Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of our time. The sedentary lifestyle, the constant nervous tension, does not go away without a trace. Almost everyone can observe the symptoms of this disease. How to recognize an insidious disease and seek help in time?

Osteochondrosis is a physiological process that every person acquires during their lifetime. The symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are very varied, so it only becomes a disease under certain conditions, in combination with certain factors. The disease is characterized by local changes in the bone tissue of the cervical spine due to the occurrence of calcium deficiency. Calcium becomes scarce, and the tissue takes on a spongy structure, becomes brittle, fragile, and performs the main function of the skeleton.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In cervical osteochondrosis, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Therefore, almost all patients complain of similar symptoms:

• headache, dizziness, tinnitus;
• there are pains in the shoulders, neck, chest;
• individual parts of the body numb (hands, fingers);
• weakness in the arms and legs;
• psychological symptoms - unreasonable mood swings, irritability;
• In difficult situations, vision and hearing deteriorate.

Symptoms are so varied and unique that it is difficult to identify cervical osteochondrosis based on patient complaints alone. Cervical spine disease is diagnosed by MRI, computed tomography, X-ray. You can see the changes in the spine according to the results of the examination. The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made only after considering all the complaints.

Depending on the site of cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment vary slightly. From exactly where the change occurred and how it affects the central nervous system, osteochondrosis can be divided into three main groups. These breeds have different symptoms and are treated differently accordingly.

1. First group. The peripheral nervous system suffers. Changes in the vertebrae directly affect the nerve endings (roots). Often referred to as cervical thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, the most prominent symptoms are:
• Pain from the neck region to the shoulder area.

• Choking syndrome in the neck, tachycardia, heart pain.
• Crunch, noise, crackling when turning the neck. See what exercises you need to do to strengthen your neck muscles in osteochondrosis.
• Constant pain in the back of the head.
• Due to the deterioration of blood circulation, the hands turn pale, catch cold, and the fingers become numb.
• Joint pain.

Such osteochondrosis can cause torticollis

2. Second group. The whole spinal cord is affected, the disease shows itself in disrupting all its work. The symptoms are as follows:
• The muscle tone of the legs and arms decreases. Legs become numb, tired quickly, difficult to walk, stand, due to the syndrome of semiconductor disorders. Blood does not flow well into the lateral columns of the spinal cord.
• Myelopathy develops in the affected areas. Affects limb dysfunction.
• Third group. The work of the brain is disrupted due to the poor blood supply to the brain. They differ in typical syndromes:
• Hypothalamus. Syndrome indicated by hypothalamic failure. Leads to neurological symptoms. The patient often feels unreasonable fatigue, irritability, mood swings. People with this syndrome complain of poor sleep, resentment, unfounded fears, anxiety. Among the physiological changes: sweating, pallor, cold hands, high blood pressure.
• Drop syndrome. With this disease of the cervical spine, they often pass out for no reason. This is due to vasospasm.
• Vestibular stem. The syndrome is characterized by frequent dizziness. Insufficient blood flow interrupts the work of the vestibular device. Sometimes nausea occurs, which causes vomiting.
• Cochlear stem. Ringing, tinnitus is called this syndrome. Ear congestion or hearing loss may occur. It is very difficult to associate such symptoms with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially to prescribe proper treatment
• Pharyngeal larynx. The syndrome is accompanied by discomfort in the throat. It can be difficult to swallow, the voice becomes hoarse. Painful symptoms such as dryness, itching, pain in the throat.

Characteristics of osteochondrosis associated with the treatment of radicular syndrome symptoms

It is especially worthwhile to stay with radical syndrome of the cervical spine, the symptoms of which should be considered in more detail. Their manifestations are often confused with diseases unrelated to osteochondrosis. The treatment does not work, the person still feels pain, the condition worsens. An incorrect diagnosis is sometimes worse than the disease itself. The prescribed therapy not only does not help, but also cripples completely healthy organs. The development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine provokes the appearance of the so-called radical syndrome.

The main cause is the compression of nerves, especially the roots, in a certain part of the spine (neck, chest, vertebrae).

This cervical syndrome is characterized by:

1. Pain when turning the neck or torso. Appears after a long monotonous body position (sleep, prolonged sitting) and a sharp turn of the head.
2. Numbness and "chills" in the occipital region.
3. Headache in various manifestations: throbbing, sharp, short-term, long-term. This leads to dizziness, fainting, nausea.
4. The muscles in the chin may sag slightly.
5. In frequent pain, a decrease in tongue tone is observed and speech defects appear.
6. Neck pain passes smoothly over the shoulder, forearm, hand. There is numbness in the fingers, discomfort when lifting the arm, pain in the joints.

Often, cervical spine radical syndrome smoothly turns to chest. In cervicothoracic osteochondrosis with radical syndrome, pain, acute momentary, manifests itself in the internal organs.

Here's what the clinical picture looks like:

• Pain in the shoulder blade, lower ribs, armpit. Numbness in these areas.
• Painful stinging sensations in the stomach, intestines, hypochondria. Often observed with this syndrome, diseases of the digestive system are misdiagnosed.
• Numbness from the navel to the groin in the back of the spine, causing difficulty in the intestines and stomach.
• Dry throat.

Radical changes can cause cardinal syndrome - damage to bone tissue causes irritation to the roots of the pectoralis or diaphragm. These are indicated by: heart pain of varying duration, from sharp sting to long pain, tachycardia, shortness of breath. These signs are exactly the same as the symptoms of angina pectoris. And if you treat it exactly, the result will be zero. Moreover, in patients with such a syndrome, the cardiogram is normal and no signs of heart disease other than pain are observed. Therefore, coronary vasodilators are not effective.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Effective treatment is a complex therapy that must be practiced not only during exacerbation.

Medication

• Pain syndrome is relieved by painkillers and other painkillers.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for severe pain.
• Topical anesthetic in the form of warming ointments and gels may be helpful.
• If you have exiled muscle cramps, take muscle relaxants.
• Prescribe medications that improve brain circulation in cervical osteochondrosis.
• Blocking painkillers is also used in medical practice.
• If necessary, prescribe medication for seizures.
• Antidepressants, sedatives, and insomnia medications are useful for psychological disorders.

In addition to medication, the following have a fairly positive effect:

• massage,
• medical gymnastics;
• electrophoresis;
He is wearing a
• bandage.

Cardinal treatment methods - surgical removal of hernias and other defects of the spine.