Are you experiencing back pain and numbness in your limbs?These are the first signs of osteochondrosis.Insufficient mobility in lifestyle, sedentary work, stress on the neck and spine lead to cartilage wear and moisture loss, resulting in injury.
With cervical osteochondrosis, degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral discs.Not only the discs are damaged, but also the vertebrae and joints in the cervical region.If the disease is not treated for a long time, the general well-being of the patient deteriorates: constant headaches, the appearance of a vertebral hernia, deterioration of cerebral circulation, as a result of which cognitive functions decrease.
Causes of the development of osteochondrosis
An incorrect sitting position, in which the neck is pulled forward, leads to the development of cervical disease.In this case, excessive pressure occurs on the intervertebral discs, which leads to changes in the nucleus pulposus and compression of blood vessels.This is the position a person takes at a workplace in front of a computer.Therefore, office workers are more often exposed to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
In addition, the reasons for the development of pathology can be:
- improper load distribution when carrying bags;
- excessively soft sleeping position (the spine bends in an unnatural shape);
- genetic predisposition;
- lack of vitamins and microelements in the diet;
- disorders of the endocrine system;
- curvature of the spine and poor posture during active body growth;
- cervical vertebrae injuries;
- the presence of bad habits.
Stages of the disease
Only an experienced doctor after examination and palpation can determine whether your pain symptoms are signs of the development of cervical osteochondrosis and at what stage of the disease's development.In total, cervical osteochondrosis goes through four stages of development:
- Nucleus pulposus - the central part of the intervertebral disc during the first stage undergoes moderate dehydration.As a result, the supporting and absorbing functions of the intervertebral discs are gradually lost.During the first stage, you will experience pain with sudden movements, hypothermia and staying in one position for a long time.
- The second stage of development is characterized by the appearance of congestion and spasms, which press the capillaries and blood vessels, preventing normal blood circulation.As a result, the frame of the intervertebral disc becomes thinner, forming protrusions (bulging forward or backward).Under the influence of excessive load, osteophytes are formed in the cervical vertebrae.Pain sensations are localized in one place;with sudden turns and movements of the head, dislocations of the cervical vertebrae may occur.
- Extrusions are formed as a result of thinning of the intervertebral discs.The edge of the nucleus pulposus breaks the annulus fibrosus and extends beyond the edges of the vertebral body.Muscles and nerve endings are compressed.The pain is felt in the neck, back and limbs.
- In the fourth stage of the disease, the intervertebral discs are displaced and central and lateral hernias are formed.In addition, scars form on the discs, which leads to immobility of the affected joint.The patient experiences constant back pain, which radiates to other parts of the body, there is a constant feeling of fatigue and asymmetry of body parts.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are manifested differently depending on the stage of development of the pathology.In the early stages it can occur without any symptoms.Pain in the neck and back can occur only if you stand in one position for a long time, or if you bend or turn sharply.
In the later stages of development, a crackling noise is heard in the spine, back pain radiates to other limbs and numbness occurs in parts of the body.During the formation of osteophytes and extraction, occur:
- headache in the back of the head and in the parietal part;
- speech disorders and numbness of the tongue;
- decreased sensitivity of the skin of the neck;
- respiratory disorders;
- changes in blood pressure;
- heart rate disturbances;
- noise and congestion in the ears;
- fainting.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in women are much more pronounced than in men.This is due to the fact that women have a predisposition to vascular diseases and a more fragile structure of the bone segments of the spine.Signs of the disease begin to appear when the intervertebral discs change.This leads to disruption of normal blood circulation and causes severe headaches, dizziness and neurosis.An exacerbation of the disease in women often occurs during menopause, when the body undergoes hormonal changes.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are similar to those in women;erectile dysfunction can be observed separately.
Headache with cervical osteochondrosis is caused by poor circulation in the brain and spinal cord.When the vertebrae become misaligned, they compress the arteries and the oxygen content of the blood decreases.Unfortunately, such pain may not go away even after taking strong sedatives.Therefore, it is important to approach the solution of the problem comprehensively.Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis can be accompanied by darkening of the eyes and the appearance of tinnitus.This happens because muscle spasms cause a reduction in the supply of oxygen to the brain.
A lump in the throat with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as well as burning, difficulty breathing and muscle spasms are a common occurrence.The disease provokes compression of the nerve fibers of the cervical spine in the head and neck.Disturbances in nerve impulses cause sore throat.
Due to spasms of blood vessels and irritation of nerve endings, jumps in blood pressure occur.Increased lower pressure in osteochondrosis indicates that the blood supply to certain areas of the brain is impaired, as the vertebral artery is compressed by the intervertebral discs.As a result, oxygen starvation occurs and blood pressure increases.
How is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine diagnosed?
Diagnosis of pathology begins with consultation with a specialist.At the first manifestations of osteochondrosis, consult a rheumatologist, neurologist, surgeon or traumatologist-orthopedic.The doctor will ask about the symptoms and the frequency of their occurrence;you must provide the specialist with a complete medical history and the results of previous studies (if any).The specialist will perform a visual examination and palpation and will refer you for analysis.During the examination, the doctor pays special attention to neck mobility, muscle tone, skin sensitivity and identifies the most painful areas.
In order to identify the condition of muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and detect inflammatory processes or tumors, an informative and safe diagnostic method is prescribed - MRI of the cervical spine.During an MRI of osteochondrosis, the patient lies on a special sliding table with his back.Rollers are placed on the patient's head to relieve muscle tension and the limbs are strapped.Any slight movement during the procedure can affect the quality of the result.The table then moves to the tomography area.The procedure does not cause pain.The scanner makes a lot of noise during the scan, so you can use headphones to avoid discomfort.
If MRI is contraindicated, there are other diagnostic methods such as computed tomography and radiography.X-rays are only suitable for primary diagnosis and do not provide a layer-by-layer image of the affected tissue.However, this study is simpler and more economical, allowing you to examine the patient's body in several projections.Due to the strong exposure to radiation in the body, X-rays cannot be performed often.
During a computed tomography scan, a scan is performed using one or more beams of ionizing radiation.They pass through the human body and are recorded by detectors.The detectors move along the patient's body in opposite directions and record up to 6 million signals.The image shows tissues of different densities with precise definition of the boundaries of organs and affected areas in the form of a section.The procedure allows you to get an image layer by layer.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The method of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will be determined only by a doctor after examination, study of medical history and receiving the results of diagnostic equipment.If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment will be carried out using conservative methods.In the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to adhere to an integrated approach - take medications, engage in physical therapy, go for therapeutic massage and avoid heavy physical activity.
First of all, you need to relieve the pain.For this purpose, local analgesics and sedatives are prescribed.For severe muscle spasms, an orthopedic collar is prescribed.After the pain syndrome has been eliminated, it is necessary to stop the inflammatory process and restore normal blood circulation.For this purpose, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out.As additional measures, therapeutic exercises and swimming are prescribed.You can do physical exercises both at home and with a trainer.
If osteochondrosis has become severe, the doctor may prescribe surgery.Surgery is used in rare cases, when the pathology develops against the background of other diseases - scoliosis, herniated intervertebral discs, curvature or displacement of the spine, injuries.
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is not particularly different from the treatment of men.However, doctors often recommend that women do external compresses to warm and strengthen the neck muscles.
Experts recommend preventing various back diseases from early childhood.To do this, you need to form the right posture while walking and sitting at your desk.Good nutrition and proper strengthening of the back muscles will help you avoid negative consequences in the future.