Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a progressive disease, which is degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, accompanied by their shape changes and change the structure.
The causes of the disease. The main reason is the violation of metabolic processes in the body and as a result, the deterioration of blood circulation in the intervertebral discs. Less frequently the disease occurs as a result of damage to the cervix the spine. Promote the emergence of degenerative disc disease: sedentary lifestyle, wrong posture, long-term "sitting" at the table in front of the computer, etc.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, treatment at the clinic
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease the clinic makes the methods of the East medicine. The process of treatment methods used in Tibetan drug – paragraph massage and herbal medicine methods of Chinese medicine above all, acupuncture and moxibustion. It is possible to use soft manual therapy, osteopathy (including the "cranio-sacral techniques", which are method soft effects on bone and soft structures of the skull; the purpose of the method - the restoration of proper circulation of cerebrospinal fluid) and other the methods of the doctors in the clinic.
For the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical the spine is one of the most important directions of activity of the clinic. Based on big experience of work in this direction, we can say that the results the treatment of this disease (including complicated hernias protrusion and the spine) is quite satisfactory. Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease is selected for each patient individually and is complex (process management the session normally requires several methods of treatment, the duration of the session – 1-1,5 hours). Pain in the cervical spine, usually, to remove up to 70% when 2-3 medical session. Treatment of osteochondrosis average, 5 and 11 sessions. Treatment produced effects on the pathological changes in the in the body, which led to the emergence of the disease.
Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis, compared to the with thoracic and lumbar spine osteochondrosis has a number of features. These characteristics are determined, the main way, the characteristics, the structure of the cervical vertebrae, the size of the bone structures which is much smaller than the vertebrae of other units. The cervix-that rolling the spine, keeping the head, it is constantly to download. Osteochondrosis often affects the most mobile segment (root-5 - H-7) - this determines the end symptoms of degenerative disc disease of the cervical.
The neck of the relatively small number of there are numerous vascular and nervous system structures, such as the here is the vertebral artery, which supplies blood to the back parts of the brain the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum. When compression of the vertebral artery, because of the reduction in the issuance of the result of stenosis can develop ischemia of the brain and the spinal cord, as in acute cases, it can lead to stroke spinae. Symptoms of vertebral artery - dizziness, impaired coordination movements, deterioration of hearing and vision.
Because of the tightness of the cervix small the displacement of the vertebrae or muscle tension can cause nerve compression the rest of the (pinched nerve in the cervical spine) or vascular structures. The result in the end of osteophytes in terms of the tightness of the cervix aggravate situation.
Cervical osteochondrosis leads to the formation of the protrusion and hernia the spine, which (in addition to the above-mentioned reasons, muscle tension, cervical dislocation, the formation of osteophytes), comprimarea nerve root, it causes swelling and inflammation. Finally, given the small size of the spine canal the cervical spine is the size of the volume, add compremised (compression occurs in the spinal canal). Clinical symptoms of this condition - severe pain.
Osteochondrosis can cause compression of the spinal cord, and because of the narrow spinal canal in the cervical the spine is more common than in the thoracic and lumbar spine. In this case the affected area is not only the neck and head, but also the top (which is more often) and lower extremities. It is the nature of cervical osteochondrosis often (compared to the lumbar and thoracic spine), leading to patient injury.
In summary, here are the factors that determine the compression of the different vascular and nervous structures, cervical osteochondrosis
- Displacement (slippage) of vertebral disc spondylolisthesis. The most common displacement is minimal, because even a small offset the vertebrae of the cervical spine cause paralysis, and is often the cause of death outcome.
- Protrusions and hernias the spine as a result, the development of cervical osteochondrosis the spine and the spinal canal.
- Osteophytes. As a result, cervical degenerative disc disease pages the vertebral bodies and the joints formed bony growths - osteophytes. Osteophytes, which is located on the sides of the vertebra adjacent to annoy him muscle tone, which is growing. This increases the load on the spine, which increases the pressure on intervertebral disk height is reduced, increasing the risk of aneurysm of the intervertebral disc. Osteophytes, which aim in the direction of the channel, where the vertebral artery can cause stenosis.
- Reduce the height of the spinal disc (the flattening of the intervertebral disc)is often caused by compression of the nerve roots by reducing the the intervertebral foramen. In addition, in this case, if you managed to translate neck possible subluxation of the cervical vertebrae, which increases the compression.
Cervical degenerative disc disease symptoms
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease is cervical the spine depends on firstly, what was meant to win. Distinguished: radicular syndrome (compression of the spinal roots), compression spinal cord ischemia spinal cord as a result of stenosis of the vertebral artery, resulting in impaired blood supply to the brain stem, cerebellar, cranial the nerves and the inner ear. Below are some of the most common syndromes.
- Radicular syndrome cervical radiculitis. Arise roots comprimarea (a pinched nerve in the cervical spine). These symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease is associated with with the pinching (compression) of the nerve roots. The pain radiates from the neck down shoulder and then the shoulder, of the forearm (outside the surface) of fingers hands. Can be pale, "run and needles", tingling the forearm, wrist and fingers. In addition, depending on which segment affect, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are different. For example, with the defeat of Central nerve roots of the pasty is the thumb, the index and middle finger, and the defeat of the roots of the brachial nerve - ring and the little finger ... (other symptoms are the same).
- Annoying-reflektoorisista syndromes. Symptoms: burning pain in the cervical-occipital region or the neck (after sleep, when you turn your head, sneezing, etc.). Possible irradiation in the shoulder and chest.
- Vertebral artery syndrome, cervical osteochondrosis. Symptoms: pulsating, or "burning" headache, gripping the back of the head, the temple, the darkness the area above the eyebrows. The pain is often continuous, less paroxysmal, add after a long stay in an uncomfortable position when you are driving. General weakness the body of nausea, loss of consciousness. Can occur one-sided auditory disturbances: noise, reduced acuity, vestibular disorders. Patients coronary artery disease can increase blood pressure, pressing pain in the region of the heart. Possible decrease in visual acuity, eye pain, etc.
- Heart syndrome. Symptoms of degenerative disc disease this syndrome similar to the symptoms of true angina. The default is that the muscle contractions in the heart caused by compression spinal roots in the lower segment of the cervical spine are his reflex response. Heart syndrome occurs when irritation of the roots the chest muscle or the phrenic nerve roots, because of its fibers go to the heart of the bag. Clinical symptoms: pressing pain in the region of the heart. Pain can be paroxysmal and can last up to several hours. More with a sharp turn of the head, coughing, sneezing. Possible, tachycardia, arrhythmia. Coronari sclerosis means that the pain is not removed. ECG, recorded during the the attack shows no signs of violation of the coronary circulation.
