Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease in which, literally, "premature aging", "wearing" of the intervertebral discs, joints and vertebrae occurs in the cervical spine.

Some facts about the disease:

• Cervical osteochondrosis occurs with approximately the same frequency in men and women.
• 30-60 year olds are most often affected.
• As a rule, the pathology occurs in people who have to constantly be in one position and perform monotonous movements.
• The cervical spine has some structural features, due to which the disease can have many different manifestations.

Which characteristics of the cervical spine cause the symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• There are openings in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - the carotid arteries that supply the brain with blood pass right and left through them.
• The initial part of the spinal cord passes through the neck region - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, providing movement and sensitivity.When the spinal cord is compressed in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spine has high mobility, and this predisposes to the occurrence of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar region - not only is it high in mobility, but also the greatest stress).
• In the neck area, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral openings, which form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses.They are responsible for the movements of the muscles of the neck, arm and shoulder girdle, the sensitivity of the skin and the regulation of autonomic functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a massive front - body - this is a ring of bone that fits on the tooth - a bony outgrowth on the second vertebra.Thanks to this, the head can be turned to the side.

Neck pain, headache, feeling of weakness, hand numbness are symptoms that should make you see a neurologist.Examination by a specialist and examination with modern equipment will help to understand the causes of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

What happens to the vertebrae in cervical osteochondrosis?

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

• First of all, the damage of osteochondrosis affects the intervertebral discs.They become thinner, so the distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases.Small tears and micro-cracks appear on the outside.Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
• As a result of a disc injury, the stability of the vertebral connection is disrupted.
• Intervertebral joints also suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical region - spondyloarthrosis develops.It also contributes to the compression of nerve roots.
• The pathological process also extends to the vertebra itself.Due to the disruption of the functions of the intervertebral discs, the load 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 (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headrest and the head is fixed with a special loop) to relieve the intervertebral discs.You should wear Shants collar for the same purpose.Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain.In case of severe pain that does not go away, the doctor can perform a blockade: he injects 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 includes massage, physical therapy and physiotherapy.

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

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

Secondly, neck pain occurs not only in osteochondrosis.There are plenty of other reasons.Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

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

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain.It can occur in different places, depending on the level at which the pathological process is localized: in the neck, shoulder girdle, arm, heart region.The pain may be dull, burning or aching.

Other manifestations of the disease:

• Headache, dizziness, spots before the eyes, noise, tinnitus.
• Weakness in the neck, shoulder girdle and arm muscles.
• Reduced skin sensitivity.
• Humeral periarthritis: aching pain in the neck that spreads to the arm, difficulty in abducting the arm above 90°, weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
• Shoulder-hand syndrome: pain in the shoulder and hand, swelling and stiffness of the fingers, weakness and atrophy of the hand muscles.
• Vertebral artery syndrome.Bony growths appear on the vertebrae, which compress the nerves, resulting in a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery, which supplies blood to the brain.Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include a constant headache that starts from the back of the head, spreads to the temples, the top of the head, nausea, noise in the head, tinnitus, flashing bright spots in front of the eyes.
• Anterior scalene syndrome.The front and middle scaly muscles are on the neck - they are close together, and between them there is a small space in which the nerves and blood vessels pass.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscles are stretched and compressed, resulting in symptoms such as pain in the forearm, shoulder, and inner surface of the fingers.Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head.The skin of the hand may become cold, pale and numb.
• Epicondylitis syndrome.In the lower part of the shoulder, on the sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions - epicondyles.In the epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, pain occurs in them, which intensifies when pressed.Other symptoms also appear: neck pain, pain when pressing certain points of the cervical vertebrae.

If two parts of the spine are affected at the same time, in the case of cervical thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades, in the area of the heart.

In case of osteochondrosis, the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke increases.If you experience the symptoms listed above, contact 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 be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernia, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome), and may be a symptom of other diseases.To properly treat the disease, you need to understand its causes and make a differential diagnosis.This is only possible in clinical settings.

In order to identify the cause of the disease and correctly 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 breaks down, they first swell, then their size decreases, cracks and tears appear on their outer part, and they thicken.The degenerative process then spreads to the vertebrae and intervertebral joints.By reducing the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases, bone growths - osteophytes - appear on them.

What causes lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

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

• 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.The causes of the disease are often previous traumas: neck contusion, compression fracture, subluxation of a vertebra.Chronic injuries can be important, for example, during intensive training of athletes, constant work in an uncomfortable position, bending, repeated whiplash injuries of motorists.
• Congenital vertebral disorders: fusion of cervical ribs, 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 movements.
• Poor blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, swelling in the area of nerve roots.
• Autoimmune disorders.Conditions in which the immune system does not work properly and attacks the body's own connective tissue and ligaments.

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

Causes of aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of alternating exacerbations and periods of improvement, when the symptoms do not bother you for a while.Another exacerbation can be caused by the following reasons:

• An awkward, sudden movement of the neck.
• Staying in an uncomfortable monotonous position for a long time.For example, your neck may start to hurt if you work on the computer for a long time or if you slept on an uncomfortable pillow.
• Stress, nervous tension.In case of chronic stress, spasms occur in the neck muscles, which can cause further aggravation.
• Aggravation of various diseases, chronic diseases.
• Hypothermia.Because of this, many people experience aggravation in autumn.
• Incorrect, illiterate self-medication.For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission, but contraindicated during exacerbation.

What diseases can have similar manifestations?

Very often, the manifestations of "osteochondrosis" are actually associated with a completely different disease.For example, the cause may lie in the muscles - there is a condition called myofascial pain syndrome.The pain occurs due to the constant tension of the same muscles.

Sometimes vertigo associated with otitis media, that is, the condition in which crystals of calcium salts accumulate in the inner ear, is considered a manifestation of "neck osteochondrosis".

Pain and cracking in the neck, headache - when these symptoms appear, many people "diagnose" themselves with osteochondrosis.Everything is clear - if it hurts, you need to take painkillers or get an injection, warm it up, and everything will go away.Why go to the doctor when you can fix it yourself?

However, self-medication often does not lead to anything good.Pain attacks can become more frequent, severe and prolonged over time.If you take painkillers almost every day without control, you can get stomach or kidney problems.After all, all drugs have side effects.

And the cause of pain is not always due to osteochondrosis.In order to find out the real reason and understand how to treat it effectively, you need to see a doctor and undergo an examination.

How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis?What happens in the clinic during the examination?

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

• How long have you had a headache or neck pain?
• Where does the pain occur?What is their nature: stabbing, aching, shooting, pulling?
• When does the pain usually start?What triggers it?what makes you feel better?
• Have you ever been to a doctor?Have they been examined and treated?Which?How long ago?
• What other symptoms bother you?
• What other chronic diseases do you have?
• Have you had a recent neck injury?

The doctor then performs a neurological examination, checks your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone.They ask you to turn, tilt your head to the side, forward, backward.The doctor lightly presses on the head and certain points of the neck to determine the occurrence of pain.

After the examination, they diagnose and prescribe the necessary diagnostic methods.

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 examinations are prescribed: myelography (contrast injection into the space surrounding the spinal cord), discography (contrast injection into the intervertebral disc), angiography (contrast injection into the blood vessels).
• Computed tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• If you have severe neurological disorders, you may be prescribed an electroneuromyography, a test that determines the passage of electrical impulses through the nerves and muscles.

Often, the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis resemble angina pectoris.If, after the examination, the doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis, an EKG and other diagnostic methods are prescribed.