Osteochondrosis is a pathological process that leads to dystrophic and structural disorders, first in the intervertebral discs, and then in the vertebrae themselves, spinal nerves, nearby muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and internal organs.
It can affect all parts of the spine - cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral.Cervical osteochondrosis is a very common phenomenon, and it is second in frequency after lumbar osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis in the cervical spine occurs in stages.Like any other pathology, it progresses without appropriate timely treatment.Functional and structural changes in bone and cartilage tissue are increasingly pronounced, which leads to complicated forms of the disease with loss of sensitivity and limitation of movement.
Phases and degrees
In total, there are 4 stages (degrees) of cervical osteochondrosis.At the same time, the concepts of "degree" and "phase" are very often confused.Although they mean roughly the same thing, they are not exactly identical.The stage reflects structural abnormalities in the cervical spine, nearby organs and tissues.And by degree we mean the symptoms of osteochondrosis and the patient's complaints.In cervical osteochondrosis of the 1st degree, clinical signs are minimal and may be completely absent.The patient complains of mild pain in the neck (cervicalgia), which intensifies when turning the head.During the examination, local tension is observed in the neck muscles.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine of the 2nd degree follows discogenic radiculitis.As a result of further degenerative-dystrophic changes in the nucleus and fibrous capsule of the intervertebral disc, the height of the gap between the cervical vertebrae decreases.As a result, the roots of the cervical spinal nerves are compressed.Patients suffer from point pain, which intensifies when turning and tilting the head.The pain syndrome may extend beyond the cervical region and be accompanied by general weakness and reduced performance.
As a result of further pathological processes that lead to displacement and destruction of intervertebral discs, disc herniations occur in the cervical region.Pain and a feeling of general weakness intensify, followed by sensory and motor disturbances in the area of the affected segment.Cervical osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree develops.
After that, in cervical osteochondrosis of the 4th degree, the destroyed intervertebral disc is replaced by fibrous connective tissue.Due to the involvement of the vertebral artery in the pathological process, the pain syndrome with sensory and motor disorders is accompanied by brain disorders - dizziness, lack of coordination and ringing in the ears.
Etiology
Before talking about the causes or etiological factors of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to clarify some anatomical and physiological characteristics of this part of the spine.
These features are as follows:
- The neck is a mobile structure, but it borders the relatively static thoracic spine.
- It has 7 cervical vertebrae and 8 segments.The "extra" segment appears because of the atlanto-occipital joint.
- Cervical vertebrae have anatomically different structures, which is especially visible in the example of the first two cervical vertebrae, the atlas and the axis.
- Vital communications pass through the neck - trachea, esophagus and large vessels, including the vertebral artery, which supplies the brain with blood.
Etiological factors that lead to pathological changes in the cervical spine with subsequent transition to cervical osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree are as follows:
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Poor nutrition with a lack of microelements and vitamins;
- Constantly bad behavior of pupils, students and office workers;
- Frequent hypothermia, unfavorable microclimate at home and at work;
- Endocrine disorders;
- weak immunity;
- Heredity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree, in addition to pain, include tension in the muscles of the neck and back.Pain in the neck (cervicalgia) with this degree of osteochondrosis can be either spot or diffuse, spreading beyond the neck to other anatomical areas - the back and shoulder girdle.Due to the shortening of the intervertebral spaces, muscles and ligaments relax.The action of the muscle frame weakens and subluxation of the cervical spine is formed, due to which the disc moves to one side or the other.The pain can be sharp and severe, like lumbago (cervicago) after turning the head or straightening the neck.
In addition to the pain, as already mentioned, there is tension in the muscles of the neck and back.Due to the fact that the cervical vertebrae are displaced not from the back, but to the side, such tension is most often asymmetrical in nature and leads to bad posture.In turn, poor posture leads to further deterioration of metabolic processes in the cervical region.All the conditions have been created for the transition of osteochondrosis to stage 3.
In stage 2 of cervical osteochondrosis, the vertebral artery is not yet affected.However, already at this stage, in addition to pain and muscle tension, patients complain of a feeling of weakness, fatigue and weakness.Possible sleep disturbances due to pain.
Types of treatment
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree includes:
- drug therapy,
- physiotherapeutic procedures,
- Therapeutic gymnastics,
- massage,
- Manual therapy.
Drug treatmentaims to eliminate cervicalgia, inflammation in the roots of the cervical segments and normalize metabolic processes in the cervical intervertebral discs.Pain relief is achieved by taking painkillers orally.But this is the most ineffective way to remove pain.In this sense, intramuscular injections are more effective.For severe pain, you can put a special Shants collar on your neck.
Pain reliefcan be achieved by removing the inflammatory process in the roots of the cervix.In this regard, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in various dosage forms - tablets, ointments, injections and compresses.In this sense, injections and ointments are very effective.Steroid hormones have a good anti-inflammatory effect.
Oral chondroprotectors are recommended for restoring damaged cartilage.For the same purpose, taking vitamin-mineral complexes containing vitamins B, C, E along with zinc, iron and calcium is indicated.Although brain disorders did not occur in the 2nd stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the use of neuroprotectors would not be bad.
Physiotherapy proceduresfor cervical osteochondrosis of any degree, they are designed to reduce pain and inflammation and improve local blood flow.Phonophoresis, laser and magnetic resonance therapy, and ultrasound treatment are used for this purpose.Physiotherapy procedures are contraindicated in periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Massagefor osteochondrosis, it is also carried out during the interictal period.Massage procedures are performed with the patient sitting or lying on his side.At the same time, the massage therapist kneads, caresses and rubs the tense muscles with smooth movements in the direction from the nape of the neck to the neck.After that, the muscles of the back, neck and chest are massaged.In this case, self-massage using the Kuznetsov applicator is possible.It is a needle roller with plastic spikes.It is enough to put this roller on the neck every day for half an hour to an hour, and the result will not last long.
Therapeutic exercisedesigned to consolidate the effect of the above methods of treating osteochondrosis of the neck.This creates optimal loads for different muscle groups, which leads to muscle strengthening and spinal traction.Manual therapy of osteochondrosis of the neck should be carried out with great caution.Due to the high risk of injuries to the cervical spine, it poses a great risk not only to the health, but also to the patient's life.
Prevention measures
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is designed to eliminate the causes of this disease and prevent the transition from stage 2 to stage 3.
In this sense, the following requirements must be met:
- Active lifestyle;
- Good nutrition;
- Normal conditions at home and at work, excluding drafts and hypothermia;
- Proper posture during "sitting" work and study;
- Hardening, doing sports;
- Treatment of accompanying chronic diseases;
- At the first signs of osteochondrosis, see a doctor on time.