Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic process in the area of the cervical vertebrae and surrounding tissues, which is associated with gradual thinning, drying out of the intervertebral discs and the development of vertebral deformities.All this impairs mobility, causes inflammatory changes in the surrounding tissues, pain and complications.The more current name of the disease is dorsopathy.The term "osteochondrosis" itself does not meet modern criteria, but it is strongly rooted and refers to different processes and causes of pain in different parts of the spine.
Osteochondrosis affects the intervertebral discs, the vertebrae and the surrounding soft tissues.As a result of the degenerative-dystrophic processes taking place against the background of aging and excessive stress, the composition of the gel-like substance of the disc and the dense fibrous tissue surrounding it changes, forming an elastic membrane.The height of the disc gradually decreases, and its shock-absorbing properties deteriorate.
The metabolism within the cell nucleus suffers, microcracks appear, the disc is deformed, protrusions (protrusions) and hernias develop.As the process progresses, the surrounding part of the cartilage and bone tissue of the vertebrae suffers, and osteophytes are formed - bone growths that limit mobility and cause pain.
Changes occur near the spinal cord and its membranes, near the roots of the spinal nerves, which can cause irritation, inflammation of the surrounding tissues, and reflex muscle spasms, which cause the typical manifestations of the disease.Nearby blood vessels, in which blood flow is interrupted, can suffer.
Reasons
Osteochondrosis, which develops predominantly in the area of the cervical spine, can occur against the background of many existing health problems.All of them make the process worse.Leading provocateurs include:
Obesity, overweight;
Inactivity, lack of physical activity;
Mainly sedentary work or prolonged standing;
Bad posture, stooped;
Musculoskeletal problems (flat feet, scoliosis), due to which the load on the spine is unevenly distributed;
Back and neck injuries, congenital malformations of the spine;
Excessive stress on the neck and back;
Tendency to pathology.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The manifestations of the disease are diverse, they are not always recognized immediately, they are confused with other pathologies.The most typical ones include:
Systemic vertigo attacks occur in the form of seizures.
Pain in the back of the head, in the collar area, in the neck.The severity and intensity of the pain depends on the development of the process.In the beginning, it is mild and intermittent, as the pathology develops, it becomes permanent and spreads to the entire head.
When changing position after sitting or lying down for a long time, ringing in the ears and tinnitus can be accompanied by dizziness.
Nausea with vomiting worsens when the head is turned due to circulatory disturbances in certain areas of the brain.
Visual impairment, fog, blurred vision, flashing spots.
Pressure increase, fainting.
Feeling of a lump in the throat, dryness, swallowing problems.
Pain in the shoulder, numbness in the hands.
In addition to these complaints, typical syndromes are also possible, which only appear against the background of damage to the cervical spine.
Vertebral syndrome - mobility disorder of the neck, pain when turning the head, crunching of the vertebrae.
Vertebral artery syndrome with tinnitus, dizziness, pressure changes and drowsiness.
Radicular syndrome numbness and pain in the back of the head, loss of sensitivity of the tongue, hiccups, swallowing problems, pain in the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, numbness of the little finger.
Possible complications and risks
In the neck region, long-term osteochondrosis leads to disturbances in the area of nerve trunks and arteries.This can lead to stroke, thyroid disorders, problems with hand sensitivity, difficulty swallowing, and vision problems.In addition, the mobility of the neck is significantly limited.
Diagnostics
To diagnose the pathology, you need to contact an orthopedist and neurologist.A comprehensive examination helps to establish a diagnosis:
X-ray and CT of the cervical spine, MRI to visualize bone and soft tissue structures.
A duplex scan of the arteries of the neck and head evaluates blood circulation in the brain and neck.
Reflexes, neck mobility and soft tissue condition are assessed.
In addition, ultrasound, EKG, blood pressure monitoring and consultation with an otolaryngologist are necessary to rule out other pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Basically, the doctor treats osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depending on the underlying cause.If, for example, muscle tension or poor posture are the cause of the symptoms, the doctor usually starts with conservative treatment.Examples include neck muscle strengthening exercises, physical therapy and manual therapy, as well as pharmaceutical pain relief.
In some cases, the doctor recommends surgery.This is necessary, for example, in case of a severe disc herniation or an injury to the cervical spine.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is aimed at long-term relief of pain and restoration of body flexibility.This includes muscle-strengthening exercises, massages, and physical measures (eg, application of heat, cold, light, or electrical stimuli).The therapist massages the affected muscles, for example by irradiating them with red light or applying a heat compress.In this way, the tension and blockage of the vertebrae is released, so the mobility of the vertebral joints is no longer restricted.
The physical therapist also selects special therapeutic exercises according to individual needs and health status.He tells you exactly how to do these exercises and, if necessary, corrects the movements that you perform incorrectly.The most important thing here is to learn techniques that help relax the muscles and improve the mobility of the head and neck.Exercises improve blood circulation in the body, relieve tension and strengthen muscles.
If the symptoms appear acutely or if exercise does not help, the doctor also treats osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with medication.If necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.They relieve pain for a while and allow patients to move their head and neck more.
If your symptoms are severe and/or particularly painful, your doctor may also prescribe medicines that relax the muscles (so-called muscle relaxants).
Pain-relieving pharmacy ointments or plasters also relieve the symptoms of cervical syndrome.
In certain cases (for example, in the case of a herniated disc), the doctor uses so-called minimally invasive injection therapy.This method is most often used for pinched nerves.For this, the doctor injects a local anesthetic with a needle directly into the affected area of the spine (infiltration).It soothes irritated nerves, relieves pain and relaxes muscles.Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor will prescribe the treatment 1-10 times.
If conservative treatment is ineffective, the doctor will consider surgery.An example of this is a herniated disc, when a person suffers from very severe pain and symptoms of paralysis appear.Today, surgery is usually performed through microsurgery, i.e. small incisions.The doctor removes the intervertebral disc tissue that is pressing on the nerves and causing symptoms.The procedure is usually short (about 30-60 minutes).The patient is usually under anesthesia during the operation and remains in the hospital for observation for about three days.
Prevention
You have the power to relieve your symptoms and prevent neck tension on your own.The following measures are possible for this:
In many cases, exercise therapy and swimming improve the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Under certain conditions, stress and psychological tension can contribute to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or increase its symptoms.Therefore, try to avoid stressful situations.