Every year, diseases of the spine are getting younger and younger. The most common is osteonecrosis, recently considered an age-related disease. When the neck is affected, due to the degenerative-dystrophic nature of osteonecrosis, herniated discs form in the spine and severe pain in the neck and head occurs, significantly reducing quality of life. and lead to surgical intervention.
The danger of cervical osteonecrosis
It is important to diagnose disc diseases of the cervical spine at an early stage to begin treatment immediately, until bone tissue has grown, salt deposits and growths have not formed on the vertebrae. live, which stimulates the muscles, causing them to contract.
Bone tumors increase pressure on the vertebrae, compressing arteries and compressing nerve endings when turning the head. Cervical fibroids are a dangerous and dangerous disease. Symptoms of pain in the cervical region are not limited to head movement. If left untreated, the disease has unpleasant complications that can become the cause of significant dysfunction.
Violation of blood vessels by deformity when the vertebrae approach each other leads to vertebral syndrome. Insufficient blood flow to the brain becomes the main cause of dizziness, poor balance, impaired vision, loss of consciousness and ringing in the ears. The degree of compression of the cervical spine artery depends on the bad consequences that manifest in the body with different severity and lightness. Cervical fibroids disrupt blood supply to brain regions and cause brain complications due to oxygen starvation.
A pinched nerve at the back of the head causes a headache that can spread to the neck or temples. The most dangerous is the encroachment of the nervous processes of the spinal cord, in which dysfunctions are observed with uncontrolled severe spastic disorders of the lower extremities, decreased sensitivity of the bladderand intestines.
If osteonecrosis is not treated, complications arise, such as protrusion and herniation of the cervical disc. It sometimes leads to the development of vascular diseases that damage the brain even before its individual parts die.
Causes of cervical osteonecrosis
Traditional medicine considers osteoporosis as a disease with degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine, the treatment system with osteopathic medicine thinks that this is a manifestation of deep-seated disorders. body.
There are several reasons why cervical osteonecrosis appears:
Posture disorder
Walking stooped, scoliosis, round back, curvature causes spinal imbalance, so the load is unevenly distributed on the discs, leading to deformation and increasing their wear. At the same time, the vertebrae come close to each other, begin to compress nerve processes, as a result, osteonecrosis develops.
Muscle spasms
The muscle spasm response leads to stress on parts of the body, causing a change in the natural position and deformation of the discs in the spine.
Violation of blood supply
The discs of the spine are not connected to the circulatory system, so they are saturated with blood from the tissues of the body. Violation of blood supply in the neck leads to a lack of sufficient fluid to absorb moisture and restore shape and renew cartilage. As a result, the wear and tear of the vertebrae accelerates, the distance between the discs decreases, leading to bone degeneration in the cervical vertebrae.
Inner violation
Due to the reduced sensitivity of the nerve roots during displacement and deformation of the intervertebral discs of the cervical region, the patient still does not notice pathological changes due to the absence of pain sensation.
Diseases of internal organs
Displacement of internal organs, their lowering due to malformations of the cervical vertebrae leads to a violation of the position of the spine and balance in the body.
Improper nutrition
An unbalanced diet with lots of carbohydrates and fatty foods lacking in protein and trace elements can lead to unpleasant difficulties.
Cervical fibroids develop due to external factors that adversely affect the balance of the spine and the natural development of the body systems in general. In addition to the symptoms listed, the development of illness and painful sensations can be caused by prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, constant tension of the muscle tissues of the back and neck, hypothermia of the neck. and collar area.
In addition, the cause is often due to nervous tension, frequent stress and sleep disorders. Often, violations are not noticed immediately, so cervical osteonecrosis sometimes progresses over a long period of time and leads to serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor regularly to correct the underlying causes of cervical spondylosis, and not to treat its symptoms.
Symptoms of cervical osteonecrosis
Cervical spine osteosarcoma is a disease occurring in the discs with degenerative-dystrophic changes. Originally, the discs were cartilage, which contained a jelly-like substance. Over time, discs can become dehydrated due to poor posture, sedentary and sedentary lifestyles, computer work, neck injuries and trauma, and other factors.
As a result, the strength of the collagen fibers of the disc capsule gradually decreases, its thickness gradually decreases, which is the cause leading to the development of osteonecrosis with characteristic signs:
- neck pain;
- headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness, due to a violation of the arteries passing through the vertebrae;
- fluctuations in blood pressure;
- lens syndrome with a violation of sensitivity and the appearance of goosebumps and numbness in some areas of the skin behind the head, shoulders, arms, neck, due to compression of the spinal roots. Accompanied by pain in the shoulder and arm, even in the fingers;
- decreased ability to rotate and tilt the neck and stiffness due to severe pain;
- increased fatigue, decreased performance;
- the appearance of ENT pathologies, tinnitus, decreased vision;
- with the development of complications, nausea, vomiting, migraine attacks may occur.
There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine, the degenerative process usually affects the intervertebral discs, located between the 5th and 7th vertebrae. It is necessary to consult a general practitioner or a neurologist. , who will specify the necessary diagnoses and conduct magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the diagnosis and select the treatment method.
Level of development
There are four stages of osteonecrosis:
- Grade 1 - only pathological changes begin to appear in the disc, so the symptoms are mild and not always observable. The treatment will be quick and effective.
- Grade 2 - changes in the intervertebral disc become pronounced, which leads to pain in the cervical region, which is aggravated by movement of the head.
- Grade 3 - constant pain complicated by protrusion and hernia formation between the vertebrae.
- Grade 4 - the fibrous disc is so destroyed that movements of the spine are practically excluded due to a violation of the disc arteries, which leads to the development of lens syndrome and severe pain not only in the neck, buton the chest, arms, and waist.
Diagnose
Only a qualified physician can diagnose and prescribe treatment. Usually this is a neurologist, but in some cases an additional appointment with the following specialists may be required: chiropractor, endocrinologist, oncologistletter, orthopedist, traumatologist, or neurosurgeon.
At the appointment, the doctor collects the history - the patient's main complaints and symptoms that bother him, trauma, the presence of chronic diseases, and related additional information. Next, the doctor determines the patient's neck mobility, sensitivity, and muscle tension. For more precise information, patients are assigned diagnostic tests using special equipment:
- X-ray (X-ray);
- computed tomography (CT);
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment of cervical osteonecrosis
Treatment of cervical spondylosis depends on the age characteristics of the patient, as well as the degree of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. Therefore, the treatment method is always developed for each patient and always aims to solve the following problems:
- eliminate worsening symptoms;
- improve blood circulation;
- increased metabolism;
- eliminate degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc;
- reduce the complications of cervical osteonecrosis.
At each stage of the development of the disease, individual therapeutic measures are applied:
- Stage 1 - physical therapy, lifestyle modification is enough;
- Stage 2 - need to supplement includes medication, manual treatment, use of orthopedic devices.
It must be understood that a complete change in the degenerative-dystrophic process is not possible, especially with a diagnosis of osteonecrosis of stage 2 and above. In these situations, there is a need to improve health with the help of treatment and to prevent disease progression. Sometimes, it is possible to correct the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis, when the pathology is rarely diagnosed. Because the patient feels slight discomfort in the neck due to overwork and not going to the doctor.
In severe cases with cervical fibroids, the treatment will be more difficult and longer. Routine examination is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist for the correct treatment, which depends on the constant changes in the patient's state of health.
Lifestyle adjustment
All patients diagnosed with cervical fibroids should increase physical activity, rest to practice sports during sedentary times. Conversely, if the patient is actively doing sports, it is necessary to reduce the physical load on the neck, running, wrestling, jumping, weightlifting.
People who are overweight should take additional measures to reduce it by adjusting their diet so that it is healthy and meets the body's needs. The menu should be designed so that the food is protein and half is vegetables and fruit.
Drugs to treat cervical osteonecrosis
Drug treatment is mainly aimed at eliminating the symptoms of pain in the neck caused by osteoarthritis of the spine. The complex nature of therapy is developed for each patient and involves the use of different classes of drugs to solve their problems.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of drugs with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. They can be in both the form of tablets and capsules, and in the form of creams, ointments and gels, as well as for severe pain they are used intramuscularly for infusion of solutions.
Disadvantage to the use of the drug is irritation of the lining of the stomach and duodenum, which can impair the functioning of organs due to stomach ulcers. To reduce the risk with NSAIDs, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in combination.
To relieve pain and inflammation in osteonecrosis, diclofenac sodium or piroxicam is used as an active ingredient. They have a gentle effect on the digestive tract. Currently developed drugs are distinguished by selective action.
Corticosteroids and blockade
Corticosteroids are endocrine drugs prescribed for short-term treatment of critically ill patients with complex inflammatory processes. Medicines can cause unwanted effects with long-term use, so they are given as injections so they have no side effects and are easier to absorb.
Corticosteroids are often used together with anesthetics when a blockade is performed. To relieve severe pain syndromes, the prepared mixture is injected into points near the spinal nerves. The procedure is performed in the clinic by medically trained staff. Blockade doctors recommend doing it four times a year.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are medications to relieve muscle spasms caused by severe inflammation and pain in the neck due to bone necrosis.
vitamin
Osteoma creates compression on the spinal roots, so it is indicated to take B vitamins, which are related to nerve impulses.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors - drugs that restore cartilage tissue. In the early stages of cervical spondylosis, they actually have a positive effect on the condition of the intervertebral discs, improving the patient's well-being. In later discs, they can only slow down the degenerative-dystrophic process in these discs.
Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of capsules, powder and also in the form of a solution when administered intramuscularly.
Skin medicines
Gels, creams, or ointments are used in the early stages of osteonecrosis in the neck to affect the painful area. They differ in the principle of action that can be anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming, cooling. Often in their composition there are ingredients such as NSAIDs, menthol, hot pepper, extracts of snake and bee venom.
Preparations to improve microcirculation
Drugs of this class improve the quality of blood circulation, which is especially necessary for vertebral artery syndrome. They promote vasodilation, improve brain nutrition, and eliminate tinnitus, headaches, and dizziness.
exercise therapy
Exercise therapy is the main method in the treatment of cervical spondylosis. The complex of physiotherapeutic exercises is selected individually with the specialist, taking into account the age of the patient, the presence of lens syndrome and arterial compression, as well as the development ofexisting disease and degenerative-dystrophic changes. Goals of physical therapy:
- strengthen the shoulder muscles;
- activates blood circulation;
- normalize muscle tone.
You need to do it daily with a specialist, who will help you choose the load, build the optimal program, taking into account the patient's physical condition.
It is important to do all physical education exercises slowly, without sudden head movements, and in comfortable conditions. If pain occurs in the neck, immediately stop the exercise and then consult your doctor to adjust the treatment program.
Swimming has a positive effect on the state of the cervical spine, in which classes do not involve physical stress on the intervertebral discs, but actively work the neck muscles. As a result, the muscles that support the spine are strengthened. Patients with osteonecrosis are shown to swim 2-3 times a week.
Manual therapy for cervical osteonecrosis
Manual therapy is an effective way to treat osteonecrosis, as it affects the muscles and spine. The specialist must have a higher education, be licensed to practice manual therapy, and must have experience and a good understanding of the anatomy and features of osteonecrosis.
Self-massage
To improve their health condition, patients can perform neck massage by themselves, to reduce fatigue and pain.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy is indicated if there is no inflammatory process. Specify a course consisting of 10-15 procedures, selected individually.
- Electrophoresis - an electric current is used to ensure deep penetration of the drug.
- Magnetic therapy - to activate blood circulation and stimulate metabolism. In addition, these sessions work against pain and eliminate swelling.
- Laser therapy - works against the inflammatory process and dilates blood vessels, which relieves pain.
- Therapeutic ultrasound is a method of reducing the sensitivity of nerve endings, having analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Diadynamic current - relieves pain, improves tissue nutrition, eliminates inflammation.
Traction therapy
As a result of disc flattening, the vertebrae move closer together, so traction therapy with a Glisson washer is recommended.
Iplicator
The Iplicator is a simple and affordable tool for neck reflexology. Hemp root causes skin irritation, clears the meridians, increases the efficiency of the neck, and improves sleep.
Orthopedic tools
To reduce the load on the neck, cushions and pillows should be replaced with orthopedic types that maintain the correct position of the spine, reducing the progression of degenerative bone disease. The patient should wear a removable orthopedic device - the Shants necklace, which allows you to immobilize the neck, reducing the load.
Prevention of cervical osteonecrosis
To avoid cervical spondylosis, you need to do regular warm-ups, in which you change the position of your body, perform neck tilts and head rotations. Maintain correct posture from an early age. Exercise, strengthen the muscles in the neck and joints, reduce the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis. Stay healthy!