Cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease, which is actually the "premature aging" and "wear and tear" of cervical discs, joints, and vertebrae.

Some facts about the disease:

• The incidence of neck chondrosis in men is roughly the same in men and women.
• In most cases, people aged 30-60 will get sick.
• Usually, morbidity occurs in people who have to be in one position frequently at work and perform monotonous movements.
• The cervical spine has certain structural features, so the disease can have many different manifestations.

Which features of the cervical spine cause the symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• There are holes in the scoliosis of the vertebrae-the carotid artery passes through it, from right to left, to supply blood to the brain.
• The initial part of the spinal cord passes through the area of ​​the cervix-it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to various parts of the body, thereby providing movement and sensitivity. If the spinal cord in the neck is compressed, neurological diseases will develop throughout the body.
• This part of the spine is highly mobile and prone to osteochondrosis (although in most cases, the disease still develops in the lumbar spine-it is not only highly mobile, but also bears the most stress).
• In the neck, nerve roots protrude from the intervertebral foramen to form the cervical and brachial plexus nerves. They are responsible for the adjustment of neck, arms, shoulder straps, skin sensitivity and autonomous functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a large anterior part-the body-it is a bone ring worn on the teeth-the second vertebra grows out of the bone. Therefore, the head can be turned to the side.

neck pain, headache, weakness, numbness in the hands-these symptoms should force you to see a neurologist. The inspection by experts and the use of modern equipment will help to understand the cause of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

What happens to the vertebrae in cervical osteochondrosis?

The obscure medical term "degeneration process" refers to the following pathological changes in the cervical spine:

• First, the disease of osteochondrosis covers the intervertebral disc. They become thinner, thereby reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae. Small tears, microcracks formed on the outside. Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
• Due to the injury of the intervertebral disc, the stability of the vertebral connection is impaired.
• They suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and intervertebral joints-developing into spondyloarthropathy. It also helps to compress nerve roots.
• The pathological process extends to the vertebra itself. Due to the fact that the function of the intervertebral discs is disrupted, the load on them increases. The spine is trying to compensate for this violation, and osteophytes (osteophytes) grow on the bones.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

During the deterioration of cervical osteochondrosis, use traction (put the patient on the raised headboard of the headboard and fix the head with a special fixing ring) to relieve the herniated disc. For the same purpose, you need to wear a Shants collar. Prescription analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain. If the severe pain cannot be eliminated, the doctor may block: inject anesthetic into the nerve root area of ​​the affected area. Use physical therapy: ultrasound therapy, Novcaine electrophoresis.

When the condition worsens, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes massage, physical therapy exercises, and physical therapy.

One of the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain. Many people who face this symptom do not go to see a doctor, but prefer to use family methods to treat "chondrosis. "There are at least two good reasons to refuse self-medication and consult a specialist.

First of all, although painkillers and folk remedies can temporarily relieve pain, they cannot solve the main problem. The pathological changes of the spine continue to grow. Over time, this will bring more serious consequences. Until surgery may be needed.

Secondly, neck pain does not only occur in osteochondrosis. There are many other reasons. Only a doctor can understand and prescribe the correct treatment.

Which symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis should force you to see a doctor?

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain. It can occur in different locations, depending on the level of positioning of the pathological process: on the neck, on the shoulder g-band, on the hand, in the heart area. In essence, pain is boring, it may be burning, painful.

Other manifestations of this disease:

• Headache, dizziness, flies, noise, tinnitus.
• The muscles of the neck, shoulder straps, and arms are weak.
• Skin sensitivity disorder.
• Shoulder-hand syndrome: shoulder and hand pain, finger swelling and stiffness, hand muscle weakness and atrophy.
• Vertebral artery syndrome. Bone growth appears on the vertebrae, squeezing the nerves, causing reflex spasm of the vertebral arteries, thereby participating in the blood supply of the brain. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are accompanied by persistent headaches, which start from the back of the head and spread to the temples, until the coronary, nausea, head noise, tinnitus, and bright spots in the eyes.
• Scalene anterior muscle syndrome. There are anterior and middle scalene muscles on the neck-they are next to each other and there is a small space between them, through which nerves and blood vessels pass. Due to cervical osteochondrosis, the anterior scalene muscle becomes tense and squeezed, causing symptoms such as pain on the inner surface of the forearm, shoulder and fingers. Sometimes the pain spreads to the back of the head. The skin of the hands may become cold, white, and numb.
• Upper con inflammation syndrome. On the lower part of the shoulder, on the side of the elbow joint, there is a bony protrusion-upper con. Because of the supraconitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, they will feel pain, which will aggravate the pain when pressed. Other symptoms may also appear: neck pain, soreness in certain parts of the cervical spine.

If both parts of the spine are affected by cervical sternal osteochondrosis, the symptoms may include pain between the shoulder blades in the heart area.

Osteochondrosis can increase the risk of intervertebral hernia and stroke. If you experience the above symptoms, please see a doctor.

It is best not to take the medicine yourself. Even if you have a reliable method that can usually help you relieve pain, it does not mean you are doing it right.

Pain can be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernia, muscle disease (myofascial pain syndrome), and may be a symptom of other diseases. In order to treat the disease correctly, you need to understand its cause and make a differential diagnosis. This is only possible in the clinic.

In order to determine the cause of the disease and correctly treat the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, you need to see a neurologist for examination.

The core of cervical chondropathy is the rupture of the intervertebral disc. Their chemical composition is destroyed, first swells, and then decreases in size, cracks and cracks appear on the outside, and become denser. Then the degeneration process extends to the vertebrae, intervertebral joints. As the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, the load on the vertebrae increases, and bone growth-osteophytes appear on it.

What is the cause of cervical osteochondrosis?

There is no consensus on the cause of cervical osteochondrosis. People think that different conditions can cause disease, and have different opinions:

• Age-related spinal changes. However, almost all people over the age of 40 have bone changes, but not everyone has osteochondrosis.
• neck injury. Usually in the cause of the disease, trauma refers to: neck bruise, compression fracture, vertebral subluxation. Chronic injuries (such as during vigorous training of athletes), continuous uncomfortable bending postures, and repeated whiplash injuries by the driver may be valuable.
• Congenital vertebral abnormalities: Cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebrae and occipital bone, etc.
• Professional. This disease usually affects people who work in monotonous positions and perform the same type of exercise continuously.
• Abnormal blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency in the nerve root area, and edema.
• Autoimmune diseases.The condition of the immune system not working properly will attack its own connective tissues, body ligaments.

Visit a neurologist. An experienced healthcare professional will understand the root cause of your health problem and prescribe the correct treatment plan.

Causes of deterioration of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of alternate episodes of exacerbation and remission. Another exacerbation may be due to the following reasons:

• Clumsy neck movement.
• Staying in monotonous discomfort for a long time. For example, after working on a computer for a long time and sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow, the neck may start to ache.
• Stress, nervousness. Under chronic stress, cramps can occur in the neck muscles, which may cause another attack.
• Various diseases, the aggravation of chronic diseases.
• Hypothermia. Therefore, many people will get worse in autumn.
• Incorrect, illiterate self-medication. For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remissions, but are contraindicated during exacerbations.

Which diseases can have similar manifestations?

Usually, the manifestation of "osteochondrosis" is actually related to a completely different disease. For example, the cause may be hidden in the muscles-there are symptoms such as myofascial pain syndrome. Pain occurs due to constant tension in the same muscles.

Sometimes, the manifestation of "cervical chondropathy" is thought to be dizziness associated with otolithia-calcium salt crystals accumulating in the ear.

Neck pain and crunch, headache-when these symptoms appear, many people "diagnose" osteochondrosis. Everything is clear-when it hurts, you need to take painkillers or make a ukolchik, heat, and everything will pass. If you can handle it yourself, why go to the doctor?

However, self-healing usually does not bring any benefit. Over time, painful attacks may become more frequent, intense and sustained. If you take pain medication almost every day uncontrollably, you may have stomach or kidney problems. After all, any medicine has side effects.

The cause of pain is not always the root cause of osteochondrosis. In order to find out the real cause and understand how to deal with it effectively, you need to see a doctor and get an examination.

How does a neurologist diagnose cervical osteochondrosis? What happens in the doctor's office during the test?

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

• How long have you had a headache and neck pain?
• Where does the pain occur? What are their roles: stabbing, pain, shooting, pulling?
• When does pain usually occur? What caused it? Did you feel better afterwards?
• Did you go to the doctor? Have you been checked and treated? which one? how long ago?
• What other symptoms bother you?
• Do you have any other chronic diseases?
• Have you had a neck injury recently?

The doctor will then perform a neurological examination to check your reflexes, skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone of voice. You will be asked to turn, tilt your head to the sides, forward and backward. The doctor will gently press on your head and certain parts of your neck to determine if pain occurs.

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

Which diagnostic methods can be used for cervical osteochondrosis?

The examination of cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:

• Cervical angiography.
According to the indication, X-ray imaging studies are required: myelography (introduction of contrast agent into the space around the spinal cord), discography (introduction of contrast agent into the intervertebral disc), angiography (introduction of contrast agent into the blood vessels).
• Computer tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• For severe neurological diseases, you may be prescribed electronic electromyography-a study that determines the passage of electrical impulses in nerves and muscles.

Usually, cervical osteochondrosis is similar to angina pectoris. If the doctor still has doubts about the diagnosis after the examination, you will be prescribed ECG and other diagnostic methods.