Symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of our time. A sedentary way of life, constant nervous tension does not pass without a trace. Almost everyone can see the symptoms of this disease. How to recognize an insidious disease and seek help in time?

Osteochondrosis is a physiological process that each person acquires throughout life. The symptoms and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are very diverse, so it only becomes a disease under certain conditions, in combination with certain factors. The disease is characterized by local changes in the bone tissue of the cervical spine, due to the occurrence of calcium deficiency. Calcium becomes scarce and the tissue acquires a spongy structure, becomes brittle, fragile and plays the main role of the skeleton.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

In cervical osteochondrosis, the blood supply to the brain is impaired. Therefore, almost all patients complain of similar symptoms:

• headaches, dizziness, tinnitus;
• there is pain in the shoulder, neck, chest;
• individual parts of the body are numb (hands, fingers);
• weakness in arms and legs;
• psychological symptoms - irrational mood swings, irritability;
• In difficult situations, vision and hearing decrease.

The symptoms are so diverse and individual that it is difficult to identify cervical osteochondrosis based only on the patient's complaints. Cervical spine disease is diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and X-ray. According to the results of the study, you can see changes in the spine. Only taking into account all complaints is the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis made.

Depending on the location of the cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment are slightly different. Where exactly the change occurred and how it affects the central nervous system, osteochondrosis can be divided into three main groups. These varieties have different symptoms and therefore different treatments.

1. First group. The peripheral nervous system suffers. A change in the vertebrae directly affects nerve endings (roots). Often referred to as cervical thoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, it has the most striking symptoms:
• Pain from the cervical region to the shoulder region.

• Asphyxia syndrome in the neck, tachycardia, heart pain.
• Crunch, noise, crackling around your neck. See what exercises you should do to strengthen your neck muscles with osteochondrosis.
• Constant pain in the neck.
• Due to the deterioration of blood circulation, the hands become pale, cold, the fingers go numb.
• Pain in the joints.

Such osteochondrosis can cause stiff neck

2. Second group. The whole spinal cord is involved, the disease shows itself in the interruption of all its work. The symptoms are as follows:
• The muscle tone of the legs and arms decreases. The legs are numb, they get tired quickly, it is difficult to walk, to stand, the reason is the syndrome of semiconductor disorders. Blood does not flow well into the spinal cord's side columns.
• Myelopathy develops in the affected areas. Affects limb dysfunction.
• Third group. The brain's work is interrupted due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. It differs in characteristic syndromes:
• Hypothalamic. Syndrome indicated by a malfunction of the hypothalamus. This leads to neurological symptoms. The patient often experiences exaggerated fatigue, irritability, mood swings. People who suffer from this syndrome complain about poor sleep, resentment, unfounded fears and anxiety. Among the physiological changes: sweating, pallor, cold hands, high blood pressure.
• Drops syndrome. With this cervical spine disease, they usually pass out for no reason. The cause is vasospasm.
• Vestibular stem. The syndrome is characterized by frequent dizziness. The functioning of the vestibular apparatus is interrupted due to insufficient blood flow. Sometimes there is nausea that causes vomiting.
• Cochlear stem. Touching, tinnitus is called a syndrome. Ear congestion or hearing loss may occur. It is very difficult to associate such symptoms with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, mainly to prescribe the correct treatment
• Pharyngeal-laryngeal. The syndrome is accompanied by discomfort in the throat. It can be difficult to swallow, the voice becomes hoarse. Painful symptoms like dryness, itching and sore throat are seen.

Characteristics of osteochondrosis with treatment of root syndrome symptoms

Separately, it is worth considering the root syndrome of the cervical spine, whose symptoms should be considered in more detail. Its manifestation is usually confused with diseases not related to osteochondrosis. The treatment does not work, the person continues to feel pain, the condition worsens. An incorrect diagnosis is sometimes worse than the disease itself. The prescribed therapy not only does not help, it also damages completely healthy organs. The development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes the appearance of the so-called root syndrome.

The main reason is the compression of the nerves, in particular their roots in a certain part of the spine (cervical, thoracic, vertebral).

This cervical syndrome is characterized by:

1. Pain when turning the neck or torso. It appears after a long and monotonous position of the body (sleep, sitting for a long time) and sudden turns of the head.
2. Numbness and "chills" in the occipital region.
3. Headaches in different manifestations: pulsating, acute, short-term, long-term. This leads to dizziness, fainting, nausea.
4. The muscles of the chin may sag a little.
5. With frequent pain, a decrease in the tonus of the tongue is observed and defects in speech appear.
6. Pain in the neck passes smoothly to the shoulder, forearm, hand. There is numbness in the fingers, discomfort when raising an arm, joint pain.

Often, the cervical spine root syndrome passes smoothly to the chest. In cervicothoracic osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, acute, instantaneous pain manifests itself in Organs internal organs.

Here, the clinical picture looks like this:

• Pain in the scapula, lower ribs, armpits. Numbness in these areas.
• Sensations of painful pangs in the stomach, intestines, hypochondrium. Often observing this syndrome, they misdiagnose diseases of the alimentary tract.
• Numbness, from the navel to the groin, along the back of the spine, causing weight in the intestines and stomach.
• Dry throat.

Root changes can cause cardinal syndrome - a violation of bone tissue causes irritation of the roots of the pectoral muscles or the diaphragm. Its occurrence is signaled by: heart pain of varying duration, from sharp stings to prolonged pain, tachycardia, shortness of breath. These signs are exactly the same as the symptoms of angina pectoris. And if you treat it exactly, the result will be zero. In addition, in patients with this syndrome, the cardiogram is normal and, in addition to pain, no other signs of heart disease are observed. Therefore, drugs with a coronary dilating effect are not effective.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Effective treatment is a complex therapy that must be practiced not only during an exacerbation.

Medication

• Pain syndrome is relieved by pain relievers and other pain relievers.
• Anti-inflammatories are prescribed for severe pain.
• Local anesthetics in the form of ointments and warming gels will be useful.
• If there is an exiled muscle spasm, take muscle relaxants.
• Prescribe drugs that improve brain circulation in cervical osteochondrosis.
• Painkiller block is also used in medical practice.
• Prescribe anticonvulsant medications, if necessary.
• In the case of psychological disorders, antidepressants, sedatives and medicines for insomnia are useful.

In addition to drug treatment, the following has a very positive effect:

• massages,
• medical gymnastics;
electrophoresis
• ;
• using a bandage.

Cardinal methods of treatment - surgical removal of hernias and other defects of the spine.