Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine-one of the first signs that may indicate the development of the disease. At first they act paroxysmically, and then they are permanent, accompanied by a sharp deterioration in well-being, stiffness of movement and fainting. It is important to understand that without proper therapy, the disease can progress and cause dangerous consequences.

Osteochondrosis - definition and mechanism of development

Osteochondrosis- chronic progressive spinal disease. During the examination, there is a gradual destruction of cartilage and deformation of bone segments. The cervical spine consists of six vertebrae - bone segments connected by ligaments. For shock absorption during movement, rotation, and head tilt, intervertebral cartilage is located between adjacent vertebrae. The 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 cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs loses its elasticity. Its main reason is the insufficient supply of food and nutrients to the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs. This process can be associated with age-related changes, insufficient blood supply to the cartilage, as well as the consequences of injuries and inflammatory diseases of the joints. The intervertebral discs become thin and insufficiently elastic so they cannot be absorbed in motion. This leads to a decrease in neck mobility, painful sensations, compression of nerves and blood vessels that pass through this area. The process is progressing because the cervical spine is the fastest moving and has a weak muscular corset.

Causes of headache in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis- a common disease among both older and younger people. It is accompanied by limited mobility of the neck in all or in a certain direction, impaired hearing or vision, as well as acute headache. These symptoms appear in the initial phase of the disease and only progress over time.

Headache in cervical osteochondrosis is associated with a number of pathological changes:

• reduction of the lumen between adjacent vertebrae of the cervical spine;
• compression of nerves and blood vessels that go to the brain;
• insufficient blood supply to brain cells;
• deformation of bone tissue, formation of growths, joining of vertebrae - the mechanism of adaptation of the body against abrasion of bones during movement.

Headaches with osteochondrosis can occur only with damage to the cervical spine. In this area pass arteries and nerves that bring blood to the brain and participate in its innervation. Defeat of the thoracic and lumbar part does not lead to headaches. However, the disease is most often diagnosed in this area, because it is the most mobile, and the corset for muscle support is poorly developed. Poor posture, prolonged sitting, lack of physical activity or, conversely, too intense loads without sufficient warm-up contribute to the rapid development of osteochondrosis at any age.

The nature of the pain caused by osteochondrosis

Headache with osteochondrosis is a symptom by which the disease can be recognized even if there is no damage to the neck. However, it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis based on examination alone. There are several possibilities for headaches with osteochondrosis, depending on the cause of their occurrence:

• when squeezing the vertebral artery - the pain resembles a migraine, often extending to only half of the head;
• when squeezing the roots of the spinal nerves - pulsating, acute, increases during the turn and tilt of the head;
• chronic headaches - associated with ischemia, lack of oxygen and nutrients in certain parts of the brain.

In addition to osteochondrosis, the headache is often accompanied by additional symptoms. The main ones are neck stiffness, muscle cramps and discomfort. In addition, the patient may feel numbness of the hands and tingling on the skin of the palms. With an insufficient blood supply to the brain, hearing and vision deteriorate, and there are difficulties with coordination of movements. Also, there is an increased sensitivity to strong light and loud sounds, tactile stimuli. These signs disappear after the blood circulation is restored.

Diagnostic methods

Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are a symptom that makes it 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. A set of examinations is prescribed for this, which includes:

• 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 a simple way to obtain an accurate picture of all disorders that occur in this area (thinning and reduced elasticity of the interarticular cartilage, healing of the articular surfaces of the bones;
• Doppler ultrasound of the veins of 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 suffer from ischemia.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis headache

Treatment of headache in cervical osteochondrosis is symptomatic. Seizures can be treated at home, but will still manifest. It is important to understand that osteochondrosis is a chronic, progressive disease and it is impossible to completely restore the structure of the affected spine. The goal of therapy is to slow down the further destruction of the spine, restore normal blood supply and innervation, and get rid of pain and other unpleasant symptoms.

Drug treatment

Most patients are prescribed a comprehensive treatment regimen for osteochondrosis. Painkillers can be taken at home, but the headache will recur. It is important to find an effective set of medications that will affect not only 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 headache medications for cervical osteochondrosis:

• non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs - relieve pain and relieve inflammation in the joints (ibuprofen);
• muscle relaxants - a group of drugs that relieve muscle cramps, thus improving blood circulation in the spinal artery (tolperisone hydrochloride);
• vasodilators - necessary for high blood pressure, as well as to eliminate vascular spasm (magnesium sulfate);
• nootropics are an additional category of drugs selected to improve blood circulation in brain cells.

If osteochondrosis hurts the head and neck, medications can be prescribed both in the form of tablets or injections and in the form of ointments. Gels with a heating and anti-inflammatory component are useful for improving blood circulation and cartilage nutrition. They stimulate blood circulation and regeneration processes, therefore they maintain the condition of the spine during the period of worsening of the disease.

Additional techniques

Treatment of headache in osteochondrosis includes numerous techniques that strengthen the cervical spine, prevent compression of important nerves and arteries. These are special exercises for forming a muscular corset, as well as physical and other methods of influencing the affected area. They are prescribed in combination with drug therapy and are carried out over several sessions.

1. Physiotherapy exercises - simple exercises to strengthen muscles and ligaments, increase their elasticity. The warm-up consists of turns and bends, circular movements of the head. Next, you should alternately place your palm on your forehead, temple and nape. 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 at least 20-30 minutes a day.
2. Massage is an effective technique that will help relieve severe headaches with osteochondrosis as well as prevent disease progression. At home, you can do a self-massage in which the muscles of the back and side surfaces of the neck are involved, as well as the trapezius muscles. It is useful to attend therapeutic massages that are performed during 5-10 procedures. The course is repeated every 4-5 months.
3. Physiotherapy is a set of techniques that a doctor may prescribe to improve well-being in patients with cervical spine osteochondrosis. These can be magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, paraffin application and other methods of exposure. Under external influence, blood flows faster to the damaged area, the nutrition of damaged intervertebral discs and their oxygenation improves. In addition, recovery processes are activated at the cellular level, due to which the disease does not develop further.

Regular exercise, attending massage and physical therapy will help get rid of severe headaches with osteochondrosis. The main condition is to complete the entire course of procedures. They are performed at intervals of several days to a week, and up to 10 sessions may be required to achieve maximum effect. During the treatment, ease of movement, absence of headache and other symptoms, improvement of concentration and performance are noticed. However, it is important to remember that osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, so the procedure is repeated every 4-6 months.

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis

Surgery is prescribed only in cases where conservative treatment is ineffective. This occurs in advanced cases, if the patient has a fusion of adjacent vertebrae or the formation of osteophytes - bone growths on the articular surfaces of the bones. These changes lead to constant headaches, stiff neck, chronic ischemia of some 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;
• connecting adjacent vertebrae to reduce compression of nerves and blood vessels;
• replacement of the damaged segment with an implant.

The decision on surgical intervention is made individually. It should be understood that this is a complex operation that will require a long recovery period. It is not performed in the early stages, because there is no danger to the patient's health.

Prevention methods

The symptoms and treatment of headache in cervical osteochondrosis are related to the mechanism of development of this disease. Injuries are one of its causes, but the pathological process can also manifest in a healthy person. Doctors recommend from an early age the inculcation of the right habits that will help maintain the health of the cervical spine and prevent the development of dangerous diseases:

• proper posture both while walking and while working behind the monitor is the main condition for a uniform load on the spine;
• moderate physical activity - even a healthy person can benefit from daily simple exercises to strengthen and increase the elasticity of the muscles and ligaments of the neck;
• a properly chosen mattress and pillow will help avoid nerve constriction and ischemia of brain cells during sleep;
• avoiding burdens in everyday life - don’t try to carry weights in uncomfortable bags;
• for those engaged in inactive work - regular breaks for a little warm-up;
• in the cold season - wearing a scarf.