Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: causes, manifestations, treatment

Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies in front of the eyes, a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head are caused not only by fatigue. Often they are provoked by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Headaches in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are a typical manifestation of the disease. It is impossible to get rid of them for a long time without affecting the cause.

The mechanism of the development of the disease

The degeneration of the intervertebral cartilage and the bone tissue in the cervical spine leads to clinical symptoms at an early stage. The growth and displacement of vertebral fragments inevitably leads to impaired blood flow, innervation and malnutrition of brain structures.

The causes of spinal deformities in the neck area are:

• congenital disorders of the structure of bone tissue;
• Osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic region.

In almost half of cases, the pathology is found in middle-aged and young people, more often in women. Its development is favored by a permanent incorrect posture of the head during sleep, when sitting at a desk, when making phone calls and when traveling on public transport. The progression of osteochondrosis is also accelerated by the habit of sleeping on high pillows. The mobility of this part of the body, the smaller size of the vertebrae compared to other departments, the location of a large number of large vessels and nerve trunks cause the early onset of symptoms. Pain syndrome is the main one.

Fragments of collapsing discs and altered vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and the nerve plexus that surrounds it. Prolonged compression leads to narrowing of the vascular lumen, slowing blood flow and reducing tissue oxygenation. Malnutrition, hypoxia and subsequent cerebral ischemia are aggravated by compression of the nerve trunks by osteophytes - radiculopathy.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In most cases, headaches and other pathological symptoms are of a secondary or vertebrogenic nature - they are caused by pathological processes not in the brain, but in the adjacent spine.

Reflex cephalgia - boring pain. Occurs when the first three vertebrae are affected. It starts in the upper part of the neck, spreads to the occipital and parietal parts, and then covers the temples and forehead. It is more often unilateral and resembles a classic migraine. It lasts from half an hour to several days, aggravated by tilting or turning the head, active physical activities.

When osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, cervicobrachialgia develops. Its danger lies in the resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is unilateral, sharp, burning, covering the neck, shoulder and giving under the shoulder blade, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and hand.

Myofascial dysfunction causes the so-called cervical migraine. Pulsating or aching pain from the side of the neck spreads along one side and covers part of the occiput, crown, temple and reaches the eyebrow arches.

In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, redness of the eyes, nausea, physical weakness.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region can provoke several types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:

• with frequent headaches;
• violations of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, breathing;
• abrupt mood changes.

With significant pinching of the spinal nerves, speech disorders, numbness of the tongue, loss of sensitivity of the fingers occur. A person becomes like a drunk or under the influence of psychotropic drugs: he pronounces words slurred, does not immediately respond to being addressed to himself. In advanced cases, tissue malnutrition and circulatory disorders lead to a persistent increase in intracranial pressure, decreased vision and hearing.

Some facts about the disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck is about equally common in men and women.
• It most commonly affects people between the ages of 30 and 60.
• Pathology, as a rule, occurs in people who, at work, are constantly in the same position and have to perform monotonous movements.
• The cervical spine has some structural features, due to which the disease can have many different manifestations.

What features of the cervical spine cause the symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• In the lateral processes of the vertebrae there are openings through which the carotid arteries pass on the right and left, which supply blood to the brain.
• In the cervical region runs the initial part of the spinal cord - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, providing movement and sensitivity. When there is compression of the spinal cord in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This section of the spine has great mobility, which predisposes to the occurrence of osteochondrosis (although in most cases the disease still develops in the lumbar region - it not only has high mobility, but also experiences the greatest load).
• In the neck, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramina and form the plexuses of the cervical and brachial nerves. They are responsible for movements in the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, skin sensitivity and regulation of autonomic functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a massive anterior part - the body - it is a ring of bone that is placed on the tooth - a bone outgrowth on the second vertebra. This allows the head to be turned from side to side.

Neck pain, headache, weakness, numbness in hands are symptoms that should prompt you to consult a neurologist. Examination by a specialist and examination using modern equipment will help to understand the causes of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

Stages and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

The first target of the disease is the intervertebral discs. Each disc consists of a nucleus pulposus surrounded by a dense annulus fibrosus. The nucleus serves as a shock absorber for spinal loads, and the fibrous ring holds the nucleus pulposus within the spine.

With poor blood circulation and poor nutrition, the disc tissue begins to break down. The fiber ring loosens, the core loses some moisture, becomes thinner and partially loses its shock-absorbing properties. As a result of such changes, the resilience of the intervertebral disc is reduced and it is damaged.

One of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is shooting pain in the neck, burning, stabbing, similar to "electrical discharges". It usually extends to one or both hands.

Some patients complain of aching or constant pain and, in addition to soreness, motion stiffness, dizziness, headaches and memory problems.

In many ways, the type and severity of pain, as well as the accompanying symptoms, depend on the stage of osteochondrosis:

• 1st stage.Changes occur within the disc - the nucleus pulposus moves and begins to irritate the nerve endings. However, pain in the initial stages usually occurs only with physical exertion, movements, coughing and sneezing, and at rest a person may not feel any discomfort.
• 2 level.The fibrous ring loses its ability to hold the nucleus pulposus, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and they shift relative to each other. As a result of such changes, pinching of the nerve endings is possible, which causes severe pain. Pain, in turn, forces a person to take a forced position.
• 3 steps.The fibrous ring is destroyed and an intervertebral hernia occurs. At this stage, the cervical spine is often deformed - its natural curvature decreases. A hernia compresses or irritates nerve roots, causing severe and persistent pain in the neck and arms, often accompanied by numbness and muscle weakness.
• 4 levels.The fibrous ring condenses and adhesions form between the vertebrae. As a result, immobility occurs in the affected area, while the pain may even decrease.

diagnosis

For complaints of poor health in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, you should contact a neurologist. During the examination, the doctor determines the cause of the pain. To do this, he uses the following methods:

• presses with fingers on the region of the cervical vertebrae in those places where the nerve roots protrude: the emerging pain reaction indicates cephalgia;
• Pressure on the points near the bony prominences under the lower edges of the ears: A subsequent attack of pain clearly signals the development of a cervical migraine as a result of mechanical compression.

For an accurate diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, a number of instrumental studies are prescribed. Radiography, magnetic resonance and computed tomography remain leaders. With their help, the pathological changes that have occurred in the structure of bones, cartilage and soft tissues are visualized.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Medications are designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood flow, and restore the biomechanics of the entire cervical region.

NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and antispasmodics are used to relieve pain.

Vasodilators - vasodilators help reduce vegetative manifestations, improve venous outflow and prevent edema in the affected area.

Means containing B vitamins and magnesium help to improve the nutrition of nerve tissue cells and reduce unwanted symptoms.

At the same time, drugs are recommended to patients to regulate blood pressure and correct heart rhythm.

Many patients are shown tranquilizers, antidepressants and tranquilizers.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the duration of treatment is short or long. Painkillers are used once or over several days. Means that normalize blood flow and vitamins - courses of 2-3 months.

To maintain the effect of drugs, physiotherapy is prescribed:

• Massage of the collar zone;
• Acupuncture and Reflexology.

With exacerbations, wearing therapeutic bandages that support the muscles of the neck is shown.

In the absence of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises will help stop and prevent the symptoms of VVD. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the muscles of the neck, relieve spasms, improve the elasticity of blood vessels and the ligamentous apparatus of the vertebral joints. Training includes soft tissue stretching movements: deep head tilts, twists, twists.

Patients with osteochondrosis complicated by VVD should carefully organize a place to sleep. You just need to rest on an orthopedic mattress and pillow and not drink a lot of liquids at night to avoid swelling. It is necessary to avoid work and hobbies associated with an awkward position of the cervical vertebrae: tilting back or low tilt of the head.

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Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis

Vertigo with cervical chondrosis is common in both sexes and begins in the 30s and older. The peculiarity of lifestyle and some abuses lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in adulthood in almost every second resident of our country. There are patients who have problems since they were young.

It is impossible to underestimate the danger of this pathology: it worsens a person's well-being and contributes to the development of dangerous conditions. Symptoms of it are a variety of unpleasant sensations.

Causes of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis

In the article we will consider whether with cervical osteochondrosis it can be dizzy and sick for a long time, why this happens, because of what worsens the condition and what to do, how to get rid of discomfort forever.

Due to a not very healthy lifestyle and regular overloads of the neck area, the condition of the spine of this zone is gradually changing.

Degenerative changes develop in the intervertebral discs, the holes through which the spinal nerves and vessels that supply the brain gradually narrow.

The condition is extremely uncomfortable and dangerous. The patient feels pain with sudden movements in certain positions of the head and neck. The brain receives less oxygen than it needs, which provokes the development of regular attacks of dizziness.

The main reasons why a person with osteochondrosis may feel dizzy:

1. Compression of the vertebral artery by bony overgrowth. Osteophytes pinch the vessel that supplies the cerebellum and the basal parts of the brain. Its permeability decreases, the amount of blood and oxygen passing through it is reduced. In medicine, this phenomenon is called vertebral artery syndrome.
2. Irritation of Frank's nerves. The nerve fibers of the sympathetic envelop the vertebral artery, feeling every impact on it. In response to the irritation, the nerve causes spasm of the vessel, which impairs its patency. Hernias, osteophyte formation or instability of the cervical vertebrae can cause symptoms.
3. Subluxation of the upper articular process of the underlying vertebra or formation of a herniated disc in the neck area.

With dizziness and nausea due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as well as the manifestation of other symptoms, such asB. Weakness in women requires treatment with medication, but what to take, which pills will help, only the doctor decides after a thorough examination of the patient's condition. After all, the causes of dizziness are very diverse.

Depending on the specific cause of the development of the pathological condition and the negative symptoms, various means and techniques are used.

You must understand that when the attacks become more intense and frequent, dizziness is a really dangerous condition. A person not only risks his life driving a car or crossing the street, but also provokes the risk of developing encephalopathy due to the regular lack of blood and nutrients for neurons.

Additional Symptoms

Before deciding what will help with the appearance of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis, what exercises will stop unpleasant attacks, you should not read the reviews of strangers, but evaluate the concomitant symptoms that appear during the development of the disease.

An experienced doctor, based on such signs, will suggest the degree of development of chondrosis. It is also able to assess the dangerousness of the condition and create a diagnostic algorithm. And then - to choose an effective and safe treatment.

Symptoms associated with a decrease in the patency of the cervical artery and signaling the need to urgently consult a doctor:

1. Intermittent tinnitus, possibly pulsating. Then gradually spreads to the entire head. As a rule, an attack occurs after an uncomfortable position, physical exertion or against the background of severe fatigue.
2. Cracking, pain when moving the neck.

3. Darkening of the eyes, brief fits of fainting when the head is thrown back. In advanced cases, even a sharp turn provokes such a reaction.
4. Nausea to the point of vomiting, accompanied by dizzy spells.

Can the head not turn from cervical chondrosis, why it developed and what to do, only a neurologist after the examination will tell you. The earlier the diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the more effective the measures taken will be.

If you seek help early, there is a chance to avoid drug therapy and get rid of the problem that has arisen. If you delay the trip to the doctor, you risk developing a more dangerous condition.

diagnosis

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with dizziness, what to do if a violation of coordination of movements has developed and what is prescribed in such cases, you can find out after a full diagnosis, since each case is unique.

Before deciding on a therapy regimen, it is extremely important for the doctor to find out what influenced the development of the disease. It is necessary to clarify how quickly it deteriorates and what are the characteristics of its course. Due to these characteristics, thorough diagnostics are carried out if there are complaints of regular dizziness.

A neurologist performs an initial exam, during which:

• determines the spectrum of symptoms accompanying the course of the disease;
• according to the results of a physical examination, finds features of changes in the region of the neck;
• collects an anamnesis, a history of the development of the disease;
• asks about the specifics of the patient's life in order to identify risk factors that affect the development of the disease.

Then there are instrumental tests:

• MRI of the brain and neck to determine if changes have already occurred and how extensive they are;
• Ultrasound of the vessels passing through the neck shows how greatly reduced blood flow patency and brain nutrition;
• CT of the cervical spine shows shaped deviations from the norm of bone structures;
• Electromyography allows you to register the electrical activity of the muscles in the area being examined.

The correct answer to the question of what to do if the head turns from the neck and hurts is to go to the doctor. The clinic will accurately determine the causes of the poor condition and select the appropriate therapy.

treatment

After determining the specific stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes individual therapy. After all, you can encounter such a phenomenon as occipital nerve neuralgia, and you need to treat it in your own way.

Preference is given to complex treatment, which includes:

• Taking medications (chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. );
• physiotherapeutic techniques;
• various massage techniques;
• specialized complexes of physiotherapeutic exercises, exercise therapy;
• after a healthy diet.

If you feel dizzy with osteochondrosis of the neck region, treatment can be carried out both by conservative methods and by surgical intervention.

Operations are performed in situations where the spine is too narrow or persistent hernias have formed.

Effective treatment methods in the early stages are massage and special exercise sets. Compliance with the doctor's recommendations at the preclinical stage of the development of the disease allows for a complete cure.

The results show methods of physiotherapy that make it possible to get rid of painful symptoms in a few sessions:

• classic manual therapy;
• shock wave methods to affect the body;
• hydromassage;
• laser therapy.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, when the head is already regularly dizzy, is a necessary urgent step.

This dangerous symptom is an indicator of the development of truly dangerous pathologies that can further aggravate the comfort of human life. And even shorten its duration.

prevention

With the help of regular preventive measures, it is possible to prevent the appearance of unpleasant symptoms or significantly reduce their severity. Many people think about whether it can be effective to use means without pain for dizziness due to cervical osteochondrosis, how to get rid of it, quickly relieve an attack, than to treat the condition at home?

Prevention through lifestyle

We list the measures that are suitable to prevent the progression of the disease:

• Decreased time spent in a hunched position. For example on the computer, on devices or when doing work that requires neck tension and a head tilted forward. Provide an ergonomic workplace.
• Organization of a sparing regime with alternating work and rest.

• Rejection of habits, destructive addictions. It is required to reduce alcohol consumption and the number of cigarettes smoked.
• Set up a place to sleep. Get an orthopedic pillow and mattress that takes into account the structural features of your spine.
• Increase physical activity time in your daily routine, avoid physical inactivity.
• Regularly perform special warm-ups throughout the workday. Ideally, you should schedule 5 minutes of exercise every hour.
• Avoid traumatic activities, extreme sports and excessive physical exertion.
• Watch your body weight. When obesity occurs, try to lose excess weight as soon as possible.
• Regularly attend special massage classes and learn safe self-massage techniques.

• Use comfortable backpacks to carry things, avoid bags that go wrong when walking. Use headrests when traveling seated.
• In the event of injury, seek help immediately. From the first days, follow medical recommendations.

It is impossible to ignore situations when, against the background of preventive measures, the neck and back of the head hurt. This is the first symptom of the disease and requires treatment.

power protection

A special diet that supports medically induced recovery processes in the neck and cervical spine area is advantageous.

Basic principles of nutrition in the presence of such a problem or a predisposition to it:

• the use in food of gelling agents that help restore cartilage in the body;
• Maintaining a balance between protein and carbohydrate foods, a sufficient amount of lean meat and fish in the diet;
• limiting excessive consumption of salt and spices;
• reducing the consumption of pickled, smoked products;
• reducing the diet of sweets, including rich products;
• limit caffeinated drinks;
• increasing the share of fresh vegetables and fruits in the daily menu;
• Refusal of fatty and fried foods, fast food.

An important place in the life of a person with a similar disease should be occupied by exercise therapy. They are especially relevant for the elderly or those with a sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, a special set of exercises must be repeated daily in order to achieve the expected result.

Despite the diversity of traditional medicine, with dizziness due to cervical osteochondrosis, what to do, what to drink, how to cope with seizures, how to cure a deviation or eliminate a specific symptom, this or that remedy really helps and doesit cause additional damage should be decided by a professional doctor. This is where an online consultation with a neurologist can help.

Do not blindly follow the advice of friends and try to get rid of the disease without seeking the recommendations of a qualified doctor.

In advanced cases, osteochondrosis can affect not only the quality of life, but also a person's ability to work. Therefore, try to identify in time the factors that can lead to the destruction of the intervertebral discs and, if possible, eliminate or reduce their harmful effects on the spine. If you are concerned about neck pain, be sure to consult your doctor. Only a specialist can determine the stage of the disease, select painkillers and prescribe a set of physiotherapy exercises or physical therapy.