Cervical osteochondrosis are some dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disks in the neck.
Not only disks themselves, but also the vertebrae, soft and cartilaginous are exposed to negative effects.The most important feature of the cervical region is the fact that its vertebrae do not have the most reliable structure in comparison with other departments, making this area very vulnerable.The vertebrae here are located in the immediate vicinity of each other as well as to the arteries driven by the human brain.
If the vertebrae displacement occurs, the probability of squeezing the nerve rays and arteries is high, which will inevitably go to the occurrence of a hernia between the vertebrae and the projection, ie.changes in the structure of the spinal cord's disk.
What is it?
Osteochondrosis of cervical spine (osteohondroz) is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs that damage the wheels, vertebrae and joints in the cervical region, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral slices.The disease progresses if not treated and can lead to headaches, circulatory disorders and even hernias.Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs due to a violation of mineral metabolism, as a result of the bones and the joint becoming less durable.
Osteochondrosis can cause instability of cervical spine (symptoms and treatment are similar to chondrosis, but have a number of traits), which is often accompanied by a displacement of the vertebrae.In contrast, this speeds up the development of osteocondrosis and destroys the vertebrate.
Phases
The participating physician must determine the degree of development of cervical osteocondrosis, based on a history, as well as the examination of the patient.There are only four degrees:
- The first degree.The disease is in the rudiment itself, the patient has a slight pain in the neck, which can be more intense if a person begins to turn their head.
- The second degree.The patient can complain about very intense pain in the cervical region, which can be located in the upper limbs.The clinical picture shows that at this stage of the development of the disease there is a squeeze of nerve rays, causing intense pain.Headaches, weakness and general discomfort are also noted.
- The third degree.The pain becomes almost incessant, which also gives to the shoulder or arm.In some patients, a hernia of the intervertebral discs is diagnosed, leading to a loss of sensitivity to the upper extremities.When examining a doctor, a noticeable decrease in the mobility of the cervical ridge as well as pain in palpation is observed.
- The fourth degree.At this stage of the disease, the intervertebral disk is almost completely destroyed.Instead, connective tissue appears, leading to a deterioration of the patient's condition.He begins to feel pain, noise in the head as well as poor orientation in the room.This suggests that the artery is squeezed, which disturbs the brain's natural nutrition.
Symptoms of osteocondrosis in cervical spine
Important symptoms of osteocondrosis in cervical spine are dizziness, headaches and blood pressure.
Diagnosis of the disease is difficult, the pain is sometimes not manifested, and the symptoms are erased in nature, in addition, the uncontrolled use of strong painkillers mask the signs of the disease.A patient who does not feel pain is considered healthy and therefore continues until the development of irreversible processes in the tissues of the neck joints.
Headache to cervical osteocondrosis
This is one of the most common non -specific signs of many human diseases.Headaches are especially widespread in the female population.It can be difficult to determine the cause of headaches and especially connect it with lesions in the spine.About 14 different causes of headaches in humans were detected.
The most common causes of headaches in the pathology we described:
- Cerebral spasms;
- Clamp of nerve roots;
- Reflective increase in intracranial pressure.
The headache of cervical osteocondrosis may look like sensations with arterial hypertension, angina pectoris or stroke.In middle and older people, there are usually the risks of developing strokes or heart attacks.
It feels like the pain can be paroxysmal, constant, pulsating and mute.
With the pathologies of the heart, patients complain of unpleasant sensations in the breast area, accompanied by decreased rhythm of cardiac activity.Only a qualified doctor can determine the cause.In case of headache, combined with nausea, dizziness and load pain, an ECG is necessarily performed.
Dizziness to cervical osteocondrosis
This condition does not always indicate clearly osteocondrosis of cervical spine.
Dizziness can be a consequence:
- Inflammation of the middle or inner ear;
- Cerebral spasms;
- Violations of transmission of nerve impulses;
- Problems with the vestibular apparatus;
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
There are no clear criteria for dizziness for osteocondrosis.However, there is systemic and non -systemic dizziness, they have clear differences.
It is recommended to know the differences in systemic and non -systemic dizziness, this will help to independently determine the causes of an unusual state:
- Systemic dizziness is a feeling of circular movement of surrounding objects or body, which is a consequence of a violation of the vestibular apparatus, visual analyzers and receptors in the joints, muscles and epidermis (osteochondrosis of various etiologies);
- Non -playing dizziness is a feeling of censority, a feeling of deafening, an uncertain state in an upright position.With unsystematic dizziness, there is no sense of circular rotation, and this is an important difference between the characters compared.
A person who feels the dizziness of one of the specified types must be examined by an experienced physician, first and foremost a neuropathologist or (if there is suspected ear disease and nasopharynx) otolaryngologist.
The reason for emergencies not associated with osteochondrosis of cervical spine is to detect such functions of the patient (except dizziness) as:
- Paralysis of the facial muscles and the numbness in a part of the shoulder band;
- Strong headaches on the basis of a deterioration in well -being;
- Violations of coordination of movements;
- Loss or extinction of consciousness.
Blood pressure with cervical osteocondrosis
The connection between cervical osteocondrosis with leaps in blood pressure has long been established.The cervical vertebrae have important nerve endings and blood vessels.
Pressure waves are characteristic during the day.Hypertension for a long time is not characteristic of this disease.Reflex irritation of the nerve endings and short cramps of the blood vessels suddenly cause daily dynamics of arterial hypertension.
A characteristic feature of increased pressure in cervical osteocondrosis is a combination with the following symptoms:
- Headache;
- Pain in limbs and chest;
- Decrease in sensitivity in the collar area;
- The occurrence of pressure jumps according to stress, muscle tension, long -term stay in an unpleasant position and other similar situations.
These signs should be taken into account with independent differentiation of hypertension of different genesis.
Sharp jumping of blood pressure and rapid deterioration in well -being is the basis for seeking emergency medical help.
Osteochondrosis syndromes
The clinical image of cervical osteochondrosis is placed in several syndromes.The syndrome are several symptoms that occur together.
Osteochondrosis consists of the following syndromes:
- Vertebral.It is also called vertebrae, indicating that bones and cartilage tissue are involved in the pathological process.This leads to the formation of such symptoms: limitation of motor activity in the neck, tenderness in its swing, radiological changes in the image of the cervical ridge.It is the contemporary appearance of these signs that is a vertebral syndrome.A similar set of clinical signs is observed with myositis (pathology of muscle tissue) and painful movements of many other pathologies.
- Vertebral arteris syndrome.It appears when the vascular beams are involved in the process responsible for the blood supply to the tissue in the central nervous system.The symptoms suggest that brain tissue has ceased to receive a proper amount of nutrients.How do I recognize this syndrome?The first signs are dizziness, a feeling of noise in the ears, the differences in blood pressure, the appearance of a "veil" for the eyes.This suggests that one of the vertebrates is in a suffocated state.Each vessel has its own nerve endings.If you squeeze those who innervate vertebral artery, migraine, numbness, short -term fall in the sight on one side appear.As a result, changes in the vessel lead to the fact that the brain needs oxygen.At this point, a person loses drowsiness, short violations of consciousness, losing attention and control, works worse and remembers information.With such a clinical image, it is necessary to differentiate cervical osteochondrosis with atherosclerosis of the spine and press the tumor or inflammation.
- Cardial Syndrome.It is manifested by burning in the breast area, the appearance of shortness of breath.A person feels his frequent heartbeat, gets tired and irritable.This image is also characteristic of cardiological pathology, for example for angina pectoris, coronary syndrome, heart attack.The exact conclusion of the causes of such symptoms can be made when the patient passes ECG.
- Rook Syndrome.The Cervical Department innervates 8 pairs of nerves, each of which has roots of the nerve exit from the vertebra.When involved in osteocondrosis, the patient feels a decrease in sensitivity or vice versa severe pain.There may be numbness to whether its tenderness, a decrease in the sensitivity of the tongue, the freezing area, pain in the suprakwinking area can be observed.Sometimes there are suffering from swallowing, movements in the belt in the upper limb, numbness in the fingers.
First aid at home with worsening osteochondrosis
With severe pain syndrome, painkillers can be used, such as analin, tempalgin or baralgin.If the above drugs do not bring relief, you can take NSAIDs (Nise or Diclofenac).
Often, "distracting" agents are used, for example, a pepper patch that does not heal but only hears an inflamed area and distracts from pain.In case of edema in the inflammatory zone, the patient may drink infusion of herbs or a diuretic for 3-4 days.Is it possible to cure osteocondrosis with such methods?These measures are only temporary;For the treatment of causes, consult a doctor.
It should be noted which doctor is treating osteochondrosis.If there is a suspicion that the causes of pain in the spine of the cervix are the occurrence of osteocondrosis, contact a neuropathologist.It is this specialist who is engaged in diseases of this kind.In some medical institutions, there are narrow -minded specialists involved in accurate diseases of the spine.If your clinic has a vertebralologist, take the question of how to cure this disease immediately.
How to treat osteocondrosis of the spine of the cervix?
At the initial stage of development, osteocondrosis can be cured without medication, it is enough to revise the diet, the daily regime and regularly perform a complex of special exercises.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is possible only if the use of various drugs that help suspend degenerative changes in the vertebrae.
The complex of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physiotherapy - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.These methods help to tackle pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improve metabolic processes and blood circulation.
Drug treatment
The main methods of treating osteocondrosis in cervical spine are drug treatment, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-viber zone, therapeutic gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis is especially effective.The main groups of medications used for this disease include:
Name | The principle of action |
Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).This is the Voltaren, Nise, Movalis, Ketonal, Ketanov, Diclofenac, Nimesulide and others | Reduce the pain syndrome, help relieve aseptic inflammation and edema at the root of the damaged nerve. |
Medicines that improve the reological properties of blood and blood flow.This is eupfillin, trental. | Improve nutrition of damaged nerve roots and improve blood flow to the brain. |
Vitamins of Group V. are Kombilipen, Unigma, Milgamma, Neurobion. | Improve metabolic processes in nerve tissue. |
Musorelaxants.This is Midocalm, Sirdalud, Tizalud, Tizanidine, etc. | These are medications that relieve muscle spasms. |
Chondroprotectors.This (glucosamine and chondroitin) is Arthra, Theflex, Doppelgerz, Zhabius Stone, Condronov, Structure, Alflutop. | These are medications that restore cartilage tissue, including on the damaged intervertebral disk. |
When accepting the tablets from osteocondrosis, it must be remembered that the significant effect of drug treatment with tablets will only be if combined with other methods, including exercises.It should also be noted that the participating physician must prescribe than treat the disease on the basis of its scene and other signs.