Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies before the eyes, the feeling of heaviness at the back of the head are caused not only by fatigue.
They are often caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are a typical manifestation of the disease. It is impossible to get rid of them for a long time without affecting the root cause.
The mechanism of development of the disease.
Degeneration of the intervertebral cartilage and bone tissue in the cervical spine causes clinical symptoms already in the early stages. Proliferation and displacement of vertebral fragments inevitably leads to impaired blood flow, innervation, and insufficient nutrition of brain structures. The causes of spinal deformity in the neck area are:
- congenital disorders of the structure of bone tissue;
- Physical damage;
- wrong posture;
- hypodynamics;
- obesity;
- osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic regions.
In almost half of cases, the pathology is found in middle-aged and young people, more often in women. Its development is facilitated by prolonged incorrect head position during sleep, sitting at the desk, during telephone conversations, and during transport trips. The progress of osteochondrosis is accelerated by the habit of sleeping on high pillows. The mobility of this part of the body, the smaller size of the vertebrae compared to other parts, the location of a large number of large vessels and nerve trunks, determine the early onset of symptoms. Pain syndrome is the main one.
Collapsing disc fragments and altered vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and surrounding nerve plexuses. Prolonged compression causes a narrowing of the vascular lumen, slowing of blood flow, and decreased oxygen supply to the tissues. Malnutrition, hypoxia, and subsequent cerebral ischemia are aggravated by compression of the nerve trunks by osteophytes: radiculopathy.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
In most cases, headaches and other symptoms of pathology are of a secondary or vertebrogenic nature: they are caused by pathological processes not in the brain, but in the adjacent spine.
- Reflex headache - dull pain. It occurs when the first three vertebrae are affected. It starts at the top of the neck, extends to the occipital and parietal parts, then covers the temples and forehead. Most often it is unilateral, similar to a classic migraine. Lasts from half an hour to several days, increases by tilting or turning the head, active physical actions.
- If osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, cervicobrachialgia develops. Its danger lies in the resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is unilateral, sharp, burning, covers the neck, shoulder and radiates below the scapula, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and hand.
- Myofascial dysfunction causes the so-called cervical migraine. Pulsating or pressing pain in the side of the neck extends along one side, covering part of the occiput, crown, temple and reaching the superciliary arches.
In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, red eyes, nausea, physical weakness.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can provoke various types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:- with frequent headaches;
- violations of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, respiration;
- jerky changes in mood
With a significant pinching of the spinal nerves, speech disorders, numbness of the tongue and loss of sensitivity of the fingers occur. A person becomes like a drunkard or under the influence of psychotropic drugs: he speaks words interchangeably, does not immediately respond to a call to himself. In advanced cases, insufficient tissue nutrition and poor blood supply lead to a persistent increase in intracranial pressure, decreased vision and hearing.
Diagnostics
With complaints of poor health in case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to contact a neurologist. During the exam, the doctor determines the source of the pain. To do this, he uses the following methods:
- press with your fingers in the region of the cervical vertebrae in those places where the nerve roots protrude: the emerging pain reaction indicates headache;
- presses the points near the bony protrusions under the lower edges of the ears - a painful attack after that clearly indicates the development of a cervical migraine as a result of mechanical compression.
For an accurate diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, various instrumental studies are prescribed. Radiography, MRI and CT are still the main ones. With its help, pathological changes that have occurred in the structure of bone, cartilaginous and soft tissues are visualized.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
The drugs are designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood circulation and the biomechanics of the entire cervical spine.
- NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and antispasmodics are used to relieve pain.
- Reduction of vegetative manifestations, improvement of venous flow and prevention of edema in the affected area help vasodilators - vasodilator drugs.
- Products containing B vitamins and magnesium help improve the nutrition of nerve tissue cells and reduce adverse symptoms.
- At the same time, patients are recommended drugs for blood pressure regulation, heart rate correction.
- Many patients are shown tranquilizers, antidepressants, sedatives.
Depending on the severity of the condition, the course of treatment is short or long. Pain relievers are used once or for several days. Means that normalize blood flow and vitamins, in courses of 2-3 months. To maintain the effect of drugs, physiotherapy is prescribed:
- electrophoresis;
- balneotherapy;
- darsonvalization;
- neck massage;
- needle and reflexology.
In case of exacerbations, the use of therapeutic bandages that support the cervical muscles is indicated.
In the absence of an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises help to stop and prevent the symptoms of VSD. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the muscles of the neck, relieves spasms, improves the elasticity of the vessels and the ligamentous apparatus of the vertebral joints. The workouts include movements to stretch the soft tissues: deep bends of the head, twists, rotations.
Patients with osteochondrosis, complicated by VSD, should carefully organize a place to sleep. You should rest only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow, do not drink a lot of fluids at night to avoid edema. It is necessary to avoid work and hobbies associated with the unfavorable position of the cervical vertebrae - leaning back or low tilt of the head.