Cervical degenerative disc disease called progressive dystrophic-degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs in the 1-7 vertebrae relating to the cervical spine.
As a result, cervical osteoarthritis occurs deformation, depletion, and then the loss of vertebral bodies. This disrupts normal blood flow and nerve conduction in the neck and in those areas which are innervated by the nerve roots of the cervical spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis can be both alone and combined with osteochondrosis of other departments - thoracic, lumbar and sacral.
Causes
Causes of dystrophic and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs are still not well understood. The assumption that low back pain - senile phenomenon found no confirmation. It occurs even in children and adolescents.
It provided a number of predisposing factors to the development of osteoarthritis. These include:
- inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle,
- sedentary types of work with a static load on the neck,
- overweight, lack of physical development,
- dysplastic processes of the connective tissue,
- poor circulation in the neck,
- neck injury,
- scoliosis, Posture defects, uncomfortable pillows and mattresses,
- genetic predisposition, metabolic defects.
Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease
Cervical spine due to the nature of the skeleton, bipedal locomotion, as well as due to the large size of the head is very vulnerable to development of osteoarthritis - the vertebrae in it the smallest compared to other parts of the spine and muscular frame is not strong pronounced.
The most common symptom for which patients complain about - pain in the cervical region. Depending on the affected area the pain can be localized
- in the collarbone and the shoulder;
- around the cervical spine;
- on the front surface of the chest.
Pain in the neck caused by features osteochondrosis cervical spine.
The first signs of cervical degenerative disc disease are minor and is not specific:
- pain in the neck in the evening,
- a feeling of heaviness in the head, headaches in the occipital region,
- numbness or tingling in the arms and hands,
- crunch in the neck when turning head, snap the vertebrae.
SYMPTOMS:
Vegetative-dystonic
- quite strong "prostrelnuyu" pain in the neck and, especially, in the area just below the nape of the neck;
- pain arises after a long stay in one position (e.g., after sleeping);
- neck muscles are constantly tense;
- there are difficulties in diverting arms to the side;
- on the affected side thumbs constrained in his movements.
Since there is compression of the vertebral arteries, there are neurological manifestations: headache, nausea, frequent fainting.
spinal symptom
localized pain in the chest on the left.
This type of pain should be distinguished from pain stenokardicheskie (Angina brings relief nitroglycerin, osteochondrosis - not).
With the gradual violation of the structure of the intervertebral discs is their compression (compression) and there infringement of nerve roots, as well as the restriction or denial of the arteries and veins that are in bodies vertebrae.
This leads to the formation of specific syndromes - radicular and ischemic.
- root lesion first cervical vertebra (C1): disturbances affect neck, reducing skin sensitivity;
- C2 lesion gives pain syndrome in the area of the vertex and occiput;
- defeat C3 gives pain in the neck from the infringement, reduced sensitivity to language and sublingual muscles, in some cases with violation of speech and loss of control over the language;
- defeat C4 and C5 gives pain in the shoulder and collarbone, lowering the tone of the head and neck muscles, hiccups, breathing problems and pain in the heart;
- C6 lesion is often giving pain from the neck to the shoulder, forearm, right up to large fingers may suffer skin sensitivity:
- C7 defeat gives similar symptoms with pain in the neck, back of the shoulder, down to brush rear, impaired hand strength and decreased reflexes.
Circulatory disorders due to compression of blood vessels in the area of the cervical vertebrae give headaches until the migraine, severe dizziness, blurred vision and tinnitus, flickering flies in front of the eyes, autonomic disorders functions.
May be manifestations of cardiac syndrome with compressive heart pain, lack of air and palpitations, rhythm disorders.
complications
Serious complications of cervical degenerative disc disease are
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc with the formation of a hernia (protrusion);
- Intervertebral disc gap with pinched nerves and vessels, possibly compression of the spinal cord, which can lead to death;
- It may also be radiculopathy (root lesion), the formation of osteophytes (spines on the vertebral bodies) with the manifestation of paresis and paralysis.
Diagnostics
In the presence of the above claims must appeal to the orthopedic surgeon or neurologist.
First of all, the doctor will evaluate the mobility and pain in the neck, sensitivity and other functions of the disorder. Then need radiographs of the cervical spine in several projections, if necessary - CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging for suspected hernia.
When poor circulation needed rheoencephalography and study of the fundus.
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease
Today, there are both traditional and non-traditional methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
Mainly used conservative methods:
- symptomatic analgesics (baralgin, analgin, ketorol) therapy for pain relief
- receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs series (diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam) - to relieve the inflammation and tissue edema
- to eliminate muscle spasms use antispasmodics - Nospanum, medicines to improve blood circulation - Mydocalmum, Trental.
In the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease applied a substance, restoring the structure of intervertebral disc - hondroprotektory (terafleks, artratsin).
It shows the rate of vitamin B group, apply external agents for the treatment of - gels, and ointments, creams anti-inflammatory, analgesic and warming up components - Voltaren, diklogel, Nikofleks. Showing stimulants regeneration of intervertebral discs - terafleks or hondroksid.
Excellent aids in the treatment of degenerative disc disease and point massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy, physical therapy and exercises. A well-proven method of Osteopathy - gentle on the "squeezed" the muscles and vertebrae area.
In the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease it is recommended to wear a special collar (collar Schantz).
Complications of cervical degenerative disc disease with herniated discs, in violation of the sensitivity and blood circulation can be treated promptly.
The duration of treatment depends on the state of neglect, as osteochondrosis - a progressive chronic disease. Treatment can be lengthy, and prevention courses held for life.
Significantly alleviate the condition in osteochondrosis helps proper nutrition. For more information about the principles of diet in osteochondrosis in our separate article.
Exercises for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease:
- Samovytyazhenie: in position with your back straight you need to lower the shoulders as low as possible, while you need to pull the neck up. You must make at least 10 sets at least 3 times a day.
- Self-massage: clasp the neck with a towel, took him by the ends and pull them one by one, stretching the neck muscles. It is necessary to make sure that the towel is not slid on the neck (do not rub it).
- Exercises for the cervical spine in osteochondrosis: shows slight flexion of the neck, as well as pan and tilt heads. At a time it is 5-7 tilts to each side. The most useful exercise is performed after the self-massage of the cervical spine.
prevention
Basis of health of the cervical spine - a strong and healthy back, physical activity, comfortable bed with anatomical pillows and mattress, the correct posture and proper nutrition.
Should avoid neck injuries, and weight lifting. It should be combined with long sitting periods of rest and warm up.
This article is based on the book "Diseases of the spine" materials, ed. prof. Eliseev Yu Yu, M,: 2008
