Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative dystrophic pathology that affects the vertebrae, cartilaginous discs and ligaments.If we decipher the term literally, osteo means “bone”, chondrosis means “cartilage”.Those ones.cervical osteochondrosis is associated with changes in the tissue structures of the spine, in which the intervertebral discs lose their functionality and at the same time the nutrition of the vertebral bodies themselves is disturbed.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today, is a fairly common disease.According to statistics, after 35 years, osteochondrosis is found in 40–85% of the population, regardless of the standard of living and country of residence.The share of cervical spine pathologies reaches 30% of all identified cases.
Most often, the disease develops in the C 5 – C 7 region, since these are the most mobile and important vessels that irrigate the brain and may be involved in the disease process.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are varied and the clinical manifestations depend on which vertebra is affected by the disease.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sudden “shots”, in which the patient feels sharp pain that limits movement and a crunching sound when turning the head.Let's consider the painful symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depending on the location of the vertebral lesions:
- 1st vertebra - pain and numbness in the back of the neck;
- 2nd vertebra - pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the crown area;
- 3 vertebrae - pain in the neck, possible violation of speech, sensitivity and innervation of the tongue;
- 4 vertebrae - decreased muscle tone in the neck, headache, discomfort when breathing, pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, in the heart region, right hypochondrium;
- 5-6 vertebrae - pain in the shoulders, forearms, shoulder blades, thumb;
- 7th vertebra - pain in the shoulder blade, hand, 2-4 fingers, possible loss of sensitivity in these areas.
In extensive osteochondrosis that affects several vertebrae, symptoms may overlap, making an accurate diagnosis difficult.
Dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis deserves special attention, as it is the main symptom of the disease.It occurs suddenly and can be quite strong.
Headache in cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by dizziness and cannot be relieved with analgesics, as it is a consequence of compression of the vertebral arteries.Muscle pain in cervical osteochondrosis is not always present, but headaches can be a constant symptom.
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis occurs against the background of compression of the vertebral arteries and includes many manifestations:
- debilitating headache that worsens when turning or tilting the head;
- visual impairment: double vision, decreased clarity, sensation of pain and dryness in the eyes, flickering spots;
- diseases such as angina pectoris, complain of chest pain, shortness of breath, changes in blood pressure.It is very important to correctly and timely differentiate the diagnosis, since angina pectoris and syndromes associated with cervical osteochondrosis are treated not only with different medications, but also with different specialists;
- short-term hearing impairment - sudden appearance of noise or ringing in the ears, associated with short-term dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
- Concomitant vomiting and disturbances of consciousness are possible.Most of the time, these signs are caused by sudden tilts or turns of the head;
- brain disorders similar to ischemic stroke.Here again, timely differentiated diagnosis is very important.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine begins only after a detailed medical examination.Diagnosis is made using x-rays of the neck, as well as modern methods - computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.If the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is confirmed, treatment will be carried out by a neurologist.In the initial manifestations of the disease, medications can be prescribed only during the period of exacerbation, and the basic principles of therapy during the period of remission are physiotherapy, massage and correction of the patient's regimen.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes several mandatory aspects:
- mode correction.You must properly organize your night's rest;it is advisable to use orthopedic pillows.
- exclusion of loads.If you spend your entire work day at an office desk, take a few minutes every 2 hours to stretch your neck and also do eye exercises.
- drug therapy, taking medications prescribed by the doctor.Once again, we strongly recommend not following the advice of local doctors.
- physiotherapeutic procedures.You will receive a referral from a neurologist and detailed therapy will be prescribed by a physiotherapist.Don't be tempted by the promises of unprofessional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible department.If massages or manual procedures are performed by a non-professional, the matter may end in complications.
A lot of literature has been written about how to treat osteochondrosis in the cervical spine using traditional methods.Be careful, other popular recipes don't stand up to criticism.Discuss any traditional therapy method with your doctor before using it.