Osteochondrosis of the neck: symptoms and treatment.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (CS) is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Each year, doctors diagnose this disease more often and it progresses more and more seriously. According to statistics, in women, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the upper part of the spine occur more frequently, especially for patients in the postmenopausal period. The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women are pain, limited mobility, insufficient cerebral circulation, and this is dangerous not only for health, but also for life. To protect yourself from the dangerous consequences of pathology, you need to start treating it in the early stages. It is important to carry out complex therapy, change lifestyle to stop the destruction of the spinal segments and prevent serious complications.

Disease development

The cervical spine is the most vulnerable to various injuries and degenerative changes. This is due to the fact that this segment is the most mobile and the muscles are weak here. The small cervical vertebrae endure strong stress every day, which leads to the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs. The vertebrae press against each other, so the cartilaginous pads between them lose a lot of fluid, begin to degrade and deform.

Also, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops due to insufficient nutrition of cartilage tissue. And the spinal canal in this area is narrow, so it is often pinched, causing neurological symptoms.

Pathology in women in the early stages is manifested by heaviness in the back of the head, tingling in the hands, etc. Often, patients mistake the first signs of the disease for overwork.

A large number of blood vessels and nerve roots are located in the neck area, and when compressed, neurological disorders can also occur. It is especially dangerous if a deformed disc or vertebra compresses the vertebral artery, which feeds important parts of the brain. When squeezed, coordination of movements is disturbed, a woman may lose her balance, her vision and hearing deteriorate, and the risk of stroke increases.

Reference. According to statistics, cervical osteochondrosis is most often found in patients aged 25-40 years. This is due to a massive decrease in physical activity, sedentary work. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than men, as they have more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue.

Doctors distinguish 4 stages of osteochondrosis STORE:

• Stage 1: the intervertebral disc loses some moisture, its height decreases, cracks may appear in the fibrous ring (outer layer). This is the stage of cervical chondrosis, which is difficult to identify, as it has unexpressed symptoms. The neck tires quickly, there is discomfort, heaviness in the damaged area, sometimes there is a slight pain that passes quickly.
• Stage 2: cracks on the surface of the disc increase, the nucleus pulposus (gelatinous content of the disc) is displaced and may protrude through the damaged areas. This is the protrusion of the cartilaginous lining, which can compress the spinal cord and its roots. Periodically, there may be severe pain, weakness, limited mobility, numbness of the face, neck, shoulders, and arms.
• Stage 3: The bulge breaks through the outer layer of the disc, causing a hernia to form. The pain becomes more pronounced, there are neurological disorders.
• Stage 4 - the disc is almost completely destroyed, the vertebrae rub against each other, bone growths (osteophytes) appear on its edges, which are designed to stabilize the damaged segment. The nerve endings, the spinal cord, and the blood vessels are damaged. The adjacent joints begin to be damaged. The clinical signs are pronounced.

It is easier to stop degenerative-dystrophic changes in the first two stages of osteochondrosis than the SHOP. In stage 3, complex treatment will help stop further destruction of the spinal segment. At the last stage, you can not do without surgery.

The reasons

Osteochondrosis SHOP is a long and complex process that usually has several causes. In most cases, the pathology occurs as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, metabolic disorders. Often the disease occurs due to injury or due to the body's natural aging and weakening of its defenses.

Doctors identify the main causes of osteochondrosis SHOP in women:

• Disruption of metabolic processes.
• Passive lifestyle.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Chronic muscle tension around the cervical segment.
• Posture curvature.
• Deficiency of fluids and nutrients in the body.
• Prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position (neck extended forward and hunched back).
• Excessive weight.
• Frequent use of high-heeled shoes.
• BUY injuries.
• Lift heavy objects
• Autoimmune pathologies.
• Frequent stress, chronic fatigue.
• Hypothermia.
• Infectious diseases.
• Neck too long or too short, etc.

All these factors cause malnutrition of the intervertebral discs and lead to their degeneration.

Female cervical osteochondrosis can be caused by pathologies of the vertebral artery associated with a genetic predisposition, intrauterine disorders, trauma during childbirth. The disease can occur as a result of rheumatism, endocrine disorders, excessive load on the cervical segment during pregnancy, local overload.

Important. The main cause of cervical osteochondrosis in women is menopause, as well as the changes associated with this period. At this stage, the concentration of progesterone, which is very important for bone tissue, decreases in the body. The likelihood of degenerative changes is associated with age-related weakening of the neck muscles and weakening of the support of the vertebrae in this area.

Symptoms

For osteochondrosis, a wave-shaped course is characteristic, when the acute period is replaced by remission. Exacerbation can lead to infection, injury, hypothermia, prolonged stress on the neck.

The first signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are headaches, discomfort, heaviness in the neck. It is important to distinguish early pain from chondrosis from migraines or autonomic dysfunction.

The clinical manifestations of SHOP osteochondrosis in women are caused by neurological syndromes:

• Cervical dyscalgia occurs when nerve endings are irritated by fragments of damaged cartilaginous lining. Then there is a specific cracking in the neck, pain, which becomes more pronounced when moving the head and after sleeping.
• The scalene muscle syndrome becomes a consequence of damage to the vessels and nerves of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery. This symptom complex is accompanied by pain from the inner surface of the shoulder to the hand on the injured side. The limb becomes pale, cold, edematous, numbness occurs. Neck pain spreads to the back of the head when the patient turns his head.
• Shoulder-scapular periarthrosis syndrome: Dystrophic changes affect the tendon fibers that surround the shoulder. Painful sensations from the neck radiate to the shoulders and shoulder girdle. There is a forced position of the neck - it is tilted to the affected side, and the shoulder is slightly lowered.
• Vertebral artery syndrome: A blood vessel is compressed by fragments of a damaged disc or osteophytes (depending on the stage of the disease). The patient is dizzy and has a headache, nausea, sometimes vomiting. The pain is localized in the occiput, crown and temples.
• Cardiac: The nerve bundles in the spinal cord are damaged. There is heart pain, arrhythmia. If C3 is damaged, pain appears in the middle of the neck, the tongue swells, the patient cannot chew food normally. If C4 is injured, discomfort appears in the area of the shoulder girdle, clavicle, and heart. With the defeat of C5, the neck pain reaction spreads to the shoulder girdle, the inner surface of the shoulder. C6 irritation manifests as pain from the neck and scapula to the shoulder girdle and spreads up the entire arm to the thumb. If C7 is damaged, the pain syndrome spreads to the back of the shoulder girdle and captures the entire hand, including the index and middle fingers. When C8 is squeezed, the pain spreads from the affected area to the elbow and little finger.

Also, the emotional sphere of a woman can be disturbed, weakness arises, she becomes anxious, touchy. Insomnia often occurs, memory and attention are weakened due to regular headaches.

Stroke symptoms appear when a woman suddenly throws her head back, tilts it, or performs work that places a load on her arms and cervical spine, for example, when she digs, paints the ceiling, and carries weights.

Violation of cerebral circulation is manifested by dizziness, unsteady gait, "flies" before the eyes, tinnitus, weakness, nausea. In some patients, the voice becomes hoarse, sometimes disappears, a sore throat appears.

Osteochondrosis during menopause is accompanied by migraines, increased body sweating in the area between the neck and the shoulder girdle. When the vertebral artery is compressed, the work of the cardiovascular system is disrupted.

If the disease lasts a long time, then there is a circulatory failure of important centers that perform neuroendocrine functions. Due to the increased permeability of the vascular walls, atherosclerosis of the cerebral and cardiac arteries develops.

Establish the diagnosis

If you notice symptoms of osteochondrosis, see a therapist. After a visual exam, a specialist will refer you to an orthopedist, vertebrologist, or neurologist.

To diagnose cervical osteochondrosis, the following methods are used:

• Radiography allows you to discover that the patient has displaced vertebrae, osteophytes are present on the edges of it, the distance between the vertebrae has decreased. For this, the study is carried out in different planes. To detail the characteristic changes, the doctor takes sighting photographs.
• Cervical spine computed tomography provides detailed information on pathological changes in the vertebrae. This method allows you to obtain volumetric images for a more detailed study, it is used in severe diagnostic cases.
• MRI is used to accurately assess the state of the soft tissues (nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles) in the affected area.
• Electromyography allows you to check the conduction of a nerve fiber.

In addition, doctors may prescribe a Doppler ultrasound (Doppler ultrasound of the great arteries of the brain) to determine the state of blood flow in this area.

Conservative treatment

In the early stages, the treatment of STORE osteochondrosis in women can be carried out at home. However, the doctor must develop a regimen of therapy. It is important to understand that this is a long process and is unlikely to be completely cured (especially for older women).

Complex treatment includes:

• Taking medicines.
• Use of orthopedic devices.
• Physiotherapy.
• Physiotherapy procedures.
• Massage, manual impact.
• Alternative treatments.

Conservative techniques will help stop pain, inflammation, normalize muscle tone, improve metabolic processes and nutrition of damaged segments of the spine. With timely therapy, it is possible to stop pathological changes.

Medications for cervical osteochondrosis will help eliminate inflammation and pain.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is carried out with the use of drugs that will help to improve the metabolism of the cartilaginous linings between the vertebrae, stop inflammation and pain. For this purpose, the following drugs are used:

• NSAIDs. It can help relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation.
• Analgesics. The pain eases.
• Preparations to improve cerebral circulation.
• Muscle relaxants help relieve muscle spasms.
• Chondroprotectors. They help stop disc destruction, improve metabolic processes, and speed recovery.
• Magnesium-based drugs.
• Nootropics. They stimulate the work of the brain by normalizing its blood circulation, have a mild sedative effect.

Reference. With severe pain that is not relieved by oral medications, therapeutic blocks are used, for example, with a solution of novocaine or NSAIDs.

Treatment can be supplemented with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers in the form of gels, creams, and ointments. They will be effective in the remission stage or in combination with oral agents.

The decision on the choice of drug combinations is made by the doctor. The specialist will develop a regimen for taking medications and will also determine your dosage. It is important to follow his recommendations, as many of the above medications threaten dangerous complications.

During the acute stage of TENT osteochondrosis, a woman should give up strenuous physical activity. To unload the cervical segment, she must wear a special brace (Shants collar), which will fix the vertebrae in the correct position. This device is recommended for wearing it during prolonged sedentary or hard physical work.

Physical therapy procedures will help relieve pain and improve blood circulation to the damaged area:

• Diadynamic therapy.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Electrophoresis.
• Electroanalgesia.
• UV irradiation and so on.

The therapeutic effect manifests itself after about the third session, then the headache, hearing disorders, vision disorders, dizziness, sleep is normalized or disappears, and the general condition improves.

With the help of underwater traction of the cervical segment, it is possible to expand the distance between the vertebrae, free a nerve or blood vessel from compression, and restore the normal position of the vertebrae.

Massage will normalize muscle tone, reduce the flow of lymphatic fluid, causing swelling. After several sessions, it improves blood circulation in the damaged area.

Therapeutic gymnastics is one of the most effective methods of treating osteochondrosis in the SHOP. Exercise therapy allows you to strengthen weak neck muscles, which will then take some of the load off the spine and help stop or slow down degenerative and dystrophic changes. During classes, blood circulation improves, metabolic processes and nutrition of the discs are accelerated, which has a positive effect on their condition.

Women must train every day. They consist of simple but effective exercises. The complex consists of twists, tilts of the head in different directions, as well as movements of the neck, during which the hands are used. These items can be done at home, but only with the permission of the doctor. Physiotherapy is carried out only in the remission stage.

Complex treatment can be supplemented with reflexology (acupuncture), hirudotherapy (leech therapy), swimming, etc.

Surgery

The operation is prescribed in the later stages of STORE osteochondrosis, which are accompanied by severe destruction of osteochondral structures. In addition, surgical intervention is essential if conservative techniques are ineffective or the spinal canal is significantly narrowed.

In the cases described above, an anterior cervical discectomy is performed. During the procedure, the doctor immobilizes the damaged segment of the spine and removes the hernia that was compressing the spinal nerve. Then the vertebrae, between which the disc was removed, are fused. If necessary, the space between the vertebrae is filled with a synthetic insert (cage).

After 3-5 days, the patient is discharged home. The rehabilitation period is approximately 12 weeks. To speed up recovery, you need to take medication, wear a corset, lead a healthy lifestyle, go to physiotherapy procedures, and finally exercise therapy.

Lifestyle recommendations

In order to quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis and stop degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical segment, you need to adjust your lifestyle. To do this, the patient must follow these recommendations:

• Go for a walk every day, avoid running, jumping, and other explosive activities.
• Heavy objects should not be transported.
• You can not sit for a long time, in extreme cases, wear a corset and periodically take a horizontal position.
• Perform specific physical exercises for the back muscles at home.
• Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a special pillow.
• Follow a diet, replenish the diet with foods rich in magnesium, calcium (nuts, dairy products, seafood, legumes), as well as vegetable fiber, chondroitin (jellied meat, jelly). Refuse fatty, fried, too salty foods, alcohol. The doctor will inform you about the nutritional rules in more detail. But in any case, it must be correct.

Hypothermia should not be allowed, warming will be beneficial in the absence of an inflammatory process.

Complications

In the absence of timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a woman may experience the following pathological consequences:

• The probability of protrusion, which after a while turns into a hernia. The bulge compresses the spinal cord and its nerves, causing neurological damage.
• Osteophytes appear when the disc is severely damaged; they irritate the spinal nerves and blood vessels.
• In advanced cases, a strong weakening of the neck muscles or incomplete paralysis is possible, then the head involuntarily hangs to the side or forward.
• Compression of the vertebral arteries, alteration of blood circulation in the affected area. This condition can cause neuralgia (pain along the path of a nerve), hearing and vision problems.
• Paralysis (incomplete or complete) of the hands.
• Cerebral stroke.

If a woman deals with the problem in the early stages of SHOP osteochondrosis, she will be able to prevent the above conditions.

Precautionary measures

Ideally, it is necessary to participate in the prevention of osteochondrosis of the STORE even during the period of intrauterine development. The future mother should exclude factors that adversely affect the development of the fetus: infections, lack of oxygen, intoxication. If a birth injury has occurred, the newborn should be treated.

To reduce the likelihood of developing SHOP osteochondrosis, a woman should follow these recommendations:

• Load the column evenly, for example, carry the load with both hands or take turns on the right and then the left.
• Don't lift too much weight yourself.
• Try to avoid neck injury, hypothermia.
• When working on garden plots, take a break every 1. 5 hours, rest for 20 minutes.
• Choose shoes with cushioned soles that cushion impacts while running or jumping.
• When sitting for a long time, use a high-back chair with a headrest or wear a corset.

It is also important to eat well, control weight, avoid stress, take vitamin preparations for medical reasons, treat pathologies that can cause osteochondrosis in time. In the remission stage, it is recommended to visit sanatoriums for treatment.

The most important

As you can see, in women, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs more often than in men, since the former have more fragile vertebrae and thin bone tissue. The patient's pathology is especially susceptible in the postmenopausal period. The disease manifests itself in pain, neurological disorders, and dangerous stroke symptoms. It is recommended to start treatment in the early stages to avoid dangerous complications of osteochondrosis. To do this, a woman must take medication, adjust her lifestyle, attend physiotherapy procedures, massage, and do physical therapy. Surgical treatment is indicated only in advanced cases. To prevent pathology, she should observe moderate physical activity, treat injuries and diseases in time that can provoke osteochondrosis.