Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease in which literally "premature aging", "wear" of intervertebral discs, joints, vertebrae in the cervical spine occurs.

Some facts about this disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs in men and women more or less the same.
• Often people aged 30-60 years get sick.
• As a rule, pathology occurs in people who at work must always be in one position and perform monotonous movements.
• The cervical spine has several structural features, as the disease can have many different manifestations.

What are the characteristics of the cervical spine that cause osteochondrosis symptoms?

• There is a hole in the lateral process of the vertebrae - through it, the carotid artery passes through it to the right and left, which supplies the brain.
• The first part of the spinal cord passes through the cervical area - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, providing movement, sensitivity. If there is spinal cord compression in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spine has great mobility, and this tends to osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar spine - it not only has high mobility, but also experiences the greatest stress).
• In the neck area, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramen, forming the cervical and brachial plexus. They are responsible for the movement of the neck muscles, arms, shoulder belts, skin sensitivity, and the regulation of autonomic function.
• The first vertebra does not have a large anterior part - the body - it is a bone ring placed on a tooth - bone growth on the second vertebra. Thanks to this, turning the head to the side is possible.

Neck pain, headache, weakness, numbness in the hands are symptoms that should force you to see a neurologist. Examination by specialists and examination using modern equipment will help to understand the pathological causes and take the most effective measures.

What happens to the spine in cervical osteochondrosis?

The vague medical term "degenerative process" refers to the following pathological changes that occur in the cervical spine:

• First of all, lesions in osteochondrosis include the intervertebral disc. They become thinner, therefore, the distance between adjacent vertebrae is reduced. Small tears, microcrats formed on the outside. Over time, this can lead to herniated discs.
• As a result of disc damage, the stability of the vertebrae is disturbed.
• They suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and intervertebral joints - spondyloarthrosis develops. It also contributes to nerve root compression.
• The pathological process extends to the vertebrae itself. As the function of the intervertebral discs is disrupted, the load on them increases. The spine seeks to compensate for this violation, bone growth - osteophytes - appear on it.

Treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis

During swelling of cervical vertebral osteochondrosis, traction is used (the patient is placed on a bed with a high headboard and the head is fitted with a special loop) to relieve the intervertebral disc. For the same purpose, you need to wear a Shants collar. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain. If severe pain does not go away, the doctor can block it: inject an anesthetic solution into the affected nerve root area. Physiotherapy is used: treatment with ultrasound, electrophoresis with novocaine.

When exacerbations subside, treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis includes massage, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy.

One of the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain. Many people who experience these symptoms do not go to the doctor, but prefer to treat chondrosis with home methods. There are at least two good reasons to refuse self-treatment and see a specialist.

First, painkillers and folk remedies, although they help relieve pain for a while, do not solve the main problem. Pathological changes in the spinal space continue to develop. Over time, this threatens more serious consequences. So it requires surgery.

Second, neck pain occurs not only with osteochondrosis. There are many other reasons. Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the right treatment.

What symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis force you to see a doctor?

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain. It can occur in different places, depending on the degree to which the pathological process is localized: in the neck, in the shoulder girdle, in the hands, in the heart area. Naturally, the pain is dull, burning, painful.

Manifestations of other diseases:

• Headache, dizziness, flying in front of the eyes, noise, heard in the ears.
• Weaknesses in neck muscles, shoulder straps, arms.
• Skin sensitivity disorders.
• Shoulder-scapular period: neck pain that extends to the arm, difficulty abducting the arm above 90 °, weakness and atrophy of the shoulder girdle muscles.
• Shoulder syndrome: pain in the shoulders and hands, swelling and stiffness of the fingers, weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the hands.
• Vertebral artery syndrome. Bone growth appears in the vertebrae, which squeezes the nerves, as a result, of reflex spasm of the vertebral arteries, which participate in the blood supply to the brain. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are accompanied by persistent headaches starting from the back of the head, spreading to the temples, to the crown, nausea, noise in the head, ringing in the ears, flickering of bright spots in front of the eyes.
• Anterior scalene muscle syndrome. In the neck there are the anterior and middle scalene muscles - they are 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 muscles become tense and compressed, resulting in symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the forearms, shoulders, and fingers. Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head. The skin of the hands can become cold, pale, and numb.
• Epicondylitis Syndrome. At the bottom of the shoulder, at the side of the elbow joint, there is a protrusion of bone - the epicondyle. With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, they experience an increased painful sensation when pressed. Other symptoms also occur: neck pain, pain when pressing certain points on the cervical vertebrae.

If two parts of the spine are affected at once, with cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades, in the heart area.

With osteochondrosis, the risk of hernias and intervertebral stroke increases. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor.

It is better not to treat yourself. Even if you have tried the right methods that can usually help you cope with the pain, that does not mean you are doing it right.

Pain can be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernias, muscle disorders (myofascial pain syndrome), and become a symptom of other diseases. To properly treat the disease, you need to understand the cause, carry out differential diagnostics. This can only be done at the clinic.

To properly identify the cause of the disease and treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to see a neurologist and undergo an examination.

At the heart of cervical osteochondrosis is the defeat of the intervertebral disc. Their chemical composition is violated, at first they swell, then decrease in size, cracks and tears appear on the outside, they become denser. Then the degenerative process spreads to the vertebral, intervertebral joints. Due to the decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases, and bone growth appears in them - osteophytes.

What causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

There is no consensus on the cause of cervical osteochondrosis. Different conditions are thought to cause disease, there are different points of view:

• Age-related changes in the spine. However, almost everyone over the age of 40 experiences changes in the skeleton, but not everyone has osteochondrosis.
• Neck Injuries. Often, among the causes of the disease, trauma is shown: neck cramps, compression fractures, vertebral subluxation. Chronic injuries, such as during intensive training for athletes, persistent uncomfortable bending postures, and recurrent whiplash injuries in vehicle drivers, may be significant.
• Congenital vertebral anomalies: cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra with occipital bone, etc.
• Profession. More often the disease strikes people who work in monotonous postures, constantly performing the same movements.
• Disruption of blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, edema in the nerve root area.
• Autoimmune disorders.A condition in which the immune system does not function properly, attacking its own connective tissue, the ligaments of the body.

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 symptoms stop temporarily. Other damages can be triggered by the following reasons:

• Awkward and awkward neck movements.
• Long stays in a monotonous uncomfortable position. For example, the neck may start to ache after working long hours at the computer, after sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow.
• Stress, nervous tension. With chronic stress, cramps occur in the neck muscles, this can lead to the onset of other exacerbations.
• Various diseases, an increase in chronic diseases.
• Hypothermia. For this reason, exacerbations in many people occur in the fall.
• Improper and illiterate self-medication. For example, massage exercises and therapy are useful during remission, but are contraindicated during exacerbations.

What diseases can have similar manifestations?

Often the manifestations of "osteochondrosis" are actually associated with completely different diseases. For example, the cause may be hidden in the muscles - there are conditions such as myofascial pain syndrome. Pain occurs due to the same muscle tension.

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 soreness in the neck, headache - when these symptoms occur, many people "diagnose" osteochondrosis. Everything is clear - when it hurts, you have to take painkillers or make words, use heat, and everything will pass. Why see a doctor when you can deal with it yourself?

However, frequent self-healing does not lead to good. Painful attacks over time can become more frequent, intense, and prolonged. If you take painkillers out of control almost every day, you may have stomach or kidney problems. However, any medication has side effects.

And the cause of pain is not always the cause of osteochondrosis. To find out the real cause and understand how to deal with it effectively, you need to see a doctor and undergo an examination.

How do neurologists diagnose cervical osteochondrosis? What happened in the doctor's office during the examination?

During your first visit, the neurologist will ask you some questions:

• How long have you had headaches, neck pains?
• Where does the pain occur? What kind of character are they: stabbing, hurting, shooting, pulling?
• When does pain usually occur? What triggered it? After what do you feel better?
• Have you ever seen a doctor? Have you been examined and treated? Which one? How long ago?
• What other symptoms are bothering you?
• What other chronic conditions do you have?
• Have you had a neck injury recently?

The doctor will then perform a neurological examination, check your reflexes, skin sensitivity, strength and muscle tone. You will be asked to turn around, tilt your head to the side, forward, backward. The doctor will press lightly on your head, at certain points on the neck, to determine the occurrence of pain.

After the examination, you will be diagnosed and set the necessary diagnostic methods.

What diagnostic methods are used for cervical spine osteochondrosis?

Diagnosis for cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:

• Radiography of the cervical spine.
• According to the indications, X-ray contrast studies are prescribed: myelography (introduction of contrast to the space around the spinal cord), discography (introduction of contrast into the intervertebral disc), angiography (introduction of contrast into vessels).
• Computed tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• For severe neurological disorders, you may be given electroneuromyography - a study that determines the path of electrical impulses to nerves and muscles.

Often, the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis resemble angina pectoris. If after the examination the doctor is still skeptical about the diagnosis, you will be given an ECG and other diagnostic methods.