Causes, symptoms and treatments of cervical osteochondrosis

Among all pathological processes affecting different parts of the spine, cervical osteochondrosis is considered one of the most common. This disease can cause many complications, primarily because it affects the spinal cord, but can also negatively impact brain function.According to statistics in 2017, the disease is obviously affecting younger people. If in the past osteochondrosis mainly affected people after the age of 40, now 90% of people over the age of 25 will be diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis at different stages. Therefore, it is important to learn as much as possible about the pathology, from what it is to how it is treated.

What is cervical osteochondrosis?

In medical practice, the term cervical osteochondrosis refers to an acquired, progressive disease affecting a specific part of the spine. This pathological process is characterized by degenerative dystrophic processes in the tissue of the intervertebral discs, which are the shock absorbers of the cervical spine.Degenerative dystrophic changes in the disc are caused by disc wear and deformation. As a result, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, with the following consequences:

• Narrowing of the spinal canal in certain areas of the spine.
• Compression of the vertebral arteries - the large blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain. As a result, the supply to the brain deteriorates and blood circulation in the cervical spinal cord is disturbed.
• The discs may become deformed and flatten. This can lead to compression of certain areas of the spinal cord and nerves, most commonly compression of the nerve roots.

All of these problems can lead to more than just impaired blood circulation to the brain, neck pain, headaches, and more. The development of cervical osteochondrosis can also bring neurological problems, central nervous system deterioration, and brain tissue damage.Cervical osteochondrosis is assigned several individual codes according to the International Classification of Diseases. Disease codes according to ICD 10 depend on the age at which the disease is diagnosed:

• M02—Intervertebral disc dystrophy in adolescence.
• M42. 12 – Degenerative processes in the adult neck.

Many factors depend on the age of the patient and the development of the pathological process, such as consequences, complications, symptoms and, of course, the principles of treatment.

reason

Understanding the causes of cervical osteochondrosis can play a decisive role in the diagnostic process and in determining the principles of treatment of the disease.However, before listing the causes, it is worth mentioning that doctors identify two factors that contribute to the development of this pathological process:

1. Pathological - under the influence of external adverse factors, the intervertebral disc and other vertebral body structures are destroyed, and the pathological process involves nearby tissues, blood vessels, and nerve bundles. The more severe these factors and other pathologies are, the faster the disease develops.
2. Physiology-The development of pathology is mainly based on age-related changes. We are talking about the natural aging of the cartilage tissue of the spine, salt deposition, etc.

If we list more specific causes of cervical osteochondrosis, they are as follows:

• Disturbances of metabolic processes in the body, as well as certain stages of obesity.
• Physical inactivity is a phenomenon characterized by limited mobility. We’re not just talking about injuries or illnesses, this includes sedentary lifestyles and sedentary jobs.
• Pathologies of the cardiovascular system lead to impaired blood circulation in the brain, changes in pressure, etc.
• Improper posture includes various forms of scoliosis, rheumatism and even flat feet.
• Cervical spine injury. In this case, we're talking about sprains, blows, bruises. Injuries elsewhere in the spine can influence the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
• Excessive physical stress on the cervical spine due to strenuous exercise or severe physical difficulty, depending on the person's type of activity.

• A sedentary lifestyle is also dangerous because if you sit incorrectly or on uncomfortable furniture, you can put constant strain on your cervical vertebrae and entire spine.
• Cervical hernia and various accompanying diseases.
• Forcing the head to remain in an uncomfortable or unnatural position for an extended period of time. In this case, not only does muscle strain occur, but it can also lead to curvature of the spine in the neck.
• Doctors believe that ongoing stress and nervousness are a very common cause.
• One of the causes is also thought to be congenital abnormalities of the spinal structure.

What harm does it have to health?

As mentioned earlier, the cervical spine region not only contains the spinal cord and various nerve branches, but also contains the vertebral arteries that supply blood to the occipital part of the brain, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata.As osteochondrosis of the cervical spine progresses, nearby tissues become inflamed. In addition, the development of pathology may compress nerve roots and squeeze blood vessels, with the following consequences:

• Osteochondrosis is associated with spinal deformities that cause the spinal canal to narrow in certain areas. This can cause compression of the spinal cord and nerve branches, leading to serious neurological problems. In severe cases, the person may experience pain and may even lose control of certain parts of the body (mainly the arms or face).
• As already mentioned, compression of blood vessels in the neck can lead to impaired blood circulation in the occipital region of the brain. In this condition, the brain stops receiving the required amounts of oxygen and nutrients and becomes deprived of oxygen. If circulation is compromised, there is a real risk of ischemic stroke and various neuropathologies.

syndrome

When it comes to the dangers cervical osteochondrosis poses when it progresses and lacks proper treatment, this disease can lead to many complications and syndromes.The main syndromes are:

• spine.
• Vertebral artery.
• Koreshkovi.
• heart.

It is important to know that each symptom is accompanied by pain sensations of a different nature, as well as many adverse clinical symptoms. A person may experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, and more.

spinal syndrome

Talking about the direct connection between cervical osteochondrosis and bone and cartilage tissue. Symptoms of this pathology are also related to damage to the above-mentioned tissues:

• Partial or complete restriction of neck movement.
• Head movements are accompanied by a feeling of pain in the neck.
• X-rays show morphological changes in tissues (intervertebral and vertebral bodies).

It is worth noting that spinal syndrome is always accompanied by these three clinical symptoms. If at least one of these is missing, the diagnosis will be completely different.

vertebral artery syndrome

This syndrome is caused by vertebral artery stenosis, leading to vestibular, vascular, and autonomic problems. In this case, the main symptoms are widespread:

• Headaches and migraines.
• Visual impairment.
• There is noise in the ears.
• Frequent dizziness, etc.

The most dangerous symptom is fainting, which indicates a severe lack of oxygen.

radiculopathy syndrome

Occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged. In this condition, nerve conduction is disrupted and some parts of the body may experience pain or loss of sensitivity, or even become paralyzed.Depending on which of the 8 pairs of nerve roots is affected, the following symptoms can be recognized:

• 1 pair - numbness or pain in the back of the head;
• The third pair - impaired chewing reflex, numbness of the tongue, unpleasant sensation behind the ears;
• 4 pairs - pain in the clavicle area and impaired swallowing reflex;
• 5 pairs - shoulder girdle disease with arm movement problems;
• Couple 6 - The patient begins to experience pain and numbness in the forearm and shoulder blade;
• Seventh pair - the hands and fingers (usually the index and middle fingers) become numb;
• Pair 8 – Similar problem to the previous point, but the ring and pinky fingers feel numb.

Based on the characteristics described, it is sometimes possible to determine which pair of roots is affected by radicular syndrome.

cardiac syndrome

Although the pathological process remains limited to the cervical spine, the syndrome has all the symptoms of cardiac disease. The clinical manifestations are as follows:

• Rapid pulse.
• Sternal pain.
• Shortness of breath, weakness, lethargy, decreased performance.

disease progression

When talking about the degree of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, we refer to the progressive stages of the pathological process, the clinical symptoms of which vary. In general, the disease has four degrees of progression:

1. The first stage is characterized by unclear symptoms. The patient complained of a mild headache; during initial examination, the physician noted mild muscle stiffness.
2. Pain in the cervical spine and head is more common, more severe, and radiates to the shoulders and arms. The pathology results from disc damage and nerve root compression. The pain worsens when you turn your head, lean back, and bend forward.
3. In the third stage, the pain persists, the arm muscles weaken, and the discs herniate. Neck movement is limited and dizziness often occurs.
4. The fourth stage is accompanied by complete destruction of the disc, with cartilage tissue being replaced by connective tissue. In addition to pain and dizziness, coordination problems are observed, and the vertebral arteries are often compressed.

Signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Seek medical advice promptly and clearly understand the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. In some cases, this knowledge can allow you to seek help in the early stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat.Generally speaking, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include the following:

• The pain of osteochondrosis is always present, but varies in intensity and frequency. Pain is the first clinical symptom. Their intensity depends on the stage of disease progression; they are blunt or compressive in nature. Pain is felt primarily in the neck and occipital areas, but can also radiate to the temporal areas, shoulder girdle, and arms.
• In most cases, there will be vestibular organ damage. We're talking about frequent unexplained dizziness, nausea, poor movement coordination, unbalanced gait, and loss of space.
• One of the most common clinical symptoms is neck muscle stiffness and stiffness of movement. A person has difficulty turning, lowering and tilting his head back, and the movements are accompanied by pain.
• Many patients report a "goosebumps" feeling or a characteristic tingling sensation on the scalp.
• Muscle weakness and numbness in the arm area.
• There are often psychological manifestations, including depression, lethargy, sudden changes in mood, bad temper, or irritability.
• Due to poor circulation and damage to brain tissue, dizziness worsens and noises in the ears that resemble rustling, pulsing and ringing occur.
• Most patients notice decreased vision, as well as pain in the eyeball, especially when trying to squint too much to the left, right, up, or down.

The extent of the development of the pathological process can sometimes be determined by symptoms. However, this is still not enough for a comprehensive diagnosis and many diagnostic measures are required.

diagnosis method

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is necessary to determine the site and stage of progression of the disease. For a complete diagnosis, the following diagnostic methods are required:

• X-ray examination is the main method to determine the degree and position of spinal deformity.
• Computed tomography can more accurately diagnose pathological changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – allows a detailed examination of the discs and vertebrae to determine the presence of hernias, herniations, extent of disease, etc.
• Dopplerography - With this test, it is possible to find where the arteries are compressed and to assess the extent of the circulatory disorder.

treatment method

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck always involves a comprehensive approach. The principles of treatment depend on many factors, such as the age of the patient, the stage of development of the disease, the severity of the clinical manifestations, etc.However, in this case you cannot live without a doctor, first you can contact a general practitioner, who will then refer you to a chiropractic specialist.As for comprehensive treatment: The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires drug therapy, physical therapy, massage, exercise therapy and other methods, which is worth talking about in detail.

medical treatement

The basis of treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is pharmacotherapy, which includes the use of tablets, medicines and the following groups of drugs:

• Painkillers - Analgesics and antispasmodics. The first directly paralyzes nerve centers, thereby reducing pain sensations. The latter can relieve neck muscle spasms, improve blood flow and suppress pain.
• NSAIDs - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are necessary to reduce inflammation and most also eliminate pain. These medications usually come in the form of a gel or ointment that is applied to the affected area.
• Muscle relaxants are another way to relieve neck muscle spasms.
• In certain stages of spinal osteochondrosis, chondroprotectants are necessary as they aid in the recovery of bone tissue.
• B vitamins—normalize the metabolic processes of nervous tissue, improve the conductivity of nerve impulses, and promote the function of the central nervous system.

Remember that treatment can only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, who is responsible for prescribing each drug and determining the duration and dosage of its use.

physiotherapy

Treating osteochondrosis of the neck can be many times more effective using certain physical therapy techniques:

• Electrophoresis.
• Laser Treatment.
• ultrasound.
• massage.

Massage therapy must be performed by an experienced medical professional and the treatment session must be performed at least 10 times. Cervical massage helps normalize blood circulation, restore elasticity, muscle tone, relieve pain, etc.

physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercises can also help speed recovery, but only during the recovery phase. It is important that the exercises cause no discomfort or pain to the patient. Exercise therapy is designed to strengthen muscles and relieve discomfort during exercise by increasing the elasticity of muscle fibers.Exercise techniques are initially developed by physical therapists and can then be performed independently by patients at home.

manual therapy

The principle of manual therapy is to restore motor function and mobility between vertebrae. Initially, the procedure involves a light relaxing massage, then the doctor applies increasing force, applying pressure and turning the neck toward the vertebrae.

Kuznetsov applicator

The use of a Kuznetsov applicator is one of the methods of treating spinal disorders, including osteochondrosis. The device's effect on the cervical spine normalizes metabolic processes, relieves pain, increases muscle tone, improves blood circulation, increases conductivity of nerve tissue, etc.

treatment at home

All treatment measures take place at home, except for physiotherapy, massage (in some cases) and the first phase of exercise therapy. However, now we are talking about traditional medicine and we will consider several of the most effective recipes:

• To use horseradish, take a leaf of this plant, pour boiling water over it and apply the inside to your neck, securing it with a bandage. Can continue to be used while sleeping for enhanced effects.
• If there are no contraindications from your doctor, cervical spine warming can be a good treatment. The easiest way is to use pepper paste, but you can heat the wax cake and apply it 1-2 times until completely cooled.

prevent disease

In order to prevent the development of the disease or its recurrence after treatment, it is necessary to prevent cervical osteochondrosis. It contains these simple recommendations:

• Sleep on a flat, hard surface; it's best to invest in a special orthopedic mattress and pillow that fits the shape of your head.
• To prevent this disease, monitor your physical activity and do not overstrain the spine. If you must lift weights, do so smoothly and keep your back straight.
• If your job requires you to sit for long periods of time, take breaks. Every hour you need to walk or stretch out stiff muscles with simple gymnastic movements.

In order to prevent osteochondrosis, it is helpful to swim and hang on a horizontal bar for 2-3 minutes every day.