Vertebrogenic cervicalgia - treatment in Chelyabinsk

What causes vertebrogenic headache?

Vertebrogenic headache is of a neuralgic nature.
It appears due to false impulses arising in the nerve fibers of the cervical spine, or due to disruption of the cerebral blood supply due to pinching of the vertebral arteries by intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis occurs due to wear of the intervertebral discs, which is facilitated by excessive stress on the spine. They shift and become smaller in size (flatten), causing the nerve fibers along the spine to experience excessive pressure and also become more susceptible.

Displaced discs compress blood vessels, especially the vertebral arteries - the two largest vessels running along the spinal column, which are responsible for feeding the brain.

So, vertebrogenic headache occurs due to two main reasons:

• insufficient blood supply to the brain;
• pinched nerve roots.

The development of such conditions is facilitated by sedentary work, poor diet, lack of physical activity, exposure to tobacco smoke and chemical toxic substances, spinal injuries and poor environmental conditions.

Make an appointment

To register, choose any method:

• call the clinic +7 (495) 103-99-55,
• order a call back,
• leave a request for an appointment using a convenient form on the website:

Headache is a seemingly symptom that occurs periodically in all people.

IMPORTANT! However, vertebrogenic headache is a more serious symptom that indicates the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

In this case, the patient experiences many other unpleasant symptoms, ranging from a burning sensation in various parts of the head to tinnitus and darkening of the eyes. Vertebrogenic headache cannot be ignored - if treatment is not started in time, complications in the form of intensive development of osteochondrosis will not keep you waiting. Book a consultation with an experienced neurologist at our center to eliminate vertebrogenic headaches!

SIGN UP

Symptoms

The main manifestation of this disease is pain . Cervicalgia is accompanied by a lot of symptoms, but muscular-tonic syndrome is more often observed. In this case, the neck muscles become denser, and if you press on them, the pain intensifies.

Other symptoms include:

• The movement of the head is accompanied by a specific crunching sound.
• Throbbing headache, as well as dizziness.
• Restricted neck mobility.
• When you tilt your head back, fainting occurs.
• Partial loss of vision and hearing.
• The pain spreads to one of the arms and shoulder.
• The gait becomes unsteady.
• The upper limbs become weak.
• Tingling, as well as numbness of the face, hands and back of the head.
• Nausea, but no vomiting.
• When coughing or sneezing, the pain worsens.

Such symptoms are typical for any person, regardless of gender and age . In chronic cervicalgia, the symptoms are less pronounced, in contrast to the acute disease. In case of hypothermia or spinal injury, the pain is intense and severely hinders movement. When the disease occurs against the background of a concomitant disease, the pain is usually mild.

Video: “All causes of neck pain”

Symptoms of vertebrogenic headache

Symptoms of vertebrogenic headache depend on its cause.

If your head hurts due to a lack of oxygen in the brain, i.e. compression of blood vessels, the following complaints may appear:

• burning, pulsation in the occipital, parietal, temporal regions;
• pain “radiates” to the eye sockets;
• nausea leading to vomiting;
• noise in ears;
• darkening of the eyes.

IMPORTANT! These symptoms are combined into vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndrome, or cerebral blood supply disorder.

In some cases, a person notes insomnia, tearing and redness of the facial skin.

When the structures of the nervous tissue are compressed, the patient complains of:

• acute intense unilateral pain;
• less often - impaired swallowing and difficulty speaking.

IMPORTANT! If the pain is caused by a lack of blood supply, it will intensify with loud sounds and bright light, with compression of the nerve roots - during physical activity.

Symptoms appear more clearly if osteochondrosis is accompanied by hypertension or increased intracranial pressure.

Vertebrogenic cervicalgia

Often the occurrence of vertebrogenic cervicalgia is accompanied by other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, vertebral hernia, osteoporosis and some others. To make a final diagnosis, the patient must undergo a series of studies, including: magnetic resonance imaging, radiography and CT. If treatment of the disease is started in a timely manner, a positive result will not take long to appear and the chances of a speedy recovery increase. The chronic form of vertebrogenic cervicalgia is much more difficult to treat with medication, since the situation is complicated by systematic relapses.

Main causes of the disease

It should be noted that the negative impact on the human body of the above-mentioned spinal ailments is not always the cause of the appearance of cervical pain syndrome. Very often, the key factors for the development of the disease are excessive physical stress on the muscles and vertebrae located in the neck. In addition, pain can occur due to hypothermia, infectious infection or osteochondrosis.

Clinical picture

With vertebrogenic cervicalgia, the most “recognizable” symptom is considered to be severe pain of varying degrees of intensity. In this case, the nature of the sensation can be very diverse, starting from mild tingling and ending with prolonged spasms. Other common symptoms of the disease include the following:

• pain in the back of the head;
• presence of noise in the ears;
• feeling of numbness in the upper extremities, including the back of the head.

Diagnosis of the disease

The effectiveness of diagnostics directly depends on the competent performance of clinical tests. Information about the patient collected in the anamnesis is also important. Particular attention should be paid to the time of the first onset of pain. After a thorough examination and interview of the patient, you can move on to other diagnostic procedures: MRI, X-ray examination of the cervical region, CT and some others. Of the well-known methods of functional diagnostics, electroneuromyography is usually used.

Principles of disease treatment

In most cases, proven conservative methods of therapy are used as the main treatment for vertebrogenic cervicalgia. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain-blocking drugs are widely used. Also, if necessary, special medications are prescribed to relieve swelling - muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms.

There are a number of additional methods that help cope with the disease.
For example, a certain positive effect is achieved from the use of a special neck collar, as well as spinal traction procedures. Of the various preventive methods, doctors primarily give preference to the mandatory use of an orthopedic mattress and pillow, physiotherapeutic procedures and exercises from a course of therapeutic exercises. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Diagnosis of vertebrogenic headache

If you suspect a vertebrogenic headache, you can immediately contact a neurologist. You can also make an appointment with a therapist, who will write a referral to a specialist.

In addition to collecting anamnesis and examination, the doctor will need data from other studies.

1. X-ray of the cervical spine.
2. MRI of the cervical spine.
3. Angiography of cerebral vessels.
4. Dopplerography.

After a detailed diagnosis, a final diagnosis is made and treatment is selected.

Carrying out diagnostics

Doctors conduct a full examination of the patient to determine the real causes of cervicocranialgia, using the following techniques:

• Questioning the patient, identifying the nature of the course of the disease.
• X-ray of the cervical region in several projections.
• General biochemical blood test.
• Magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
• Electromyography (additional diagnostic procedures).

Only after all the examinations have been completed, the doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. Self-administration of medications is fraught with negative consequences due to possible intolerance to certain components.

Treatment of vertebrogenic headache

The main feature of treatment is an integrated approach. Therapeutic measures are aimed not only at alleviating the condition, but also at preventing recurrent attacks, as well as normalizing blood supply to the brain and the functioning of nerve cells.

To relieve symptoms, medications are prescribed that have pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects. Typically, muscle relaxants (drugs for muscle spasms), angioprotectors (drugs that strengthen and protect the walls of blood vessels), vasodilators, and B vitamins are used. In more complex cases, hormonal therapy is prescribed.

ATTENTION! In case of a pronounced pain symptom, novocaine blockade is required - the introduction of novocaine (an effective painkiller) into the muscle tissue.

In addition to drug therapy, manual therapy is necessarily prescribed, which plays a key role in the treatment of vertebrogenic headaches and osteochondrosis. It is often accompanied by a massage.

Mechanical effects on muscles, joints and cartilage contribute to:

• removal of toxins, waste products, decay products, excess salts from tissues;
• increased lymph flow;
• improving blood movement through the vessels;
• relieving muscle spasms;
• realignment of the spine.

To achieve a lasting, long-lasting result, you need to undergo a course of massage and manual therapy sessions.

Make an appointment

To register, choose any method:

• call the clinic +7 (495) 103-99-55,
• order a call back,
• leave a request for an appointment using a convenient form on the website:

SIGN UP

Treatment

Did you know that...

Next fact

Therapy is prescribed after a thorough examination. It should be noted that some drugs and physical procedures have strict contraindications. The prognosis for recovery is very favorable.

Drugs

To eliminate neck pain, a complex of several groups of drugs is prescribed. Painkillers with an anti-inflammatory effect : Celebrex, Xefocam, Ibuprofen. Medicines are used in the form of tablets, injections and ointments.

In the hospital, epidural blocks and botulinum toxin is injected into the muscles. If there is severe pain, they resort to novocaine blockades. Lidocaine is sometimes used. In case of acute pain syndrome, hormonal drugs (glucocorticosteroids) are sometimes prescribed, which have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.

To tone blood vessels and improve microcirculation, Sermion and Trental are prescribed. Treatment is not complete without muscle relaxants , which relieve muscle spasms and reduce pain.

In the presence of osteoporosis , agents are used that activate bone tissue regeneration - fluorides and anabolic steroids. Drugs that prevent bone destruction are also needed - Myocalcic, estrogens.

Sometimes there is a need to take antidepressants: Sertraline, Diazepam.

Physiotherapy

• Electrophoresis.
• Ultraviolet irradiation.
• Electroneurostimulation.
• Diodynamic currents.
• Balneotherapy.
• Electroacupuncture.

Surgical

Any surgery in the neck area is quite risky due to the increased concentration of blood vessels and nerves in this area.

Indications for surgical intervention are considered:

• Acute damage, when damage to internal organs is noted.
• Increasing paresis with the threat of necrosis of nerve endings. In this case, the pain syndrome decreases, but weakness increases

The decision to carry out an operation must be motivated and soberly balanced.

Exercise therapy and massage

For vertebrogenic pathology, therapeutic exercises are necessary, which contain a complex of movements with muscle tension. The purpose of exercise is to correct muscle dysregulation .

The special complex has a common core of physical exercises that restore the motor pattern. They also promote post-isometric relaxation, stretch muscles and activate self-mobilization of the spine.

The exercises of the complex are treated with certain movements that are aimed at correcting changes in certain muscle groups of the spine.

It should be noted that exercise therapy is usually used for prevention or during remission to prevent exacerbation.

Basic exercises:

1. Position sitting on a chair. The back is straight, arms are lowered. About 15 head tilts are done in different directions.
2. The starting position is the same. Tilt your head back and hold for a few seconds. The movement is repeated up to 10 times.
3. In a sitting position, raise your shoulders up as much as possible with a slight delay.
4. Slowly rotate your head with a gradual increase in amplitude.

Such exercises can be done at any time and in any conditions. They are especially recommended for people leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Self-massage is very useful for this disease. It helps reduce pain and relieve vascular spasm.

Method of performing movements:

• Lightly stroking the head from the crown to the back of the head.
• Stroking the lateral cervical regions with fingertips. Be sure to do it from top to bottom and on both sides at the same time.
• Lightly massage the shoulders with your palms.
• Rubbing and kneading the trapezius muscle of the neck to the shoulder.
• Dashed movements in the direction of the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra.
• Stroking the back of the head, neck area and shoulder girdles.

At the moment of exposure to painful areas, pain, warmth and a feeling of stinging may occur. The main thing is to avoid severe pain and monitor the sensations. It is better to master self-massage with the help of a vertebrologist.

Therapy at home

At home, you can only reduce the symptoms of cervicalgia. You can use some folk remedies on your own, which are quite effective and time-tested.

The most popular of them : baths with certain herbal infusions, rubbing with a decoction of barberry root.

These 2 methods will not harm, but will not eliminate the cause of the disease. The most important thing is that they will relieve neck discomfort. Herbal baths warm up and reduce pain. Rubbing relaxes the cervical region, as the components of barberry have a gentle effect.

Naturally, if symptoms of a pinched nerve ending in the neck appear, you should immediately apply an analgesic ointment to the painful area. You can take a Diclofenac or Ibuprofen tablet.

It is imperative to exclude drafts and limit neck movements . Wrapping your neck in a woolen cloth will help reduce discomfort.

As for nutrition, there are no special diets for this syndrome.

Rehabilitation and lifestyle after treatment

It is necessary to regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, engage in physical therapy, avoid hypothermia, being in a draft or under air conditioning, and sudden movements.

People with sedentary jobs need to set aside 5 minutes for a short “physical education break” every hour, and walk for at least an hour every day.

Also, people with dystrophic changes in the spine need to go to a massage therapist and chiropractor for prevention once every 1-2 months.

Symptoms of the disease

The diagnosis is made in the presence of dystrophic or traumatic changes in the spine identified during examination (MSCT or MRI), as well as in the presence of the following symptoms:

• Pain in the neck, without radiating.
• Tension of the muscles of the neck and collar area.
• Crunch in the neck.
• “Wedging” of the neck.