Osteochondrosis is a degenerative bone condition that most commonly affects the spine and knees. This primarily causes unbearable pain and movement problems. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive treatment.
Osteochondrosis - what is it?
It is based on a violation of endochondral ossification. However, this condition is the result of local hyaline cartilage ischemia in the metaphysis of the growing bone. This condition is often called juvenile osteochondrosis because it develops in the developing skeletal system.
In patients with osteochondrosis, the cartilage tissue is ischemic, depleted, and eventually dies. The cartilage does not mineralize, but becomes ossified and then separates from the bone from which it was formed because it is not very strong. Separation of cartilage from bone may be due to mechanical factors.
Osteochondrosis can take many forms, but is most common in patients:
- Osteochondrosis of the spine, which often involves the spine or cervical spine.
- Osteochondrosis of the knee with loading of the tuberosity of the tibia, which forms the knee joint.
In this article, we will focus on cervical osteochondrosis (SHO).
Osteochondrosis - causes
Osteochondrosis is a disease whose degenerative-dystrophic causes depend on the form of the disease that occurs in a particular patient. In the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, its development may be due to a violation of the tension of the structures responsible for the stabilization of the spine. The cause of the disease may be a gradual loss of cushioning properties of the intervertebral discs. As for osteochondrosis of the knee, it usually occurs as a result of an avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity. This is an excessive load caused by an imbalance between the cross-section of the muscle, the ligament surface and the forces acting on a very small area, ie the bulge of the tibia.
Features of osteochondrosis of the cervical segment
Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment of the spine differs from the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the lumbar and thoracic segments.
There are many blood vessels and nerves in the neck, including the vertebral artery that enters the spinal canal. Therefore, with osteochondrosis of the cervical segment of the spine, when the vertebrae move, nerve formations appear in the lateral parts (this can irritate the muscles and areas around the ligaments).
When the vertebral artery is constricted due to narrowing of the artery (stenosis), the blood supply to the brainstem and cerebellum is reduced.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are caused by the following factors: spinal cord compression (cervical radiculitis), spinal cord compression (myelopathy), spinal cord injury due to circulatory disorders associated with vascular stenosis (narrowing). and veins.
Radicular syndromes (cervical sciatica)
Symptoms of cervical lumbar osteochondrosis are associated with compression (squeezing) of nerve roots. The pain can start from the neck to the shoulder and spread to the outer surface of the shoulder, forearm and fingers. May affect skin sensitivity on forearms, hands and fingers.
Spinal artery syndrome
Headache (paroxysmal, persistent, impulsive, intensified when dizziness), dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears.
SHO treatment
In the acute phase, accompanied by severe pain, topical administration of analgesics and corticosteroids is indicated to relieve muscle tension and reduce pain in the motor segment of the vertebrae.
The combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, analgesics and vitamins is effective.