cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a form of degenerative disease of the joints and discs. Osteochondrosis affects the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs. As a result, the disc stiffens and contracts, losing its cushioning properties and causing severe pain.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative dystrophic process that results in depletion, deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs in the cervical region. Loss of shock-absorbing cartilage can cause pain due to exposure of the articular surfaces (spondyloarthropathy) and compression of the spinal nerve roots.

Without prompt treatment, the spine can ossify and lose its natural flexibility, the blood supply to the brain is compromised, and nerve conduction in the parts of the body that innervates the base of the cervical spine deteriorates.

Pathology can develop either independently or as part of a general pathology of the spine, covering the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions.

General information about cervical osteochondrosis

It is believed that cervical osteochondrosis is more common than other departments. In fact this is not the case - the dystrophy phenomenon develops evenly at all points of maximum load - in the major curvature of the spine (the lower the sector, the higher the load). However, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more pronounced, so they seemoccur more frequently. This is due to the high mobility of the cervical vertebrae while maintaining the head, as well as the specificity of the location of the exit from the root of the spinal cord.

Notice!According to statistics, the disease affects more than 60% of middle-aged and elderly people. Recently, however, there has been a revival of pathological processes - pathologies that occur in young adults and even adolescents. This is due to the pervasive computerization of learning and work, as well as a decrease in physical activity and deterioration in nutritional quality.

Considering the age audience, two forms of cervical osteochondrosis can be distinguished - physiological and pathological.

physiological processAssociated with the body's natural aging, when the symptoms of the disease are the result of the progressive wear and tear of the intervertebral discs. This process occurs under the influence of the endocrine system and is the result of changes in menopause. The destruction of the cartilage structure begins in the center of the disc and is accompanied by the gradual replacement of cartilage tissue by fibrous tissue. Pathology is irreversible, but can be compensated with special drugs.

pathological processAssociated with abnormally damaging changes in the body - immunity, malnutrition, inflammation, metabolism. First, the pericchondral tissue is involved - salt deposits on the skeletal structure, inflamed nerve roots, atrophy or hypertonicity of the skeletal muscles, resulting in impaired blood circulation in the chest area of the head, neck, and neck. With timely diagnosis, the pathology is treatable and culminates in the complete restoration of healthy function of organs and tissues.

Stages and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

The pathological process has 4 main stages:

• Stage 1 - manifested by mild discomfort and muscle strain in the affected area, loss of stability of the cartilage disc;
• Stage 2 - There is localized pain, especially when moving the head. The intervertebral disc is deformed, the annulus fibrosus begins to collapse, and the intervertebral distance shrinks;
• Stage 3 - Pain increases and becomes persistent, and movement is limited. Turning your head can cause dizziness, nausea, general drowsiness, fatigue, lack of concentration, thinning of cartilage, closure of vertebrae, complete destruction of the annulus fibrosus, and risk of intervertebral hernia due to impaired blood supply to the brain;
• Stage 4 - The pain syndrome completely immobilizes the neck area; blood circulation to the brain is impaired, requiring ongoing medical support; the vertebrae begin to grow together.

Cervical Osteochondrosis: Signs, Symptoms, Pathological Treatment

In the first stage, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. As the disease progresses, a distinguishing feature is pain or discomfort in the head, neck, and chest, and less often in the upper extremities.

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

spinal syndrome:

• neck tightening when turning/tilting the head;
• Pain and movement difficulties as the disease progresses;
• Morphological and structural disorder of the vertebral body and intervertebral space (visible on X-ray).

heart syndrome:

• shortness of breath, weakness;
• Feeling incomplete inspiration, lack of air;
• Spontaneous phenomena of the cardiovascular system - angina, retrosternal pain, burning;

radiculopathy:

• Numbness of tongue, shoulders, fingers, occiput;
• hard to swallow;
• discomfort in the area between the shoulder blades;
• Occipital and forehead headache.

vertebral artery syndrome:

• Unreasonable jumps in blood pressure;
• Dizziness, up to loss of consciousness;
• Tinnitus, cotton wool on the head;
• Temporary unilateral blindness with "fly" in the eye;
• Periodic nausea, especially when moving the head;
• Headaches - mainly in the back of the head, and migraines;
• Drowsiness, decreased performance, memory, concentration, depression.

attention!All these syndromes must be combined with each other. The absence of symptoms in one of the diseases may be the reason for differential diagnosis with other disease groups.

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Dystrophic phenomena in the cervical region are related to the vertical position of the bones and the specific distribution of static and dynamic loads, which are largely dependent on the major posture and the degree of skeletal muscle development.

• Lack of exercise - no development - degeneration: muscles weaken and tissues are destroyed;
• Incorrect static posture - muscle clamps leading to circulatory disturbance and subsequent tissue degeneration;
• Lack of nutrients or an unbalanced diet - the body must get everything it needs to build and renew bone and cartilage structure, maintain muscle tone;
• Obesity, overweight, weight-bearing - increased load on the skeletal structure;
• persistent nervousness and nerve stress;
• Hypothermia in the neck area - "cold", "bloated" - triggers a hidden inflammatory process;
• The presence of an autoimmune disease involving cartilage leading to its premature destruction;
• Endocrine disorders disrupt mineral metabolism and reduce the absorption of calcium, silicon, phosphorus and other elements of bone and cartilage tissue;
• neck injury;
• Congenital abnormalities of the spine and adjacent muscles.

Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis

The diagnosis of "cervical vertebral osteochondrosis" is made difficult by the low specificity of symptoms and the variety of presentations. During the examination, you will need to consult a neurologist, surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, cardiologist.

The physical examination is carried out by a doctor who asks the patient. The main diagnostic burden lies in instrumentation and laboratory research methods.

• Radiography of the cervical area; during the initial stages of the procedure, an MRI of the cervical area will provide more information - it will provide high-quality visualization of hard and soft tissues - it will show the condition of the discs, the presence of osteophytes, deformities, Damage nerve roots and blood vessels; assess the condition of ligaments, muscles, and bone tissue; display the dynamic state of soft tissue;
• Doppler imaging of the vessels in the neck will help to assess hemodynamics and the degree of vascular damage (especially the status of the vertebral arteries);
• Contrast myelography - helpful for suspected invasive neural processes;
• Electrocardiography and cardiac echocardiography are used in the differential diagnosis of cardiac syndromes and cardiovascular disease.

How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

Taking into account the stage of the disease (acute, chronic), the degree of damage and the pathological cause, a series of therapeutic measures are formed. Conservative treatment, surgery, and mixed methods are used.

conservative influence

It is gradually restored or compensated for damage in the context of symptomatic treatment. Includes drug therapy, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and massage methods.

medical treatement:

• Painkillers - mainly gels and topical ointments; in severe cases - general painkillers in tablet form;
• Anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs, and corticosteroids (short courses if necessary);
• Medicines to improve microcirculation and blood circulation;
• chondroprotectants - means of protecting and restoring cartilage tissue;
• Muscle relaxant - eliminates muscle pincers and spasms;
• Vitamin and trace element complex - necessary for nutrition and support of tissues with building elements.

Physical therapy, exercise therapy, and self-massage methods are linked as acute symptoms subside.

physiotherapyDue to the restoration of blood supply to the damaged area, the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue is improved. To avoid complications, it is recommended to use the method of isometric movements, rather than real head turns and tilts, which can cause injury, but to use their imitations.

attention!All operations should be performed only after diagnosis and consultation with a doctor.

This technique allows you to develop and strengthen the shortened muscles of the neck and stabilize the position of the cervical spine. Basic practice sequence:

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

Once you've strengthened the short neck muscles, it's time to start doing dynamic exercises.

Notice!Swimming and water gymnastics have been shown to be a technique for restoring cervical mobility.

self massageAllows you to reduce the intensity of local reactions and relieve muscle clamps during static work. Execution rules:

• Affected areas - the back of the head, back and sides of the neck;
• Surgery in a sitting position;
• Movement should be done from the direction of the spine;
• Use only your fingertips;
• Avoid putting pressure on the inflamed area;
• Do it smoothly - intense pressure can cause damage.

physiotherapyTypical hospitalization and hydrotherapy rehabilitation. Sufficient proof:

• Electrophoresis - heating the area, improving microcirculation for deeper penetration of topical formulations;
• magnetic therapy;
• amplify the pulse;
• UHF.

Surgical intervention is indicated for complex crush, spinal cord injury, and intractable pain syndromes.

What is Dangerous Cervical Osteochondrosis

The neck region concentrates the dense interlacing of major blood vessels, neurites, and the dynamic structure of the skeletal bone. In the absence of treatment, severe pathological changes can be observed:

• Weakening of the annulus fibrosus can cause dislocations and subluxations in the most mobile vertebral regions;
• The presence of osteophytes and muscle spasms leads to damage to nerve roots and blood vessels, resulting in a compression syndrome;
• The destruction of the cartilaginous disc and the convergence of the vertebrae result in herniation of the intervertebral body and invasion of the nerve tissue.

Each of these phenomena is accompanied by a distinctly negative response throughout the organism.

Possible Complications and Consequences

The list of the most common complications of cervical osteochondrosis includes:

• Phytovascular dystonia;
• hypertension;
• hypoxia of the brain and its structures;
• Eye retinal dystrophy in visually impaired eyes;
• Thyroid dysfunction;
• Dysfunction of the esophagus and trachea - dysphagia and respiratory spasms;
• Intractable pain in the head, neck, chest, upper limbs;
• facial and hand twitching and numbness;
• Disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary system, which leads to the failure of the entire hormonal activity of the body.

Preventive measures for cervical osteochondrosis

The most effective treatment is to prevent the disease. Prevention will help you solve this problem. It is enough to follow some basic advice:

• correct your posture,
• Create a comfortable workplace;
• During a sedentary job, take a one-minute break for "physical education";
• Include foods rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and silicon in your diet—fish, nuts, seeds, beans, dairy, fresh vegetables, fruits; limit intake of salt, sweet, starchy, and spicy foods;
• sleep and rest, use of orthopaedic mattresses and pillows;
• Take part in a non-strength sport - preferably swimming as a priority.

Even if you can't account for all the requirements, moderate exercise, proper nutrition, and attention to your posture can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathology.

The hidden cause of impotence, male and female infertility is osteochondrosis

Even in school, in biology class, they try to convey an important message about the enormous role the spine plays in maintaining human health. It's a pity that many people were busy with more important things at that time and didn't hear the teacher's words. But in vain! Doctors say that diseases of the musculoskeletal system, especially those caused by osteochondrosis, can lead to the development of a large variety of serious diseases.

Why osteochondrosis has a powerful destructive effect on the human body

Men often experience impotence and infertility, and women try in vain to get pregnant without even suspecting that it may be caused by common osteochondrosis. The fact is that the cause of the development of the disease is the disruption of the blood supply to the vertebral tissue and its surrounding muscles. Since the intervertebral disc has no blood vessels, various substances such as water shortage appear first. This causes the cartilage to break down, which means the discs can no longer absorb the load on the spine. This is where persistent back pain comes in.

If you do not intervene in the process at this stage, osteochondrosis will continue to develop and develop complications such as a herniated disc. This, in turn, causes damage to the spinal cord segmental organs and impairs blood circulation, including the pelvic organs. This is the main cause of many diseases in the work of internal organs and of our interest impotence and infertility.

In addition to the physical level of aggression, the development of male impotence also contributes to psychological factors. After all, for every normal, mature man, even a single failure in bed can become a drama, independent of osteochondrosis, sciatica, or other sources of back pain worsening.

In the presence of cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease, men may begin to experience erectile difficulties. But in each case, the pathology develops according to its own mechanism.

cervical osteochondrosis

In the presence of such diseases, the quality of blood circulation in the brain decreases, leading to a malfunction in the production of sex hormones and substances responsible for vascular tone. Thus, with cervical osteochondrosis, most patients complain of decreased libido, anorgasmia, and ejaculation problems.

lumbar osteochondrosis

Since the pelvic region, where the male reproductive organs are located, is "off" due to spinal cord disease, nerve impulses are not always able to pass through the genitals, leading to erectile dysfunction.

Female and male infertility due to osteochondrosis

Often, in the absence of other prerequisites, failed attempts by men and women to have children may be the result of the pathological process that accompanies osteochondrosis. In most cases, the cause of the problem is not a disruption of the blood supply to the small pelvic organs, but a neurological disorder.

Examination of women with infertility revealed degenerative changes in the lower thoracic spine and lower back. In infertile men, osteochondrosis affects the lumbosacral region. This difference in the areas affected by osteochondrosis can be explained by the specificity of the structure and innervation of the pelvic organs representing different sexes.

Sometimes women don't feel the slightest discomfort in their back and can't get pregnant even if they don't show any signs of the disease. This is mainly because even if only the anterior root of the spinal cord is damaged, diseases of the reproductive system can occur without pain.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that everyone suffering from sexual and reproductive dysfunction undergo the most comprehensive physical examination, not forgetting neuropathologists and chiropractors. The root of the problem may be precisely in the lesions of the spine.