Chondrosis of the cervical spine: causes, symptoms and treatment

Causes of cervical osteochondrosis

Today our world is overwhelmed by a wave of physical inactivity or, more simply put, a sedentary lifestyle. It is partly due to an excessive passion for various mobile gadgets or the need to work at the computer for long periods of time2,11. This has extremely detrimental effects on our spine11. Low levels of physical activity and prolonged stay in a certain position3,4 can lead to disruption of metabolic processes in cartilage and bone tissue and weakening of the muscles that provide protection and support to the spinal column3.

The cervical region is the most mobile part of the spine, but also the most vulnerable5. Vulnerability is associated with anatomical features - a weak muscle corset in the neck, as well as the small size and low mechanical strength of the vertebrae5.

The development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is promoted by:

• long-term work at the computer5;
• driving5;
• heavy physical activity2;
• injuries, for example, “whiplash” movement of the head when stopping a vehicle quickly3;
• stress4, smoking2, hypothermia2;
• inflammatory processes4;

• congenital defects of the spinal column, reducing its resistance to overload3;
• surgical interventions4.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is more often observed in dentists, office workers, designers, programmers and people in other professions whose work involves repetitive movements5.

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How do symptoms differ in women and men?

Women lead a less active lifestyle than men. However, men take on more physical activity. Symptoms for both sexes are practically the same. Health effects may vary, as may complications. For women, the danger of a hernia is that reproductive function is disrupted, especially if there are chronic diseases of the genitourinary area.

In men, if left untreated, the hernia is accompanied by stiffness in the hip joints. Against the background of inflammation of the nerves, miction becomes more frequent. A complication is problems with erectile function. In this case, the age category does not matter. Lack of potency with an advanced hernia can occur not only in older people, but also in young guys.

Stages and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

The first target of the disease is the intervertebral discs. Each disc consists of a nucleus pulposus surrounded by a dense fibrous ring. The nucleus acts as a shock absorber for stress on the spine, and the annulus fibrosus holds the nucleus pulposus within the spinal column5.

Under conditions of poor blood circulation and nutrition, disc tissue begins to deteriorate. The fibrous ring becomes loose, and the core loses some of its moisture, becomes thinner and partially loses its shock-absorbing properties. As a result of such changes, the load-bearing capacity of the intervertebral disc is reduced and it becomes damaged2,5.

One of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is pain in the neck of a shooting nature, burning, stabbing, similar to “electrical discharges”4. It usually affects one or both arms4.

Some patients complain of aching or constant pain4, and, in addition to pain, stiffness of movement, dizziness, headache and memory impairment2.

In many ways, the nature and severity of pain, as well as the accompanying symptoms, depend on the stage of osteochondrosis1,2:

• Stage 1. Changes occur inside the intervertebral disc1,2 - the nucleus pulposus moves and begins to irritate the nerve endings2. But pain at the initial stage usually occurs only during physical activity1, movements, coughing and sneezing2, and at rest a person may not feel any discomfort1.
• Stage 2. The fibrous ring loses its ability to hold the nucleus pulposus2, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, and they move relative to each other1,2. As a result of such changes, nerve endings may become pinched, which causes severe pain2. Pain, in turn, forces a person to take a forced position2.
• Stage 3. The fibrous ring is destroyed and an intervertebral hernia occurs2. At this stage, the cervical spine is often deformed - its natural curve decreases. The hernial protrusion compresses or irritates the nerve roots, causing intense and constant pain1 in the neck and arms, which is often accompanied by numbness and muscle weakness4.
• Stage 4. The fibrous ring becomes dense, and adhesions form between the vertebrae. As a result, immobility occurs in the affected area2, and the pain may even decrease1.

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What can be confused with a thoracic hernia?

Intervertebral hernia of the thoracic spine can be confused with the following pathologies:

• Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. The pain appears after eating or on an empty stomach. With a hernia, pain does not depend on food intake. To make the correct diagnosis, esophagogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.
• Angina pectoris. The similarity is that pain occurs after physical activity. With a hernia, the pain lasts much longer than with angina. If there is an ischemic disease of the heart apparatus, after 5 minutes the pain subsides, moreover, it can be relieved with nitroglycerin.
• Pyelonephritis. With this disease, pain occurs in the lower back. To make the correct diagnosis, an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and a study of biochemical blood parameters are additionally prescribed.
• Cholecystitis. Pain occurs after eating fatty or fried foods.
• Lung diseases. The pain intensifies during inspiration. Complemented by shortness of breath, cough, feeling of lack of air.
• Shingles. It is also accompanied by pain, but is complemented by changes in the skin - blisters, redness.

If the doctor doubts the diagnosis, consultation with highly specialized specialists will be required.

Diagnostics

Cervical osteochondrosis, which periodically makes itself felt, needs to be treated, so if symptoms of the disease appear, first of all consult a doctor - a therapist or a neurologist.

Various diagnostic methods help the doctor understand what stage of development the disease is at, what structures of the spinal column and what tissues are damaged:

• inspection;
• special orthopedic and neurological tests;
• X-ray examination;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• computed tomography (CT);
• Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head (Dopplerography).

If necessary, additional research methods and tests can be used to exclude other diseases2,7.

MBST therapy

With the help of magnetic resonance therapy MBST, additional effects are applied to the affected areas of the spine. This is a non-surgical method, thanks to which the most important causes of intervertebral disc deformation are eliminated and pain is relieved.

This procedure helps to get rid of pain in the spine and helps restore cartilage tissue. You can undergo a course of treatment for a thoracic hernia in Moscow using MBST therapy at ArthroMedCenter.

It is important to remember that only if you consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all recommendations, it will be possible to stop further progression of the disease. In advanced cases, the only treatment method is surgery.

Forecast

If you ignore the first manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis and, without sparing the spine, continue to lead the same lifestyle, the disease can progress2, causing various disorders. Among them are vertebral artery syndrome2.

The vertebral arteries pass through openings in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae and provide blood supply to the brain5. With osteochondrosis, the vertebral artery may become pinched in its orifice; sometimes it spasms in response to irritation, which often impairs cerebral circulation2,5.

A typical manifestation of vertebral artery syndrome is a burning, throbbing headache2 that:

• is felt in the back of the head and “gives” to the temporal, frontal and parietal regions5;
• usually occurs or worsens when turning the head or throwing it back5;
• accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms - redness or pallor of the face, nausea, dizziness and tinnitus5.

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How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

An important part of treatment is pain relief1. To relieve pain from cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)1,2,9, muscle relaxants, antispasmodics and other drugs with analgesic effects1,2,9. Among the NSAIDs, naproxen can be used as a first-line pain reliever10,12.

MOTRIN® containing naproxen has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is indicated for pain relief in adults and children over 15 years of age8. One dose of MOTRIN® is sufficient for up to 12 hours8. Without consulting a specialist, it is recommended to use the drug in a minimum dose and, according to the instructions, for up to 5 days13.

Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercise improves blood circulation, metabolism and nutrition of the intervertebral discs. Exercises help increase the space between the vertebrae, help strengthen the muscle corset and reduce the load on the spine2.

For cervical osteochondrosis, special gymnastics is prescribed, including various sets of exercises2,3,5. For example, 2-3 times a week you can do the following exercises5:

• Place either palm under your chin, then press your chin firmly into the resisting palm, while trying to keep your chin and palm still.
• Tilt your head back and try to touch your right ear to your right shoulder (5 times). Repeat the same movement on the other side, touching your left ear to your left shoulder.

Physical therapy should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist, so before performing any exercises, be sure to consult with your doctor and get his recommendations.

Non-drug therapy

Physiotherapy is often included in complex therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine2. For example, the following methods2 can be used:

• various types of massage;
• manual therapy and osteopathy;
• acupuncture;
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• mud therapy.

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Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis

It is impossible to get rid of osteochondrosis of the spine that has already occurred, but it is quite possible to slow down its development and prevent the onset of pain if you pay close attention to your health2:

• balance nutrition2;
• do not overeat, normalize body weight2 so as not to overload the spine5;
• exclude hypothermia, trying to avoid staying in a draft or damp room5;
• maintain physical activity2;
• play sports, swimming is especially useful5;
• organize the workplace correctly6;
• when working for a long time in a forced position, regularly change position and stretch your neck6;
• choose a comfortable pillow and mattress for a comfortable sleep2.

In advanced cases, osteochondrosis can not only reduce the quality of life, but also deprive a person of his ability to work2. Therefore, try to notice in time the factors that can lead to the destruction of intervertebral discs, and, if possible, eliminate or reduce their harmful effects on the spine. If you are concerned about neck pain, be sure to consult your doctor. Only a specialist can determine the stage of the disease, select painkillers and prescribe a course of physical therapy or physiotherapy.

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional advice from a doctor. To make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, consult a qualified specialist

Literature

1. Treatment and prevention of osteochondrosis A.A. Pilipovich// General Medicine 2. 2015 - pp. 15-22
2. Spinal osteochondrosis // Clinical recommendations / All-Russian public organization Association of Traumatologists and Orthopedists of Russia (ATOR) - 2021.
3. Voronyanskaya L.K., Evsyutina V.B. Physical rehabilitation of patients with cervical osteochondrosis // Problems of physical education and sports / No. 9. - 2010. - pp. 19-21
4. Sklyarenko O. V., Sorokovikov V. A., Koshkareva Z. V. Some aspects of the pathogenesis and diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (literature review). Acta biomedica scientifica. 2019; 4(6): 47-53. doi: 10.29413/ABS.2019-4.6.7.
5. Bezrukova, O. V. Therapeutic exercise for spinal osteochondrosis: a textbook // O. V. Bezrukova, G. I. Bulnaeva; GBOU VPO IGMU of the Ministry of Health of Russia. – Irkutsk: IGMU, 2013. – 58 p.
6. Isaikin A.I. Pain in the cervical spine // Difficult patient / No. 7. - VOLUME 10. - 2012. - P. 36-41.
7. Chekhonatsky A. A, Komleva N. E, Chekhonatsky V. A. Some features of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of radiculo- and myelopathic syndromes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (review) // Saratov. scientific and medical journal / 2021. - T. 16, No. 1. — P. 64-68.
8. Instructions for medical use of the drug Motrin® / Reg. number PN002874/01 / ,
9. Childress MA, Becker BA. Nonoperative Management of Cervical Radiculopathy. American Family Physician. 2021 May 1;93(9):746-54. PMID: 27175952. 746-754
10. Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck). from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Reviewed by Thomas Ward Throckmorton, MD, FAAOS. 2021 https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases—conditions/cervical-spondylosis-arthritis-of-the-neck
11. Grishan M.A. “Physiological consequences of physical inactivity for the human body” Medical and pharmaceutical journal “Pulse”, vol. 20, no. 12, 2021, pp. 70-73.
12. Svetoslav Nikolaev Stoev, Stanislav Radoslavov Gueоrguiev, Vasil Georgiev Madzharov, Hristina Viktorova Lebanova (2021). “Naproxen in Pain and Inflammation – A Review”, International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Phytopharmacological Research, 11(1), pp.142-148.