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.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 disrupted.
Cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today, is a fairly common disease.According to statistics, after 35 years, osteochondrosis affects 40-85% of the population, regardless of standard of living and country of residence.The share of pathologies of the cervical spine can reach 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 supply the brain and can be involved in the pathological process.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are varied and the clinical manifestations depend on the vertebra affected by the disease.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sudden "knocks", during which the patient feels sharp pain that limits movement, and a crunching sound when turning his head.Let's consider the painful symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depending on the location of spinal lesions:
- 1st vertebra - pain and numbness in the back of the head;
- 2nd vertebra - pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the crown;
- 3 vertebrae - neck pain, possible speech disturbances, sensitivity and innervation of the tongue;
- 4 vertebrae - decreased muscle tone of the neck, headaches, difficulty breathing, pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, in the region of the heart, in the right hypochondrium;
- 5-6 vertebrae - pain in the shoulders, forearms, shoulder blade, thumb;
- 7th vertebra - pain in the shoulder blade, hand, 2-4 fingers, possible loss of sensitivity in these areas.
In cases of extensive osteochondrosis affecting multiple vertebrae, symptoms may overlap, making an accurate diagnosis difficult.
Dizziness associated with cervical osteochondrosis deserves special attention, as it is the main symptom of the disease.It comes on suddenly and can be quite strong.
Headaches accompanied by cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by dizziness and cannot be relieved by painkillers, since they are a consequence of compression of the vertebral arteries.Muscle pain associated with 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 is worse when turning or tilting the head;
- visual impairment: double vision, decreased sharpness, feeling of pain and dryness of the eyes, flickering spots;
- Conditions such as angina complain of chest pain, shortness of breath and changes in blood pressure.It is very important to correctly and quickly differentiate the diagnosis, because angina and syndromes associated with cervical osteochondrosis are treated not only with different drugs, but also by different specialists;
- short-term hearing loss - sudden onset of noise or ringing in the ears, associated with short-term dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
- Vomiting and accompanying disturbances of consciousness are possible.Most often, these signs are caused by a sudden bending or turning 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 carried out using X-rays of the neck, as well as modern methods - CT or MRI of the spine.If the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is confirmed, treatment will be carried out by a neurologist.In case of initial manifestations of the disease, drugs can be prescribed only during the period of exacerbation, and the bases of treatment during the period of remission are physiotherapy, massage and correction of the patient's diet.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes several obligatory aspects:
- fashion correction.You must organize your night's rest well;it is advisable to use orthopedic pillows.
- exclusion of charges.If you spend your entire working day at the office, take a few minutes every 2 hours to stretch your neck and do some eye exercises as well.
- drug therapy, taking medications prescribed by the doctor.Again, we strongly advise against seeking advice from local doctors.
- physiotherapeutic procedures.You will receive a referral from a neurologist and detailed treatment will be prescribed by a doctor-physiotherapist.Don't be tempted by the promises of unprofessional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible department.If the massage or manual procedures are performed by a non-professional, the matter may lead to complications.
Many works have been written on how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine using folk methods.Be careful, other folk recipes do not stand up to criticism.Discuss any traditional therapy method with your doctor before using it.