Osteochondrosis is a disease of the skeletal system, characterized by changes in cartilage tissue. As a result of the development of the disease, a person's ability to work is impaired, blood circulation and integrity of the vertebral disc are disturbed. Usually, the disease develops due to obesity, lack of exercise, frequent sitting in front of computers or driving cars.
Symptoms of cervical bone necrosis
U of the cervical spine, as it develops, is characterized by the following symptoms:
Neck pain due to cervical bone necrosis
- Constant headache. Patients with bone necrosis experience primarily a headache, exacerbated by strong neck rotation or sudden head movement.
- Neck pain can spread to the shoulder area. Usually appears in the morning, immediately after sleep, decreases or disappears completely after the start of the neck muscles.
- Low back pain, characterized by sharp pain in the neck, stiffness in the muscles in the affected area, and limited mobility.
- Pain in the sternum or gallbladder. Patients often suspect that they have a cardiovascular disease, but taking nitroglycerin does not relieve pain. When cervical vertebral degeneration manifests itself as pain in the sternum, the patient complains of decreased arm muscle strength.
- In almost all patients with osteonecrosis you can hear the characteristic rattling and clicking if you ask one person to tilt their head in different directions.
- Hoarseness.
- Neck bone tumors may present with numbness of the tongue or fingertips (a symptom of compression of nerves and vessels located next to the disc.
- Hypertension.
- Paralysis of extremities, decreased muscle strength in the limbs.
The cause of the above symptoms is damage to the connective tissue and disc with their subsequent deformation. As a result of the pathological process, the discs become overgrown with bone formation, bone-forming cells are formed, squeezing and damaging blood vessels and nerve pathways.
Stages of the disease
The cervical spine develops in many stages. The patient's disease progressed, more and more symptoms, and more serious complications of the disease.
Grade 1 cervical fibroids are characterized by medullary lesions of the disc. When the body's metabolic processes are disrupted, the marrow nucleus, which is a structure of biofilm-forming compounds, is destroyed. At first, it loses water, gradually dries out, and thus decreases in size. Its strength is significantly reduced and the spine becomes more difficult to cope with physical activity. At this stage of the disease, a person does not feel pain, does not seek medical help. If bone necrosis is established at this stage, then the patient will not need drug therapy.
Grade 2 cervical fibroids are characterized by cyclic fibrosis damage in the disc. Cracks and tears appear on the surface of the disc due to the strong and uneven load on the spine. Due to the fact that the annular fibers become thinner, the core is completely forced outward forming tears and cracks, thus enlarging them. As a result, the disc increases in size, beginning to protrude out the edges of the vertebrae. This is called a bulging disc. Cervical fibroids grade 2 is the disease stage where the patient first feels pain.
Grade 3 cervical fibroids are characterized by the formation of a herniated mass. The loops not only become thinner, but also rupture, so the marrow nucleus "flows" into the subglottic space, forming a herniated disc. As a result of the development process, all of the surrounding tissue is damaged - ligaments and muscles, nerves and blood vessels.
Over time, the skeletal system of the vertebra changes: the edges of the vertebra change shape, becoming ribbed and even sharp. The muscles around the altered skeletal system contract unintentionally, thus limiting the spinal movement. All nerve fibers running through the spinal cord are impaired, and conduction of nerve impulses from the brain to organs and tissues is interrupted. It is important that symptoms of osteonecrosis appear depending on the location of the bone necrosis.
Grade 4 cervical fibroids are characterized by degenerative spinal regeneration. After destructive processes in the body, the restorative processes begin to prevail. The duration of the fourth stage is about one year. During this time, bone growth in deformed vertebrae changes. The bones begin to grow in width, so the area of the vertebrae increases. Such developments in medicine are called osteoblasts. Thanks to them, the motor capacity of the injured spine is reduced, and the processes of its destruction are suspended. Over time, the sedentary vertebra completely becomes a stationary column of bone.
And if pain syndrome subsides, the squeezed nerves and blood vessels remain in place, they are not only pinched by the disc and vertebrae, but also by bone cells. Such processes must be properly treated to prevent the consequences of the disease.
Complications of cervical bone necrosis
The main consequences of the development of cervical bone necrosis are:
- Vascular disorders (compression of the arteries);
- Hernia formation with varying severity;
- Injury to the spinal cord;
- Bone formation;
- Limited spinal mobility.
What complications can cervical bone tumors cause? The most dangerous consequence is a decrease in the blood supply to the brain. As a result of the compression of the arteries, less blood enters the brain and poor oxygen-supplied gray matter.
If a patient has vertebral artery syndrome - when the vital blood path to the brain is squeezed, the patient will experience dizziness, fainting.
In addition to cognitive impairment, the patient with cervical spinal necrosis also has impaired vision and hearing. In addition to limb paralysis, you may have Dupuytren's syndrome, which is a sign of the stiffness of your hands. As a result of the development of the syndrome, the mobility of the fingers is lost.
Hypertension and vegetative vascular dystonia (VVD) are considered common complications. A cosmetic defect that occurs as a result of the development of bone necrosis is the formation of wrinkles (the "mound" of cartilage tissue at the back of the head).
Methods of treatment
The choice of treatment for cervical bone tumor depends on the stage of the disease. Medical treatment includes prescribing nonsteroidal drugs, pain relievers, and antispasmodics by your doctor. The dosage of the drug is adjusted at the discretion of the doctor.
Physiotherapy is often indicated for cervical necrosis. With the help of exercises, you can not only eliminate pain, but also reduce inflammation, strengthen your back muscles, and reduce your risk of complications.
Massage has the effect of promoting general well-being. After a course of massage, the patient with bone necrosis is relieved of the tension and pain, blood supply increases.
When medication is not helpful, a doctor must prescribe surgery. During the surgery, the doctor removes the part of the disc that compresses the nerve root.
The best treatment is to combine multiple methods. Medical treatment must combine massage, physical therapy and exercise.
Some doctors believe that acupuncture and male remedies are an effective treatment.
Precautions
To relieve pain and prevent the development of necrosis of the cervical spine, you can use simple methods. To begin with, each person must continuously be in a position of relieving spine. Remember to do muscle contraction exercises and support the metabolism in the spine. To get a positive result, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations.
Main suggestion:
- Evenly distributes physical activity across your spine. To do this, limit the vertical load and avoid sudden movements and exercises that could damage your spine. Avoid falling or jumping from a great height.
- Do not carry heavy objects by stretching your arms out in front of you. Before lifting an object off the floor, you must not lean forward, but squat down.
- Do not move an object with one hand, so the load should be distributed to both hands. If this is not possible, then it is recommended to put the load on the suitcase on the wheel or backpack.
- If it is necessary to carry heavy loads, you should wear a loose belt or purchase a special bra before work.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- The best way to prevent illness is to swim, exercise regularly, and take a contrast shower.
- Stressful situations should be avoided.
- You need to remember the rules of a balanced diet.
- Get rid of bad habits.
Understand that prevention is easier than long-term and persistent cure. If the first stage of the disease does not require surgery, the later stage of osteonecrosis requires surgical intervention.