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Cervical osteochondrosis: treatment and symptoms

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests itself as pain

Neck pain is a warning sign.Maybe it's just too much work and you just need to relax and unwind.But what if the pain is associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?It is important to pay attention to symptoms and treatment, because complications can affect the most important organ - the brain.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative disease of the osteochondral system of the body.This leads to the destruction of the cervical intervertebral discs, the growth of bone tissue of the spine and the formation of formations on their surfaces.

The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, the first of which is attached to the skull.The anatomical and functional unit of the spine is the movement segment of the spine.It is a joint complex that allows the spine to move.The complex consists of two vertebrae, an intervertebral disc, articular surfaces of the spine (facets), nerves, ligaments and muscles.

Osteochondrosis begins with damage to the intervertebral disc and affects all surrounding tissues.Over time, the process leads to a violation of the biomechanics of the spine as a whole.With the development of osteochondrosis, herniation of intervertebral discs and compression of nerve roots and blood vessels can be formed.

Pathological processes in the intervertebral disc go through four stages: malnutrition, weakening of ligaments, disc damage and nerve compression.

  • Stage 1

    The nutritional and metabolic conditions of the intervertebral disc are disturbed.Due to their structure, the discs are powered only while in motion.If it is not there, degenerative changes in the tissue begin: the disc is starved and dehydrated.Loss of water leads to the fact that the intervertebral disc cannot perform its functions of shock absorption.The load on the fibrous ring increases, cracks and tears appear in it.A little pain may appear at this time.

  • Stage 2

    In the second stage, the ligamentous apparatus of the movement segment of the spine weakens.The connection becomes pathologically mobile.The pathological process of the disc worsens, a hernia (prolapse) begins - leakage of the nucleus pulposus through the fissures of the fibrous ring.The pain becomes periodic.

  • Stage 3

    Next, the intervertebral disc is permanently damaged.The nucleus pulposus of the disc extends beyond the annulus fibrosus.The resulting hernia can impinge on the nerve roots.An inflammatory process develops.This is manifested by the aggravation of pain, the so-called radicular syndrome.

  • Stage 4

    In the fourth stage, the damage damages the surrounding tissues.Compression of the radicular artery is possible, causing insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord.As a result, part of the spine can become completely immobilized.

First signs and main symptoms

At the beginning of the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, discomfort, limitation of movement and pain in the neck appear.Often it doesn't matter.

Over time, the pain intensifies, becomes painful, burning, headache, neck, shoulder blades, shoulders hurt - maybe this is the development of vertebral artery syndrome.The artery narrows or spasms and blood circulation is disrupted.

In the 1-2 stages of cervical osteochondrosis, ophthalmological problems associated with spasm in the vessels often appear.Darkness in the eyes, the appearance of flickering, "floating", colored spots in front of the eyes - these are all symptoms of osteochondrosis.

The most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:

  • Migraine, dizziness, nausea and cough;
  • hearing loss, pain in the ear, face;
  • Motor disorders in hands and feet.the sensitivity of the skin on the head may disappear;
  • pain in handIf a nerve root is pinched, then the entire area where it sends impulses can be damaged or "fall off."

In addition to the above symptoms, three main pain syndromes can be distinguished:accompanying osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.A syndrome is a whole set of symptoms.Determining the underlying pain syndrome is important, since the entire treatment regimen is based on pain relief.But it cannot be eliminated without knowing its origin.

  1. Myofascial syndrome- Pain in the skeletal muscles and the surrounding fascia.The disorder is associated with overload, which causes spasm, hypertonicity and painful knots (trigger points) within the muscle.
  2. Radicular syndrome- pain caused by long-term compression of spinal nerve roots.During osteochondrosis of the spine, the process of herniation leads to stretching of nerve fibers and subsequent inflammatory reaction.The pain spreads along the nerve.
  3. Facet syndrome- Pain in the joints of the spine.The second cervical vertebrae have articular processes that are connected to each other by articular joints.During osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, their height decreases, and this leads to the fact that the articular capsules of the joint joints are under constant tension.causes pain.Moreover, the pain increases at the end of the day, especially during long forced postures.

Causes of cervical spine osteochondrosis

One of the main causes of osteochondrosis is the evolutionary maladaptation of the spine to high vertical loads.Human ancestors walked on four legs like other mammals.They do not have osteochondrosis, since the intradiscal pressure in the horizontal position of the body is twice less than in the vertical position.By the standards of evolution, the transition to a vertical posture happened not so long ago, and the spine simply did not have time to adapt to the high vertical load.So, along with walking upright, a person also acquired diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The structure of the human neck makes it even more vulnerable.The human cervical region is made up of seven small movable vertebrae that are arranged in a pyramid-like shape.This structure can hardly be called stable outside the state of rest.In addition, the muscle frame in this area is weak and the loads can be high - all this makes the neck vulnerable.Any injury is fraught with consequences.Even if the injury was in another part of the spine, redistribution of the load can be the cause of osteochondrosis.

Another factor is aging.The formation of the skeleton and cartilage tissue is completed at the age of 21, and after that the irreversible process of aging (degeneration) begins.Cartilage tissue is nourished only by diffusion, and if the intervertebral disc does not receive enough nutrients, it begins to gradually deteriorate.

In addition, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is facilitated by:

  1. Autoimmune diseases.They involve the body's own cells in the pathological process of cartilage tissue destruction.
  2. Infections, hormonal imbalance, slow metabolism - all these blood circulation disorders can also become factors for the development of osteochondrosis.
  3. A sedentary lifestyle, working conditions in which a person spends most of his time in a forced static position.
  4. High loads that cause injury can cause compression.
  5. Genetic defects associated with weakness of the musculoskeletal system and cartilage tissue deficiency.

The spinal canal of the cervical spine is very narrow, so high load, any disorder or injury can cause compression of the spinal cord.And this is very dangerous.

In addition, a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels pass through this area.If blood stops flowing to the brain in the right volume, a stroke can occur.

diagnosis

During the initial diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor collects the patient's medical history.He finds out what hurts you and how, with what intensity, during exercise or during rest, at what time of day it hurts more, were there any injuries in the cervix.

During the examination of the neck, the doctor feels the cervical vertebrae and muscles, lymph nodes;Assesses range of motion, excludes or confirms radicular syndrome.

After that, in order to exclude autoimmune diseases, laboratory diagnostics are prescribed: general blood analysis, ESR, rheumatoid factor, HLA B27 antigen.

Radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging play a major role in diagnosis.

  • Radiographyhelps to assess the state of bone structures;Soft tissues and cartilage are not shown in the images.For visualization of these structures, a contrast medium is injected: angiography, discography, myelography.
  • computed tomography (CT).This method also uses the principle of radiography, but with the help of computer processing it is possible to obtain a series of images of longitudinal and transverse sections, in which the bone and cartilage tissue can be seen.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).It is the "gold standard" in the diagnosis of pathologies, including cartilage and soft tissues.MRI provides not only the structure of organs and tissues, but also their functioning.Spinal hernia is a frequent complication in case of osteochondrosis.MRI allows you to diagnose the process of hernia formation in the early stages.

treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is based on conservative methods.First, the pain syndrome is resolved, and then various procedures are prescribed.But in the most extreme cases, when the pain does not go away for more than three months and medicines do not help, surgery is the only solution.

Non-surgical treatment methods

Osteochondrosis affects the osteochondrosis system for many years, so treatment will take time.You have to be patient.Goals of conservative treatment:

  1. elimination of pain.
  2. relieve inflammation.
  3. Restoring the functions of the spinal roots.
  4. Strengthening of muscle corset and ligaments.

Conservative treatment includes drug therapy and physical therapy.Medicines help relieve pain during flare-ups, and physical therapy helps start the body's self-healing processes.

In severe pain with radicular syndrome, so-called "blockades" are performed: the drug is injected near the inflamed spinal nerve root.

Physiotherapy treatment is based on natural and artificially recreated physical factors: cold, heat, electric current, magnetic radiation, laser and others.To recreate them, special devices, devices and manual techniques are used.

  • laser therapy- Biological activation of intervertebral disc regeneration processes.The body begins to heal itself.
  • Plasma therapy (PRP therapy)- Injections of plasma separated from the patient's blood.Plasma is rich in platelets, growth factors and hormones.After injections, local immunity increases and regeneration processes begin.
  • Acupuncture- Stimulation of nerve endings with special needles.Improves metabolism in affected areas, relieves pain.
  • Shock wave therapy- Exposure to high frequency waves.Allows you to start natural recovery processes.
  • kinesitherapy- Movement therapy.It can be active (physical therapy) and passive (massage, traction).Exercise therapy strengthens back muscles, traction relieves tension and pain.It is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.
  • Manual therapy and massage- Effects on soft tissues and joints in order to restore balance and synchronize processes in the body.Restores mobility and eliminates pain.
  • insert- Sticking special spots on the skin in places where it is necessary to influence the receptors of muscle stretch and contraction.It can relax and strengthen the tone.

In the period of acute pain, the patient is advised to wear special bandages and collars in the neck area to relieve the load on the spine.

The positive effect of conservative treatment is achieved in 2-3 months.If there is no result, the patient is recommended for surgery.

Surgical methods of osteochondrosis treatment

In the case of cervical osteochondrosis, surgery is an extreme measure that requires special indications.Surgery is recommended if:

  1. It is impossible to relieve pain with therapeutic treatment for more than 3 months.
  2. There is a disc herniation.
  3. Loss of sensation in the limb.

Postoperative rehabilitation also takes time and may include therapeutic treatment.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a complex degenerative disease.It cannot be left untreated.Such serious disorders of the musculoskeletal system can lead to disability.Neck pain can become chronic, and osteochondrosis can spread to several parts of the spine.Timely prevention prevents the development of this disease.

Prevention

Daily physical activity is essential to keep your cervical spine healthy.Nutrition of the intervertebral discs occurs during movement, so it is extremely necessary.It is important that the loads are optimal and regular.

If the work involves being in a constant static state, periodic warming up is necessary.And at home, after a working day, you can lie on your back for a while on a flat surface, place a pillow under your neck.This method will help restore the cervical curve of the spine and relieve muscle tension.

Correct posture during sleep is important in the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis.If a person wakes up in the morning with neck pain, it means that the muscles did not have time to rest and recover.An orthopedic pillow, which is selected individually for 3-5 years, will help us here.