Osteochondrosis of the cervical column.

Osteochondrosis is degenerative distrusing disorders in the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints, causing their deformation and destruction.Osteocondrosis can develop in one or more spine.Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionIt occurs above all and sometimes gives very serious complications.

Characteristics of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column

Due to the characteristics of the structure of the cervical column, the course and the symptoms of osteocondrosis in this segment have a series of characteristics.The cervical column consists of small mobile vertebrae, which are constantly subjected to significant and long loads.The vertebral canal in the cervical region is the closest, therefore the compression of the spinal cord in this segment develops much more often and leads to rather serious injuries.In the neck there is a large accumulation of nerve endings and blood vessels, including the vertebral artery, which provides cerebellum nutrition, oblong brain and back of the brain.The violation of the blood flow in this artery leads to a compromise of coordination, dizziness, reduction of vision and hearing and, in serious cases, a stroke can develop.

Symptoms of osteochondosis of the cervical column

Osteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is manifested by different syndromes:

1. Reflected and irrelevant syndrome

   The burning pain in the cervical and consumer region, deriving after sneezing, sudden movements of the head or a long static state, for example, after having slept or a fixed state and subsequent movement of the head or neck -epess they complain of osteochondosis of the cervical spine.Pain can radiate to the shoulder or chest cage.

2. The narrowing syndrome of the spinal canal (stenosis of the spinal channel)

   This syndrome develops due to the compression (squeezing) of the spinal cord and its vessels, which leads to circulatory disorders in the area concerned and the development of myelopathy - a rare but formidable complication of the osteocondrosis.The cervical myelopathy -Carbon occurs mainly in medium and elderly people due to the compression of the spinal cord or its vessels with the rear osteophytes, inspired yellow ligament, hernias of intervertebral discs.The disease gradually develops, initially, the pain and restriction of movements in the cervical column are often observed.In the future, cervical osteochondosis can cause compromised functions of the higher and/or lower ends, manifested by numbness, a sense of tingling in the fingers, a feeling of legs or cotton weapons, up to the development of the paresis and paralysis

3. Rook syndrome

   The manifestations of the root syndrome in the osteocondrosis of the cervical column will depend on which compression the nervous root was born following structural changes on the disc.However, in any case, the cervical osteochondrosis will occur with headaches that have a painful, pulsating or burning character, sometimes it flows in the type of hypertension.Back pain is rarely local and usually gives shoulder blades, forearms, shoulder and/or hand, to the fingers of the brush.

   Depending on the spinal segment concerned, the following symptoms may be:

   • C1-C2: the defeat in this segment, as a rule, occurs following automotive injuries and manifests itself from a violation of smell and language, hypotrophy of facial and sublingual muscles and a decrease in sensitivity in the occipital region.
   • C2-C3: it is also rarely affected and is accompanied by a hearing, vision and control altered of the movement and sensitivity of the muscles of language, which leads to language disorders and taste sensations, the aspect of a sense of inflammation, sweaty or lump in the throat.
   • C3-C4: Since the diaphragmatic nerve retires to this segment, in addition to pain in the clavicle and the shoulder GPU, the spam of the belt and the trapezoidal muscles are also disturbing, pain in hypocondry and the right heart develop and respiratory movements develop.In addition, gunishness, the sense of nasal congestion, snoring, decrease in the smell, fall of the face muscles, the deterioration of the conditions of the teeth can develop.
   • C4-C5: The defeat in this segment is accompanied by painful sensations in the shoulder shoulder, hypotrophy of the deltoid muscle, a decrease in the sensitivity of the external surface of the shoulder, shoulder and inflammation of the skeletal muscles in this area.Among other symptoms, changes can occur in the voice, the feeling of inflammation in the larynx, snoring.
   • C5-C6: The segment is often sensitive to degenerative-right lesions and has extensive symptoms.First of all, the pain and sensitivity of the skin compromised by the scapula, the external surface of the shoulder to the radial surface of the forearm and the thumb of the hand develops.Subsequently, somatic symptoms develop, including frequently and scarcely subject to the treatment of lungs and bronchi, including asthma, rheumatic and allergic events, symptoms of Angina Pectoris.
   • C6-C7: The lesion of the nervous roof in this segment leads to the appearance of the pain in the scapula, the rear surface of the shoulder, along the pre-processing surface of the forearm on the back of the hand.In addition, the damage to this segment can accompany the symptoms corresponding to thyroid diseases, mediastinal organs and cardiovascular system.
   • C7-T1: The lesion of the C8 spine is accompanied by the three-headed muscle hypertrophy and the deviant little finger, which leads to a weakening of the reflection of the flexion and pain with a sensitivity of the skin compromised by the neck, shoulder, shoulder blades, to the elbow joint.In serious cases, symptoms can develop as with Angina pectis, arrhythmia and asthma.

4. Cervical osteochondosis cardial syndrome

   Cardial syndrome develops with the irritation of the nerve roots innervated by the diaphragm (diaphragmatic nerve) or a large chest muscle.The symptoms are definitely identical to the attack by Angina Pectoris, but at the same time the attack unnaturally long, the pain intensifies with a strong movement of the head or neck, with a sneezing or acute cough.Standard coronaries do not bring relief and the ECG at the time of the attack does not show a violation of coronary circulation.At the same time, heart syndrome can be accompanied by tachycardia, arrhythmia and hypertension.

5. Vail artery syndrome

   This syndrome is one of the most frequent and dangerous eventsosteochondrosis of the cervical regionvertebral column.This syndrome develops against squeezing the vertebral artery and circulatory disorders in the corresponding areas of the brain (cerebellum, brain trunk and rear lobes), which determines the clinical picture.

One of the main manifestations of the vertebral artery syndrome is a strong pulsating and/or burning headache, constant or paroxysmal darkness, exciting, part of the overson, whiskey and back of the head.Usually pain can be one side.In the early stages of development, they present or intensify headache after a long stay in an uncomfortable position with a rear head, after physical effort or after sudden movements.With the narrowing of the lumen, the pain artery becomes more pronounced and frequent, sometimes constant.In serious cases or the peak of a headache, vomiting may occur, a state of fainting is not excluded.

Visual disorders with cervical osteochondrosis may occur both separately and in the background of the headache and expressed by pains of the eyeball, compromised visual acuity, a feeling of veil before the eyes, dryness or stove in the eye.One of the characteristic symptoms of the narrowing of the vertebral artery are sudden short -term attacks of vertigo or loss of orientation in space.These attacks occur for a few seconds and pass quickly.A sudden noise can occur in the ears or pulsations in the head area.In addition, the damage to the vertebral artery can lead to the development of heart syndrome.

In serious cases, an attack of an "ischemic attack", manifested by serious headaches, vomiting, loss of coordination of the movement, a change in calligraphy, shake the pace, double gait, language and compromised balance, can develop.

Diagnosis of osteochondosis of the cervical column

The doctor can make the primary diagnosis of osteochondosis of the cervical column already at the first examination of the patient, as well as determine the level of the affected spine, the anatomical characteristics, including posture, physique, body structure, the line of spicy processes, the lateral outlines of the neck, the lower corner of the shoulder blades;Localization, nature and degree of pain syndrome;The breadth of the spine, relief and muscle tone.

The diagnosis is specified using visual diagnostic methods (radiographic studies, coach, magnetic resonance imaging), which allows to determine the stage of the disease, the level of spinal lesions, the accurate location of the deformed disk.And on the basis of these data, the most optimal treatment of the cervical osteocondrosis is selected.

Treatment of the osteocondrosis of the cervical column

In the treatment of cervical osteocondrosis, surgical and conservative methods are used.But the surgical treatment is prescribed only in the presence of serious complications that occur in the subsequent stages of the osteocondrosis if:

• Stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal was formed;
• The vertebral artery is suppressed;
• A significant hernia or protrusion has been formed, compressing the nerve roots;
• Excessive instability of the developed spine.

In other cases, the treatment standardosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine is conservative therapy.This is due to the fact that with all the results of modern medicine, the consequences of the surgical intervention are not always foreseen.

Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondosis

The best results in treatmentosteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine, as well as other types of osteochondrosis, are reached when you see a doctor.Unfortunately, many patients often do not attribute importance to slight discomfort in the back or periodic headache.On the other hand, there are many cases of improper diagnosis and a long useless treatment since thenOsteochondrosis of the cervical regionThe spine can simulate other diseases, such as arthritis, myalgia or angina pectoris.This is the reason why the vertebrologists recommend controlling the spine in the presence of symptoms of any diseases, especially accompanied by pain in the head or spine.

In the effective treatment of cervical osteocondrosis, an integrated approach is of great importance, including the following directions:

• Drug therapy- aimed at improving the trophism of the intervertebral disc and stopping pain, removing muscle spasm and inflammation during exacerbation.For these purposes, non -pounded, analgesic, relaxing muscle, chondroprotectors are prescribed anti -inflammatory drugs in order to stimulate the restoration of the tissue of the cartilage of the joint, multivitamine and vitamins of group B;
• physiotherapy- it is prescribed to reduce pain, improve the nutrition of the disk cartilage tissue, stimulate cartilage regeneration processes, removing muscle spasm, inflammatory processes in the postoperative period for rapid recovery;
• Manual therapy- It is used to eliminate muscle cramps, reduce pain, improve blood and the metabolism of the sap, the correction of posture and improve the breadth of the joints.The manual exposure scheme is selected individually for each patient;
• massage-The long -lasting and consolidated method for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Has the same effect as manual therapy;

• Medical physical educationIt is one of the most important methods for the treatment of all types of osteochondrosis, including osteochondosis of the cervical column.The purpose of operating therapy is to relieve muscle spasm and the compression of the nerve roots, improve blood and the lymphatic flow in the spine, strengthen the muscle frame and increase the flexibility of the binding apparatus.A series of exercises is selected for each patient, whose correct implementation is monitored by a specialist;
• reflexologyIt refers to a type of alternative treatment, widely used today and provides an excellent result in combination with other treatment methods.The essence of the method is the impact on the acupunctural points and/or in the reflexogenic areas in order to obtain the same results as other therapeutic methods (reducing muscle pain and spasm, the decompression of the roots of the spinal brain, in improving the trophies of the tissues.

For the treatment of chronic osteochdrosis, chondroprotectors, B vitamins (B6, B12) and drugs for external use are also used: ointments, creams, gels that contain fans, local jolts and stimulants of regeneration of the fabrics.

In addition to the main treatment methods, with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, patients are recommended to change the usual lifestyle, since in most cases the disease proceeds against the background of low mobility, poor or malnutrition, obesity or, on the contrary, excessively low weight and presence of bad habits.In most cases, in the early stages of cervical osteochdrosis, it is sufficient to conduct a healthy lifestyle, not to allow muscle spasms and overload of the muscles of the cervical flame region, provide comfortable conditions for sleep, normalize nutrition and satisfy the doctor's recommendations in the operating therapy to stop the further development of the pathological process and even the recovery at first phase.