Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease in which the intervertebral discs, joints and vertebrae in the cervical spine are literally "prematurely aged", "wearing away".

Some facts about the disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs almost equally often in men and women.
• People aged 30-60 are mostly affected.
• As a rule, the pathology occurs in people who have to constantly be in one position and perform monotonous actions at work.
• The cervical spine has some structural features, so the disease can have many different manifestations.

What characteristics of the cervical spine cause symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• There are openings in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - the carotid arteries that supply the brain with blood pass through them to the right and left.
• The first part of the spinal cord passes through the neck - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, providing movement and sensation.If the spinal cord is compressed in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spine has great mobility, which leads to the formation of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar region - it not only has high mobility, but also experiences the greatest stress).
• Nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramen in the neck region and form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses.They are responsible for movements in the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, sensitivity of the skin and regulation of vegetative functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a massive anterior part - the body - it is a ring of bone corresponding to the tooth - a bony protrusion on the second vertebra.Thanks to this, it is possible to turn the head to the sides.

Neck pain, headaches, a feeling of weakness, numbness in the hands are signs that you should consult a neurologist.Examination by a specialist and examination using modern equipment will help to understand the causes of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

What happens to the vertebrae with cervical osteochondrosis?

The medical term "degenerative process" refers to the following pathological changes occurring in the cervical spine:

• First of all, the damage of osteochondrosis affects the intervertebral discs.They become thinner, thus reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae.Small tears and micro-cracks appear on their outer parts.Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
• As a result of disc damage, the stability of the vertebral connection is disturbed.
• Intervertebral joints also suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical region - spondyloarthrosis develops.This also helps to compress the nerve roots.
• The pathological process extends to the vertebra itself.As the functions of the intervertebral discs are disturbed, the load on them increases.The spine tries to compensate for this violation, and bone growths appear on it - osteophytes.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

During exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, traction is used to relax the intervertebral discs (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headboard and the head is fixed with a special loop).For the same purpose, it is necessary to wear a Shants collar.Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain.For severe pain that does not go away, the doctor can block: inject an anesthetic solution into the area of the affected nerve roots.Physiotherapy is used: ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis with novocaine.

When the exacerbation subsides, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine consists of massage, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

One of the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain.Many people who encounter this symptom do not go to the doctor, but prefer to treat "chondrosis" with home methods.There are at least two good reasons to abandon self-medication and consult a specialist doctor.

First, painkillers and traditional methods, although they help to relieve pain temporarily, do not solve the underlying problem.Pathological changes in the spine continue to increase.Over time, this can lead to more serious consequences.To the point where surgery may be required.

Secondly, neck pain does not occur only with osteochondrosis.There are many other reasons.Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the right treatment.

What symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should make you see a doctor?

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain.Depending on the level of localization of the pathological process, it can occur in different places: neck, shoulder girdle, arm, heart region.The pain is dull and may be burning or aching.

Other manifestations of the disease:

• Headache, dizziness, spots before the eyes, noise, ringing in the ears.
• Weakness in the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle and arms.
• Violation of skin sensitivity.
• Humeral periarthritis: aching pain in the neck radiating to the arm, difficulty in abducting the arm above 90°, weakness and atrophy of the shoulder girdle muscles.
• Shoulder-hand syndrome: pain in the shoulder and hand, swelling and stiffness of the fingers, weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the hand.
• Vertebral artery syndrome.Bone growths appear in the vertebrae that compress the nerves, as a result of which there is a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery, which is involved in the blood supply of the brain.Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include constant headaches starting from the back of the head, spreading to the temple, the crown of the head, nausea, noise in the head, ringing in the ears, trembling bright spots in front of the eyes.
• Anterior scalene syndrome.In the neck, there are front and middle scalene muscles - they are close, and between them there is a small space through which nerves and blood vessels pass.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscle is strained and compressed, resulting in symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the arm, shoulder, and fingers.Sometimes the pain spreads to the back of the head.The skin of the hands may become cold, pale, and numbness may occur.
• Epicondylitis syndrome.In the lower part of the shoulder, on the sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions - epicondyles.With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, pain occurs in them, which intensifies when pressed.Other symptoms also occur: neck pain, pain when pressing on certain points of the cervical vertebra.

If two parts of the spine are affected at once, with cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms may be pain between the shoulder blades, in the heart region.

With osteochondrosis, the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke increases.If you experience the symptoms listed above, consult your doctor.

It is better not to self-medicate.Even if you have proven methods that usually help you deal with pain, that doesn't mean you're doing everything right.

Pain can arise not only from osteochondrosis, but also from intervertebral tears, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome) and can be a symptom of other diseases.In order to properly treat a disease, it is necessary to understand its causes and make a differential diagnosis.This is only possible in clinical settings.

To determine the cause of the disease and properly treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to visit a neurologist and undergo an examination.

Cervical osteochondrosis is based on damage to the intervertebral discs.Their chemical composition is disturbed, first they swell, then they shrink in size, cracks and tears form in their outer part and they become denser.Then the degenerative process spreads to the vertebrae and intervertebral joints.By reducing the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases and bone growths - osteophytes - appear on them.

What are the causes of cervical spine osteochondrosis?

There is no consensus on the causes of cervical osteochondrosis.It is believed that the disease is caused by various conditions, there are different views:

• Age-related changes in the spine.However, almost all people over the age of 40 have skeletal changes, but not everyone develops osteochondrosis.
• Neck injuries.Frequent causes of the disease include previous trauma: neck bruises, compression fracture, vertebral subluxation.Chronic injuries, such as during strenuous exercise in athletes, constant work in an awkward position, bent over, and repetitive whiplash injuries in motorcyclists can be significant.
• Congenital anomalies of the spine: cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra with the occipital bone, etc.
• Profession.More often, the disease affects people who work in a monotonous position and constantly perform the same type of actions.
• Poor blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, swelling in the area of nerve roots.
• Autoimmune disorders.Conditions where the immune system does not work properly and the body attacks its own connective tissue and ligaments.

See a neurologist.An experienced specialist will understand the source of your health problems and prescribe the right treatment.

Causes of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of exacerbations and periods of improvement, when the symptoms stop bothering you for a while.Another exacerbation may occur for the following reasons:

• Awkward, sudden movement of the neck.
• Remaining in a monotonous restless state for a long time.For example, after working on the computer for a long time or sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow, your neck may start to hurt.
• Stress, nervous tension.With chronic stress, spasms occur in the neck muscles, which can lead to another exacerbation.
• Various diseases, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
• Hypothermia.For this reason, many people experience exacerbations in the fall.
• Incorrect, illiterate self-treatment.For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission, but contraindicated during exacerbation.

What diseases can have similar manifestations?

Often, the manifestations of "osteochondrosis" are actually associated with a completely different disease.For example, the cause can be hidden in the muscles - there is a condition called myofascial pain syndrome.Pain occurs due to constant tension in the same muscles.

Sometimes vertigo associated with otolithiasis, the condition of accumulation of crystals of calcium salts in the inner ear, is considered as a manifestation of "cervical osteochondrosis".

Pain and creaking in the neck, headaches - when these symptoms occur, many people are "diagnosed" with osteochondrosis.Everything is clear - when it hurts, you need to take painkillers or give an injection, apply heat, and everything will pass.Why go to the doctor if you can manage it yourself?

But self-medication often does not lead to anything good.Painful attacks may become more frequent, severe and prolonged over time.Taking painkillers almost every day without control can cause stomach or kidney problems.After all, any drug has side effects.

And the cause of pain is not always caused by osteochondrosis.To find the real reason and understand how to deal with it effectively, you need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis?What happens in the doctor's office during the examination?

During your first appointment, the neurologist will ask you some questions:

• How often do you suffer from headaches or neck pain?
• Where does the pain occur?What is their nature: stabbing, hurting, shooting, pulling?
• When does the pain usually occur?What causes this?What makes you feel better?
• Have you been to the doctor yet?Have you had an examination and treatment?Which one?How long has it been?
• What other symptoms bother you?
• What other chronic diseases do you have?
• Have you recently had a neck injury?

The doctor will then perform a neurological examination, checking your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone.You will be asked to turn, tilt your head to the sides, forwards, backwards.The doctor will press lightly on certain points on your head and neck to determine where the pain is coming from.

After the examination, you will be diagnosed and the necessary diagnostic methods will be prescribed.

What diagnostic methods are used in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

Examination of cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:

• X-ray of the cervical spine.
• According to the indications, X-ray contrast studies are prescribed: myelography (contrast injection into the cavity surrounding the spinal cord), discography (contrast injection into the intervertebral disc), angiography (contrast injection into the vessels).
• Computed tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• If you have severe neurological disorders, an electroneuromyography, which is a study that determines the passage of electrical impulses in the nerves and muscles, may be prescribed.

Often, the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are similar to angina pectoris.After the examination, if the doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis, you will be prescribed an ECG and other diagnostic methods.