Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a change in the cartilage and nearby musculo-ligament structures, causing the loss of their regenerative abilities. In the early 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 the cartilage tissue and bones. Because of this, the mobility of the cervical spine is significantly reduced, leading to the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome. According to studies conducted in many countries around the world, almost all people between the ages of 30 and 35 have various signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of various 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 crunching 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 development of the disease. For this reason, the patient may experience some signs that indicate a specific stage of the changes in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable pain in the neck that occurs during physical activity, as well as discomfort during normal turns of the head, appear 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 crunches and headaches appear 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.
- Sharp pain in the neck that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of sensation of the skin areas in the cervical region are recorded when the fibrous ring breaks and intervertebral hernias are formed, as well as when the spine is deformed.
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder girdle with intense pain that lasts for a long time is one of the pronounced signs of 4th degree cervical osteochondrosis, when numerous osteophytes develop and the intervertebral disc structures are gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main cause of cervical spine problems is an unbalanced and excessive load. As a rule, osteochondrosis occurs due to age-related changes in the spine, injury to the cervical spine or metabolic disorders. In addition, the following factors contribute to the appearance of this disease:
- genetic predisposition. If a person has congenital weakness of the connective tissue, he may experience impaired functioning of the cervicothoracic spine.
- Vertebral instability. The increased mobility of the upper part of the spine very often leads to a deterioration in the depreciation properties of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The mobility of the cervical spine is very often reduced due to abnormalities in the development of the skeletal 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 the connective tissue.
Cervical Osteochondrosis Diagnosis
To identify the causes of the disease, it is mandatory to conduct an investigation and examination of the patient, determine the pain zones and the degree of mobility of the spine, and assess the quality of reflexes.
Various methods are used to diagnose this disease, including:
- Multilayer computed tomography and radiography. These methods of instrumental diagnostics turned out to be the best for determining changes in the cervical spine in the later stages of the development of the disease, when the lesions of the bones and cartilage of the spine become clearly visible.
- magnetic resonance. Currently, to determine the changes occurring in the cervical spine, this diagnostic method is often used, since with its help the doctor can detect the disease at the first stage of its appearance.
- Duplex scan of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is done to assess the quality of blood flow and identify vasoconstriction. It is this method that is most often used by doctors to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, ultrasound examinations of nearby organs, ECG of the heart, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
Expert opinion
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, you should not be too afraid of it. If adequate measures are taken in a timely manner, it is possible to minimize almost all manifestations of the disease. For example, you need to learn to constantly monitor the correct position of the body, as this can increase the load on the spine. In addition, it should not be forgotten 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 injuries of all kinds. It is best to make a choice in favor of hiking, skiing and swimming. Such physical activity will positively affect all parts of the spine.
Conservative methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
If cervical spine disease was detected at an early stage, conservative methods are used to treat it. They allow you to prevent further development of the disease, relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore mobility of the upper spine.
The conservative method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes:
- Medical treatment.In this case, doctors prescribe a number of drugs that allow you to effectively relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. In addition, modern means contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. Most often, hormonal drugs, analgesics, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs in the form of tablets and injections are used for these purposes.
- Physiotherapy treatment.As a rule, physiotherapy is prescribed in addition to drug therapy. This can be therapeutic massage, acupuncture, laser exposure, magnetotherapy, UHF therapy and other procedures that help relax the neck muscles, eliminate spasm and normalize blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy.This is a very important part of the treatment of the cervical spine. The fact is that special physical exercises help not only to strengthen the muscle structure and straighten posture, but also to improve the blood supply to the upper spine. First, the doctor selects a set of 6-8 exercises, then adds new ones, gradually increasing physical activity.
Surgical methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
In the absence of the effect of conservative methods of treatment or in advanced cases of the disease, it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine by surgical methods. The main task of surgeons is to eliminate 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 a microscope, performs the removal of the intervertebral hernia with incomplete or total removal of the intervertebral disc;
- laminectomy, which involves partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, facets of joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the root of the spinal cord;
- endoscopic surgerywith the removal of hernias, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic changes through a miniature access using an endoscope;
- laser nucleoplastywith a puncture through which a laser light guide is inserted, necessary to remove a small fragment of the nucleus 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 method of treatment can only stop or slow the progression of the disease. That is why, after a course of treatment, a person will need to observe the following measures for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:
- lead a healthy and active lifestyle;
- avoid lifting heavy loads;
- sleeping on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- visit the pool regularly;
- perform a variety of sports exercises;
- be careful when turning your head;
- maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation plan is drawn up on the basis of the stage of the disease, the state of health of the patient, as well as his age, weight and general well-being. The program may include medical massage, physical therapy, and physiotherapy. This will help improve health, avoid complications and relapses.
Questions and answers
Which doctor should I contact for cervical spine problems?
Diagnosis and treatment of these problems are carried out by a neurologist and a traumatologist-orthopedist.
What drugs can be used to relieve pain in the cervical spine?
The appointment of painkillers should be carried out by an experienced doctor after a thorough examination and diagnosis.
What is the likelihood of spinal problems if I don't play sports at all?
Unfortunately, problems with the spine eventually appear in almost all people. To avoid serious complications, you need to exercise regularly, as well as take prophylactic chondroprotectors and multivitamins.