Headache with cervical osteochondrosis: symptoms, treatment in Moscow

Headache accompanies many pathologies; when this symptom appears, many people postpone visiting a specialist and begin to take medications on their own. However, headache attacks may indicate the development of cervical osteochondrosis; in the absence of timely treatment, irreversible changes occur and complications develop.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at the Yusupov Hospital is carried out by neurologists, therapists, physiotherapists, and exercise therapy instructors. If a patient develops a headache due to cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment depend on many conditions that are identified during diagnosis and taken into account by the attending physician.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The severity of symptoms in cervical osteochondrosis depends on the location of the lesion and the stage of degenerative changes. Cephalic osteochondrosis is most often accompanied by impaired sensitivity in the back of the head, neck, and shoulder girdle.

Damage to the intervertebral discs is primarily accompanied by paroxysmal pain (cephalgia), which radiates to the back of the head, arms and shoulder. The cause of headaches is compression of nerve endings. In addition, psycho-emotional fatigue in osteochondrosis can contribute to the development of this symptom.

Headaches can be combined with other signs of cervical osteochondrosis: limited mobility, dizziness, numbness of the affected areas or loss of sensation, increased sensitivity to light and sounds.

Increased headaches with osteochondrosis can occur under the influence of the following factors:

injuries, blows;
sudden turns of the head;
keeping the body in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
massages performed with improper technique;
eating salty and spicy foods;
overweight.

Headaches are a serious reason to consult a specialist. Comprehensive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in the neurology clinic of the Yusupov Hospital can improve the patient’s condition, restore mobility and prevent the development of complications.

Why does osteochondrosis cause a headache?

The cause of headaches with cervical osteochondrosis is deformation of the intervertebral discs, as a result of which disturbances develop in the structure of the spine, which in turn entails compression of nerve endings and blood vessels. There are four main conditions that cause headaches with osteochondrosis:

compression of the spinal nerves (cervical migraine). Pain sensations appear in the neck area, and then move to the right or left side of the head, depending on the location of the compressed nerve. Such pain, as a rule, lasts no more than 12 hours;
vertebral artery syndrome. Osteochondrosis of the head in this case is characterized by a prolonged burning and often throbbing headache. Its focus is in the occipital part of the head. Over time, pain can move to the temporal and parietal areas of the head. Vertebral artery syndrome is caused by herniations and protrusions of intervertebral discs, as well as displacement of the vertebrae. In this case, analgesics do not help much; the patient’s pain can only be relieved by a course of adequate treatment. At the Yusupov Hospital, doctors quickly conduct an examination, accurately diagnose and prescribe an effective treatment program. There is no need to endure headaches and use analgesics every day. A timely visit to a doctor will allow you to get rid of headaches in the near future and return to a full life. Against the background of vertebral artery syndrome, patients may also experience other symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, including “sparks” before the eyes, dizziness and darkening in the eyes caused by poor circulation;
pinched nerve in the occipital region of the head. In this case, the pain is similar to the pain during vertebral artery syndrome. As a rule, they gradually move from the occipital part of the head to the parietal part, while covering the anterior sections. The patient experiences a feeling of pressure on the eyes. The cause of pinched nerve branches is displacement of the vertebrae, bone growths that occur with osteochondrosis, as well as thinning of the intervertebral discs;
hypertensive syndrome. When it develops, patients experience bursting, pressing pain, which intensifies when turning the head, and sometimes when turning the eyes. Painful sensations are short-term in nature and last, as a rule, no more than two to three hours. The cause of hypertensive syndrome is increased intracranial pressure caused by compression of the vessels passing through the narrowed canals of the vertebrae affected by osteochondrosis.

Factors that provoke increased headaches with osteochondrosis are:

overweight;
spinal injuries;
sedentary work;
sharp turns of the neck;
sleeping in an awkward position;
unprofessional neck massage;
a diet that leads to metabolic disorders.

Treatment of headaches with cervical osteochondrosis: drugs

In the Yusupov Hospital, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with pain, an integrated approach is used, including medication, physical therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures. To relieve symptoms of the disease, patients are prescribed effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have the following effect:

relieving pain and inflammation;
relieving muscle tension;
improvement of cerebral circulation;
improvement of metabolism.

If the dosage and regimen are not followed, NSAIDs can cause the opposite effect, so the use of medications without a prescription from a neurologist is unacceptable.

The Neurology Clinic of the Yusupov Hospital provides effective treatment for headaches due to cervical osteochondrosis; medications for each patient are selected individually, taking into account existing contraindications.

Prevention

To improve the quality of life and spinal function, it is recommended to adjust your lifestyle and habits and follow simple rules:

when working in an office for a long time and sitting at a computer, the monitor (tablet, smartphone) should be slightly below eye level;
It is necessary to warm up the neck every 30 minutes;
choose backpacks and bags with a cross-body strap for daily use to evenly distribute the load on the spine and avoid prolonged tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle;
After completing a course of treatment, usually consisting of several sessions, regularly attend osteopathy sessions - approximately once every six months.

Establishing osteochondrosis as the direct cause of headaches significantly improves the prognosis of treatment. And an osteopathic doctor can combat the main mechanisms of the development of the disease most effectively, preventing further progression of osteochondrosis and improving the patient’s condition after the first visits.

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Physiotherapeutic procedures for cervical osteochondrosis

Physiotherapeutic procedures for osteochondrosis are an important component of therapy. Thus, electrophoresis promotes rapid penetration of drugs to the site of inflammation. Improving metabolism and relieving inflammation occurs when the cervical region is exposed to ultrasound. Magnetic therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at relieving swelling.

Yusupov Hospital has a modern technical base. Therefore, when carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures, safe European equipment is used. Physiotherapists regularly improve their skills and actively use new technologies in the field of physiotherapy.

Osteochondrosis - definition and mechanism of development

Osteochondrosis is a chronic progressive disease of the spine. During the examination, gradual destruction of cartilage and deformation of bone segments are observed. The cervical spine consists of six vertebrae - bone segments connected by ligaments. For shock absorption during movement, turns and tilts of the head, intervertebral cartilage is located between adjacent vertebrae. Special openings contain vertebral arteries and nerves that go to the brain, and protecting them from damage is one of the functions of the cervical spine.

With osteochondrosis, the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs loses its elasticity. Its main reason is insufficient supply of blood and nutrients to the cartilage tissues of the intervertebral discs. This process may be associated with age-related changes, insufficient blood supply to 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 absorb shock during movement. This leads to decreased neck mobility, painful sensations, and compression of the nerves and blood vessels that pass through this area. The process progresses because the cervical spine is the most mobile and has a weak muscle corset.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy exercises occupy a special place in the treatment program for cervical osteochondrosis. A set of effective techniques used by exercise therapy instructors at the Yusupov Hospital helps patients return to an active life. Physical therapy classes begin with patients diagnosed with spinal osteochondrosis during the recovery period. During classes, experienced instructors not only help patients perform exercises, but also monitor compliance with safety rules.

Treatment of osteochondrosis at the Yusupov Hospital is carried out using an individual program, which is regularly supplemented and adjusted taking into account the results of therapy. If you are worried about a headache due to cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which are interrelated, make an appointment with the doctors at the Yusupov Hospital.

Preventing headaches

Knowing how unpleasant a headache is from cervical osteochondrosis, not all patients understand what to do in order not to repeat this experience. The source of many diseases is an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, you can avoid relapse by following simple rules:

Level posture: Always keep your back straight and your head level to maintain the correct alignment of your spine.
Correct load on the spine: it should be uniform, so you cannot carry bags and other heavy objects on one shoulder for a long time. Moreover, it is not recommended to overestimate your capabilities when lifting weights.
Optimal weight: with obesity, the load on the spine increases, so the risk of pain due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine increases.
Balanced diet: the diet must contain calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, which strengthen the bones and soft tissues of the spinal column.
Warm-up the neck: mandatory when working at a computer for a long time and with a sedentary lifestyle - a little exercise should become a useful habit if you have diagnosed cervical osteochondrosis.
Sports: this is the best prevention of pain in cervical osteochondrosis, especially swimming. When choosing sports activities, you should consult your doctor.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a serious disease that, if left untreated, develops into complications that are even more unpleasant and dangerous than headaches. Therefore, you should take responsibility for your health, and at the first signs of worsening of the underlying disease, consult a doctor.

Warning: there are contraindications to massage of the cervical spine. Before following the recommendations, consult your doctor. In most cases, muscle pain in the cervical spine and associated headaches can be relieved or significantly reduced with a massage of the head, neck and cervical-collar area.

If desired, massage can be performed independently, without the help of a specialist. Self-massage uses only the strength of the arms (without the legs and body), which makes the effects less strong and sharply reduces the risk of injury. Massage movements should relax the muscles, so they are carried out smoothly and slowly. Provide a comfortable position for your head and neck. It is most convenient to carry out a massage when the head lies with the back of the head on a pillow or leans against the wall along with the back. At the same time, the muscles relax, which allows you to work with deeper layers of tissue. The sequence of massage movements is not a dogma. The author is guided by the great convenience of increasing strength and range of motion during a massage session. Therefore, you need to start with weaker and thinner muscles.

Introductory part of the massage: facial and masticatory muscles

Classic techniques: stroking and rubbing, can be omitted. Start with light kneading movements of the frontal area. The palmar surface of the terminal phalanges of the fingers, usually the index, middle and ring fingers, should fit tightly to the head. The thumbs are used for support - they form an axis around which rotation occurs. To imagine the tempo and amplitude, I recommend imitating the movements of your hand when brushing your teeth, but doing them twice as slow.

So you need to work the frontal areas from the inside out. Passes (3-7 in number) are performed lower and lower, slightly overlapping the previous one. Shifting the fingers in small “steps”: “step”-shift-“step”-shift...

Then, massage movements are performed on the temporal muscles - painful points are often found at the place of their attachment to the bones of the skull at the top. To get an idea of their size, place your hands on your temples and make chewing movements. The temporal masseter muscles are much larger than they appear. If there is a painful area at hand, you need to slow down and massage it for a longer time. Massage passages from front to back, top to bottom. When massaging the skin of the forehead and temple areas, try not to stretch it - this may provoke the appearance of wrinkles in the future.

Let's take our minds off the pain. Scalp massage

Next, you can pay a little attention to the scalp. There is no muscle underneath most of this area. In the middle, between the frontal and occipital belly of the supracranial muscle, there is a plate of fibrous tissue - the tendon helmet. However, the scalp is rich in nerve endings, and impacts on it have an impact on neighboring tissues. At the same time, the area of contact between the fingers and the skin should be minimal (fingers “between the hairs”), sliding is not allowed; to change the area being massaged, the fingers must be lifted and moved.

Kneading can be done intensively, simultaneously with all five fingers of each hand.

From head to neck. Massage the area where the neck muscles attach to the occipital region

The most critical area is the place of attachment of the muscles of the cervical spine and shoulder girdle to the occipital bone. This is where painful areas are most common.

Kneading of this zone is also carried out from the inside out, slowly and smoothly, searching for “problem” areas and influencing them. Despite the fact that near the border of the muscles there is a point of the vertebral artery, which bends and goes anteriorly into the cranial cavity through the foramen magnum, it is quite difficult to injure it during massage.

Slow stretching movements are very convenient, when the eminence of the thumb rests on the lateral surfaces of the neck and fingers II-V, connected together, move outward from the midline. The rate is about 1 cm/sec. If there is a painful compacted area under your fingers, pay attention to it - knead it slowly and persistently until it becomes indistinguishable from nearby tissues.

"Heavy artillery". Massage of the upper trapezius muscle

The same approach when massaging the neck muscles: - the upper portion of the trapezius muscle is the most superficial layer. The muscle itself is similar to a rhombus, the corners of which are located in the outer part of the scapula on both sides, at the top of the neck, along the nuchal line. The lower corner of the “diamond” is attached to the last thoracic vertebrae. The tendons of the muscle are connected to the spinous processes of the vertebrae throughout the cervical and thoracic regions. Tension of the upper trapezius muscle is often found in patients complaining of headaches, neck pain, as well as in people without complaints who remain in a static position for a long time (hairdressers, dentists, drivers, office workers).

For most people, it is possible to stretch the muscle separately along the entire length of the neck, as well as the shoulder girdle, by grasping it between the 1st and 2nd-4th fingers of the hand.

Slow deep movements of the II-IV fingers tightly pressed to the shoulder girdle from back to front are also effective. The range of movements may be minimal, even without displacement of the hands relative to the skin. Feel the massive trapezius muscle under your fingers and try to slowly stretch it. At the same time, you can slowly straighten your neck and throw your head back, spreading the lower corners of your shoulder blades and elbows to the sides.

The main source of troubles and its elimination. Massage of the splenius muscles and other long muscles of the neck

Typically, the main source of pain in the cervical spine is tension in the deep long muscles. First of all, the splenius capitis muscle. It starts from the spinous processes of the Th3-5 vertebrae and goes outward to the lateral part of the superior nuchal line and along the posterior edge of the mastoid process. Covered by the upper part of the trapezius muscle.

If the muscle is tense, it can be felt in the form of a cord running obliquely from bottom to top in the depths of the neck muscles.

You can more effectively stretch the muscle in a lying position, grasping it between fingers I and II on each side. In this case, the back of the head rests on the pillow, and the muscle, the main function of which is to hold the head straight, relaxes.

The muscle, due to compacted areas, may be heterogeneous to the touch. The movements should be slow, light and long to eliminate tension and pain.

The finishing touches. Massage of the short muscles of the neck.

After “dealing” with the splenius muscle, remain in a lying position and stretch the short muscles of the neck, which are located outside of the splenius muscle and under it. Even though they are located deep, be careful not to apply too much pressure. A massage technique is effective when smooth, rhythmic, amplitude movements of the elbow (“long lever arm”) are converted into short movements of the hand (“short lever arm”), and the area of the wrist joint acts as a fulcrum: gently press your fingers against the massaged area, and Move your elbow up and down like a dog scratching behind its ear, but unlike an animal, keep your fingers on your neck and move them slowly.

Diagnostics

If you experience severe neck pain, you should contact a neurologist or vertebrologist as soon as possible. By examining, palpating and performing certain neurological tests, the doctor will be able to detect changes in the spine and determine the causes of their occurrence. But for a more accurate diagnosis, as well as determining the extent of pathological changes, additional procedures will be required. These may include:

X-ray is the simplest method for diagnosing disorders in the condition of bone structures, allowing to diagnose compression fractures, spondylosis and detect indirect signs of other diseases;
CT is a more advanced diagnostic method than x-rays, which provides more detailed information about the condition of bone structures;
MRI is the best way to detect pathological changes in soft tissue structures, in particular intervertebral discs, allowing to detect protrusions from 1 mm, not to mention intervertebral hernias and more serious changes.

If disturbances in the functioning of organs are detected as a result of compression of the spinal roots, laboratory tests are required. Patients may be prescribed a general and biochemical blood test, a study of hormone levels, etc.