Osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the skeletal system, caused by metabolic disorders under the influence of provocative factors and characterized by a number of symptoms from many organs and systems. With osteochondrosis, the cartilages of the vertebrae are destroyed, their bodies and processes are deformed.
Cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms and treatment
Today, it is rare that everyone does not experience the manifestations of this widespread disease: according to statistics, about 60% of the population in developed countries suffer from the manifestations of osteochondrosis to varying degrees. The main reasons for such widespread use are sedentary work and the lack of movement of modern people.
Previously, cervical osteochondrosis in men was usually manifested starting at the age of 45-50, and in women a little later at the age of 50-55. But now there is a rapid rejuvenation: the typical picture is noticeable signs of the disease in the 30s, and it is not unusual for the first symptoms to appear in the 20s.
Symptoms
With long-term damage to the vertebral artery, the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. Due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen), the risk of ischemia (local reduction of blood supply), dyscirculatory encephalopathy (damage of cerebral vessels) and stroke increases.
Dizziness is one of the symptoms of cerebrovascular accident with cervical osteochondrosis
Cerebrovascular accident with cervical osteochondrosis has the following symptoms:
- Vision disorders, oculomotor disorders. In patients, visual acuity decreases, "fog" appears in front of the eyes and diplopia (double vision) occurs. These symptoms appear in the initial stages of the pathology.
- Violation of the vestibular apparatus. Then the coordination of movements is disturbed, the patient staggers while walking, the tone of the muscles of the upper limbs decreases. Other symptoms of cerebral circulation disorders include dizziness (vertigo), hearing impairment (noise, ringing, weakness), impaired perception of objects, etc.
- Changing patterns of sleep and wakefulness. Due to impaired blood circulation in the brain, the patient feels weak, tired, sleepy during the day, and cannot sleep for a long time at night.
- A vegetative-vascular syndrome occurs. Suddenly there is weakness, heart rate changes (increases or slows down), increases in blood pressure, increase in intraocular pressure are observed.
- Paroxysmal disorders. People with cervical osteochondrosis may faint after suddenly turning over or throwing their head back. This occurs due to severe compression of the vertebral artery and sudden slowing of blood flow.
- Mental disorders. The patient is suspicious, extremely nervous and takes offense for no reason. His memory and attention are deteriorating.
In addition to the symptoms described above, cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by severe cephalgia (headache). As a rule, painful sensations begin at the back of the head, but they can spread to the arms. Some patients experience throbbing pain in the temples, which may be accompanied by eruptions of vomiting. The pain response increases when turning or bending the head.
With long-term compression of the vertebral artery, the symptoms intensify and the pathology progresses. In the absence of competent therapy, the risk of disability increases. Long-term complex treatment is necessary to prevent dangerous complications.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
It is customary to distinguish 4 stages in the development of cervical osteochondrosis. However, this is a rather arbitrary division, because most of the symptoms of the disease can also manifest themselves in other pathologies. In addition, the actual degree of tissue degradation of the cervical spine may not correspond to outwardly manifested symptoms.
First phase (preclinical)
At the initial stage, symptoms are mild and often associated with stress or other illnesses. You feel unpleasant stiffness in the neck, pain with sudden movements or bending. At this stage, it is quite possible to get rid of incipient osteochondrosis with the help of therapeutic exercises or simply to move more and adjust your diet.
The second stage
The pain is intense, constant, and aggravated by sharp turns or bends. Severe headaches occur, the patient begins to get tired quickly, distracts from thinking, the areas of the face become numb from time to time.
The third stage
The formation of a herniated disc often causes dizziness, weakness of the arms, pain spreads to the back of the head and arms, and is constantly felt in the shoulders.
The fourth stage
Eventually, the intervertebral discs are destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Nerves are compressed, which causes difficulties in movement, sharp pains, increased dizziness and tinnitus.
Causes of cerebrovascular accident in cervical osteochondrosis
In order to understand why the blood circulation of the brain is disturbed during osteochondrosis, it is necessary to study the anatomy of the cervical spine. In the transverse processes of the cervical segment there are openings that form a canal, and veins, nerves and vertebral arteries pass through it. The latter arise from the subclavian arteries, pass through the transverse foramina of the C6 (sixth cervical vertebra) and ascend. At the level of the hindbrain, the left and right vertebral arteries join to form an artery from which the hindbrain, internal auditory, and cerebellar arteries (anterior and posterior) separate.
As described above, the vessels pass through the cervical spine, which is necessary for normal blood supply to the brain. In addition, the spinal canal contains vessels and sympathetic nerves.
The transverse foramina are considered narrow, but there is enough space for the neurovascular bundle. Even when moving the head (turning, bending), blood vessels and nerves are not compressed.
Cervical vertebrae are connected by elastic intervertebral discs. These are a type of cartilage cushions that cushion shocks during running and jumping. These structures also protect nerves and blood vessels from damage.
With cervical osteochondrosis, discs lose a lot of fluid and become fragile. The increased load causes flattening of cartilage pads and cracks in their outer shell. As a result, protrusions (protrusions, disc herniations), osteophytes (bone protrusions) appear that damage nerves and blood vessels.
ReferenceAccording to medical statistics, about 30% of cases of circulatory failure in the vessels of the brain are associated with damage to the vertebral artery. In most cases, the disorder occurs against the background of cervical osteochondrosis and atheromatosis (overgrowth of connective tissue in the vessel wall).
Cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis occurs for the following reasons:
- The nerve supplying the spinal artery is compressed. It provokes spasm of the artery, then blood flow to the brain is disturbed.
- Long-term compression of the vertebral artery. Due to constant compression, the lumen of the vessel narrows or is completely blocked (occlusion). Then the risk of vertebral artery syndrome increases.
- Brutal compression of the vertebral artery, which prevents the outflow of blood. This can happen when turning the head, then the person experiences a severe headache and may lose consciousness.
Spinal cord compression and stretching can occur even in healthy people. With cervical osteochondrosis, an important vessel is regularly damaged, and then dangerous complications arise.
Causes and risk factors
Ironically, the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis in humans is related to one of its evolutionary advantages - upright posture: vertebrae press against each other, and connective tissue deteriorates with age. As a result, it is an almost inevitable process in elderly people. However, there are many factors that contribute to the earlier and more intensive development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- First of all, it is a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle that is often observed in modern life (office workers, drivers and other "sedentary" professions, long hours at the TV, computer), lack of physical activity
- Strenuous, unnatural postures during work: for example, at the computer, a person often leans forward, takes a tense posture.
- The opposite reason is that the load is too high and unusual for a certain person; but even trained athletes, such as weightlifters, are at risk;
- Any reasons that disrupt a person's natural posture: uncomfortable shoes, especially high-heeled shoes, poor sleeping position, flat feet, rheumatism, scoliosis;
- Excess weight, often caused by a poor diet
- Frequent stress, severe nervous tension, constant overwork
- Local hypothermia
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
Many vital vessels, arteries and capillaries are concentrated in the neck area, so any disorder there can lead to unpleasant consequences, including oxygen starvation, hypertension and vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Cervical osteochondrosis affects the segments of the spine that control the work of the shoulder and elbow joints, thyroid gland, hands and other organs. With osteochondrosis, if untreated, there is a high probability of compression of nerves and compression of blood vessels, which inevitably affects the work of other organs.
Diagnostics
Since the symptoms of osteochondrosis are mild and often coincide with other pathologies, it is better to conduct an initial examination with a therapist or other specialist - neurologist, orthopedist. He or she will ask about pain and other symptoms, check neck mobility, skin condition, balance, and reflexes.
If the initial diagnosis of "cervical osteochondrosis" is made, the doctor will send you to further studies. The most effective of them is MRI, and then computed tomography. X-ray studies are less effective than the first two, especially with advanced disease. The condition of soft tissues is checked using ultrasound. If your doctor suspects blood vessel damage, you may be referred for a vascular duplex scan.
Since some symptoms overlap with symptoms of angina and coronary heart disease, you should see a cardiologist who will refer you to an ECG and echocardiography.
Features of treatment
Sufficient blood supply to the brain due to osteochondrosis of the cervical segment should be treated comprehensively. Medicines are the basis of therapy, in addition, other conservative methods are used (physical therapy, physiotherapy, etc. ). And in advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
Doctors identified the main goals of therapy:
Osteochondrosis and panic attacks
- Restoring the functionality of the brain, improving blood supply, thanks to which the body is saturated with a large amount of oxygen and nutrients.
- Eliminating the inflammatory reaction, activating the processes of regeneration of damaged tissues.
- Some drugs help to normalize the composition of the blood, making it more liquid, which improves its quality and speed of movement.
- Expand the lumen of blood vessels, thicken damaged areas.
- Stabilize blood pressure.
- Restore the normal structure of the spine, saturate the cartilage tissue with useful substances and strengthen it.
It is important to understand that complex therapy will help to eliminate blood circulation problems in the brain, but it will not be possible to completely cure osteochondrosis. However, with proper treatment, it is possible to delay the development of the pathology for a long time.
Carefully. You can take any medication for cerebral circulation disorders due to cervical osteochondrosis only for medical reasons. Otherwise, the symptoms of the disease may worsen or be supplemented by new ones, for example, drug-induced headaches. Blood circulation in the brain deteriorates when drugs are abused.
Drug groups to improve cerebral blood flow
The following drug groups will help improve cerebral circulation in cervical osteochondrosis:
- Vasodilators increase the lumen of blood vessels and accelerate blood flow and transport of nutrients to the brain.
- Medicines that prevent blood clotting, as well as aspirin-based medicines. They improve the permeability of blood vessels and prevent red blood cells and platelets from sticking to their walls. As a result, the blood becomes thinner and flows faster to the brain.
- Diuretics. These drugs prevent stagnation and swelling. The first drug is used for the accumulation of excess fluid in brain cells, the second is suitable for eliminating swelling of any localization.
- Osmodiuretics are the only drugs that do not inhibit urine production. It is used to stimulate diuresis in cervical osteochondrosis.
- Antioxidants. These tablets improve the condition of nerve endings and reduce harmful oxidative processes in body cells.
- Antipsychotics. These drugs slow down the transmission of nerve impulses and relieve pain for a long time. They help to cope with stress, long-lasting pain and improve the condition of the spinal nerves.
However, it should be remembered that all drugs have contraindications, so it is forbidden to take them without the knowledge of a doctor.
Medicines that improve cerebral circulation
Doctors prescribed drugs that improve blood circulation in intracranial vessels for neck osteochondrosis:
- A bronchodilator that relieves spasms and normalizes blood flow. It is often used during electrophoresis, during a physiotherapeutic procedure, drugs penetrate the body through the skin under the influence of current.
- A drug based on theophylline and nicotinic acid saturates the blood with oxygen and improves its quality. When used, microcirculation accelerates, blood vessels expand, blood circulation normalizes. The drug can quickly reduce blood pressure.
- A drug containing thioctic acid, which helps to expand the lumen of blood vessels. It improves metabolic processes and eliminates vascular spasm.
- Medicine based on cattle blood. It helps normalize the condition of intracranial vessels, enriches neurons with oxygen and glucose.
- Nicotinic acid helps to expand small blood vessels, reduces the concentration of bad cholesterol and restores blood supply to the brain.
- Medicines for vasodilatation make blood less viscous, normalize microcirculation, help to get rid of dizziness.
ReferenceIn case of cerebrovascular accident associated with osteochondrosis, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used. These drugs help relieve pain in the later stages of the pathology. However, since they have many contraindications, it is forbidden to take them for a long time without the knowledge of a doctor.
As a rule, several drugs are used during therapy according to a certain regimen.
Additional treatments
Combined treatment is complemented by physical therapy that affects the cause of the disease. With the help of exercise therapy, you can improve blood circulation, metabolic processes and improve the trophism of the spine. With regular exercise, the muscles around the damaged vertebrae become stronger, which allows them to relax a bit. But to get good results, the lessons should be done regularly.
Special gymnastics is indicated in the case of cerebral circulation disorders associated with cervical osteochondrosis.
The patient should follow these training guidelines:
- Start with simple movements at a slow speed and minimal amplitude, gradually increasing the pace.
- Before exercising, massage your neck or take a hot shower to warm up your muscles.
- Pay attention to your feelings during training. At first, there may be some discomfort, but after 3-4 days, the body will adapt and your health will improve. If this does not happen or if severe pain occurs, consult a doctor.
For each patient, the complex is drawn up by a doctor taking into account the symptoms, the severity of the pathology, age and general health.
ReferenceIn the case of cerebral circulation disorders, it is recommended to supplement exercise therapy with walking or cycling, swimming, yoga, breathing exercises and cardio exercises (elliptical, exercise bike).
An auxiliary treatment method is physiotherapy. Electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, medicinal baths and acupuncture are prescribed to improve cerebral circulation.
For the normal functioning of the spine and blood vessels, the patient must be properly fed. The diet should be supplemented with foods rich in fiber, fatty acids, B group elements, tocopherol and ascorbic acid. For this, you need to eat more vegetables, fruits, berries and greens. In addition, it is useful for patients to eat fatty sea fish, lean meat, nuts, vegetable oils, etc. It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of filtered water a day.
Nutrient deficiency with a poor diet can be compensated with the help of vitamin and mineral complexes. Your doctor will help you choose the right medicine.
Surgery for poor blood circulation in the brain due to cervical osteochondrosis is performed only in extreme cases. If there is a large bony growth compressing the vessel, surgery may be needed. During the procedure, the osteophyte is removed, if for some reason this cannot be done, then a stent is placed in the blood vessel.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
Real, lasting success in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be achieved only with a complex approach consisting of drugs, massage of the collar area, therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy. In particularly advanced cases, surgical intervention may be required. Of course, the patient should eliminate or minimize the factors that contribute to the development of the disease: move more, eat better, etc.
We strongly recommend resorting to self-treatment, first of all, the symptoms of osteochondrosis can mean a completely different disease: only the drugs you choose will not help the treatment, but can also cause harm. Even during painful exacerbations, do not rush to the pharmacy for painkillers - it is better to make an appointment with a doctor, even better - do it in advance at the first symptoms.
Relieving acute pain
Osteochondrosis, especially in the later stages, is accompanied by severe pain, so the first task of the attending physician is to alleviate your suffering. He will prescribe you painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, chondroprotectors to restore cartilage tissue, drugs to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle spasms.
In this article, we deliberately do not give the names of specific drugs - it is better to leave their choice to doctors who will take into account all possible consequences and evaluate contraindications.
Therapeutic exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
The simplest and most accessible method, including at home, is therapeutic exercises. At the same time, it is quite effective because it strengthens neck muscles, restores blood circulation in damaged areas, and compensates for inactivity in everyday life. Physical therapy can be completed with swimming and water gymnastics.
There are many methods, including the use of simulators: most of them do not require special equipment or any special conditions, but we advise you to contact an exercise therapy office, where they will choose the most effective exercise sets for you and conduct classes. under the guidance of an experienced professional.
Physiotherapy
Correct and constant use of physiotherapeutic methods improves blood circulation in damaged areas, reduces inflammation and pain, and slows down the ossification process.
For osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, therapeutic baths and showers, mud therapy and other methods are used.
Neck massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Massage for osteochondrosis can be very effective: it improves blood circulation, reduces the likelihood of spasms by reducing muscle tone, relieves pain symptoms and improves the patient's general well-being.
However, massage and manual therapy should be used with extreme caution, because incompetent and rough impact on diseased areas of the body can only cause harm. We strongly recommend that you consult your doctor first.
Surgery
In particularly advanced cases, even surgical intervention cannot be ruled out: narrowing of the spinal column, ruptured intervertebral discs or spondylolisthesis.
The decision regarding the need and method of surgical intervention is made by the surgeon, who determines the preparatory operations, the duration of the postoperative period and rehabilitation.
Causes of cerebral circulation disorders and venous flow
Violation of venous flow with cervical osteochondrosis is a common cause of headache, decreased mental performance, constant weakness and drowsiness. Stagnation of venous blood causes fluid to flow into the intercellular space. This can lead to increased intracranial pressure. The structures of the brain are under great pressure and cannot function normally. After that, the blood pressure level may start to rise. In general, this situation is dangerous because there may be a threat of hemorrhagic stroke. It has a very high mortality rate even among young patients.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease whose negative effects can be minimized with proper and timely prevention. It is necessary to think about its prevention in childhood: poor posture and flat feet in a child is a reason to consult a doctor for diagnosis.
The basis for the prevention of osteochondrosis is the right lifestyle: reasonable physical activity during sedentary work and regular exercise, healthy nutrition, body weight control.
Complications
Chronic oxygen starvation quickly leads to disruption of processes in the human body. In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, the above symptoms will gradually intensify. Depending on which brain is most affected by the lack of necessary substances, a number of complications are likely to develop.
Consequences of a cerebrovascular accident in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- hypertensive disease;
- cerebral ischemia;
- heart rhythm disorder;
- problems with orientation and coordination;
- change in the quality and type of breathing;
- decreased mobility of the upper limbs.
Even if the listed conditions begin to appear, this is not a cause for panic. In such cases, there is also a chance of treatment and full recovery of the disturbed functions. The main thing is not to delay in visiting the doctor and start treatment quickly.