Do you experience back pain and numbness in your limbs?These are the first signs of osteochondrosis.Insufficient movement in lifestyle, sedentary work, stress on the neck and spine leads to cartilage wear and moisture loss, which leads to damage.
In the case of cervical osteochondrosis, degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral discs.Not only the discs are damaged, but also the vertebrae and joints of the neck region.If the disease is not treated for a long time, the general well-being of the patient deteriorates: constant headaches, the appearance of vertebral hernia, deterioration of cerebral circulation, as a result of which cognitive functions decrease.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Incorrect sitting position, in which the neck is stretched forward, leads to the development of cervical disease.In this case, excessive pressure occurs on the intervertebral discs, which leads to changes in the nucleus pulposus and compression of blood vessels.This is the position a person occupies in front of a computer at work.Therefore, office workers are most often exposed to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
In addition, the causes of the development of pathology can be:
- improper distribution of cargo when carrying bags;
- sleeping place that is too soft (the spine bends unnaturally);
- genetic predisposition;
- lack of vitamins and microelements in the diet;
- disorders of the endocrine system;
- curvature of the spine and bad posture during the active growth of the body;
- injuries of cervical vertebrae;
- the presence of bad habits.
Stages of the disease
Only an experienced doctor can determine after examination and palpation that the symptoms of pain are signs of the development of cervical osteochondrosis and at what stage of development the disease is.In general, cervical osteochondrosis goes through four stages of development:
- Nucleus pulposus - the central part of the intervertebral disc undergoes moderate dehydration in the first stage.As a result, the supporting and shock-absorbing functions of the intervertebral discs gradually cease.In the first stage, you will experience pain with sudden movements, hypothermia and staying in one position for a long time.
- The second stage of development is characterized by the appearance of congestion and spasms, which compress the capillaries and blood vessels, preventing normal blood circulation.As a result, the frame of the intervertebral disc becomes thin, forming a protrusion (bulging forward or backward).As a result of excessive stress, osteophytes form on the cervical vertebrae.Pain sensations are localized in one place;sudden turns and tilting of the head can cause displacement of the cervical vertebrae.
- As a result of the thinning of the intervertebral discs, protrusions occur.The edge of the nucleus pulposus breaks the annulus fibrosus and extends beyond the edges of the vertebral body.Muscles and nerve endings are compressed.Pain is felt in the neck, back and limbs.
- In the fourth stage of the disease, the intervertebral discs are displaced and a central and lateral hernia develops.In addition, scars form on the discs, which leads to immobility of the affected joint.The patient experiences constant back pain, which radiates to other parts of the body, a constant feeling of fatigue, and asymmetry of body parts.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appear differently depending on the stage of development of the pathology.In the initial stage, it can occur practically without symptoms.Neck and back pain can only occur if you stay in one position for a long time or bend or turn sharply.
In the later stages of development, a creaking sound is heard in the spine, the back pain radiates to other limbs, and numbness occurs in some parts of the body.During osteophyte formation and extrusion, the following occurs:
- headache in the back of the head and in the parietal part;
- speech disorders and numbness of the tongue;
- reduced sensitivity of the skin of the neck;
- breathing disorders;
- changes in blood pressure;
- heart rhythm disorders;
- noise and congestion in the ears;
- faint.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are more pronounced in women than in men.This is due to the fact that women are prone to vascular diseases and the more fragile structure of the bone segments of the spine.Signs of the disease begin to appear when the intervertebral discs change.This leads to disruption of normal blood circulation and causes severe headaches, dizziness and neuroses.In women, the aggravation of the disease often occurs during menopause, when the body is exposed to hormonal changes.
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are similar to those of women;erectile dysfunction can also be observed separately.
Headaches associated with cervical osteochondrosis are caused by poor circulation in the brain and spinal cord.When the vertebrae are misaligned, they compress the arteries and reduce the oxygen content of the blood.Unfortunately, such pain does not go away even after taking strong painkillers.Therefore, a comprehensive approach to solving the problem is important.Dizziness associated with cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by darkening of the eyes and the appearance of ringing in the ears.This happens because the cramping muscles reduce the oxygen supply to the brain.
A common phenomenon is a lump in the throat associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as well as a burning sensation, difficulty breathing and muscle spasms.The disease causes compression of the nerve fibers of the cervical spine towards the head and neck.Disturbances in nerve impulses cause a sore throat.
Due to spasms of blood vessels and irritation of nerve endings, blood pressure rises.Increased lower pressure in osteochondrosis indicates that the blood supply to certain areas of the brain is impaired, as the vertebral artery is compressed by the intervertebral discs.As a result, oxygen starvation occurs and blood pressure rises.
How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine diagnosed?
Diagnosis of pathology begins with a consultation with a specialist.At the first manifestations of osteochondrosis, consult a rheumatologist, neurologist, surgeon or traumatologist-orthopedic.The doctor asks about the symptoms and their frequency of occurrence;the specialist must provide the complete medical history and the results of previous examinations (if any).The specialist conducts a visual examination and palpation and refers you for examination.During the examination, the doctor pays special attention to the mobility of the neck, muscle tone, skin sensitivity, and identifies the most painful areas.
In order to identify the condition of muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and to detect inflammatory processes or tumors, an informative and safe diagnostic method is prescribed - MRI of the cervical spine.During the MRI of osteochondrosis, the patient lies on a special sliding table with his back.Rollers are placed on the patient's head to relieve muscle tension, and the limbs are secured with belts.Any slight movement during the procedure can affect the quality of the result.The table is then transferred to the tomograph area.The procedure does not cause pain.The tomograph makes a lot of noise during scanning, so you can use headphones to avoid discomfort.
If MRI is contraindicated, there are other diagnostic methods, such as computed tomography and radiography.X-rays are only suitable for primary diagnosis and do not provide a layer-by-layer image of the affected tissue.However, this study is the simplest and most economical, it allows examining the patient's body in several views.Due to the high radiation exposure to the body, radiography cannot be performed often.
During the computed tomography examination, scanning is performed with one or more ionizing radiation beams.They pass through the human body and are recorded by detectors.The detectors move in opposite directions along the patient's body and record up to 6 million signals.The image shows tissues of different densities in the form of a section, precisely defining the borders of the organs and the affected areas.The process allows you to create a layer-by-layer image.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is determined only by the doctor after obtaining the results of the examination, medical history and hardware diagnostics.If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is carried out with conservative methods.In the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to follow an integrated approach - take medicines, do physical therapy, do therapeutic massage and avoid heavy physical activity.
First, you need to eliminate the pain.For this purpose, pain relievers and local pain relievers are prescribed.In case of severe muscle spasms, an orthopedic collar is prescribed.After eliminating the pain syndrome, the inflammatory process must be stopped and normal blood circulation must be restored.For this purpose, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy is performed.Additional measures include therapeutic exercises and swimming.You can exercise at home or with a trainer.
If osteochondrosis has become severe, the doctor may prescribe surgery.Surgery is used in rare cases when the pathology develops against the background of other diseases - scoliosis, intervertebral disc herniation, curvature or displacement of the spine, injuries.
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is not particularly different from the treatment of men.However, doctors often recommend women to make an external poultice to warm and strengthen the neck muscles.
Experts recommend preventing various back diseases from early childhood.To do this, you need to develop the correct posture while walking and sitting at the desk.Eating well and strengthening your back muscles will help you avoid negative consequences in the future.