Cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a form of degenerative disease of the joints and intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis affects the cartilaginous 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 leads to exhaustion, 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 nerve roots.

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

The pathology can develop independently and as 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 occurs more often than in other departments. In fact, this is not the case - dystrophic phenomena develop evenly at all points of maximum load - in the area of the main bends of the spinal column (the lower the class is located, the greater the load it bears). However, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced and therefore occur more often. 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 exit openings of the roots of the spinal cord.

In a comment!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 - the pathology occurs in young people and even adolescents. This is due to the general computerization of learning and work, as well as a decrease in physical activity and a deterioration in the quality of nutrition.

Taking into account the age group, 2 forms of cervical osteochondrosis can be distinguished - physiological and pathological.

physiological processit is associated with the natural aging of the body, when the symptoms of the disease are the result of the gradual wear and tear of the intervertebral discs. The process takes place under the influence of the endocrine system and is a consequence of menopausal changes. The destruction of cartilage structures starts from the middle of the intervertebral disc and is accompanied by the gradual replacement of cartilage tissue with fibrous tissue. The pathology is irreversible, but can be compensated with special drugs.

Pathological processit is related to pathological destructive changes in the body - immune system, dystrophic, inflammatory, metabolic. First of all, pericartilaginous tissues are affected - salt deposits appear on bone structures, nerve roots become inflamed, atrophy or hypertonia of skeletal muscles occurs, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the head-neck-chest region. With timely diagnosis, the pathology can be treated and ends with the complete restoration of the healthy functioning of organs and tissues.

Stages and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

There are 4 main stages of the pathological process:

• Stage 1 - mild discomfort and muscle tension is expressed in the diseased area, the discs lose their stability;
• Stage 2 - local pain occurs, especially when moving the head. The intervertebral discs are deformed, the annulus fibrosus 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 and nausea, disruption of the blood supply to the brain leads to general depression, fatigue, and concentration problems, the cartilages become thinner, the vertebrae close together, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed, with the risk of intervertebral hernia;
• Stage 4 - the pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; cerebral blood circulation is impaired and requires constant medical support; the vertebrae begin to grow together.

Cervical osteochondrosis: signs, symptoms, treatment of pathology

In the first stage, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. When the disease develops, the presence of painful or unpleasant sensations in the head, neck and chest, less often in the upper limbs, becomes a distinctive feature.

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

vertebral syndrome:

• cracking in the neck when turning/tilting the head;
• as the disease progresses, pain and movement difficulties appear;
• morphological structural disorders in the vertebral body and intervertebral space (visible on X-ray).

Heart syndrome:

• shortness of breath, weakness;
• feeling of incomplete inspiration, lack of air;
• spontaneous phenomena from the cardiovascular system - angina pectoris, retrosternal pain, burning sensation;

radicular syndrome:

• numbness of the tongue, shoulders, fingers, occipital region;
• difficulty swallowing;
• discomfort in the area between the shoulder blades;
• headache in nape and forehead.

vertebral artery syndrome:

• unreasonable jump in blood pressure;
• dizziness, until loss of consciousness;
• tinnitus, cotton wool sensation in the head;
• temporary unilateral blindness, "flies" in the eyes;
• periodic nausea, especially when moving the head;
• headache - mainly in the back of the head, as well as migraine;
• drowsiness, reduced performance, memory, concentration, depression.

Attention!All these syndromes must be combined with each other. The absence of one of its symptoms can be a reason for differential diagnosis with other groups of diseases.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Dystrophic phenomena occurring 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 prevailing posture and the degree of development of the skeletal muscles.

• lack of movement - which does not develop - degrades: muscles weaken, tissues are destroyed;
• incorrect static body positions - muscle clamps lead to circulatory disorders, followed by tissue degeneration;
• lack of nutrition or an unbalanced diet - the body must receive everything it needs to build and renew the bone and cartilage structure of the skeleton, maintaining muscle tone;
• obesity, overweight, heavy loads - the load on the skeletal structures increases;
• constant nervous tension and nervous stress;
• hypothermia of the neck region - "cold", "blown" - causes hidden inflammatory processes;
• the presence of autoimmune diseases affecting 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 abnormalities 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 the symptoms and the wide variety of manifestations. During the examination, you must consult a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedic doctor, cardiologist.

The doctor performs the physical examination by questioning the patient. The main diagnostic burden is on instrumental and laboratory research methods.

• radiography of the neck region; at the initial stage of the process, the MRI of the neck region will be more informative - it provides high-quality visualization of hard and soft tissues - it shows the condition of the intervertebral discs, the presence of osteophytes, deformities, damage to nerve roots and blood vessels; assess the condition of ligaments, muscles, bone tissue; shows the dynamic state of the soft tissues;
• dopplerography of the neck vessels helps to assess the hemodynamics and the degree of damage to the vessels (especially the condition of the vertebral artery);
• contrast myelography - helps in case of suspicion of nerve processes;
• ECG and echocardiography of the heart are used in the differential diagnosis of cardiac syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

A complex of therapeutic measures is developed, taking into account the stage of the disease (acute, chronic), the degree of damage and the causes of the pathology. Apply conservative treatment, surgery, mixed approach.

conservative effect

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

Medical 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 (short course if necessary);
• drugs that improve microcirculation and blood circulation in general;
• chondroprotectors - tools for the protection and restoration of cartilage tissue;
• muscle relaxants - to eliminate muscle spasms and spasms;
• vitamin and microelement complexes - necessary for nutrition and tissue support with building blocks.

With the relief of acute symptoms, physiotherapy, movement therapy and self-massage methods are combined.

Physiotherapyimproves the nutrition of cartilaginous and bone tissues. due to the restoration of blood supply to the damaged area. In order to avoid complications, the method of isometric movements is recommended, when instead of real, damaging head turns and tilts, they are imitated.

Attention!All measures should be taken only after diagnosis and consultation with a doctor.

The technique makes it possible to develop and strengthen the atrophied short muscles of the neck, as well as to stabilize the position of the cervical spine. The sequence of basic exercises:

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

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

In a comment!Swimming and water aerobics are proven techniques for restoring neck mobility.

Self-massagemakes it possible to reduce the intensity of local reactions and relieve muscle cramps during static work. Implementation rules:

• area of effect - the back of the head, the back and side surfaces of the neck;
• perform the procedure in a sitting position;
• the movements must be performed in the direction of the spine;
• use only fingertips;
• avoid pressure on inflamed areas;
• perform the movements smoothly - sharp pressure can damage it.

Physiotherapytypical for inpatient treatment and spa rehabilitation. Well proven:

• electrophoresis - heats the area, improves microcirculation, serves for deeper penetration of local preparations;
• magnetotherapy;
• amplipulse;
• UHF.

Surgical intervention is recommended for complicated extrusion, spinal cord injury and intractable pain syndromes.

What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis

A dense intertwining of the main blood vessels, nerve processes and dynamic structures of the skeleton is concentrated in the neck area. In the absence of treatment, serious pathological changes can be observed:

• the weakening of the fibrous ring causes dislocations and subluxations in the area of the most mobile vertebrae;
• the presence of osteophytes and muscle spasms leads to damage to nerve roots and blood vessels with the development of compression syndromes;
• the destruction of the discs and the convergence of the vertebrae leads to intervertebral hernias with damage to the nerve 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;
• retinal dystrophy of the eye with visual impairment;
• malfunction 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 and hands;
• disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which entails a failure of the entire hormonal activity of the body.

Preventive measures of cervical osteochondrosis

The most effective treatment is disease prevention. Prevention helps with this. It is enough to follow some basic recommendations:

• correct your posture,
• create a comfortable workplace;
• during sedentary work, take a break for a "physical education minute";
• include in your diet foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon - fish, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits; limit the consumption of salt, sweet, starchy and spicy foods;
• use an orthopedic mattress and pillow for sleep and rest;
• do not do vigorous sports - it is better to prefer swimming.

Even if you cannot take into account all the requirements, moderate exercise, proper nutrition and attention to posture can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathology.

Osteochondrosis is a hidden cause of impotence, male and female infertility

Already at school, in biology classes, they tried to convey important information about the enormous role of the spine in preserving human health. Unfortunately, many people were busy with more important things at the time and did not hear the words of the teachers. But in vain! Doctors say that musculoskeletal disorders, especially diseases caused by osteochondrosis, can cause the development of many serious diseases.

Why osteochondrosis has a powerful destructive effect on the human body

Men often suffer from impotence and infertility, and women try in vain to get pregnant, not even suspecting that this can be caused by ordinary osteochondrosis. The fact is that the cause of the disease is a violation of the blood supply to the tissues of the vertebrae and the muscles surrounding them. Since the intervertebral discs have no blood vessels, they are the first to suffer from a lack of water and other substances. This leads to cracking of the cartilage, which means that the discs are no longer able to 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, then osteochondrosis will continue to develop and cause complications, such as disc herniation. This, in turn, damages the segmental equipment of the spinal cord and impairs blood circulation, including the pelvic organs. This is the main reason for many abnormalities in the work of internal organs, as well as impotence and infertility, which are of interest to us.

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

Men may experience erectile difficulties with 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, the quality of blood circulation in the brain deteriorates, which causes a failure in the production of sex hormones and substances responsible for vascular tone. Therefore, patients with cervical osteochondrosis most often complain of a decrease in sexual desire, anorgasmia, and ejaculation problems.

Lumbar osteochondrosis

Since the pelvic area, i. e. , where the male genitals are located, is in a "switched off" state due to spinal cord disorders, nerve impulses do not always reach the genitals, which leads to erectile dysfunction.

Female and male infertility due to 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 associated with osteochondrosis. Most often, the cause of the problem lies not so much in a violation of the blood supply to the organs in the pelvis, but in neurological disorders.

Studies 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 if they do not experience the signs of the disease and do not feel the slightest discomfort in the back. This is primarily because 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, everyone who suffers from disorders of sexual and reproductive functions is strongly recommended to undergo the most complete examination of the body, not forgetting the neuropathologist and the vertebrologist. It is possible that the root of the problem lies precisely in the pathologies of the spine.