Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the neck is a degenerative disease that literally causes “premature aging” and “wear and tear” of intervertebral discs, joints and vertebrae in the cervical spine.

Some facts about the disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs about equally often in men and women.
• People between the ages of 30 and 60 are most commonly affected.
• As a rule, the pathology occurs in people who have to constantly stay in one position at work 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 - the carotid arteries, which supply the brain with blood, run through them to the right and left.
• The first part of the spinal cord runs through the neck region - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body and provide movement and sensitivity.When the spinal cord is compressed in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spine has great mobility, which predisposes to the development of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar region - this not only has high mobility, but also experiences the greatest load).
• In the neck area, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramina and form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses.They are responsible for movements of the neck, arm and shoulder girdle muscles, skin sensitivity and the regulation of autonomic functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a solid front part - a body - it is a ring of bone that fits on the tooth - a bone outgrowth on the second vertebra.This makes it possible to turn your head to the side.

Neck pain, headaches, feeling weak, numbness in the hands are symptoms that should see a neurologist.An examination by a specialist and examination using modern equipment will help you understand the causes of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

What happens to the vertebrae with cervical osteochondrosis?

The obscure medical term “degenerative process” refers to the following pathological changes in the cervical spine:

• Damage caused by osteochondrosis initially affects the intervertebral discs.They become thinner, reducing the distance between adjacent vertebrae.Small cracks and microcracks form in their external parts.Over time, this can lead to a herniated disc.
• Damaged intervertebral discs disrupt the stability of the vertebral connection.
• The intervertebral joints also suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - spondyloarthrosis develops.It also contributes to nerve root compression.
• The pathological process extends to the vertebrae themselves. Because the functions of the intervertebral discs are disturbed, the load on them increases.The spine tries to compensate for this injury and bone growths appear - osteophytes.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

With an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra, the load on the intervertebral discs is relieved by tension (the patient is placed on a bed with a raised headboard and the head is fixed with a special loop).For the same reason you need to wear a Shants collar.Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed to relieve pain.If the pain is severe and does not go away, the doctor can perform a blockade: he injects an anesthetic solution into the area of the affected nerve roots.Physiotherapy is used: ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis with novocaine.

When the exacerbation subsides, treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes massage, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

One of the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is neck pain.Many people who experience this symptom do not go to the doctor, preferring to treat “chondrosis” using home methods.There are at least two good reasons to refuse self-medication and see a specialist.

First, although painkillers and traditional methods temporarily relieve pain, they do not solve the main problem.Pathological changes in the spine continue to increase.Over time, this can have more serious consequences.To the point where 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 right treatment.

What symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should prompt you to see a doctor?

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain.It can occur in different places, depending on what level the pathological process is localized: in the neck, in the shoulder girdle, in the arm, in the heart area.The pain is dull in nature and may be burning or aching.

Other manifestations of the disease:

• Headache, dizziness, spots in front of the eyes, noise, ringing in the ears.
• Weakness of the neck, shoulder girdle and arm muscles.
• Impaired skin sensitivity.
• Humeral periarthritis: aching pain in the neck spreading to the arm, difficulty in abducting the arm beyond 90°, weakness and atrophy of the shoulder girdle muscles.
• 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 compress the nerves, causing a reflex spasm of the vertebral artery, which is involved in the blood supply to the brain.Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include constant headaches that begin at the back of the head and spread to the temple and crown of the head, nausea, noise in the head, ringing in the ears, and flickering bright spots in front of the eyes.
• Anterior scalene syndrome.On the neck are the anterior and middle scalene muscles - they are close to each other and between them there is a small space in which nerves and blood vessels pass.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the anterior scalene muscle tenses and compresses it, causing symptoms such as pain in the inner surface of the forearm, shoulder and fingers.Sometimes the pain radiates to the back of the head.The skin of the hand may become cold and pale, and numbness may occur.
• Epicondylitis syndrome.In the lower part of the shoulder, on the sides of the elbow joint, there are bony protrusions - epicondyles.With epicondylitis syndrome caused by cervical osteochondrosis, pain occurs in them, which increases when pressed.In addition, other symptoms appear: neck pain, pain when pressing certain points of the cervical vertebrae.

When two parts of the spine are affected at the same time, pain between the shoulder blades in the area of the heart can occur in cervicothoracic osteochondrosis.

With osteochondrosis, the risk of intervertebral hernias and strokes increases.If you experience the symptoms listed above, contact your doctor.

It is better not to self-medicate.Even if you have proven methods that usually help manage pain, that doesn't mean you're doing everything right.

Pain can be caused not only by osteochondrosis, but also by intervertebral hernias, muscle diseases (myofascial pain syndrome) and can be a symptom of other diseases.To properly treat a disease, you need to understand its causes and carry out differential diagnosis.This is only possible in a clinical setting.

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

Cervical osteochondrosis is caused by damage to the intervertebral discs.Their chemical composition is disturbed, they first swell, then shrink in size, cracks and cracks appear in their outer part and they become denser.Then the degenerative process spreads to the vertebrae and intervertebral joints.By reducing the height of the intervertebral disc, the load on the vertebrae increases and bone growths form on them - osteophytes.

What causes lead to the appearance of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

There is no consensus about the causes of cervical osteochondrosis.It is assumed that the disease is caused by different diseases, and there are different points of view:

• Age-related changes in the spine.However, almost all people over 40 have skeletal changes, but not everyone develops osteochondrosis.
• Neck injuries.The causes of the disease often include previous trauma: neck bruise, compression fracture, vertebral subluxation.Chronic injuries can be significant, for example, during intensive training in athletes, constant work in an awkward position, stooping, and repeated whiplash injuries in drivers.
• Congenital vertebral anomalies: cervical ribs, fusion of adjacent vertebrae, fusion of the first vertebra with the occipital bone, etc.
• Profession.More often, the disease affects people who work in a monotonous position and constantly perform the same movements.
• Poor blood supply to the spine, venous insufficiency, swelling in the area of the nerve roots.
• Autoimmune diseases.Diseases in which the immune system does not function properly and attacks the body's connective tissue and ligaments.

Visit a neurologist.An experienced specialist will understand the cause of your health problems and prescribe the correct treatment.

Causes of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis occurs in the form of alternating exacerbations and periods of improvement, when the symptoms no longer bother for a while.A further exacerbation can be triggered by the following reasons:

• Awkward, sudden movement of the neck.
• Staying in a monotonous, uncomfortable position for a long time.For example, neck pain may occur after long periods of work at the computer or after sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow.
• Stress, nervous tension.Chronic stress causes spasms in the neck muscles, which can lead to further aggravation.
• Various diseases, exacerbations of chronic diseases.
• Hypothermia.For this reason, many people experience exacerbations in the fall.
• Incorrect self-medication by illiterate people.For example, massage and therapeutic exercises are useful during remission, but are contraindicated during an exacerbation.

Which diseases can have similar manifestations?

Very often, the manifestations of “osteochondrosis” are actually associated with a completely different disease.For example, the cause may be hidden in the muscles - a condition called myofascial pain syndrome.Pain arises from constant tension of the same muscles.

Sometimes dizziness associated with otolithiasis, a condition in which calcium salt crystals accumulate in the inner ear, is considered a manifestation of “cervical osteochondrosis.”

Pain and crunch in the neck, headaches - when these symptoms appear, many people “diagnose” osteochondrosis.Everything is clear - if it hurts, you need to take painkillers or get an injection, apply heat and everything will go away.Why go to the doctor when you can do it yourself?

However, self-medication often does not lead to anything good.Painful attacks can become more frequent, more severe, and longer lasting over time.Anyone who takes painkillers uncontrollably almost every day can develop stomach or kidney problems.After all, every medication has side effects.

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

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

At your first appointment, the neurologist will ask you a few questions:

• Since when have you had headaches or neck pain?
• Where does the pain occur?What is their nature: stabbing, pain, shooting, pulling?
• When does pain usually occur?What triggers it?What makes you feel better?
• Have you already seen a doctor?Have you been examined and treated?Which?How long ago?
• What other symptoms bother you?
• What other chronic illnesses do you have?
• Have you recently had a neck injury?

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

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

What diagnostic methods are used for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

Examination for cervical osteochondrosis usually includes the following diagnostic methods:

• X-ray of the cervical spine.
• Depending on the indication, X-ray contrast examinations are prescribed: myelography (injection of contrast medium into the space surrounding the spinal cord), discography (injection of contrast medium into the intervertebral disc), angiography (injection of contrast medium into the vessels).
• Computed tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.
• If you have severe neurological disorders, you may be prescribed an electroneuromyography, a test that determines the passage of electrical impulses in the nerves and muscles.

The manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis often 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.