Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a change in the cartilaginous and nearby muscle-ligamentous structures, which causes the loss of their regenerative abilities. In the first stages of this process, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. Because of this, there is a violation of metabolic processes in its core and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring.
In the absence of timely treatment, osteophytes appear on cartilage tissue and bones. Because of 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 every person aged 30-35 years has various signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of different stages of osteochondrosis
Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be:
- headache;
- noise or ringing in the ears;
- severe nausea;
- lack of coordination;
- pain and grinding when turning the head;
- deterioration of 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 disease's development. Therefore, the patient may feel some signs that point to a certain stage of changes in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable pain in the neck that occurs during physical activity, as well as discomfort when turning the head normally, occurs in 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 crunching and headache occur 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 fibrous ring.
- Acute pain in the neck that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of sensitivity of the skin area in the cervical part are noted in the rupture of the fibrous ring and the formation of intervertebral hernias, as well as in the deformation of the spinal column. .
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder girdle with severe pain that lasts for a long time is one of the pronounced signs of cervical osteochondrosis of the 4th 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 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, there may be disturbances in the functioning of the cervicothoracic spine.
- Vertebral instability. Increased mobility of the upper part of the spine very often leads to a deterioration of the cushioning properties of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The mobility of the cervical spine is very often reduced due to anomalies 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
In order to determine 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 spinal column, and evaluate 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 identifying changes in the cervical spine in the later stages of the disease, when bone and cartilage lesions of the spinal column become clearly visible.
- M. R. I. Currently, this diagnostic method is most often used to determine the changes that occur in the cervical spine, because with it the doctor can detect the disease in the earliest stage of its occurrence.
- Duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is performed to assess the quality of blood flow and identify vasoconstriction. It is precisely this method that doctors most often determine the causes of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, ultrasound examination of nearby organs, ECG of the heart, blood and urine analysis can be prescribed.
Expert opinion
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, you should not be too afraid of it. If appropriate measures are taken in time, almost every manifestation of the disease can be minimized. For example, you need to learn how to constantly monitor the correct position of the body, because this can increase the load on the spine. In addition, 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 have a positive effect on all parts of the spine.
Conservative methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
If the disease of the cervical spine is detected at an early stage, then conservative methods are used for treatment. They allow you to prevent the further development of the disease, alleviate unpleasant symptoms and restore the mobility of the upper part of the spine.
Conservative method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes:
- Treatment.In this case, doctors prescribe a number of drugs that allow effective pain relief and stop the inflammatory process. In addition, modern means contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. Hormonal drugs, analgesics, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs in the form of tablets and injections are most often used for these purposes.
- Physiotherapy treatment.As a rule, physiotherapy is prescribed as an addition to drug therapy. It can be therapeutic massage, acupuncture, laser exposure, magnetotherapy, UHF therapy and other procedures that help relax neck muscles, remove spasms and normalize blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy.This is a very important part of treating the cervical spine. The fact is that special physical exercises help not only to strengthen the muscular frame and correct the posture, but also improve the blood supply to the upper part of the spinal column. 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 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 the surgeon is to remove the 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 the microscope, performs the excision of the intervertebral hernia with incomplete or complete removal of the intervertebral disc;
- laminectomy, which allows partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, facet joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the spinal cord root;
- endoscopic surgerywith the removal of hernia, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic changes with a miniature endoscope approach;
- laser nucleoplastywith a puncture through which a laser light guide is inserted, which is necessary to remove a small fragment of the core 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 treatment methods can only stop or slow down the progression of the disease. Therefore, after treatment, a person will have to adhere to 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;
- visit the pool regularly;
- perform a set of sports exercises;
- be careful when turning your head;
- maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation plan is made in accordance with the stage of the pathology, the health condition of the patient, as well as his age, weight and general condition. The program may include medical massage, exercise therapy and physiotherapy. This will help improve health, avoid complications and relapses.
Questions and answers
Which doctor should I consult with cervical spine problems?
Diagnosis and treatment of these problems are carried out by a neurologist and a traumatologist-orthopedic.
What medicines can be used to relieve pain in the cervical spine?
The appointment of painkillers should be done by an experienced doctor after an examination and detailed diagnosis.
What is the probability of back problems if I don't do sports at all?
Unfortunately, almost all people eventually experience back problems. To avoid serious complications, it is necessary to exercise regularly, as well as prophylactically take chondroprotectors and multivitamins.