Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is a serious pathology, which is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs. This violation often leads to dangerous complications. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ignore it. To cope with the disease, you should consult a specialist in a timely manner.
The essence of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a pathology in which the soft intervertebral pulp is transformed into bone tissue. This causes pinching of blood vessels and nerve fibers.
The characteristic features of the disease include pain syndrome. It is localized in the neck, shoulders, upper back, head. Many patients are faced with dizziness, pressure fluctuations, nausea, air deficiency.
Distrophic changes in the area of the cervical region are usually found in middle and older age. This is due to the vertical position of the skeleton and the features of the distribution of loads.
Doctors note that the disease earlier occurs in men. This happens at 45-50 years. Women face the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis later-at 50-55 years old.
Reasons
A variety of factors lead to the development of this form of the disease. The main causes of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:
- Insufficient physical activity. People who lead an inactive lifestyle have depletion of the muscles of the back supporting the spine. The deposition of salts that appear due to lactic acid can aggravate this state of things. The weakened spinal column is easily deformed and becomes less mobile.
- Obesity. The appearance of excess weight is a great danger to the musculoskeletal system. In addition to increased loads on the spine, adipose tissues take the beneficial substances that are required to maintain muscle tone tone and cartilage.
- Long stay in a motionless position. This disease is often found in drivers and people who are engaged in intellectual labor. After a prolonged stay in a stifled state, the cartilaginous fabrics gradually lose elasticity. Over time, intervertebral discs acquire an unnatural configuration.
- Disorders in nutrition. In order for the body to work correctly, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins should be present in the diet in sufficient quantities. Irrational nutrition provokes a violation of the structure of tissues and leads to their rapid destruction.
- Back damage. This can cause pressure redistribution to cartilage, which provokes a change in their structure and shape.
- Pathology of the musculoskeletal system. This category includes scoliosis, rheumatism, bone tuberculosis.
Often, cervical osteochondrosis is the result of a hereditary tendency. In this case, pathology develops without the influence of significant factors.
To prevent the appearance of the disease, you need to start therapy in a timely manner.
Stages of the disease
There are several stages of pathology, each of which is characterized by certain features:
- The first - the key feature of the state is the instability of the spine. It manifests itself in the initial lesions of the intervertebral discs;
- The second - the main manifestation is protrusion. This condition is characterized by a decrease in the cracks between the vertebrae, a gradual violation of the integrity of the fibrous ring. Often there are pain caused by compression of the nerves;
- The third - at this stage, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. This entails the occurrence of intervertebral hernia. This condition is characterized by severe damage to the spine;
- The fourth is the most difficult. At this stage, with any movement, acute pain occurs. Sometimes the condition improves, but this indicates the appearance of bone structures connecting the vertebrae. This entails a decrease in motor activity and provokes disability.
Symptoms
This form of osteochondrosis is characterized by special manifestations. This is due to the close location of the cervical vertebrae and the low height of the disks. Therefore, even small changes provoke serious manifestations. In addition, this form of osteochondrosis is often accompanied by compression of cerebrospinal roots.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:
- Pain. They are localized in various areas - the back of the head, neck, shoulder girdle, hands. Discomfort in the hands or shoulder girdle is due to a pinching of the nerves. The pain syndrome in the occipital zone is associated with spasms of muscle tissue of the neck and circulatory disorders.
- Weakness in the hands. This sign is due to damage to the motor nerves responsible for the innervation of the muscles of the hands.
- Weakening of sensitivity in the hands. This feature is due to damage to the roots, which include sensitive fibers responsible for the innervation of the skin of the hands.
- Reducing the motor activity of the neck, the appearance of crunch. Such symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine become the result of a decrease in the height of the discs. They are also defeated by the intervertebral joints and the formation of bone growths on the vertebrae.
- Weakness, loss of coordination of movements and dizziness. These manifestations are due to damage to the vertebral artery. The formation of fibrous tissue and vertebral displacement provokes problems with blood flow in the arteries. As a result, there is a deterioration in blood flow in the occipital area of the brain and cerebellum.
- Hearing deterioration, numbness of the language, weakening of visual acuity. These symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are due to the aggravation of the situation and the progression of cerebral circulation disorders.
Diagnostic methods
To identify the neck osteochondrosis, you need to carry out a number of diagnostic procedures.The most informative studies include the following:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most informative study that allows you to assess the condition of the vertebrae and discs between them. Also, with the help of this procedure, it is possible to detect hernias, evaluate their size and localization.
- X -ray - this procedure is one of the most affordable research methods. However, it often becomes uninformative, especially in the last stages of the disease.
- Computed tomography - allows you to identify the presence of changes in the structure of the vertebrae. However, the presence of hernias or compression of the spinal cord to diagnose in this way is quite difficult.
- Duplex ultrasound scanning - helps to detect blood flow disorders in the vertebral artery. The procedure allows you to detect obstacles and a slowdown in blood flow in the vessels.
Methods of treatment
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is selected taking into account various factors. This is done depending on the stage of the disease, the form of the disease, the severity of symptoms.
The key methods of therapy include the following:
- Conservative therapy - can be drug and non -drug;
- Surgical intervention;
- A combination of conservative methods and surgical treatment.
Physiotherapy methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine necessarily requires the use of the main methods of physiotherapy.
The most effective procedures include the following:
- Electrophoresis using drugs. Under the influence of electric current, particles of medication penetrate the desired area. Eufillin and novocaine are used for the procedure. Thanks to this, it is possible to stimulate blood circulation and achieve an analgesic effect.
- Ultrasound exposure. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to cope with pain and stop inflammation. This technique also activates metabolic processes in the body.
- Magnetotherapy. With its help, it is possible to cope with the edema and achieve an analgesic effect.
- Laser exposure. This method helps to normalize blood circulation and helps to cope with inflammation.
The most effective exercises should include the following:
- Lie on the stomach, rest your hands on the floor, raise your head and torso. It is worth making sure that the back remains straight. In this position, it is necessary to remain 1-2 minutes. Then carefully sink to the floor. Make 2-3 repetitions.
- Lie on the stomach, stretch your hands, turn your head in the left side and touch your ear to the floor. Similar movement to perform to the right. Make 6-7 times in each direction.
- Sit down and, taking a breath, bend down. Touch the chest with a chin. After that, exhale, deviate back, throwing his head back. Perform 10-15 repetitions.
- Sit down, put your palms on your forehead. Press your head in your arms for 30 seconds. In total, you need to make 2-3 repetitions.
- Slowly rotate your head in different directions. In each direction, you need to make 10 rotations. When dizziness appears, the exercise must be stopped.
Massage
To eliminate the signs of cervical osteochondrosis, you should definitely do a massage. The procedure must be carried out as carefully as possible, without making efforts. Movements should be extended to the neck, collar site and back area.
It is best to do massage in a lying position on the stomach.In extreme cases, the procedure sitting is allowed.
The technique is based on the use of such techniques:
- Stroking - implies influence on the surface areas of the skin. To do this, the palms of the hands or your fingertips need to stroke the back, moving from the head to the upper third of the back. You can also make zigzag movements.
- Squeezing - consists in the effects on deep areas of the skin in the upper third of the back. To do this, with the thumb and forefinger, the skin is captured. This should be done very carefully, without affecting fabrics in the vertebral area.
- Rubbing - the procedure is carried out to warm up the skin and increase blood circulation in the collar region. It should be done very carefully, without affecting the spinous sections of the vertebrae.
- Kneading - is quite rare, since it implies the effect on deeply located fabrics. This can only aggravate an anomaly.
With osteochondrosis, self -massage can be performed. To do this, it is convenient to sit down and use the methods of stroking and rubbing the neck and shoulders. It is advisable to supplement the procedure with rubbing ointments that contribute to increased blood flow and relieve pain in the affected area.
Surgical treatment
Conducting surgical intervention is shown in the following cases:
- The presence of neurological deviations is a violation of motor activity, weakness or loss of hands sensitivity, loss of control over defecation. When such symptoms appear, you can suspect a persistent damage to the nerves. Therefore, it is so important to carry out the operation to eliminate compression.
- The presence of constant pain, which violates the quality of life of a person and cannot be eliminated by conservative methods.
With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following operations can be performed:
- Front cervical discoctomy and spondylodeza. The operation is performed through the front surface of the neck. The procedure is aimed at removing the affected disk, decompression of nerve fibers and implantation of a special device to maintain the desired distance between the vertebrae.
- Replacing the intervertebral disc. In this case, the affected disc is removed, and instead is inserted artificial. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to maintain motor activity.
Conducting surgical interventions to eliminate neurological symptoms has high efficiency. According to separate estimates, it is 80-90 %. However, such methods are not effective enough when eliminating pain associated with osteochondrosis.
Possible dangers
Cervical osteochondrosis is a serious type of pathology. In this area of the spine, there are many nerves and vessels responsible for the nutrition of the brain. In addition, the cervical vertebrae fit tightly. Therefore, even small changes in this area provoke squeezing or displacement of blood vessels and nerves.
Disorders of cerebral blood flow provoke the appearance of migraines, vegetovascular dystonia, hypertension. There is also a risk of problems in the functioning of the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels. Many people are disturbed by hearing, visual acuity decreases, coordination of movements suffers.
In difficult situations, cervical osteochondrosis provokes the syndrome of the vertebral artery. This vessel is responsible for the blood supply to the cerebellum and an oblong brain. With compression of the artery, there is a risk of brain ischemia and the development of spinal stroke.
Also, pathology can provoke damage to the nerve roots. This is manifested in the form of the formation of growths, the appearance of radiculopathy, loss of motor activity. The most difficult consequence of the disease is compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to a fatal outcome.
Prevention
To avoid the development of pathology, it is worth observing simple rules:
- Systematically play sports;
- Eat properly;
- Take vitamin preparations and chondroprotectors prescribed by a doctor;
- Avoid a long stay in an uncomfortable position;
- Use orthopedic furniture;
- Choose clothes and shoes for season, especially in winter.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous disease that can lead to negative health consequences.
To avoid serious complications, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner and clearly follow his recommendations.