Osteoarthritis affects not only the knee and hip joints.Sometimes degenerative processes develop in the cervical spine.In advanced cases, without treatment, they can lead to total loss of mobility due to fusion of the vertebrae and even disability.
How will it develop
The cervical region includes 7 vertebrae, the most mobile in the entire spine.If certain pathological processes occur in the body, the cervical vertebrae, protected by an elastic cartilage “plate” (disc), become covered with osteophytes (bone growths).The cartilage, in turn, becomes thinner and destroyed, and the adjacent soft tissues atrophy.
The intervertebral disc may swell and press 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 osteoarthritis 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 joints associated with age-related changes.
- Cervical spine injuries.
- Excessive exertion, for example due to being overweight, associated with professional or sporting activities.
- Disc herniation or disc protrusion.
- Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, rheumatism).
- Endocrine system dysfunctions.
- Metabolic disorders, etc.
How to recognize
Osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae is accompanied by a dull, aching pain, usually unilateral, which intensifies with movement.Patients complain of morning pain.Unpleasant sensations originate in the neck region and then pass 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 motion of the head due to pain (for example, a person may tilt their head 45-50°);
- clicking when moving the neck;
- specific sounds in the ears;
- visual impairment;
- pain in the chest area;
- numbness in the lower part of the face.
At 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 unexplained increase in blood pressure.If the disease is complicated by radicular symptoms, such as a pinched nerve, its form is diagnosed - discovered arthrosis.It is not easy to recognize the disease on your own: based on the symptoms, it can easily be confused with a pathology of the cardiovascular system or the brain.
Difficulties in diagnosis
Before prescribing a complex treatment regimen or prescribing intra-articular injection of synovial fluid prostheses, the rheumatologist must ensure 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:
- radiography in different projections;
- computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging;
- vascular angiography.
As a result of examinations, the doctor determines changes in the structure of the cartilage of intervertebral discs, in the joint space, in the amount of synovial fluid and its deficiency in the joints, in the nature of bone growths - osteophytes.
Why osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae needs to be treated
If treatment of osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae is delayed, the disease can lead to the following complications:
- compression of nerve endings and, as a result, severe pain;
- clamping of the spinal canals;
- Stroke.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the cervical spine
As a rule, people turn to a rheumatologist with an acute form of the disease, therefore the main goals of therapy are as follows:
- eliminate pain syndrome;
- stop inflammation;
- eliminate compression 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 damaged tissues.
Therapeutic methods
1. Medication.
NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation, and chondroprotectors are used to regenerate cartilage tissue.Blood circulation and nutrition of affected tissues can be normalized with the help of vasodilator medications.Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms.
2. Physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy treatment is auxiliary in nature and aims to accelerate tissue metabolism.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 is prescribed for uncoarthrosis of the cervical vertebrae.It involves removing and replacing the damaged joint with an endoprosthesis.
In order not to harm your neck with osteoarthritis and help it, practice, for example, the following morning exercises:
What is an orthopedic regimen for cervical osteoarthritis?
Patients with arthrosis of any joint, including those using prosthetic preparations of synovial fluid or other medications, are prescribed a special orthopedic regimen that will help avoid complications:
- It is necessary to carefully control your posture, avoiding slouching.
- During sedentary work, short breaks for physical activity are necessary.
- Shants orthopedic collars help relieve stress in the cervical region - as directed by your doctor.
- 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 the motor skills of this part of the spine.
Intra-articular injections of synovial fluid substitute for this type of arthrosis 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 back muscles.The main thing is to find a good specialist, trust him and not let the course of the disease take its course.