Osteochondrosis of the cervical column.

Osteochondrosis is dystrophic degenerative disorders in the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, causing their deformation and destruction.Osteochondrosis can develop in one or more columns with the spine.Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionAbove all often occurs and sometimes gives very serious complications.

Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the cervical column

Due to the characteristics of the structure of the cervical column, the course and the symptoms of osteochondrosis in this segment have a number of characteristics.The cervical column consists of small mobile vertebrae, which are constantly subject to significant and long loads.The vertebral canal in the cervical region is the narrowest, therefore the compression of the spinal cord in this segment is developing much more often and leads to fairly serious lesions.In the neck, there is a great accumulation of nerve endings and blood vessels, including the vertebral artery, which provides the nutrition of the cerebellum, the oblong brain and the back of the brain.The violation of blood circulation in this artery leads to an alteration of coordination, dizzy, reduction of vision and hearing, and in serious cases, a stroke can develop.

Symptoms of cervical column osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine manifests itself in several syndromes:

1. Reflex and irrititive syndrome

   Burning pain in the cervical and consumer region, occurring after sneezing, sudden movements of the head or a long static state, for example, after sleeping or a fixed state and a subsequent movement of the head or neck - often complaints with osteochondrosis of the cervical column.Pain can shine on the shoulder or rib cage.

2. The narrowing channel narrowing syndrome (stenosis of the vertebral canal)

   This syndrome is developing following the compression (compression) of the spinal cord and its vessels, which leads to circulatory disorders in the affected area and the development of myelopathy - a rare but the most formidable complication of osteochondrosis.Green-carbon cervical myelopathy occurs mainly in medium and elderly people due to the compression of the spinal cord or its vessels with the posterior osteophytes, the thickened yellow ligament, the hernia of the intervertebral discs.The disease is gradually developing, at first, the pain and restriction of movements in the cervical column are often observed.In the future, cervical osteochondosis can cause altered functions of the upper and / or lower limbs, manifested by numbness, a feeling of tingling in the fingers, a feeling of legs or cotton weapons, to Paristestesse and paralysis

3. Rook syndrome

   The manifestations of radicular syndrome in osteochondrosis of the cervical column will depend on compression, the nerve root of which was born from structural changes in the disc.However, in all cases, cervical osteochondosis will occur with headaches that have a painful, pulsed or burning character, sometimes flowing into the type of hypertension.Back pain is rarely local and generally give the shoulder blades, in the forearm, in the shoulder and / or by hand, to the fingers of the brush.

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

   • C1-C2: The defeat in this segment, as a rule, occurs as a result of automotive injuries and is manifested by a violation of smell and speech, hypotrophy of the facial and sublggers and a decrease in sensitivity in the occipital region.
   • C2-C3: It is also rarely affected and is accompanied by an alteration of hearing, vision and control of movement and sensitivity of language muscles, which leads to speech disorders and taste sensations, the appearance of a feeling of inflammation, sweating or a bump in the throat.
   • C3-C4: Since the diaphragmatic nerve is withdrawn in this segment, in addition to the pain in the collarbone and the GPU on the shoulder, the spam of the belt and the trapezoidal muscles, the pain in the hypochondrium and the right heart also develop, and the respiratory movements are disturbed.In addition, the Gundise, a feeling of nasal congestion, snoring, decrease in smell, sagged muscles of the face, deterioration in the state of the teeth can develop.
   • C4-C5: The defeat in this segment is accompanied by painful sensations in the shoulder of the shoulder, the hypotrophy of the deltoid muscle, a decrease in the sensitivity of the outer surface of the shoulder, the shoulder-shoulder and the inflammation of the skeletal muscles in this area.Among other symptoms, changes in the voice can occur, the feeling of inflammation in the larynx, snoring.
   • C5-C6: The segment is most often sensitive to dystrophic degenerative lesions and has important symptoms.First of all, the altered skin pain and skin sensitivity, the outer surface of the shoulder on the radial surface of the forearm and the thumb of the hand develops.Subsequently, somatic symptoms develop, especially frequently and poorly subject to the treatment of lungs and bronchi, in particular asthma, rheumatic and allergic manifestations, the symptoms of angina.
   • C6-C7: The lesion of the nervous roof in this segment leads to the appearance of pain in the shoulder blade, the posterior surface of the shoulder, along the surface prior to the forearm at the back of the hand.In addition, damage to this segment can accompany symptoms corresponding to thyroid diseases, mediastinal organs and cardiovascular system.
   • C7-T1: The lesion of the spine C8 is accompanied by hypertrophy of the three-headed muscle and the diverted little finger, which leads to a weakening of the flexion reflex and pain with an altered skin sensitivity of the neck, shoulder, shoulder blades, the elbow joint and the little finger.In serious cases, symptoms can develop as with angina, arrhythmia and asthma.

4. Cardial syndrome for cervical osteochondosis

   Cardial syndrome is developing with the irritation of the nerve roots innervated by the diaphragm (diaphragmatic nerve) or a large chest muscle.Symptoms are definitely identical to the attack on angina, but at the same time, the attack hardly lasts, the pain intensifies with a clear movement of the head or neck, with sneezing or cough.Standard coronarylytic does not bring relief and the ECG at the time of the attack does not show violation of coronary traffic.At the same time, heart syndrome can be accompanied by tachycardia, arrhythmia and high blood pressure.

5. Vail artery syndrome

   This syndrome is one of the most common and most dangerous manifestationsosteochondrosis of the cervical regionspine.This syndrome is developing in the context of compression of the vertebral artery and circulatory disorders in the corresponding areas of the brain (cerebellum, brain lines and posterior lobes), which determines the clinical image.

One of the main manifestations of vertebral artery syndrome is a strong pulsating and / or burning, constant or paroxysmal headache, exciting dark, excessive part, whiskey and back of the head.Usually the pain can be unilated.In the early stages of development, headaches arise or intensify after a long stay in an uncomfortable position with its head back, after physical effort or after sudden movements.With the narrowing of light, the pain of pain becomes more pronounced and frequent, sometimes constant.In serious cases or at the top of a headache, vomiting can occur, a state of fainting is not excluded.

Visual disturbances with cervical osteochondosis can occur both separately and in the bottom of the headache and expressed by pain in the eye globe, altered visual acuity, a sensation of veil in front of the eyes, the dryness or the stove in the eyes.One of the characteristic symptoms of the narrowing of the vertebral artery is the sudden short -term attacks of dizziness or loss of orientation in space.Such attacks occur for a few seconds and pass quickly.Sudden noise in the ears or pulsation in the head area can occur.In addition, damage to the vertebral artery can lead to the development of heart syndrome.

In serious cases, an attack of an "ischemic attack", manifested by serious headaches, vomiting, a loss of movement coordination, a change in handwriting, the tremor of the approach, the double germ, the speech and the altered balance, can develop.

Diagnosis of cervical column osteochondrosis

The doctor can establish the main diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical column already during the first examination of the patient, as well as the level of the affected spine, the anatomical characteristics, including the posture, the physique, the structure of the body, the line of spicy processes, the lateral contours of the neck, the lower corner of the shoulder blades;Location, nature and degree of pain syndrome;The amplitude of the spine, relief and muscle tone.

The diagnosis is specified using visual diagnostic methods (radiographic studies, CT, MRI), which allows you to determine the stage of the disease, the level of vertebral lesions, precise location of the distorted disc.And on the basis of this data, the most optimal processing of cervical osteochondosis is selected.

Treatment of cervical column osteochondrosis

In the treatment of cervical osteochondosis, surgical and conservative methods are used.But surgical treatment is only prescribed in the presence of serious complications that occur in the last stages of osteochondrosis if:

• A stenosis (narrowing) of the vertebral canal has formed;
• The vertebral artery is deleted;
• An important hernia or projection has formed, compressing the nerve roots;
• Excessive instability of the spine has developed.

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

Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondosis

The best results in treatmentosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine, as well as other types of osteochondrosis, are obtained when you see a doctor.Unfortunately, many patients often do not fix a slight discomfort in the back or periodic headaches.On the other hand, there are many cases of inappropriate diagnosis and unnecessary treatment for a long time, becauseOsteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine can simulate other diseases, such as arthritis, myalgia or angina.This is why vertebrologists recommend checking the spine in the presence of symptoms of any disease, especially accompanied by head pain or spine.

In the effective treatment of cervical osteochondosis, an integrated approach is of great importance, including the following instructions:

• Pharmacotherapy- aimed at improving intervertebral disc trophism and stopping pain, eliminating muscle spasms and inflammation during exacerbation.For these purposes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors are prescribed in order to stimulate the restoration of the cartilage fabric of the joint, multivitamins and vitamins of group B;
• physiotherapy- is prescribed to reduce pain, improve the nutrition of the disk cartilage fabric, stimulate cartilage regeneration processes, eliminate muscle spasms, inflammatory processes in the postoperative period for rapid recovery;
• Manual therapy- It is used to eliminate muscle cramps, reduce pain, improve the metabolism of blood and lymph, correction of posture and improve the amplitude of the joints.The manual exposure scheme is individually selected for each patient;
• massage-The long and well-established method to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Has the same effect as manual therapy;

• Medical physical educationThis is one of the most important methods to treat all types of osteochondrosis, including osteochondrosis of the cervical column.The purpose of exercise therapy is to relieve muscle spasms and the compression of nerve roots, improve blood and lymphatic flow in the spine, strengthen the muscle frame and increase the flexibility of the ligament apparatus.For each patient, a set of exercises is selected, the correct implementation of which is monitored by a specialist;
• reflexologyReferring to another type of treatment, widely used today and gives a very good result in combination with other treatment methods.The essence of the method is the impact on acupunctural points and / or reflexogenic zones in order to obtain the same results as with other therapeutic methods (reducing muscle pain and spasms, decompression of the roots of the vertebral brain, the improvement of tissue trophics in vertebrae), as well as to improve sleep, relaunch psychotional trophies, weight normalization,Thus.

For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors, vitamins of group B (B6, B12) and drugs for external use are also used - nails, creams, gels containing NSAIDs, local stimulants and tissue regeneration.

In addition to the main methods of treatment, with osteochondrosis in the cervical region, patients are recommended to change the usual lifestyle, because in most cases, the disease takes place in the context of low mobility, poor or malnutrition, obesity or, conversely, excessively low weight and the presence of bad habits.In most cases, in the first stages of cervical osteochondosis, it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle, not to allow muscle spasms and overload of the muscles of the cervical evacuation region, to provide comfortable conditions for sleep, to normalize nutrition and even to carry out the recommendations of the doctor in the therapy of exercise in order to stop the subsequent development of the pathological process,The first floor.