My head is spinning: how to deal with cervical osteochondrosis

A feeling of numbness with osteochondrosis is a neurological symptom that indicates damage to the radicular nerve or its branches. This may be a consequence of radiculitis, radicular syndrome, protrusion, inflammatory edema, etc.

Numbness of the body with osteochondrosis occurs localized, in the area for which the affected nerve structure is responsible for innervation. For example, the C6 radicular nerve is responsible for the innervation of part of the upper limb; its branches are involved in the formation of the brachial nerve joint. Therefore, when the root is compressed between the C6-C7 vertebral bodies, paresthesia and sensory disturbances may occur at certain points of the arm. This could be the forearm, shoulder, their inner or outer side, the back of the hand, fingers, etc.

An experienced neurologist can localize the site of numbness and make a preliminary diagnosis with an exact indication of the affected intervertebral disc. Osteochondrosis and numbness of the limbs are not always directly related to each other. Sometimes numbness can be the result of a complication of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. When the intervertebral discs between the second, third and fourth vertebrae are damaged, posterior vertebral artery syndrome may develop. This is a dangerous disease in which hemodynamics in cerebral structures are disrupted. Against the background of vertebral artery syndrome, an ischemic stroke can develop, which will be the direct cause of numbness and weakness in the upper and lower limbs on one side of the body.

Spinal stenosis is also a potential danger. This is the same complication of osteochondrosis. Due to the protrusion of the affected intervertebral disc, it partially protrudes into the cavity of the spinal canal. It narrows and becomes less passable. Compression of the spinal cord gives a pronounced neurological clinical picture. It manifests itself in the form of numbness, muscle weakness, disruption of the process of innervation and blood supply.

If you experience numbness in the upper and lower extremities, head, face, tongue or other parts of the body, you should consult a neurologist as soon as possible. In Moscow, you can make a free appointment with this specialist at our manual therapy clinic. Here you will be given a preliminary diagnosis and given individual recommendations for examination and treatment.

Numbness of the arms and legs due to osteochondrosis

The process of disruption of the innervation of the upper and lower extremities can occur when:

• osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine;
• cauda equina syndrome;
• back and neck injury;
• protrusion of intervertebral discs;
• intervertebral disc herniation;
• spondyloarthrosis of uncovertebral, facet and facet vertebral joints;
• poor posture and curvature of the spinal column;
• hematomas, inflammatory edema, etc.

Sudden numbness in the arms and legs due to osteochondrosis is a reason to urgently seek medical help. This condition signals that the innervation process is disrupted. This means that the soft tissues of the upper or lower limb do not receive blood supply, and atrophic processes begin in them. With prolonged compression of the nerve fiber, it will be very difficult to restore its functionality in the future.

A particular danger is numbness of the legs with osteochondrosis, since in this case a rather large nerve, the sciatic, is pinched. It can be affected both at the exit from the spinal column and in the tunnel located in the thickness of the piriformis muscle in the gluteal region.

Numbness of the lower extremities with lumbosacral osteochondrosis may be caused by damage to the L4 and L5 radicular nerves. They can be compressed as a result of protrusion of the intervertebral disc or prolapse of the nucleus pulposus through a crack in the annulus fibrosus. Also, numbness of both lower extremities with osteochondrosis may be a consequence of the development of cauda equina syndrome. This is a life-threatening condition that, without timely medical care, leads to paralysis of the lower extremities, intestines and bladder. The patient may remain disabled for the rest of his life.

A very common manifestation of diseases of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system is numbness . Treatment of this problem can sometimes be very difficult due to the many factors that cause it and the difficulty in treating the underlying pathology.

WHAT IS NUMBITY AND HOW DOES IT OCCUR?

The human brain must constantly receive information from the environment. This is accomplished through receptors, of which there are a large number. These receptors permeate all our tissues, including the skin of the upper and lower extremities. A person’s ability to sense various irritations through receptors is sensitivity, and numbness

- This is a sensory disorder. Receptors with the property of irritability convert this irritation into nerve impulses, which are sent along centripetal fibers to the brain for analysis, bypassing many structures along the way. And a violation in any of these structures leads to sensitivity disorder (numbness).

In medical classifications , numbness

refers to a type of sensitivity disorder such as paresthesia, which includes, in addition to numbness, some other unpleasant sensations. Such unpleasant sensations include: tingling, burning, crawling sensation.

The distal parts of the body, that is, the limbs, are most often affected by numbness. “I have numbness in my hand and fingers,” is such a common complaint, yet people so rarely seek medical help. More often, these symptoms occur at night, when a person wakes up from the fact that his entire hand, or only his fingertips, are numb. This can happen at any time and under any conditions, however, depending on a particular disease, the symptoms will still change. Let's look at some characteristic symptoms that relate to one or another disease.

SYMPTOMS OF NUMBENCY IN VARIOUS DISEASES

Numbness in spinal osteochondrosis and discogenic disorders

With osteochondrosis of the spine, damage to bone structures and intervertebral discs occurs due to degenerative-dystrophic processes. Protrusions and herniations of intervertebral discs will play a key role in impaired sensitivity (numbness). How does this process happen? A hernia or protrusion compresses the spinal roots, or the nerve itself, which exits the intervertebral foramen. As is known, the nerves contain sensory fibers from the corresponding dermatomes. From the dermatomes of the upper extremities - this is the cervical spine, from the lower extremities - the lumbar spine. Nerves compressed by spinal hernias lose their ability to conduct impulses and this is how numbness

. This type of sensitivity disorder is characterized by concomitant vertebrogenic pain syndromes, muscle weakness, stiffness and difficulty moving.

Numbness due to Raynaud's disease

Raynaud's disease is a numbness of the fingertips of both hands, which is often provoked by cold, and they first acquire a pale tint, and then turn blue and become red-purple. All these symptoms relate to Raynaud's disease, which is associated with impaired blood circulation and filling of the smallest vessels (arteries and arterioles) of the distal (end) parts of the fingers. This disease is 5 times more common in women. If the above symptoms of numbness occur, you should contact a neurologist and rheumatologist, who will rule out diseases of the cervical spine or a concomitant autoimmune process and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Numbness due to carpal tunnel syndrome

The following disease is characterized by numbness of the first three fingers of the hand - these are the first, index and middle fingers of the hand. There may also be tingling and soreness that can spread to the entire hand. The condition for the occurrence of numbness in this pathology can be monotonous work of the hands, for example, in a programmer, seamstress, and so on. The pathogenetic cause of this condition is compression of the median nerve in the canal, which is formed by the ligamentous and muscular apparatus. As a result of increased pressure in the wrist, compression of the venules and arterioles supplying the epineurium of the median nerve occurs. Subsequently, intraneural edema forms, myelin fibers are affected and the above symptoms occur (in particular, numbness

). This disease is 2 times more common in women and in obese people. To make a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is necessary to perform specific test symptoms and exclude radiculopathy of the cervical spine and brachial plexus diseases.

Numbness due to polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathies are characterized by numbness and impaired sensitivity of the distal (end) parts of both the upper and lower extremities. Symptoms such as tingling, itching, swelling, a feeling of “cotton wool” in the legs while walking, and lack of temperature sensations may also occur. Impaired temperature sensations in patients are manifested in the identification of burns on the hands, unsteadiness of gait in the dark, the presence of painless ulcers and peeling of the skin, especially on the dorsum of the lower limb. Major diseases that can lead to polyneuropathy and sensitivity disorders ( numbness

), these are: diabetes mellitus (thirst will also be observed), consequences of operations (laminectomies), drug intoxication, drug addiction, toxic effects of various substances in case of poisoning. Alcohol abuse can be identified as a special group. This is the so-called alcoholic polyneuropathy.

In all these conditions, the nerve sheath is affected, resulting in loss of sensation (numbness).

Numbness due to scalene syndrome

The name of the syndrome indicates the scalene muscle, which is where the pathology is formed. This muscle is attached to the first rib and lower cervical vertebrae, forming an opening through which the subclavian artery and the brachial plexus pass, innervating the upper limb. With cervical osteochondrosis, the scalene muscles are spasmed and cause compression of the subclavian artery and branches of the brachial plexus. As a result, blood flow and innervation of the upper limb decrease, and the hand suffers the most, because it is there that we feel this unpleasant symptom - numbness

. Treatment also occurs after a full examination.

Numbness in ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack

With ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, there is a disruption of blood circulation in the brain with damage to its structures. Numbness during an ischemic stroke is not difficult to suspect, since it will be characterized by damage to half of the body, for example, the right arm, right leg, or, on the contrary, symptoms such as paresis and paralysis in these or opposite limbs (movements in them are impaired). It all depends on the localization of the pathological process; there may also be visual impairment, speech impairment, memory loss, and so on. In these cases, you should immediately seek medical help for timely provision. The situation is different with a transient ischemic attack, in which symptoms tend to occur unnoticed with low intensity and pass over time. Numbness during a transient ischemic attack persists and the patient, without giving it much importance, usually seeks medical help less often, which can aggravate the condition and then, most likely, a transient ischemic attack will develop into an ischemic stroke, which already directly threatens the patient’s life.

Numbness in demyelinating diseases

Demyelinating diseases are, as a rule, hereditary diseases that affect the nervous tissue of the brain and spinal cord, or the nerve trunks themselves. With these types of diseases, symptoms can be very diverse: from local lesions with numbness of one finger or the whole hand, to mosaic lesions with numbness in various areas of the body. This lesion is characterized by persistent symptoms with possible increasing dynamics. As with other pathological conditions, consultation with specialists and a thorough examination are necessary.

CAUSES OF NUMENCE

Considering the symptoms described above, it is worth summarizing the conditions that can provoke its appearance:

• osteocondritis of the spine;
• pinching (compression) of the roots of the spinal nerves, trunk or branches of the corresponding nerves along the course of innervation;
• discogenic disorders;
• Raynaud's disease;
• carpal tunnel syndrome;
• demyelinating diseases;
• ischemic stroke;
• transient ischemic attacks (TIA);
• scalene muscle syndrome;
• polyneuropathy (diabetic, alcoholic);
• hypothermia;
• injuries;
• tumor lesions of both the brain and spinal cord, as well as structures adjacent to the trunk or branches of the nerves along the innervation to the site of numbness.

TYPES OF NUMENCE

Numbness of the limbs

The upper and lower extremities become numb quite often. This may indicate temporary compression of the nerve, or the presence of vascular or endocrine pathology (diabetes mellitus). It is important to seek help in time and find the cause of the disease.

Numbness of the hand

The hand also becomes numb quite often. The most common cause of this condition is compression of the nerves or blood vessels in the hand area, as well as the median nerve. The consequences of such a pathology can be quite serious.

Numb hand

The most common cause of this pathological condition is pinching of the neurovascular bundle by the muscles and connective tissue. The condition is very unpleasant, as the activity of the entire limb is partially impaired.

Numbness of fingers

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often involved in the occurrence of numbness in the fingers. Damage to the cervical spine may also be the cause. If the fingers of both hands are affected at the same time, we can talk about Raynaud's disease and other causes. Interestingly, at the end of the last century, numbness of the fingers was extremely rare, but now it is one of the fairly common symptoms.

Numbness of the leg

Quite often it occurs in young, working people and this type of numbness is often associated with professional activities. In addition to numbness, there is often a crawling sensation in the legs. Damage to the lumbar and sacral spine is one of the main causes of this symptom.

Numb toes

There are many reasons why the toes go numb: these include spinal diseases, diabetic polyneuropathy, alcohol abuse (alcoholic polyneuropathy), and vascular problems. The pathology is very unpleasant, especially for the female population.

PREVENTION

Prevention will consist of eliminating factors that lead to diseases accompanied by numbness. Loss of sensation ( numbness)

) is already a consequence of a pathological process that has arisen in the body. To avoid these diseases, it is necessary, first of all, to undergo courses of preventive examinations from specialists who will be able to identify diseases hidden about the symptoms of numbness in the early stages. In addition, eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle, control your sugar levels and numbness can be avoided.

DIAGNOSTICS

For any type of sensitivity disorder, consultation with a specialist and a thorough examination are necessary. It is quite difficult to determine the cause of numbness on your own without auxiliary methods, especially when this process is caused by a huge number of diseases.

To diagnose numbness, almost all known examination methods are used: survey, visual and manual examination, radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, myography, as well as laboratory tests (blood tests for inflammation, glucose levels). It is very important to conduct a full diagnosis of numbness; treatment should be appropriate.

Numbness of the head with cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis can cause numbness in the head only if a degenerative dystrophic disease develops in the tissues of the C3-C4 intervertebral discs. The radicular nerves extending here are responsible for the innervation of the ear, cheek, lips, and nose. They also form the facial nerve. The so-called paired cranial nerves emerge from the brain stem. Some of them form the solar plexus, the vagus nerve. Some give rise to the trigeminal nerve and roots responsible for innervation of the scalp.

When cranial nerves are pinched, numbness of the head with cervical osteochondrosis is always accompanied by severe pain, increased intracranial and blood pressure, headaches, decreased performance, etc. Such conditions require immediate assistance. With prolonged compression of paired cranial nerves, serious pathologies can develop that significantly worsen the patient’s quality of life. For example, if the intervertebral discs in the upper part of the cervical spine are damaged, trigeminal neuralgia may develop.

Numbness of the face with cervical osteochondrosis

Periodically occurring numbness of the face with cervical osteochondrosis is not necessarily associated with serious destructive processes in the area of ​​the intervertebral discs. Often, numbness of the face with cervical osteochondrosis is a consequence of inflammatory edema or excessive strain of the neck muscles during prolonged static load. A so-called tension headache occurs and numbness begins to be felt in certain parts of the face.

Any numbness with cervical osteochondrosis has distinctive features:

1. localization is usually unilateral and not symmetrical;
2. unpleasant sensations spread along the nerve;
3. may be accompanied by a feeling of tingling, coldness;
4. the color of the skin changes to pale and even bluish, which is a consequence of impaired blood circulation in the capillary bed;
5. have restrictions on distribution.

Periodically occurring numbness in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may accompany a mild stage of destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. A constantly present feeling of numbness and coldness indicates that there is atrophy of the nerve fiber.

Preventing numbness in the hands

In order to prevent discomfort in the upper extremities, it is recommended:

• exercise regularly (discuss the type and nature of exercise with your doctor in advance);
• maintain the health of blood vessels, joints and the body as a whole (give up bad habits, eat rationally);
• dress according to the season, keep your hands warm;
• take breaks every 40 minutes if your profession involves working on a PC or performing monotonous hand movements.

Numbness of the tongue with cervical osteochondrosis

Numbness of the tongue due to osteochondrosis is a fairly rare symptom. It may appear when the C5 radicular nerve is compressed. It is responsible for the innervation of the root of the tongue, vocal cords and cleft, and larynx.

With cervical osteochondrosis, numbness of the tongue may be accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:

1. hoarseness, hoarseness;
2. sore throat, feeling of dryness and soreness;
3. paroxysmal dry cough of a non-productive nature (without sputum discharge);
4. pain around the neck.

When examining the pharynx, no pathological changes can be detected. With prolonged compression of the nerve fiber, atrophy of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and throat develops, and secondary forms of pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsillitis begin to appear. There is a risk of losing your voice.

Numbness of hands and fingers

Numbness of the hands due to osteochondrosis is a very common clinical symptom. The root nerves C6, C7 and T1 are formed by their branches at the brachial nerve joint. It is responsible for the performance and sensitivity of the shoulder and shoulder joint, forearm, elbow joint, hand, fingers, wrist joint, etc. If the integrity of the radicular nerve is violated at the level of exit through the foraminal foramen in the vertebra, the numbness effect spreads throughout the entire limb.

Isolated numbness of the fingers with osteochondrosis is relatively rare. Most often, this symptom is a manifestation of a completely different disease. Most often, numbness of the fingers due to osteochondrosis is accompanied by areas of sensory impairment located throughout the upper limb. Along the branch that is ultimately responsible for the innervation of certain fingers of the hand.

If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops, then numbness of the hands does not appear immediately, but some time after the onset of exacerbation. The frequency with which cervical osteochondrosis and numbness of the hands occur is 2-3 times a year. As the degenerative process progresses, periods of exacerbations become longer and more frequent.

Mild numbness of the fingers with cervical osteochondrosis can be easily diagnosed and classified. For example, if numbness of the fingers due to cervical osteochondrosis affects only the index, middle and part of the ring finger, then there is a high probability of damage to the median nerve, which originates from the C6 root. If numbness is localized in the area of ​​the little finger and affects the lateral surface of the ring finger, then the ulnar nerve, which originates from the C7 root, is most likely damaged.

Thus, based on numbness of the fingers due to cervical osteochondrosis, an experienced neurologist will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis and clarify the location of the degenerative intervertebral disc. This will significantly simplify laboratory diagnostics and allow effective treatment to begin as early as possible.

How to treat numbness with osteochondrosis

Before treating numbness due to osteochondrosis, it is necessary to conduct a series of diagnostic tests. It is important to exclude diseases such as cubital, carpal tunnel, and carpal syndromes. It is important to promptly diagnose plexitis, a dangerous neurological disease in which the patient can become disabled. An experienced doctor also excludes the possibility of developing spinal canal stenosis and acute cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

For diagnosis, an X-ray image of the part of the spine in which the doctor suspects the presence of degenerative dystrophic changes in the area of ​​the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc is used. At an early stage, an x-ray may only show a decrease in the joint space in the intervertebral joints. At the second stage, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs and an increase in the area they occupy are visible. A disc herniation can be seen during an MRI examination.

Diagnosis of the causes of hand numbness. How to identify?

At the appointment, the doctor examines and palpates the patient’s limb and asks the following questions:

• Where exactly is the numbness felt?
• When did the unpleasant tingling sensation and decreased sensitivity first appear?
• How long does numbness in a limb bother you?
• What actions and movements aggravate symptoms?
• Are there any other complaints, such as burning, itching, tingling, pain?
• How do your arms, hands, and fingers feel—cold or warm?

The main task of the doctor is to determine the causes of hand numbness. It is necessary to exclude systematic mechanical compression of blood vessels, as well as to determine household and industrial factors that could cause disturbances.

Numbness may be a harmless symptom, but it may also hide serious problems - myocardial ischemia, stroke, spinal problems, diabetes mellitus, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc. In this case, the doctor issues a referral to doctors of relevant specializations (cardiologist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist, etc.).

The main emphasis in identifying the causes of numbness is on detecting signs of osteochondrosis. For this, the patient is referred for magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, computed tomography, and electromyography. The purpose of imaging studies for arm numbness is to determine the height of the intervertebral disc, detect osteophytes, and clarify the presence of protrusion or intervertebral herniation.

Treatment of numbness in osteochondrosis

Treatment of numbness in the arms, legs, head or body due to osteochondrosis cannot be carried out without treating the underlying disease. Since the cause of the development of the sensation of numbness is largely radicular compression syndrome, therapy should begin with traction traction of the spine. This procedure allows you to increase the intervertebral spaces using special equipment. This will create conditions for straightening the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and removing pressure from the radicular nerves. The patient experiences improvement after 2-3 sessions.

To treat numbness of the hands due to osteochondrosis, massage of the collar area is used. This procedure improves muscle condition and relieves excess pressure from the radicular nerves.

In addition, our manual therapy clinic uses the following techniques:

• therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy – increase muscle tone, restore diffuse nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs;
• reflexology allows you to start the process of regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue by using the hidden reserves of the human body;
• osteopathy and massage improve microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid, increase the elasticity of soft tissues;
• physiotherapy, laser treatment, electrical myostimulation allow you to get a positive effect from the treatment even faster.

If you need effective treatment for numbness due to osteochondrosis, you can sign up for a free consultation with a neurologist at our manual therapy clinic. Here you will be diagnosed and given safe treatment.

Osteochondrosis of the hand: causes of the disease

Osteochondrosis usually begins to manifest itself clearly after the age of 50 years. However, the dystrophic process could begin its development in youth. It is impossible to name one single reason for the development of osteochondrosis. There are a number of factors that can directly or indirectly provoke osteochondrosis:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• excessive physical activity;
• injuries to bones and joints;
• professional sports;
• overweight;
• metabolic disease;
• bad habits;
• heredity.

To prevent osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, it is necessary to visit a doctor on time. Do not leave any changes in the functioning of the body unattended. A healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition, and moderate physical activity contribute not only to the prevention of osteochondrosis, but also to improved well-being throughout the body.