Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, leading to their deformity and destruction.Osteochondrosis can develop in one or more spine.Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionIt is especially common and sometimes gives very serious complications.

Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Due to the characteristics of the structure of the cervical spine, the course and symptoms of osteochondrosis in this segment have a number of characteristics.The brief spine consists of small removable vertebrae, which are constantly subjected to considerable and long loads.The peak channel in the cervical region is the narrowest, so that compression of the spinal cord in this segment develops much more often and leads to quite serious lesions.The neck has a large accumulation of nerve endings and blood vessels, including the spinal artery, which provides nutrition of the cerebellum, the elongated brain and the back of the brain.Disruption of blood flow in this artery leads to impaired coordination, dizziness, reduction of vision and hearing, and in severe cases a stroke can develop.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is manifested by several syndromes:

1. Reflex and irritation syndrome

   Burning pain in the cervical and consuming region occurs after sneezing, sudden movements of the head or a long static condition, for example, after sleep or fixed condition and subsequent movement of the head or neck -often complaints of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The pain can radiate to the shoulder or chest.

2. Syndrome of spinal canal (stenosis of the spinal canal)

   This syndrome develops as a result of compression (squeezing) of the spinal cord and its vessels, leading to blood circulation in the affected area and the development of myelopathy - a rare, but the most sturdy complication of osteochondrosis.Vertro -carbon cervical myelopathy is mainly found in middle and elderly as a result of compression of the spinal cord or its vessels with posterior osteophytes, thickened yellow ligament, hernia on intervertebral discs.The disease develops gradually, and in the beginning there are often pain and restriction of movements in the cervical spine.In the future, cervical osteochondrosis can cause impaired function of the upper and/or lower limbs, manifested by tingling, a feeling of tingling in the fingers, a feeling of cotton legs or hands, until the development of paresis and paralysis

3. Rook syndrome

   The manifestations of radicular syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will depend on what the compression of which the nerve root has arisen as a result of structural changes in the disk.However, in any case, cervical osteochondrosis will occur with a headache that has pain, pulsating or burning character, sometimes flowing as hypertension.Back pain is rarely local and is usually given to shoulder blades, forearm, shoulder and/or arm, to the fingers of the brush.

   Depending on the affected spinal segment, the following symptoms may be:

   • C1-C2: The lesion in this segment, as a rule, occurs as a result of car injuries and is manifested by impaired odor and speech, hypotrophy of the face and muscle subjection and reduction of sensitivity in the back area.
   • C2-C3: It is also rarely affected and accompanied by impaired hearing, vision and movement control and sensitivity of the muscles of the tongue, leading to disorders of speech and sensations of taste, the appearance of inflammation, sweating or lump in the throat.
   • C3-C4: As the diaphragmatic nerve withdraws in this segment, in addition to the pain in the clavicle and the shoulder graphic processor, the spam of the belt and the trapezoid muscles, the pain in the proper hypochondrium and the heart also develop and the respiratory movements develop.In addition, nasty, the feeling of congestion of the nose, snoring, reduction of odor, sagging muscles of the face, worsening the condition of the teeth can develop.
   • C4-C5: The lesion in this segment is accompanied by painful sensations in the shoulder shoulder, hypotrophy of the deltoid muscle, reduction of the sensitivity of the outer surface of the shoulder, shoulder and inflammation of the skeletal muscles in this area.Among other symptoms, changes in voice, the feeling of inflammation in the larynx, snoring may occur.
   • C5-C6: The segment is most often susceptible to degenerative dystrophic lesions and has extensive symptoms.First, the pain and the damaged sensitivity to the skin from the shoulder blade, the outer surface of the shoulder to the radial surface of the forearm and the thumb of the arm develops.Subsequently, somatic symptoms develop, including frequent and poorly treated lungs and bronchi, including asthma, rheumatic and allergic manifestations, symptoms of angina.
   • C6-C7: The lesion of the nerve roof in this segment leads to the appearance of pain in the scapula, the posterior surface of the shoulder, along the forearm of the forearm to the back of the arm.In addition, damage to this segment can accompany symptoms corresponding to diseases of the thyroid gland, mediastinal organs and cardiovascular system.
   • C7-T1: The spine lesion of C8 is accompanied by hypertrophy of the three-headed muscle and the deviating small finger, which leads to a weakening of the reflex of flexion and pain with impaired sensitivity of the skin from the neck, shoulders, to the elbow joint and the small finger.In severe cases, the symptoms can develop both in angina, arrhythmia and asthma.

4. Cardin syndrome for cervical osteochondrosis

   Cardin syndrome develops with irritation of nerve roots innervated by the diaphragm (diaphragmatic nerve) or a large pectoral muscle.The symptoms are definitely identical to the attack of angina, but at the same time the attack continues unnaturally long, the pain intensifies with a sharp movement of the head or neck, with a sharp sneezing or cough.The standard coronaritics do not bring relief, and the ECG during the attack does not show a violation of the coronary circulation.At the same time, cardiac syndrome can be accompanied by tachycardia, arrhythmia and high blood pressure.

5. Vail Arttery Syndrome

   This syndrome is one of the most common and dangerous manifestationsosteochondrosis of the cervical regionSpine.This syndrome develops against the background of compression of the spinal arteries and blood circulation in the corresponding areas of the brain (brain, cerebral stem and posterior lobes) that determine the clinical picture.

One of the main manifestations of spinal artery syndrome is a highly throbbing and/or burning headache, permanent or paroxysmal, exciting darkness, super -soon part, whiskey and back of the head.Usually the pain can be one.In the first stages of development, a headache occurs or intensified after a long stay in the uncomfortable position with the head back, after exercise or after sudden movements.With the narrowing of the lumen, the artery of the pain becomes more pronounced and frequent, sometimes constant.In severe cases or in the peak of a headache, vomiting may occur, the fat is not excluded.

Visual disorders with cervical osteochondrosis can occur both separately and against the background of headache and expressed by pain of the eyeball, impaired visual acuity, sensation of veil in front of the eyes, dryness or stove in the eyes.One of the characteristic symptoms of narrowing of the vertebrae is sudden short -term attacks of dizziness or loss of orientation in space.Such attacks appear in a few seconds and pass quickly.A sudden tinnitus or pulsation in the area of the head may occur.Also, damage to the spinal artery can lead to the development of cardiac syndrome.

In severe cases, an attack of an "ischemic attack" manifested by severe headache, vomiting, loss of movement coordination, change in handwriting, shaking of gait, double event, disturbed speech and balance can develop.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The doctor may make the main diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which is already at the first examination of the patient, as well as determine the level of the affected spine, anatomical characteristics, including posture, physics, body structure, line of spicy processes, the lateral contours of the neck;Localization, nature and degree of pain syndrome;The amplitude of the spine, relief and muscle tone.

The diagnosis is determined by visual diagnostic methods (radiographic examinations, CT, MRI), which allows you to determine the stage of the disease, the level of spinal lesions, the exact localization of the deformed disc.And based on these data, the most optimal treatment of cervical osteochondrosis was chosen.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Surgical and conservative methods are used in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.But surgical treatment is prescribed only in the presence of severe complications that occur in the short stages of osteochondrosis if:

• Stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal is formed;
• The pelvic artery is suppressed;
• Significant hernia or convexity is formed, compressing the roots of the nerves;
• Excessive spinal instability developed.

In other cases, the standard of treatmentosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is a conservative therapy.This is due to the fact that in all the achievements of modern medicine, the consequences of surgery are not always expected.

Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The best results in the treatmentosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine, as well as other types of osteochondrosis, are achieved when you see a doctor.Unfortunately, many patients often do not attach the meaning of mild back discomfort or periodic headache.On the other hand, there are many cases of improper diagnosis and long useless treatment asOsteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine can simulate other diseases such as arthritis, myalgia or angina.Therefore, vertebrologists recommend that you check the spine in the presence of symptoms of any disease, especially accompanied by pain in the head or spine.

In the effective treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the integrated approach is of great importance, including the following directions:

• Drug therapy- aimed at improving the trophism of the intervertebral disc and stopping pain, removing muscle spasm and inflammation during exacerbation.For these purposes, non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors are prescribed to stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue of the joint, multivitamins and vitamins from Group B;
• physiotherapy- is prescribed to reduce pain, improve the diet of cartilage tissue of the disc, stimulate the processes of cartilage regeneration, removal of muscle spasm, inflammatory processes in the postoperative period for rapid recovery;
• Manual therapy- Used to eliminate muscle cramps, reduce pain, improve blood and lymph metabolism, posture correction and improve the amplitude of the joints.The manual exposure scheme is selected individually for each patient;
• massage-The long used and established method of treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Has the same effect as manual therapy;

• Medical physical educationThis is one of the most important methods of treating all types of osteochondrosis, including osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The purpose of the exercises is to relieve muscle spasm and compression of the nerve roots, to improve blood flow and lymphatic flow, to strengthen the muscle frame and to increase the flexibility of the ligamentary apparatus.A set of exercises has been selected for each patient, the proper performance of which is monitored by a specialist;
• ReflexologyRefers to an alternative type of treatment, widely used today and produces a very good result in combination with other treatments.The essence of the method is the impact on acupuncture points and/or reflexogenic zones to achieve the same results as other therapeutic methods (reduction of muscle pain and spasm, decompression of spinal cerebral roots, and the improvement of the weight in the vertebrae), to improve sleep, to improve sleepNext.

For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors, B vitamins (B6, B12) and external medicines - ointments, creams, gels that contain NSAIDs, local stimulation and stimulants for tissue regeneration.

In addition to the basic methods of treatment, with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, patients are advised to change their usual lifestyle, since in most cases the disease occurs against the background of low mobility, poor or malnutrition, obesity or, conversely, excessively low weight and bad habits.In most cases, in the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, it is sufficient to lead a healthy lifestyle rather than allow muscle spasms and overload the muscles of the cervical flanking region, to ensure comfort conditions for sleep, to normalize the diet and to complete the recommendations of the physician in the treatment of therapy,Restoration of the first stage.