Osteochondrosis and inflammation of the lymph nodes are rare, but possible. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, under the collarbone or under the armpit indicate developing disorders of lymph and blood flow in the human body or are a sign of inflammation. In any case, an increase in the size of the lymph nodes requires attention from a specialist; instrumental and laboratory examination may be required.
The relationship between the lymphatic system and the lymphatic system
The lymph node is a kind of filter through which all substances entering the bloodstream pass.
Inflammation of a peripheral organ is a protective function of the lymphatic system, limiting the spread of infection throughout the body. One of the reasons for an enlarged node may be osteochondrosis.
Could there be an inflammatory process?
So, can lymph nodes enlarge with cervical osteochondrosis?
In the case of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs in the cervical spine, the roots of the nerves extending from the spinal cord are pinched, which contributes to the deterioration of the blood supply to nearby tissues and the development of an inflammatory process in them. The pathology is accompanied by accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation in the peripheral blood.
The lymphatic system forms an immune response: there is an increase in the production of protective cells that destroy foreign substances - lymphocytes. The process at the initial stage is characterized by a slight increase in lymph nodes.
With progressive pathology of bone tissue, symptoms may appear:
- severe inflammation of the lymph nodes, in which they are not only enlarged, but also painful;
- it becomes uncomfortable for a person to turn his head;
- slight increase in body temperature.
Enlarged lymph nodes during degenerative processes in the cervical spine occur in the neck area, under or above the collarbone. In rare cases, pathology can be observed in the armpit.
What changes are not observed?
Lymph nodes with cervical osteochondrosis do not change their structure , do not fuse with neighboring tissues and remain mobile, which is clearly felt upon palpation.
There is also no itching or redness of the skin in the area of inflammation.
What is osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that affects more and more people aged 25-35 years. The disease is most often accompanied by painful sensations and at stages 3-4 can lead to limited mobility of a person. Certain processes occur in the spine that lead to changes in cartilage tissue. Since the position of the vertebrae depends on the condition of the discs, when they become thinner, the functionality of the entire spinal column is impaired. Also, trauma to the neck, back and limbs can lead to the development of osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis usually develops gradually, but in some cases it can progress very quickly. Cervical osteochondrosis is the most dangerous type of disease, since it is in the neck that the nerve root is located, which comes from the spinal cord. Also, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is dangerous due to compression of the blood vessels supplying the brain. With timely treatment, a serious deterioration in the patient’s condition and the development of hypoxia are possible.
Lymphadenopathy in spinal disease
Lymphadenopathy is a medical term that refers to the enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. The diagnosis is preliminary and requires clarification of the etiology of the disease.
Inflammation in the lymph nodes, caused by a pathological process in organs and tissues, indicates the penetration of infection into the peripheral organs of the lymphatic system and the development of lymphadenitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lymphadenitis can be divided into groups:
- Signs of general intoxication of the body (in a pronounced form or to a slight degree) are fever, lethargy, fatigue, aching sensations in the muscles.
- The local clinical picture is enlargement and pain of the lymph node when pressing on it. A purulent process may develop in the node with the release of white or greenish liquid (pus) through the skin.
If you are suffering from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, monitor the condition of the lymph nodes - at the initial stage, lymphadenitis may be asymptomatic. The manifestation of signs of the disease requires mandatory consultation with a doctor.
What causes pain?
In some cases, even a significant enlargement of the lymph node is not accompanied by pain , which indicates the presence of a hidden source of inflammation. In this case, the lymphocytes manage to eliminate the infection, and the node returns to its original size.
The appearance of pain in the lymph node will indicate that the tissues of a peripheral organ have become inflamed.
Causes of enlarged cervical lymph nodes
This group of lymph nodes drains the area of the head, neck, upper chest, and proximal parts of the upper extremities. Accordingly, enlarged cervical nodes most often indicate the presence of thyroid diseases, inflammatory processes in the oropharynx, bacterial and viral infections. The symptom is pathognomonic for rubella, develops with measles, and can be detected with more rare infectious pathologies - psittacosis, Ebola and Marburg fever, mycoplasma infections.
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasia accounts for about 1.5% of all malignant neoplasms and in most cases is asymptomatic. The most typical variant is papillary cancer. Follicular tumors are quite common. With these space-occupying formations, there is always an enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, which indicates increased proliferation of malignant thyrocytes and metastasis of tumor cells. Typically, the lymph node remains soft and mobile for a long time, since the process does not affect the capsule and surrounding tissues.
Patients, as a rule, consult a doctor about an accidentally discovered nodule in the thyroid gland when it reaches 1 cm or more. As the tumor grows, other manifestations occur: cough, hoarseness, associated with compression of adjacent anatomical structures. Large tumors can compress the airways, causing shortness of breath and suffocation. When cancer spreads beyond the organ capsule, an expansion of the subcutaneous venous network and deformation of the contours of the neck occurs. In elderly patients, cachexia increases.
Cervical lymphadenopathy is one of the signs of thyroid lymphoma - an aggressive neoplasia characterized by intensive growth and involvement of neighboring organs in the pathological process. The disease often develops against the background of autoimmune thyroiditis. The tumor grows rapidly, occupying an entire lobe of the organ. Patients often themselves discover a node of woody density, which is combined with enlargement and hardening of the cervical lymph nodes on the affected side. Compression of surrounding tissues provokes dysphagia, paresis of the vocal cords, and displaces the esophagus and trachea.
Organic diseases of the thyroid gland
In other lesions of the endocrine gland, enlargement of the lymph nodes is caused by an increase in blood flow by 10-15 times, increased production and differentiation of normal lymphocytes in response to stimulation by foreign antigens. The size of the lymph nodes is more than 1 cm, they are elastic, not fused with the surrounding tissues, and are sometimes sensitive to palpation. The symptom is characteristic of acute inflammatory processes, but also occurs in benign neoplasms and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Cervical lymphadenopathy is caused by:
- Acute thyroiditis
. The disease begins suddenly with a sharp pain in the thyroid gland, which radiates to the lower jaw and ear. Lymph nodes enlarge on both sides, become very painful, and redness of the skin is noted. Purulent thyroiditis occurs with an increase in temperature to febrile levels and severe symptoms of intoxication. There may be complaints of a feeling of pressure and fullness in the neck, and increased symptoms when coughing. - Nodules and cysts.
According to statistics, various benign formations of the thyroid gland are detected in 10% of the population, but more often they are asymptomatic. Enlargement of lymph nodes in the cervical region occurs with inflammation or suppuration of cysts, hormonally active neoplasia. Lymph nodes are elastic, practically painless, the skin over them is not changed. A detailed clinical picture of thyroid damage is observed with overproduction of hormones - thyrotoxicosis.
Rubella and measles
Cervical lymphadenopathy involving the posterior cervical and occipital nodes is an important symptom of rubella. Lymph nodes are moderately enlarged in size, painless, and not fused to the surrounding skin. For children, the appearance of “bullet” lymph nodes is typical - multiple small formations in the neck. Simultaneously with lymphadenopathy, a rash occurs - pinpoint or papular rashes are localized on the extensor surfaces of the limbs, in the torso and head. The rash disappears after a few days, leaving no peeling or pigmentation.
Lymphadenitis with enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes develops in the catarrhal stage of measles. Lymphadenopathy is combined with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, hyperemia of the pharynx and puffiness of the face. In adults, the manifestations of the catarrhal period are less pronounced. A pathognomonic sign of measles is Belsky-Filatov-Koplik spots on the mucous membrane of the cheeks. After 4-5 days, the second wave of fever begins, which coincides with the appearance of a maculopapular rash. On the 1st day, the rash is located on the face and neck, by the end of the first day it spreads to the torso, and on the third day the rash spreads to the limbs.
Other infectious diseases
Cervical lymphadenopathy is detected in various infections occurring in the oral cavity and ENT organs. Symptoms may occur with systemic bacterial and protozoal lesions - anginal-bubonic form of tularemia, sleeping sickness, diphtheria. Enlargement of lymph nodes is associated with the primary penetration and proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, intensive proliferation and accumulation of specific clones of lymphocytes in the follicular and paracortical zones. With damage to the cervical lymphoid formations, the following occurs:
- Congenital listeriosis
. Infectious pathology develops during transplacental or intrapartum infection of the child and manifests itself in the first days after birth. Damage to the cervical nodes is combined with febrile body temperature, roseola or hemorrhagic rash, granulomas on the oral mucosa. The late form is accompanied by muscle tremors, convulsions, enlargement of the liver and spleen. - Syphilis
. After entering the body, Treponema pallidum multiplies in regional lymph nodes, causing them to enlarge. Cervical lymphadenopathy is often observed when the pathogen penetrates through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity or lips, where the primary affect is localized - chancroid. A month later, the chancre disappears on its own, then a polymorphic rash appears, which indicates the generalization of the infection and the development of secondary syphilis. - Brucellosis
. In the prodromal period, patients complain of myalgia, arthralgia, and headaches. Then a fever occurs, lasting from several days to 3 weeks and alternating with heavy sweats. At high temperatures, there is facial hyperemia, enlargement of the cervical and axillary lymph nodes, which can be painful on palpation. In the acute form, small fibrous formations appear along the tendons. - Inguinal lymphogranulomatosis
. Enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck and submandibular region is observed in the secondary period when the primary affect (ulcer) is localized in the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx. As the disease progresses, lymphoid formations turn into large-lumpy tumors and lose mobility. Subsequently, the nodes suppurate, fever and intoxication develop, and fistulas form. - Tonsillitis, pharyngitis
. The reaction of the cervical lymph nodes is detected in tonsillitis, which is due to increased antigenic stimulation of lymphoid formations. The symptom is accompanied by sore throat, redness of the throat and tonsils, and fever. You may notice yellowish dots or widespread plaque on the surface of the tonsils. Enlarged lymph nodes are also found in herpetic pharyngitis, which is characterized by a vesicular rash on the pharyngeal mucosa.
Severe cases of tonsillitis can be complicated by a retropharyngeal abscess, a purulent inflammation of the pharyngeal tissue. In addition to lymphadenopathy of the upper cervical and occipital lymph nodes, the patient is bothered by sharp pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and if the abscess is large, breathing disorders are possible. The general condition is disturbed, body temperature rises to 39-40° C. Enlarged lymph nodes, combined with damage to the jugular vein and septicemia, are pathognomonic for Lemierre's syndrome. In children, cervical lymphadenopathy often indicates adenoiditis.
Head and neck tumors
Lymph from the face and neck goes directly to the cervical lymph nodes, therefore, for various malignant tumors of this area, they are a typical site of metastasis. Lymph nodes are usually woody in density, tightly connected to the skin and surrounding tissue, and are not painful. Lymphadenopathy in certain types of tumors serves as the initial sign of the disease, when the primary tumor does not yet cause clinical symptoms. Enlarged lymph nodes are observed with such malignant neoplasias as:
- Neoplasms of the jaws.
The tumor may be characterized by exophytic growth with the formation of a protruding node with ulcerations. It may occur as a long-term non-healing ulcer with purulent discharge. Bone damage (osteosarcoma) is indicated by shooting pains, loosening and loss of teeth. The lymph nodes are enlarged on both sides, have a rocky density, and are fused to the skin and subcutaneous tissue. - Tongue cancer
. Although with neoplasia of this localization there is often an enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes, sometimes metastasis also occurs in the cervical group. Neoplasia of the tongue externally looks like a diffuse thickening of the organ with the formation of ulcers or local tissue growth. Pain syndrome appears early, eating disorders are pronounced, and weight loss progresses. - Neoplasms of ENT organs.
Cervical lymphadenopathy is a symptom of epithelial tumors of the nasopharynx, which also manifest as nosebleeds and difficulty breathing. The symptom is determined by esthesioneuroblastoma and is combined with anosmia, nasal congestion, and mucous discharge. Sometimes unilateral enlargement and hardening of the lymph nodes indicates ear neoplasia (basal cell carcinoma, epithelioma, sarcoma). - Eye tumors.
Enlarged nodes are observed at an advanced stage of conjunctival neoplasms, when malignant cells grow into the surrounding tissues and spread through the lymphogenous and hematogenous routes. Enlarged lymph nodes of the submandibular region and neck occur in ocular melanoma, an aggressive neoplasm of pigment cells that rapidly progresses with the development of distant metastases. - Timoma
. An increase in cervical lymphoid structures is detected in benign and malignant tumors of the thymus. Invasive growth of the tumor causes compression syndrome with intense chest pain, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. When peripheral nerves are compressed, Horner's syndrome, hoarseness, and dysphagia occur. About 30% of cases of the disease are accompanied by myasthenia gravis.
Systemic lesions of lymphoid tissue
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck can be the first sign of lymphogranulomatosis - malignant hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue with the formation of specific granulomas. The disease is characterized by the appearance of dense, painless nodes, which are arranged in the form of a chain. In the local form of the lesion, one group of lymph nodes enlarges; in the generalized form, total lymphadenopathy develops with damage to the internal organs. Cervical lymph nodes are affected in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, an autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.
Diagnostics
Only a doctor can determine the nature of pathological changes in the lymph node.
A consultation with a therapist is necessary, during which a specialist takes a history and visually examines the patient. You may also need to visit a neurologist, surgeon or vertebrologist.
Examination methods
The purpose of the diagnostic examination is to determine the root cause of the development of lymphadenitis.
Laboratory methods:
- general, biochemical blood test;
- general urine analysis;
- immunogram – determination of the state of the human immune system based on basic indicators.
The specialist may additionally prescribe an ultrasound examination of the affected lymph node.
Why is it dangerous?
Lack of treatment for lymphadenitis is dangerous for the development of complications:
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Periadenitis.
- Cellulitis is damage to soft tissues by pyogenic microorganisms as a result of the spread of the inflammatory process beyond the lymph node. If the complication is left untreated, there is a risk of death.
What to do?
If degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cervical spine have resulted in enlarged lymph nodes, you must consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Take the following steps before providing medical attention::
- control the cleanliness of the skin in the area of inflammation;
- Take a pain reliever or a fever reducer (if you have hyperthermia).
Treatment
Complex therapy prescribed by a doctor is aimed at eliminating the root cause of lymphadenitis - cervical osteochondrosis:
- patients taking chonroprotectors - drugs that stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue (Structum, Aflutop, Artra, Chondroxide ointment);
- anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesulide, Diclofenac;
- drugs to relieve muscle spasms and reduce reflex activity of the central nervous system - Mydocalm, Sirdalud.
To normalize the lymphatic system, the doctor may prescribe medications that improve blood circulation, UHF therapy, and electrophoresis.
In case of purulent lymphadenitis, treatment with antibiotics and surgery is indicated:
- opening of an abscess;
- removal of liquid;
- wound drainage.
Also, the treatment of lymphadenitis and osteochondrosis includes taking vitamin complexes to patients.
How to prevent it?
Prevention of lymphadenopathy is to prevent the appearance of foci of inflammation:
- compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- mandatory treatment of scratches and other skin injuries;
- avoiding hypothermia of the body.
To eliminate the impact of cervical osteochondrosis on the lymph nodes, consult a doctor and develop a set of gymnastic exercises for the spine , avoid sitting in one position for long periods of time, organize your workplace correctly and follow the principles of a balanced diet.
Along with inflammation of the lymph nodes, symptoms of SCH in men and women may also include other manifestations: pain of various localizations, nausea, numbness of the face, tongue and other parts of the body, swelling, burning sensation, pain or a lump in the throat.
In most cases, there is no direct connection between enlarged lymph nodes and cervical osteochondrosis. Most often, the cause of pathological processes in the lymphatic system is the penetration of infectious agents into the body.
However, a careless attitude and lack of treatment at the first signs of degenerative changes in the discs of the cervical spine can lead to the development of inflammation in the lymph nodes.
Treatment
Since enlarged lymph nodes indicate an inflammatory process in the tissues, the inflammation is first relieved, and then complex treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out. Doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nurofen, Remantadine. If osteochondrosis is accompanied by severe pain, then additional prednisolone may be prescribed. The dosage of the drug is calculated by the attending physician. Physiotherapy is also often used in treatment. The doctor may prescribe electrophoresis sessions with certain drugs. Physiotherapy will allow the active substances to penetrate deep into the tissue and act directly on the inflamed area.