Cervical osteochondosis - Causes, signs and treatment

Osteochondrosis in the cervical region is an intervertebral disc disease, consisting of the presence of pathological metabolic disorders.When the pulp, which plays the role absorbing shocks, begins to harden due to the active ossification processes, there is a discomfort associated with the pinch of the nerve roots.

Without a timely treatment, osteochondrosis in the cervical region, serious consequences occur which hinder normal life.You should know which symptoms start to ring the alarm.

Neck osteochondrosis - classification

The problem of the disease is premature detection.The patient has conventional neurological manifestations - headache, dizziness, flies in the eyes, breathlessness, pain in the neck, chest.The patient can be numb on members, because of which he will visit a cardiologist, a neurologist, a therapist or an orthopedicist, without carrying out the real causes of the discomfort.

The disease has physiological nature, because the human spine, in a vertical position, is forced to resist long static loads.With age, bone tissue is weakening, which negatively affects the health of the spine.Destructive and depth processes develop, which leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis.Cervical osteochondosis occurs more often, because the neck has good mobility, which makes this department subject to traumatic damage.

Disease is one of the most common among diseases of the spine.Osteochondrosis also tends to reduce age.If 20 years ago, people aged 40 to 60 addressed to complaints concerning pain on the back, now people aged 30 to 40 are more likely to complain.Such an unfavorable change is associated with the deterioration of health indicators, which is due to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and a reduced quality of nutrition.

Pathology is associated not only with physiological negative changes, but also with the pathological state of the body.Physiological processes are due to the occurrence of destructive processes in the context of body aging and cartilage.Over time, unfavorable natural changes appear that cannot be avoided - metabolic processes are disturbed, calcium reserves are exhausted.Pathological factors - The destruction of cartilage and wear of intervertebral discs associated with the direction of an unhealthy lifestyle.

In addition, the pathological course of the wear of intervertebral discs and the ossification of elastic content can be complicated by the ligamentable device, pathological wear of the vertebrae (spondylosis), pressing (development of the type of hernia) and the formation of calcium salts.

Symptoms of cervical column osteochondrosis

In the early stages, it is difficult to identify clear signs of the disease, because the symptoms are paroxysmal, sometimes completely passing.The diagnosis is more often difficult in patients who periodically use pain relievers.With a decrease in pain sensitivity, the disease is disguised and it becomes more difficult to diagnose it by external signs.Usually the patient does not believe that he has problems as long as the disease reaches the terminal stage.In addition to the pain in the neck and head, stunning and jumps in blood pressure occur.

Lurinlands for osteochondrosis periodically occur, but does not always indicate specifically for this disease.Usually, this condition is observed with the development of inflammatory processes in the ears, with spasms of the brain vessels, as well as in the context of innervation.Sometimes such a state is associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system, altered coordination of movements or anemia.If the patient has periodically dizzy, accompanied by a feeling of rudeness, lack of air and weakness, you should rather ask for medical help.

The signs that occur in the context of dizzy are the reason for the patient's emergency hospitalization:

1. Numbness of the upper shoulder belt on one side, accompanied by a parallel paralysis of the facial muscles.
2. Migraine attacks, a very severe headache in the context of general discomfort.
3. Movement coordination problems.
4. Violation of consciousness, its loss.

Headaches are one of the most common and non -specific signs that occur in the context of cervical osteochondosis.Most often, a tension headache occurs in women.This condition is associated with a characteristic of the hormonal background (excess of estradiol in the body compared to men) and vascular weakness, which is also associated with hormonal status (increased progesterone relaxes the vessels, which makes them less durable).

With osteochondrosis, the headache occurs due to frequent cramps of the brain's vessels, on the bottom of the pinch of the nerve roots and increasing intracranial pressure indicators.Atechondrues' pain attacks often resemble hypertension, SCI or stroke attack (it is important to consider that the older a person, the higher the risk of pathologies).

If the patient has other diseases associated with alteration in the function of the heart muscle, then with osteochondrosis attacks, pain in the heart will also be observed.As a rule, in people with cardiovascular disease, an attack of angina occurs, blood pressure increases, extrasystole, arrhythmia and chest pain begin.If, when you use first aid medication, the patient does not become better and the attack lasts a long time, it is urgent to call an ambulance so that the patient is taken to the hospital to the cardiologist.

Pain syndrome for osteochondrosis

In addition, the characteristics of the pain syndrome of the disease should be described.Unpleasant sensations do not always occur in the occipital area or in the head.There are attacks, pain in which are more often located in completely different places.Cervical pain often radiates in the hands or shoulders.Distinctive signs of unpleasant sensations are the appearance of discomfort immediately after waking up or making sudden movements.An example is sneezing or laughter.Even with such light physiological reactions, an attack on pain syndrome can occur.

If the pathology is not too neglected, the unpleasant sensations will soon disappear and discomfort is often accompanied by an improved crunch in the cervical vertebrae.Often, the disease occurs in people with cervical lordosis - a pathophysiological condition associated with increased flexibility in the neck.If a person often goes back, this condition can occur.The more the pathological condition is advanced, the more the patient feels, because the pain returns over time, intensifying, offering more and more powerful torments.

What sensations and signs of pain are described by patients most often:

1. The pain proceeds from the "depth" of the neck.
2. When you turn your head on your side, a crunch or a strong feeling of crackling is observed.
3. When unpleasant sensations are observed, the patient has stiffness in the cervical region, accompanied by muscle weakness.

According to statistics, the disease most often affects 6 and 7 cervical vertebrae.The disease also occurs in one of the vertebral parts of the cervical location.

Development of high blood pressure with cervical osteochondrosis

There is a clear link between a specific disease and the increase in pressure.The cervical vertebrae are also penetrated by the nerve endings and the vascular canal.If it calculates on the surface of the increase in vertebrae, the pathological compression of nerve endings and blood vessels occurs.As a result, the microspasus occurs and the patient has characteristic deterioration in well-being.

Hypertension, which occurs in the background, has specific differences:

1. Persistent and acute headaches are the most characteristic characteristic of the Shokh.
2. Pain in the chest during inhalation, discomfort in the limbs.
3. Reduce sensitivity in the neck area.
4. The appearance of strong pressure jumps after nervous tension, muscle overvoltage or after a long stay in analgesic installation.

Causes of neck osteochondrosis

For the most part, this disease is associated with natural aging processes and the occurrence of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.It should be noted that all people in old age do not suffer from osteochondrosis.Usually this disease goes beyond links with obesity leading to a sedentary lifestyle.

The factors caused at the origin of the pathology include:

1. A sedentary lifestyle, including hypodynamia.
2. The occupation of an uncomfortable posture associated with long static stress.An example is a long base in the office, without maintaining a good posture.
3. Obesity or excess body weight.A big weight is not always associated with fat deposits.In bodybuilders or massive athletes, an increased body of body weight is often observed.Overcoming the recommended weight is loaded not only with premature wear of the spine, but also to overload the cardiovascular system.
4. Chronic stress associated with the Nervous Cas.
5. Previously, suffering from the head injuries or a dislocation of the neck.
6. Local hypothermia - blowing the neck.
7. The presence of an autoimmune pathological process in the body, which negatively affects the state of cartilage, bone tissue.Examples are rheumatoid arthritis, leading to the development of these diseases, such as Shokh.
8. The presence of congenital anomalies in the structure of the spine of cartilage.

The presence of dosed physical effort, nutrition and appropriate rejection of bad habits is the best way to minimize the risks of exacerbations associated with osteochondosis.

Steps of the development of the disease

There are several stages of development of the pathological state associated with the manifestation of the symptoms of osteochondrosis:

1. The preclinical stage is the first.In the early stages, it is difficult to notice signs of the disease, because there are still no specific symptoms.The only thing that an experienced specialist can notice is the sweetness of cervical lordosis.Due to such a light change, the appearance of minimal discomfort with net necks on the side is possible.Over time, tension, pain in the lumbar region and back muscles can occur because the cervical area often pulls the lumbar.If the patient was lucky and osteochondrosis has been found at an early stage, you can make a change in the food and correction of the lifestyle so that pathology does not continue to progress.Patients often ignore this step, because discomfort rarely causes significant changes in the body.
2. The second step occurs if the preclinical degree has been successfully ignored.Usually, at this stage, there are signs of instability in the cervical region.At this stage, the patient is already concerned about pain syndrome.Unpleasant sensations are often given to the hands of the upper shoulder belt.Pain with inclinations and head towers is more strongly felt.Since the pathological subsidence of the distance between the intervertebral discs already takes place, the nerve endings are pinched, which leads to the development of a neurological syndrome in the patient.Consequently, the patient has concomitant symptoms, including increased fatigue, a decrease in performance, distraction and headache.
3. The third degree.At this stage, pain syndrome becomes even more pronounced than before.It becomes impossible to ignore such pain, so even the most persistent patients are already obliged to consult a doctor for making an appropriate diagnosis.The pain often radiates in the limbs and shoulders, and in the morning, there is a weakness in the muscles of the hands.At this stage, a concomitant disease can occur - a hernia of the intervertebral disc.In the morning, the patient feels a strong stiffness, which also indicates a deterioration in the mobility of the cervical region.In patients, dizziness and serious weakness are observed.
4. Terminal osteochondosis, fourth stage.At this stage, the destruction of the intervertebral discs is observed.The discs themselves are replaced at the time of the connective tissue.An improved pathological process can already affect other segments of the spine, including the thoracic and lumbar region.In these patients, the quality of life suffers considerably - the coordination of aggravates movements, headaches and dizziness becomes unbearable, noise in the ears also appears, other serious disorders - vascular disorders, problems with the respiratory system.

Syndromes that occur with cervical osteochondosis

The danger of unsolved symptoms lies in additional progression.If the patient continues to ignore pathology, various types of syndromes occur - complexes of symptoms.There are such types:

1. Vertebral or vertebral.
2. Vertebral artery.
3. Cardial or cordial.
4. Rook syndrome.

The combination of these signs often develops in the global image of the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Vertebral syndrome often develops.In the patient, over time, the mobility of the cervical column is disturbed.First, stiffness occurs after awakening.In the future, pathology will be constantly present.In addition, when you try to turn your neck on the side, the pain appears.In the X -ray, some deterioration are also fixed.A characteristic of vertebral syndrome is the presence of all signs above.If there is no sign, it is an exception or an axiom.The complexity of the diagnosis is that vertebral syndrome is often confused with other inflammatory diseases in the cervical region - myositis, injury and stretching.

The vertebral artery syndrome is associated with the pathological arterial process that occurs when compressed.If there is a lack of blood flow due to the partial overlap of the vertebral arteries in the cervical region, the following sign complications occur:

1. Insufficient venous blood circulation manifests itself in such signs - the appearance of noise in the ears, dizzy, pressure jumps, vomiting or nausea.
2. The occurrence of irritation of nerve endings, which manifests itself by migraine or severe headache.Often in a patient can record a feeling of numbness or a temporary vision of vision by an eye.
3. The famine of oxygen due to the pressed arteries.The patient has signs of hypoxia - shortness of breath, heart pain, fainting, dizziness and weakness at the slightest physical stress.

A similar condition is also characteristic of atherosclerosis and oncology.

In addition, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical column are characterized by the development of syndrome by cardiac type.The patient has signs resembling a heart muscle disorder.Many signs may look like a heart attack or coronary disease.During the worsening period, the patient feels a burn and compression in the heart muscle, weakness, shortness of breath, as well as an increase in tachycardia attack.To exclude cardiac syndrome in the context of osteochondrosis, you must echo the heart, ECG.If there is no sign of heart problems, it is a heart syndrome that appeared due to the fact that osteochondrosis of the cervical column continues to progress.

Rookeur syndrome is associated with the main affections - bastards in the spine area and members.The reason is the transfer of nerve endings.During the worsening period, the patient must observe the rest of the bed and use pain relievers.Pathology is treated using neurotropic drugs.The prevention of crises aims to improve blood circulation, to carry out physiotherapy and physiotherapy.Rotor syndrome is dangerous for complications.If even a small nerve is completely tight, it is responsible for immobilization of the limbs and the innervation altered in the fingers, the hands.

Diagnosis of neck osteochondrosis

To determine the pathology, you must contact the therapist.The doctor performs an initial examination, completes the card of the patient's hospital and sends the patient to a close specialist - a traumatologist or a neurologist.Then the doctor examines the patient, establishes a main diagnosis when examined, which must be confirmed using laboratory tests.

What diagnostic methods are recommended to suspect cervical osteochondosis:

1. X -Ray.This is a quick and general option for the initial examination necessary to assess the patient's bone system condition in the remote spine.If the patient has osteochondrosis, the distance in the disturbing area of the spine will be reduced.
2. To discover a certain diagnosis, you can make a magnetic resonance tomography.MRI is the most precise diagnostic method.The device will consider both bone structures and cartilage, soft tissue.You can notice all the disorders - the pinched nerves, the stage of intervertebral hernia and the degree of development of osteochondrosis.
3. Computed tomography.The research method is suitable if there is no suspicion of the presence of an intervertebral hernia.
4. Exploration of ultrasonic duplex.If the patient is suspected of altered venous blood, this type of study is carried out.If there are physical obstacles, this type of diagnosis will help identify them.

Treatment of cervical osteochondosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine aims to eliminate symptoms.There is no radical way that will send the development of pathology.It should be understood that the nature of the disease lies not only in pathological development, but also in natural physiological degenerative destruction.

Treatment of cervical column osteochondrosis with drugs

Pharmacotherapy is the best way to reduce pain during a pain attack.As a rule, drugs are prescribed to treat osteochondrosis as a function of symptoms:

1. NSAIDs or analgesics.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are suitable for stopping a stress headache attack, which are more often observed in women.The appointment of a particular drug depends on the causes of pain.An example - If a woman has a headache due to vascular spasm, pain relievers or antipasmodics are written.If the pain occurs in the neck and is accompanied by inflammation, NSAIDs with a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect are necessary.It is best to clarify the specific trade name of the attending physician.
2. Musorelaxants.These drugs are effective in the treatment of similar diseases associated with the destruction or damage to the fabric of that of bone.These diseases include hernias, projection and rheumatoid pathologies.Recent studies indicate that muscle relaxants have not only a relaxing effect, but also anesthesize effectively.A group of drugs is prescribed for excessive muscular spasticity associated with their overload, which appeared in the context of osteochondrosis.These drugs practically do not affect the activity of the central nervous system, so they can be taken during the day.The course of therapy lasts about 4 weeks.
3. B Vitamins B The injection agents combined with vitamins B1, B6 and B12 in large doses show an analgesic effect if pain syndrome is caused by a pinch of the nerve roots.A long course is required in combination with pain relievers.In the event of exacerbation attacks, it is advisable to observe the rest of the bed in order to unload the pain zone as much as possible.In 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the instructions, injection drugs are used, then for 1 to 2 months, they drink tablets. 
4. Chondroprotectors.These drugs are necessary in the presence of degenerative processes in cartilage.If improved destructive effects have already started, chondroprotectors will not eliminate them.The long -term use of forms of injection of drugs can slow down the regression of the destruction of cartilage, more.The minimum use period is 3 to 4 months.
5. Hypotentine agents.If the patient has periodically pressure towards the increase, use drugs that reduce systolic and diastolic pressure.Medicines are used with care and only as prescribed by a doctor.Tyta blockers or calcium channel blockers are generally prescribed.
6. Sedatives.Seding agents are necessary if, in the context of autonomous disorders, neurological disorders occur.Examples are episodes of anxiety, insomnia or sleep disorders.At the initial stages, plant sedatives are suitable.With more serious disorders, prescription drugs are prescribed.
7. Antihyxing.It is necessary that the patient suffers from a slight heart disorder associated with the lack of air.
8. Calcium and vitamin D3 preparations.To support the bone fortress in the presence of active degenerative processes, it is necessary to take mineral complexes.Calcium is the necessary building material, without it the bones become porous and break.D3 is a vitamin without which normal assimilation of calcium is impossible.In combination, these substances reinforce the bone tissues well.It is also useful to drink other minerals periodically to support the health of the musculoskeletal-silicium system, sulfur, zinc, magnesium and boron.
9. Vitamin-mineral complexes.In addition to specialized additives, it is necessary to take polyvitamins seasonally to maintain the general health of the patient.Take complexes 2 to 3 times a year for 1 to 2 months with breaks.
10. External funds.To put the neck condition in order when you feel stiffness, you can use hot or therapeutic ointments, gels that help improve blood supply.It is precisely in certain ointments to cure a feeling of constant stiffness, but the application of a small amount of external remedy before going to bed will relieve the condition in the morning.

Conservative therapy methods

During the recovery period, when acute pain has calmed down, a person with osteochondosis should support the body using conservative treatment methods:

1. Therapeutic gymnastics.Special exercises with regular execution improve joint mobility, temporarily accelerate blood circulation.The patient feels improved over time.The main rule of the exercise is the regularity and the sequence of actions.If you perform physical education every day, the neck muscles are in tone, which considerably relieves the load of the spine.
2. Massage.The procedure is carried out after an acute period to improve blood circulation and relax the muscles.The contact effect is well combined with the course of muscle relaxants, potentiating the effect of drugs.With the physical exposure of the fingers, the local temperature in the hot-up muscles increases, which improves blood flow.Massage leads to relax the tight sections of the back.
3. Physiotherapy methods.Material treatment aims to improve blood circulation in the damaged area.Using devices and exposure to the current or magnetic field of a low frequency, drugs are administered by the skin.These funds are well absorbed without creating a systemic effect.Examples of magnetotherapy procedures, electrophoresis, laser effect, shock waves therapy.

In an neglected case, when conservative treatment is ineffective, the patient is proposed to conduct surgery.In particular, the radical method of therapy is effective in the presence of hernies or protuberances, when there are concomitant diseases of the spine that exacerbates the situation.The indications of the operation are the loss of sensitivity of the limbs, unbearable pain.