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 against 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 combined 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. Most often it is felt in the neck-collar area, one or both arms.
This disease is characterized by unilateral pain, and any part of the arm can hurt - the 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 throughout the back. For some, the pain is concentrated at the base of the neck or throat.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by a variety of symptoms and is often accompanied by a disorder of tactile sensitivity, muscle weakness, decreased visual acuity and hearing, rapid heartbeat and panic attacks.
Attention!
Sometimes osteochondrosis is complicated by vertebral artery syndrome, which may require emergency hospitalization of the patient.
First signs
In the early stages, manifestations of osteochondrosis are more reminiscent of ordinary fatigue after a busy day and occur periodically. In the evening, discomfort and pain appear in the neck, heaviness and pain in the head, mainly in the occipital region. Possible crunching and creaking when turning the head.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men, and are often accompanied by an unstable psycho-emotional state. In addition, men suffer from this disease much less frequently.
Exacerbation of chondrosis often occurs during menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the female body and the immune system weakens. Certain difficulties arise with diagnosis due to signs similar to those of many other diseases.
Males react less to little things like a crunch in the neck, and often simply do not notice suspicious symptoms. Moreover, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men may not appear for a long time, which is explained by the peculiarities of the anatomy.
Men have naturally more developed and stronger muscles, which creates additional support for the spinal column. The muscular frame serves as a kind 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 possible ones can be observed:
- headache with a 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 - speech impairment;
- dizziness that occurs when turning the head. They may be accompanied by vomiting, darkening of the eyes, and impaired coordination of movements;
- eye fatigue from stress, flickering of spots and bright flashes before the eyes, and in some places loss of visual fields. Patients may complain of pain, redness and a 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, ear congestion and unresponsiveness of a quiet voice. In some cases, paracusia was noted - selective audibility of sounds, in which a person hears better in the presence of extraneous noise than in complete silence;
- vegetative symptoms always occur when osteochondrosis worsens, and are most often combined with other symptoms. These may be hot flashes or chills, increased sweating, cold feet and hands, a feeling of shortness of breath, surges in blood pressure, and poor sleep;
- TIA - transient ischemic attacks - accompany mechanical pinching of the vertebral artery and are manifested by double vision, temporary partial blindness with loss of visual fields, dizziness with vomiting, disorders of speech and swallowing function;
- Fainting can be a consequence of sudden turns of the head or its uncomfortable position. Loss of consciousness lasts for varying periods of time and leaves behind weakness in the limbs;
- drop attacks are sudden falls, usually without loss of consciousness, caused by a sudden flow of blood to the brain when the head is thrown back. The immediate cause is paralysis of the legs, but motor function is restored quite quickly.
Headaches and dizziness
Most patients with cervical chondrosis have this symptom, but it may be absent. The cause of dizziness is associated with compression of the main arteries and blood vessels, which disrupts the transport of oxygen to the nervous tissue of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
Under the influence of mechanical trauma to vertebral structures and chronic ischemia of nerve fibers, sensitivity increases and irritation of nerve endings occurs, which ultimately causes cervical dizziness.
Dizziness may be accompanied by uncertainty of movements, increased heart rate, surges in blood pressure, and increased sweating in the face and shoulder area.
Headache is a frequent companion of cervical chondrosis. It is paroxysmal in nature, the duration of the attack varies from several hours to several days. The intensity of the pain varies, but it appears with enviable regularity.
Headache is caused by compression of the vertebral artery due to changes in the position of the vertebrae and discs. Due to compression of the vessel, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, which leads to pain.
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The cause of pain can also be 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 cramps, 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 up to suffocation, lump in the throat;
- discomfort and pain in the abdomen, indigestion, frequent urination.
Sore throat
The throat with osteochondrosis hurts, as a rule, when the 4th cervical vertebra is damaged or displaced. Localization is usually one-sided, as the vertebrae and discs shift to one side.
Due to pinching of the roots, spasm and tension of the pharyngeal muscles occur, accompanied by pain. The throat feels heavy and full, and it becomes difficult to breathe. However, there are no mechanical obstacles to free breathing and swallowing; there are no foreign objects or tumors in the esophagus and larynx.
It is typical that medications for tonsillitis or sore throat, rinsing and inhalation do not have an effect.
The source of pain is in the area between the thyroid cartilage and the jugular cavity. The nature of the pain ranges from mild to debilitating.
Treatment
Complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes several methods - taking medications, doing therapeutic exercises, attending physiotherapy and massage sessions. If desired, you can use folk remedies and make various compresses, 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 sagging 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 movement and therefore pain.
Medicines are selected taking into account the existing symptoms and diagnostic results. If hernias and protrusions are detected, treatment can be surgical.
| Drugs | Action |
|---|---|
| Vasodilators and nootropics | Improves cerebral circulation, dilates blood vessels, relaxes smooth muscles, reduces the frequency of nerve signals |
| Preparations with chondroitin and glucosamine | Restoration of cartilage tissue of discs, slowing down degenerative processes |
| Muscle relaxants | Relieving muscle spasms |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Relief of the inflammatory process, tissue swelling |
| Analgesics | Elimination of pain |
| Opioids | For severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional means |
| Vitamin complexes containing vitamins B, A, C, calcium | Strengthening nervous, muscle and bone tissue, overall healing effect |
| Antidepressants and sedatives | Coping with stress caused by constant pain |
Treatment at home
It is not recommended to lie at home for too long and follow bed rest, and after the acute symptoms subside, you need to move on to active actions. You should start with simple exercises and gradually move on to more intense ones.
- Exercise 1 – self-extension. Standing with your arms down along 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. Place the towel on your shoulders and, holding its edges, pull them in one direction or the other.
- Exercise 3 – turning the head left and right, tilting to the right and then to the left shoulder.
- Exercise 4 – the same with counteraction with your hand: when turning or tilting, press on your temple, creating additional resistance.
Tips for preventing osteochondrosis
Tip #1
Physical education is the main way to combat the aging of the body and the development of intervertebral disc dystrophy. Usually, daily exercise and visiting the pool at least once a week are 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 annually.
Tip #3
It is very important to monitor your weight and avoid gaining extra pounds.
Tip #4
When working in a forced position for a long time, you need to take breaks, change your body position, and do a warm-up.
Tip #5
Eating well means consuming enough vitamins and microelements with food.
Tip #6
Try not to lift or carry heavy objects, and if you have to do this, then wear a supportive corset.
FAQ
When do you need to see a doctor urgently?
The reasons for immediate 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;
- "jamming" 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 has already been damaged, and this process is irreversible. However, with some effort on the part of the patient, a high quality of life can be achieved.