Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a change in the nearby cartilaginous and musculo-ligamentous structures, which causes the loss of their regenerative abilities. In the early stages of this process, a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc occurs. Due to this, there is a violation of the metabolic processes in its core and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring.
In the absence of timely treatment, osteophytes appear in the cartilaginous tissue and bones. Due to this, the mobility of the cervical spine is significantly reduced, which leads to the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome. According to studies conducted in many countries of the world, almost all people between the ages of 30 and 35 have various signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of various stages of osteochondrosis.
Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis may be:
- headache;
- noise or ringing in the ears;
- severe nausea;
- lack of coordination;
- pain and crunches when turning the head;
- impaired vision and hearing.
Do not forget that cervical osteochondrosis refers to chronic diseases in which the symptoms vary depending on a certain stage of the development of the disease. Due to this, the patient may experience some signs that indicate a specific stage of changes in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable pain in the neck that occurs during physical activity, as well as discomfort during normal turns of the head, appear at the initial stage of the disease, when there is a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine.
- Sharp pain and a feeling of stiffness when turning the neck, as well as crunches and headaches appear during the period of abnormal growth of cartilage tissue, with a decrease in the height of the spinal disc and the appearance of cracks in the annulus fibrous.
- Sharp pain in the neck that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of sensitivity of the skin areas in the cervical region are recorded when the fibrous ring is broken and intervertebral hernias are formed, as well as when deforms the spine. .
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder girdle with severe pain that lasts a long time is one of the pronounced signs of cervical osteochondrosis of the fourth degree, when numerous osteophytes develop, and the structures of the intervertebral disc are gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main cause of problems with the cervical spine is an unbalanced and excessive load. As a rule, osteochondrosis occurs due to age-related changes in the spine, injuries to the cervical spine, or metabolic disorders. In addition, the following factors contribute to the occurrence of this disease:
- genetic predisposition. If a person has a congenital weakness of the connective tissue, he may experience poor functioning of the cervicothoracic spine.
- spinal instability. The increased mobility of the upper part of the spine very often leads to a deterioration of the depreciation properties of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Very often, the mobility of the cervical spine is reduced due to abnormalities in the development of the bone system, scoliosis, flat feet and rheumatic diseases.
- low physical activity. A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle contributes to the deformation of the vertebrae and the degradation of connective tissue.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
To identify the causes of the disease, it is mandatory to conduct a survey and examination of the patient, determine the pain zones and the degree of mobility of the spine, and assess the quality of reflexes.
Various methods are used to diagnose this disease, including:
- Radiography and multislice computed tomography. These instrumental diagnostic methods have proven to be the best for determining changes in the cervical spine in the late stages of the development of the disease, when the lesions of the bones and cartilage of the spine become clearly visible.
- magnetic resonance imaging. Currently, to determine the changes that occur in the cervical spine, this diagnostic method is most often used, since with its help the doctor can detect the disease at the earliest stage of its occurrence.
- Duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is carried out to assess the quality of blood flow and identify vasoconstriction. It is this method that is most often used by doctors to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, ultrasound examinations of nearby organs, ECG of the heart, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
expert opinion
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, you should not be too afraid of it. If the appropriate measures are taken in a timely manner, almost any manifestation of the disease can be minimized. For example, you need to learn to constantly monitor the correct position of the body, as this can increase the load on the spine. Also, we must not forget that some sports are dangerous for the cervical spine.
I strongly advise many of my patients to avoid competitive sports where there is a high risk of injury of all kinds. It is better to make a choice in favor of hiking, skiing and swimming. Such physical activity will positively affect all parts of the spine.
Conservative methods of treatment of osteochondrosis.
If the disease of the cervical spine was detected at an early stage, conservative methods are used to treat it. They allow you to prevent further development of the disease, relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore mobility of the upper spine.
The conservative method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes:
- Medical treatment.In this case, doctors prescribe a number of drugs that make it possible to effectively relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. Also, modern means contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. In most cases, hormonal drugs, painkillers, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs in the form of tablets and injections are used for these purposes.
- Physiotherapy treatment.As a rule, physiotherapy is prescribed as an adjunct to drug therapy. This can be therapeutic massage, acupuncture, laser exposure, magnetic therapy, UHF therapy and other procedures that help relax the neck muscles, eliminate spasms and normalize blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy.This is a very important part of cervical spine treatment. The fact is that special physical exercises help not only to strengthen the muscular structure and straighten the posture, but also to improve the blood supply to the upper part of the spine. First, the doctor selects a set of 6-8 exercises, and then adds new ones, gradually increasing physical activity.
Surgical methods of treatment of osteochondrosis.
In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment methods or in advanced cases of the disease, it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with surgical methods. The main task of surgeons is to remove pressure on the nerve roots, arteries, spinal cord and other structures in the corresponding area.
To solve this problem, the following types of operations on the cervical spine are used:
- microsurgical discectomyduring which the doctor, under the control of a microscope, performs excision of the intervertebral hernia with incomplete or complete removal of the intervertebral disc;
- laminectomy, which provides for partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, facet joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the root of the spinal cord;
- endoscopic surgerywith the removal of hernias, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic changes through a miniature access using an endoscope;
- laser nucleoplastywith a stabbing puncture through which a laser light guide is inserted, which is necessary to remove a small fragment of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Many patients mistakenly think that cervical osteochondrosis disappears immediately after conservative therapy or surgery. But any method of treatment can only stop or slow down the progression of the disease. That is why, after a course of treatment, a person will need to observe the following measures for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:
- lead a healthy and active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy lifting;
- sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- regularly visit the pool;
- perform a series of sports exercises;
- be careful when turning your head;
- maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation plan is drawn up according to the stage of the pathology, the patient's state of health, as well as their age, weight and general well-being. The program may include medical massage, exercise therapy, and physical therapy. This will help improve health, avoid complications and relapses.
Questions and answers
Which doctor should I contact if I have cervical spine problems?
The diagnosis and treatment of these problems are carried out by a neurologist and an orthopedic-traumatologist.
What medications can be used to relieve pain in the cervical spine?
The appointment of painkillers should be carried out by an experienced doctor after a thorough examination and diagnosis.
What is the probability of problems with the spine if I do not play any sports?
Unfortunately, spinal problems eventually show up in almost everyone. To avoid serious complications, it is necessary to exercise regularly, as well as take prophylactic chondroprotectors and multivitamins.