As we age, we are more likely to experience pain and fatigue in the neck area. These symptoms may hide a diagnosis: osteochondrosis. Why is it developing? What treatment methods exist? Is it possible to cope with the disease at home? We asked the doctors these questions.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease of the spine. It is caused by natural aging processes, such as the appearance of gray hair.
In medicine, osteochondrosis refers to various diseases. In English-language literature, the concept of osteochondrosis is rare and refers to damage to the bones of children and adolescents during growth due to a reduced blood supply. In the domestic literature, osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic damage to the intervertebral disc and other parts of the spine. It is typical of older people and occurs in almost all people.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Neurologists identify several main reasons for the development of the disease:
- poor physical activity,
- predisposition to disease,
- increase in static and dynamic loads,
- altered metabolism,
- unhealthy diet
- hormonal disorders,
- bad posture,
- fatigue.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common symptoms of osteochondrosis include reflex, myoadaptive, and compressive pain syndromes. Let's look at each of them in more detail:
Reflex syndrome
It occurs due to excessive stress on the nerve endings of the intervertebral disc. Nerve impulses enter the deep and superficial muscles of the back, causing pain and a feeling of tension.
Reflex syndrome is characterized by pain in the neck, which intensifies with any movement of the head. It may not have a clear location and may be felt on the arms or legs.
Myadaptive syndrome
It occurs due to muscle overload and manifests itself in the form of muscle spasms. It develops with regular and intense physical activity, as well as in cases where healthy muscles replace the function of the affected ones.
The pain in myadaptive syndrome is localized in the trigger points: compactions in the area of the spasm. Symptoms include nausea, headache and insomnia.
Compression syndrome
Due to osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bones of the spine are displaced, which leads to pressure on the nerve endings. Compression syndrome is characterized by the impact of a pathological structure on the spinal roots, spinal cord or any vessel.
Compression syndrome includes 3 syndromes of the vertebral arteries:
- Radiculopathy - radicular syndrome;
- Myelopathy - spinal syndrome;
- Neurovascular syndrome.
TOradicular syndromethe pain is pronounced and is accompanied by obvious sensory disturbances in the affected spinal nerve root area. Neck pain often gets worse at night. Movement disorders, such as muscle weakness and absence of one or more reflexes, may occur.
TOspinal syndromethe spinal canal compresses the spinal cord: this occurs when the vertebrae are dislocated or fractured. Symptoms include pain of varying intensity. The sensitivity of the arms and legs decreases and stiffness appears.
Vertebral artery syndromeit develops when its lumen narrows, particularly if it is compressed by bony structures. This syndrome is characterized by neck pain, headache, loss of coordination and balance, dizziness, hearing and vision disturbances.
There is another syndrome of osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are often associated with heart disease - this iscardiac syndrome.
It occurs due to damage to the cervical and upper thoracic spine, is characterized by pain in the heart area, mimics or aggravates existing changes in the heart muscle and blood vessels. Unlike "heart" pain, it has no clear connection to meals, physical or emotional stress. The pain occurs or intensifies during movements, with forced inspiration, coughing, sneezing. Cardiac syndrome can affect blood pressure and heart rate.
The presence of symptoms of cardiac syndrome requires careful diagnosis of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.
How does osteochondrosis develop?
There are 4 stages of the disease:
- Phase 1- instability of the vertebrae appears, their displacement and interruption of cervical lordosis - curvature of the spine, facing forward convex.
Stage 1 symptoms are mild. A person may notice that the neck starts to hurt more often and gets tired faster.
- Phases 2 and 3— the intervertebral space decreases and the vertebrae become compressed. At these stages, intervertebral protrusions and hernias appear, as well as anterior bone growths - osteophytes.
The second and third stages differ in the severity of these changes. The third stage is characterized by rupture of the fibrous ring and the development of a herniated intervertebral disc.
- Phase 4- the appearance of posterior osteophytes that threaten the integrity of the spinal cord. The patient's coordination is impaired and frequent dizziness occurs. At this stage, irreversible consequences appear that lead to disability.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is based on X-ray diagnostics, MRI or CT studies. All of the above syndromes, as well as many others, are complications of osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home
With the development of reflex syndrome, accompanied by local pain and limited mobility,cervical osteochondrosis can be treated at home. The patient needs rest, absence of physical and static load for 3-5 days, then the volume of load is increased individually. During the acute period, pain should be reduced by taking local anesthetic gels and patches, as well as taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in combination with B vitamins. Drugs that improve microcirculation in the affected spinal movement segment are recommended.
After the pain syndrome has subsided and motor functions have been normalized, restorative treatment methods can be used: physical therapy, massage, manual and physical therapy.
Non-drug treatment methods can be more effective due to direct impact on and working with certain affected muscles.
If you experience numbness, tingling, impaired movement, dizziness, headache and other symptoms that go beyond the reflex syndrome, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and determine the correct treatment tactics.
Surgery
The decision to undergo surgical treatment for cervical osteochondrosis depends on many factors. Neurologists identify several criteria that may be a reason for surgery:
- The spinal cord is compressed by a hernia, a displaced vertebra, an osteophyte or other pathological formations.
- Intense pain syndrome persists for a long time.
- Pharmacological and physiotherapeutic treatment does not bring results for more than 3 months.
In case of hernial protrusion, decompression is carried out by removing the hernia; in case of displacement of the vertebra - fixation with a metal structure; if these are osteophytic complications - bone growths are removed.
Most spinal surgeries performed are traumatic and do not guarantee improvement. Often there may be a deterioration of well-being and increased pain in adjacent spinal motion segments, so spinal surgery is the last resort when the disease is severe and no other therapeutic approaches exist.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis and neck pain includes normalization of working and living conditions. It is important to avoid keeping your neck bent for long periods of time. You should strengthen and lengthen your neck muscles and increase their mobility through exercise.
Anotheran effective way to prevent the progression of osteochondrosis is proper nutritionrich in protein, healthy fats and collagen-rich foods. It is recommended to reduce the amount of "fast" carbohydrates consumed and compensate for the lack of microelements and vitamins.
Adequate sleep, lack of stress and active physical activity are important: cardio, regular physical therapy, pilates, yoga, stretching.
The development of osteochondrosis is associated with the natural aging of our body: almost all people are susceptible to the disease. Prevention of osteochondrosis and observation by specialists will help the spine stay healthy longer.