Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies in front of the eyes, a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head are not only caused by fatigue.
Often they are caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is 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
The degeneration of intervertebral cartilage and bone tissue in the cervical spine leads to clinical symptoms at an early stage. The proliferation and displacement of vertebral body fragments inevitably leads to impaired blood flow, innervation and inadequate nutrition of the brain structures. The causes of a spinal deformity in the neck area are:
- congenital disorders of the structure of bone tissue;
- physical injury;
- wrong posture;
- Hypodynamia;
- Obesity;
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar or chest region.
In almost half of cases, pathology occurs in middle-aged and young people, more often in women. Its development is facilitated by a longer incorrect position of the head during sleep, at the desk, during telephone calls and during transport. The progression 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 body parts, the location of a large number of large vessels and nerve trunks determine the early onset of symptoms. The pain syndrome is the most important.
Fragments of collapsing discs and altered vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and nerve plexuses around them. Prolonged compression leads to a narrowing of the vessel lumen, a slowdown in blood flow and a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the tissues. Malnutrition, hypoxia, and subsequent cerebral ischemia are exacerbated by the compression of the nerve trunks by osteophytes - radiculopathy.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
In most cases, headache and other symptoms of pathology are of a secondary or vertebrogenic nature - they are caused not by pathological processes in the brain, but in the adjacent spine.
- Reflex cephalalgia - dull pain. It occurs when the first three vertebrae are affected. It starts in the upper part of the neck and extends to the occipital and parietal parts. Then it covers the temples and forehead. Mostly it is one-sided and resembles a classic migraine. Lasts from half an hour to several days, increases with tilting or turning the head, active physical activities.
- When osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, cervicobrachialgia develops. Their danger lies in their resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is one-sided, sharp, burning, covers the neck, shoulder and radiates under the shoulder blade, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and hand.
- Myofascial dysfunction causes what is known as cervical migraines. Pulsating or pressing pain from the side of the neck spreads along one side, covering part of the back of the head, crown, temple, and reaching the upper arches.
In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, reddening of the eyes, nausea, physical weakness.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can provoke several types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:- with frequent headaches;
- Violations of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, breathing;
- convulsive mood swings.
With severe pinching of the spinal nerves, speech disorders, numbness of the tongue and loss of sensitivity of the fingers occur. A person becomes like a drunk or under the influence of psychotropic drugs: he speaks words indistinctly, does not immediately react to an appeal to himself. In more advanced cases, inadequate tissue nutrition and impaired blood supply lead to persistent increases in intracranial pressure and decreased vision and hearing.
diagnosis
A neurologist must be contacted for complaints of poor health with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. During the examination, the doctor determines the origin of the pain. To do this, he uses the following methods:
- presses with your fingers on the region of the cervical vertebrae in the places where the nerve roots protrude: the emerging pain reaction indicates headache;
- presses on points near the bony protrusions under the lower edges of the ears: a painful attack after that clearly signals the development of a cervical migraine as a result of mechanical compression.
For an accurate diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, a number of instrumental studies are prescribed. Radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography remain the leaders. With their help, the pathological changes in the structure of bones, cartilage and soft tissues are made visible.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medicines are designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood flow, and improve the biomechanics of the entire cervical spine.
- NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and anticonvulsants are used to relieve pain.
- Reducing vegetative manifestations, improving venous outflow and preventing edema in the affected area will help vasodilators - vasodilators.
- Products containing B vitamins and magnesium help improve nerve tissue cell nutrition and reduce unwanted symptoms.
- At the same time, drugs are recommended to patients to regulate blood pressure and correct heart rate.
- Many patients are shown sedatives, antidepressants, and sedatives.
Depending on the severity of the disease, the course of treatment is short or long. Pain relievers are used for one or several days. Means that normalize blood flow and vitamins - in courses of 2-3 months. To maintain the effect of drugs, physical therapy is prescribed:
- Electrophoresis;
- Balneotherapy;
- Darsonvalization;
- Collar massage;
- Needle and reflexology.
In the event of exacerbations, it is advisable to wear therapeutic bandages to support the neck muscles.
In the absence of osteochondrosis exacerbation, therapeutic exercises will help stop and prevent the symptoms of VSD. Gymnastics strengthens the neck muscles, relieves cramps, improves the elasticity of the vessels and the ligamentous apparatus of the vertebral joints. The training includes movements to stretch the soft tissue: low head tilts, twists, rotations.
Patients with osteochondrosis complicated by VSD should carefully organize a sleeping place. You just need to rest on an orthopedic mattress and pillow and 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: throwing back or low tilting of the head.