Osteochondrosis is an outdated term that is often used in some countries to refer to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, facet joints and the vertebral bodies themselves. In the cervical spine, these changes are common due to its mobility and cause neck pain in both men and women. Sometimes the degenerative disease is complicated by an intervertebral hernia that compresses the root of the spine, which can lead to muscle weakness and numbness of the skin of the upper extremities. In the article we will talk about the symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Cause of pain
The cervical spine is very mobile. It consists of seven vertebrae, intervertebral discs located between them, as well as ligaments. In osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become thinner and deformed, their elasticity and shock absorption decrease. Gradually, the inner part of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, erupts through microdamages in the outer part, the annulus fibrosus. This creates intervertebral protrusions and hernias that irritate the pain receptors of the ligaments along the back surface of the spinal column, causing pain. When the spinal roots are compressed, the pain can spread to the upper extremities and neurological symptoms can occur: reduced sensitivity of the skin of the hand, weakness of the muscles in it, etc. Bone growths - osteophytes - appear as a protective reaction to any injuries and damage. - they can appear along the edges of the body and on the arches of the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine usually occurs as a result of the aging process, but some risk factors aggravate and accelerate the course of degenerative spine disease. Among them:
- Genetic predisposition.The presence of osteochondrosis in close relatives, especially at a young age, increases the risk of its early onset and complications.
- Physical inactivity.A sedentary lifestyle disrupts the nutrition of the intervertebral discs. They have no blood vessels and receive nutrients by diffusion from the vertebral bodies. These processes take place actively during physical activity.
- An injury.Spinal injuries accelerate the development of degenerative changes in the spine.
- Uneven load on the spine.Possible situations: improper exercise, poor posture, excessive load on one side of the body or one limb, prolonged posture with the head tilted, for example, when reading on the phone.
- Metabolic disorders.The condition of the vertebrae is affected by the presence of endocrine diseases, especially diabetes, which makes tissue nutrition difficult.
Symptoms
The dominant symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is pain. Its localization depends on the nature of the lesion. When irritated by a bulging disc or osteophytes of a sensitive ligament, pain is felt in the neck and is associated with a reflex muscle spasm. If the hernia compresses the spinal nerve, the pain may radiate into the arm.
Most often, the pain occurs in the neck and back of the head, and it occurs or is aggravated by sudden head movements, long-term static tension or an uncomfortable position, for example, after sleeping.
Other signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Limited mobility of the neck, pain when turning the head.
- Neck muscle spasm.
- Decreased tone and muscle strength of the upper extremities, which is typical for spinal root compression herniation.
- Disorder of sensitivity of the skin of the upper extremities.
- When the hernia of the vertebral artery is compressed, symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency appear, which develop sharply when turning or tilting the head: dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, fainting, short-term memory impairment, instability when walking, impaired vision, hearing and speech, severe muscle weakness inlimbs.
Diagnostics
With pain and discomfort in the neck area, the patient is recommended to consult a neurologist or vertebrologist. Sometimes it is necessary to consult with other specialists: an orthopedic traumatologist if there is an anamnesis of injuries.
A neurologist performs an examination and clarifies complaints and medical history. Cervical osteochondrosis can manifest itself as dozens of diseases, so an additional examination is often required to determine the cause of the pain and establish a clinical diagnosis.
A diagnostic plan for neck pain may include the following examination methods:
- Laboratory tests (general blood count, biochemical blood test, urine test, others - according to indications).
- X-ray of the cervical spine to detect fractures and other injuries.
- CT scanner of the cervical spine to identify injuries, cancers and other changes in the vertebrae.
- MRI of the cervical spine to assess the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, visualization of protrusions and hernias.
- Electroneuromyography to determine the conduction of impulses along the spinal roots.
During the differential diagnosis, other examinations are prescribed at the discretion of the specialist.
When is treatment possible without surgery?
For osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, conservative treatment is carried out if there are no progressive neurological manifestations: muscle weakness and numbness in the limbs. They occur when the spinal roots, arteries and spinal cord are compressed.
After the examination and receiving the results of the examination, the neurologist determines the method of treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck. Most patients receive effective conservative therapy with stable long-term remission. Modern techniques are also effectively used to prevent the progression of osteochondrosis and its manifestations.
Conservative methods of treatment
In cervical osteochondrosis, therapy begins with conservative methods. Its goals: alleviating pain, eliminating muscle spasms, improving metabolic processes in nervous tissue and microcirculation.
Drug therapy is used to relieve pain and muscle spasms. For this, the neurologist prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. If the pain lasts longer than 12 weeks, i. e. becomes chronic, anticonvulsants and antidepressants with persistent analgesic effects can be recommended.
In addition to drug therapy, modern effective techniques are used:
- Acupuncture.The neurologist uses special sterile needles to irritate biologically active points. It eases the condition: reduces pain, relaxes muscles.
- Plasma therapy.The local application of the patient's blood plasma enriched with platelets stimulates the regeneration of damaged tissue. The recovery time after operations, illnesses and injuries is shortened.
- High intensity magnet.The electromagnetic field stimulates and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues. It relieves pain and reduces swelling.
- Physiotherapy laser.The method has anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and analgesic effects. It allows you to reduce the size of the hernial protrusion. It is used as a basic method in the treatment of intervertebral hernias by the resorption method.
- Physiotherapy.The classes are aimed at strengthening the muscles, increasing the flexibility of the spine, restoring the range of motion in the joints of the spine and developing proper posture. The exercises are selected by the specialist individually for the patient, after the acute pain has been alleviated.
- Kinesio taping.In combination with physical therapy. Before the class, the doctor fixes the tapes on the neck and collar area in a certain direction to relax the muscles and affect the pain receptors. As a result, the pain subsides. Regular use restores spine mobility and normalizes muscle tone.
- Medical massage.The specialist relieves muscle spasm by acting on receptors in the skin, muscles and fascia. It quickly and permanently relieves pain and improves the mobility of the vertebrae.
Therapy is chosen individually depending on the cause of neck and back pain and accompanying symptoms.
Forecast
With timely diagnosis and treatment, the outcome is favorable. If complications of osteochondrosis appear in the form of an intervertebral hernia with various neurological symptoms, surgical treatment may be necessary. After that, rehabilitation can take years. Without treatment, there is a high risk of permanent disability. Comorbidities and older age worsen the prognosis.
Patients are often concerned about how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever. Unfortunately, it cannot be completely cured. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine are processes of natural aging of the organism that cannot be avoided. But you can slow their progress and avoid complications.
Prevention
There are no special preventive measures for osteochondrosis.
Recommendations are aimed at improving overall health:
- Maintaining optimal body weight.
- Maintaining an active lifestyle.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
- Regular moderate physical activity - half an hour of walking, warming up the neck and back every day is enough.
- Workplace ergonomics. The table and chair should match your height, the computer monitor should be at eye level or slightly higher.
These measures will maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system by reducing the rate of wear and tear of the intervertebral discs.
Summaries:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the vertebrae, accompanied by the formation of herniated intervertebral discs.
- Cervical osteochondrosis is manifested by pain in the neck, limited mobility and muscle spasms. When a spinal root is pressed by a hernia, muscle weakness and numbness of the skin of the upper extremities can occur.
- The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis consists of an examination by a neurologist and conducting the necessary additional examinations: CT, MRI of the spine and other methods.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis is usually conservative and is aimed at alleviating pain, inflammation and muscle spasm.
- Prevention of osteochondrosis consists of maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical activity and workplace ergonomics.