Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine-
one of the first signs that may indicate the development of the disease. At first, they appear paroxysmal, then they are permanent, accompanied by a sharp deterioration in well-being, stiffness of movements and fainting. It is important to understand that without proper therapy, the disease can progress and lead to dangerous consequences.
Osteochondrosis - definition and mechanism of development
Osteochondrosis- progressive chronic disease of the spine. During the examination, there is a gradual destruction of the cartilage and deformation of the bone segments. The cervical spine consists of six vertebrae - bone segments connected by ligaments. For shock absorption during movements, turns and tilting of the head, the intervertebral cartilages are located between the adjacent vertebrae. Vertebral arteries and nerves pass through special holes, which are directed to the brain, and their protection from damage is one of the functions of the cervical spine.
With osteochondrosis, the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs loses elasticity. Its main reason is an insufficient supply of blood and nutrients to the cartilage tissues of the intervertebral discs. This process can be associated with age-related changes, insufficient blood supply to cartilage, as well as the consequences of injuries and inflammatory diseases of the joints. The intervertebral discs become thin and not elastic enough, so they cannot absorb while moving. This leads to decreased mobility of the neck, painful sensations, compression of the nerves and blood vessels that pass through this area. The process progresses, as the cervical spine is the most mobile and has a weak muscle corset.
Causes of headaches in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Cervical osteochondrosis- a disease common in the elderly and young. It is accompanied by limited mobility of the neck in all or in a certain direction, hearing or visual impairment, as well as acute headaches. These symptoms already appear at the initial stage of the disease and only progress over time.
Headaches in cervical osteochondrosis are associated with a number of pathological changes:
- a decrease in the light between the adjacent vertebrae of the cervical spine;
- compression of the nerves and blood vessels that go to the brain;
- insufficient blood supply to brain cells;
- deformation of bone tissue, formation of growths, fusion of vertebrae - the body's coping mechanism against bone abrasion during movement.
Headaches with osteochondrosis can occur only with damage to the cervical spine. In this area, pass the arteries and nerves, which carry blood to the brain and participate in its innervation. With the defeat of the thoracic and lumbar regions, pain in the head does not occur. However, the disease is most often diagnosed in this area, as it is the most mobile and the supporting muscle corset is poorly developed. Poor posture, prolonged sitting, lack of physical activity or, on the contrary, too intense loads without sufficient warm-up contribute to the rapid development of osteochondrosis at any age.
The nature of pain caused by osteochondrosis
Headache with osteochondrosis is a symptom by which the disease can be identified even in the absence of any damage to the neck. However, it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis on the basis of an examination alone. There are several options for headaches with osteochondrosis, depending on the cause of their occurrence:
- when compressing the vertebral artery - the pain resembles a migraine, often extends only to half of the head;
- when pinching the roots of the spinal nerves - throbbing, sharp, increases during turns and tilts of the head;
- chronic headaches - associated with ischemia, a lack of oxygen and nutrients in certain areas of the brain.
With osteochondrosis, headaches are often accompanied by additional symptoms. The main ones are stiff neck, muscle spasms and discomfort. In addition, the patient may experience numbness in the hands and a tingling sensation on the skin of the palms. With insufficient blood supply to the brain, hearing and vision deteriorate and difficulty in coordinating movements occurs. In addition, there is an increased sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds, tactile stimuli. These signs disappear after the restoration of blood circulation.
Diagnostic methods
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a symptom for which it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. To begin treatment, it is necessary to determine the location of the problem area, the stage of the disease and the pathological changes caused by the disease. For this, a series of examinations is prescribed, in particular:
- MRI of the head is one of the most informative and accurate diagnostic methods, thanks to which it is possible to assess the condition of brain tissue;
- MRI of the cervical spine is an easy way to get an accurate picture of all the disorders that appear in this area (thinning and decrease in elasticity of the inter-articular cartilage, proliferation of the articular surfaces of the bones;
- Doppler ultrasound of the vessels in the neck and head is performed with the addition of a contrast agent to monitor cerebral blood flow and identify areas of the brain that are suffering from ischemia.
Treatment of headaches with cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of headache in cervical osteochondrosis is symptomatic. Seizures can be treated at home, but they will continue to occur. It is important to understand that osteochondrosis is a chronic and progressive disease, and it is impossible to completely restore the structure of the affected spine. The goal of therapy is to slow down the destruction of the vertebrae, restore normal blood supply and innervation, and eliminate pain and other unpleasant symptoms.
Medical treatment
Most patients are prescribed a full treatment regimen for osteochondrosis. Pain relievers can be taken at home, but the headache will return. It is important to find an effective set of drugs that will not only affect the symptoms, but also the causes of the headache. Timely start of treatment will keep the spine at the same level and prevent further deterioration of well-being.
Doctors may prescribe several types of medications to relieve headaches in cervical osteochondrosis:
- non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs - eliminate pain and relieve inflammation of the joints (ibuprofen);
- muscle relaxants - a group of drugs that relieve muscle spasms, thereby improving blood circulation in the vertebral artery (tolperisone hydrochloride);
- vasodilators - necessary for high blood pressure, as well as to eliminate vascular spasms (magnesium sulfate);
- Nootropics are an additional class of drugs that are selected to improve blood flow to brain cells.
If osteochondrosis hurts the head and neck, drugs can be prescribed both in the form of tablets or injections, and in the form of ointment. To improve blood circulation and nutrition of cartilage, gels with a heating component and anti-inflammatory effect are useful. They stimulate blood circulation and regeneration processes, therefore, maintain the condition of the spine during periods of exacerbation of the disease.
Additional techniques
The treatment of headaches in osteochondrosis includes a number of techniques that strengthen the cervical spine, prevent compression of important nerves and arteries. These are special exercises for the formation of a muscle corset, as well as physical and other methods of influencing the affected area. They are prescribed in combination with drug treatment and carried out in several sessions.
- Physiotherapy exercises - simple exercises to strengthen muscles and ligaments, increase their elasticity. The warm-up consists of turns and curves, circular movements of the head. Then you need to alternately place your palm on the forehead, temple and back of the head. The head is tilted to the side of the hand and the palm resists. At home, you can do exercises in the morning and evening, giving physical education for at least 20-30 minutes a day.
- Massage is an effective technique that will help relieve severe headaches with osteochondrosis, as well as prevent the progression of the disease. At home, you can do a self-massage, in which the muscles of the back and lateral surfaces of the neck, as well as the trapezius muscles, are kneaded. It is useful to attend sessions of therapeutic massage, which are carried out in 5-10 procedures. The course is repeated every 4-5 months.
- Physiotherapy is a set of techniques that a doctor can prescribe to improve the well-being of patients with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It can be magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, paraffin applications and other exposure methods. Under external influence, blood circulates faster to the damaged area, the nutrition of damaged intervertebral discs and their oxygenation are improved. In addition, the recovery processes are activated at the cellular level, which prevents the disease from developing further.
Regular exercise, massage and physiotherapy sessions will help get rid of severe headaches associated with osteochondrosis. The main condition is to complete the full course of proceedings. They are done at intervals of several days to a week and for maximum effect it may take up to 10 sessions. During the treatment, ease of movement is noted, the absence of headaches and other symptoms, improvement in concentration and performance. However, it is important to remember that osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, therefore, the course of the procedures is repeated every 4-6 months.
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis
The operation is prescribed only in cases where conservative treatment is ineffective. This happens in advanced cases, if the patient has a fusion of adjacent vertebrae or the formation of osteophytes - bony growths on the joint surfaces of bones. These changes lead to constant headaches, stiff neck, chronic ischemia of parts of the brain. The operation can be performed in several ways:
- removal of pathological growths on the surfaces of the vertebrae, which do not allow them to participate in movement;
- connect adjacent vertebrae to reduce compression of nerves and blood vessels;
- replacement of the damaged segment by an implant.
The decision about surgery is taken individually. It should be understood that this is a complex operation that will require a long recovery period. In the early stages, it is not carried out, since there is no threat to the health of the patient.
Prevention methods
Symptoms and treatment of headache in cervical osteochondrosis are associated with the mechanism of development of this disease. Injury is one of its causes, but the pathological process can also manifest itself in a healthy person. Doctors recommend instilling good habits from an early age that will help maintain the health of the cervical spine and prevent the development of dangerous diseases:
- correct posture both when walking and working on the monitor is the main condition for a uniform load on the spine;
- moderate physical activity - even a healthy person can benefit from simple daily exercises to strengthen and increase the elasticity of the muscles and ligaments of the neck;
- correctly selected mattress and pillow will help to avoid pinching of nerves and ischemia of brain cells during sleep;
- avoid electric charges in everyday life - do not try to carry weights in uncomfortable bags and bags;
- for those who perform sedentary work - regular breaks for a little warm-up;
- in the cold season - wear a scarf.