Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology that affects vertebrae, cartilage discs and ligaments.If we decipher the term literally, osteo means "bone", chondrosis means "cartilage".Those.cervical osteochondrosis is associated with changes in the tissue structures of the spine, whereby the intervertebral discs lose their functionality, and at the same time, the nutrition of the vertebral bodies themselves is disturbed.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today, is a fairly common disease.According to statistics, after 35 years, osteochondrosis is found in 40-85% of the population, regardless of the standard of living and the country of residence.The share of cervical spine pathologies is up to 30% of all identified cases.
Most often, the disease develops in the C 5 - C 7 region, because they are the most mobile and important vessels that supply the brain and may be involved in the disease process.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are different, and the clinical manifestations depend on which vertebra is affected by the disease.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sudden "shoots", in which the patient feels a sharp pain that limits movement and a creak when turning the head.Let's consider the pain symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depending on the location of the lesions of the vertebrae:
- 1st vertebra - pain and stiffness in the back of the head;
- 2nd vertebra - pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the area of the crown;
- 3 vertebra - pain in the neck, possible speech disorder, sensitivity and innervation of the tongue;
- 4th vertebra - reduced neck muscle tone, headache, discomfort when breathing, pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, heart area, right hypochondrium;
- 5-6 vertebra - pain in the shoulders, forearms, scapula, thumb;
- 7th vertebra - pain in the shoulder blade, hand, 2-4 fingers, possible loss of sensitivity in these areas.
With extensive osteochondrosis affecting several vertebrae, the symptoms may overlap, making an accurate diagnosis difficult.
Vertigo in cervical osteochondrosis deserves special attention, because it is the main symptom of the disease.It comes on suddenly and can be quite severe.
Headache in cervical osteochondrosis may be accompanied by dizziness and cannot be alleviated by analgesics, as it is a consequence of compression of the vertebral arteries.Muscle pain in cervical osteochondrosis is not always present, but headache can be a constant symptom.
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis occurs against the background of compression of the vertebral arteries and includes many manifestations:
- debilitating headache that worsens when turning or tilting the head;
- visual impairment: double vision, reduced acuity, feeling of pain and dryness of the eyes, flickering spots;
- diseases such as angina pectoris, complain of chest pain, difficulty breathing, changes in blood pressure.It is very important to correctly and timely differentiate the diagnosis, because angina pectoris and syndromes associated with cervical osteochondrosis are treated not only with different drugs, but also by different specialists;
- short-term hearing impairment - a sudden appearance of noise or buzzing in the ears, associated with short-term dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
- Vomiting and accompanying disorders of consciousness are possible.Most often, such signs are caused by sudden bending or turning of the head;
- brain disorders similar to ischemic stroke.And here, again, timely differential diagnosis is very important.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine begins only after a detailed medical examination.The diagnosis is made with an X-ray of the neck, as well as with modern methods - CT or MRI of the spine.If the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is confirmed, the treatment will be carried out by a neurologist.In the case of initial manifestations of the disease, drugs can be prescribed only in the period of exacerbation, and the basis of therapy in the period of remission is physiotherapy, massage and correction of the patient's regimen.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes several mandatory aspects:
- mode correction.You must properly organize your night's rest;it is recommended to use orthopedic pillows.
- load disconnection.If you spend the entire working day at your desk, take a few minutes every 2 hours to stretch your neck and do eye exercises.
- drug therapy, taking drugs prescribed by a doctor.Once again, we strongly recommend that you do not use the advice of local doctors.
- physiotherapeutic procedures.For them, you will receive a referral from a neurologist, and detailed therapy will be prescribed by a doctor-physiotherapist.Do not be tempted by the promises of non-professional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible department.If the massage or manual procedures are performed by a non-professional, the matter may end in complications.
A lot of literature has been written about how to treat osteochondrosis in the cervical spine using traditional methods.Be careful, other folk recipes do not stand up to criticism.Discuss any method of traditional therapy with your doctor before using it.