Compression and destruction of intervertebral discs or cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (ICD code – 10 – M42) takes the second place in terms of 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 vertebral structures.

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

Reasons

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

• poor posture;
• disorders in metabolic processes due to poor nutrition;
• spinal cord injury;
• wear of vertebral discs during natural aging of structures in old age;
• genetic predisposition to orthopedic diseases;
• physical inactivity, long-term use of the computer causes tension in the neck muscles;
• development of infectious-inflammatory process due to exposure to hypothermia, drafts;
• defects in the development of vertebral structures in the cervical region.

Factors that cause damage to the spine, cartilage tissue and discs:

• obesity;
• very intense exercise;
• the head is thrown back for a long time or lowered to the chest during work;
• straight legs;
• incorrect body position when working in a sitting position;
• frequent microtraumas of the cervical spine due to excessive strenuous exercise.

First signs and symptoms

At the initial stage of the disease, the patient rarely associates frequent headaches, discomfort in the shoulders, neck numbness when standing for a long time in a stationary position with damage to the vertebral structures.Often there is no effective treatment and the pathology progresses.

In the second-fourth stages of osteochondrosis, negative manifestations are more prominent in the cervical region.In advanced cases, negative symptoms spread to other parts of the body: the hearing device, eyes, upper limbs.

Doctors distinguish several characteristic symptoms:

• radicular.Parietal, occipital, neck pain syndrome, discomfort in the muscles of the back, 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, a significant disturbance of the condition of the vertebrae and discs and a noticeable decrease in the height of the bone structure;
• muscle tonic.Painful sensations appear in the chest and heart region.Acute symptoms often occur in the muscles of the inner arm;
• neurovascular.When the capillaries and vertebral artery are compressed, the patient complains of headache and dizziness.

Development stages:

• first.Under the influence of negative factors, small cracks are formed in the intervertebral discs, the integrity of the nucleus pulposus is broken, fluid gradually leaks, a decrease in elasticity is observed, and the disc shrinks.When moving the head, a weak creaking of the vertebrae is heard, when the body is in one position, there is pain and numbness in the neck region;
• the second.The pathology progresses, there is a violation of integrity, breaks and a decrease in the density and thickness of the fibrous ring.The result of negative processes: squeezing the core into the resulting cracks and fractures.The patient's condition worsens and his performance decreases.Headaches increase in intensity, cervical spine becomes stiff, face, neck, arms become numb;
• the third.Bulging of the disc, active compression of the structure, loss of elasticity leads to protrusion and rupture of the intervertebral disc.Neurological disorders appear, rupture of the fibrous ring occurs, the clinical picture is clearly expressed: reflex and radicular syndrome are disturbing.Many patients complain of weakness in hands and fingers, decreased hearing and vision;
• the fourth.In advanced cases, discs are straightened, images show the growth of osteophytes, and compensatory phenomena develop to keep the spine in its normal position.The pain syndrome is somewhat weakened, but the stiffness of the cervical spine remains.

Diagnostics

The appearance of pain in the cervical region, frequent dizziness, decreased mobility and sensitivity of the fingers, the development of other symptoms of spondylosis deformans is a reason to visit a vertebrologist, neurologist or orthopedic traumatologist.The doctor studies the clinical picture, lifestyle, diet, history of spinal injuries, chronic diseases.It is important to understand the causes of osteochondrosis and determine the factors that cause degenerative changes in the discs between the vertebrae.

Then the specialist prescribes an examination:

• tomography - computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging;
• Dopplerography of blood vessels is performed in advanced stages, with the presence of obvious neurological disorders, frequent fainting, numbness of the shoulder area, hands and fingers;
• X-ray of the cervical spine (the method is not very informative in the early stages of the pathology).

Effective treatment methods

In the first stages of the development of deforming spondylosis in the cervical region, special gymnastics and external agents with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects are sufficient.The patient should control his posture.Do not stay in one position for a long time, be sure to warm up every hour and do neck exercises every day.

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 cervical region, the pain syndrome intensifies, protrusions and disc tears appear, doctors identify all kinds of radicular and reflex symptoms of deforming spondylosis.

It is important!Only an integrated approach to therapy together with quitting smoking, alcohol and changing the diet can partially or completely correct the condition.It is important to eat properly, eat foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, fresh vegetables, cheeses, and take enough fluids.In the absence of timely and competent therapy, the patient is at risk of disability.

Medicines

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

• fight against pain syndrome.Names with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects are effective.The best choice is NSAIDs in the form of tablets, injections, gels and ointments.In addition, you can take analgesics prescribed by your doctor;
• elimination of swelling.Fluid retention in the tissues is eliminated by diuretics, dehydrating compounds and hormonal drugs.Take the drugs in this group strictly as prescribed by your doctor: strong diuretics can cause serious problems with the heart and blood pressure;
• chondroprotectors to restore cartilage quality.When the elastic tissue is damaged, the friction between adjacent vertebrae increases, the density of the layer decreases, as a result of compression of the vertebrae, it is possible to bulge the disc and tear the fibrous ring.Doctors prescribe drugs with a combined effect.It contains not only glucosamine and chondroitin, but also anti-inflammatory substances.Various multi-component products give a good effect;
• increased blood circulation in problematic vertebral structures.The doctor chooses blood-thinning drugs and compounds that dilate blood vessels;
• fight against muscle spasm.Against the background of weakened bone structures and damaged cartilage tissue, muscles try to maintain the correct position of the spine;excessive overexertion causes an obvious pain.Muscle relaxants are prescribed to relax the tissues;
• activation of metabolism, increase of local immunity.The patient takes vitamin and mineral complexes, calcium dietary supplements, 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 a complete list of useful features of physiotherapy sessions.In addition to drugs and therapeutic exercises, the doctor prescribes a number of procedures.

Types of effective effects:

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

Therapeutic gymnastics

With 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 movements 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;
• circular movements.At first, the amplitude is minimal, gradually increasing the "circle", but without the appearance of a clear contraction of the cervical vertebra.

Perform all movements smoothly, shaking is prohibited.During exercise, you should not allow your vertebrae to become too compressed or cause severe pain.The amplitude should be increased gradually, otherwise damage to the cervical spine is possible.Simple but effective exercises should be performed not only during therapy, but also to prevent osteochondrosis.The frequency of lessons is two to three times a day, and the duration of gymnastics is no more than five to seven minutes.Doctors recommend mandatory, daily implementation of the complex for people with "sedentary" work.

Manual therapy

Doctors focus on straightening the cervical vertebra.Most experts do not recommend manual therapy for osteochondrosis of this region.The slightest deviations during the procedure, more sudden movements, incorrect application of the technique - and the session can end with paralysis or a fracture of the cervical vertebra, which can lead to serious consequences, including death.

Osteochondrosis "gets younger" every year.In order to prevent damage to bone and elastic structures, it is necessary to pay daily attention to the important part of the spine, to do simple exercises, to change the body position more often during work, not to smoke, and to eat properly.If characteristic symptoms of deforming spondylosis appear, you should contact an orthopedic traumatologist or vertebrologist.