Compression and destruction of intervertebral discs or cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (ICD code – 10 – M42) ranks second in the frequency of cases after damage to the intervertebral discs of the lumbar region.High daily load or, conversely, low physical activity causes negative changes in the vertebral structures.

What signs are characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis?How dangerous is the compression and destruction of intervertebral discs?What are the symptoms, treatment, prevention methods, and consequences of an untreated disease?

Reasons

Deformation of the vertebral structures of the cervical spine is the result of negative factors and pathological processes:

• poor posture;
• disturbances in metabolic processes due to poor nutrition;
• spinal column injury;
• wear of discs during the natural aging of structures in old age;
• genetic predisposition to orthopedic diseases;
• physical inactivity, prolonged use of the computer, which causes strain on the neck muscles;
• the development of an infectious-inflammatory process due to hypothermia, exposure to a draft;
• defects in the development of vertebral structures in the neck area.

Factors causing damage to vertebrae, cartilage tissue and discs:

• obesity;
• too intense exercise;
• the head is thrown back for a long time or lowered to the chest during work;
• flat feet;
• incorrect posture when working in a sitting position;
• frequent microtraumas of the cervical spine due to too intense training.

First signs and symptoms

In the initial stage of the disease, the patient is rarely associated with frequent headaches, discomfort in the shoulders, numbness in the neck during prolonged standing, and damage to the vertebral structures.Most often, there is no effective treatment, and the pathology progresses.

In the second to fourth stages of osteochondrosis, negative manifestations are more pronounced in the neck area.In advanced cases, the negative signals spread to other parts of the body: hearing aids, eyes, upper limbs.

Doctors identify several characteristic symptoms:

• radicular.Pain syndrome in the parietal, occipital, neck area, discomfort in the back muscles, shoulder girdle.An important point is the loss of shoulder muscle reflexes.Radicular syndrome is more often observed in the third or fourth stage of the pathology, significant damage to the condition of the vertebrae and discs, as well as a noticeable decrease in the height of the bone structure;
• muscular-toned.Painful sensations appear in the area of the chest and heart.Acute symptoms often appear on the inner side of the arm;
• neurovascular.When the capillaries and vertebral artery are compressed, the patient complains of headache and dizziness.

Stages of development:

• first.As a result of negative factors, small cracks appear in the intervertebral discs, the integrity of the nucleus pulposus is broken, fluid gradually leaks out, a decrease in elasticity is observed, and the disc shrinks.When moving the head, a soft crunching of the vertebrae is heard, pain and numbness in the neck area are disturbing when the body is in one position;
• second.The pathology progresses, a violation of integrity, ruptures, a decrease in the density and thickness of the fibrous ring appear.The result of the negative processes: squeezing out the core into the resulting cracks and fractures.The patient's condition worsens and his performance decreases.The headache intensifies, stiffness occurs in the cervical spine, the face, neck, and arms become numb;
• third.Bulging of the disc, active compression of the structure, loss of elasticity leads to protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc.Neurological disorders appear, the annulus fibrosus ruptures, the clinical picture is clearly expressed: the reflex and radicular syndrome are worrying.Many patients complain of weakness in the hands and fingers, decreased hearing and vision;
• fourth.In advanced cases, the discs flatten, the images show the growth of osteophytes, and compensatory phenomena develop, which remain in the normal position of the spinal column.The pain syndrome is slightly weakened, but the stiffness of the cervical spine remains.

Diagnostics

The appearance of pain in the neck area, frequent dizziness, the mobility and sensitivity of the fingers, the development of other signs of spondylosis deformans justify a visit to a vertebrologist, neurologist or orthopedic traumatologist.The doctor learns about the clinical picture, lifestyle, diet, history of spinal injuries, and chronic diseases.It is important to understand the causes of osteochondrosis and to identify the factors that cause degenerative changes in the discs between the vertebrae.

The specialist then prescribes an examination:

• tomography – computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging;
• Doppler imaging of blood vessels is carried out in an advanced stage, the presence of pronounced neurological disorders, frequent fainting, numbness of the shoulder, hands and fingers;
• X-ray of the cervical spine (in the early stages of the pathology, the method is not very informative).

Effective treatments

In the first stage of the development of deforming spondylosis in the neck area, special gymnastics and external agents with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects are sufficient.The patient should monitor his posture.You should not stay in one position for a long time, warm up every hour and do neck exercises daily.

As the pathology progresses, local remedies and gymnastics are not enough to eliminate the complex of negative symptoms.The degenerative-dystrophic nature of the changes affects the mobility of the neck area, the pain syndrome intensifies, protrusions and disc herniations appear, doctors identify all the radicular and reflex symptoms of deforming spondylosis.

Important!Only an integrated approach to therapy combined with quitting smoking, alcohol and changing the diet can partially or completely correct the situation.Proper nutrition, foods rich in calcium and phosphorus, fresh vegetables, cheese and drinking enough fluids are important.In the absence of timely and competent therapy, there is a risk of the patient becoming disabled.

Medicines

The doctor selects drugs to eliminate various types of negative manifestations:

• fight against pain syndrome.Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory names are effective.The best solution is NSAIDs in the form of tablets, injections, gels and ointments.In addition, you can take pain relievers prescribed by a doctor;
• elimination of swelling.Fluid retention in tissues is eliminated by diuretics, dehydrating compounds and hormonal drugs.Take medicines belonging to this group strictly as prescribed by the doctor: strong diuretics can cause serious heart and blood pressure problems;
• chondroprotectors to restore cartilage quality.If the elastic tissues are damaged, the friction between adjacent vertebrae increases, the density of the layer decreases, and due to the compression of the vertebrae, the disc may bulge and the annulus fibrosus may rupture.Doctors prescribe drugs with a combined effect.The preparations contain not only glucosamine and chondroitin, but also anti-inflammatory ingredients.Various multi-component products have a good effect;
• increased blood circulation in problematic vertebral structures.The doctor chooses drugs that thin the blood and compounds that dilate blood vessels;
• fight against muscle spasm.Against the background of weakened bone structures and destroyed cartilage tissues, the muscles try to maintain the correct position of the spine;excessive overexertion causes pronounced pain.Muscle relaxants are prescribed to relax the tissues;
• activation of metabolism, increase of local immunity.The patient takes vitamin and mineral complexes, dietary supplements containing calcium, biostimulants and antioxidants.

Physiotherapy procedures

Increasing the effect on problem areas, activating blood circulation, delivering medicinal components to the affected area, nutrition, reducing inflammation - this is not the entire list of beneficial properties of physiotherapy sessions.In addition to taking medicines and therapeutic exercises, the doctor prescribes a series of procedures.

Effective types of effects:

• laser therapy;
• with darson;
• electrophoresis with drugs;
• diadynamic currents;
• infrared radiation;
• electrical stimulation of the affected muscles.

Therapeutic gymnastics

In the case of osteochondrosis, it is important to maintain the mobility of the cervical vertebrae and strengthen the muscles and ligaments.After examining and clarifying the condition of the affected structures, the doctor prescribes special exercises for the cervical spine.Simple operations preserve the elasticity and flexibility of structures.

Therapeutic exercises for neck muscles:

• turn your head to the left, then to the right;
• tilting the head forward and backward with a gradual increase in amplitude;
• with circular movements.At first, the amplitude is minimal, gradually increasing the "circle", but without the appearance of a pronounced crunch of the cervical vertebrae.

Perform all movements smoothly, jerking is prohibited.Do not allow your vertebrae to crack excessively or cause acute pain during exercise.The amplitude must be increased gradually, otherwise injuries to the cervical spine are possible.Simple but effective exercises should be performed not only during therapy, but also to prevent osteochondrosis.The frequency of the lessons is two to three times a day, and the duration of the exercise is no more than five to seven minutes.Doctors recommend mandatory, daily implementation of the complex for those who perform "sedentary" work.

Manual therapy

Doctors are cautious about realigning cervical vertebrae.Most experts do not recommend manual therapy in this area for osteochondrosis.During the procedure, the slightest deviations, sudden movements, incorrect application of the technique - and the sitting can end in paralysis or fracture of the cervical vertebra, which can have serious consequences, even death.

Osteochondrosis becomes "younger" every year.In order to prevent damage to bone and flexible structures, you should pay attention to an important part of the spine every day, do simple exercises, change your body position more often during the work process, do not smoke, and eat right.If characteristic signs of deforming spondylosis appear, consult an orthopedic traumatologist or vertebrologist.