How to treat vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis

vertebral artery syndrome (vertebrobazillyarnoy deficiency syndrome) - symptom caused by impaired Incoming nutrients to brain cells due to vascular pathologies located on the back of the neck near the vertebral column.

Changing the vertebral arteries blood flow causes a headache, especially in the back of the head, dizziness, blurred vision, coordination of movements. The causes of the disease may be nevertebrogennye (congenital anomaly often, small diameter vessels or vertebrate atherosclerotic change) and vertebral (associated with spinal pathology) when compressed externally artery salt growths, cervical deformities vertebrae. However, in practice very often a combination of these factors is observed.

What it is?

The syndrome of the vertebral artery in the cervical osteochondrosis - this is one of the worst manifestations of age-related degenerative changes of the spine in the cervical region. One of the major symptoms of the disease - pronounced headaches or vertebral syndrome, which occurs when compression of the vertebral artery or nerve plexus that surrounds it. The disease progresses rapidly and can start even at a young age.

Causes

There is a vertebral artery syndrome in humans under the influence of the two main groups of reasons. It:

1. Vertebrogenic reasons imply disease affecting the spine. This trauma, tumors in adults ankylosing spondylitis. But still on the first place among the causes of vertebral artery syndrome of a person standing cervical osteochondrosis.
2. Not vertebral, that is not related to the pathologies of the spine. These causes include congenital anomalies, or one of two vertebral arteries, it can their excessive tortuosity, reducing the size in diameter. Nor vertebral reasons are associated with atherosclerosis.

The main culprits of the syndrome of the vertebral artery in the cervical osteochondrosis are:

1. The deviation of the vertebrae from their normal location.
2. Inflammatory processes in the tissues of the neck. When inflammation occurs swelling, it exerts pressure on the vessel.
3. Muscle spasm in the neck. Muscle spasms in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine caused by a reflex defense of the organism in response to pain and limitation of movement.
4. osteophytesThat is, the growth of bone protrusions on the vertebrae. This leads to the mechanical compression of adjacent vessels and mainly vertebral artery. Osteophytes constantly irritate the surrounding vessel plexus, which further increases the arterial spasm.

Lack of blood supply to the brain always leads to the development of characteristic symptoms.

symptoms

Develop symptoms of vertebral artery syndrome and headaches that occur during sleep or uncomfortable position of the head. In addition, influence on the appearance of signs of injury or hypothermia.

Such migraine has its own characteristics:

• It spreads to the temples through the back of the head.
• Different duration - from several minutes to hours.
• When probing the cervical spine there are unpleasant sensations.
• Often accompanied by dizziness, noise, numbness or fainting.
• The nature of pain varied: throbbing, contracting, bursting or fire.
• intensity change occurs at change position, but it may not disappear.

Dizziness often comes after sleep. However, this symptom may occur during the day. Dizziness continues for a few minutes, but can take several hours. Against the background of dizziness the patient has different symptoms:

• Noise in ears;
• Impaired hearing and vision.

The symptoms of a disease state associated with the emergence of feelings of numbness. Similar symptoms affecting the upper limbs, neck and part of his face. The reason for this phenomenon - a problem with the blood supply areas.

When vertebrobasilar-basilar insufficiency occurs stenosis of one or both of the arteries. With prolonged flexion of the head may lose consciousness. the following symptoms occur before fainting:

• It happens numbness of the face.
• The patient feels the instability of his position, dizziness appears.
• Violated it.
• It occurs in one eye transient blindness.

Pathological changes in vertebral artery syndrome and affect the mental state of the patient. Shaped depression, which is associated with impaired blood supply to the brain. In addition, the frequent attacks harassed the patient, so the psychological reasons also affected the state.

Diagnostics

Suspected vertebral artery syndrome - a problem not only to a neurologist, but also a therapist. Based on the description of symptoms, as well as inspection data (voltage neck, tenderness on pressure on processes of the cervical vertebrae and scalp), a doctor makes the diagnosis in question, and sends to the tool study.

It is conducted with the help of a few basic methods:

1. MRI of the brain. To evaluate the state of blood supply to the brain, identify areas leukomalacia, ischemic lesions, cysts posthypoxic - that is, the complications which could result in trophic disorders.
2. X-ray of the cervical spine. It helps to identify the causes of bone disease.
3. Doppler ultrasound. It looks and performed as a normal ultrasound, to evaluate the anatomy, throughput, speed and nature of the blood flow in the arteries. It is this research is fundamental to the staging of this diagnosis.

Treatment of vertebral artery syndrome

Typically, when a cervical osteochondrosis in most cases complete treatment of the vertebral artery, combining medication and psychological methods of influence on the area where it was found defeat vessels.

In periods of exacerbation of the disease, most experts recommend the use of a special collar - Schantz. He has always chosen taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the general etiology of the pathology encountered.

Compression collar perfectly reduces the entire load on the spine, especially in its posterior section. If there is the presence of vestibular-cochlear syndrome, the patient compulsorily hospitalized in a hospital. Behavior therapy should be started immediately after the detection of the disease. It is very important to choose the competent and the most appropriate treatment in each case.

medicines

For the treatment of vertebral artery syndrome are used groups of drugs:

• Drugs that enhance metabolism in cells: Trimetazidine, Mildronat.
• Anti-inflammatory. These drugs are needed for the treatment of the underlying disease (osteochondrosis, arteritis). Doctors prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as celecoxib, nimesulide, Lornoxicam.
• Decongestants. When osteochondrosis or cervical herniated cervical spine are compressed not only vertebral arteries, but also are a number of veins. This violates the venous blood flow, resulting in swelling appears. To remove it, doctors recommend drugs that improve venous outflow: Diosmin, Troxerutin.
• Neuroprotective agents. They strengthen the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain and prevent their death. Of this group of drugs is usually discharged Cerebrolysin Aktovegin or piracetam.
• Improves blood circulation. They stimulate blood flow in the vertebral artery, as well as in the small arteries and capillaries of the brain. The neurologist may prescribe pentoxifylline, vinpocetine, Instenon, Cinnarizine, Vincamine or Nimidopin.

Also using medicines to address the negative symptoms that interfere with normal life.

Massage

He is assigned, starting with sub-acute period of the disease. Its main goal - to relax tense neck muscles that help to reduce the compression (squeezing) of the vertebral arteries.

Incorrect execution of massage techniques can lead to very serious and life-threatening complications: pulmonary embolism, complete clamping blood vessels of the neck with the development of syncope or even stroke.

Exercises in the syndrome of vertebral artery

Therapeutic exercises prescribed to patients after a course of massage. The first classes are held with instructor. He explains to patients exercise equipment. During gymnastics should not experience discomfort.

Exercises in the syndrome of the vertebral artery:

• head turns sideways (10 times);
• He tilts his head forward and backward (up to 10 times);
• lifting arms (5 times);
• circular movements of the head (10 times);
• displacement of the head back and forth on the same plane (up to 10 times);
• moderate counter hand in different directions (up to 10 times).

All exercises are done slowly and softly, sharp jerks, twists contraindicated. Classes should be suspended if the worsening of the disease began.

Lifestyle change

For the full course of treatment, doctors recommend to change their attitude to the usual things:

• reduce salt intake with food;
• if necessary, to stop smoking and reduce weight;
• adjust work and rest, full of sleep;
• at high levels of cholesterol in the blood is necessary to reduce the amount of fat consumed;
• less nervous, and the development of stress - use sedatives;
• to relieve pain at home is recommended, if possible and at work, wearing the collar of Chance, which reduces the load on the cervical spine.

physiotherapy techniques

In the acute phase of the disease physiotherapy helps block pain impulses along the sympathetic nerve fibers. For this purpose:

• diadynamic current for 5 minutes;
• ultrasound in a pulsed mode;
• phonophoresis with solutions analgin, benzocaine;
• electrophoresis ganglioblokatorami;
• D'Arsonval currents down.

In the subacute stage can be used electrophoresis with iodine, novocaine, aminophylline, papaverine.

For reliable physiotherapy methods include acupuncture, galvanizing neck area. Also, selected individual mode pulse currents and ultrasound.

Folk remedies

Therefore, along with massage, drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures can apply different folk remedies.

1. Good relax and relieve cramping muscles coniferous baths.
2. Tincture of grated garlic, lemon juice and honey improves circulation and dilutes the blood. It must take a tablespoon at bedtime.
3. A decoction of the roots of sunflower helps to remove salt from the body, which are often deposited on the spine in osteochondrosis. The daily consumed per liter of the broth.
4. Effectively relieves pain a poultice of grated horseradish. Slurry is applied to the root of linen cloth at the neck, covered with cellophane wrapped and heat.
5. Oregano brew: per liter of boiling water 2 tablespoons of herbs. Infuse all night, the next day to have a drink in four divided doses. This infusion well helps with vertigo.

prevention

Preventive measures of vertebral artery syndrome and cervical degenerative disc disease is very simple. It is important to conduct a mobile way of life, not to overload the spine, spend less time sitting. Treatment to be effective, you need a little bit to adjust their daily routine, to reduce some of the burden.

An important attribute of such adjustment will be morning exercises. You need to give up bad habits, to minimize the time of sitting, move more. You need to keep your back straight, do not slouch, while the neck is healthy.