for homework;
• rehabilitation doctor consultations;
• massage therapy;
• acupuncture;
• manual therapist services as needed.

Pathologies of the cervical spine

Cervical spine disorders are often accompanied by weakness and cephalalgia, because important blood vessels, the vertebral arteries, pass through it. They are responsible for adequate nutrition of the brain, so when they are compressed by displaced vertebrae or other structures, blood flow to the brain is disrupted. This leads to the development of ischemia of his tissues, which is accompanied by headache, weakness and a number of other symptoms. This includes:

Today, osteochondrosis is very often diagnosed in people of different ages, genders, social status, as well as its complications - protrusions and intervertebral hernias. These diseases are characterized by the appearance of degenerative-dystrophic changes on the intervertebral discs that separate the vertebrae. As a result, their height decreases, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae and creates the prerequisites for breaking the spinal roots that pass right there.

If it is not treated, degenerative-dystrophic changes on the discs progress, and over time a protrusion occurs - a part of the disc protrudes outward. It tends to gradually increase in size and then transform 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 cartilage growths - osteophytes - on the surface of the vertebral bodies. They can reach large sizes and, like a hernia, mechanically compress the vertebral arteries, which will lead to weakness and headaches. At the same time, cephalgia 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:

• cracking in the neck when leaning, turning the head;
• pain in the neck that spreads to the back of the head, arms;
• reflex spasm of neck muscles, which increases pain;
• mobility restrictions;
• violations of the sensitivity of different parts of the upper limbs, the back of the head, the neck;
• difficulty in swallowing etc.

The disease cannot disappear on its own. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission, but it is constantly progressing, and in advanced cases it requires surgery to remove large hernias. Therefore, when its symptoms appear, immediately consult a neurologist.

When to see a doctor urgently

In some cases, when a headache occurs in combination with weakness, 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).

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;
• impairment of vision, speech;
• numbness of limbs.

Diagnosis and treatment

Therefore, headache and weakness can accompany both relatively harmless conditions and serious diseases. If they occur with enviable regularity, and there are other symptoms, you should consult a doctor: neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist. But when it is difficult to guess on your own what exactly caused the violation of general well-being and cephalalgia, it is better to contact a therapist first. 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 cause of headache and weakness, the following is prescribed:

• KLA, OAM, biochemical blood test - enable detection of inflammatory processes, as well as disorders in the work of certain organs, metabolism;
• ECG, ultrasound of the heart, vessels of the neck and head - provide data on the operation and condition of blood vessels, heart muscle;
• EEG - allows you to detect changes in the functioning of certain parts of the brain;
• X-ray, CT, MRI of the cervical spine - are indicated for the detection of pathologies of the spine and assessment of their severity.

Based on the results of the studies, it is almost always possible to determine the cause of headache 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, the following can be used to treat headaches and weakness:

• drug therapy, including individually selected drugs, especially NSAIDs, against migraine, to improve blood supply to the brain, highly specific drugs;
• physiotherapy procedures that help 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 headache and weakness should not be ignored, especially if they occur frequently. In such cases, you should definitely consult a doctor. This will avoid increased weakness, progression of existing pathological changes, and accompanying complications in a short time. After all, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it.