Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease in which literally "premature aging", "wear" of the intervertebral discs, joints and vertebrae in the cervical spine occurs.
Some facts about the disease:
- Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs in men and women in much the same way.
- Very often people between the ages of 30 and 60 get sick.
- As a rule, pathology occurs in people who at work have to constantly be in one position and make monotonous movements.
- The cervical spine has some structural features, due to which the disease can have many different manifestations.
What features of the cervical spine cause symptoms of osteochondrosis?
- There are openings in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - through them the carotid arteries pass through them to the right and left, which supply the brain.
- The initial part of the spinal cord passes through the cervical region - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, provide movement, sensitivity. If there is compression of the spinal cord in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
- This part of the spine has great mobility and this predisposes to osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar spine - it not only has high mobility, but also undergoes maximum stress).
- In the neck area, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramen, forming the cervical and brachial plexuses. They are responsible for the movements of the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, skin sensitivity and regulation of autonomic functions.
- The first vertebra does not have a massive front - a body - it is a bony ring that is put on a tooth - a bone growth on the second vertebra. Thanks to this, it is possible to turn the head to the sides.
Neck pain, headache, feeling of weakness, numbness in the hands are symptoms that should force you to see a neurologist. Examination by a specialist and examination with modern equipment will help to understand the causes of the pathology and take the most effective measures.
What happens to the vertebrae in cervical osteochondrosis?
The obscure medical term "degenerative process" refers to the following pathological changes that occur in the cervical spine:
- First of all, the lesion in osteochondrosis covers the intervertebral discs. They become thinner, so the distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases. Small tears, micro-cracks are formed on their outer part. Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
- Due to the damage to the disc, the stability of the vertebral connection is disturbed.
- They suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and intervertebral joints - spondyloarthrosis develops. It also contributes to the compression of the nerve roots.
- The pathological process extends to the vertebrae themselves. Due to the fact that the functions of the intervertebral discs are disrupted, the load on them increases. The spine is trying to compensate for this violation, bone growths appear on it - osteophytes.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
During an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, traction is used (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headboard, and the head is fixed with a special ring) to relieve the intervertebral discs. For the same purpose, you need to wear a Shants collar. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain. In case of severe pain that does not go away in any way, the doctor can stop it: inject an anesthetic solution into the area of the affected nerve roots. Physiotherapy is used: ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis with novocaine.
When the exacerbation subsides, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes massage, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy.
One of the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain. Many people who are faced with this symptom do not go to the doctor, but prefer to treat chondrosis with home methods. There are at least two good reasons to refuse self-medication and to consult a specialist doctor.
First, painkillers and folk methods, although they help relieve pain for a while, do not solve the main problem. Pathological changes in the spine continue to grow. Over time, this threatens with more serious consequences. To the extent that surgery may be required.
Secondly, neck pain occurs not only with osteochondrosis. There are many other reasons. Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the correct treatment.
What symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should force you to see a doctor?
The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain. It can occur in different places, depending on the level where the pathological process is located: in the neck, shoulder girdle, hand, heart region. By nature, pain is boring, it can be burning, aching.
Other manifestations of the disease:
- Headache, dizziness, flies in front of the eyes, noise, ringing in the ears.
- Weakness in the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle, arms.
- Disorder of skin sensitivity.
- Scapular periarthritis of the shoulder: pain in the neck that extends to the arm, difficulty in abducting the arm beyond 90 °, weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
- Shoulder-hand syndrome: pain in the shoulder and hand, swelling and stiffness of the fingers, weakness and atrophy of the hand muscles.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. Bone growths appear on the vertebrae, which squeeze the nerves, causing a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery, which takes part in the blood supply to the brain. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are accompanied by constant headaches starting from the back of the head, spreading to the temple, crown, nausea, noise in the head, ringing in the ears, flickering of bright spots in front of the eyes.
- Anterior scalene syndrome. There is an anterior and middle scalene muscle on the neck - they are located next to each other, and between them there is a small space where nerves and blood vessels pass. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscle becomes strained and tightens it, causing symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the forearm, shoulder, and fingers. Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head. The skin on the hand may become cold, pale, and numbness occurs.
- Epicondylitis syndrome. In the lower part of the shoulder, on the sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions - epicondyle. With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, they experience pain, which intensifies when pressed. Other symptoms also occur: pain in the neck, pain when pressing certain points in the cervical vertebrae.
If two parts of the spine are affected at the same time, with cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades, in the region of the heart.
With osteochondrosis, the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke increases. If you experience the symptoms listed above, see your doctor.
It is better not to self-medicate. Even if you have proven methods that can usually help you manage pain, that doesn't mean you're doing it right.
Pain can be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernia, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome) and be a symptom of other diseases. To properly treat the disease, it is necessary to understand its causes, carry out differential diagnostics. This is only possible in a clinic.
To identify the cause of the disease and correctly treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to visit a neurologist and undergo an examination.
The heart of cervical osteochondrosis is the defeat of the intervertebral discs. Their chemical composition is violated, at first they swell, then decrease in size, cracks and tears appear in their outer part, they become denser. Then the degenerative process spreads to the vertebrae, intervertebral joints. Due to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases, and bone growths appear on them - osteophytes.
What reasons lead to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
There is no consensus on the causes of cervical osteochondrosis. Different conditions are thought to cause disease, there are different points of view:
- Age-related changes in the spine. However, almost all people over 40 have skeletal changes, but not everyone has osteochondrosis.
- Neck injuries. Trauma is often indicated among the causes of the disease: a bruise in the neck, compression fracture, vertebral subluxation. Chronic injuries, such as during intense athlete training, persistent and uncomfortable bent postures, and repetitive whiplash injuries in motorists can be important.
- Congenital anomalies of the vertebrae: cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra with the occipital bone, etc.
- Profession. Most often the disease affects people who work in a monotonous posture, they constantly make the same type of movement.
- Disturbance in the blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, edema in the nerve root area.
- Autoimmune disorders.Conditions in which the immune system does not function properly, it attacks its own connective tissue, the body's ligaments.
Visit a neurologist. An experienced healthcare professional will understand the source of your health problems and prescribe the right treatment.
Causes of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of alternating exacerbations and periods of improvement, when the symptoms cease to disturb for a while. Another exacerbation can be triggered for the following reasons:
- Clumsy, jerky neck movement.
- Prolonged stay in a monotonous and uncomfortable position. For example, the neck can start to ache after long hours of computer work, after sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow.
- Stress, nervous tension. With chronic stress, spasms occur in the neck muscles, this can cause another exacerbation to begin.
- Various diseases, exacerbations of chronic diseases.
- Hypothermia. For this reason, flare-ups in many people occur in the fall.
- Incorrect and illiterate self-medication. For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission, but contraindicated during an exacerbation.
What diseases can have similar manifestations?
Very often the manifestations of "osteochondrosis" are actually associated with a completely different disease. For example, the reason may be hidden in the muscles - there is such a condition as myofascial pain syndrome. Pain arises from the constant tension of the same muscles.
Sometimes the manifestation of "cervical osteochondrosis" is considered dizziness associated with otolithiasis, a condition in which calcium salt crystals accumulate in the inner ear.
Pain and crunch in the neck, headache - when these symptoms occur, many people "diagnose" osteochondrosis. Everything is clear: when it hurts, you need to take painkillers or make a ukolchik, apply heat and everything will pass. Why go to the doctor when you can handle it yourself?
However, self-healing often leads to no good. Painful attacks over time can become more frequent, stronger, and prolonged. If you take pain relievers uncontrollably almost every day, you can have stomach or kidney problems. After all, any medicine has side effects.
And the cause of pain is not always the main cause of osteochondrosis. To find out the true cause and understand how to effectively deal with it, you need to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.
How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis? What happens in the doctor's office during the visit?
During your first visit, the neurologist will ask you a few questions:
- How long have you had a headache, neck pain?
- Where does the pain occur? What character are they: stabbing, pain, shooting, shooting?
- When does pain usually occur? What causes it? What do you feel better after?
- Have you already visited a doctor? Have you been examined and treated? Which? How long ago?
- What other symptoms are bothering you?
- What other chronic diseases do you have?
- Have you had a recent neck injury?
Your doctor will then perform a neurological exam, checking your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone. You will be asked to turn, tilt your head to the side, forward, back. The doctor will press lightly on your head, on certain points of the neck, to determine the appearance of pain.
After the examination, you will be diagnosed and prescribed the necessary diagnostic methods.
What diagnostic methods are used for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
The examination for cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:
- X-ray of the cervical spine.
- According to the indications, X-ray contrast studies are prescribed: myelography (introduction of contrast into the space surrounding the spinal cord), discography (introduction of contrast into the intervertebral disc), angiography (introduction of contrast into the vessels).
- Computed tomography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- For severe neurological disorders, electroneuromyography, a study that determines the passage of electrical impulses in the nerves and muscles, may be prescribed.
Often the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis resemble angina pectoris. If, after the examination, the doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis, you will be prescribed an ECG and other diagnostic methods.