Cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a form of degenerative disease of the joints and intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis affects the cartilage tissue of the discs. As a result, the disc hardens and shrinks, losing its cushioning properties and causing severe pain.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative-dystrophic process that leads to depletion, deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region. Loss of shock-absorbing cartilage causes pain both due to exposure of the joint surfaces (spondyloarthrosis) and compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord.

In the absence of timely treatment, ossification of the spine is possible with loss of its natural flexibility, impaired blood supply to the brain, deterioration of nerve conduction in those parts of the body that innervate the roots of the cervical vertebrae.

Pathology can develop both independently and as part of a common lesion of the spine, covering the thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions.

General information about cervical osteochondrosis

It is believed that osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is more common than in other departments. In fact, this is not the case - dystrophic phenomena develop uniformly at all points of maximum load - in the area of the main bends of the spine (the lower the department is located, the greater the load). However, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced, so they seem to be more common. This is due to the high mobility of the vertebrae of the neck, which at the same time hold the head, as well as the peculiarity of the location of the exits of the roots of the spinal cord.

For the record!According to statistics, the disease affects more than 60% of middle-aged and older people. However, recently there has been a rejuvenation of the pathological process - the pathology occurs in young people and even in adolescents. This is due to the general computerization of education and work, as well as the decrease in physical activity and the deterioration of the quality of nutrition.

Considering the age group, 2 forms of cervical osteochondrosis can be distinguished - physiological and pathological.

physiological processrelated to the natural aging of the body, when the symptoms of the disease are a consequence of the gradual wear of the intervertebral discs. The process occurs under the influence of the endocrine system and is a consequence of changes in menopause. Destruction of cartilaginous structures begins from the center of the intervertebral disc and is accompanied by gradual replacement of cartilage tissue with fibrous tissue. The pathology is irreversible, but it can be compensated with special drugs.

Pathological processassociated with unusual destructive changes in the body - immune, dystrophic, inflammatory, metabolic. First of all, pericartilaginous tissues are affected - salt deposits appear on bone structures, nerve roots become inflamed, atrophy or hypertonus of skeletal muscles occurs, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the head-neck-chest area. With a timely diagnosis, the pathology is curable and ends with the complete restoration of the healthy function of the organs and tissues.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis and their symptoms

There are 4 main stages of the pathological process:

• 1st stage - is expressed by slight discomfort and muscle tension in the diseased area, cartilage discs lose their stability;
• 2 stage - there is local pain, especially when moving the head. The intervertebral discs are deformed, the fibrous ring begins to disintegrate, the distance between the vertebrae decreases;
• 3rd stage - pain intensifies and becomes constant, movements are limited. Turning the head can cause bouts of dizziness, nausea, impaired blood supply to the brain leads to general lethargy, fatigue, impaired concentration, the cartilage thins, the vertebrae close, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed with the risk of intervertebral hernia;
• 4th stage - the pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; the blood circulation of the brain is impaired and requires constant medical assistance; the vertebrae begin to grow together.

Cervical osteochondrosis: signs, symptoms, treatment of pathology

In the first stages, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. With the development of the disease, a distinctive feature becomes the presence of painful or unpleasant sensations in the head, neck and chest, less often in the upper limbs.

All possible symptoms can be conditionally attributed to 4 types of syndromes: cardiac, vertebral, radicular (nerve) and vertebral artery syndrome (with circulatory disorders).

Vertebral syndrome:

• crunch in the neck when turning / tilting the head;
• as the disease progresses, pain and difficulty in movement appear;
• morphological structural disorders in the body of the vertebrae and the intervertebral space (visible on X-rays).

Cardiac syndrome:

• shortness of breath, weakness;
• feeling of incomplete inspiration, lack of air;
• spontaneous phenomena of the cardiovascular system - angina pectoris, retrosternal pain, burning;

radicular syndrome:

• numbness of the tongue, shoulders, fingers, occipital region;
• difficulty swallowing;
• discomfort in the area between the shoulder blades;
• headache in nape and forehead.

vertebral artery syndrome:

• unreasonable spikes in blood pressure;
• dizziness, until loss of consciousness;
• tinnitus, feeling of cotton wool in the head;
• temporary one-sided blindness, "flies" in the eyes;
• periodic attacks of nausea, especially when moving the head;
• headache - mainly in the back of the head, as well as migraine;
• drowsiness, reduced work capacity, memory, concentration, depression.

attention!All these syndromes must be combined with each other. The absence of symptoms of one of them can be a reason for a differential diagnosis with other groups of diseases.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Dystrophic phenomena in the area of the cervical vertebrae are related to the vertical position of the skeleton and the specific distribution of static and dynamic loads, which largely depend on the prevailing posture and the degree of skeletal muscle development.

• lack of movement - what does not develop - degrades: muscles weaken, tissues are destroyed;
• incorrect static postures - muscle clamps lead to blood circulation disorders with subsequent tissue degeneration;
• lack of nutrition or an unbalanced diet - the body must receive everything it needs to build and renew the bone and cartilage structures of the skeleton, maintaining muscle tone;
• obesity, overweight, carrying heavy loads - the load on the skeletal structures increases;
• constant nervous tension and nervous stress;
• hypothermia of the cervical region - "cold", "swollen" - provokes hidden inflammatory processes;
• the presence of autoimmune diseases involving cartilage leads to its premature destruction;
• endocrine pathologies disrupt mineral metabolism, reduce the absorption of calcium, silicon, phosphorus and other elements of bone and cartilage tissue;
• neck injuries;
• congenital anomalies of the spine and adjacent muscles.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

The diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae" is made difficult by the low specificity of the symptoms and the wide variety of their manifestations. During the examination, you will need to consult a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedist, cardiologist.

The physical examination is carried out by a doctor with questioning of the patient. The main diagnostic burden is on the instrumental and laboratory research methods.

• radiography of the cervical region; at the initial stage of the process, MRI of the cervical region will be more informative - it will provide high-quality visualization of hard and soft tissues - it will show the condition of the intervertebral discs, the presence of osteophytes, deformations, damage to nerve roots and blood vessels; assessment of the condition of ligaments, muscles, bone tissue; shows the dynamic state of soft tissues;
• dopplerography of the vessels of the neck will help to assess hemodynamics and the degree of damage to blood vessels (in particular, the condition of the vertebral artery);
• contrast myelography - will help if a disorder of nervous processes is suspected;
• ECG and echocardiography of the heart are used in the differential diagnosis of cardiosyndrome with cardiovascular diseases.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

A complex of therapeutic measures is formed, taking into account the stage of the disease (acute, chronic), the degree of damage and the causes of the pathology. Use conservative treatment, surgery, mixed approach.

conservative effect

This is a gradual restoration or compensation of damage against the background of symptomatic treatment. It includes drug therapy, physical therapy, exercise and massage methods.

Medical treatment:

• pain relievers - mainly gels and ointments for local application; in severe cases - general painkillers in the form of tablets;
• anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs, as well as corticosteroids (short course, if necessary);
• drugs to improve microcirculation and blood circulation in general;
• chondroprotectors - means for protection and restoration of cartilage tissue;
• muscle relaxants - to remove muscle cramps and spasms;
• vitamin and microelement complexes - necessary for the nutrition and maintenance of tissues with building elements.

As acute symptoms subside, methods of physical therapy, exercise therapy and self-massage are combined.

Physiotherapyimproves the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissues due to the restoration of blood supply in the damaged area. To avoid complications, it is recommended to use the method of isometric movements, when instead of real turns and tilts of the head, which can cause damage, their imitation is used.

attention!All actions should be performed only after diagnosis and consultation with a doctor.

The technique allows you to develop and strengthen atrophied short neck muscles and stabilize the position of the cervical vertebrae. The sequence of the main exercises:

1. Place the palm of your right hand on the side of the head - for 10 seconds press your palm on the head while straining the muscles of the head and neck for resistance - the head should remain still.
2. Lower your arm, relax your head and neck muscles as much as possible for 20 seconds.
3. Repeat the exercise with the left hand.
4. Place both hands on the forehead with palms - for 10 seconds, press the forehead as if you are trying to tilt your head back, while tensing the muscles of the neck to resist the movement. The head must remain still.
5. Lower your arms, relaxing your muscles as much as possible, similar to the previous exercise.
6. Place both palms on the area above the nape of the neck. By analogy, put pressure on the neck muscles, trying to tilt your head forward - it should still be motionless.
7. Lower your arms, relax your neck and head muscles. Repeat the set of exercises 4-10 times.

After strengthening the short muscles of the neck, you can start performing dynamic exercises.

For the record!Swimming and water aerobics have been proven techniques to restore cervical mobility.

Private massageallows you to reduce the intensity of local reactions and relieve muscle cramps during static work. Implementation rules:

• zone of influence - the back of the head, back and side surfaces of the neck;
• perform the procedure in a sitting position;
• movements must be made in the direction from the spine;
• use only the tips of the fingers;
• avoid pressure on inflamed areas;
• perform movements smoothly - sudden pressure can hurt.

Physiotherapytypical for inpatient treatment and balneotherapy. Well proven:

• electrophoresis - heats the area, improves microcirculation, is used for deeper penetration of local preparations;
• magnetic therapy;
• amplipulse;
• UHF.

Surgical intervention is indicated for complicated extrusion, spinal cord damage and intractable pain syndromes.

What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis

In the neck area, there is a dense intertwining of the main blood vessels, nervous processes and dynamic structures of the bone skeleton. In the absence of treatment, serious pathological changes can be observed:

• the weakening of the fibrous ring provokes dislocations and subluxations in the region of the most mobile vertebrae;
• the presence of osteophytes and muscle spasm leads to damage to nerve roots and blood vessels with the formation of compression syndromes;
• destruction of cartilaginous discs and convergence of vertebrae leads to intervertebral hernias with disruption of nerve tissue.

Each of these phenomena is followed by a pronounced negative reaction on the part of the whole organism.

Possible complications and consequences

The list of the most common complications of cervical osteochondrosis includes:

• vegetovascular dystonia;
• hypertension;
• oxygen starvation of the brain and its structures;
• retinal dystrophy with visual impairment;
• malfunction of the thyroid gland;
• dysfunction of the esophagus and trachea - difficulty swallowing and respiratory spasms;
• unbearable pain in the head, neck, chest, upper limbs;
• convulsions and numbness of the face, hands;
• disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which leads to the failure of all hormonal activity of the body.

Preventive measures for cervical osteochondrosis

The most effective treatment is disease prevention. Prevention will help you with this. It is enough to follow a few basic recommendations:

• correct your posture
• creating a comfortable workplace;
• during sedentary work, take breaks for a "minute for physical education";
• include in your diet foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon - fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits; limiting the intake of salt, sweet, starchy and spicy foods;
• for sleep and rest, use an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• take up sports without strength - it is better to give preference to swimming.

Even if you are not able to take into account all the requirements, moderate exercise, proper nutrition and attention to posture can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathology.

The hidden cause of impotence, male and female infertility is osteochondrosis

Even at school, in biology lessons, they tried to convey important information about the huge role of the spine in maintaining human health. Unfortunately, many at that time were busy with more important things and did not listen to the words of the teachers. But in vain! Doctors say that disorders of the musculoskeletal system, in particular caused by osteochondrosis, can cause the development of a huge number of different serious diseases.

Why osteochondrosis has a powerful destructive effect on the human body

Often men suffer from impotence and infertility, and women try in vain to get pregnant and do not even suspect that this can be caused by simple osteochondrosis. The fact is that the cause of the development of the disease lies in the violation of blood supply to the tissues of the vertebrae and the muscles that surround them. Since there are no blood vessels in the intervertebral discs, they are the first to suffer from a lack of water and various other substances. This causes the cartilage to crack, meaning that the discs can no longer support the load on the spine. This is where the constant back pain comes from.

If you do not intervene in the process at this stage, then osteochondrosis will continue to progress and give complications, for example, disc herniation. This, in turn, causes a disturbance in the segmental apparatus of the spinal cord and disrupts blood circulation, including in the pelvic organs. This is the main reason for the development of many disorders in the work of internal organs, as well as impotence and infertility.

The development of impotence in men, in addition to disorders at the physical level, also contributes to the psychological factor. After all, for any normal, full-fledged man, even one failure in bed turns into a drama, and it does not matter that it is caused by an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, sciatica or other sources of back pain.

Men may experience erectile dysfunction in the presence of cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease. But in any case, the pathology develops according to its own mechanism.

Cervical osteochondrosis

In the presence of this type of disease, a decrease in the quality of blood circulation in the brain is observed, which causes malfunctions in the production of sex hormones and substances that are responsible for vascular tone. That is why, with cervical osteochondrosis, patients most often complain of a decrease in sexual desire, anorgasm and problems with ejaculation.

Lumbar osteochondrosis

Since the pelvic area, namely where the male genital organs are located, is as if in an "off" state due to disorders in the spinal cord, nerve impulses do not always manage to reach the genitals, which leads to erectile dysfunction.

Female and male infertility as a result of osteochondrosis

Often, in the absence of other prerequisites, unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child in both men and women can be the result of pathological processes that accompany osteochondrosis. Most often, the cause of the problem lies not so much in the violation of blood supply to the organs located in the small pelvis, but in neurological disorders.

Reviews of women suffering from infertility show degenerative changes in the lower chest and waist. In infertile men, osteochondrosis affects the lumbosacral region. Such differences in the areas affected by osteochondrosis are explained by the peculiarities of the structure and innervation of the pelvic organs in representatives of different sexes.

Sometimes women cannot get pregnant, even if they do not experience any signs of the disease and do not feel the slightest discomfort in the back. This is primarily due to the fact that disorders in the reproductive system can occur even if only the anterior roots of the spinal cord are damaged, which is not accompanied by pain.

Therefore, anyone suffering from disorders of sexual and reproductive function is highly recommended to undergo the most complete examination of the body, not forgetting the neuropathologist and the vertebrologist. It is possible that the root of the problem lies precisely in the pathologies of the spine.