cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease characterized by "premature aging" and "wear and tear" of cervical discs, joints and vertebrae.

Some facts about the disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs about equally in men and women.
• People aged 30-60 are most commonly affected.
• Generally, this pathology occurs in people who have to constantly maintain one posture and perform monotonous movements at work.
• The cervical spine has some structural characteristics that allow the disease to present in many different ways.

What characteristics of the cervical spine contribute to symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• There are openings in the side processes of the vertebrae - the carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain pass through from the left and right.
• The beginning of the spinal cord runs through the neck area - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to various parts of the body, providing movement and sensitivity.If the spinal cord is compressed in the neck, neurological disorders can occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spine has a lot of mobility, which predisposes to the development of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar area - it is not only highly mobile, but also bears the greatest pressure).
• In the cervical region, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramen to form the cervical and brachial plexuses.They are responsible for the regulation of muscle movements of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, skin sensitivity and autonomic nervous function.
• The first vertebra doesn't have a huge front part - the body - it's a ring of bone that fits the teeth - bony growths on the second vertebra.Therefore, you can turn your head to the sides.

Symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, feelings of weakness, and numbness in your hands should cause you to consult a neurologist.Examinations carried out by specialists and using modern equipment will help you understand the cause of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

What changes occur to the vertebrae with cervical osteochondrosis?

The obscure medical term “degenerative process” refers to the following pathological changes in the cervical spine:

• First, osteochondral damage affects the intervertebral discs.They become thinner, reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae.Small tears and microcracks form on their exterior.Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
• Due to disc damage, the stability of the vertebrae connections is disrupted.
• The intervertebral joints also suffer from cervical osteochondrosis - the formation of spondyloarthropathy.It also helps compress nerve roots.
• The pathological process extends to the vertebrae themselves.As the function of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the load on the intervertebral disc increases.The spine tries to compensate for this violation, and bone growth appears on it - osteophytes.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

During exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis, traction (positioning the patient on a bed with a raised headboard and using special rings to immobilize the head) is used to relieve the discs.For the same purpose, you need to wear Shants collar.Take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.For persistent, severe pain, doctors can perform a blockade: injecting a numbing solution into the area of the affected nerve root.Use physical therapy: ultrasound therapy, novocaine electrophoresis.

Treatment for cervical osteochondrosis includes massage, physical therapy, and physiotherapy as the exacerbation subsides.

One of the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain.Many people who experience this symptom do not see a doctor, preferring home remedies for "chondrosis".There are at least two good reasons to resist self-medication and consultation with a specialist.

First, painkillers and traditional methods, while they may provide temporary relief, do not solve the main problem.The pathological changes of the spine continue to worsen.Over time, this can lead to more serious consequences.To the point where surgery may be required.

Second, neck pain is not just related to osteochondrosis.There are many other reasons.Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the correct treatment.

What symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis should cause you to see your doctor?

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain.It can occur in different places, depending on the level at which the pathological process is localized: neck, shoulder girdle, arms, heart region.The pain is dull in nature and may be burning or aching.

Other manifestations of the disease:

• Headache, dizziness, spots in front of eyes, noise, tinnitus.
• Muscle weakness in the neck, shoulder girdle, and arms.
• Impaired skin sensitivity.
• Humeral periarthritis: neck pain spreads to the arms, difficulty in abducting the arms above 90°, and shoulder girdle muscle weakness and atrophy.
• Shoulder-hand syndrome: Shoulder and hand pain, swollen and stiff fingers, hand muscle weakness and atrophy.
• Vertebral artery syndrome.Bone growth occurs on the vertebrae, compressing the nerves, causing reflex spasm of the vertebral arteries involved in the blood supply to the brain.Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include persistent headache that starts at the back of the head, spreads to the temples, and reaches the top of the head, nausea, noise in the head, tinnitus, and flashing bright spots in front of the eyes.
• Anterior scalene syndrome.There are anterior and middle scalene muscles in the neck, which are located nearby and there is a small space between them where nerves and blood vessels pass.In cervical osteochondrosis, the anterior scalene muscles become tight and compressed, causing symptoms such as pain in the forearms, shoulders, and inner surfaces of the fingers.Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head.The skin on your hands may become cold, pale, and numb.
• Epicondylitis syndrome.In the lower part of the shoulder, on both sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions—the epicondyle.Epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis causes pain that worsens when pressed.Other symptoms may occur: neck pain and pain when pressing certain acupoints on the cervical spine.

If both parts of the spine are affected by cervicosternal osteochondrosis, symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades and in the heart area.

Osteochondrosis increases the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke.If you experience any of the above symptoms, please consult your doctor.

It is best not to self-medicate.Even if you have proven methods that often help cope with pain, that doesn't mean you're doing everything right.

Pain may be caused not only by osteochondrosis but also by intervertebral hernias, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome), and may be a symptom of other conditions.In order to properly treat a disease, you need to understand its causes and make a differential diagnosis.This is only possible in a clinical setting.

In order to find out the cause and properly treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to see a neurologist and get tested.

Cervical osteochondrosis is based on damage to the intervertebral discs.Their chemical composition is destroyed, they first swell, then reduce in size, cracks and tears appear on the outside, and they become denser.The degenerative process then spreads to the vertebrae and intervertebral joints.By reducing the height of the intervertebral discs, the load on the vertebrae increases and osteophytic growth occurs on the bones.

What causes cervical osteochondrosis?

There is no consensus on the cause of cervical osteochondrosis.There are different views that the disease is caused by different conditions:

• Age-related spinal changes.However, nearly everyone over the age of 40 will develop bone changes, but not everyone will develop osteochondrosis.
• neck injury.Often, the causes of the disease include previous trauma: neck bruising, compression fractures, vertebral subluxations.Chronic injuries may be important, for example, high-intensity training in athletes, continuous working in awkward positions, bending, and repetitive whiplash injuries in motorists.
• congenital spinal anomaly: Cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra and occipital bone, etc.
• Profession.More commonly, the disorder affects people who have monotonous jobs and perform the same types of movements over and over again.
• Poor blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, swelling of the nerve root area.
• autoimmune disease.A condition in which the immune system fails to work properly and attacks the body's own connective tissue and ligaments.

Visit a neurologist.An experienced specialist will understand the root cause of your health problem and develop the right treatment plan.

Causes of aggravation of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis appears in alternating periods of worsening and improvement, when symptoms temporarily stop bothering you.Another exacerbation may be triggered by:

• Sudden awkward movements in the neck.
• Remaining in monotonous and uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.For example, your neck may start to hurt after working in front of the computer for a long time or sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow.
• Stressful, nerve-wracking.Under chronic stress, the neck muscles can spasm, which may cause the condition to worsen again.
• Exacerbation of various diseases and chronic diseases.
• Low temperature.As a result, many people experience worsening of their condition in the fall.
• Incorrect, illiterate self-medication.For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission but are contraindicated during exacerbations.

What diseases can have similar manifestations?

Many times, the presentation of "osteochondrosis" is actually related to an entirely different disease.For example, the cause may be hidden in the muscles—there's a condition called myofascial pain syndrome.The pain is caused by continued tension in the same muscle.

Sometimes, dizziness associated with otolithiasis (a condition in which calcium salt crystals accumulate in the inner ear) is thought to be a sign of "cervical osteochondrosis."

Neck pain, crunching, headaches – when these symptoms appear, many people “diagnose” themselves with osteochondrosis.Everything is clear - when it hurts, you need to take painkillers or get an injection, apply heat and it will go away.Why go to the doctor if you can handle it yourself?

However, self-medication often provides no benefits.Over time, pain attacks may become more frequent, severe, and persistent.If you take painkillers without control almost every day, you may develop stomach or kidney problems.After all, any drug has side effects.

And the cause of pain is not always osteochondrosis.In order to find out the real cause and learn how to deal with it effectively, you need to see a doctor and get checked out.

How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis?What happens in the doctor's office during the exam?

During your first visit, your neurologist will ask you some questions:

• How long have you suffered from headaches or neck pain?
• Where does the pain occur?What is their nature: stabbing, pain, shooting, pulling?
• When does pain usually occur?What triggers it?After what did you feel better?
• Have you already seen a doctor?Have you had any tests and treatments?Which?How long ago?
• What other symptoms are bothering you?
• What other chronic conditions do you suffer from?
• Have you had a recent neck injury?

The doctor will then perform a neurological exam to check your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone.You will be asked to turn around, tilt your head to the sides, forward, and back.Your doctor will gently press on certain areas of your head and neck to identify the onset of pain.

After the examination, you will be diagnosed and the necessary diagnostic methods prescribed.

What are the diagnostic methods for cervical osteochondrosis?

Workup for cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:

• Cervical spine X-ray.
• Depending on the indication, X-ray imaging tests are prescribed: myelography (injection of contrast medium into the space around the spinal cord), discography (injection of contrast medium into the spinal discs), angiography (injection of contrast medium into the blood vessels).
• Computed tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• If you have a severe neurological disorder, you may have an electromyogram, a study that identifies the pathways of electrical impulses in your nerves and muscles.

Typically, cervical osteochondrosis presents with symptoms similar to those of angina.If your doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis after the examination, you will be prescribed an electrocardiogram and other diagnostic methods.