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 in the cervical region. Loss of shock-absorbing cartilage causes pain both from exposure of joint surfaces (spondyloarthrosis) and from compression of spinal cord nerve roots.

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

Pathology can develop both independently and as part of a general 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 so - dystrophic phenomena develop evenly at all points of maximum load - in the area of the main bends of the spine (the lower the department, the greater the load on itimportant). 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 vertebrae of the neck, which at the same time hold the head, as well as the peculiarity of the location of the outlets of the roots of the spinal cord.

On 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 studies and work, as well as a decrease in physical activity and a deterioration in the quality of food.

Considering the age of the audience, one can distinguish 2 forms of cervical osteochondrosis - physiological and pathological.

physiological processassociated with the natural aging of the organism, when the symptoms of the disease are a consequence of the progressive wear of the intervertebral discs. The process occurs under the influence of the endocrine system and is a consequence of the changes of menopause. 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. The pathology is irreversible, but can be compensated by 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 on bone structures, nerve roots become inflamed, atrophy or hypertonicity of skeletal muscles occurs, which leads to impaired blood circulation in thehead-neck-chest region. 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 their symptoms

There are 4 main stages of the pathological process:

• Stage 1 - is manifested by mild discomfort and muscle tension in the diseased area, cartilaginous discs lose 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, movement is limited. Head turning can cause dizziness, nausea, insufficient blood supply to the brain leading to general lethargy, fatigue, trouble concentrating, thinning cartilage, vertebrae closing, annulus fibrosisis completely destroyed with the risk of intervertebral hernia;
• 4th stage - pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; the blood circulation of the brain is impaired 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, a distinctive feature becomes the presence of painful or uncomfortable sensations in the head, neck and chest, less often in the upper extremities.

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

Vertebral syndrome:

• crackle in the neck when turning / tilting the head;
• as the disease progresses, pain and difficulty in movement occur;
• morphological structural disturbances of the vertebral body and intervertebral space (visible on x-rays).

Heart 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 tongue, shoulders, fingers, occipital region;
• difficulty swallowing;
• 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, cotton feeling in the head;
• temporary unilateral blindness, "flies" in the eyes;
• periodic bouts of nausea, especially when moving the 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 any of them can be the reason for differential diagnosis with other groups of diseases.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Dystrophic phenomena in the region of the cervical spine are associated with the vertical position of the skeleton and the specific distribution of static and dynamic loads, which largely depend on the dominant posture and the degree of development of skeletal muscles.

• the lack of movement - what does not develop - deteriorates: the muscles weaken, the tissues are destroyed;
• incorrect static postures - muscle clamps lead to circulatory disorders with subsequent tissue degeneration;
• lack of nutrition or unbalanced diet - the body must receive everything necessary for the construction and renewal of bone and cartilaginous structures of the skeleton, maintaining muscle tone;
• obesity, overweight, carrying heavy loads - the load on 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 the cartilage leads to its premature destruction;
• endocrine pathologies disrupt mineral metabolism, reduce the absorption of calcium, silicon, phosphorus and other elements from bone and cartilage tissue;
• neck injuries;
• birth defects 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 the symptoms and the wide variety of their manifestations. During the examination, you will need to visit a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedist, cardiologist.

A physical examination is performed by a doctor with an interrogation of the patient. The main diagnostic load is instrumental and laboratory research methods.

• x-ray 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, deformities, damageto the nerve roots and blood vessels; assess 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 state of the vertebral artery);
• contrast myelography - will help with suspected violations 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

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

Medical treatment:

• painkillers - mainly gels and topical 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 for protecting and restoring cartilage tissue;
• muscle relaxants - to eliminate muscle cramps and spasms;
• complexes of vitamins and microelements - necessary for the nutrition and support of tissues with building blocks.

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

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

Attention!All actions should be carried out 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 basic sequence of exercises:

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

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

On a note!Swimming and water gymnastics have been proven as techniques for restoring cervical mobility.

Self-massagereduces the intensity of local reactions and relieves muscle clamps during static work. Execution rules:

• zone of influence - the back of the head, the back and side surfaces of the neck;
• perform the procedure in a sitting position;
• movements should be carried out in the direction of the spine;
• only use fingertips;
• avoid pressure on inflamed areas;
• perform smooth movements - strong pressure can harm.

Physiotherapytypical of hospital care and thermal rehabilitation. Well proven:

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

Surgical intervention is indicated in cases of complicated extrusion, spinal cord involvement and refractory pain syndromes.

What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis

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

• the weakening of the fibrous ring causes dislocations and subluxations at the level of the most mobile vertebrae;
• the presence of osteophytes and muscle spasms lead to damage to the nerve roots and blood vessels with the formation of compression syndromes;
• the destruction of the cartilaginous discs and the convergence of the vertebrae lead to intervertebral hernias with damage to 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;
• ocular retinal dystrophy with visual impairment;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• dysfunction of the esophagus and trachea - difficulty swallowing and respiratory spasms;
• intractable 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 in the body.

Preventive measures for cervical osteochondrosis

The most effective treatment is disease prevention. Prevention will help you. Just follow a few 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 consumption of salty, sweet, starchy and spicy foods;
• for sleep and rest, use an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• engage in a sport without strength - it is better to give preference to swimming.

Even if you are not able to take all the requirements into account, moderate exercise, adequate nutrition and attention to your posture can significantly reduce the risk of developing a 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 enormous role of the spine in maintaining human health. Unfortunately, many were then engaged in more important things and did not hear the words of the teachers. But in vain! Doctors say that disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially caused by osteochondrosis, can provoke the development of a large number of various 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 it can be caused by ordinary 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 around 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 leads to cracking of the cartilage, which means the discs are no longer able to 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 lead to complications, for example, a herniated disc. This, in turn, causes a violation of 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 are of interest to us.

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

Men can 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 malfunctions in the production of sex hormones and substances responsible for vascular tone. Therefore, with cervical osteochondrosis, patients most often complain of a decrease in sexual desire, anorgasmia and problems with ejaculation.

Lumbar osteochondrosis

Since the pelvic region, namely here the male genitals are located, is in a so to speak "switched off" state due to disorders of the spinal cord, nerve impulses do not always manage to reach the genitals, thiswhich 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.

Examinations of women with 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 have no signs of the disease and do not feel any discomfort in their back. This is mainly due to the fact that disorders of 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 functions is strongly recommended to undergo the most comprehensive examination of the body, not forgetting about the neuropathologist and vertebrologist. It is possible that the root of the problem lies precisely in the pathologies of the spine.