Osteochondrosis is a degenerative bone condition that most often attacks the spine and knees. This mainly causes unusual pain and movement. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out complex treatments.
Osteochondrosis - what is it?
It is based on violations of endochondral oxidation. However, this condition is the result of hyaline cartilage ischemia in the metaphysis of growing bone. This condition is often referred to as juvenile osteochondrosis precisely because it develops on the developing skeletal system.
In patients with osteochondrosis, ischemic cartilage tissue, depletes and consequently dies. Cartilage is not mineral, but oxidizes and then detaches from the bone where it is formed because it is not too strong. Separation of cartilage from bone can be caused by mechanical factors.
Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in many forms, but patients often experience:
- Osteochondrosis of the spine, which in most cases involves the lumbar or cervical spine.
- Osteochondrosis of the knee by overloading the tibial tuberosity, which forms the knee joint.
In this article, we will pay special attention to cervical spine osteochondrosis (SHO).
Osteochondrosis - the cause
Osteochondrosis is a disease, a degenerative-dystrophic cause that largely depends on the form of the disease occurring in a particular patient. In the case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, its development may be due to a violation of the structural tension responsible for the stabilization of the spine. The cause of the disease can also be the gradual loss of the protective properties of the intervertebral disc. For knee osteochondrosis, it usually occurs as a result of an avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity. This is an overload that arises from an imbalance between the cross section of the muscle, its adhesive surface and the force acting on an area that is too small, namely the tuberosity of the tibia.
Characteristics of osteochondrosis of the cervical segment
Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment of the spine differs in manifestation from osteochondrosis of the lumbar and thoracic segments.
The neck area contains many blood vessels and nerves, including the vertebral arteries, which enter the spinal canal. Thus, with osteochondrosis of the cervical segment of the spine, when the vertebrae move, nerve formations appear on the lateral side (which can irritate the muscles and areas around the ligaments).
When the vertebral arteries are compressed due to narrowing of the arteries (stenosis), the blood supply to the brain stem and cerebellum is reduced.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis are caused by the following factors: spinal root compression (cervical radiculitis), spinal cord compression (myelopathy), damage to the spinal cord due to circulatory disorders associated with stenosis (narrowing) of arteries and veins.
Radicular syndrome (cervical sciatica)
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are associated with compression (compression) of nerve roots. The pain can start from the neck to the shoulders and spread to the outer surfaces of the shoulders, forearms, and fingers. It can affect skin sensitivity on the forearms, hands, and fingers.
Spinal artery syndrome
Headache (paroxysmal, persistent, impulsive, which increases when turning the head), dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears.
SHO treatment
In the acute stage, accompanied by severe pain, administration of painkillers and local corticosteroids has been shown to relieve muscle tension in the motor part of the vertebrae and reduce pain.
An effective combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, analgesics and vitamins.