Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a change in the cartilaginous and nearby muscle-ligamentous structures, which causes the loss of their regenerative abilities. In the first stage of this process, the height of the intervertebral disc gradually decreases. Because of this, the metabolic processes in the core are violated, and cracks appear in the fibrous ring.
In the absence of timely treatment, osteophytes appear on cartilage tissue and bones. Because of this, the mobility of the cervical spine is significantly reduced, which leads to the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome. According to studies conducted in many countries of the world, by the age of 30-35, almost all people have various signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of different 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 crackling when turning the head;
- deterioration of vision and hearing.
Do not forget that cervical osteochondrosis refers to chronic diseases in which the symptoms change depending on a certain stage of the development of the disease. Because of this, the patient may experience certain signs that point to a specific stage of changes in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable neck pain during physical activity, as well as discomfort during normal head rotation, appear in the initial stages of the disease, when the height of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine decreases slightly.
- A feeling of sharp pain and stiffness when turning the neck, as well as crunching and headache occurs during the period of abnormal growth of cartilage tissue, with a decrease in the height of the vertebral plate and the appearance of cracks in the annulus fibrosus.
- Acute pain in the neck that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of sensitivity of the skin areas of the neck region are recorded in the case of rupture of the fibrous ring and the development of intervertebral hernias, as well as in the case of deformation of the spinal column. .
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder girdle with long-lasting severe pain is a pronounced sign of grade 4 cervical osteochondrosis, when numerous osteophytes develop and the structure of the intervertebral disc is gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main cause of cervical spine problems is unbalanced and excessive strain. Osteochondrosis usually occurs due to age-related changes in the spine, injuries to the cervical spine, or metabolic disorders. In addition, the following factors contribute to the appearance of the disease:
- genetic predisposition. If a person has a congenital weakness in the connective tissue, they may experience impaired functioning of the cervical thoracic spine.
- Vertebral instability. Increased mobility of the upper part of the spine very often leads to deterioration of the depreciation properties of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the locomotor system. The mobility of the cervical spine is very often reduced due to malformations 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 connective tissue.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
To identify the causes of the disease, it is mandatory to assess and examine the patient, determine the pain zones and the degree of mobility of the spinal column, and evaluate the quality of reflexes.
Various methods are used to diagnose the disease, including:
- Radiography and multislice computed tomography. These instrumental diagnostic methods have proven to be the best in determining changes in the cervical spine in the later stages of the disease, when the changes in the bones and cartilages of the spinal column become clearly visible.
- magnetic resonance imaging. Currently, this diagnostic method is most often used to determine changes in the cervical spine, as it allows the doctor to detect the disease at the earliest stage of its development.
- Duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is performed to assess the quality of blood flow and to identify vasoconstriction. This method is most often used by doctors to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, an ultrasound examination of nearby organs, an EKG of the heart, and blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
Expert opinion
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, there is no need to be afraid of it. If appropriate measures are taken in time, almost all manifestations of the disease can be minimized. For example, you need to learn how to constantly monitor the correct position of the body, as this can increase the load on the spine. In addition, we must not forget that some sports are dangerous for the cervical spine.
I strongly advise many of my patients to avoid competitive sports with a high risk of injury. Better to opt for hiking, skiing and swimming. Such physical activity will have a positive effect on all parts of the spine.
Conservative treatment methods of osteochondrosis
If the disease of the cervical spine is detected at an early stage, conservative methods are used for its treatment. They make it possible to prevent the further development of the disease, relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore the mobility of the upper part of the spine.
Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes the following:
- Medical treatment.In this case, doctors prescribe a number of drugs that allow effective pain relief and stop the inflammatory process. In addition, modern devices contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. Most often, hormonal drugs, pain relievers, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs are used in the form of tablets and injections.
- Physiotherapy treatment.Physiotherapy is usually prescribed as an adjunct to drug therapy. It can be therapeutic massage, acupuncture, laser exposure, magnetotherapy, UHF therapy and other procedures that help to relax neck muscles, eliminate spasm and normalize blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy.This is a very important part of treating the cervical spine. The fact is that special physical exercises serve not only to strengthen the muscular skeleton and straighten the posture, but also to improve the blood supply to the upper part of the spinal column. First, the doctor selects 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 treatment methods or in advanced cases of the disease, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine must be treated with surgical methods. The main task of surgeons is to relieve pressure on nerve roots, arteries, spinal cord and other structures in the appropriate area.
To solve this problem, the following types of surgery are used on the cervical spine:
- microsurgical discectomyduring which, under the supervision of a microscope, the doctor performs the excision of the intervertebral hernia by partially or completely removing the intervertebral disc;
- laminectomy, which provides partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, facet joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the spinal cord root;
- endoscopic surgeryby removing hernias, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic lesions with miniature access using an endoscope;
- laser nucleoplastywith a puncture, through which a laser light guide is inserted, which is necessary to remove a small fragment of the core of the intervertebral disc.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Many patients mistakenly believe that cervical osteochondrosis disappears immediately after conservative therapy or surgery. But any treatment method can only stop or slow down the progression of the disease. Therefore, after treatment, the person should follow the following measures to prevent cervical osteochondrosis:
- leads a healthy and active lifestyle;
- avoid heavy lifting;
- sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- visit the swimming pool regularly;
- do a series of sports exercises;
- be careful when turning your head;
- maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation plan is compiled according to the stage of the pathology, the patient's state of health, as well as his age, weight and general well-being. The program may include therapeutic massage, movement therapy and physiotherapy. This helps to improve health, avoid complications and relapses.
Questions and answers
Which doctor should I consult with cervical spine problems?
These problems are diagnosed and treated by neurologists and traumatologists-orthopedics.
What medicines can relieve cervical spine pain?
Painkillers should be prescribed by an experienced doctor after examination and thorough diagnosis.
What is the probability of spinal problems if I do not exercise at all?
Unfortunately, spine problems eventually appear in almost everyone. In order to avoid serious complications, it is necessary to exercise regularly and take prophylactic chondroprotectors and multivitamins.