So far, the disease has become very "young" and more and more people aged 25 and over are exposed to it, although more recently the age of 30-35 has been considered at risk. Pathologies of the cervical part are more common, so you need to be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of the disease to start treatment.
So, what is called cervical spine osteochondrosis? This term characterizes the degenerative-dystrophilic process of the intervertebral disc, which acts as a kind of buffer between the segments of the spine. This situation causes changes in its structure and anatomy, segments and articular elements of the cervical spine. Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by acute pain symptoms that require timely treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Where does cervical osteochondrosis come from? Below we list the factors, of chronic or acute action, that lead to increased stress in the neck. As a result, the body compensates for the increased loads with the work of the muscles, however, due to the constant tension, spasms occur in them with impaired blood circulation. Together, these factors lead to degenerative changes in the spine, changes in its structure, problems with nutrition and blood metabolism. Then comes the turn of changes in the intervertebral joints, there is an excessive growth of bone tissue in the segments of the spine.
Let's list the factors that contribute to the development of the disease:
- Scoliosis and poor posture.
- Overweight.
- Spend a lot of time in the wrong, unnatural positions.
- Regular excess of the back and cervical spine, for example, due to the peculiarities of the work.
- Low mobility, sedentary lifestyle.
- Spinal injury in the past.
- Metabolic problems.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Overexertion, prolonged susceptibility to depression.
- The heredity factor.
- Abnormal development of the vertebrae.
Degrees of cervical osteochondrosis
It is necessary to be able to distinguish between the concepts of 'stage' and 'degree', which characterize osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. We will consider the steps a little later, now we will talk about the degrees that depend on the general clinical picture and the patient's complaints, present different symptoms and, therefore, require different treatments.
- First degree - 1. . . Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by small manifestations of the disease, the main symptoms being pain in the neck, which do not appear frequently, intensifying when turning the head. They can be accompanied by slightly tense muscles.
- High school - 2. . . The intensity of the pain and the symptoms are much stronger and can affect the shoulder area. This is due to the fact that the intervertebral disc became lower in height, which led to nerve clamping. Pain syndrome tends to increase with movement, a feeling of weakness and headache lead to reduced performance.
- Third grade - 3. . . This development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by the formation of hernias in the intervertebral space. The differences of the previous degrees are in the symptoms, which are even more pronounced and painful - it occurs more intensely in the shoulder and the arm, in them a sensation of numbness and weakness is possible. The disease is accompanied by the same headache, weakness, neck mobility is limited and a distinct pain syndrome is detected on palpation.
- Fourth grade - 4. . . This degree is characterized by the complete destruction of the tissues of the intervertebral disc. Problems with blood supply to the brain are likely, in particular, through the vertebral artery, which carries blood to the cerebellar and the back of the head. In this context, there are coordination difficulties, dizziness, ringing in the ears.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis has some differences from osteochondrosis in other areas. They arise due to the arrangement closer to the segments in relation to each other, the more complex structure of the first two segments - atlas and axis. In addition, there are fewer dampers between the column elements and, consequently, they wear out and break faster. In addition, it is cervical osteochondrosis that often leads to compression of the nerves in the spinal cord.
Cervical osteochondrosis - the most common symptoms:
- Painful sensations. . . They are characterized by different locations - on the back of the head, shoulder and cervical regions. The occurrence of pain in the shoulder joint indicates pressure on the nerve responsible for transmitting painful impulses at this location. Occipital pain reflects the presence of a spasm in the neck muscles due to difficulties with blood flow in this area. Perhaps a sensation of pain in the vertebra, the presence of a crack.
- Weakness in the hand. . . It is manifested by injury to the nerve responsible for the motor activity of the upper limbs.
- Poor hand sensitivity. . . The nerve that innervates the skin on the arm is damaged.
- Limited movement, crushing. . . It is a consequence of the low height of the intervertebral disc, bone growth in the spinal segments, presence of small affected structures.
- Coordination problems, feeling weak and dizzy. . . As pathology advances, fibrous tissue is formed. This partially leads to constriction of the vertebral artery, which has its own channel in the elements of the spine. This reduces the lumen of the vessel, creating a blood deficit in the occiput and cerebellum.
- Hearing, vision, speech problems. . . They are a further development of the constriction of the vessel that feeds the cerebellar and occipital area.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made in the presence of symptoms and complaints characteristic of a person. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is diagnosed by several methods, mainly with the objective of visualizing the state of the injured part. Most often used:
- Radiography. It is not very informative, it shows only the presence of deviations, it is mainly indicated for early diagnosis.
- Computed tomography. Compared to radiography, the display of pathologies in the segments of the cervical spine is improved, but it does not accurately determine the presence of a hernia, how big it is. In addition, this procedure cannot determine the "constriction" of the canal with the spinal cord.
- Magnetic resonance image. This type of diagnosis is the most modern, characterized by an increase in the information content, it allows to evaluate in detail the defects of the bone structure, the state of the intervertebral discs, the existence of hernias, their size and direction of growth.
- If there is a suspicion of deterioration of the current in the vertebral arteries, additional diagnoses are performed using the duplex scan ultrasound procedure. This study accurately determines the presence of obstacles that reduce the rate of blood flow.
Based on the data obtained during the diagnosis, we can talk about several steps:
- Stage 1, characterized by minor violations of the anatomy of the vertebrae.
- Stage 2. . . Probably not observing the position of the vertebrae with each other, displacement, rotation in relation to the axis of the spine, the intervertebral disc may have a slightly reduced height.
- Stage 3. . . The disc is reduced in height by a quarter, the joints are altered, there are protuberances of bone tissue, stiffness of the intervertebral foramen and spinal canal.
- Stage 4. . . It is even more aggravated than the previous one. The disc is very short in height, there are deep joint pathologies and extensive bone growth behind, the spinal canal and passages under the spinal cord are heavily compressed.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main methods of treatment are: drug therapy, physiotherapy, the use of massages in the affected area, therapeutic gymnastics. Let's take a closer look at some of the methods.
Drug treatment
The prescription of any medication should only be done by a competent specialist.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal origin. Its action is the effective removal of the pain syndrome, inflammatory and edematous process of the pinched nerve endings.
- Vitamin B is used to improve metabolic processes in the vertebrae and nerves.
- Medicines that increase blood flow. Used to nourish altered nerve endings and improve blood flow to the brain.
- Chondroprotectors used to restore cartilage tissue and intervertebral discs.
- Muscle relaxants, anti-spasms.
Physiotherapy
- Electrophoresis. . . Delivery of drug ions to the desired part of the pathology using the action of an electric field. Before the procedure, anesthesia is performed with novocaine and aminophylline is also used, which improves blood flow.
- By ultrasound. . . Relieves inflammation, pain, promotes metabolism at the application site.
- Magnetotherapy. . . It has analgesic effect, relieves swelling.
- Laser therapy. . . The treatment is carried out through exposure to light waves of a special frequency. Relieves inflammation and promotes blood circulation.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is allowed only in the absence of exacerbations of the disease. The techniques will be effective in the absence of pain and discomfort during execution, in addition, they are very effective as a means of prevention. Here are some basic exercises:
- Lie on your stomach and rest your arms folded on the floor. Perform head and torso elevations for 60-90 seconds, keeping your back straight and then gently return to your original position. Do 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on your stomach with your arms extended down along your torso. Turn your head to the left, to the right, in turn, trying to reach the floor with your ear. Do 5-7 repetitions with each side.
- In a sitting position, inhaling, lean forward, trying to reach the chest with your head. Then, as you exhale, on the contrary, lean back, throwing your head back. Do 12 repetitions.
- In a sitting position, place your palms on your forehead. Apply mutual pressure from the forehead to the palm of the hand and vice versa. Continue for half a minute, repeating 3 times.
- Perfect and unhurried rotation of the heads to the sides, 5-7 revolutions each. If you feel dizzy, reduce the number of repetitions or slow down.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: question - answer
Does it happen that osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has to be treated with surgery?
It happens, but in the rare cases when conservative treatment does not take effect half a year after it starts. In such situations, chronic pain and tightness in nerve endings are usually present.
How long can you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
Most of these drugs affect the state of the gastric mucosa, so their frequent and regular use is not recommended. The exact duration of medication taking is determined by the attending physician, who has information about the patient's osteochondrosis stage, as well as whether there are concomitant pathologies.
Are chondroprotective drugs effective in restoring tissue from damaged intervertebral discs?
Confirmation of the effect of taking such drugs has not been proven, which doctors rarely recommend.
What to do at home when there is no exacerbation to avoid exacerbations in the future?
For preventive purposes, it is best to use physiotherapy exercises, massage of the cervical area, rejection of significant physical activity.