Osteochondrosis is a disease that is one of the most common in the world.Most people after the age of 35 experience osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in one form or another.Recently, there has been a tendency towards an increase in the number of people suffering from severe forms of the disease and towards rejuvenation of the disease by lowering its lower age limit.This is due to the fact that an increasing number of people around the world are engaged in sedentary work and lead a sedentary lifestyle.Meanwhile, the disease is quite dangerous and anyone should know what it is - osteochondrosis, how it manifests itself and how it is treated, be able to recognize its symptoms and start treatment in time.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases characteristic only of humans.This disease does not occur in other animals.The reason for this is such a distinctive feature of man as walking upright.The vertical position of the spine causes the vertebrae to press against each other and the osteochondral tissue of the spine gradually degrades and becomes deformed.
The human spine begins in the cervical region.There are a total of seven vertebrae in this section – from the first to the seventh.The vertebrae are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. The cervical spine is a particularly vulnerable part of it, which is associated, first of all, with the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area.In the cervical region, the disease is mainly reflected in the discs, which are a weak point in the structure of the spine.
The prevalence of cervical osteochondrosis is also facilitated by factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles.In addition, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is greatly influenced by insufficient blood supply to the cartilaginous tissue.
Thus, the development of the disease is a complex and time-consuming process and does not have a single cause.Although a link has been established between a person's sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, the disease often occurs in trained people, especially athletes, due to the increased load on the cervical spine when lifting weights.
In the elderly, as a rule, the degradation of vertebral structures is an inevitable process associated with the aging of the body and the weakening of its defenses.However, the most common pathological type of cervical osteochondrosis occurs, in which external or internal negative factors play an important role.
Factors contributing to the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Bad posture
- Spine curvature
- Back injuries
- Overweight
- Hard physical work
- Sedentary work
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Metabolic disorders
- Frequent hypothermia
- Uncomfortable position while sleeping
- Stress, overwork
- Hereditary factors
- Infectious diseases
- The individual body structure has, for example, a very long or very short neck
Degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease has four stages.It is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease by analyzing the symptoms, as sometimes the degree of degradation of the osteochondral tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.
First degree
Destructive processes begin in the osteochondral tissue of the vertebrae.As a rule, at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms are mild.Patients do not even notice them or do not associate them with spinal diseases, but attribute them to stress and overwork.
Second degree
The height of the disc begins to decrease and cracks appear on its surface.Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage are manifested in constant pain, weakness and numbness in certain areas of the face.
Third degree
Herniated discs form, cervical vessels and muscles are damaged.The patient feels dizzy and has pain in the back of the head.
Fourth degree
Osteophytes appear - growths of bone tissue that protect the vertebrae from stress, which leads to compression of the nerves.This leads to stiffness of movement and damage to neighboring joints.
Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Muscle weakness
- Increased sweating
- Numb hands
- Loss of coordination
- Dizziness
- Deterioration of vision and hearing
- Increased blood pressure
- Headaches
These symptoms, typical of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, can be present at all stages of the disease.In most cases, only a few symptoms from the list are observed and the rest may be absent.A person who encounters these signs of the disease for the first time does not always suspect that he has cervical osteochondrosis.Therefore, he can turn to various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons.And as a result, the correct diagnosis can be made with a significant delay.
Syndromes
In cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes occur, that is, typical conditions that present a complex of characteristic signs.They manifest themselves depending on which nerves and arteries are affected as a result of the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- cardiac syndrome
- hypertensive syndrome
- radicular syndrome
- cervical migraine syndrome
Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis.It is caused by decreased blood flow through the artery that runs along the spine and supplies the brain.The syndrome is manifested by symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, weakened hearing and vision.In some cases, fainting may occur.A variation of the syndrome is often observed, in which under normal conditions the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head is turned in one direction or another, it can drop sharply.
Cardiac syndrome develops when the nerve roots that innervate the diaphragm or pectoral muscle are compressed.As a result, the patient may experience pain that resembles cardialgia, although there is no direct effect on the heart.However, the syndrome can be characterized by phenomena such as tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmia.
Hypertension syndrome is also one of the most dangerous complications.Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by compression of the veins rather than the arteries, which impedes the flow of blood from the head.The syndrome leads to increased intracranial pressure, which can be manifested by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and headache.
Cervical migraine syndrome has little in common in its etiology with classic migraine.It manifests itself as severe pain in the back of the head.The pain is paroxysmal, lasts up to ten hours and is accompanied by vomiting.
Radicular syndrome is the most common syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Caused by compression of individual nerve roots in the cervical vertebrae.It can manifest itself in pain in the neck, back of the head, shoulder blades, shoulders, numbness and weakening of the tone of certain areas of the arms (up to the impossibility of carrying out any manipulation) and neck.
Often, several syndromes or individual symptoms characteristic of different syndromes can be observed at the same time.
As you can see, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the manifestations of the disease are multifaceted and the patient is not always able to correctly recognize the cause of its occurrence.If you find similar symptoms, this is a reason to consult a doctor.
Diagnosis
To establish a diagnosis, it is recommended to consult a therapist.He will give a referral to specialists - orthopedist, vertebrologist, neurologist.
The following types of studies are used for diagnosis:
- Radiography
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic tomography
- Ultrasound scanning of neck vessels
X-ray allows you to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, the presence of growths - osteophytes and salt deposits, and the compaction of the discs.A CT scan involves creating a series of X-rays that provide a three-dimensional view of an organ, in this case the cervical spine.It allows you to detail the degree of the pathological process - the nature of nerve compression, the structure of osteophytes, the height of the discs, etc.MRI, based on the physical effect of nuclear magnetic resonance, provides an even more detailed structural picture of the spine.Ultrasound of the neck vessels helps identify changes in blood flow in the large vessels of the neck caused by the disease.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at home
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine at home and is it treatable?To combat the disease, medicine has developed several methods.Some treatments can be used at home.But this process is long and complete recovery is unlikely, especially in old age.However, it is possible to slow down and stop destructive processes in the spine at any stage of the disease.
In the early stages of the disease, methods are usually conservative.Several methods are used to treat cervical osteochondrosis:
- Medication
- Therapeutic exercise
- Physiotherapy
- Massage
- Special means for fixing the spine
If the disease has progressed to the last stage and severe destruction of the osteochondral structure of the spine occurs, surgical intervention can be used to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Drugs
The following types of medicines are used:
- Chondroprotectors
- Vitamins
- Painkillers
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Antispasmodics
In the case of acute pain syndrome associated with osteochondrosis, the first priority is its elimination.As a rule, oral medications are used, but if they are ineffective, anesthetic block is used in severe cases.
For muscle spasms, antispasmodics are used.Muscle relaxants demonstrate greater effectiveness in osteochondrosis.Ointments containing non-steroidal medications can be used as anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.
In the presence of syndromes associated with impaired circulation and blood supply to the brain - hypertensive and vertebral artery syndrome, medications are taken that alleviate the undesirable effects of these syndromes - blood pressure reducers and nootropic drugs.
Therapeutic exercise
Physiotherapy is the simplest and most affordable type of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis and, at the same time, quite effective.Physiotherapy can also be done at home.In osteochondrosis, exercise intensity does not play a decisive role;only regularity is necessary.First of all, physical education is aimed at strengthening the neck muscles, which compensate for insufficient spine functionality and help support weakened vertebrae.
Daily exercises are recommended to strengthen the neck muscles.They can be very simple, consisting of turning and tilting the head in different directions, or more complex, including assisting the neck muscles with the hands.They can be carried out both at home and at work.For example, if the work is sedentary, it is useful to do these exercises after an hour of sitting at a desk or monitor.However, they can only be performed outside the period of exacerbation of the disease and in the absence of pain.Otherwise, they can only make the situation worse.
Strengthening the muscles of the shoulder girdle is no less effective, for example, through regular exercises with light dumbbells.However, lifting heavy objects (weights, bars) is contraindicated.Regular swimming, which relieves stress on the spine, is also helpful.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a treatment method that uses certain physical fields and radiation to influence the body.A positive property of physiotherapy is that it has a minimum number of contraindications.
The following physiotherapy methods are used to treat osteochondrosis:
- Ultrasonic exposure
- laser therapy
- Impact of the magnetic field
- Exposure to electrical current (electrophoresis)
The magnetic field has a positive effect on damaged tissues in the body and has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.Ultrasound improves metabolic processes in tissues and relieves swelling.The same can be said about laser therapy.Electrophoresis is most often used in conjunction with medications, as the use of electrical current accelerates their absorption by the body.
Massage
Massage reduces increased muscle tone, which causes spasm, and reduces lymph flow, which causes swelling.The procedure helps to improve blood circulation in the affected area, which stops the process of destruction of intervertebral discs.
Other treatments
What to do with cervical osteochondrosis if classic home treatment methods do not help?To reduce the load on the cervical spine, a special device is used - a Shants collar, which fixes the neck in a constant normal position.It is recommended to use it during pain exacerbations or during prolonged sedentary work.
To avoid exacerbations, you should also organize a sleeping place.The pillow should not cause curvature in the neck and the mattress should be firm and even.In some cases, special sleeping aids - orthopedic mattress and pillow - can help.