Frequent dizziness, tinnitus, flies before the eyes, a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head are caused not only 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 development of the disease
Degeneration of 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, innervation and insufficient nutrition of the structures of the brain. The reasons for the deformity of the spine in the neck are:
- congenital disorders of the structure of bone tissue;
- physical injury;
- improper posture;
- hypodynamia;
- obesity;
- 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 prolonged incorrect position of the head during sleep, sitting at the desk, during telephone conversations, and traveling in transport. 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.
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 a decrease in oxygen supply to the tissues. Malnutrition, hypoxia and subsequent cerebral ischemia are aggravated by the 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 cephalalgia - boring pain. It occurs 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. More often it is unilateral, resembling a classic migraine. Lasts from half an hour to several days, increases with 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 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. Pulsating or pressing pain from the side of the neck spreads along one side, covering part of the occiput, crown, temple and reaches the superciliary arches.
In severe cases, additional symptoms are observed: photophobia, redness of the 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, breathing;
- spasmodic changes in mood.
With significant pinching of the spinal nerves, speech disorders, 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 indistinctly, does not immediately respond to an appeal to himself. In advanced cases, insufficient tissue nutrition and impaired 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 examination, the doctor determines the origin of the pain. To this end, he uses the following methods:
- presses with his fingers on the area of the cervical vertebrae in those places where the nerve roots protrude: the emerging pain reaction indicates cephalalgia;
- 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 leading ones. With their help, the pathological changes that have occurred in the structure of bone, cartilaginous and soft tissues are visualized.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medicines are designed to eliminate symptoms, restore normal blood circulation, and the biomechanics of the entire cervical spine.
- To relieve pain, NSAIDs, analgesics, muscle relaxants and antispasmodics are used.
- Reducing vegetative manifestations, improving venous outflow 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 adverse symptoms.
- At the same time, patients are recommended drugs to regulate blood pressure, correct heart rate.
- 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;
- collar massage;
- needle and reflexology.
In case of exacerbations, the wearing of therapeutic bandages supporting 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. Workouts include movements for soft tissue stretching: deep head tilts, turns, rotations.
Patients with osteochondrosis, complicated by VSD, should carefully organize a sleeping place. You need to rest only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow, do not drink a lot of liquid 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 low tilt of the head.