Osteoarthritis doesn't just affect the knee and hip joints.Sometimes degenerative processes develop in the cervical spine.In advanced cases, without treatment, they can lead to complete loss of mobility due to fusion of the vertebrae and even disability.
How it will develop
The cervical region includes 7 vertebrae, the most mobile of the entire spinal column.If certain pathological processes occur in the body, the cervical vertebrae, protected by an elastic cartilaginous “plate” (disc), become covered with osteophytes (bony growths).The cartilage, in turn, becomes thinner and destroyed, and the adjacent soft tissues atrophy.
The intervertebral disc can swell and put pressure on nearby tissues or nerves.The vertebrae change shape, which leads to spinal deformities.If they are pronounced, the patient develops deforming cervical arthrosis.
Causes of arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae
- Genetic pathologies of the development of the musculoskeletal system as a whole, for example, dysplasia, flat feet, scoliosis (if a certain link in the spine is damaged, the entire biomechanical chain suffers).
- Dystrophic changes in the joints associated with age-related changes.
- Cervical spine injuries.
- Excessive effort, due for example to excess weight, associated with professional or sporting activities.
- Herniated or bulging discs.
- Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, rheumatism).
- Malfunctions of the endocrine system.
- Metabolic disorders, etc.
How to recognize
Osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae is accompanied by dull, aching pain, usually one-sided, which intensifies with movement.Patients complain of morning pain.The unpleasant sensations originate in the neck area, then move to the shoulder blades and arms, the syndrome intensifies with palpation.
Other characteristic symptoms of the disease are:
- paroxysmal dizziness or migraine;
- decreased range of head movements due to pain (for example, a person may tilt their head 45-50°);
- creaking sounds when you move your neck;
- specific sounds in the ears;
- visual impairment;
- pain in the chest area;
- numbness in the lower part of the face.
In the later stages, against the background of a complete lack of synovial fluid in the joints, deformities of the spine appear, and systemic hypertension may also develop - an inexplicable increase in blood pressure.If the disease is complicated by radicular symptoms, such as a pinched nerve, its form is diagnosed: non-vertebral arthrosis.It is not easy to recognize the disease on your own: based on its symptoms it can easily be confused with a pathology of the cardiovascular system or the brain.
Difficulty in diagnosis
Before prescribing a complex therapeutic regimen or prescribing intraarticular injection of synovial fluid prosthesis, the rheumatologist must make sure that the diagnosis is correct, since the symptoms of the disease duplicate a number of other pathologies.After collecting an anamnesis and studying a blood test to determine the absence of other diseases (with arthrosis, the blood count does not change), one of the following studies is carried out:
- x-ray in different projections;
- CT or MRI;
- vascular angiography.
As a result of examinations, the doctor determines changes in the structure of the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, joint space, the amount of synovial fluid and its deficiency in the joints, the nature of bone growths - osteophytes.
Why it is necessary to treat arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae
If treatment of arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae is delayed, the disease can lead to the following complications:
- compression of nerve endings and, as a result, severe pain;
- pinching of the spinal canals;
- hit.
Treatment of arthrosis of the cervical spine
As a rule, people with an acute form of the disease turn to a rheumatologist, so the main goals of therapy are as follows:
- eliminate pain syndrome;
- stop inflammation;
- eliminate pinching of the nerve endings of the spinal trunk.
In addition, for the normal functioning of the vertebrae, it is necessary to restore the destroyed cartilaginous fibers of the discs and, for this, increase blood circulation in the damaged tissues.
Therapeutic methods
1. Medicines.
NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation, while chondroprotectors are used to regenerate cartilage tissue.Blood circulation and nutrition of the affected tissues can be normalized with the help of vasodilator drugs.Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms.
2. Physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy treatment is auxiliary in nature and aims to accelerate metabolism in the tissues.Most often, with this diagnosis, manual therapy, magnetic therapy and acupuncture, phonophoresis and infrared radiation are prescribed.
If medications do not help and there is a possibility of vertebral artery syndrome, surgery for arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae is prescribed.It involves removing and replacing the damaged joint with an endoprosthesis.
In order not to damage the neck with arthrosis and help it, practice, for example, the following morning exercises:
What is the orthopedic regimen for neck osteoarthritis?
Patients with arthrosis of any joint, including those using prosthetic preparations of synovial fluid or other drugs, are shown a special orthopedic regimen that will help avoid complications:
- It is necessary to carefully control your posture, avoiding stooping.
- During sedentary work, short breaks for physical activity are necessary.
- Shants orthopedic collars help relieve stress in the cervical region - as directed by the doctor.
- An orthopedic mattress and pillow will not be superfluous.
Comprehensive treatment of arthrosis of the cervical vertebrae also includes special gymnastics and professional massage.With the help of turns and rotations, bending and throwing the head back under the supervision of an instructor, it is possible to develop fine motor skills of this part of the spine.
Intra-articular injections of a synovial fluid substitute for this type of osteoarthritis are not practiced due to the specific location.Instead, the patient can be offered professional massage or hardware methods for local and safe development of the deep and superficial muscles of the back.The main thing is to find a good specialist, trust him and not let the course of the disease take its course.