Osteochondrosis, VSD. Should you worry so much about symptoms and diagnostic results?

Many of us are faced with the problem of neck pain and the inability to find adequate treatment for the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. Often the pain is accompanied by signs of VSD and panic attacks. Today it is customary to attribute all problems associated with VSD and cervical osteochondrosis to an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle, constantly spending time at the computer and on the phone. But what should we do if our whole life: work and a considerable part of our leisure time is connected with PCs and gadgets? Accept that we will have to take painkillers for the rest of our days, and that our pain, VSD and panic attacks are incurable? Or radically change your usual lifestyle? Modern neurologists are confident that such extreme measures are not at all necessary, and that modern medicine has found methods to combat VSD and panic attacks in cervical osteochondrosis.

So, if you are worried about neck pain and panic attacks with cervical osteochondrosis, then before choosing the appropriate treatment, you need to understand: why do neck pain and other symptoms attributed to cervical osteochondrosis occur, and why do panic attacks occur?

VSD and cervical osteochondrosis – what to treat?

Are you worried about neck pain? Against the background of constant pain, have you developed increased anxiety, weakness, tearfulness, insomnia and sensitivity to changes in atmospheric pressure? Or maybe you are already experiencing unexpected attacks of rapid heartbeat, numbness in the arms and legs, panic attacks and other symptoms of VSD and cervical osteochondrosis?

If you come to the doctor with such complaints, then most likely you will be diagnosed with “cervical osteochondrosis” and will be recommended to move more, do exercises, undergo a massage course, and if you have complaints of panic attacks with cervical osteochondrosis, you will definitely be prescribed medication.

In addition, if a person is bothered by the above symptoms, then along with and even instead of a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, the patient may be given VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), because the symptoms of the two diseases suspiciously coincide.

If you become the unfortunate owner of both diagnoses, then the number of pills you use will double. But will all these methods help get rid of constant pain and panic attacks with cervicothoracic osteochondrosis? Ultimately, many patients discover that they are “incurable.”

Therefore, before taking medications “for all diseases,” you should ask a number of logical questions: what comes first and what exactly needs to be treated – VSD and panic attacks, or cervical osteochondrosis? Why are the symptoms the same, but the treatment is different? How to distinguish VSD and cervical osteochondrosis? We will try to find answers to all these questions.

The main clinical forms of neurotic conditions (general neuroses):

Neurasthenia (so-called exhaustion neurosis)

It is characterized by a combination of increasing irritability and excitability with increased fatigue and rapid exhaustion.

Hysteria

A pathological form of a person’s reaction to a situation that is unbearable or unacceptable for some reason. Such patients are distinguished by particular suggestibility and self-hypnosis with a clear tendency to “flight into illness”; noticeable demonstrativeness (with wringing of hands, lamentations, etc.; theatrical behavior in search of sympathy and attention from others. The clinical picture of hysteria can imitate almost any somatic or neurological disease. However, it should be borne in mind that serious organic diseases can also be hidden under the mask of hysteria central nervous system (up to a brain tumor) Therefore, seeing a doctor if you have the above signs of the disease is a prerequisite.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive thoughts, memories, doubts, fears, actions and desires against a background of low mood with a feeling of inferiority and hopelessness.

Most often it develops against the background of neurological and somatic diseases.

VSD and panic attacks are disguised as cervical osteochondrosis.

VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia) is one of the most tricky diseases. VSD and accompanying panic attacks are often disguised as cardiovascular, mental and other health problems. Vegetative-vascular disorder is associated with disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nodes of the nervous system. These nodes (ganglia) are responsible for the normal functioning of almost all functions of our body: blood circulation, respiration, digestion, reproduction, excretion, metabolism and growth. Therefore, if there is a malfunction in their work, then a general malaise occurs, the variety of components of which ranges from headaches to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, from mild weakness to a state of loss of consciousness. With VSD and panic attacks, a person does not understand what exactly is hurting him, and numerous examinations do not reveal any pathologies.

In addition, vegetative nodes are located throughout the body, and if they are unhealthy, then a person immediately feels tension or pain in the very part of the body where the unhealthy node is located. That is, if the nerve node in the cervicothoracic region does not work correctly, then first of all this will affect the muscles of the neck. And the first thing the patient will think about is “cervical chondrosis.”

Therefore, if you have a sore neck or are already experiencing panic attacks due to cervical osteochondrosis, then the problem is precisely that VSD, panic attacks and other symptoms are disguised as the so-called “cervical osteochondrosis.” Surprisingly, even such a common component of VSD as panic attacks is beginning to be misinterpreted as a sign of problems with the spine.

Understanding how the autonomic nervous system works also explains why neck pain typically occurs long (perhaps several years) before panic attacks occur. And with the development of panic disorder, patients often complain that neck pain (“cervical chondrosis”) begins to bother them right before a panic attack!

Now it becomes clear why outdated methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis and panic attacks do not bring the long-awaited results, and people live for years with symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and panic attacks! It’s just that the treatment is aimed completely at the wrong area where it should be - at cervical osteochondrosis and the spine, and not at the VSD and the nervous system.

Types and types of panic attacks

Panic attacks are divided into the following types depending on the nature of their manifestation:

• Vegetative. They have pronounced symptoms - chills, trembling of the limbs, rapid heartbeat, heavy sweating, pain and dizziness in the head, etc.
• Phobic. Anxiety arises in a specific place or in a specific situation.
• Hyperventilation. This type is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath without physical exertion and painful sensations in the muscles.
• Conversion. The person loses his voice, and pain occurs in the left side of his chest. He may lose consciousness or be on the verge of it. At the same time, he is tormented by thoughts of death.
• Affective. The patient's mood changes, depression and inexplicable melancholy occur. Physically, you feel tired and exhausted.
• Senestopathic. “Goosebumps” are felt throughout the body, tingling and numbness occur in the limbs.
• Depersonalization-derealization. A person feels disconnected from reality and the world around him. Or it seems to him that everything around him is not happening for real.

Types of panic disorders depending on the situation:

1. Spontaneous. Anxiety arises “out of the blue”, without any obvious reason.
2. Situational. Panic is felt during a specific situation. This may be a premonition of a quarrel, conflict, before taking an exam, in the event of real dangers, threats to life and health.
3. Conditional-situational. Symptoms appear due to the influence of any “activators” on the body. This includes taking hormonal pills, drinking alcohol, using drugs, drinking strong tea or coffee.

The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is a myth.

Competent doctors know that the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is one of the most persistent myths in medicine. And those who are less knowledgeable blame a great many problems on osteochondrosis, including panic attacks and symptoms of VSD.

Scientists have long discovered that osteochondrosis is a natural process of aging of the body. Even teenagers have signs of osteochondrosis on x-rays!

We inherited osteochondrosis from our ancient ancestors homo erectus (homo erectus), this is a natural consequence of the evolution of our species and the acquired ability to walk upright.

In fact, osteochondrosis itself does not contribute to the development of VSD and panic attacks and does not give rise to any pronounced clinical complaints. Even neck pain is not a sign of osteochondrosis! Not to mention other symptoms that are attributed to the diagnosis of cervical chondrosis.

What causes panic attacks, neck pain, and other symptoms that are so often attributed to cervical osteochondrosis?

Causes

Psychologists believe that the causes of panic attacks are purely psychological phenomena. They rely only on a person’s mental state, forgetting that the psyche only reacts to negative changes in the body, and do not take physiology into account at all. In their opinion, anxiety occurs in the following cases:

• chronic stress;
• unstable psycho-emotional state due to moral trauma suffered in childhood;
• high sensitivity of the nervous system to external stimuli, which is why a person is in constant internal discomfort;
• the presence of intractable or very complex problems;
• excessive demands on oneself and one’s achievements;
• depression, which is associated with the loss of loved ones, work;
• mental illness.

There is a version that anxiety is a consequence of external causes that negatively affect the state of the body:

• genetic predisposition;
• poor serotonin production;
• frequent overwork and lack of sleep;
• excessive physical and mental stress;
• surgical interventions in the body;
• pregnancy period;
• drinking large amounts of alcohol;
• taking strong medications, including hormonal ones.

A person may feel panic attacks due to heart failure, various heart diseases, or after a stroke.

It has been proven that panic attacks occur due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. But there must be a reason for this, because oxygen deficiency does not occur on its own. Oxygen does not reach the brain due to poor circulation. The root cause is most often cervical osteochondrosis, in which the cervical vertebrae are displaced and compress the artery, not allowing blood to pass freely in the required quantity.

Cervical osteochondrosis is the main cause of panic attacks

Doctors can name many factors that provoke anxiety. But the most easily explained physiological reason is instability of the cervical spine. Dr. Shishonin says that it is present in 99.9% of cases when a person has panic attack syndrome.

The disease itself causes a number of unpleasant symptoms, including a feeling of panic. With this disease, the vertebra becomes compressed and displaces the artery. Blood flow is disrupted. And after a person lies down due to poor health, the neck relaxes, the vertebrae returns to its place, blood circulation becomes normal, and anxiety subsides. But many do not know how this mechanism works, and are tormented by the thought that something is wrong with them.

If a person does not treat his neck or do an examination, he cannot know for certain why he has such a problem. Over time, the brain “gets used to” the periodic lack of oxygen and is on “combat readiness.” This causes psychological problems in a person, which also need to be dealt with. Therefore, of course, when treating the syndrome, one should not discount psychological factors. But it should be remembered that they are only a reaction to what is happening, and not the root cause.

Neck pain and panic attacks - what is the reason?

Let's take a closer look at the reasons why not only panic attacks actually occur with cervical osteochondrosis, but also neck pain.

Firstly, as we found out, the root cause of the disease lies precisely in the disorder of the autonomic nervous system, that is, in the VSD. And cervical osteochondrosis has nothing to do with it.

What happens when the functioning of the autonomic nodes of the nervous system is disrupted? Symptoms such as pain and tension in the neck occur due to muscle hypertonicity, that is, due to persistent muscle spasm in this part of the body. And the cause of the spasm is the excessive production of the neurotransmitter hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are localized precisely in the autonomic nodes of our nervous system.

All other symptoms of cervical chondrosis and panic attacks (tachycardia, headache, numbness of the limbs, fatigue, insomnia, etc.) are standard signs of VSD and have the same causes. [More details: All symptoms and signs of VSD] The fact is that adrenaline and norepinephrine bring our entire body into a state of readiness to “start”. This state is adequate only in extreme situations. In other cases, it only depletes the reserves of our body and our psyche, which leads to nervous breakdowns and panic attacks.

Panic attacks when diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis are a very common complaint. This is the second “unbearable” symptom of osteochondrosis after back and neck pain. It also happens that a person does not pay attention to muscle pain for a long time and considers it an integral part of his life, and focuses on the disease only when he is overcome by an inexplicable animal fear, fear of death, a condition close to a heart attack - a panic attack. It was then that it turned out that the first sign of the development of a vegetative-vascular disorder was muscle pain, which amounted to “cervical chondrosis” and which led to panic attacks.

Vegetovascular dystonia is one of the most mysterious syndromes

Most doctors do not consider it a serious illness, but rather a collection of various painful manifestations. In fact, vegetative-vascular dystonia can destroy a person’s life, significantly reduce the quality of life and even lead to loss of ability to work.

Vegetovascular dystonia (VSD) is a functional disorder of the nervous system, characterized by a violation of the general condition and well-being, manifested by inorganic malfunctions in the functioning of various organs and systems. In many medical publications you can find other names for this disease, namely: autonomic dysfunction, neurocirculatory dystonia, cardiac neurosis , functional cardiopathy, panic attack, angioneurosis, vasomotor dystonia, etc. Nowadays, the term “autonomic dysfunction” (VD) or “vegetative-vascular dystonia” (VSD) is increasingly used.

Causes of VSD

Among the main causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia syndrome, doctors name factors of hereditary predisposition. For example, most often vegetative-vascular dystonia in children is detected precisely as a consequence of heredity. Increased nervousness and stress already in the first months of pregnancy can have a significant impact not only on the formation of the child’s personality, but also on the higher nervous activity of the brain. Facts show that the emotional instability of a child’s body provokes the development of VSD even in childhood. The teenage years are transitional not only in the process of turning a child into an adult, but also in a neurophysiological one. Conflict situations, emotional stress, chronic diseases, endocrine disorders, lack of movement and other factors are largely provocateurs for the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia in adolescents. In adulthood, hormonal changes in the body play a special role in triggering the mechanisms of VSD. This is why the female half of the world’s population suffers from VSD much more often than the male half. The prenatal period, pregnancy, menopause, all of this, being turning points in a woman’s life, can become the starting point for mobilizing the manifestation of symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia. Vegetative-vascular dystonia is especially unfavorable during pregnancy, when even minor deviations in a woman’s health necessarily affect the condition of the fetus. The same is true for the presence of excess weight, which can provoke manifestations of dystonia. An increase in body weight leads to the development of hypertension, which in turn is an additional burden on the cardiovascular system. The development of vegetative-vascular dystonia in this case affects people of completely different ages and genders.

Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Sometimes the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia are similar to the manifestation of several diseases at once. These are surges in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, palpitations and cardiac irregularities, fainting, a feeling of a heat wave, chills, icy hands and feet, increased sweating. A person becomes weather dependent. Patients complain of weakness, fatigue, lethargy, fluctuations in body temperature (can drop to 35 degrees and rise to more than 37). Often indigestion, pain in the abdomen, various pains throughout the body, especially at the time of a deep breath. There are also very specific symptoms: a person cannot ride the subway, stand in line for a long time, sit in a chair at the hairdresser, because he suddenly feels an attack of anxiety or cannot cope with impatience, causeless rage or a sudden feeling of heaviness in his hands and legs. However, the most unpleasant moment in all this is the appearance of a sudden panic attack with severe pain in the heart and under the shoulder blade, accompanied by a feeling of mortal horror.

It is clear that having such symptoms, a person seeks help from doctors. Starting from a therapist and ending with a psychiatrist. But finding the cause of illnesses is not so easy. Only after a thorough examination can doctors make a verdict: “Vegetative-vascular dystonia.” Namely, uncoordinated work of blood vessels at the moment of contraction and relaxation. Thus, there is a disruption in the supply of blood and oxygen to the internal organs, which causes a malfunction in their functioning. Therefore, with vegetative-vascular dystonia, there is no point in treating any one organ; an integrated approach to the entire body as a whole is required. And first of all, treatment will depend on the patient himself.

Current of VSD

In most cases, without provoking factors, the disease is latent (asymptomatic). However, under the influence of unfavorable conditions and overloads, crises often occur. A crisis surge in disease activity is more severe in older people, especially those who suffer from concomitant diseases. In many cases, a crisis is the result of long-accumulated components, and therefore it is not uncommon for a large number of symptoms to manifest simultaneously.

Diagnosis of vegetative-vascular dystonia is significantly difficult by definition. VSD is a complex of various manifestations of various natures. Therefore, it is simply impossible to strictly classify certain symptoms as inherent exclusively to vegetative-vascular dystonia. There are no special devices or special equipment in the arsenal of doctors that would most likely determine the presence of a disorder. Of course, classical methods of examining the most important organs and systems of the body are of great help to the diagnostician, but based only on these results, it is quite difficult to definitively determine the nature of certain symptoms. Often, a complex combination of certain factors, together with the results of multilateral tests, provide grounds for making a diagnosis.

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor must have on hand the results of various studies, the most important of which are: electrocardiography, echography, rheoencephalography, rheovasography, magnetic resonance imaging. Careful examinations and opinions of the following specialists are important: ENT, neurologist, endocrinologist, ophthalmologist and even a psychotherapist. Experience and history of observations of the health status of immediate relatives can also help in determining the causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Classic treatment of VSD

Most often, at the very beginning of the development of VSD, it is not necessary to use potent medications. It is enough to get by only with natural sedatives, such as hawthorn, St. John's wort and valerian. For psychostimulation, natural preparations based on the herbs of zamanika or schisandra are used. Physiotherapeutic measures in the case of vegetative-vascular dystonia are prescribed: exercise therapy, classical massage, acupuncture (reflexotherapy) and water procedures (swimming pool). Doctors also strongly recommend that patients with VSD leave the city as a preventive measure. Changing the stop has a very beneficial effect on both general well-being and neuro-emotional health. Communication with a psychologist can also have a beneficial effect on the emotional state of the patient.

In the drug treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia, the main attention is focused on eliminating concomitant diseases, viral or chronic in nature. It is also important to monitor the functioning of the body’s endocrine system, in particular the thyroid gland. If necessary, complex treatment is carried out with the use of hormonal drugs. In the crisis form of dystonia, drugs that regulate the activity of the heart, sedatives and vitamins (especially B vitamins) are prescribed. Among the stronger drugs, antidepressants, sedatives, drugs to improve blood circulation, etc. are prescribed.

Traditional methods of treating VSD

As soon as a diagnosis of “vegetative-vascular dystonia” is made, you can try time-tested recipes; herbal treatment will gently relieve the disturbing manifestations of the disease.

• Infusion prepared from Oregano herb: 15 g. dry crushed herb, pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour, take 2 tbsp. l. a quarter of an hour before meals 3-4 times a day.
• Zamanikha tincture is close in its healing properties to the famous ginseng. It stimulates the central nervous system in hypotonic type of vegetative-vascular dystonia. You can buy a ready-made one or prepare an alcohol tincture yourself: pour 1 glass of zamanikha with vodka and let it brew for at least 1 week. Take 2-3 times a day, 30-40 drops of the drug before meals.
• Valerian tea has a mild sedative effect, which increases the excitability of the cerebral cortex. Its use does not create side effects, so treatment with valerian tea can be carried out for a long time. It's easy to prepare. You need to pour 10-15 grams of boiling water (1 glass) overnight. crushed valerian roots. Then the vessel should be tightly closed. In the morning, decant the infusion and take 30 ml 3 times a day before meals.
• An infusion of motherwort herb has a similar effect. It can be prepared by pouring 15 g. motherwort herb with a glass of water. You need to drink half a glass of this herbal tea 30-60 minutes before meals 3-4 times a day.
• Another useful folk remedy is a mixture of freshly squeezed juices, wine and honey. Prepare 200 ml of carrot, beet, radish and lemon juices; take 200 ml of honey and red wine (preferably Cahors); squeeze the juice of 15 heads of garlic. Mix all ingredients. Take a tablespoon 30 minutes before meals 3 times a day. Continue the course of treatment until the last spoon

Prevention of VSD

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are hackneyed phrases, but in the case of vegetative-vascular dystonia, they acquire special significance. Even people with a hereditary predisposition to the disease have every chance of winning over the disease if they counter dystonia with good health and good, restful sleep. Most doctors agree that regular walking (or better yet, jogging) strengthens not only the heart muscle, but also the immune system. Frequent “communication with nature” has a beneficial effect on the body’s regenerative functions, accelerating them and restoring them

Cervical osteochondrosis, VSD and panic attacks. Treatment.

People with VSD and panic attacks due to cervicothoracic osteochondrosis often do not know where and how it is treated. Patients undergo courses of massage, acupuncture, psychotherapy, take courses of medications, etc. But at best, it only provides temporary relief from the symptoms of muscle tension and panic attacks. It is important to understand that with “cervical osteochondrosis”, VSD and panic attacks, the symptoms of pain in the neck and back are caused by persistent muscle spasm of the deep muscles of the neck, which the massage therapist’s hands cannot reach, and therefore no massage can solve the problem. And the root cause of pain and panic attacks with VSD and “cervical osteochondrosis” will not be eliminated.

Since the cause of muscle pain and panic attacks during VSD is actually not related to cervical osteochondrosis, treatment should be aimed at the nervous system. The impact of the treatment must be quite deep and powerful and at the same time very careful and precise. Among modern methods of traditional medicine, there is a unique technique that meets these requirements - laser treatment: intravenous laser therapy with red or blue lasers and infrared laser therapy of the skin projection of excited autonomic ganglia.

One of the few places that can offer such treatment and where they have been effectively helping to get rid of panic attacks, VSD and “cervical osteochondrosis” for more than 20 years is the Clinical Center for Autonomic Neurology. The clinic's doctors are qualified neurologists-vegetologists who specialize in the treatment of VSD and panic attacks. If you are diagnosed with “cervicothoracic osteochondrosis”, you can contact us, we will conduct a thorough diagnosis of the state of your autonomic nervous system, and treatment will be aimed specifically at eliminating the source of the disease, that is, returning the nervous system to harmonious functioning, which will relieve you of all symptoms cervical osteochondrosis, VSD and panic attacks.

Clinical picture

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. Their large number is due to the disorder of all basic vegetative functions - breathing, blood supply, sweating, urination, digestion, peristalsis. In most cases, symptoms of VSD occur with cervical osteochondrosis of grade 2, 3, when changes in the vertebrae and discs have become irreversible. Often, complications of the disease—protrusions, hernial protrusions, discogenic myelopathy—lead to functional disorders.

Cardiac symptoms

Most often, VSD is clinically manifested by tachycardia - an arrhythmia characterized by a heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute. There are sensations of interruptions in the functioning of the heart, its freezing, vascular pulsation not only in the back of the neck, but also in the legs and arms.

One of the leading symptoms of VSD is pain in the cardiac region. It can be acute, but more often it is dull, aching, pressing. Diadynamic functional disorders are also noted. Blood pressure increases or decreases, blood and lymph circulation is disrupted.

Pain in the heart area.

Respiratory system

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is characterized by respiratory symptoms that occur against the background of dysregulation of the respiratory system. Tachypnea (rapid breathing), sensations of lack of air, heaviness, congestion in the chest, and severe shortness of breath, which resembles an attack of bronchial asthma, are observed. A patient with cervical osteochondrosis has difficulty in fully inhaling and exhaling.

Nervous system

The psychoneurological symptoms of VSD are so pronounced that they often lead to panic attacks - sudden attacks of unmotivated fear, increased anxiety, and restlessness. In severe cases, patients are diagnosed with depression. Vegetative-vascular dystonia is manifested by lethargy, weakness, and rapid fatigue with minor exertion.

Patients become irritable, tearful, and mental and physical performance decreases against the background of psycho-emotional instability. Gradually, they develop weather dependence, often experience headaches, and experience a disorder in the change of phases of sleep - it becomes superficial and restless.

Panic attacks, irritability, tearfulness are symptoms of pathology.

Other symptoms

A disorder of the autonomic system makes undesirable adjustments to the functioning of almost all human life systems. Symptoms of VSD rarely appear in isolation. More often they are combined with each other, which significantly worsens the patient’s well-being and complicates diagnosis.

What to do when you have a panic attack

During an attack, it is not informative to measure blood pressure or heart rate, since during a panic attack they are far from normal. You should lie down and take a comfortable body position. Doctors recommend smiling despite fear. There is a connection between the facial muscles and the brain, so your health will soon improve.

It is recommended to use deep breathing techniques. You need to hold the air for a couple of seconds, and then exhale smoothly, slowly. You also need to squeeze the “anatomical snuff box” for one minute. This is the name of the hole that forms at the base of the thumb of the left hand when it is raised.

"Anatomical snuff box".