Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease that affects the vertebrae, cartilage discs and ligaments.If we decode this term literally, Osteo means “bone”, chondrosis means “cartilage”.Those things.Cervical spondylosis is associated with changes in the tissue structure of the spine, in which the intervertebral discs lose function and the nutrition of the vertebral body is interrupted.
Cervical spondylosis, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider today, is a fairly common disease.According to statistics, after 35 years, osteoarthritis is detected in 40–85% of the population, regardless of standard of living and country of residence.The rate of cervical spine pathology is up to 30% of all identified cases.
Most often, the disease develops in the C 5 – C 7 region, because they are the most important and mobile blood vessels that supply the brain and can participate in the disease process.
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis are diverse and clinical manifestations depend on which vertebrae are affected by the disease.Cervical osteoarthritis is characterized by sudden “blows” in which the patient feels sharp pain that limits movement and produces a crunching sound when turning the head.Let's consider the pain symptoms of cervical spondylosis depending on the location of the vertebral damage:
- 1st vertebra - pain and numbness in the back of the head;
- 2nd vertebra - pain in the back of the head, discomfort in the top of the head;
- 3 vertebrae - neck pain, possible speech disorders, sensitivity and innervation of the tongue;
- 4 vertebrae - decreased neck muscle tone, headache, difficulty breathing, pain in the shoulder, shoulder blades, heart area, right lower quadrant;
- 5-6 vertebrae - pain in the shoulders, forearms, shoulder blades, thumbs;
- 7th vertebra - pain in the shoulder blades, hands, 2-4 fingers, possible loss of sensitivity in these areas.
With widespread osteonecrosis affecting several vertebrae, symptoms may overlap, making an accurate diagnosis difficult.
Dizziness with cervical spondylosis deserves special attention because it is the main symptom of the disease.It happens suddenly and can be quite strong.
Headaches due to cervical spondylosis may be accompanied by dizziness and cannot be relieved by painkillers because this is the result of compression of the vertebral arteries.Muscle pain due to cervical spondylosis is not always present, but headaches can be a frequent symptom.
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical spondylosis
Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical spondylosis occurs on the basis of compression of the vertebral artery and includes many manifestations:
- debilitating headache that worsens when turning or tilting the head;
- visual impairment: double vision, decreased sharpness, feeling of pain and dry eyes, flashing spots;
- diseases such as angina, chest pain, shortness of breath, changes in blood pressure.It is very important to differentiate the diagnosis correctly and promptly, since angina and syndromes related to cervical spondylosis are treated not only with different drugs, but also by different specialists;
- short-term hearing loss - sudden onset of noise or tinnitus, associated with short-term dizziness and darkening of the eyes;
- Vomiting and associated disturbances of consciousness may occur.Usually, such signs are provoked by sudden bowing or turning of the head;
- brain disorder similar to ischemic stroke.Here, again, timely differential diagnosis is important.
Treatment of cervical spondylosis
Treatment of cervical spondylosis begins only after a detailed medical examination.Diagnosis is made using X-rays of the neck, as well as modern methods - CT or MRI of the spine.If the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis is confirmed, treatment will be performed by a neurologist.In case of initial manifestations of the disease, medication can be prescribed only during the period of exacerbation, and the basic treatment during remission is physiotherapy, massage and adjustment of the patient's treatment regimen.
Treatment of cervical spondylosis includes several mandatory aspects:
- adjust mode.You must properly organize your night's sleep;Orthopedic pillows should be used.
- load exclusion.If you spend all day working at your office desk, take a few minutes every two hours to relax your neck and do eye exercises.
- Treat with medication, use medication as prescribed by your doctor.Again, we strongly advise against using the advice of home doctors.
- physical therapy procedures.You will receive a referral from a neurologist and detailed therapy will be prescribed by a physical therapist.Don't be tempted by the promises of unprofessional massage therapists.Remember that the neck is a very responsible organ.If massage or manual procedures are performed by non-professionals, the problem can lead to complications.
A lot of literature has been written on how to treat osteoarthritis of the cervical spine using traditional methods.Be careful, other folk recipes do not stand up to criticism.Discuss any traditional therapy with your doctor before using it.