Causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Among all pathological processes that affect the spine in its different parts, cervical osteochondrosis is considered one of the most common and painful.This disease leads to a lot of complications, mainly because it affects the spinal cord, and also negatively affects the functioning of the brain.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

The words of cervical osteochondrosis in medical practice mean a acquired progressive disease that affects the specific spine.This pathological process is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the tissues of the intervertebral discs, which are shock absorbers for the cervical vertebrae.Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are due to the fact that they are erased and deformed.As a result of this, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced and as a result the following consequences occur:

• Narrowing of the spinal canal in certain areas of the spine.
• Passing the vertebral arteries - large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.Because of which the supply of the brain worsens and blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord is disturbed.
• Intervertebral discs can be deformed and flattened.This leads to squeezing of individual sections of the spinal cord and nerves, more often, the nerve roots are squeezed.

All these problems threaten not only a violation of blood circulation of the brain, painful sensations in the neck, headaches, etc. The development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is dangerous with problems of a neurological nature, worsening of the central nervous system, damage to brain tissue.According to the international classification of diseases, several separate codes were assigned osteochondrosis of the cervical region.The disease code for ICB 10 depends on the age of the disease: the disease was diagnosed:

• M02 - dystrophy of intervertebral discs in adolescence.
• M42.12 is a dystrophic process in the neck in adults.

A lot of factors depend on the age of the patient and the degree of development of the pathological process, for example, consequences, complications, symptoms and, of course, the principles of treatment.

Causes

Knowing the causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical region can play a decisive role in the process of diagnosis, as well as determining the principles of combating the disease.However, before listing the reasons, it is worth saying that doctors distinguish two factors that lead to the development of this pathological process:

1. Pathological - the destruction of the intervertebral discs and other vertebrates with the involvement of nearby tissues, blood vessels and nerve beams in the pathological process under the influence of adverse external factors.The harder these factors and other pathologies, the faster the disease develops.
2. Physiological - based on the development of pathology, mainly age -related changes.We are talking about the natural aging of cartilaginous tissues in the spinal column, salts, etc.

If we list more specific causes of cervical osteochondrosis, they are as follows:

• Violation of metabolic processes in the body, as well as certain stages of obesity.
• Hypodynamia is a phenomenon characterized by a limitation of mobility.It is not only about injuries or diseases, this can also include a sedentary lifestyle and sitting work.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system, contributing to impaired blood circulation in the brain, pressure changes and other things.
• Incorrect posture, these are various forms of scoliosis, rheumatism and even flat feet.
• Injection of the cervical spine.In this case, we are talking about sprains, strikes, bruises.Investigations of other spine in the development of cervical osteochondrosis can influence the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
• Excessively large physical exertion on the cervical region caused by intensive sports or heavy physical difficult, depending on the kind of human activity.
• A sedentary lifestyle is also dangerous with a constant tension of the cervical spine and the entire spine, if you sit incorrectly or on uncomfortable furniture.
• A hernia of the cervical spine, as well as various related diseases.
• Forced long -term holding of the head in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.In this case, not only muscle overstrain occurs, but the spine is also curved in the cervical region.
• The doctors consider constant stress and nervous overvoltage a very common cause.
• One of the reasons is also considered congenital anomalies in the structure of the spine.

What is the danger to health?

As mentioned earlier, in the cervical spine, not only the spinal cord and various nerve branches are located, but also the spinal arteries that supply the occipital part of the brain, the cerebellum and the medullavic brain.With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, nearby tissues are inflamed.In addition, the development of pathology threatens to squeeze the nerve roots and transmit blood vessels, the consequences are as follows:

• Osteochondrosis is accompanied by deformations of the spine, a consequence of which the cerebrospinal canal is narrowed in certain areas.This can lead to squeezing the spinal cord and nervous branches, which promises severe neurological problems.In severe cases, a person feels pain, even there is a possibility of loss of control over individual parts of the body (mainly in the hand or face).
• Squeezing the vessels of the neck, as already mentioned, is accompanied by a violation of blood circulation in the occipital region of the brain.At the same time, the brain ceases to receive oxygen and nutrients in the required amounts, oxygen starvation begins.With circulatory disorders, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and various neurological pathologies.

Syndromes

The main syndromes are:

• Vertebral.
• Vertebral artery.
• Koreshka.
• Cardiac.

It is important to know that each of these symptoms is accompanied by painful sensations of different nature, as well as a lot of unfavorable clinical signs.A person can feel dizziness, a noise appears in his ears and much more.

Vertebral syndrome

It speaks of the direct connection of osteochondrosis of the cervical region with bone and cartilaginous tissues.Symptoms in this type of pathology are also associated with the lesion of the mentioned tissues:

• The movements of the neck are partially or completely limited.
• The movements of the head are accompanied by pain in the neck.
• X -ray shows morphological changes in the tissues (intervertebral and in the body of the vertebrae).

It is worth noting that the vertebral syndrome is always accompanied by these three clinical signs.If at least 1 of them is absent, the diagnosis will be completely different.

Rook syndrome

It occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged.At the same time, nervous conductivity is disturbed, a person can feel pain or lose the sensitivity of individual parts of the body or even suffer from paralysis.Depending on which of the 8 radicular couples there is a disturbance of conductivity, such symptoms are distinguished:

• 1 pair - numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• 3 pair - violation of the chewing reflex, numbness of the tongue and unpleasant sensations behind the ears;
• 4 pair - pain in the clavicle, violation of the swallowing reflex;
• 5 pair - violations of the shoulder girdle, accompanied by the problem of hand movement;
• 6 pair - the patient begins to feel pain and numbness in the forearm and shoulder blades;
• 7 pair - hands and fingers go numb (often index and middle);
• 8 pair - problems similar to the past item, but numbness is felt in the ring finger and little finger.

Cardial syndrome

Despite the fact that the pathological process is still localized in the cervical spine, the syndrome has all signs of heart pathologies.The clinical picture is as follows:

• Rapid pulse.
• Pain in the region of the sternum.
• Shortness of breath, weakness, lethargy, decrease in performance.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

For timely seeking a doctor, it is necessary to clearly understand the signs of cervical osteochondrosis.In some cases, such knowledge allows you to seek help at the initial stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat.In general, symptoms for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:

• Pain for osteochondrosis is always present, only intensity and frequency differ.It is pain that is the first clinical sign.Their intensity depends on the stage of progression of the disease, in nature they are stupid or squeezing.Painful sensations are present mainly in the neck of the occipital region, but can also radiate to the temporal region, shoulder girdle and hands.
• In most cases, there are manifestations of the lesion of the vestibular apparatus.We are talking about frequent causeless dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination of movements, uneven gait, loss in space.
• One of the most common clinical signs is the rigidity of the neck muscles and the stiffness of movements.It is difficult for a person to turn, lower and throw his head away, movements respond with bouts of pain.
• Many patients note the feeling that goosebumps “run through the scalp” or a characteristic tingling is felt.
• In the area of the hands there is muscle weakness and numbness.
• Often there are psychological manifestations, expressed in depression, drowsiness, a sharp change in mood, temper or irritability.
• Due to the impaired blood circulation and damage to the brain tissue, dizziness intensifies and the noise in the ears appears, similar to rustling, pulsation, ringing.
• Most patients note visual impairment, as well as pain in eyeballs, especially when trying to greatly mow the eyes to the left, right, up or down.

It is sometimes possible to determine the degree of development of the pathological process by symptoms.However, for a complete diagnosis of this, this is still not enough and a number of diagnostic measures are required.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is necessary to determine the localization and stage of progression of the disease.For full diagnosis, such diagnostic methods are needed:

• X -ray - the primary method that allows you to determine the degree and localization of deformation of the spinal column.
• You can use computed tomography for a more accurate diagnosis of pathological changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• MRI (magnetoresonance imaging) - makes it possible to examine the wheels and vertebrae in detail, determine the presence of hernias, protrusions, and the scale of lesions of the rest.
• Doplerography - at the same time, the examination becomes the opportunity to find a place for squeezing the artery, evaluate the degree of circulatory disorders.

Methods of treatment

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis always implies an integrated approach.The principles of treatment depend on the mass of factors, such as the patient’s age, the stage of development of the disease, the brightness of the clinical picture, etc. Nevertheless, you can’t do without a doctor in this situation and first of all you can consult a therapist who will then direct you to a vertebrologist.As for the integrated approach: osteochondrosis of the cervical osteochondrosis is treated using drug therapy, physiotherapy, massages, exercise therapy and other methods that should be discussed in more detail.

Drug treatment

The basis for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is drug therapy, which involves the use of tablets, drugs and drugs of such groups:

• Anesthetics - analgesics and antispasmodics.The former directly dull nervous centers, thereby stopping painful sensations.The latter allow you to relieve spasm of the neck muscles, establishing blood flow and suppress pain.
• NSAIDs - non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are necessary to reduce the inflammatory process, most of them also eliminate pain.Often these drugs are used in the form of gels, ointments that are rubbed into the affected area.
• Musorelaxants are another way to remove muscle spasm in the cervical region.
• Chondroprotectors are mandatory at certain stages of chop osteochondrosis, because they contribute to the restoration of bone tissues.
• B vitamins - normalize the metabolic processes of nerve tissues, improving the conductivity of nerve impulses and contributing to the work of the central nervous system.

Remember, treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, who is responsible for the appointment of each medicine, as well as determining the duration of its intake and dosage.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis will be many times more effective using some physiotherapy techniques:

• Electrophoresis.
• Laser therapy.
• Ultrasound.
• Massage.

Massage therapy is necessarily carried out by an experienced health worker, treatment is carried out by a course of at least 10 sessions.Massages of the cervical region help to normalize blood circulation, restore elasticity, muscle tone, relieve pain, etc.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is based on the principle of restoring motor functions and mobility between the vertebrae.Initially, the manipulations are in a light relaxing massage, then the doctor attaches more and more strength, acts on the vertebrae of pressure and turns of the neck.

The use of Kuznetsov applicators is one of the methods of therapy for diseases of the spine, including osteochondrosis.The effect of the adaptation on the cervical region normalizes metabolic processes, relieves pain, increases muscle tone, improves blood circulation, increases the conductivity of nervous tissue, etc.To prevent osteochondrosis, it is useful to engage in swimming and hang on the horizontal bar for 2-3 minutes every day.