cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a form of degenerative disease of the joints and intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis affects the cartilaginous 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 exhaustion, deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region. Loss of cushioning cartilage causes pain both from exposure of the joint surfaces (spondyloarthrosis) and from compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord.

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

Pathology can develop independently and as part of a general injury to 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 so: dystrophic phenomena develop evenly at all points of maximum load, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe main bends of the spine (the lower the department, the greater the load it bears ) . However, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced, so they seem to be more frequent. This is due to the high mobility of the neck vertebrae, which at the same time support the head, as well as the peculiarity of the location of the exits of the roots of the spinal cord.

In a note!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: pathology occurs in young people and even in adolescents. This is due to the general computerization of study and work, as well as the decrease in physical activity and the deterioration of the quality of food.

Taking into account the age of the audience, 2 forms of cervical osteochondrosis can be distinguished: physiological and pathological.

physiological processassociated with 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 menopausal changes. The destruction of cartilaginous structures begins from the center of the intervertebral disc and is accompanied by a gradual replacement of cartilaginous tissue with fibrous tissue. Pathology is irreversible, but can be compensated with special drugs.

pathological processassociated with abnormal destructive changes in the body: immune, dystrophic, inflammatory, metabolic. First of all, pericartilaginous tissues are involved: salt deposits appear in bone structures, nerve roots become inflamed, atrophy or hypertonicity of skeletal muscles occurs, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the region of the head, neck and chest. With timely diagnosis, the pathology is treatable and ends with the complete restoration of the healthy function of organs and tissues.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis and its symptoms

There are 4 main stages of the pathological process:

• Stage 1 - is expressed by slight discomfort and muscle tension in the diseased area, the cartilage discs lose their stability;
• Stage 2 - there is local pain, especially when moving the head. The intervertebral discs are deformed, the fibrous ring begins to collapse, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced;
• Stage 3 - the pain intensifies and becomes constant, movements are limited. Turning the head can lead to dizziness, nausea, insufficient blood supply to the brain leading to general lethargy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, cartilage becomes thinner, vertebrae close, annulus fibrosus is completely destroyed with the risk of intervertebral hernia;
• 4th stage - pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; the blood circulation of the brain is affected and requires constant medical support; the vertebrae begin to grow together.

Cervical osteochondrosis: signs, symptoms, treatment of pathology.

In the early stages, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. As the disease develops, the presence of painful or uncomfortable sensations in the head, neck and chest, less often in the upper extremities, becomes a distinctive feature.

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

Vertebral Syndrome:

• cracking in the neck when turning / tilting the head;
• as the disease progresses, pain and difficulty moving occur;
• Structural morphological alterations in the vertebral body and intervertebral space (visible on radiographs).

cardiac syndrome:

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

root syndrome:

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

vertebral artery syndrome:

• unreasonable jumps in blood pressure;
• dizziness, up to loss of consciousness;
• tinnitus, sensation of cotton in the head;
• temporary unilateral blindness, "flies" in the eyes;
• periodic bouts of nausea, especially when moving your head;
• headaches, mainly in the back of the head, as well as migraines;
• drowsiness, decreased performance, 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 differential diagnosis with other groups of diseases.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Dystrophic phenomena in the cervical spine region are associated with 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 development of the skeletal muscles.

• lack of movement - what is not developed - degrades: muscles weaken, tissues are destroyed;
• incorrect static postures: muscle clamps cause circulatory disorders with consequent tissue degeneration;
• lack of nutrition or unbalanced diet - the body must receive everything necessary for the construction and renewal of the bone and cartilage structures of the skeleton, maintaining muscle tone;
• obesity, overweight, carrying heavy loads - increases the load on skeletal structures;
• 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 vertebra" is made difficult by the low specificity of symptoms and a wide variety of its manifestations. During the examination, you will need to consult a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedist, cardiologist.

A doctor conducts a physical examination with a questioning of the patient. The main diagnostic burden falls on laboratory and instrumental research methods.

• x-ray of the cervical region; at the initial stage of the process, MRI of the cervical region will be more informative, will provide high-quality visualization of hard and soft tissues, will show the state of the intervertebral discs, the presence of osteophytes, deformities, damage to the roots nerve and blood vessels; assess the condition of ligaments, muscles, bone tissue; shows the dynamic state of soft tissues;
• dopplerography of the neck vessels will help to assess the hemodynamics and the degree of damage to the blood vessels (in particular, the state of the vertebral artery);
• contrast myelography - will help with suspected infringement of nerve processes;
• ECG and echocardiography of the heart are used in the differential diagnosis of cardiac syndrome 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, a mixed approach.

conservative impact

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

Medical treatment:

• pain relievers, primarily topical gels and ointments; 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 to protect and restore cartilage tissue;
• muscle relaxants - to eliminate clamps and muscle spasms;
• complexes of vitamins and microelements - necessary for nutrition and support of tissues with building elements.

As the acute symptoms subside, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and self-massage methods are connected.

Physiotherapyimproves the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissues due to the restoration of blood supply to 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 the atrophied short muscles of the neck and stabilize the position of the cervical spine. The sequence of basic exercises:

1. Place the palm of your right hand on the side of your head; for 10 seconds, press the palm of your hand over your head, tensing your head and neck muscles for resistance; the head must remain still.
2. Lower your hand, 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 your forehead with your palms: For 10 seconds, press on your forehead, as if trying to tilt your head back, while tensing your neck muscles 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 back of your head. By analogy, carry out a pressure load on the neck muscles, trying to tilt the head forward; must 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 dynamic exercises.

In a note!Swimming and aqua gymnastics have proven to be a technique to restore cervical mobility.

self massageallows you to reduce the intensity of local reactions and relieve muscle clamps during static work. Execution rules:

• area of influence - the back of the head, the back and the lateral surfaces of the neck;
• perform the procedure in a sitting position;
• movements should be made in the direction of the spine;
• use only your fingertips;
• avoid pressure on inflamed areas;
• perform movements smoothly - sharp pressure can damage.

Physiotherapytypical for hospital treatment and spa rehabilitation. Well Tested:

• electrophoresis - warms the area, improves microcirculation, is used for deeper penetration of topical preparations;
• magnet therapy;
• amplipulse;
• UHF.

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

What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis?

The neck area concentrates a dense intertwining of the main blood vessels, nerve processes and dynamic structures of the bony skeleton. In the absence of treatment, serious pathological changes can be observed:

• weakening of the fibrous ring causes dislocations and subluxations in the area of the most mobile vertebrae;
• the presence of osteophytes and muscle spasms leads to infringement of nerve roots and blood vessels with the formation of compression syndromes;
• the destruction of the cartilaginous discs and the convergence of the vertebrae leads to intervertebral hernias with infringement of the nervous tissue.

Each of these phenomena is followed by a pronounced negative reaction 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 of the visually impaired eye;
• malfunction of the thyroid gland;
• dysfunction of the esophagus and trachea: difficulty swallowing and respiratory spasms;
• intractable pain in the head, neck, chest, upper limbs;
• seizures and numbness of the face, hands;
• disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which implies the failure of all hormonal activity in the body.

Preventive measures of cervical osteochondrosis.

The most effective treatment is disease prevention. Prevention will help you with this. Just follow some basic recommendations:

• correct your posture,
• create a comfortable workplace;
• during sedentary work, take breaks for a "minute of physical education";
• include in your diet foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon: fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits; limit the intake of salty, sweet, starchy and spicy foods;
• for sleep and rest use an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• Practice a sport other than strength: it is better to give preference to swimming.

Even if you can't take into account all the requirements, moderate exercise, proper nutrition and attention to your 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 then 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 large number of serious diseases.

Why does osteochondrosis have 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 common osteochondrosis. The fact is that the cause of the development of the disease lies in the violation of the 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 other substances. This leads to cracking of the cartilage, which means that the discs can no longer absorb the load on the spine. This is where the constant back pain comes from.

If at this stage you do not intervene in the process, osteochondrosis will continue to progress and give complications, for example, a herniated disc. This, in turn, causes a violation in the segmental apparatus of the spinal cord and impairs 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 that interest us.

The development of impotence in men, in addition to violations at the physical level, also contributes to the psychological factor. After all, for every normal and complete man, even a single 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 begin to experience erection difficulties in the presence of cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease. But in each case, the pathology develops according to its own mechanism.

cervical osteochondrosis

In the presence of this type of disease, there is a decrease in the quality of blood circulation in the brain, which causes dysfunctions in the production of sex hormones and substances that are responsible for vascular tone. Therefore, with cervical osteochondrosis, most patients complain of decreased sexual desire, anorgasmia, and problems with ejaculation.

lumbar osteochondrosis

Since the pelvic area, that is, the male genital organs are located here, is, so to speak, in a "turned 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 accompanying osteochondrosis. In most cases, 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.

Examinations of women suffering from infertility show degenerative changes in the lower thoracic spine and lower back. 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 though they do not experience any signs of the disease and do not feel the slightest discomfort in their back. This is mainly 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, all people suffering from disorders of sexual and reproductive functions are strongly recommended to undergo the most comprehensive examination of the body, not forgetting the neuropathologist and vertebrologist. It is possible that the root of the problem lies precisely in the pathologies of the spine.