Cervical osteosarcoma is a change in the structure of adjacent cartilage and muscle-ligaments, losing their ability to regenerate. In the early stages of this process, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the disc. Because of this, there is a violation of metabolic processes in its core and the appearance of cracks in the fiber ring.
If not treated in time, osteoblasts appear on cartilage and bone tissue. Because at this time, the mobility of the cervical spine is significantly reduced, leading to the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome. According to studies done in many countries around the world, most people between the ages of 30 and 35 have various signs of osteonecrosis.
Symptoms of different stages of osteonecrosis
Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be:
- headache;
- noise or ringing in the ears;
- severe nausea;
- lack of coordination;
- pain and crunching when turning the head;
- impaired vision and hearing.
Do not forget that cervical osteonecrosis refers to chronic diseases, in which the symptoms vary depending on a certain stage of development of the disease. As a result, the patient may experience a number of signs that signal a specific period of change in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable neck pain that occurs with physical activity, as well as discomfort with normal turning of the head, occurs in the early stages of the disease, when the height of the discs of the cervical spine decreases slightly.
- Sharp pain and stiffness when turning the neck, as well as crunching and headaches occur during a period of abnormal cartilage growth, disc height decreases, and cracks appear in the capsule.
- Acute pain in the neck that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of skin sensitivity in the neck area when the capsule ruptures and forms herniated disc, as well as when the spine is deformed. .
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder along with severe pain that lasts for a long time is one of the obvious signs of 4th degree cervical spondylosis, when many bone cells grow and the structuresThe structure of the disc is gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Causes of osteonecrosis of the cervical spine
The main cause of cervical spine problems is unbalanced and overloaded loads. As a rule, osteonecrosis occurs due to age-related changes in the spine, cervical spine injury or metabolic disorders. In addition, the following factors contribute to the occurrence of this disease:
- genetic predisposition. If a person has congenital weakness of the connective tissue, they may have impaired function of the cervical spine.
- Vertebral instability. An increase in mobility of the upper part of the spine very often leads to a deterioration of the degradative nature of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The mobility of the cervical spine is often reduced due to abnormalities in the development of the skeletal system, scoliosis, flat feet and rheumatic diseases.
- Low physical activity. A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle contributes to deformity of the vertebrae and deterioration of connective tissues.
Diagnosis of cervical osteonecrosis
To determine the cause of the disease, it is imperative to conduct a survey and examination of the patient, determine the areas of pain and mobility of the spine, evaluate the quality of the reflexes.
Various methods are used to diagnose this disease, including:
- X-ray and multifaceted computed tomography. These instrumental diagnostic methods have proven themselves to be the best for identifying cervical spine changes in the later stages of disease development, when the lesions of the bones and cartilages of the spine becomeclear.
- magnetic resonance imaging. Currently, to identify changes occurring in the cervical spine, this diagnostic method is most often used, because it helps doctors to detect the disease at the earliest stage when it appears.
- Duplex scan of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is performed to assess the quality of blood flow and determine vasoconstriction. It is this method that is most often applied by doctors to determine the cause of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, ultrasound examination of nearby organs, ECG of the heart, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
Expert opinion
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, you should not worry too much about it. If adequate measures are taken in time, almost all symptoms of the disease can be minimized. For example, you need to learn to constantly monitor the exact position of your body, as this can increase the load on the spine. In addition, we must not forget that some sports are very dangerous for the cervical spine.
I strongly advise many of my patients to avoid competitive sports in places where the risk of injury is high. You are better off choosing hiking, skiing and swimming. Such physical activity will positively affect all parts of the spine.
Conservative treatments for osteonecrosis
If cervical spondylosis is detected at an early stage, conservative methods of treatment will be applied. They allow you to prevent further development of the disease, relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore mobility of the upper spine.
Conservative treatment of cervical osteonecrosis includes:
- Medical treatment.In this case, the doctor will prescribe some medications to effectively relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. In addition, modern means contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. Usually, hormonal drugs, pain relievers, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs in the form of tablets and injections are used for these purposes.
- Physiotherapy treatment.As a rule, physiotherapy is prescribed as an adjunct to drug therapy. This can be therapeutic massage, acupuncture, laser irradiation, magnetic therapy, UHF therapy, and other procedures that relax neck muscles, eliminate spasms, and normalize blood circulation.
- Physical therapy.This is a very important part of cervical spine treatment. The fact is that special physical exercises not only strengthen your core and keep your posture straight, but also improve the blood supply to the upper part of the spine. The doctor first chooses a set of 6-8 exercises, then adds new ones, gradually increasing physical activity.
Surgical methods to treat osteonecrosis
In the case of no longer effective of conservative treatments or in case the disease has progressed to a severe stage, it is necessary to treat cervical spondylosis by surgical methods. The main task of surgeons is to remove pressure on nerve roots, arteries, spinal cord and other structures in the respective area.
To solve this problem, the following types of manipulations on the cervical spine are used:
- tumor removal surgeryin which the doctor, under microscopic control, performs a herniated discectomy with partial or complete removal of the disc;
- laminectomy, providing for partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the spinal roots;
- Endoscopic surgerywith the removal of hernias, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic changes through a miniaturized laparoscopic approach;
- laser nucleationwith a puncture through which a laser light guide is inserted, needed to remove a small piece of the nucleus pulposus.
Prevention of cervical spondylosis
Many patients mistakenly believe that cervical osteonecrosis disappears immediately after conservative treatment or surgery. But any treatment can only stop or slow the progression of the disease. That is why, after a course of treatment, a person will have to adhere to the following measures to prevent cervical osteochondrosis:
- lead a healthy and active lifestyle;
- avoid lifting heavy objects;
- sleeping on orthopedic mattresses and pillows;
- frequent swimming pools;
- perform sports exercises;
- be careful when turning;
- Maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
A rehabilitation plan is drawn up in accordance with the stage of the disease, the patient's state of health, as well as his age, weight and general health. The program may include medical massage, exercise therapy, and physical therapy. This will help improve health, avoid complications and recurrence of diseases.
Question and answer
Which doctor should I contact with cervical spine problems?
Diagnosis and treatment of these problems is done by a neurologist and a trauma-orthopedist.
What drugs can be used to relieve cervical spine pain?
The appointment of pain relievers should be done by an experienced doctor after a thorough examination and diagnosis.
What is the chance of spinal problems if I don't play sports?
Unfortunately, problems with the spine eventually show up in most people. To avoid serious complications, it is necessary to exercise regularly, as well as take prophylactic chondroprotectors and multivitamins.