Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies in front of the eyes, a heavy feeling in the back of the head is not only caused by fatigue.
Often they are provoked 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 disease development
Degeneration of the intervertebral cartilage and bone tissue in the cervical spine causes clinical symptoms already in the early stages. The proliferation and displacement of vertebral fragments inevitably leads to impaired blood flow, irritability, and insufficient nutrition of brain structures. The causes of spinal deformity in the neck area are:
- congenital disorders of bone tissue structure;
- physical injury;
- inappropriate behavior;
- hypodynamics;
- mbipesha;
- osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic regions.
In almost half of the cases, the pathology is found in middle-aged and young people, more often in women. Its development is facilitated by the prolonged incorrect position of the head during sleep, sitting at the table, during telephone conversations and transport trips. The progression of osteochondrosis is accelerated by the habit of sleeping on the high pillow. 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 key.
Fragments of collapsing discs and altered vertebrae compress the vertebral artery and the nerve plexuses around it. Prolonged compression provokes a narrowing of the vascular lumen, slowing blood flow, and reducing the oxygen supply to the tissues. Malnutrition, hypoxia and subsequent cerebral ischemia are exacerbated by compression of 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 cephalalgia - dull pain. Occurs when the first three vertebrae are affected. It starts in the upper part of the neck, extending to the occipital and parietal part, then covers the temples and forehead. Most often it is unilateral, resembling a classic migraine. Lasts from half an hour to several days, increases with tilting or turning of the head, active physical actions.
- If osteochondrosis affects the fourth and fifth vertebrae, cervicobrachialgia develops. His danger lies in the resemblance to a heart attack. The pain is unilateral, sharp, burning, covers the neck, shoulder and radiates below the shoulder, in the hypochondrium, sometimes in the forearm and arm.
- Myofascial dysfunction causes so-called cervical migraine. Pulsating or oppressive pain from the neck spreads along one side, covering part of the occiput, crown, temple, and reaches the overlapping arches.
In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, redness of the eyes, nausea, physical weakness.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can provoke different types of vegetative-vascular dystonia:- with frequent headaches;
- violations of thermoregulation, intracranial pressure, respiration;
- spasmodic changes in mood.
With significant tightening of the spinal nerves, speech disorders, numbness of the tongue, loss of sensitivity of the fingers occur. A person becomes intoxicated or under the influence of psychotropic drugs: he speaks words vaguely, does not immediately respond to a call to himself. In advanced cases, insufficient tissue nutrition and impaired blood supply lead to a continuous increase in intracranial pressure, decreased vision and hearing.
Diagnosing
With 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. For this purpose, he uses the following methods:
- press with the fingers in the region of the cervical vertebrae in those places where the nerve roots protrude: the reaction of the appearance of pain indicates cephalalgia;
- presses at points near the bone extensions below the lower edges of the ears: a painful attack after this 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 main ones. With their help, the pathological changes that have occurred in the structure of bone, cartilage and soft tissue are visualized.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medications are designed to eliminate the symptoms, to restore normal blood circulation and the biomechanics of the entire cervical spine.
- NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants and antispasmodics are used to relieve pain.
- Reducing vegetative manifestations, improving the outflow of veins and preventing edema in the affected area help vasodilators - vasodilator drugs.
- Products containing B vitamins and magnesium help to improve the nutrition of nerve tissue cells and reduce unwanted symptoms.
- At the same time, patients are recommended drugs to regulate blood pressure, correct heartbeat.
- Many patients are prescribed sedatives, antidepressants, tranquilizers.
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 medication, physiotherapy is prescribed:
- electrophoresis;
- balneotherapy;
- darsonvalization;
- collar massage;
- needle and reflexology.
In case of exacerbations, wearing therapeutic bandages that support the cervical muscles is indicated.
In the absence of a worsening of osteochondrosis, therapeutic exercises help stop and prevent the symptoms of VSD. Gymnastics helps to strengthen the neck muscles, relieves spasms, improves the elasticity of vessels and ligament apparatus of the vertebral joints. Exercises include soft tissue stretching movements: deep scalp anime, twists, twists.
Patients with osteochondrosis, complicated by VSD, should carefully arrange a place to sleep. You should only rest on an orthopedic mattress and pillow, do not drink too much juice at night in order to avoid edema. It is necessary to avoid work and hobbies associated with the unfavorable position of the cervical vertebrae: throwing back or lower tilt of the head.