Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral discs located between the first 7 vertebrae. Vertebrae 1-7 belong to the cervical spine.
Pathological changes against the background of osteochondrosis lead to deformation of the vertebrae, which ultimately disrupts their blood supply, nerve conduction in the neck and areas of innervation of damaged nerves.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be an independent disease or combined with osteochondrosis of other parts: thoracic and lumbar.
Main symptoms
The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain, the localization and nature of which depend on the location of the lesion. Most often it is felt in the neck area, on one or both arms.
This disease is characterized by unilateral pain and can hurt any part of the arm: the shoulder, forearm, hand and even fingers. Many patients complain of headaches and dizziness.
The pain syndrome can also be felt in the chest, supraclavicular region, or spread throughout the back. For some, the pain is concentrated at the base of the neck or throat.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by a variety of symptoms and is often accompanied by a disorder of tactile sensitivity, muscle weakness, decreased visual and auditory acuity, tachycardia and panic attacks.
Attention!
Sometimes osteochondrosis is complicated by vertebral artery syndrome, which may require urgent hospitalization of the patient.
First signs
In the early stages, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are more reminiscent of normal fatigue after a busy day and occur periodically. At night, aches and pains appear in the neck, heaviness and pain in the head, mainly in the occipital region. Possible crunching and creaking when turning the head.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men and are often accompanied by an unstable psycho-emotional state. In addition, men suffer from this disease much less often.
Exacerbation of chondrosis often occurs during menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the female body and the immune system weakens. Certain difficulties arise with diagnosis due to signs similar to those of many other diseases.
Males react less to little things like a crack in the neck and often simply do not notice suspicious symptoms. In addition, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men may not appear for a long time, which is explained by the peculiarities of the anatomy.
Men naturally have more developed and stronger muscles, which creates additional support for the spine. The muscular structure serves as a kind of armor that protects the vertebrae and prevents their deformation.
Vertebral artery syndrome (VAS)
The clinical picture of SPA is usually represented by several symptoms, but only one of the possible ones can be observed:
- headache with predominant localization in the back of the head and at the base of the skull - basilar migraine, accompanied by classic symptoms: loss of coordination, nausea leading to vomiting, tinnitus and, less often, speech disturbance;
- Dizziness that occurs when turning the head. They may be accompanied by vomiting, darkening of the eyes and impaired coordination of movements;
- eye fatigue due to stress, flickering of spots and bright flashes before the eyes and, in some places, loss of visual field. Patients may complain of pain, redness and a feeling of sand in the eyeballs, inflammation of the conjunctiva;
- Constant or episodic tinnitus, the nature of which varies depending on the position of the neck. There may be mild deafness, ear congestion, and unresponsiveness of a calm voice. In some cases, paracusis was observed - selective audibility of sounds, in which a person hears better in the presence of extraneous noises than in complete silence;
- Vegetative symptoms always occur when osteochondrosis worsens and are most often combined with other symptoms. These may include hot flashes or chills, increased sweating, cold feet and hands, feeling short of breath, sudden increases in blood pressure, and lack of sleep;
- TIA (transient ischemic attacks) accompany mechanical pinching of the vertebral artery and are manifested by double vision, temporary partial blindness with loss of visual fields, dizziness with vomiting, speech and swallowing function disorders;
- Fainting can be the result of sudden turns of the head or an uncomfortable position. Loss of consciousness lasts for variable periods of time and leaves weakness in the extremities;
- Drop attacks are sudden falls, usually without loss of consciousness, caused by a sudden flow of blood to the brain when the head is thrown back. The immediate cause is paralysis of the legs, but motor function is restored fairly quickly.
Headaches and dizziness.
Most patients with cervical chondrosis have this symptom, but it may be absent. The cause of dizziness is associated with compression of the main arteries and blood vessels, which disrupts the transport of oxygen to the nervous tissue of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
Under the influence of mechanical trauma to the spinal structures and chronic ischemia of nerve fibers, sensitivity increases and irritation of the nerve endings occurs, which ultimately causes cervical dizziness.
Dizziness may be accompanied by uncertainty in movements, increased heart rate, sudden increases in blood pressure, and increased sweating of the face and shoulders.
Headache is a frequent accompaniment to cervical chondrosis. It is paroxysmal in nature, the duration of the attack varies from several hours to several days. The intensity of the pain varies, but it appears with enviable regularity.
Headache is caused by compression of the vertebral artery due to changes in the position of the vertebrae and discs. Due to compression of the vessel, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, which causes pain.
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The cause of pain can also be muscle spasm, typical for osteochondrosis.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are also associated with reduced brain nutrition and cause the following symptoms:
- attacks of fever or chills, increased body temperature;
- numbness, tingling in the extremities, muscle cramps, impaired motor ability;
- dizziness, loss of coordination, darkening of the eyes;
- pain behind the breastbone or in the left chest, rapid pulse, increased blood pressure;
- insomnia, fear of death or mental confusion, confusion;
- difficulty breathing, difficulty breathing up to suffocation, lump in the throat;
- discomfort and pain in the abdomen, indigestion, frequent urination.
Sore throat
The throat with osteochondrosis hurts, as a rule, when the fourth cervical vertebra is damaged or displaced. The location is usually unilateral, since the vertebrae and discs move to one side.
Due to pinching of the roots, spasms and tension of the pharyngeal muscles occur, accompanied by pain. The throat feels heavy and full, and it becomes difficult to breathe. However, there are no mechanical obstacles to breathing and swallowing freely, there are no foreign objects or tumors in the esophagus and larynx.
It is typical for tonsillitis or sore throat medications, rinsing, and inhalation to have no effect.
The source of the pain is located in the area between the thyroid cartilage and the jugular cavity. The nature of the pain varies from mild to debilitating.
Treatment
The complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes several methods: taking medications, performing therapeutic exercises, attending physiotherapy sessions and massages. If you wish, you can use folk remedies and make various compresses, prepare infusions and decoctions.
In case of exacerbation of the disease, bed rest is recommended. Additionally, you should lie down on a flat, fairly hard, elastic surface; a sagging couch or feather bed won't work.
Attention!
Severe pain requires immediate medical attention.
To repair the cervical spine, the doctor may prescribe the use of a Shants collar. It keeps the neck in an anatomically correct position, eliminating movement and therefore pain.
Medicines are selected taking into account the existing symptoms and the results of the diagnosis. If hernias and protuberances are detected, treatment may be surgical.
| Drugs | Action |
|---|---|
| Vasodilators and nootropics. | Improves cerebral circulation, dilates blood vessels, relaxes smooth muscles, reduces the frequency of nerve signals. |
| Preparations with chondroitin and glucosamine. | Restoration of the cartilaginous tissue of the discs, slowing down degenerative processes. |
| Muscle relaxants | Relieve muscle spasms |
| Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Relief of the inflammatory process, tissue swelling. |
| Analgesics | Elimination of pain |
| Opioids | For severe pain that cannot be relieved with conventional means. |
| Vitamin complexes containing vitamins B, A, C, calcium. | Strengthening nervous, muscle and bone tissue, general healing effect. |
| Antidepressants and sedatives. | How to deal with stress caused by constant pain |
Home treatment
It is not recommended to stay at home for a long time and observe bed rest, and after the acute symptoms disappear, you should proceed to active actions. You should start with simple exercises and gradually move on to more intense ones.
- Exercise 1 – self-extension. Standing with your arms down along your body, tilt your head to the right and at the same time lower your left hand. Stay in this position and repeat the exercise on the other side.
- Exercise 2 – self-massage. Place the towel over your shoulders and, holding its edges, pull them in one direction or another.
- Exercise 3: Turn your head to the left and right, tilting it to the right and then to the left shoulder.
- Exercise 4: The same goes for the counterattack with the hand: when turning or leaning, press on the temple, creating additional resistance.
Tips to prevent osteochondrosis
Tip #1
Physical education is the main way to combat the aging of the body and the development of intervertebral disc dystrophy. Usually it is enough to exercise daily and visit the pool at least once a week. All this allows us to strengthen the muscular corset of the spine.
Tip #2
Even a healthy person needs massage sessions, it is recommended to do them annually.
Tip #3
It is very important to control your weight and avoid gaining extra kilos.
Tip #4
When working in a forced position for a long time, it is necessary to take breaks, change body position and warm up.
Tip #5
Eating well means consuming enough vitamins and microelements with food.
Tip #6
Try not to lift or carry heavy objects, and if you have to, wear a corset for support.
Frequently asked questions
When do you need to see a doctor urgently?
The reasons for immediate consultation and even for calling an ambulance are:
- persistent numbness in arms or legs;
- severe pain that is not relieved by conventional pain relievers;
- movement disorder;
- severe headache, dizziness, loss of coordination and other signs of stroke;
- The back "stuck" in a certain position, which drastically limits movements.
Is it possible to cure chondrosis forever?
No, this is a chronic disease with periodic exacerbations. Even after treatment and following all the doctor's recommendations, the cartilage in the affected area of the disc is replaced by scar tissue. That is, the structure of the segment has already been damaged and this process is irreversible. However, with some effort on the part of the patient, a high quality of life can be achieved.