Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is some dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs in the neck.

Not only the discs themselves, but also the vertebrae, soft and cartilage fabric are exposed to negative effects.The main feature of the cervical region is the fact that its vertebrae have not the most reliable structure in comparison with other departments, which makes this area very vulnerable.The vertebrae here are located in the immediate vicinity of each other, as well as to those arteries that are powered by the human brain.

If the vertebrae displacement occurs, then the probability of squeezing the nerve beams and arteries is high, which will inevitably go to the occurrence of a hernia between the vertebrae and protrusion, i.e.changes in the structure of the spinal disk.

What is it?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (OSTEOHONDROZ) is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs, which damage the wheels, vertebrae and joints of the cervical region, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is observed.The disease progresses if it is not treated, and can lead to headaches, circulatory disorders and even hernias.Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs due to a violation of mineral metabolism, as a result of which the bones and joints become less durable.

Osteochondrosis can cause instability of the cervical spine (symptoms and treatment are similar to chondrosis, but have a number of features), which is often accompanied by a displacement of the vertebrae.In turn, this accelerates the development of osteochondrosis, destroying the vertebrate.

Stages

The attending physician must determine the degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis, based on an anamnesis, as well as the examination of the patient.There are only four degrees:

1. The first degree.The disease is in the rudiment itself, the patient has a slight pain in the neck, which can be more intense if a person begins to turn his head.
2. The second degree.The patient can complain about very intense pain in the cervical region, which can be localized in the upper limbs.The clinical picture shows that at this stage of the development of the disease there is a pinching of nerve beams, which causes intense pain.Headache, weakness and general malaise are also noted.
3. The third degree.The pain becomes almost incessant, also giving to the shoulder or arm.In some patients, a hernia of the intervertebral discs is diagnosed, which leads to a loss of sensitivity of the upper extremities.When examining a doctor, a noticeable decrease in the mobility of the cervical spine is observed, as well as pain on palpation.
4. The fourth degree.At this stage of the disease, the intervertebral disc is almost completely destroyed.In its place, connective tissue appears, which leads to a deterioration in the patient's condition.He begins to feel pain, noise in his head, as well as poor orientation in space.This suggests that the artery is pinched, which interferes with the natural nutrition of the brain.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Important symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are dizziness, headaches, and blood pressure.

Diagnosis of the disease is difficult, the pain is sometimes not manifested, and the symptoms are erased in nature, in addition, the uncontrolled use of strong analgesics masks the signs of the disease.A patient who does not feel pain considers himself healthy, and so continues until the development of irreversible processes in the tissues of the joints of the neck.

Headache for cervical osteochondrosis

This is one of the most common non -specific signs of many human diseases.Headaches are especially widespread in the female population.It can be difficult to determine the cause of headaches, and, especially, connect it with lesions of the spine.About 14 different causes of headache in humans were detected.

The most common causes of headaches in the pathology we described:

1. Cerebral spasms;
2. Pinching of nerve roots;
3. Reflex increase in intracranial pressure.

The headache for cervical osteochondrosis can resemble sensations with arterial hypertension, angina pectoris or stroke.Moreover, in middle and older people, as a rule, there are risks of developing strokes or heart attacks.

It feels like the pain can be paroxysmal, constant, pulsating and dumb.

With pathologies of the heart, patients complain of unpleasant sensations in the chest area, accompanied by impaired rhythm of heart activity.Only a qualified doctor can determine the cause.In the event of headaches, combined with nausea, dizziness and loading pains, an ECG is necessarily done.

Dizziness for cervical osteochondrosis

This condition does not always clearly indicate osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Dizziness may be a consequence:

1. Inflammation in the middle or inner ear;
2. Cerebral spasms;
3. Violations of the transmission of nerve impulses;
4. Problems with the vestibular apparatus;
5. Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

There are no clear criteria for dizziness for osteochondrosis.However, there are systemic and non -systemic dizziness, they have clear differences.

It is recommended to know the differences of systemic and non -systemic dizziness, this will help to independently determine the causes of an unusual state:

1. Systemic dizziness is a sense of circular movement of surrounding objects or body, which is a consequence of a violation of the vestibular apparatus, visual analyzers and receptors in the joints, muscles and epidermis (osteochondrosis of various etiologies);
2. Non -playing dizziness is a feeling of censority, a sense of deafening, an uncertain state in an upright position.With unsystematic dizziness, there is no sensation of circular rotation, and this is an important difference between the signs compared.

A person who feels the dizziness of one of the specified types should be examined by an experienced doctor, first of all, a neuropathologist or (if there are suspicions of ear disease and nasopharynx) otolaryngologist.

The reason for emergency hospitalization that is not associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is to detect such features in the patient (except dizziness) as:

1. Paralysis of the facial muscles and numbness of part of the shoulder girdle;
2. Strong headache against the backdrop of a deterioration in well -being;
3. Violations of coordination of movements;
4. Loss or extinction of consciousness.

Blood pressure with cervical osteochondrosis

The connection of cervical osteochondrosis with jumps in blood pressure has long been established.The cervical vertebrae have important nerve endings and blood vessels.

Pressure surges are characteristic during the day.Hypertension for a long time is not characteristic of this disease.Reflex irritation of the nerve endings and short -term cramps of the blood vessels cause abruptly daily dynamics of arterial hypertension.

A distinctive feature of increased pressure in cervical osteochondrosis is a combination with the following symptoms:

• Headache;
• Pain in the limbs and chest;
• Decrease in sensitivity in the collar area;
• The occurrence of pressure jumps after stress, muscle tension, long -term stay in an uncomfortable position and other similar situations.

These signs should be taken into account with independent differentiation of hypertension of various genesis.

Sharp jumps of blood pressure and rapid deterioration in well -being are the basis for seeking emergency medical help.

Osteochondrosis syndromes

The clinical picture of cervical osteochondrosis is laid in several syndromes.The syndrome is several symptoms that occur together.

Osteochondrosis consists of the following syndromes:

1. Vertebral.It is also called vertebrae, which indicates that bones and cartilage tissue are involved in the pathological process.This leads to the formation of such symptoms: restriction of motor activity of the neck, soreness in its turns, radiological changes in the picture of the cervical spine.It is the simultaneous appearance of these signs that is a vertebral syndrome.A similar set of clinical signs is observed with myositis (pathology of muscle tissue), and painful movements of many other pathologies.
2. Vertebral artery syndrome.It appears when the vascular beams are involved in the process, which are responsible for the blood supply to the tissues of the central nervous system.Symptoms suggest that brain tissue has ceased to receive a proper amount of nutrients.How to recognize this syndrome?The first signs are dizziness, a sense of noise in the ears, the differences in blood pressure, the appearance of a “veil” before the eyes.This suggests that one of the vertebrates is in a strangled state.Each vessel has its own nerve endings.If you squeeze those that innervate the vertebral artery, migraine, numbness, short -term decrease in vision on the one hand appear.As a result, changes in the vessel lead to the fact that the brain needs oxygen.At this time, a person feels drowsiness, short -term violations of consciousness, loses attention and control, works worse and remembers information.With such a clinical picture, it is necessary to differentiate cervical osteochondrosis with atherosclerosis of the vertebral arteries, and squeezing the tumor or inflammation.
3. Cardial syndrome.It is manifested by burning in the chest area, the appearance of shortness of breath.A person feels his frequent heartbeat, becomes tired and irritable.This picture is also characteristic of cardiological pathology, for example, for angina pectoris, coronary syndrome, heart attack.The exact conclusion about the causes of such symptoms can be made after the patient passes the ECG.
4. Rook syndrome.The cervical department innervates 8 pairs of nerves, each of which has roots of the nerve exit from the vertebra.When they are involved in osteochondrosis, the patient feels a decrease in sensitivity or vice versa severe pain.There may be numbness to whether its soreness, a decrease in the sensitivity of the tongue, the freezing area, pain in the supraclinking region can be observed.Sometimes there are disorders of swallowing, movements in the belt of the upper limb, numbness of the fingers.

First aid at home with exacerbation of osteochondrosis

With severe pain syndrome, painkillers can be used, such as Analgin, Tempalgin or Baralgin.If the above drugs do not bring relief, you can take the NSAID (Nise or Diclofenac).

Often, “distracting” means are used, for example, a pepper patch that does not heal, but only hears an inflamed area and distracts from pain.In the case of edema in the inflammation zone, the patient can drink infusion of herbs or a diuretic for 3-4 days.Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis with such methods?These measures are only temporary; for the treatment of causes, you must consult a doctor.

It should be noted which doctor treats osteochondrosis.If suspicion arises that the causes of pain in the cervical spine is the occurrence of osteochondrosis, you should turn to a neuropathologist.It is this specialist who is engaged in diseases of this kind.In some medical institutions there are narrow -minded specialists involved in precisely diseases of the spine.If your clinic has a vertebrologist, you should address the question of how to cure this disease, immediately to it.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

At the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medicines, it is enough to revise the diet, the daily regimen, and regularly perform a complex of special exercises.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is possible only if the use of various medicines that help suspend degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The complex of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physiotherapy - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.These methods help to cope with pain, inflammation, swelling of tissues, improve metabolic processes and blood circulation.

Drug treatment

The main methods of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are drug treatment, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-viber zone, therapeutic gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis is especially effective.The main groups of drugs used for this disease include:

Name	The principle of action
Nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).This is Voltaren, Nise, Movalis, Ketonal, Ketanov, Diclofenac, Nimesulide and others	Reduce the pain syndrome, help relieve aseptic inflammation and edema of the root of the damaged nerve.
Drugs that improve the rheological properties of blood and blood flow.This is Eufillin, Trental.	Improve the nutrition of damaged nerve roots and improve blood flow to the brain.
Vitamins of group V. are Kombilipen, Unigma, Milgamma, Neurobion.	Improve metabolic processes in nervous tissue.
Musorelaxants.This is Midokalm, Sirdalud, Tizalud, Tizanidine, etc.	These are drugs that relieve muscle spasm.
Chondroprotectors.This (glucosamine and chondroitin) is arthra, theflex, Doppelgerz, Zhabius Stone, Condronov, Structure, Alflutop.	These are drugs that restore cartilage tissue, including in the damaged intervertebral disk.

When accepting the tablets from osteochondrosis, it should be remembered that the significant effect of drug treatment with tablets will be only if it is combined with other methods, including exercises.It should also be noted that the attending physician must prescribe than to treat the disease on the basis of its stage and other signs.