Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is some dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs in the neck.

Not only the discs themselves, but the vertebrae, soft and cartilage tissue are exposed to negative effects.The main characteristic of the cervical region is the fact that its vertebrae do not have the most reliable structure compared to other departments, which makes this area very vulnerable.The vertebrae here are located in the immediate vicinity of each other, as well as for those arteries that are fed by the human brain.

If the vertebral displacement occurs, then the likelihood of nerve and arteries is tightened, which will inevitably lead to hernia between the vertebrae and the convexity, ie.Changes in the structure of the spinal disc.

What is it?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis) is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs that damage the wheels, vertebrae and joints of the cervical area, reducing the height of the intervertebral discs.The disease progresses if left untreated and can lead to headache, blood disorders and even hernia.Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs due to impaired mineral metabolism, resulting in the bones and joints less durable.

Osteochondrosis can cause instability of the cervical spine (symptoms and treatment are similar to chondrosis but have a number of characteristics), which are often accompanied by the displacement of the vertebrae.In turn, this accelerates the development of osteochondrosis, destroying vertebrates.

Stages

The visiting physician should determine the degree of development of cervical osteochondrosis based on anamnesis as well as the patient's examination.There are only four degrees:

1. The first degree.The disease is in the rudiment itself, the patient has mild neck pain, which can be more intensive if the person starts to turn his head.
2. The second degree.The patient may complain of very intense pain in the cervical region, which can be localized in the upper limbs.The clinical picture shows that at this stage of the development of the disease there is a pinch of nerve rays, which causes intense pain.There are also headaches, weakness and general malaise.
3. The third degree.The pain becomes almost continuous, also gives the shoulder or arm.In some patients, the hernia of the intervertebral discs is diagnosed, leading to a loss of sensitivity of the upper limbs.A study of a doctor observed a noticeable decrease in the mobility of the cervical spine as well as the pain of palpation.
4. Fourth degree.At this stage of the disease, the intervertebral disc is almost completely destroyed.In its place, connective tissue appears, leading to a deterioration in the patient's condition.He begins to experience pain, noise in his head, and poor orientation in space.This suggests that the artery is pressed, which interferes with the natural nutrition of the brain.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Important symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are dizziness, headache and blood pressure.

The diagnosis of the disease is difficult, the pain is sometimes not manifested and the symptoms are wiped in nature, in addition, the uncontrolled use of strong analgesics masks the signs of the disease.A patient who does not experience pain considers himself a healthy one and thus continues until the development of irreversible processes in the tissues of the neck joints.

Headache for cervical osteochondrosis

This is one of the most common nonspecific signs of many human diseases.Headache is especially widespread in the female population.It can be difficult to determine the cause of the headache and especially to associate it with lesions of the spine.About 14 different causes of headache have been found in humans.

The most common causes of headache in the pathology we have described:

1. Cerebral spasms;
2. Pressing of nerve roots;
3. Increasing the reflex of intracranial pressure.

Cervical osteochondrosis headache may resemble sensations of arterial hypertension, angina or stroke.In addition, in average and elderly, there are as a rule the risk of developing strokes or heart attacks.

It is felt that the pain can be paroxysmal, constant, throbbing and dull.

Patologies of the heart complain of unpleasant sensations in the breast area, accompanied by impaired rhythm of heart activity.Only a qualified doctor can determine the cause.In the case of headaches combined with nausea, dizziness and charging pain, the ECG is necessarily done.

Dizziness for cervical osteochondrosis

This condition does not always show clear osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Dizziness may be a consequence:

1. Inflammation in the middle or inner ear;
2. Cerebral spasms;
3. Disorders of nerve impulse transmission;
4. Problems with the vestibular apparatus;
5. Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

There are no clear criteria for dizziness for osteochondrosis.However, there are systemic and unsystem dizzy, they have clear differences.

It is recommended to know the differences in systemic and non -systematic dizziness, this will help to independently determine the causes of an unusual condition:

1. Systemic dizziness is a sense of circular motion of surrounding objects or body, which is a consequence of a violation of the vestibular apparatus, visual analyzers and receptors in the joints, muscles and epidermis (osteochondrosis of various etiologies);
2. The non -icing dizziness is a feeling of censorship, a sense of deafening, an uncertain state in the upright position.With non -systematic dizziness, there is no feeling of circular rotation and this is an important difference between comparisons compared.

A person who feels dizzy for one of the species, should be examined by an experienced doctor, first of all, a neuropathologist or (if there are suspicions of ear diseases and nasopharynx) an otolaryngologist.

The reason for the emergency hospitalization, which is not associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, is to detect such characteristics in the patient (except dizziness) as:

1. Paralysis of the facial muscles and numbness of part of the shoulder girdle;
2. Severe headache against the well in the well;
3. Disorders of movement coordination;
4. Loss or disappearance of consciousness.

Blood pressure with cervical osteochondrosis

The binding of cervical osteochondrosis to blood pressure jumps has long been established.Cervical vertebrae have important nerve endings and blood vessels.

Pressing the pressure is characteristic during the day.Hypertension for a long time is not characteristic of this disease.The reflex irritation of the nerve endings and short -term spasms of the blood vessels cause the daily dynamics of arterial hypertension.

A distinctive feature of increased pressure in cervical osteochondrosis is a combination with the following symptoms:

• Headache;
• Pain in the limbs and chest;
• Reduction of sensitivity in the collar area;
• The appearance of pressure jumps after stress, muscle tension, long -term discharge and other similar situations.

These signs should be taken into account with an independent differentiation of the hypertension of different genesis.

Rare blood pressure jumps and rapid worsening in the well are the basis for the search for emergency medical attention.

Osteochondrosis syndromes

The clinical picture of cervical osteochondrosis is applied in several syndromes.The syndrome is several symptoms that occur together.

Osteochondrosis consists of the following syndromes:

1. Vertebrae.It is also called vertebrae, indicating that bones and cartilage tissue are involved in the pathological process.This leads to the formation of such symptoms: limiting the motor activity of the neck, the soreness of its turns, the radiological changes in the picture of the cervical spine.It is the simultaneous appearance of these signs that is the vertebrae syndrome.A similar set of clinical signs is observed in myositis (pathology of muscle tissue) and painful movements of many other pathologies.
2. Spinal artery syndrome.It occurs when the vascular rays are involved in the process that are responsible for the blood supply to the tissues of the central nervous system.Symptoms suggest that brain tissue has ceased to receive the right amount of nutrients.How to recognize this syndrome?The first signs are dizziness, a sense of tinnitus, differences in blood pressure, the appearance of a "veil" in front of the eyes.This suggests that one of the vertebrates is in a strangled state.Each vessel has its own nerve endings.If you squeeze those who innervate the spinal artery, migraine, numbness, short -term reduction of vision on the one hand appear.As a result, changes in the vessel lead to the fact that the brain needs oxygen.At that time, a person experienced drowsiness, short -term disorders of consciousness, loses attention and control, works worse and remembers information.With such a clinical picture, it is necessary to differentiate osteochondrosis of the cervical cervix with atherosclerosis of the spinal arteries and to squeeze the tumor or inflammation.
3. Carden syndrome.It is manifested by burning in the chest area, the appearance of shortness of breath.One feels his frequent pulse, becomes tired and irritable.This picture is also characteristic of cardiology pathology, such as angina, coronary syndrome, heart attack.The exact conclusion about the causes of such symptoms can be made after the ECG passed.
4. Rook syndrome.The cervical department innervates 8 pairs of nerves, each of which has the roots of the nerve outcome from the vertebrae.When participating in osteochondrosis, the patient experiences a decrease in sensitivity or vice versa severe pain.It is possible to tingle whether its soreness, reducing the sensitivity of the tongue, the freezing area, the pain in the area of the surveillance can be observed.Sometimes there are disorders of swallowing, movements in the belt of the upper limb, numbness of the fingers.

First aid at home with exacerbation of osteochondrosis

In pain syndrome, painkillers such as analine, tempogin or barralgin can be used.If the above medicines do not bring relief, you can take NSAPs (NISE or DICLOFENAC).

Often, "distracting" agents, for example, an ash patch that does not cure but hear only an inflamed area and is distracted by pain.In the case of swelling in the area of inflammation, the patient may drink an infusion of herbs or diuretic for 3-4 days.Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis with similar methods?These measures are only temporary;You should consult a doctor to treat the causes.

It should be noted which doctor treats osteochondrosis.If there is a suspicion that the causes of pain in the cervical spine is the appearance of osteochondrosis, you should consult a neuropathologist.It is this specialist who is engaged in this type of disease.In some medical institutions there are narrow specialists involved in accurate diseases of the spine.If your clinic has a vertebologist, you should consult the question of how to cure this disease immediately to it.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?

In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis can be cured without medication, it is sufficient to review the diet, the daily regimen and to regularly perform a complex of special exercises.With advanced forms of the disease, effective treatment is only possible if the use of various medicines that help stop degenerative changes in the vertebrae.

The complex of therapeutic measures necessarily includes physiotherapy - electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.These methods help to deal with pain, inflammation, tissue swelling, improvement of metabolic processes and blood circulation.

Medication

The main methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are drug treatment, physiotherapy, massage of cervical-vibration, therapeutic gymnastics for osteochondrosis of the cervix are particularly effective.The main groups of medicines used for this disease include:

Name	The principle of action
Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).This is Voltaren, Nise, Movalis, Ketonal, Ketanov, Diclofenac, Nimesulide and others	Reduction of pain syndrome, help relieve aseptic inflammation and root of the root of the damaged nerve.
Medicines that improve the rheological properties of the blood and blood flow.This is eufilin, Trental.	Improve the nutrition of damaged nerve roots and improve blood flow to the brain.
Group V vitamins are Kombilipen, Unigma, Milgamma, Neurobion.	Improvement of metabolic processes in nerve tissue.
Mussorelaxants.This is Midokalm, Sirdalud, Tizalud, Tizanidine and more.	These are medicines that relieve muscle spasm.
Chondroprotectors.This (glucosamine and chondroitin) is artra, teflex, doppelgerz, stone frogs, condon, structure, alflow.	These are medicines that restore cartilage tissue, including in the damaged intervertebral discs.

When taking osteochondrosis tablets, it should be remembered that the significant effect of tablet medicines will only be if combined with other methods, including exercises.It should also be noted that the attending physician should prescribe rather than treat the disease based on his stage and other signs.