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. Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are a typical manifestation of the disease. It is impossible to get rid of it for a long time without affecting the root cause.
The mechanism of development of the disease
The degeneration of the intervertebral cartilage and bone tissue of the cervical spine causes clinical symptoms already at an early stage. The proliferation and displacement of vertebral fragments inevitably leads to impaired blood flow, innervation and insufficient nutrition of brain structures. The causes of the deformity of the spine in the neck area are:
- congenital disorders of the structure of bone tissue;
- physical injury;
- bad posture;
- hypodynamia;
- 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 position of the head during sleep, sitting at the desk, during telephone conversations and when traveling. 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 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.
Fragments of collapsed discs and damaged vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and the nerve plexuses that surround it. Prolonged compression causes narrowing of the vascular lumen, slowing blood flow, and decreased oxygen supply to 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 - annoying pain. This happens when the first three vertebrae are affected. It begins in the upper part of the neck, extending to the occipital and parietal part, then covers the temples and forehead. Most often it is one-sided, resembling a classic migraine. Lasts from half an hour to several days, increases with tilting or rotating the head, active physical actions.
- If osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, neck pain develops. Its danger lies in the resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is one-sided, sharp, burning, covers the neck, shoulder and radiates under the scapula, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and hand.
- Myofascial dysfunction causes the so-called cervical migraine. The pulsating or pressing pain on the side of the neck spreads along one side, covering part of the occiput, crown, temple and reaching the brow bone.
In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, redness of the eyes, nausea, physical weakness.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can cause various types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:- with frequent headaches;
- violations of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, respiration;
- spasmodic mood changes.
With severe pinching of the spinal nerves, speech disturbances, numbness of the tongue, loss of sensitivity of the fingers occur. A person becomes like a drunk or under the influence of psychotropic drugs: he speaks words indiscriminately, does not immediately respond to a call to himself. In advanced cases, insufficient tissue nutrition and impaired blood supply lead to a persistent increase in intracranial pressure, decreased vision and hearing.
Diagnostic
In case of complaints of poor health in case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to contact a neurologist. During the examination, the doctor determines the origin of the pain. To do this, it uses the following methods:
- presses with the 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 this clearly signals the development of 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 main ones. With their help, pathological changes in the structure of bone, cartilage and soft tissues are visualized.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medicines are designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood circulation and biomechanics of the entire cervical spine.
- To relieve pain, NSAIDs, pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and antispasmodics are used.
- Reduction of vegetative manifestations, improvement of venous outflow 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 unwanted symptoms.
- At the same time, patients are recommended drugs for regulating blood pressure, correcting heart rate.
- Many patients receive tranquilizers, antidepressants, sedatives.
Depending on the severity of the disease, the duration of treatment is short or long. Pain relievers are used once or for several days. Means that normalize blood flow and vitamins - in the course 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 wearing of therapeutic bandages that support the cervical muscles is indicated.
In the absence of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises help to stop and prevent symptoms of VSD. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the muscles of the neck, relieves spasms, improves the elasticity of the vessels and ligamentous apparatus of the spinal joints. Workouts include soft tissue stretching movements: deep head tilts, turns, rotations.
Patients with osteochondrosis, complicated by VSD, should carefully organize a place of sleep. You should rest only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow, do not drink a lot of fluids at night in order to avoid edema. Work and leisure related to the unfavorable position of the cervical vertebrae: throwing back or low tilt of the head should be avoided.