Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral disc 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 damaged nerve innervation areas.
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 depends on the location of the lesion. Often it is felt in the neck collar area, one or both arms.
The disease is characterized by unilateral pain, and any part of the arm can hurt - shoulder, forearm, hand and even fingers. Many patients complain of headaches and dizziness.
The pain syndrome can also be felt in the chest, supraclavicular area or spread to the entire back. For some people, the pain is concentrated at the base of the neck or throat.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by various symptoms and is often accompanied by impaired touch sensitivity, muscle weakness, decreased visual acuity and hearing, rapid heartbeat and panic attacks.
Attention!
Sometimes osteochondrosis is complicated by vertebral artery syndrome, which may require emergency hospitalization of the patient.
The first signs
In the early stages, the manifestations of osteochondrosis are more reminiscent of normal fatigue after a busy day and occur periodically. In the evening, discomfort and pain appear in the neck, heaviness and pain in the head, especially in the occipital region. Possible throbbing 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 less often.
The severity of chondrosis often occurs during menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the female body and the immune system weakens. Certain difficulties arise with diagnosis because the symptoms are similar to many other diseases.
Men react less to small things like a cramp in the neck, and often do not notice suspicious symptoms. Moreover, symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men may not appear for a long time, which is explained by anatomical peculiarities.
Men naturally have more developed and stronger muscles, which create additional support for the spine. The muscular skeleton serves as a kind of shield 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 them may be observed:
- headache with primary localization at 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, less often - speech disorders;
- dizziness that occurs when turning the head. They may be accompanied by vomiting, darkness of the eyes, and impaired coordination of movements;
- eye fatigue from pressure, flashing spots and bright flashes before the eyes, and in some places loss of field of vision. Patients may complain of pain, redness and feeling of sand in the eyeball, inflammation of the conjunctiva;
- continuous or episodic tinnitus, the nature of which varies depending on the position of the neck. There may be mild deafness, ear congestion and a quiet unresponsive voice. In some cases, paracusia is observed - selective audibility of sounds, where a person hears better in the presence of external sounds 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, shortness of breath, spikes in blood pressure, and poor sleep;
- TIA - transient ischemic attack - accompanies mechanical pinching of the vertebral artery and is manifested by double vision, temporary partial blindness with loss of field of vision, dizziness with vomiting, impaired speech and swallowing function;
- Fainting can be caused by a sudden turn of the head or an uncomfortable position. Loss of consciousness lasts for varying periods of time and leaves weakness in the limbs;
- A drop attack is a sudden fall, usually without loss of consciousness, caused by a sudden rush of blood to the brain when the head is thrown back. The immediate cause is paralysis of the legs, but motor function is quickly restored.
Headache and dizziness
Most patients with cervical chondrosis have these symptoms, but they may not be present. The cause of dizziness is associated with compression of the main arteries and blood vessels, which interferes with the transport of oxygen to the nerve tissue of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
Under the influence of mechanical trauma to the vertebral structure and chronic ischemia of nerve fibers, sensitivity increases and irritation of nerve endings occurs, which ultimately causes cervical dizziness.
Dizziness may be accompanied by unsteadiness of movement, increased heart rate, spikes in blood pressure, and increased sweating in the face and shoulder area.
Headache is a frequent companion of cervical chondrosis. It is paroxysmal, the duration of attacks varies from several hours to several days. The intensity of the pain varies, but it appears with enviable regularity.
Headaches are caused by compression of the vertebral arteries due to changes in the position of the vertebrae and discs. Due to the compression of the vessels, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, which leads to pain.
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The cause of pain can also be muscle spasms, typical of osteochondrosis.
Panic attack
Panic attacks are also associated with reduced brain nutrition and cause the following symptoms:
- attacks of fever or chills, increase in body temperature;
- numbness, tingling in the limbs, muscle spasms, impaired motor ability;
- dizziness, loss of coordination, eye darkness;
- pain behind the sternum or in the chest on the left side, rapid pulse, increased blood pressure;
- insomnia, fear of death or mental confusion, confusion;
- shortness of breath, difficulty breathing until shortness of breath, lump in the throat;
- discomfort and pain in the stomach, indigestion, frequent urination.
Sore throat
The throat with osteochondrosis hurts, as a rule, when the 4th cervical vertebra is damaged or displaced. Localization is usually unilateral, as the vertebrae and discs shift to one side.
Due to pinching 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; no foreign objects or tumors in the esophagus and larynx.
It is typical that medicines for tonsillitis or sore throat, rinsing and inhalation have no effect.
The source of pain is in the area between the thyroid cartilage and the jugular cavity. The nature of the pain ranges from mild to debilitating.
Treatment
Complex treatment of cervical osteochondrosis includes several methods - taking medication, doing therapeutic exercises, attending physiotherapy and massage sessions. If desired, you can use folk remedies and make various compresses, prepare infusions and decoctions.
In case of exacerbation of the disease, it is recommended to observe bed rest. Moreover, you should lie on a flat and relatively hard elastic surface - a sagging sofa or feather bed will not work.
Attention!
Severe pain requires immediate medical attention.
To repair the cervical spine, the doctor may prescribe wearing a Shants collar. It supports the neck in an anatomically correct position, eliminating movement and therefore pain.
Medicines are selected taking into account existing symptoms and diagnostic results. If hernias and protrusions are detected, treatment can be done with surgery.
| Drugs | Action |
|---|---|
| Vasodilator and nootropic | Improves brain circulation, dilates blood vessels, relaxes smooth muscles, reduces the frequency of nerve signals |
| Preparations with chondroitin and glucosamine | Restoration of disc cartilage tissue, slows down the degenerative process |
| Relax the muscles | Relieves muscle spasms |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Relieves the inflammatory process, tissue swelling |
| Analgesic | Pain relief |
| Opioids | For severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional means |
| Vitamin complex containing vitamins B, A, C, calcium | Strengthens nerves, muscles and bone tissue, overall healing effect |
| Antidepressants and sedatives | Overcoming stress caused by constant pain |
Treatment at home
It is not recommended to lie at home for too long and follow bed rest, and after the acute symptoms subside, you need to turn to active actions. You should start with easy exercises and gradually move to more intense exercises.
- Exercise 1 – self extension. Stand with your hands down along your body, tilt your head to the right and at the same time reach down with your left hand. Stay in this position and repeat the exercise on the other side.
- Exercise 2 – self massage. Put the towel on your shoulders and, holding the edge, pull it in one direction or another.
- Exercise 3 - turn the head to the left and right, lean to the right and then to the left shoulder.
- Exercise 4 – the same reaction with your hands: when turning or tilting, press on your temples, 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, daily exercise and visiting the swimming pool at least once a week is sufficient. All this allows you to strengthen the corset of the spinal muscles.
Tip #2
Even healthy people need a massage session, it is recommended to do it every year.
Tip #3
It is very important to monitor your weight and avoid weight gain.
Tip #4
When working in a forced position for a long time, you need to rest, change your body position, and warm up.
Tip #5
Eating well means taking enough vitamins and microelements with food.
Tip #6
Try not to lift or carry heavy objects, and if you have to do this, then wear a supportive corset.
Frequently asked questions
When should you see a doctor right away?
The reasons for urgent consultation and even calling an ambulance are:
- persistent arm or leg numbness;
- severe pain that is not relieved by conventional analgesics;
- movement disorders;
- severe headache, dizziness, loss of coordination and other signs of a cerebrovascular accident;
- "jamming" the back in a certain position, sharply limiting movement.
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 disc area is replaced by scar tissue. That is, the segment structure has been damaged, and this process cannot be restored. However, with a little effort on the patient's part, a high quality of life can be achieved.