Osteochondrosis is an outdated term that is often used in some countries to refer to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, facet joints and the vertebral bodies themselves. In the cervical spine, these changes are common due to its mobility and cause neck pain in both men and women. Sometimes the degenerative disease is complicated by an intervertebral hernia that presses on the spinal root, which can lead to muscle weakness and numbness of the skin of the upper extremities. 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. In osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become thinner and deformed, their elasticity and cushioning decrease. Gradually, the inner part of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, protrudes through microdamages in the outer part, the annulus fibrosus. Thus, intervertebral protrusions and hernias are formed, which irritate the pain receptors of the ligament on the back surface of the spine, which causes pain. When the spinal roots are compressed, the pain may spread to the upper limbs and neurological symptoms may appear: reduced sensitivity of the skin of the hand, muscle weakness in it, etc. As a protective reaction to any injuries and damage, bone growths - osteophytes - can appear on the edges of the bodies and along the arches of the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine usually develops as a result of the aging process, but certain risk factors worsen and accelerate the course of the degenerative disease of the spine. Between them:
- Genetic predisposition.The presence of osteochondrosis in close relatives, especially at a young age, increases the risk of early onset and complications.
- Lack of physical activity.With a sedentary lifestyle, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs is disturbed. They have no blood vessels and obtain nutrients by diffusion from the vertebral bodies. These processes take place actively during physical activity.
- Injury.Spinal injuries accelerate the development of degenerative changes in the spine.
- Uneven load on the spine.Possible situations: incorrect exercise, poor posture, predominant load on one side of the body or one limb, prolonged posture with tilted head, for example when reading on the phone.
- Metabolic disorders.The condition of the vertebrae is affected by the presence of endocrine diseases, especially diabetes, which makes it difficult to nourish the tissues.
Symptoms
The dominant symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is pain. Its localization depends on the nature of the lesion. When irritated by a bulging disc or osteophytes of a sensitive ligament, pain is felt in the neck and is associated with reflex muscle spasm. If the herniation compresses the spinal nerve, the pain may radiate into the arm.
Most often, the pain is noticed in the area of the neck and the back of the head and occurs or intensifies with sudden movements of the head, prolonged static tension or an uncomfortable position, for example after sleep.
Other signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Limited mobility of the neck, pain when turning the head.
- Neck muscle spasm.
- Decreased tone and strength of the muscles of the upper limbs, which is characteristic of compression of the hernia of the spinal root.
- Impaired sensitivity of the skin of the upper limbs.
- When a hernia of the vertebral artery is compressed, symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency appear, which develop sharply when turning or tilting the head: dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, fainting, short-term memory impairment, instability when walking, visual impairment, hearing and speech, severe muscle weakness in the limbs.
Diagnosis
In case of pain and discomfort in the neck area, the patient is recommended to consult a neurologist or vertebrologist. Sometimes it is necessary to consult other specialists: an orthopedic traumatologist, if there is a history of injury.
The neurologist conducts an examination and clarifies the complaints and medical history. Cervical osteochondrosis can manifest as dozens of diseases, so additional research is often needed to determine the cause of the pain and make a clinical diagnosis.
A diagnostic plan for neck pain may include the following research methods:
- Laboratory tests (general blood count, biochemical blood test, urine, others - as indicated).
- X-ray of the cervical vertebrae to detect fractures and other injuries.
- CT scan of the cervical vertebrae to determine injuries, cancer and other changes in the vertebrae.
- MRI of the cervical vertebrae to assess the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, visualization of protrusions and hernias.
- Electroneuromyography to determine the conduction of impulses along the spinal roots.
In case of differential diagnosis, other tests are prescribed at the discretion of the specialists.
When is treatment possible without surgery?
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, conservative treatment is carried out if there are no progressive neurological manifestations: muscle weakness and numbness of the limbs. They occur when the spinal roots, arteries and spinal cord are compressed.
The neurologist determines how to treat osteochondrosis of the neck after examination and receiving the results of the examination. Most patients receive effective conservative therapy with stable long-term remission. Modern techniques are also effectively used to prevent the progression of osteochondrosis and its manifestations.
Conservative treatment methods
In cervical osteochondrosis, treatment begins with conservative methods. Its goals: relieve pain, eliminate muscle spasms, improve metabolic processes in nervous tissue and microcirculation.
Drug therapy is given to relieve pain and muscle spasms. For this, the neurologist prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. If the pain persists for more than 12 weeks, i. e. becomes chronic, anticonvulsants and antidepressants with a permanent analgesic effect may be recommended.
In addition to drug therapy, modern effective techniques are used:
- Acupuncture.The neurologist uses special sterile needles to stimulate biologically active points. This relieves the condition: reduces pain, relaxes the muscles.
- Plasma therapy.Local application of the patient's blood plasma, enriched with platelets, stimulates the regeneration of damaged tissue. Recovery time after operations, illnesses and injuries is reduced.
- High intensity magnet.The electromagnetic field stimulates and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues. It relieves pain and reduces swelling.
- Physiotherapy laser.The method has an anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and analgesic effect. It allows you to reduce the size of the hernial protrusion. It is used as the main method as part of the course of treatment of intervertebral hernias by the resorption method.
- Physiotherapy.The classes are aimed at strengthening the muscles, increasing the flexibility of the spine, restoring the range of motion in the joints of the spine and developing correct posture. Exercises are selected by a specialist individually for the patient, after relief of acute pain.
- Kinesio taping.In combination with physiotherapy. Before the classes, the doctor fixes strips on the neck and collar area in a certain direction to relax the muscles and affect the pain receptors. As a result, the pain subsides. With regular use, the mobility of the spine is restored and muscle tone is normalized.
- Medical massage.The specialist relieves muscle spasm by acting on receptors in the skin, muscles and fascia. It quickly and permanently relieves pain and improves the mobility of the vertebrae.
Therapy is selected individually depending on the cause of neck and back pain and accompanying symptoms.
Forecast
With timely diagnosis and treatment, the outcome is favorable. If complications of osteochondrosis occur in the form of an intervertebral hernia with various neurological symptoms, surgical treatment may be required. After that, rehabilitation can take years. Without treatment, there is a high risk of permanent disability. Comorbidities and advanced age worsen the prognosis.
Patients are often concerned about how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever. Unfortunately, it cannot be completely cured. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine are processes of natural aging of the body that cannot be avoided. But you can slow their progression and avoid complications.
Prevention
There are no specific preventive measures for osteochondrosis.
Recommendations boil down to improving overall health:
- Maintaining optimal body weight.
- Maintaining an active lifestyle.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
- Regular moderate physical activity - half an hour of walking, warming up the neck and back every day is enough.
- Ergonomics in the workplace. The table and chair should match your height, the computer monitor should be at your eye level or slightly higher.
These measures will maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system by reducing the amount of wear and tear on the intervertebral discs.
Summaries:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the vertebrae, accompanied by the formation of herniation of the 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 skin of the upper extremities may occur.
- The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis consists of an examination by a neurologist and conducting the necessary additional examination: CT, MRI of the spine and other methods.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis is most often conservative and aimed at relieving pain, inflammation and muscle spasm.
- The prevention of osteochondrosis consists in maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical activity and ergonomics at the workplace.