Cervical osteochondrosis: causes, signs and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is an intervertebral disc disease, which consists of the appearance of pathological metabolic disorders.When the pulp, which performs the absorbent shock paper, begins to harden due to active ossification processes, there is an discomfort associated with the pinch of nerve roots.

Without timely treatment, the osteochondrosis of the cervical region arises serious consequences that prevent normal life.You need to know what symptoms start the alarm.

Neck osteochondrosis - Classification

The problem of the disease is premature detection.The patient has classical neurological manifestations: headache, dizziness, flies in the eyes, lack of breath, neck pain, chest.The patient can numb with the limbs, for which he will visit a cardiologist, neurologist, therapist or orthopedist, without realizing the real causes of discomfort.

The disease has a physiological nature, since the human column, in a vertical position, is forced to resist long static loads.With age, bone tissue weakens, which negatively affects the health status of the spine.Destructive and depth processes are being developed, which leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis.Cervical osteochondrosis occurs more frequently, since the neck has good mobility, which makes this department prone to traumatic damage.

The disease is one of the most common among the diseases of the spine.Osteochondrosis also tends to reduce age.If 20 years ago, people from 40 to 60 years old went with complaints about pain on their backs, now people from 30 to 40 years are more likely to complain.Such unfavorable change is associated with the deterioration of health indicators, which is due to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and a reduced quality of nutrition.

Pathology is associated not only with physiological adverse changes, but also with the pathological state of the body.Physiological processes are due to the appearance of destructive processes in the context of body aging and cartilage.Over time, unfavorable natural changes appear that cannot be prevented: metabolic processes are altered, calcium reserves are exhausted.Pathological factors: the destruction of the cartilage and the wear of the intervertebral discs associated with the leader of an unhealthy lifestyle.

In addition, the pathological course of the wear of the intervertebral discs and the ossification of the elastic content can be complicated by the ligament apparatus, the pathological wear of the vertebrae (spondylosis), pressing (development of the type of hernia) and the formation of calcium salts deposits.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

In the early stages, it is difficult to identify clear signs of the disease, since the symptoms are paroxysmal, sometimes passing completely.The diagnosis is more difficult in those patients who use analgesics periodically.With a decrease in pain sensitivity, the disease disguises itself and becomes more difficult to diagnose by external signs.In general, the patient does not believe that he has problems until the disease reaches the terminal stage.In addition to the pain in the neck and head, dizziness and jumps are produced in blood pressure.

The dizziness by osteochondrosis occurs periodically, but does not always specifically indicate for this ailment.In general, this condition is observed with the development of inflammatory processes in the ears, with spasms of the brain's vessels, as well as at the bottom of the innervation.Sometimes, such a state is associated with cardiovascular system diseases, deteriorated coordination of movements or anemia.If the patient periodically has dizziness, accompanied by a feeling of insults, lack of air and weakness, he should seek medical help.

What signs that occur in the context of dizziness are the reason for the patient's emergency hospitalization:

1. Numbness of the upper waist of the shoulder on one side, accompanied by parallel paralysis of the muscles of the face.
2. Attacks from migraine, a very severe headache at the bottom of general discomfort.
3. Problems with the coordination of movements.
4. Violation of consciousness, its loss.

Headache is one of the most common and nonspecific signs that occur in the context of cervical osteochondrosis.Very often, there is a tension headache in women.This condition is associated with a characteristic of the hormonal background (excess of estradiol in the body compared to men) and vascular weakness, which is also associated with the hormonal state (the increase in progesterone relaxes the vessels, making them less durable).

With osteochondrosis, headache occurs due to frequent cramps of the brain vessels, at the bottom of the pinch of nerve roots and with increasing indicators of intracranial pressure.Attached pain attacks often resemble hypertension, an IBS or an attack of stroke (it is important to consider that the greater a person, the greater the risk of pathologies).

If the patient has other diseases associated with the deteriorated function of heart muscle, then with osteochondrosis attacks, heart pain will also be observed.Typically, in people with cardiovascular diseases there is an attack of angina pectoris, the blood pressure begins, the extrastolos, the arrhythmia and the pain in the chest area begins.If, when using first aid medications, the patient does not improve, and the attack lasts a lot of time, it is urgent to call an ambulance so that the patient is taken to the cardiologist to the hospital.

Pain syndrome for osteochondrosis

Separately, the characteristics of the disease pain syndrome must be described.Unpleasant sensations do not always arise in the occipital or head.There are attacks, pain in which they are more often located in completely different places.Cervical pain often radiates in the hands or shoulders.The distinctive signs of unpleasant sensations are the appearance of discomfort immediately after awakening or making sudden movements.An example is sneezing or laughing.Even with such minor physiological reactions, a pain attack syndrome can occur.

If the pathology does not neglect too much, the unpleasant sensations will soon disappear, and the discomfort is often accompanied by an improved crunch in the cervical vertebrae.Often, the disease occurs in people with cervical lordosis, a pathophysiological condition associated with greater neck flexibility.If a person often raises his head back, this condition can occur.The more advanced the pathological condition, the patient feels worse, because the pain returns over time, intensifying, delivering an increasingly powerful torment.

What sensations and pain signs describe more frequently:

1. The pain comes from the "depth" of the neck.
2. When turning your head to the side, a strong crunch sensation is observed.
3. When unpleasant sensations are observed, the patient has rigidity in the cervical region, accompanied by muscle weakness.

According to statistics, the disease affects more often 6 and 7 cervical vertebrae.The disease also occurs in any of the vertebral parts of the cervical location.

Development of arterial hypertension with cervical osteochondrosis

There is a clear connection between a specific disease and a growing pressure.Cervical vertebrae are also penetrated by nerve endings and vascular channel.If the surface of the surface of the vertebrae increases, then the pathological squeeze of nerve endings and blood vessels occurs.As a result, microspasus occurs and the patient has characteristic deterioration in the well.

Hypertension, which occurs deep down, has specific differences:

1. Acute and persistent headache is the most characteristic trait of Shokh.
2. Chest pain in inhalation, discomfort in the limbs.
3. Reduction of sensitivity in the necklace zone.
4. The appearance of acute pressure jumps after nerve tension, muscular overwrite, or after a long stay in the antalgic pose.

Causes of neck osteochondrosis

For the most part, this disease is associated with natural aging processes and the appearance of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.It is worth noting that not all people in old age suffer from osteochondrosis.In general, this disease exceeds the faces of obesity that leads a sedentary lifestyle.

The provocative factors that cause pathology include:

1. A sedentary lifestyle, including hypodinamia.
2. The occupation of an awkward position associated with a long and static stress.An example is a long sitting on the desk, without maintaining adequate posture.
3. Obesity or excess body weight.The large weight is not always associated with fat deposits.In mass bodybuilders or athletes, there is often an increase in the body weight index.Extending the recommended weight is loaded not only with the premature wear of the column, but also to overload the cardiovascular system.
4. Chronic stress associated with excess nervous excess.
5. He previously suffered head injuries or neck dislocation.
6. Local hypothermia: blowing the neck.
7. The presence of a pathological autoimmune process in the body, which negatively affects the state of the cartilage, the bone tissue.Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, which leads to the development of such diseases, such as Shokh.
8. The presence of congenital anomalies in the structure of the cartilage column.

The presence of dosed physical effort, adequate nutrition and the rejection of bad habits is the best way to minimize the risks of exacerbations associated with osteochondrosis.

Stages of disease development

There are several stages of development of the pathological state associated with the manifestation force of osteochondrosis symptoms:

1. The preclinical stage is the first.In the initial stages, it is difficult to notice signs of the disease, because there are still no specific symptoms.The only thing that an experienced specialist can notice is the softness of cervical lordosis.As a result of such a slight change, the appearance of a minimum discomfort with the acute turns of the neck to the side is possible.Over time, tension, pain in the lumbar region and back muscles can occur, since the cervical zone often pulls the lumbar.If the patient was lucky and found osteochondrosis at an early stage, then he can make a change in the diet and the correction of the lifestyle so that the pathology does not continue to progress.Patients often ignore this stage, since discomfort causes significant changes in the body.
2. The second stage occurs if the preclinical degree has been successfully ignored.In general, at this stage there are signs of instability of the cervical region.At this stage, the patient is already worried about pain syndrome.Unpleasant sensations are often given to the hands of the upper shoulder belt.Pain with acute inclinations and head turns feel more strongly.Since the pathological sinking of the distance between the intervertebral discs is already taking place, the nerve endings are pinched, which leads to the development of a neurological syndrome in the patient.As a result, the patient has concomitant symptoms, which include an increase in fatigue, decrease in performance, distraction and headache.
3. The third grade.At this stage, pain syndrome becomes even more pronounced than before.It becomes impossible to ignore that pain, so even the most persistent patients are already obliged to consult a doctor for making an appropriate diagnosis.The pain often radiates in the extremities and shoulders, and in the morning there is weakness in the muscles of the hands.At this stage, a concomitant disease can occur: an intervertebral disc herniation.In the morning, the patient feels strong rigidity, which also indicates a deterioration in the mobility of the cervical region.In patients, dizziness and severe weakness are observed.
4. Terminal osteochondrosis, fourth stage.At this stage, the destruction of intervertebral discs is observed.The discs themselves are replaced at the time of connective tissue.An improved pathological process can already affect other segments of the spine, including the thoracic and lumbar region.In such patients, the quality of life suffers greatly: the coordination of the movements worsens, the headache and the dizziness become unbearable, the noise in the ears also appears, other serious disorders: vascular disorders, problems with the respiratory system.

Syndromes that occur with cervical osteochondrosis

The danger of unrelated symptoms lies in additional progression.If the patient continues to ignore the pathology, several types of syndromes occur: symptom complexes.There are such types:

1. Vertebral or vertebral.
2. Vertebral artery.
3. Cardial or cordial.
4. Rook syndrome.

The combination of these signs often becomes the general image of the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

The vertebral syndrome develops often.In the patient, over time, the mobility of the cervical column is interrupted.First, rigidity occurs after awakening.In the future, the pathology will constantly be present.In addition, when he tries to turn his neck to the side, the pain appears.In the x line, some deterioration are also fixed.A characteristic feature of the vertebral syndrome is the presence of all the previous signs.If there is no signal, then this is an exception or axiom.The complexity of the diagnosis is that vertebral syndrome is often confused with other inflammatory diseases of the cervical region: myositis, injuries and stretching.

The vertebral artery syndrome is associated with the pathological arterial process that occurs when compressed.If there is a lack of blood flow due to the partial overlap of the vertebral arteries in the cervical region, the following complications of the signs occur:

1. The insufficiency of venous blood flow is manifested by such signs: the appearance of noise in the ears, dizziness, pressure jumps, vomiting or nausea.
2. The appearance of irritation of nerve endings, which is manifested by migraine or severe headache.Often, in a patient, you can record a feeling of numbness or temporal vision of vision for an eye.
3. Oxygen hunger due to squeezed arteries.The patient has signs of hypoxia: lack of breath, heart pain, fainting, dizziness and weakness to the slightest physical stress.

A similar condition is also characteristic of atherosclerosis and oncology.

In addition, the symptoms of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column are characterized by the development of cardiac syndrome.The patient has signs that resemble a heart muscle disorder.Many signs may resemble a heart attack or coronary heart disease.During the aggravation period, the patient feels an ardor and tight in the heart muscle, weakness, lack of breath, as well as an increase in tachycardia attack.To exclude cardiac syndrome in the context of osteochondrosis, you must perform an echo of the heart, ECG.If there are no signs of heart disorders, then this is a cardiac syndrome that arose due to the fact that the osteochondrosis of the cervical column continues to progress.

Rooser's syndrome is associated with the main ailments: bastards in the area of the spine and limbs.The reason is the transfer of nerve endings.During the aggravation period, the patient must observe the break in bed and use analgesics.Pathology is treated using neurotropic drugs.Seizure prevention aims to improve blood circulation, perform physiotherapy and physiotherapy.Rotor syndrome is dangerous of complications.If even a small nerve is completely subject, it is full of immobilization of the limbs and deteriorated innervation in the fingers, hands.

Diagnosis of neck osteochondrosis

To determine the pathology, you must contact the therapist.The doctor performs an initial exam, fills the patient's hospital card and sends the patient to a narrow specialist, a traumatologist or a neurologist.Then, the doctor examines the patient, makes a primary diagnosis when examined, to be confirmed by laboratory tests.

What diagnostic methods are recommended to suspect cervical osteochondrosis:

1. X -Ray.This is a quick and general option for the initial exam necessary to evaluate the condition of the patient's bone system in the distant column.If the patient has osteochondrosis, then the distance in the annoying area of the spine will be reduced.
2. To find out for a certain diagnosis, you can perform a magnetic resonance tomography.Magnetic resonance is the most precise diagnostic method.The device will consider both bone structures and cartilage, soft tissues.You can notice disorders: pinched nerves, the stage of intervertebral hernia and the degree of development of osteochondrosis.
3. Computed tomography.The research method is adequate if there is no suspicion of the presence of intervertebral hernia.
4. Duplex scan of ultrasound.If it is suspected that the patient with deteriorated venous blood, then this type of study is carried out.If there are physical obstacles, this type of diagnosis will help identify them.

Cervical osteochondrosis treatment

The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine aims to eliminate symptoms.There is no radical form that returns the development of pathology.It should be understood that the nature of the disease is found not only in pathological development, but also in natural physiological degenerative destruction.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical column with medications

Pharmacological therapy is the best way to reduce pain during an attack of pain.In general, medications are prescribed to treat osteochondrosis depending on the symptoms:

1. NSAID or analgesics.Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medications are adequate to stop an attack of stress headaches, which is observed more frequently in women.The appointment of a particular medication depends on the causes of pain.An example: if a woman has a headache due to vascular spasm, then analgesics or antispasmodics are written.If the pain occurs in the neck and is accompanied by inflammation, NSAIDs are needed with a proclaimed anti -inflammatory effect.It is better to clarify the specific commercial name for the treating doctor.
2. Musorelaxantes.These medications are effective in the treatment of similar diseases associated with the destruction or damage of the bone cherry tissue.These diseases include hernias, protuberance and rheumatoid pathologies.Recent studies indicate that muscle relaxants show not only a relaxing effect, but also effectively.A drug group is prescribed for excessive muscle spasticity associated with its overload, which arose in the context of osteochondrosis.These drugs do not affect the activity of the central nervous system, so they can be taken during the day.The therapy course lasts approximately 4 weeks.
3. B Vitamins B Combined injection agents of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 In large doses they show an analgesic effect if pain syndrome is caused by a pinch of nerve roots.A long course in combination with analgesics is required.In case of exacerbation attacks, it is advisable to observe bed rest to download the pain zone as much as possible.In 2-3 weeks, according to the instructions, injection medications are used, and then for 1-2 months they drink tablets. 
4. Condroprotectors.Such medications are necessary in the presence of degenerative processes in the cartilage.If improved destructive effects have already begun, the condoprotectors will not eliminate them.Long -term use of medication can slow the regression of cartilage destruction, not anymore.The minimum use period is 3-4 months.
5. Hortentine agents.If the patient periodically has pressure on the increase, use medications that reduce systolic and diastolic pressure.The medications are carefully used and only as prescribed by a doctor.Tyta blockers or calcium channel blockers are generally prescribed.
6. SedativesSedding agents are needed if, in the context of autonomous disorders, neurological disorders are produced.The examples are episodes of anxiety, insomnia or sleep disorders.In the initial stages, vegetable sedatives are adequate.With more serious disorders, prescription medications are prescribed.
7. Antihyxantes.It is necessary if the patient suffers from a slight heart disorder associated with the lack of air.
8. Calcium and vitamin preparations D3.To support bone fortress in the presence of active degenerative processes, it is necessary to take mineral complexes.Calcium is the necessary construction material, without it, the bones become porous and break.D3 is a vitamin without which the normal assimilation of calcium is impossible.In combination, these substances strengthen bone tissue well.It is also useful to drink other minerals periodically to support the health of the musculoskeletal system, sulfur, zinc, magnesium and boron.
9. Vitamin-Mineral complexes.In addition to specialized additives, it is necessary to take polyvitamins seasonally to maintain the general health of the patient.Take complexes 2-3 times a year for 1-2 months with breaks.
10. External funds.To put the condition of the neck in order when you feel rigidity, you can use warm or therapeutic ointments, gels that contribute to improve the blood supply.It is precisely in some ointments to heal a sensation of constant stiffness, but applying a small amount of external remedy before going to bed will relieve the condition in the morning.

Conservative therapy methods

In the recovery period, when acute pain decreased, a person with osteochondrosis should support the body using conservative treatment methods:

1. Therapeutic gymnastics.Special exercises with regular execution improve joint mobility, temporarily accelerate blood circulation.The patient feels improved over time.The main rule of exercise therapy is the regularity and sequence of actions.If you perform physical education every day, the neck muscles enter into tone, which significantly relieves the load of the spine.
2. Massage.The procedure is carried out after an acute period to improve blood flow and relax the muscle.The contact effect is well combined with the course of muscle relaxants, enhancing the effect of drugs.With the physical exposure of the fingers, the local temperature in the warm muscles increases, which improves blood flow.The massage leads to relax the sections subject to the back.
3. Physiotherapy methods.The hardware treatment aims to improve blood flow in the damaged area.Using devices and exposure to the current or magnetic field of low frequency, medications are administered through the skin.These funds are well absorbed without creating a systemic effect.Examples of procedures-magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, laser effect, shock wave therapy.

In a careless case, when conservative therapy is ineffective, the patient is offered to perform surgical intervention.In particular, the radical therapy method is effective in the presence of hernias or protuberances, when there are concomitant diseases of the column that exacerbate the situation.The indications for the operation are the loss of sensitivity to the limbs, unbearable pain.