Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease in which "premature aging, " the "wear and tear" of the intervertebral plates, joints, and vertebrae of the cervical spine occurs.
Some facts about the disease:
- Cervical osteochondrosis is about as common in men and women.
- Patients between the ages of 30 and 60 get sick most often.
- As a general rule, pathology occurs in people who need to be in a constant position in the workplace and perform monotonous movements.
- The cervical spine has structural features that can lead to a variety of manifestations of the disease.
What properties of the cervical spine cause the symptoms of osteochondrosis?
- There are holes in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - through them the carotid arteries pass right and left, carrying blood to the brain.
- The initial part of the spinal cord passes through the cervical 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 is prone to osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar spine - not only is it highly mobile, but it also experiences the most stress).
- In the cervical region, nerve roots appear from the intervertebral foramen, forming the cervical and brachial plexuses. They are responsible for the movement of the muscles of the neck, arms, and shoulder girdle, the sensitivity of the skin, and the regulation of autonomic functions.
- The first vertebra has no massive anterior part - its body - it’s a bony ring that is put on the tooth - a bony outgrowth on the second vertebra. This makes it possible to turn the head sideways.
Neck pain, headache, feeling weak, numbness in the hand - symptoms that force 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, the lesion in osteochondrosis covers the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, thus reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae. Small tears and micro-cracks appear on the outside. Over time, this can lead to the development of a disc herniation.
- Damage to the plate will impair the stability of the vertebral joint.
- The cervical spine and intervertebral joints suffer from osteochondrosis - spondyloarthrosis develops. It also contributes to the compression of nerve roots.
- The pathological process extends to the vertebrae themselves. Due to the fact that the functions of the intervertebral discs are interrupted, the load on them increases. The spine tries to compensate for this violation, bone outgrowths - osteophytes - appear on it.
Treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis
In the worsening of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, traction is used (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headrest and the head is secured with a special loop) to relieve intervertebral discs. You must wear a Shants collar for the same purpose. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain. In the case of severe pain that does not go away, your doctor may block you by injecting an anesthetic solution into the area of the nerve roots affected. Physiotherapy is used: ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis with novocaine.
When the exacerbation subsides, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes massage, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy.
One of the main signs of osteochondrosis of the neck is neck pain. Many people who experience this symptom do not go to the doctor, but prefer to treat "chondrosis" at home. There are at least two good reasons for refusing self-medication and seeking medical attention.
First, painkillers and folk remedies, while helping to relieve pain for a while, do not solve the main problem. Pathological changes in the spine continue to grow. Over time, this threatens to have more serious consequences. Up to the point that surgery may be needed.
Second, neck pain is not limited to osteochondrosis. There are many other reasons. Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the right treatment.
What are the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine that force a doctor?
The main symptom of osteochondrosis of the neck is pain. It can occur in different places, depending on the level at which the pathological process is localized: in the neck, shoulder girdle, hand, heart region. The pain may be dull, burning, painful.
Other manifestations of the disease:
- Headache, dizziness, flies, noise, tinnitus.
- Weakness of the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle, arm.
- Skin sensitization disorder.
- Shoulder-shoulder periarthritis: painful neck pain extending 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 muscles of the hand.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. Bone growths appear on the vertebrae, which constrict the nerves, resulting in the development of a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery that is involved in the blood supply to the brain. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are accompanied by constant headaches that start from the back of the head, extend to the temple, to the crown of the head, nausea, noise in the head, ringing in the ear, flickering of light spots in the eyes.
- First squalene muscle syndrome. There is a frontal and middle squalene muscle on the neck - these are located next to each other and there is a small space between them where nerves and blood vessels pass. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscle tenses and compresses them, resulting in symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the forearm, shoulder, and fingers. Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head. The skin of the hand may cool, pale and numb.
- Epicondylitis syndrome. There are bony protrusions on the lower side of the shoulder, on the side of the elbow joint - epicondyle. With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, pain is experienced, which increases when pressed. Other symptoms include neck pain, pain when you press certain points in the cervical vertebrae.
If two parts of the spine are affected at the same time, the symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis include pain between the shoulder blades in the region of the heart.
Osteochondrosis increases the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor.
You better not heal yourself. Even if there are proven methods that can usually help you manage your pain, that doesn’t mean you’re doing well.
Pain can be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernia, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome), and this can be a symptom of other diseases. To properly treat the disease, you need to understand its causes, perform differential diagnosis. This is only possible in a clinic.
You should visit and examine a neurologist to identify the cause of the disease and properly treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
At the heart of cervical osteochondrosis is the defeat of the intervertebral discs. Their chemical composition is violated, they swell at first, then their size decreases, cracks and tears appear on the outside, they become denser. The degenerative process then spreads to the vertebrae, the intervertebral joints. Due to the decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases and bone growths appear on them - osteophytes.
What are the causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
There is no consensus on the causes of cervical osteochondrosis. Different conditions are thought to cause disease, there are different points of view:
- Age-related changes in the spine. However, the skeleton changes in almost every person over the age of 40, but not everyone has osteochondrosis.
- Neck injuries. Often the causes of the disease are indicated by trauma: bruised neck, compression fracture, vertebral subluxation. Chronic injuries such as intense training of athletes, persistently uncomfortable bent postures, and repetitive whiplash injuries can be important.
- Congenital disorders of the vertebrae: cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra and occipital bone, etc.
- Profession. More often, the disease affects people who work in a monotonous posture, constantly performing the same type of movement.
- Disorder of the blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, edema in the nerve roots.
- Autoimmune disorders.Conditions in which the immune system does not function properly attack its own connective tissue, the ligaments of the body.
See a neurologist. An experienced health professional understands the source of your health problems and prescribes appropriate treatment.
Causes of worsening cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of alternating exacerbations and periods of improvement when symptoms resolve for some time. Another exacerbation may be due to the following reasons:
- Embarrassing, jerky neck movement.
- Long stay in a monotonous awkward position. For example, your neck may hurt after working on your computer for a long time after sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow.
- Stress, nervous strain. In case of chronic stress, cramps occur in the neck muscles, which can cause another exacerbation.
- Various diseases, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
- Hypothermia. Because of this, many people get exacerbations in the fall.
- Improper, illiterate self-healing. For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission, but are contraindicated in case of exacerbation.
What diseases may have similar manifestations?
Very often, the manifestations of "osteochondrosis" are actually related to a completely different disease. For example, the cause may be hidden in the muscles - there is a condition like myofascial pain syndrome. The pain stems from the constant tension in the same muscles.
Sometimes the manifestation of "cervical osteochondrosis" is considered to be dizziness associated with otolithiasis - a condition in which crystals of calcium salts accumulate in the inner ear.
Neck pain and crackling, headache - when these symptoms occur, many people “diagnose” osteochondrosis. Everything is clear - when it hurts, you have to take painkillers or make a ukolchic, apply heat, and everything goes away. Why go to the doctor when you can handle it yourself?
However, self-healing often does not lead to anything good. Painful seizures may become more frequent, severe, and prolonged over time. Taking painkillers uncontrollably almost every day can cause stomach or kidney problems. After all, all medications have side effects.
And the cause of pain is not always the cause of osteochondrosis. In order to find out the real cause and understand how to treat it effectively, you need to visit a doctor and have it examined.
How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis? What happens in the doctor's office during the examination?
During your first visit, your neurologist will ask you a few questions:
- How long has your head and neck hurt?
- Where does the pain occur? What characters are: stinging, aching, shooting, pulling?
- When does pain usually occur? What provokes you? After what do you feel better?
- Have you ever seen 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 neck injury recently?
Your doctor will then perform a neurological examination to check your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength, and tone. You are asked to turn, tilt your head sideways, forward, backward. The doctor presses his head lightly on certain points in the neck to determine the occurrence of pain.
After the test, the necessary diagnostic methods are diagnosed and prescribed.
What diagnostic methods are used in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
Examination of cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:
- Radiography of the cervical spine.
- According to the indications, radiopaque examinations are prescribed: myelography (introduction of contrast into the space surrounding the spinal cord), discography (introduction of contrast into the intervertebral disc), angiography (introduction of contrast into the blood vessels).
- Computed tomography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- In severe neurological disorders, you may require electron neuromyography - a study that determines the passage of electrical impulses through nerves and muscles.
Manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis are often similar to angina pectoris. If, after the test, your doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis, you will be prescribed an ECG and other diagnostic methods.