Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: causes, manifestations, treatment

Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies in front of the eyes, a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head are caused not only by fatigue. Often they are provoked by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Headache in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a typical manifestation of this disease. It is impossible to get rid of it for a long time without affecting the main cause.

Mechanisms of disease progression

Degeneration of intervertebral cartilage and bone tissue in the cervical spine causes clinical symptoms already at an early stage. The growth and displacement of vertebral fragments inevitably lead to impaired blood flow, preservation and malnutrition of brain structures.

Causes of spinal deformity in the neck area are:

• congenital disorders of bone tissue structure;
• lumbar or thoracic osteochondrosis.

In almost half of the cases, pathology is found in middle-aged and young people, more often in women. Its development is facilitated by the long-term incorrect position of the head while sleeping, sitting at the table, during telephone conversations, and while traveling in transport. The progress of osteochondrosis is also accelerated by the habit of sleeping on a high pillow. The mobility of this part of the body, the smaller size of the vertebrae compared to other departments, the location of a large number of large vessels and nerve trunks, cause the onset of early symptoms. Pain syndrome is the main one.

Collapsing disc fragments and transformed vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and surrounding nerve plexus. Prolonged compression causes narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, slows blood flow, and reduces oxygen supply to tissues. Malnutrition, hypoxia and cerebral ischemia which is further aggravated by compression of the nerve trunk by osteophytes - radiculopathy.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In most cases, headaches and other pathological symptoms are secondary or vertebrogenic - they are caused by pathological processes not in the brain, but in the adjacent spine.

Reflex cephalgia - dull pain. Occurs when the first three vertebrae are affected. It starts at the top of the neck, spreads to the occipital and parietal parts, then covers the temples and forehead. It is more often unilateral, resembling a classic migraine. It lasts from half an hour to several days, aggravated by tilting or turning the head, active physical actions.

If osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, cervicobrachialgia develops. The danger lies in the resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is one-sided, sharp, burning, covers the neck, shoulders and gives below the shoulder blade, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and hand.

Myofascial dysfunction causes so-called cervical migraines. Throbbing or pressing pain from the side of the neck spreads along one side, covering the back of the head, crown of the head, temples and reaches the superciliary arch.

In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, redness of the eyes, nausea, physical weakness.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical region can trigger various types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:

• with frequent headaches;
• violation of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, breathing;
• sudden mood swings.

With significant pinching of the spinal nerve, speech disorders, tongue numbness, loss of finger sensitivity occur. A person becomes as if drunk or under the influence of a psychotropic drug: he utters words indistinctly, does not immediately respond to himself. In advanced cases, tissue malnutrition and impaired blood supply lead to a continuous increase in intracranial pressure, decreased vision and hearing.

Some facts about this disease:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck occurs in men and women about equally often.
• Most often, people aged 30-60 get sick.
• As a rule, pathology occurs in people who at work have to constantly be in the same position and perform boring movements.
• The cervical spine has several structural features, for which the disease can have many different manifestations.

What are the characteristics of the cervical spine that cause symptoms of osteochondrosis?

• There are openings in the lateral processes of the vertebrae - the carotid arteries pass through them on the right and left sides, which supply the brain with blood.
• In the cervical region passes the initial part of the spinal cord - it contains fibers that carry nerve impulses to all parts of the body, providing movement, sensitivity. If there is compression of the spinal cord in the neck, neurological disorders occur throughout the body.
• This part of the spinal column has great mobility, and this predisposes to the occurrence of osteochondrosis (although, in most cases, the disease still develops in the lumbar region - it not only has high mobility, but also experiences the greatest load).
• In the neck, nerve roots emerge from the intervertebral foramina, forming the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses. They are responsible for movement in the muscles of the neck, arms, shoulder girdle, skin sensitivity, regulation of autonomic functions.
• The first vertebra does not have a large front part - the body - it is a ring of bone that is placed on the tooth - the bone growth of the second vertebra. This allows the head to turn from side to side.

Pain in the neck, headache, weakness, numbness in the hands are symptoms that should make you turn to a neurologist. Examination by specialists and examination using modern equipment will help to understand the cause of the pathology and take the most effective measures.

Stages and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

The first target of this disease is the intervertebral disc. Each disc consists of a nucleus pulposus enclosed in a dense annulus fibrosus. The nucleus acts as a shock absorber during load on the spine, and the fibrous ring keeps the nucleus pulposus in the spinal column.

In conditions of poor blood circulation and nutrition, disc tissue begins to break down. The fibrous ring becomes loose, and the core loses some of its moisture, becomes thinner and partially loses its shock-absorbing properties. As a result of such changes, the ability of the intervertebral disc to carry the load decreases, and it is damaged.

One of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is pain in the neck of a shooting, burning, stabbing nature, similar to "electrical discharge". It usually extends to one or both hands.

Some patients complain of pain or constant pain, and, in addition to pain, stiffness of movement, dizziness, headache and memory impairment.

In many ways, the nature and severity of pain, as well as accompanying symptoms, depend on the stage of osteochondrosis:

• 1 level.Changes occur in the intervertebral disc - the nucleus pulposus moves and begins to irritate the nerve endings. But pain in the early stages usually occurs only during physical exercise, movement, coughing and sneezing, and during rest a person may not feel any discomfort.
• 2 levels.The fibrous ring loses its ability to hold the nucleus pulposus, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, and they shift relative to each other. As a result of such changes, pinching of nerve endings is possible, which causes severe pain. Pain, in turn, forces a person to take a forced position.
• 3 levels.The fibrous ring is destroyed, and an intervertebral hernia occurs. At this stage, the cervical spine often changes shape - its natural curvature is reduced. A bulging hernia compresses or irritates a nerve root, causing severe and persistent pain in the neck and arms, often accompanied by numbness and muscle weakness.
• 4 levels.The fibrous ring becomes dense, and adhesions form between the vertebrae. As a result, immobility occurs in the affected area, while pain may decrease.

Diagnostics

With complaints of poor health in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, you should contact a neurologist. During the examination, the doctor determines the origin of the pain. For this purpose, he uses the following methods:

• pressing with a finger on the area of the cervical vertebrae in the places where the nerve roots protrude: the pain response that appears indicates cephalgia;
• pressing on a point near the bony protrusion below the lower edge of the ear: the attack of pain after this clearly indicates the development of cervical migraine due to mechanical compression.

For the accurate diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, several instrumental studies are prescribed. Radiography, magnetic resonance and computed tomography remain the leading. With their help, pathological changes that occur in the structure of bones, cartilage and soft tissues are visualized.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

The drug is designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood circulation, biomechanics of the entire cervical region.

For pain relief, NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants and antispasmodics are used.

Vasodilators - vasodilators help reduce vegetative manifestations, increase venous outflow and prevent edema in the affected area.

Means containing B vitamins and magnesium help improve the nutrition of nerve tissue cells and reduce adverse symptoms.

At the same time, the patient is recommended medication to control blood pressure, correct heart rhythm.

Many patients are shown tranquilizers, antidepressants, sedatives.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the course of treatment is short or long. Pain relievers are used once or for several days. Means that normalize blood flow and vitamins - a course of 2-3 months.

To maintain the action of the drug, physiotherapy is prescribed:

• collar zone massage;
• acupuncture and reflexology.

With exacerbations, the use of a therapeutic bandage that supports the cervical muscles is indicated.

In the absence of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises help stop and prevent symptoms of VVD. Gymnastics helps strengthen the neck muscles, relieves spasms, increases the elasticity of blood vessels and ligaments of the vertebral joints. Exercises include movements for soft tissue stretching: deep head tilts, turns, rotations.

Patients with osteochondrosis, complicated by VVD, should carefully arrange the bed. You need to rest only on an orthopedic mattress and pillows, do not drink a lot of liquid at night to avoid swelling. It is necessary to avoid work and hobbies related to the unfavorable position of the cervical vertebrae: leaning back or low head inclination.

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Dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis

Dizziness with cervical chondrosis is a common occurrence in both sexes, starting at the age of 30 and older. Lifestyle specificity and some abuse lead to the development of cervical spine osteochondrosis in adulthood in almost every second population of our country. There are patients who have problems already in adolescence.

It is impossible to underestimate the danger of this pathology: it worsens a person's well-being, contributes to the development of dangerous conditions. The symptoms are a variety of unpleasant sensations.

Causes of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis

In the article, we will consider whether it can be dizzy and painful for a long time with cervical osteochondrosis, why this happens, why the condition worsens and what to do, how to get rid of the discomfort forever.

Due to a not very healthy lifestyle and frequent overload in the neck area, the condition of the spine in this zone gradually changes.

Degenerative changes develop in the intervertebral disc, the hole through which the spinal nerves and the vessels that feed the brain gradually narrow.

This situation is very unpleasant and dangerous. The patient feels pain with sudden movements, in certain positions in the head and neck. The brain receives less oxygen than it needs, which gives rise to the development of normal dizziness.

The main reasons a person with osteochondrosis may feel dizzy:

1. Compression of the vertebral artery by bone growth. Osteophytes pinch the vessels that feed the cerebellum and the basal part of the brain. Its permeability decreases, reducing the amount of blood and oxygen that passes through it. In medicine, this phenomenon is called vertebral artery syndrome.
2. Frank's nervous irritation. Nerve fibers of the sympathetic system envelop the vertebral artery, feeling any effect on it. In response to irritation, nerves cause vessel spasms, affecting their patency. Hernias, osteophytes that form or instability of the cervical vertebrae can cause discomfort.
3. Subluxation of the articular process of the underlying vertebrae or disc herniation formation in the neck area.

With dizziness and nausea due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as well as the manifestation of other symptoms, such as weakness in women, treatment with drugs is necessary, but what to take, which pills will help, only the doctor will decide after a thorough study of the patient's condition. After all, the causes of dizziness are very diverse.

Depending on the specific cause of the development of pathological conditions and negative symptoms, various methods and techniques are used.

You need to understand that dizziness, if the attacks get stronger and become frequent, is a very dangerous condition. A person not only endangers his life by driving or crossing the road, but also poses the risk of developing encephalopathy due to lack of blood and frequent nutrition for neurons.

Additional symptoms

Before deciding what will help with the appearance of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis, what exercises will stop unpleasant attacks, you should not read the reviews of strangers, but evaluate the accompanying symptoms that occur during the development of the disease.

An experienced doctor, according to such signs, suggests the stage of development of chondrosis. It is also capable of assessing the danger of the situation, compiling a diagnostic algorithm. And then - to choose an effective and safe treatment.

Symptoms that accompany a decrease in cervical artery patency and indicate the need to see a doctor immediately:

1. Intermittent tinnitus, possibly throbbing. Then gradually spread to the whole head. As a rule, attacks occur after being in an uncomfortable position, physical effort, or against the background of severe fatigue.
2. Cracking, pain when moving the neck.

3. Eyes darkened, fainted briefly as head was thrown back. In advanced cases, even a sharp turn provokes such a reaction.
4. Nausea, up to vomiting, accompanied by dizziness.

Can the head rotate not from cervical chondrosis, why it develops and what to do, only a neurologist will tell you after the examination. The earlier the diagnosis is made and the treatment started, the more effective the measures taken.

If you get help early, there is a chance to avoid drug therapy and get rid of the problems that have arisen. Delaying a trip to the doctor, there is a risk of provoking the development of a more dangerous condition.

Diagnostics

How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with dizziness, what to do if a violation of movement coordination has developed, and what is prescribed in such cases, you can think about it after undergoing a full diagnosis, because each case is unique.

Before deciding on a therapy regimen, it is very important for the doctor to know what influences the development of the disease. It is necessary to explain how quickly it worsens and what are the characteristics of its course. Due to these characteristics, when faced with a common complaint of dizziness, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out.

A neurologist conducts an initial examination, during which:

• determine the various symptoms that accompany the course of the disease;
• according to the results of the physical examination, find characteristic changes in the cervical area;
• collecting anamnesis, history of disease development;
• ask about the characteristics of the patient's life to identify risk factors that affect the development of the disease.

After that, the instrumental exam will be scheduled:

• MRI of the brain and neck to determine if changes have appeared and to what extent;
• Ultrasound of vessels that pass through the neck will show how much the patency of blood flow and nutrition of the brain is reduced;
• CT of the cervical spine reveals deviations formed from the norm of bone structure;
• electromyography will allow you to register the electrical activity of the muscles of the area being evaluated;

The correct answer to the question of what to do if your head spins from the neck and hurts is to go to the doctor. The clinic will determine exactly the cause of the bad condition and choose the appropriate therapy.

Treatment

After determining the specific stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes individual therapy. After all, you can face such a phenomenon as neuralgia of the occipital nerve, and you need to treat it in your own way.

Priority is given to complex treatment, which includes:

• taking drugs (chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. );
• physiotherapy techniques;
• various massage techniques;
• specialized complex of physiotherapy exercises, exercise therapy;
• follow a healthy diet.

When you feel dizzy with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, treatment can be carried out with conservative methods and with surgical intervention.

The operation is performed in situations where the spinal column is too narrow or a persistent hernia has formed.

Effective treatment methods in the early stages are special massages and exercise sets. Compliance with the doctor's recommendations at the preclinical stage of the development of the disease makes it possible to cure it completely.

The results show a physiotherapy method that allows to get rid of painful symptoms in a few sessions:

• classic manual therapy;
• methods of impact of shock waves on the body;
• hydromassage;
• laser therapy.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, when the head is often dizzy, is a necessary immediate step.

These dangerous symptoms are indicators of the development of a truly dangerous pathology that can worsen the comfort of human life. And also shorten the period.

Prevention

It is possible to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms or significantly reduce their severity with the help of regular preventive measures. Many people think whether it can be effective to use pain-free funds for dizziness due to cervical osteochondrosis, how to get rid of it, quickly relieve attacks, rather than treating the condition at home?

Prevention through lifestyle

We list appropriate measures to prevent the development of the disease:

• Reduces time spent in a bent position. For example, on a computer, tool or work that requires strain on the neck and head position tilted forward. Provide an ergonomic workplace.
• The organization of a regime that saves alternating work and rest.

• Rejection of habits, destructive addictions. Reducing alcohol consumption and the number of cigarettes smoked is necessary.
• Prepare a place to sleep. Get orthopedic pillows and mattresses that take into account the structural characteristics of your spine.
• Increase time for physical activity in your daily schedule, avoid physical inactivity.
• Regularly do a special warm-up during the working day. Ideally, you should set aside 5 minutes every hour for exercise.
• Avoid traumatic activities, extreme sports and excessive physical exercise.
• Watch your weight. When obesity appears, try to lose excess weight as soon as possible.
• Regularly attend specialized massage courses, learn safe self-massage techniques.

• Use a comfortable backpack to carry things, avoid bags that cause tilting while walking. Use a head restraint when traveling while seated.
• In case of injury, get help immediately. Start following medical recommendations from day one.

It is impossible to ignore the situation when, against the background of preventive measures, the neck and back of the head hurts. This is the first symptom of the disease and requires treatment.

Power protection

It is beneficial to follow a special diet that will support the medically induced recovery process in the neck and cervical spine.

The main principles of nutrition in the presence of such problems or tendencies:

• the use of gel-forming foods in food, which contribute to the restoration of cartilage in the body;
• maintaining a balance between protein and carbohydrate foods, a sufficient amount of lean meat and fish in the diet;
• limit the use of excessive salt and spices;
• reduction in the use of pickles, smoked products;
• reduction in the diet of sweets, including rich products;
• limit caffeinated beverages;
• increase the proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits in the daily menu;
• rejection of fatty and fried foods, fast food.

An important place in the life of a person with the same disease should be occupied by exercise therapy. They are especially relevant for the elderly or leading a sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, a set of special exercises must be repeated every day to achieve the expected results.

Although various traditional medicines, with dizziness due to cervical osteochondrosis, what to do, what to drink, how to cope with attacks, how to cure deviations or eliminate certain symptoms, does this or that medicine really help, and does it cause harmaddition, should be decided by a professional doctor. An online consultation with a neurologist can help here.

Do not blindly follow the advice of friends and try to eliminate the disease without getting the recommendation of a qualified doctor.

In advanced cases, osteochondrosis can not only reduce the quality of life, but also prevent a person from his ability to work. Therefore, try to notice in time the factors that can lead to the destruction of the intervertebral disc, and, if possible, eliminate or reduce their harmful effects on the spine. If you are concerned about neck pain, be sure to consult your doctor. Only a specialist can determine the stage of the disease, choose painkillers and prescribe a course of physiotherapy or physiotherapy exercises.