Osteochondrosis is a form of degenerative diseases of joints and intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis affects the cartilage tissue of the discs. As a result, the disc hardens and shrinks, loses its cushioning properties and causes severe pain.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative-dystrophic process that causes depletion, deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region. Loss of shock-absorbing cartilage causes pain due to both exposure of joint surfaces (spondyloarthrosis) and compression of spinal cord nerve roots.
In the absence of timely treatment, ossification of the spine is possible due to the loss of its natural elasticity, disruption of blood supply to the brain, deterioration of nerve conduction in the parts of the body that innervate the roots of the cervical spine.
Pathology can develop both independently and as part of a general damage to the spine, which includes 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 equally at all points of maximum load - in the area of the main bends of the spine (the lower the branch is located, the greater the load it carries) . However, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more obvious, so they are more common. This is also due to the high mobility of the cervical vertebrae holding the head, as well as the peculiarity of the location of the exits of the roots of the spinal cord.
On a note!According to statistics, the disease affects more than 60% of middle-aged and elderly people. However, recently there has been a rejuvenation of the pathological process - the pathology occurs in young people and even teenagers. This is due to the general computerization of education and work, as well as a decrease in physical activity and a deterioration in the quality of nutrition.
Considering the age audience, 2 forms of cervical osteochondrosis can be distinguished - physiological and pathological.
physiological processWhen the symptoms of the disease are the result of gradual wear of the intervertebral discs, it is associated with the natural aging of the body. The process occurs under the influence of the endocrine system and is the result of menopausal changes. The destruction of cartilage structures begins in the center of the intervertebral disc and is accompanied by the gradual replacement of cartilage tissue with fibrous tissue. The pathology is irreversible, but it can be compensated with special drugs.
Pathological processassociated with abnormal destructive changes in the body - immune, dystrophic, inflammatory, metabolic. First of all, pericartilage tissues are involved - salt deposits appear in bone structures, nerve roots are inflamed, atrophy or hypertonicity of skeletal muscles occurs, which causes blood circulation in the head-neck-chest region. If diagnosed in time, the pathology can be treated and ends with the full 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 expressed by mild discomfort and muscle tension in the disease area, the cartilage discs lose their 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 decreases;
- Stage 3 - pain intensifies and becomes constant, movements are limited. Turning the head can cause dizziness, nausea, impaired blood supply to the brain, general lethargy, fatigue, impaired concentration, the cartilage becomes thinner, the vertebrae close, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed with the risk of intervertebral hernia;
- 4th stage - the pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; blood circulation of the brain is disturbed and constant medical support is required; the vertebrae begin to grow together.
Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms, signs, treatment of pathology
In the first stages, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. As the disease progresses, a distinctive feature is the presence of painful or uncomfortable sensations in the head, neck and chest, less often in the upper limbs.
All possible symptoms can be conventionally attributed to 4 types of syndromes: heart, vertebral, radicular (nerve) and vertebral artery syndrome (with circulatory disorders).
Vertebral syndrome:
- creaking in the neck when turning / bending;
- as the disease progresses, pain and difficulty in movement appear;
- morphological structural disorders in the vertebral body and intervertebral space (visible on X-rays).
Heart syndrome:
- shortness of breath, weakness;
- feeling of incomplete inspiration, lack of air;
- spontaneous events from the cardiovascular system - angina pectoris, retrosternal pain, burning;
radicular syndrome:
- numbness of the tongue, shoulders, fingers, occipital region;
- difficulty swallowing;
- discomfort in the area between the shoulder blades;
- headache in occiput and forehead.
vertebral artery syndrome:
- unreasonable jumps in blood pressure;
- dizziness, until fainting;
- tinnitus, feeling of cotton wool in the head;
- temporary one-sided blindness, "flies" in the eyes;
- periodic 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 should be combined with each other. The absence of symptoms of one of them can be the reason for differential diagnosis with other groups of diseases.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
Dystrophic events in the region of the cervical spine are associated with the vertical position of the skeleton and the special distribution of static and dynamic loads, which mainly depends on the prevailing posture and the degree of skeletal muscle development.
- lack of movement - undeveloped - worsens: muscles weaken, tissues are destroyed;
- incorrect static postures - muscle clamps lead to impaired blood circulation with subsequent tissue degeneration;
- lack of nutrition or an unbalanced diet - the body must receive everything it needs to build and renew the bone and cartilage structures of the skeleton while maintaining muscle tone;
- obesity, overweight, carrying heavy loads - load on skeletal structures increases;
- constant nervous tension and nervous tension;
- hypothermia of the cervical region - "cold", "swollen" - provokes hidden inflammatory processes;
- the presence of autoimmune diseases associated with cartilage leads to its premature destruction;
- endocrine pathologies disrupt mineral metabolism, reduce the absorption of calcium, silicon, phosphorus and other elements of bone and cartilage tissue;
- neck injuries;
- congenital anomalies of the spine and adjacent muscles.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra" is complicated by the low specificity of symptoms and the wide variety of their manifestations. During the examination, you should consult a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedist, cardiologist.
Physical examination is performed by the doctor at the patient's request. The main diagnostic load refers to 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, deformations, injuries. nerve roots and blood vessels; assess the condition of ligaments, muscles, bone tissue; shows the dynamic state of soft tissues;
- dopplerography of neck veins will help to assess hemodynamics and the degree of damage to blood vessels (especially the condition of the vertebral artery);
- contrast myelography - will help with suspected disorders of nerve processes;
- ECG and heart echocardiography are used in the differential diagnosis of heart syndrome with cardiovascular diseases.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
Taking into account the stage of the disease (acute, chronic), the degree of damage and the causes of the pathology, a complex of therapeutic measures is formed. Use conservative treatment, surgery, mixed approach.
conservative effect
Symptomatic treatment is the gradual restoration or compensation of damage. It includes drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and massage techniques.
Treatment:
- pain relievers - mainly gels and topical ointments; in severe cases - general painkillers in the form of tablets;
- anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs, as well as corticosteroids (a short course if necessary);
- drugs to improve microcirculation and blood circulation in general;
- chondroprotectors - means for the protection and restoration of cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxant - to relieve muscle cramps and spasms;
- vitamin and trace element complexes - necessary for tissue nutrition and support with building elements.
As acute symptoms subside, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and self-massage techniques are combined.
Physiotherapyimproves 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 real turns and bends of the head can cause damage, their imitation is used.
Attention!All actions should be taken 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 sequence of the main exercises:
- Place the palm of your right hand on the side of the head - press your palm on the head for 10 seconds, tense the muscles of the head and neck for resistance - the head should remain motionless.
- Lower your hand, relax your head and neck muscles as much as possible for 20 seconds.
- Repeat the exercise with your left hand.
- Place both hands on your forehead with your palms - for 10 seconds, press your forehead as if to tilt your head back while tensing your neck muscles to resist the movement. The head should remain still.
- Lower your arms, relax your muscles as much as possible, similar to the previous exercise.
- Place both palms on the area behind the head. By analogy, perform a pressure load on the neck muscles, try to bend your head forward - it should still be motionless.
- Lower your arms, relax the muscles of the neck and head. Repeat the set of exercises 4-10 times.
After strengthening the short muscles of the neck, you can start dynamic exercises.
On a note!Swimming and water gymnastics have proven themselves as a technique to restore neck mobility.
Self-massageallows to reduce the intensity of local reactions during static work and release muscle clamps. Implementation rules:
- area 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 coming from the spine;
- use only your fingertips;
- do not put pressure on inflamed areas;
- perform the movements smoothly - sharp pressure can hurt.
Physiotherapytypical for inpatient treatment and resort rehabilitation. Well proven:
- electrophoresis - heats the area, improves microcirculation, is used for deeper penetration of local preparations;
- magnetotherapy;
- amplipulse;
- UHF.
Surgical intervention is indicated for complex extrusion, disruption of the spinal cord and intractable pain syndromes.
What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis
The neck region concentrates a dense intertwining of the main blood vessels, nerve processes and dynamic structures of the bone skeleton. In the absence of treatment, serious pathological changes can be observed:
- the weakening of the fibrous ring causes dislocations and subluxations in the region of the most mobile vertebrae;
- the presence of osteophytes and muscle spasm leads to disruption of nerve roots and blood vessels with the formation of compression syndromes;
- the destruction of the cartilaginous discs and the convergence of the vertebra cause intervertebral hernias with disruption of the nerve tissue.
Each of these events is accompanied by an obvious 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;
- retinal dystrophy with visual impairment;
- malfunction of the thyroid gland;
- dysfunction of the esophagus and trachea - difficulty swallowing and respiratory spasms;
- unbearable pain in the head, neck, chest, upper limbs;
- convulsions and numbness of the face and hands;
- disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which causes the failure of all hormonal activity of the body.
Preventive measures of cervical osteochondrosis
The most effective treatment is disease prevention. Prevention will help you in this. It is enough to follow a few basic recommendations:
- correct your posture
- create a comfortable workplace;
- take breaks for a "minute of physical education" during sedentary work;
- include foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon in your diet - fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits; limit the intake of salt, sweet, starchy and spicy foods;
- use an orthopedic mattress and pillow for sleep and rest;
- engage in non-vigorous sports - it is better to prefer swimming.
Even if you cannot take into account all the requirements, moderate exercise, proper nutrition and paying attention to your posture can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathology.
The secret cause of impotence, male and female infertility is osteochondrosis
Even at school, in biology lessons, they tried to convey important information about the great role of the spine in protecting human health. Unfortunately, at that time, many were busy with more important things and did not hear the words of the teachers. But in vain! Doctors say that disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially those caused by osteochondrosis, can lead to the development of many different serious diseases.
Why osteochondrosis has a strong destructive effect on the human body
Often, men suffer from impotence and infertility, and women try in vain to get pregnant, not suspecting that this can be caused by ordinary osteochondrosis. The fact is that the cause of the development of the disease is a violation of the blood supply to the tissues of the spine and the muscles surrounding them. Since the intervertebral discs do not have blood vessels, they are the first to suffer from a lack of water and various other substances. This leads to the cracking of the cartilage, which means that the discs can no longer take the load of the spine. This is where the constant back pain comes from.
If you do not intervene in the process at this stage, osteochondrosis will continue to progress and cause complications, such as a herniated disc. This, in turn, causes a violation in the segmental apparatus of the spinal cord and disrupts 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 the impotence and infertility that we are interested in.
The development of impotence in men, in addition to violations at the physical level, also contributes to the psychological factor. After all, for every normal, full-fledged man, a single failure in bed becomes such a drama, and it does not matter whether it is caused by an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, sciatica or other sources of back pain.
Men may experience erectile dysfunction if they have cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease. However, 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 the tone of blood vessels. Therefore, patients with cervical osteochondrosis most often complain of decreased sexual desire, anorgasmia and ejaculation problems.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Since the pelvis, that is, the place where the male genitals are located, is in a state of "off" due to disorders in the spinal cord, nerve impulses cannot always pass to the genitals, which leads to it. to erectile dysfunction.
Female and male infertility as a result of osteochondrosis
Often, in the absence of other prerequisites, unsuccessful attempts to give birth to a child in both men and women can be the result of pathological processes accompanying osteochondrosis. Often, the cause of the problem is not a violation of the blood supply to the organs located in the small pelvis, but neurological disorders.
Examinations of women suffering from infertility show degenerative changes in the lower spine and lumbar region. In terminal men, osteochondrosis affects the lumbosacral region. Such differences in the regions affected by osteochondrosis are explained by the characteristics of the structure and innervation of the pelvic organs in representatives of different sexes.
Sometimes women can't get pregnant, even if they don't experience any symptoms of the disease, even if they don't feel the slightest discomfort in their back. First of all, even if only the anterior roots of the spinal cord, which are not accompanied by pain, are damaged, disorders can occur in the reproductive system.
Therefore, it is recommended to everyone who suffers from disorders of sexual and reproductive functions to undergo the most complete examination of the body, not forgetting the neuropathologist and vertebrologist. It is possible that the root of the problem lies in the pathologies of the spine.