Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral discs located between the first 7 vertebrae. Vertebrae 1-7 belong to the cervical spine.
Pathological changes on the background of osteochondrosis lead to deformation of the vertebrae, which ultimately disrupts their blood supply, nerve conduction in the neck and areas of innervation of damaged nerves.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be an independent disease or in combination with osteochondrosis of other parts - thoracic and lumbar.
Main symptoms
The leading symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain, the localization and nature of which depends on the location of the lesion. It is most often felt in the area of the neck and collar, one or both arms.
This disease is characterized by unilateral pain, and it can hurt any part of the arm - shoulder, forearm, hand, and even fingers. Many patients complain of headaches and dizziness.
The pain syndrome can also be felt in the chest, supraclavicular region or spread over the back. For some, the pain is concentrated at the base of the neck or throat.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by various symptoms and is often accompanied by a disorder of tactile sensitivity, muscle weakness, reduced visual acuity and hearing, rapid heart rate and panic attacks.
Attention! Sometimes osteochondrosis is complicated by vertebral artery syndrome, which may require urgent hospitalization of the patient.
First signs
In the early stages, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are more reminiscent of ordinary fatigue after a hard day and occur occasionally. In the evening, there is discomfort and pain in the neck, heaviness and pain in the head, mainly in the occipital region. Possible grinding and screeching when turning the head.
The signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men, and they are often accompanied by an unstable psycho-emotional state. In addition, men suffer from this disease much less often.
Aggravation of chondrosis often occurs during menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the female body and the immune system weakens. Certain difficulties arise with the diagnosis because of signs similar to those of many other diseases.
The severity of the symptoms depends on the stage of the disease, the nature and degree of damage to the spine
Men react less to small things like a crack in the neck, and often simply do not notice suspicious symptoms. Moreover, symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men may not appear for a long time, which is explained by the peculiarities of anatomy.
Men have naturally more developed and stronger muscles, which creates additional support for the spinal column. The muscular framework serves as a type of armor that protects the vertebrae and prevents their deformation.
Vertebral artery syndrome (VAS)
The clinical picture of SPA is usually represented by several symptoms, but only one of the following can be observed:
- headache with predominant localization in the back of the head and at the base of the skull - basilar migraine, accompanied by classic symptoms: loss of coordination, nausea leading to vomiting, tinnitus, less often - impaired speech;
- dizziness that occurs when turning the head. They can be accompanied by vomiting, darkening of the eyes and disturbed coordination of movements;
- eye fatigue from stress, flickering spots and bright flashes before the eyes, and in some places loss of visual fields. Patients may complain of pain, redness and feeling of sand in the eyeballs, inflammation of the conjunctiva;
- constant or episodic tinnitus, the nature of which varies depending on the position of the neck. There may be mild deafness, blocked ears, and low voice unresponsiveness. In some cases, paracusis was recorded - selective audibility of sounds, in which a person hears better in the presence of external noise than in complete silence;
- vegetative symptoms always appear when osteochondrosis worsens, and are most often combined with other symptoms. These can be hot flashes or chills, increased sweating, cold feet and hands, feeling short of breath, spikes in blood pressure and poor sleep;
- TIA - transient ischemic attacks - follow mechanical pinching of the vertebral artery and are manifested by double vision, temporary partial blindness with loss of visual fields, dizziness with vomiting, speech and swallowing disorders;
- Fainting can be the result of a sudden turn of the head or its uncomfortable position. The loss of consciousness lasts for different periods of time and leaves behind weakness in the limbs;
- Drop attacks are sudden falls, usually without loss of consciousness, caused by a sudden rush of blood to the brain when the head is thrown back. The immediate cause is paralysis of the legs, but motor function is restored fairly quickly.
Headaches and dizziness
Most patients with cervical chondrosis have this symptom, but it can also be absent. The cause of vertigo is related to the compression of the main arteries and blood vessels, which disrupts the transport of oxygen to the nerve tissue of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
Under the influence of mechanical trauma of vertebral structures and chronic ischemia of nerve fibers, sensitivity increases and nerve endings become irritated, which ultimately causes cervical vertigo.
A headache caused by chondrosis can be distinguished by its location in the back of the head. However, there are also not very typical cases when the whole head or one side of it hurts
Vertigo can be accompanied by uncertainty of movement, rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure and increased sweating in the face and shoulders.
Headache is a frequent companion of cervical chondrosis. It is paroxysmal in nature, the duration of attacks varies from several hours to several days. The intensity of the pain varies, but it occurs with enviable regularity.
The headache is caused by compression of the vertebral artery due to a change in the position of the vertebrae and discs. Due to the compression of the vessel, blood flow to the brain is disturbed, which leads to pain.
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The cause of the pain can also be a muscle spasm, typical of osteochondrosis.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are also associated with a reduction in brain nutrition and cause the following symptoms:
- attacks of fever or chills, rise in body temperature;
- numbness, tingling in the limbs, muscle spasms, impaired motor ability;
- dizziness, loss of coordination, darkening of the eyes;
- pain behind the sternum or in the chest on the left, rapid pulse, increased blood pressure;
- insomnia, fear of death or mental confusion, confusion;
- shortness of breath, difficulty breathing to the point of suffocation, lump in the throat;
- discomfort and pain in the abdomen, indigestion, frequent urination.
Sore throat
As a rule, the throat with osteochondrosis hurts when the 4th cervical vertebra is damaged or displaced. The localization is usually unilateral, as the vertebrae and discs move to one side.
Sore throat is caused by disturbed innervation of the muscles of the pharynx due to nerve compression
Pinching of the root causes spasms and tension in the muscles of the pharynx, accompanied by pain. The throat is heavy and full and it becomes difficult to breathe. However, there are no mechanical obstacles to free breathing and swallowing, no foreign objects or tumors in the esophagus and larynx.
It is typical that drugs for inflammation of the tonsils or throat, rinsing and inhalation have no effect.
The source of the pain is in the area between the thyroid cartilage and the jugular cavity. The nature of the pain varies from mild to debilitating.
Treatment
Complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes several methods - taking medication, performing therapeutic exercises, attending physiotherapy and massage. If you wish, you can use folk remedies and make various poultices, prepare infusions and decoctions.
In case of exacerbation of the disease, it is recommended to adhere to bed rest. Moreover, you should lie on a flat and fairly hard, elastic surface - a loose sofa or feather bed will not work.
Attention! Severe pain requires immediate medical attention.
To fix the cervical spine, the doctor may prescribe wearing a Shants collar. It supports the neck in an anatomically correct position, eliminating movements and therefore pain.
Medicines are chosen taking into account existing symptoms and diagnostic results. If hernias and protrusions are detected, treatment may be surgical.
| Drugs | Action |
| Active ingredient: Pentoxifylline | It improves cerebral circulation, expands blood vessels, relaxes smooth muscles, reduces the frequency of nerve signals |
| Preparations with chondroitin and glucosamine | Restoration of cartilaginous disc tissue, slowing down of degenerative processes |
| Muscle relaxants | Removal of muscle spasms |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Alleviation of the inflammatory process, tissue swelling |
| Analgesics | Pain relief |
| Opioids | For severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional means |
| Vitamin complexes containing vitamins B, A, C, calcium | Strengthening of nerve, muscle and bone tissue, overall healing effect |
| Antidepressants and sedatives | Coping with stress caused by constant pain |
Treatment at home
Lying at home and resting in bed for too long is not recommended, and after the acute symptoms subside, it is necessary to move on to active activities. You should start with simple exercises and gradually move to more intense ones.
Performing neck exercises helps strengthen the neck muscles, thus preventing recurrences of exacerbations
Exercise 1 – self-extension. Standing with your hands down by your body, tilt your head to the right and at the same time reach down with your left hand. Stay in this position and repeat the exercise on the other side.
Exercise 2 – self-massage. Put a towel on your shoulders and, holding its edges, pull them in one direction or another.
Exercise 3 – turning the head left-right, leaning to the right and then to the left shoulder.
Exercise 4 – the same with hand counteraction: when turning or leaning, press the temple, creating additional resistance.
Advice for the prevention of osteochondrosis
Tip #1
Physical education is the main way to fight against the aging of the body and the development of intervertebral disc dystrophy. Daily exercise and a visit to the pool at least once a week are usually enough. All this allows you to strengthen the muscular corset of the spine.
Tip #2
Even a healthy person needs massage sessions, it is recommended to do them once a year.
Tip #3
It is very important to monitor your weight and avoid gaining extra pounds.
Tip #4
When working for a long time in a forced position, you need to take breaks, change your body position and warm up.
Tip #5
Eating well means taking in enough vitamins and microelements with food.
Tip #6
Try not to lift or carry heavy objects, and if you must, wear a supportive corset.
FAQ
When should you see a doctor urgently?
Reasons for urgent consultation and even calling an ambulance are:
- persistent numbness of the arms or legs;
- severe pain that is not relieved by conventional analgesics;
- movement disorder;
- severe headache, dizziness, loss of coordination and other signs of cerebrovascular accident;
- "stuck" of the back in a certain position, sharply limiting movements.
Is it possible to cure chondrosis forever?
No, this is a chronic disease with periodic exacerbations. Even after treatment and following all the doctor's recommendations, the cartilage in the affected area of the disc is replaced by scar tissue. That is, the structure of the segment is already damaged and this process is irreversible. However, with a certain effort of the patient, a high quality of life can be achieved.