Osteochondrosis of the cervical column - Causes, symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical column is complex dystrophic damage to the structures of the spine at the level of the cervical column, affecting the intervertebral disc, the bone structures -Ocal and the blood supply system.With the course of the disease, pathological changes in the spine occur and loses functions.

Osteochondrosis is an insidious disease.In the early stages, there are no symptoms, and only over time when the process acquires a chronic character, the disease is felt.During this period, constant osteochondosis develops and irreversible changes begin in the structures of the vertebrae.As in other cases, it is important not to miss the moment and start treatment in time.How to recognize this disease?

Osteochondrosis of the cervical column

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

The symptomatic complex accompanying the disease is enormous.But in general, all the complaints according to which the patients present at the doctor are similar.

  • Dizziness.Luries for osteochondrosis of the cervical column are a "business card" of this disease.Depending on the severity of the pathological process, dizziness (dizziness) are manifested constantly or epistically.In the first case, we are talking about a complex and long or acute course of the disease.In the vast majority of cases, the symptom accompanies the patient in the morning, especially after sleep.

    The reason for the vertigo is damage to the cerebellum - the main "coordinator" of the human body in space.

    Patients have the question: why is the head stunned and how to deal with this condition?Flow, the intervertebral disc and the surrounding structures press the arteries that feed the brain, including the cerebellum.The nervous tissue reacts with sensitivity to the lack of nutrition and encounters disorders.This symptom is impossible to cure in itself, the disease itself is subject to treatment.Fortunately, today, therapy methods are eliminated from stunning.

  • Headache.Another frequent satellite of the patient with osteochondrosis of the cervical column.This demonstration is included in Verrobaslar so called syndrome.The manifestations of pain differ in intensity and character.Patients describe them as pressures, bursts, pulses.The location is not typical, but in the "classic" cases of vertebobasial insufficiency, the pain is felt in the occipital region.The discomfort also goes through the head towards the forehead (in medical practice, this is called the "gesture of the legionnaire": the pain propagating from the back of the head towards the forehead).

    Important!It is hardly possible to independently determine the source of pain.The same pains are with hypertension, migraines and other pathologies.Therefore, with periodic discomfort, do not pay a visit to the doctor.

    The most intensity of the pain syndrome reached in the morning after sleep.It is easy to explain: at night, the mobility of the neck is minimal, stagnation occurs and the worsening of inflammatory phenomena, blood intake to the brain worsens.

  • Visual impairment.Headache, dizziness for osteochondrosis of the cervical column - symptoms found in patients everywhere.Less commonly detected.Their occurrence indicates in favor of the "neglected" process and is almost guaranteed to determine the presence of vertebrobasicular insufficiency.

    In relatively easy cases, everything is limited to a mist before the eyes and a slight decrease in visual acuity.These symptoms are not constant and pass as the patient's condition improves.Another manifestation of the eye is a photopsy.

    A photopsy is the simplest visual hallucination in the form of a point of torchage, zigzag, stains, lines, etc.This alarming manifestation indicates an involvement in the pathological process of the occipital fraction of the brain.It is she who is responsible for the final training of "image" before my eyes.Due to the compression of the basic arteries which feed the occipital fraction of the brain, the photopsy occurs.

    They do not have photopsia themselves in the eyes of the eyes, but do not neglect the exam by an ophthalmologist because the symptom is not specific.Maybe we are talking about retinal pathologies.It is only when violations by eyes are excluded if neurological causes should be sought.

    In the most serious cases, scotomas develop - the fields of fields of vision.

  • Pain in the neck.Visual suction, headache, dizzy for cervical osteochondosis - the symptoms are frequent, but they are not limited to them.Often the patient is subject to pain in the neck.It is a common but non -specific symptom.Chest, myalgia, etc.also accompanied by cervical pain.Cervical migraine is more indicative.It is a whole symptomatic complex, including intensive pain in the neck, headache in the neck, numbness of the skin from the back of the head and neck, dizziness, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
  • Rajerating (giving) pain.With pain in the neck, uncomfortable sensations radiate towards the shoulders, elbows and collarbone.
  • Radio syndromes.Associated with the compression of the fiery disc of the nerve roots.There is extremely rarely (no more than 8% in 1000 cases).The manifestations are different: winding of the voice, paresis of the tongue, weakness of the muscles of the hands, etc.
  • Violations of neck mobilityand related structures.With a process of great provision, the motor activity of the neck is raped, the patient also experiences difficulties with the movements of the hands.

In the clinical image of the disease, the most common symptom triad is as follows: dizziness for osteochondrosis of the cervical column, periodic headaches and pain in the neck.Similar manifestations are found in most patients.Answering the question "the head with cervical osteochondosis" can turn, it is logical to say that not only can, but also.The rest of the pathology varies from patient to patient.

The causes of osteochondrosis

Speaking of reasons contributing to the development of osteochondrosis, they should be considered with risk factors.

The answer to the question "cervical osteochondosis of what is going on?"Includes many aspects.Most often, the development of the disease is subject to people with a reduction in the level of physical activity.This group includes office employees, the elderly, lying down patients.Consequently, the following reasons are distinguished:

  1. Violation of the physical activity regime.Hypodynamia is a direct path to the problems of the spine.
  2. Age.In older generation representatives, dystrophic processes in bone structures occur much more often.Paradoxically, children are also in danger: poor posture does not add health to the spine.
  3. Long stay in a fixed position.We are talking about a long stay in a lying position (as in the case of bedding patients) and the session (among office employees).

Heavy physical work is dangerous.Despite the fact that the exorbitant charges are more risks for the lombo-sacred column, the cervical is also in danger.This includes both physical work and playing sports, in particular swimming, parachute jump, water jump, etc.

Carefully monitor the health of the musculoskeletal system is necessary for those who take corticosteroid drugs.The hormones negatively affect bones and joints, the "leachate" of calcium, reduce the strength of the skeleton and weakens the muscle corset.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis

In the diagnosis of cervical osteochondosis, it is important to choose a specialist in understanding.We draw an analogy.In therapeutic practice, the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections is considered to be a "junk", because it is the most general definition for all viral infections and doctors "radiate" anything on it.The same goes for the situation with cervical osteochondosis.It is not so easy to recognize it, this requires a good amount of attention and the appointment of a certain number of diagnostic measures.Therefore, if the doctor diagnoses osteochondrosis in motion and without checking, it is the reason to doubt his professionalism.

Differential diagnosis is made with hernia, myalgia, etc.

The first doctor who must be addressed is the therapist.The therapist is a kind of "browser".He performs an initial diagnosis and gives the necessary instructions.Two specialists are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of the most cervical osteochondosis itself: an orthopedist and a neurologist (not to be confused with a nephrologist who treats the kidneys).

The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is not great difficulties.The event system includes:

  • HANG -UP collection.In other words, an oral study of the patient.The doctor interviews the patient for complaints, character, duration, probable causes of occurrence, etc.The patient's task is to speak the most fully and most fully on his condition: on the dizzying of osteochondrosis of the cervical column and visual disorders, if necessary, and others depends on the tactics of the more in -depth examination.
  • Functional tests.They are carried out by neurologists and orthopedists.They consist in the definition of radicular syndromes, the degree of mobility of the spine.
  • Physical study.Easier - palpation.The doctor carefully probe the affected areas and monitors the reaction of pain.Palpation is important to determine cervical migraine.
  • Instrumental diagnostic methods.They play a primordial role.
    1. In order to visualize bone record training, an x -ray is used.It gives relatively little information, but allows you to assess the state of the vertebrae in general terms.The least of the method is the lack of visualization of soft tissues.With total confidence, it is simply impossible to delimit osteochondrosis from hernia in such conditions.
    2. Dopplerography of the neck vessels.Helps determine the quality of the blood flow in the neck vessels.With cervical osteochondosis, the numbers are however much lower, as in the first case, the method only indicates the fact of the presence of pathology.
    3. MRI diagnoses.For the moment, the only most informative study.Allows you to see the spine in detail and to determine the still minor changes.In the case of differential diagnosis, this study is not alternative.
  • Laboratory research.They have a slightly smaller value.Usually everything is limited to a general blood test to identify the inflammatory process.

Immediately to all the diagnostic methods described, they do not use so often (although this is not always justified).If necessary, if there are reasons to assume the complications of osteochondrosis, additional consultations of a rheumatologist, a cardiologist, etc.are prescribed.

Important!If there are pronounced neurological symptoms, in particular the numbness of the hands, other radicular syndromes, the violation of the mobility of the neck, the visual disturbances, etc.MRI diagnoses cannot do it.

There is a high probability of developing hernias of the cervical column, and it is a much more dangerous pathology.Most of the clinic is absent, but doctors have the possibility of sending the patient for this exam to another clinic.But experts often neglect their functions.Do not refuse the examination due to the laziness and the neglect of the doctor, the patient is the first who is interested in his health, so it is necessary to demand management.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

During the first manifestations of health problems, the patient is generally sent to help not to the hospital, but on the internet with requests: "How to treat dizziness for cervical osteochondosis, photopsy, headache, etc.".It is a destructive practice and an impasse.It is impossible to heal independently cervical osteochondosis, the patient risks only lubrication of symptoms and complicate the work of specialists.

In addition, therapy is not a symptom.Therefore, it is not necessary to treat stunning for osteochondrosis of the cervical column, treatment is necessary to eliminate the source of the problem.

Therapy is carried out in depth, using drugs, physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises.

The basis of medication is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for tablets and ointments.These drugs for cervical osteochondrosis and stunning helps to relieve pain, as the main cause of vertigo is the compression of the arteries that feed the cerebellum.Only a doctor selects specific names.

The treatment of dizziness of cervical osteochondosis involves taking medication that improves blood supply to the brain.They must be taken with caution and only for the planned prescription of the doctor, as these drugs have a lot of contraindications and side effects.Drugs of these two groups can be answered to the question of how to get rid of dizziness for cervical osteochondosis.They will help restore normal blood circulation.

With a pronounced pain syndrome, local blocking is prescribed by a complex of medication.In some cases, surgical treatment is indicated, but it is rather an exception.

In most cases, stop dizziness with cervical osteochondrosis and the symptoms of another type of conservative methods.

If a photopsy is observed, stunning for cervical osteochondosis are observed neck treatment using a corset (shant tires).

Often, the cause of neurological (and especially visual) symptoms does not reside in the structures of the spine itself, but in the spasmodic muscles which press the vessels.Hence photopsia, dizzy for cervical osteochondosis: the treatment of these conditions implies the use of muscle relaxants.The massage is prescribed with caution.

During the period of remission, courses and visits to physiotherapy sessions are presented.Depending on the nature and degree of development of the pathological process, it can be electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, etc.The goal is made at the discretion of the participating specialist.

Osteochondrosis is by no means harmless.Over time, it destroys the structure of the spine, causing many states dangerous for health and considerably worsens the quality of life.It is important to consult a doctor in time.It is important that the patient understands that therapy is not subject to dizziness and nausea for cervical osteochondrosis, the treatment aims to eliminate the cause.Therefore, do not look for health recipes on the Internet.It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis yourself, you can only temporarily relieve symptoms.

In addition, when you contact a doctor, it is necessary to maintain a good part of the attention on your own health.Not only with osteochondrosis in the cervical region is dizzy, we can speak of other pathologies.Even an experienced doctor is unable to make a diagnosis "by eye".There is no in -depth diagnosis.This is important to consider when choosing a doctor.