Osteoarthritis doesn't just affect the knee and hip joints.Sometimes degenerative processes develop in the cervical spine.In severe cases, if left untreated, they can lead to complete loss of mobility due to spinal fusion and even disability.
How will it develop?
The cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae, which are the most mobile regions in the entire spine.If certain pathological processes occur in the body, the cervical vertebrae, protected by a “plate” of elastic cartilage (disc), will be covered with bone spurs (bony growths).The cartilage, in turn, becomes thinner and destroyed, and the adjacent soft tissues atrophy.
The disc can bulge and put pressure on nearby tissues or nerves.The vertebrae change shape, leading to spinal deformity.If they are pronounced, the patient will have deformity of the cervical joints.
Causes of cervical spondylosis
- Hereditary diseases of the development of the entire musculoskeletal system, for example, dysplasia, flat feet, scoliosis (if one link in the spine is damaged, the entire biomechanical chain will be affected).
- Dystrophic changes in the joints are associated with age-related changes.
- Cervical spine injury.
- Excessive stress, for example due to being overweight, related to professional or sporting activities.
- Herniated or protruding disc.
- Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, rheumatism).
- Malfunctions of the endocrine system.
- Metabolic disorders, etc.
How to recognize
Cervical spondylosis is accompanied by a dull aching feeling, usually on one side, and the pain increases with movement.The patient complains of morning pain.The feeling of discomfort originates from the neck area, then moves to the shoulder blades and arms, and the syndrome becomes worse when palpated.
Other characteristic symptoms of the disease are:
- paroxysmal vertigo or migraine;
- decreased range of head movement due to pain (for example, a person can tilt the head 45-50°);
- crunching 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 a later stage, against the background of a complete lack of synovial fluid in the joints, deformations of the spine appear and systemic hypertension may also develop - hypertension of unknown cause.If the disease is complicated by nerve root symptoms, such as nerve compression, then its form is diagnosed - nonosteochondritis.It is not easy to recognize this disease on your own: based on its symptoms, it can easily be confused with a pathology of the cardiovascular system or brain.
Difficulty in diagnosis
Before prescribing a complex treatment regimen or appointing intra-articular injections of synovial prosthesis with synovial fluid, the rheumatologist must make sure that the diagnosis is correct, since the symptoms of the disease overlap with a number of other pathologies.After collecting the history and studying blood tests to determine the absence of other diseases (with joint diseases, the amount of blood does not change), one of the following studies is performed:
- X-ray in some projections;
- CT or MRI;
- angiography.
As a result of the examination, the doctor determines changes in the cartilage structure of the intervertebral disc, the joint space, the amount of synovial fluid and its deficiency in the joint, the nature of bone growths - osteophytes.
Why is it necessary to treat cervical spondylosis?
If treatment for cervical osteoarthritis is delayed, the disease can lead to the following complications:
- compresses nerve endings and, as a result, causes severe pain;
- compression of the spinal canal;
- stroke.
Treatment of degenerative cervical spine disease
As a rule, people go to a rheumatologist when the disease is in an acute form, so the main goals of therapy are as follows:
- eliminate pain syndrome;
- stop inflammation;
- Eliminates compression of the nerve endings of the spinal body.
In addition, for the vertebrae to function normally, it is necessary to restore the destroyed cartilage fibers of the intervertebral discs and at the same time increase blood circulation to damaged tissues.
Treatment methods
1. Medicine.
NSAIDs are used to reduce 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 vasodilators.Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms.
2. Physical therapy.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is of an auxiliary nature and is aimed at accelerating metabolic processes in tissues.Usually, with this diagnosis, manual therapy, magnetotherapy and acupuncture, phonophoresis and infrared radiation are prescribed.
If medication does not help and vertebral artery syndrome is likely to occur, surgery will be indicated to treat cervical spondylosis.It involves removing and replacing the damaged joint with an arthroscope.
In order not to harm your neck with arthritis and help it, for example, do the following morning exercises:
What is the orthopedic regimen for cervical arthritis?
Patients with osteoarthritis of any joint, including those using prosthetic joint preparations or other drugs, are instructed in a special orthopedic regimen that will help avoid complications:
- It is necessary to carefully control your posture, avoiding bending.
- During periods of sedentary work, short breaks for physical activity are required.
- Shants orthopedic collar helps relieve tension in the cervical area - as ordered by your doctor.
- An orthopedic mattress and pillow will not be superfluous.
Comprehensive treatment of cervical spondylosis also includes special exercises and professional massage.With the help of rotations, bends and tilts of the head back under the supervision of an instructor, you can develop the mobility of this part of the spine.
Intra-articular injection of synovial fluid substitutes for this type of arthritis is not performed due to its specific localization.Instead, patients can be offered professional massage or hardware treatments to locally and safely develop the deep and superficial back muscles.The main thing is to find a good specialist, trust him and not let the disease take its course.