Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology that affects the spine, intervertebral discs and ligaments.Literally, Osteo means "bone" and chondrosis means "cartilage".These are.Cervical osteochondrosis is associated with changes in the tissue structures of the spine, in which the intervertebral discs lose their function, and at the same time, the vertebrae themselves are also damaged.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today.According to statistics, osteochondrosis occurs in 40-85% of the population after 35 years, regardless of place of residence.The share of pathologies of the cervical spine is up to 30% of all identified cases.
Most often, the disease develops in the C 5 - C 7 region, because they are the most mobile and important vessels that supply the brain, because they can be involved in the disease process.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis symptoms are different and clinical manifestations depend on which vertebra is affected by the disease.Osteochondrosis of the neck is characterized by sharp pain that limits the patient's movement and "images" associated with a snapping sound when turning the head.Let's consider the pain 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 head;
- 2nd vertebra - pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the crown region;
- 3 vertebrae - neck pain, speech, sensitivity and innervation of the tongue are possible;
- 4 vertebra - Headache when breathing, headache, headache, anxiety decreased, in the shoulders, shoulder blades, heart region, right hypochondrium;
- 5-6 vertebrae - pain in the shoulders, forearms, shoulder blade, thumb;
- 7th vertebra - pain in the shoulder blade, hand, 2-4 fingers, loss of sensitivity in these areas, possible pain.
Symptoms of extensive osteochondrosis affecting several vertebrae may overlap, making an accurate diagnosis difficult.
Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis deserves special attention because it is the main symptom of the disease.It happens suddenly and can be quite powerful.
Headache with cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by dizziness and cannot be relieved by analgesics, because the image is the result of compression of the vessels.Muscle pain with cervical osteochondrosis is not always present, but headache 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:
- headache that worsens when turning or bending over;
- Visual impairment: double vision, reduced acuity, pain and dryness of the eyes, splashing of spots;
- Diseases such as angina pectoris, complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, changes in blood pressure.It is very important to distinguish the diagnosis correctly and in time, because the syndromes associated with angina pectoris and cervical osteochondrosis are treated not only with different drugs, but also with different specialists;
- Short-term hearing impairment - the appearance of noise or ringing in the ears associated with short-term dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
- It is possible to accompany vomiting and disturbances of consciousness.Often, such signs are provoked by a sudden tilt or turn of the head;
- Brain disorders similar to ischemic stroke.Here again the differential 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, the treatment will be carried out by a neurologist.In the case of initial manifestations of the disease, drugs can be prescribed only during the exacerbation period, and the mainstays of therapy during the remission period are physiotherapy, massage, and correction of the patient's regimen.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine consists of several mandatory aspects:
- mode correction.You need to properly organize your night's rest;It is recommended to use orthopedic pillows.
- cargo removal.If you spend the entire working day at an office desk, take a few minutes to stretch your neck and do some eye exercises.
- Drug therapy is taking drugs prescribed by a doctor.Once again, we recommend not to use the recommendations of home-grown doctors.
- physiotherapeutic procedures.For them, you will receive a referral from a neurologist, and detailed therapy will be prescribed by a doctor-physiotherapist.Don't be tempted by the promises of non-professional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible department.If the massage or manual work procedures are unprofessional, the issue can 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 folk recipes do not stand up to criticism.Discuss any method of traditional therapy with your doctor before using it.