Osteochondrosis is an outdated term often used in some countries to refer to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, facet joints and the vertebral body itself. In the cervical spine, these changes are common because of their movement and cause neck pain in men and women. Sometimes the degenerative disease is complicated by an intervertebral hernia that compresses the spinal roots, which can cause muscle weakness and numbness of the upper skin. We will talk about the symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in the article.
Cause of pain
The cervical spine is very mobile. It consists of seven vertebrae, intervertebral discs located between them, as well as ligaments. With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become thinner and deformed, their elasticity and shock absorption decrease. Gradually, the inner part of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, protrudes through micro-damage in the outer part, the annulus fibrosus. This is how intervertebral protrusions and hernias are formed, irritating the pain receptors of the ligaments along the back surface of the spine, which causes pain. When the spinal root is compressed, the pain can spread to the upper part of the leg and neurological symptoms may appear: decreased sensitivity of the skin of the arm, weakness of the muscles in it, etc. As a protective response to any injury and damage, bone growths - osteophytes - may appear along the edges of the body and on the vertebral arches.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine usually develops as a result of the aging process, but several risk factors aggravate and accelerate the course of the degenerative spine disease. Among them:
- Genetic predisposition.The presence of osteochondrosis in close relatives, especially at a young age, increases the risk of early occurrence and complications.
- Physical inactivity.With a sedentary lifestyle, the nutrition of the intervertebral disc is disrupted. They have no blood vessels and receive nutrients by diffusion from the vertebral bodies. This process occurs actively during physical activity.
- injury.Spinal cord injury accelerates the development of degenerative changes in the spine.
- Uneven load on the spinal column.Possible situations: improper exercise, poor posture, the main load on one side of the body or one limb, prolonged posture with a tilted head, for example, while reading from 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 cervical spine osteochondrosis is pain. Its localization depends on the nature of the lesion. When irritated by a bulging disc or a sensitive ligament osteophyte, pain is felt in the neck and is associated with reflex muscle spasms. If the hernia compresses a spinal nerve, the pain may radiate to the arm.
Often, pain is noted in the neck and back of the head, and occurs or intensifies with sudden head movements, prolonged static tension, or uncomfortable positions, for example, after sleeping.
Other signs of cervical spine osteochondrosis:
- Limited neck mobility, pain when turning the head.
- Neck muscle spasms.
- Decreased tone and strength of upper extremity muscles, which is typical for spinal root herniation compression.
- Affected sensitivity of the skin of the upper part of the leg.
- When the hernia of the vertebral artery is compressed, symptoms of vertebrobasilar deficiency appear, develop sharply when turning or tilting the head: dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, fainting, short-term memory impairment, instability while walking, impaired vision, hearing and speech, severe muscle weakness in the limbsbody.
Diagnostics
With pain and discomfort in the neck area, patients are recommended to consult a neurologist or vertebrologist. Sometimes it is necessary to consult another specialist: orthopedic traumatologist if there is a history of injury.
A neurologist performs an examination and explains the complaints and medical history. Cervical osteochondrosis can manifest itself as dozens of diseases, so additional examinations are often required to determine the cause of pain and make a clinical diagnosis.
A diagnostic plan for neck pain may include the following examination methods:
- Laboratory tests (general blood count, biochemical blood tests, urine tests, others - as indicated).
- X-ray of the cervical spine to detect fractures and other injuries.
- CT scan of the cervical spine to determine injuries, cancer and other changes in the vertebrae.
- MRI of the cervical spine to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, visualize protrusions and hernias.
- Electroneuromyography to determine the conduction of impulses along the spinal roots.
During the differential diagnosis, other examinations are also prescribed at the discretion of the specialist.
When can treatment be done 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. It occurs when the spinal roots, arteries, and spinal cord are compressed.
Neurologists determine how to treat neck osteochondrosis after examination and receipt of examination results. Most patients receive effective conservative therapy with stable long-term remission. Modern techniques are also effectively used to prevent the development of osteochondrosis and its manifestations.
Conservative treatment methods
For cervical osteochondrosis, therapy begins with conservative methods. The goal: pain relief, elimination of muscle spasms, improvement of metabolic processes in nerve tissue and microcirculation.
Drug therapy is carried out to relieve pain and muscle spasm. For this, neurologists prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. If the pain lasts more than 12 weeks, that is, it becomes chronic, anticonvulsants and antidepressants with a continuous analgesic effect may be recommended.
In addition to drug therapy, modern effective techniques are used:
- Acupuncture.Neurologists use special sterile needles to stimulate biologically active points. This alleviates the condition: reduces pain, relaxes the muscles.
- Plasma therapy.With the local administration of the patient's blood plasma enriched with platelets, the regeneration of damaged tissue is stimulated. Recovery time after surgery, illness and injury is reduced.
- High intensity magnet.The electromagnetic field stimulates and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissue. Relieves pain and reduces swelling.
- Physiotherapy laser.This 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 as part of the course of intervertebral hernia treatment using the resorption method.
- Physiotherapy.Classes aim to strengthen muscles, improve spine flexibility, restore range of motion in the spine joints and develop correct posture. Exercises are selected by the specialist individually for the patient, after the acute pain has been relieved.
- Kinesio Recording.Combined with physical therapy. Before the class, the doctor fixes the tape on the neck collar area in a certain direction to relax the muscles and affect the pain receptors. As a result, pain is reduced. With regular use, spinal mobility is restored and muscle tone becomes normal.
- Medical massage.Specialists relieve muscle spasms by acting on receptors in the skin, muscles and fascia. Quickly and permanently relieves pain and improves vertebral mobility.
Therapy is selected individually depending on the cause of neck and back pain and accompanying symptoms.
Prediction
With timely diagnosis and treatment, the outcome is good. If complications of osteochondrosis appear in the form of intervertebral hernia with various neurological symptoms, surgical treatment may be required. After that, recovery can take years. Without treatment, there is a high risk of permanent disability. Comorbidities and advanced age worsen the prognosis.
Patients often worry about the question of how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever. Unfortunately, it cannot be completely cured. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine are an inevitable natural aging process of the body. But you can slow down their development and avoid complications.
Prevention
There are no specific preventive measures for osteochondrosis.
Top tips to improve overall health:
- Maintain an optimal body weight.
- Maintain an active lifestyle.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
- Regular moderate physical activity - half an hour of walking, warming up your neck and back every day is enough.
- Workplace ergonomics. Tables and chairs should match your height, computer monitors should be at eye level or slightly higher.
These measures will maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system by reducing the rate of intervertebral disc wear.
Abstract:
- 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 the spinal root is compressed by a hernia, muscle weakness and numbness of the upper skin may occur.
- Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis consists of examining a neurologist and conducting the necessary additional examinations: CT, MRI of the spine and other methods.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis is most often conservative and aims to relieve pain, inflammation and muscle spasms.
- Prevention of osteochondrosis consists of maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical activity and ergonomics at work.