Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis is degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, causing their deformation and destruction.Osteochondrosis can develop in one or more spine.Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionIt occurs especially often, and sometimes gives very serious complications.

Features of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Due to the features of the structure of the cervical spine, the course and symptoms of osteochondrosis in this segment have a number of features.The cervical spine consists of small movable vertebrae, which are constantly subjected to significant and long loads.The vertebral canal in the cervical region is the narrowest, so the compression of the spinal cord in this segment develops much more often and leads to rather serious lesions.In the neck there is a large accumulation of nerve endings and blood vessels, including the vertebral artery, which provides nutrition of the cerebellum, the oblong brain and the back of the brain.Violation of blood flow in this artery leads to impaired coordination, dizziness, reduction of vision and hearing, and in severe cases a stroke may develop.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is manifested by several syndromes:

1. Reflex and irritive syndrome

   Burning pain in the cervical -and -consuming region, arising after sneezing, sudden movements of the head or a long static state, for example, after sleeping or a fixed state and subsequent movement of the head or neck - often complaints with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Pain can radiate to the shoulder or chest cage.

2. The narrowing syndrome of the spinal canal (stenosis of the spinal canal)

   This syndrome develops as a result of compression (squeezing) of the spinal cord and its vessels, which leads to circulatory disorders in the affected area and the development of myelopathy - a rare, but most formidable complication of osteochondrosis.Vertro -carbon cervical myelopathy occurs mainly in middle and elderly persons as a result of compression of the spinal cord or its vessels with the posterior osteophytes, thickened yellow ligament, hernias of intervertebral discs.The disease develops gradually, at first, pain and restriction of movements in the cervical spine are often observed.In the future, cervical osteochondrosis can cause impaired functions of the upper and/or lower extremities, manifested by numbness, a sense of tingling in the fingers, a feeling of cotton legs or arms, up to the development of paresis and paralysis

3. Rook syndrome

   The manifestations of radicular syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will depend on which compression of which nerve root arose as a result of structural changes in the disk.However, in any case, cervical osteochondrosis will occur with headaches that have a aching, pulsating or burning character, sometimes flowing in the type of hypertension.Back pain is rarely local and usually give to the shoulder blades, forearm, shoulder and/or hand, up to the fingers of the brush.

   Depending on the affected spinal segment, the following symptoms may be:

   • C1-C2: The defeat in this segment, as a rule, occurs as a result of automotive injuries and is manifested by a violation of smell and speech, hypotrophy of the facial and sublingual muscles and a decrease in sensitivity in the occipital region.
   • C2-C3: It is also rarely affected and is accompanied by impaired hearing, vision and control of movement and sensitivity of the muscles of the language, which leads to speech disorders and taste sensations, the appearance of a sense of inflammation, perspiration or a lump in the throat.
   • C3-C4: Since the diaphragmatic nerve retires in this segment, in addition to pain in the clavicle and the shoulder gPU, spam of the belt and trapezoidal muscles, pain in the right hypochondrium and heart also develop, and respiratory movements are disturbed.In addition, the gundishness, a sense of nasal congestion, snoring, decrease in smell, sagging muscles of the face, deterioration of the condition of the teeth can develop.
   • C4-C5: The defeat in this segment is accompanied by painful sensations in the shoulder of the shoulder, hypotrophy of the deltoid muscle, a decrease in the sensitivity of the outer surface of the shoulder, shoulder-shoulder and inflammation of the skeletal muscles in this area.Among other symptoms, changes in the voice may occur, the feeling of inflammation in the larynx, snoring.
   • C5-C6: The segment is most often susceptible to degenerative-dystrophic lesions and has extensive symptoms.First of all, the pain and impaired skin sensitivity from the shoulder blade, the outer surface of the shoulder to the radial surface of the forearm and the thumb of the hand develops.Subsequently, somatic symptoms develop, including frequent and poorly subject to treatment of lungs and bronchi, including asthma, rheumatic and allergic manifestations, symptoms of angina pectoris.
   • C6-C7: The lesion of the nerve roof in this segment leads to the appearance of pain in the scapula, the posterior surface of the shoulder, along the pre-trial surface of the forearm to the back of the hand.In addition, damage to this segment can accompany symptoms corresponding to thyroid diseases, mediastinal organs and cardiovascular system.
   • C7-T1: The lesion of the C8 spinal spine is accompanied by hypertrophy of the three-headed muscle and the diverting little finger, which leads to a weakening of the flexion reflex and pain with impaired skin sensitivity from the neck, shoulder, shoulder blades, to the elbow joint and little finger.In severe cases, symptoms can develop as with angina pectoris, arrhythmia and asthma.

4. Cardial syndrome for cervical osteochondrosis

   Cardial syndrome develops with irritation of nerve roots innervated by the diaphragm (diaphragmatic nerve) or a large chest muscle.The symptoms are definitely identical to the attack of angina pectoris, but at the same time the attack lasts unnaturally long, the pain intensifies with a sharp movement of the head or neck, with a sharp sneezing or cough.Standard coronarylytics do not bring relief, and the ECG at the time of the attack does not show a violation of coronary circulation.At the same time, cardiac syndrome can be accompanied by tachycardia, arrhythmia and high blood pressure.

5. Vail artery syndrome

   This syndrome is one of the most frequent and dangerous manifestationsosteochondrosis of the cervical regionspine.This syndrome develops against the background of squeezing the vertebral artery and circulatory disorders in the corresponding areas of the brain (cerebellum, brain stem and hind lobes), which determines the clinical picture.

One of the main manifestations of the vertebral artery syndrome is a strong pulsating and/or burning headache, constant or paroxysmal, exciting darkness, oversonal part, whiskey and back of the head.Usually the pain can be one -sided.In the first stages of development, headaches arise or intensify after a long stay in an uncomfortable position with his head back, after physical exertion or after sudden movements.With the narrowing of the lumen, the artery of the pain becomes more pronounced and frequent, sometimes constant.In severe cases or at the peak of a headache, vomiting may occur, a fainting state is not excluded.

Visual disorders with cervical osteochondrosis can occur both separately and against the background of headaches and expressed by pains of the eyeball, impaired visual acuity, a feeling of veil before the eyes, dryness or stove in the eyes.One of the characteristic symptoms of narrowing of the vertebral artery is sudden short -term attacks of dizziness or loss of orientation in space.Such attacks occur for a few seconds and quickly pass.A sudden noise in the ears or pulsation in the head area may occur.Also, damage to the vertebral artery can lead to the development of cardiac syndrome.

In severe cases, an attack of a “ischemic attack”, manifested by severe headaches, vomiting, loss of coordination of movement, a change in handwriting, shaking of gait, double -gait, impaired speech and balance, can develop.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The doctor can make the primary diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine already at the first examination of the patient, as well as determine the level of the affected spine, anatomical features, including posture, physique, the structure of the body, the line of spicy processes, the side contours of the neck, the lower corner of the shoulder blades;localization, nature and degree of pain syndrome;The amplitude of the spine, the relief and muscle tone.

The diagnosis is specified using visual diagnostic methods (radiographic studies, CT, MRI), which allows you to determine the stage of the disease, the level of spinal lesions, the accurate localization of the deformed disk.And on the basis of these data, the most optimal treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is selected.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, surgical and conservative methods are used.But surgical treatment is prescribed only in the presence of severe complications that occur in the later stages of osteochondrosis if:

• stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal was formed;
• the vertebral artery is suppressed;
• a significant hernia or protrusion was formed, compressing the nerve roots;
• Excessive instability of spine developed.

In other cases, the treatment standardosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is conservative therapy.This is due to the fact that with all the achievements of modern medicine, the consequences of surgical intervention are not always expected.

Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The best results in treatmentosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine, as well as other types of osteochondrosis, are achieved when you see a doctor.Unfortunately, many patients often do not attach importance to slight discomfort in the back or periodic headache.On the other hand, there are many cases of improper diagnosis and long useless treatment, sinceOsteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine can simulate other diseases, such as arthritis, myalgia or angina pectoris.That is why vertebrologists recommend checking the spine in the presence of symptoms of any diseases, especially accompanied by head or spinal pain.

In the effective treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, an integrated approach is of great importance, including the following directions:

• Drug therapy- aimed at improving the trophism of the intervertebral disc and stopping pain, removing muscle spasm and inflammation during the exacerbation.For these purposes, non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors are prescribed in order to stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue of the joint, multivitamins and vitamins of group B;
• physiotherapy- is prescribed to reduce pain, improve the nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the disk, stimulate the processes of regeneration of cartilage, removing muscle spasm, inflammatory processes in the postoperative period for the speedy recovery;
• Manual therapy- It is used to eliminate muscle cramps, reduce pain, improve blood and lymph metabolism, posture correction and improve the amplitude of the joints.The manual exposure scheme is selected individually for each patient;
• massage-The long-used and well-established method for treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Has the same effect as manual therapy;

• Medical physical educationIt is one of the most important methods of treating all types of osteochondrosis, including osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The purpose of the exercise therapy is to relieve muscle spasm and the compression of nerve roots, improve blood and lymph flow in the spine, strengthen the muscle frame and increase the flexibility of the ligamentous apparatus.For each patient, a set of exercises is selected, the correct implementation of which is monitored by a specialist;
• reflexologyRefers to an alternative type of treatment, widely used today and gives a very good result in combination with other methods of treatment.The essence of the method is the impact on acupunctural points and/or reflexogenic zones in order to achieve the same results as with other therapeutic methods (reducing muscle pain and spasm, decompression of the spinal-brain roots, improving tissue trophics in the vertebrae), as well as to improve sleep, relieve psycho-emotional overvoltage, normalization of weight, and so on.

For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors, vitamins of group B (B6, B12), and drugs for external use are also used - ointments, creams, gels that contain NSAIDs, local fussing and tissue regeneration stimulants.

In addition to the main methods of treatment, with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, patients are recommended to change the usual lifestyle, since in most cases the disease proceeds against the background of low mobility, poor or malnutrition, obesity or, conversely, of excessively low weight and the presence of bad habits.In most cases, in the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle, not to allow muscle spasms and overload of the muscles of the cervical-flashing region, provide comfortable conditions for sleep, normalize nutrition and fulfill the doctor’s recommendations in the exercise therapy in order to stop the further development of the pathological process, and even achieve recovery at the first stage.