Cervicobrahialgia - which causes pain in the neck, giving in hands

Cervicobrahialgia( sometimes called cervical brachial syndrome, which is not entirely true) is a pain syndrome that arises and develops in the region of the cervical vertebrae, which gives attacks to the upper limbs.

Syndrome cervicobrahialgia is not an independent pathology - it is the consequence of the development of a wide range of many pathological changes taking place in the body.

As medical statistics show, most often this diagnosis is put in patients after 35-40 years in 30%, and after 60 years - the syndrome affects every second patient.

types and syndrome classification

cervicobrachialgia independing on the underlying causes:

• vertebrogenic
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  - in this case the disease is associated with pathologyogium, affecting the cervical vertebrae;
• is a non-embryonic - it develops in pathologies that affect joints and the cardiovascular system, lungs and bronchi.

In the place of the spread of the pain, the syndrome is divided into the following types:

• of the local nature - a pain attack will be localized in one place, showing itself during movement, bends, due to being in one patient's non-typical posture that the patient takes to reduce pain syndromes;
• radicular type - in this case the pain will be directly related to the squeezing of this or that nerve root and its intensity in the shoulder region, the upper extremities shows itself stronger than in the cervical spine;
• pseudo-root type - in this case, the pain attacks will be blunt, aching and vague in nature and triggered by a syndrome of this nature by neuralgia affecting the great occipital nerve, or by torticollis and other changes.

In the place of localization, the disease is divided into upper, lower, middle, and cervicobrahialgia can develop to the left and right of the spinal column.

And, depending on the course of the medical syndrome, the following forms are distinguished:

1. Acute - the pathology manifests itself as pain attacks suddenly, and can vary in time from several minutes to 10 days. In this case, pain is the only symptom that indicates the development of pathology.
2. Chronic form - in this case the pain manifests itself aching character and can last up to 3 months or more. Doctors diagnose this form of the syndrome in 10 cases out of 100.

Provoking factors

The main cause of cervicobrahialgia is cervical osteochondrosis. But physicians note that there are two groups of causes, which are vertebrogenic and non-bred in nature.

The main reasons for the development of vertebrogenic cervicobrahialgia include osteochondrosis, which will gradually affect all parts of the spine. In addition, pain will be formed from affected structures of the spine and its intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments and so on.

In addition, the pain syndrome can also trigger muscle spasm - they form a stagnation of blood and ischemia. The danger of this phenomenon is that the venous spasm will eventually increase, becoming a pathological phenomenon, forming interarticular blocks in the future, and compression in intervertebral structures will also increase.

Patient-induced trauma and micro-injury, physical activity will also provoke the development of negative degenerative-dystrophic pathological changes in the spine, and as a consequence - cervicobrachialgia. Anomalies in the structure of the spine are another reason for the development of pain syndrome.

If we consider the root causes of the emergence and development of non-edibacterial cervicobrahialgia, then doctors include - tumors, both malignant and benign, osteoarthritis and arthritis.

Symptoms of the syndrome depending on the localization of

Symptoms of cervicobrahialgia are different and depend on the site of pain syndrome localization:

1. The upper type of pain syndrome localization originates in the upper segments of the cervical vertebrae, giving back to the area under the occiput and giving to various areas of the neck and head. Because of the muscular and neural interrelation - pain can be given to the throat and larynx, giving a headache. The most frequent signs of this type of pain syndrome is the squeezing nature of headaches and so-called cervical migraine, cervicogenic type of dizziness and a feeling of coma in the throat and larynx, tinnitus in the ears and, in some cases, complete or partial loss of hearing.
2. The average type of cervicobrachialgia is that some doctors refer to the upper or lower types and therefore it can show itself characteristic of each of them with symptoms.
3. The lower type of syndrome is characterized by bouts of pain that can develop and affect the cervical region, giving back to the neck and shoulders, the ventral area of ​​the thoracic region.

Common symptoms may be a loss or a decrease in sensitivity, because of the development of hypotrophy, the muscles will gradually become atrophied, the ability to move the neck and hands is lost.

Statement of diagnosis

For the correct diagnosis, the doctor conducts a comprehensive examination of the patient. In this case, the survey provides the following methods:

• visual inspection of the patient - the doctor can reveal an obvious stoop, asymmetry of the shoulders, some signs of deformity of the spine;
• palpation - in this case, the localization of the focus of pain is determined, where there is muscle tension, how much the cervical vertebrae are mobile, and whether sensitivity is reduced.

The study is conducted with the help of instrumental survey methods, which will allow to establish the root cause of the syndrome development, in particular, there are:

• roentgenography , when the images are obtained in different projections and planes;
• examination with MRI - this method allows doctors to locate and develop intervertebral hernias, as well as protrusions - this survey technique is very informative and reliable - it is most often performed by doctors;
• carrying out computed tomography .

In addition to the described methods, the doctor can prescribe additional examinations - this is a biochemical study of the blood and urine composition that will exclude the development of concomitant diseases.

A set of therapeutic measures

The course of treatment of cervicobrachialgia was originally aimed at eliminating the underlying disease - pain syndrome, and in this matter doctors practice both medical treatment and physiotherapy, use of folk remedies, in some cases surgical intervention is recommended.

Physiotherapy course

After the end of the acute period of the pain syndrome, doctors prescribe a course of physiotherapy procedures - massage, gymnastics, stretching of the spine. In this case, physiotherapy can relieve the pain and improve the overall condition of the patient - it can be an electrophoresis, as well as the use of diadynamic currents, acupuncture.

Therapeutic gymnastics allows to restore the mobility of the cervical vertebrae, to normalize the work of muscles - in this perspective the patient shows such simple movements as stretching and lateral inclinations, bending and rotation.

The massage course stimulates all metabolic processes that occur in the tissues, but in this case it is worth considering the nature of the lesion itself, its localization - in some cases its sessions are contraindicated. The course of stretching the vertebrae is a fairly effective procedure that can effectively relax, but is contraindicated in the intervertebral hernia.

Therapeutic exercises for cervical osteochondrosis:

The course of drug therapy

The course of drug treatment involves the appointment of such groups of drugs:

1. Analgesics, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - they can relieve pain attacks. But long-term use of NSAIDs doctors do not recommend, most often there is a complex anesthesia with the help of ointments, injections or tablets.
2. muscle relaxants are prescribed for the removal of muscle spasm, if they do not give positive dynamics, Novocain blockades are prescribed.
3. The course of taking of vitamin complexes is prescribed - they allow improving metabolic processes in tissues, muscles. With concomitant problems with the heart, which can provoke the development of an unvertebral cervicobrachialgia, drugs containing Nitroglycerin are prescribed.

Surgical intervention

This particular method of treatment is an operation, it is rarely used by medics and the indications in this case are:

• a sharp manifestation of an attack of pain syndrome;
• development of severe neurologic defect, as a consequence of compression of the spinal cord;
• malignant or benign neoplasm, tumor, and lack of positive dynamics of treatment with conservative methods for 4 or more months;
• development of pronounced muscle atrophy.

Folk remedies

Methods and means from the arsenal of folk remedies can also be used in the treatment of cervicobrachialgia syndrome, but after consultation and agreement with the attending physician.

There are a lot of recipes in folk medicine, but the most effective course is taking a tincture from the rhizome of barberry - it helps to relieve pain.

Along with it, the course of baths with the addition of birch leaves, mustard leaves or sea salt is also shown. Excellent results are shown by mud packs, as well as paraffin therapy.

With respect to the prognosis, it all depends on the underlying cause that causes the pain syndrome, the course of the underlying disease, because cervicobrahialgia itself is only a complication-syndrome, but not an independent disease.

With timely diagnosis and treatment - the predictions are very positive, in more neglected cases, the patient may experience problems with self-care in the home and subsequent loss of ability to work, up to the determination of disability.

Preventive measures

Prevention of the disease consists in a timely examination of a specialized specialist - neurologist, because at the initial stages of its course cervicobrahialgia is easier to treat.

With regard to general preventive measures, it is about proper and adequate nutrition, adequate physical exertion and sufficient stay in the fresh air.

In addition, many doctors talk about the benefits of visiting the swimming pool and swimming in the prevention of problems with the spine and other organs and systems. It also shows the competent design of their own workplace, since in many cases it is the seat in the hunched position that leads to the development of osteochondrosis, the main cause of the pathology.