Osteochondrosis of the cervix: causes, symptoms and treatment

2 October 2020

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a progressive process of dystrophy, a disorder of the intervertebral discs.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are characterized by severe pain in the neck, head, shoulders and affect everyone, regardless of age.

DESCRIPTION OF OSTEOCHONDROSIS

Osteochondrosis of the neck became much younger. Young people suffer from adolescence. The neck is the weakest area of the spine. Seven vertebrae are quite close together, and the skeleton of the muscle develops worse than the other parts. The neck is under severe stress because it supports the skull and is in constant motion.

What is cervical osteochondrosis? The intervertebral discs feed by diffusion from adjacent tissues. Deteriorating blood supply to the tissues surrounding the vertebrae leads to a lack of nutrition and water. The hunger of the disc nucleus and the fibrous ring leads to degenerative processes.

Excessive growth of bone tissue near the vertebrae, clogged intervertebral discs and pinned nerves and ligaments appear for the first time as signs of reduced performance. High-intensity pain initially concentrates in the neck, head, shoulders, heart, arms, upper chest, moving to the lower extremities. Each of the seven vertebrae sends signals to other parts. Compressed nerve roots affect the condition of other body systems.

Osteochondrosis is especially dangerous for the brain. The vertebral artery that runs here performs the function of supplying blood to the back of the brain. The sting leads to headaches, which often develop into migraines, without undergoing pain relief. Osteochondrosis of the throat may be accompanied by dizziness, vision and hearing problems, nausea and vomiting. Later, pharyngeal symptoms appear, suddenly fainting due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain. Compression of the vertebral artery leads to ischemia of the spinal cord and brain. Worsening of the process causes a spinal stroke.

BASIC PROCEDURES FOR DISEASES

Osteochondrosis of the neck must be taken into account in terms of the interaction of physiological and pathological factors:

normal process: Aging of the cartilage of the spine occurs due to natural irreversible causes. Changes occur in the central part of the intervertebral disc. The process of age-related changes in the body leads to the replacement of the pulp with fibrous tissue.
pathological process:there are degenerative changes in the intervertebral structures, destruction of the surrounding vessels and nodes. Changes occur outside the cartilage itself, there is compression of blood vessels, irritation of nerve endings. A person feels dyslagia, pain symptoms of local and reflex nature.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine acquires a pathological form when normal aging is replaced by a pathological process. Initially, the body's compensatory and protective mechanisms are activated, eliminating the disease. Therefore, osteochondrosis can pass or occur only sporadically. But this function is not permanent.

The progression of the disease, which is expressed in the compression of the vascular and nervous structures, is accompanied by the following procedures:

vertebral slip, in which the spinal disc slips. Even a small shift leads to the development of paralysis. Severe displacement is fatal.
the nucleus of the nucleus is impregnated with calcium salts. This leads to disc malnutrition, causing hernia formation.
the appearance of small things in the fibrous ring, the development of the protrusion. The intervertebral disc protrudes beyond its limits.
spondylosis, which means damage to the vertebrae. Osteophytes appear - development of bone tissue in the form of hooks and spines, located on the sides of the vertebral bodies. There is severe pain and, as a result, stiffness of movements.

REASONS FOR THE APPEARANCE OF PEOPLE'S OSTECHONDROSIS
Increasing the load on the cervical vertebrae leads to the body trying to compensate for the condition. Thus begin muscle spasms, deterioration of blood circulation, deformities. The very structure of the vertebrae changes. The cause can also be a progressive diagnosis resulting from prolonged physical exercise.

The main factors that cause the onset of cervical osteochondrosis:
hypodynamics;

weakening of the immune system?

unbearable physical activity?

presence of spinal cord injuries.

nutritional deficiency of essential substances, obesity

posture problems (scoliosis, flat feet, rheumatism).

hereditary factor?

autoimmune diseases that cause cartilage degeneration.

stress, prolonged nervous tension.

climatic factor, cold and humidity.

congenital anomalies of the spine.

The main causes of osteochondrosis are the disproportionate distribution of the load on the spine, very weak corset muscles. People over the age of thirty are at greater risk, especially if their day is spent sitting for a long time.

DEVELOPMENT STAGES

The progression of cervical osteochondrosis can be divided into several stages:

first, preclinical.Characterized by slight deformities of the vertebrae, softness of the cervical lordosis. The pain is felt with sudden movements of the head, fatigue appears. The development of the disease can be prevented without medication. You need to balance your diet, choose exercises and take precautions.
second.An unstable state is created between the vertebrae. There are displacements of the vertebrae in relation to each other, torsion - rotation around the spine. The pain that intensifies with the movement of the neck from time to time radiates to the shoulders and arms. The height of the intervertebral discs decreases, which leads to a pinch of the nerves. It is characterized by signs such as distraction, fatigue, headaches.
third stage.The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced by a quarter compared to the upper disc. Deformities begin to appear in the intervertebral joints. There is a reduction in the lumen of the intervertebral segments, the canal of the spine. The intense pain is felt all the time. The arm muscles begin to grow numb due to the onset of intervertebral disc herniation. The cervical spine loses flexibility. The patient feels dizzy, weak.

The height of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced. The intervertebral discs are destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Large osteophytes form at the back of the cervix. The spinal canal narrows a lot, causing the development of myelopathy. The patient's condition worsens, accompanied by decreased coordination, dizziness, severe pain, tinnitus.

Symptoms

The symptomatic picture of a neck injury differs from the disorders elsewhere. This is due to the denser arrangement of the vertebrae in relation to each other. Due to the small height of the intervertebral discs, the clinic begins to manifest itself even with mild pathologies. The signs of injury will vary depending on which of the eight nerve roots is affected. There is a nerve under each of the seven vertebrae, its compression has its own symptoms.

Problems in the first two vertebrae affect the tenderness of the occiput. The pain is located in the parietal, occipital region. Defeat of the nerve ending of the third vertebra is rare. The symptoms are manifested in the numbness of the area with a sting, in the tongue, in the speech problems. The fourth root signals a problem with pain and numbness in the neck, shoulder. May cause difficulty breathing, heart pain. The disease of the fifth part causes pain in the shoulders, reduced sensitivity of the limbs.

Lesions of the sixth and seventh vertebrae are the most common in patients. The neck, the shoulders, the forearms, the back, the back suffer. There is numbness in the hands and fingers. Pathological changes in the eighth nerve root are characterized by the spread of pain in the lower extremities. There is a loss of skin sensitivity, the little fingers and toes become numb. Reduced blood circulation causes blue feet and hands.

The most common signs of cervical osteochondrosis are:

pain extending to the upper and lower body.
weakness, decreased sensitivity of the hands.
difficulty in movement, dysfunction?
Decreased resonance, accompanied by ringing, tinnitus, disorientation, weakness, dizziness
nausea, vomiting
numbness of the tongue, toes and feet, hearing impairment, vision.

Nail Osteochondrosis Diagnostics

To determine the damaged intervertebral discs and the degree of their disease, the doctor must perform a series of tests: X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT (computed tomography), double-sided ultrasound scan. The most accurate way to examine the health of the cervix is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of MRI is to detect abnormal changes in the tissues of the spine, in particular, in the spinal cord and in the intervertebral hernias. After examining and questioning the patient, the examining neurologist makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

TREATMENT

If you suspect osteochondrosis, you should consult a neurologist. The duration of treatment depends on the age of the person, the severity of cervical osteochondrosis, the type of treatment and the patient's compliance with all the doctor's recommendations. Complete cure for severe osteochondrosis is impossible. The purpose of complex therapy is to slow down the current pathological process, to eliminate the symptoms. Treatment can be conservative, surgical or a combination of both. If the headaches become more frequent, then it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible.

There are two main types of treatment for cervical osteochondrosis:

medicines, which are made by taking medicines.
Physiotherapy includes UHF courses, electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy. They have a stimulating effect on blood flow, metabolism and relief of muscle spasms.

Medication is used to weaken the compression of the peripheral zones of the central nervous system (CNS) and to balance the pain syndrome at the time of disease exacerbation. After elimination of the acute manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis, treatment is not discontinued. Physiotherapy is prescribed. It is necessary to do regular massage in the neck area. Folk remedies are also used.

MEDICAL TREATMENT OF Osteochondrosis

Drug therapy will only have a full effect in combination with other methods, for example, physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy), massage. The drugs are designed to relieve pain, restore the regeneration of cartilage tissue and activate blood circulation to the affected neck tissues.

drug therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervix

Many doctors prescribe injections to be more effective at nerve endings. But vitamins are best taken in pill form, as injections are very painful. To provide anti-inflammatory action, the doctor administers intramuscular injections.

Main types of treatment drugs:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).They have an analgesic effect, remove aseptic inflammatory process, root swelling. With obvious signs of illness, injections are given twice a day with these drugs. Apply a cream topically.
chondroprotectors.Activation of metabolism, regeneration of cartilage tissue. Eliminate damage to the intervertebral discs. There are injectables for the inside of the joints and muscles. The course of treatment lasts up to 4 months.
B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), E, A, C, Dhelp to improve metabolism in tissues, catalyze their recovery.
muscle relaxants.For relaxation of spasmodic muscles. The tablets are used within a month. In a severe form of the disease, a variety of injectable drugs are used.
drugs to activate blood flow to the brain,rheological properties of blood.

The following are used as adjunctive medicines to speed recovery:

vasoprotectants- injectable drugs are designed to activate blood flow to the veins, boosting vascular tone.
glucocorticosteroids- to reduce swelling and inflammation by injection.
biogenic stimulants.Accelerate metabolic processes, help repair damaged tissues.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy methods complement the medication, significantly increase the recovery rate, prolong the remission phase and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Physiotherapy methods:

physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Exercise therapyis one of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis. Regular exercise activates blood circulation, helps repair the damage.
massageimproves nerve conduction, restores muscle tone.
magnetic therapyrelieves tissue swelling.
laser treatmentworks with a concentrated beam of optical light. Begins recovery processes in the body.
reflexology- activate certain points. Strengthens the immune system, relieves spasms and neck pain.
ultrasoundgives an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect.
electrophoresis with medicinal herbs.Electricity promotes the penetration of drug ions in a specific place.

To get rid of cervical osteochondrosis, manual therapy, heat therapy and mud therapy are also used. All of these methods slow the progression of the disease.

It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis with herbs, but, accompanying the main treatment, they help alleviate the condition. Mix 2 teaspoons of bee honey with two mummy tablets. The mixture is heated, applied to a warm handkerchief, which is tied around the neck at night. The biostimulating properties of honey perfectly complement the treatment. For grinding, use radish tincture, vodka and honey in a ratio of 1, 5: 0, 5: 1, measured in glasses. You can twist three large lemons using a meat grinder with four cloves of garlic. Pour boiling water over the mixture in a two liter jar. After mixing the contents, drink half a glass on an empty stomach. Pain can also be relieved by warming with mustard plaster, pepper plaster.

REGISTRATION EXERCISES

During the recovery period, you can perform a set of therapeutic neck exercises. The exercise is based on many dynamic exercises. You should not exercise while exercising. When performing exercises, it is recommended to monitor the appearance of discomfort, it is unacceptable.

From a prone position, lift your upper body using your arms. Delay for 1-2 minutes. Lower to the starting position and repeat 2-3 times. Then you should stretch your arms along the body. The head turns right and left 6-7 times, trying to reach the floor with the ear. Sit down. Tilt the body forward while inhaling, the head tilted towards the chest. On the exhale, bend back, throwing your head back. Enough 10-15 inclines. Now you have to put your palms on your forehead and apply mutual pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times. Rotate your head 10 times in each direction. If your head starts to rotate, the exercise should be stopped.

OPTIONS

The cervical region is rich in blood vessels, nerve endings that feed the brain. The slightest compression damages the whole body, disrupts blood circulation to the brain and causes neurological disorders: migraine, heart dysfunction, respiratory system, vision, hearing, hypertension. Particularly dangerous complications in the form of spinal artery syndrome, cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke, resulting from the advanced form of neck disease. When root disease occurs, mobility is lost. Spinal cord compression is lethal.

In order to avoid surgery in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the search for medical care in the first place should not be delayed. It is necessary to use all available methods of treatment, as well as changes in lifestyle, diet.