Myogelosis is a disease of muscle tissue. During its development, some of the myocytes mutate and are replaced by sweaty connective or fibrous tissue. This process is reversible, but only manual therapy is effective as a treatment.
Cervical myogelosis is often diagnosed in patients who are busy working at the computer. With prolonged static tension, foci of atypical nervous excitation appear in the muscles of the neck and collar area. These groups of myocytes are not able to properly conduct nerve impulses. Therefore, they respond to any movement with stiffness and pain.
Diagnosing myogelosis of the cervical spine is quite difficult using standard examination methods. Ultrasound usually does not show foci of tissue replacement; on an x-ray, the bone structures are all normal. Diagnosis is possible using manual examination. An experienced vertebrologist will be able to detect these areas of compaction by palpating the muscular frame of the neck and collar area. Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Manual therapy techniques allow you to completely eliminate all compactions and restore the physiological range of mobility.
You can learn about the main symptoms of myogelosis and the treatment of this disease in this article. Here we talk about what primary symptoms of myogelosis of the cervical spine are worth paying attention to and what treatment methods are effective in combating the pathology.
If you have been given a similar diagnosis or have discovered the clinical signs described in the article, we advise you to make an appointment for a free appointment with a vertebrologist at our manual therapy clinic. During the initial consultation, the doctor will conduct an examination and examination, make a diagnosis and prescribe individual treatment.
Causes of myogelosis of the cervical spine
Myogelosis of the cervical spine is more of a pathology associated with physical inactivity. Maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, in which there is not enough load on the muscular frame of the body, entails partial degeneration of myocytes and their replacement with connective tissue fibers.
Among the potential causes of the development of the disease in young people are sedentary work and passion for computer games. There is no gender advantage in the number of diagnosed cases per thousand population for either men or women. Representatives of both sexes suffer from myogelosis equally.
In infancy, children can also be diagnosed with myogelosis associated with injuries (including those treated during childbirth), inflammatory processes and improper care.
In order to understand the reasons for the development of myogelosis of the cervical spine, it is worth knowing that the main clinical symptom is pain in certain points. When you try to palpate, dense nodules with a pasty consistency may be felt under your fingers. These compactions are accumulations of degenerating tissue. They may consist of hyaline cartilage, connective and fibrous tissue. When you try to knead these areas, acute pain occurs. This manipulation does not bring relief.
The appearance of such areas of compaction can be triggered by the following negative factors:
- inflammatory foci of autoimmune and infectious etiology;
- disturbance of microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid during congestion;
- disturbance of nerve impulse conduction with radicular syndrome against the background of cervical osteochondrosis;
- consequences of improperly treated myositis of the cervical muscles;
- diabetic angiopathy;
- increased blood and intracranial pressure;
- static overstrain of the muscles of the neck and collar area;
- consequences of traumatic effects, for example, with bruises of soft tissues, hidden hematomas can form inside the muscles, and when blood is absorbed, deposition of fibrin fibers can occur.
Potential risk factors are:
- prolonged exposure to static tension or unnatural posture (during sleep or work);
- muscle overstrain with an unusual amount of physical activity without prior preparation;
- exposure to cold - leads to spasm of blood vessels in the thickness of muscle tissue, this provokes ischemia and partial necrosis of myocytes, they can be replaced by connective tissue scars;
- visiting a steam room in a bathhouse or sauna and whiplash with a broom in the neck and collar area - when blood vessels dilate under the influence of high temperatures, the risk of rupture of the capillary wall of a blood vessel in the thickness of the muscles increases;
- negative impact of psycho-emotional stress and overstrain.
There is a whole group of osteogenic and chondrogenic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in which myogelosis of the cervical spine is a typical complication. Such pathologies include:
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral disc;
- radicular syndrome and radiculitis;
- subluxation and dislocation of the first cervical vertebra;
- curvature of the spinal column, including in the thoracic region in the form of scoliosis;
- withers in the collar area;
- spondylosis and spondyloarthrosis;
- instability of the position of the cervical vertebrae;
- incorrect placement of the foot, resulting in curvature of the spine and incorrect posture.
Quite often, myogelosis occurs as a response of the body to pinched radicular nerves or to vertebral artery syndrome. When the functionality of the cervical spine is impaired, vertebrogenic pathology occurs.
Before starting treatment, the doctor must determine exactly the causes of the development of myogelosis, and, if possible, eliminate their pathogenic effects. This is an important event, without which it will be very difficult to achieve recovery.
Diagnosis of myofascial syndrome
Diagnosis of myofascial syndrome begins with collecting the patient’s history and complaints. Only a competent and well-trained specialist can accurately diagnose pathology. It is believed that a correctly collected anamnesis is 80% of the diagnosis. Analyzing the patient’s story about how and where he has pain, the doctor asks questions, details his complaints, clarifies and clarifies many points for himself. This forms the doctor’s initial idea and overall picture. In the future, this information will serve as a guide during the examination of the patient and during clinical diagnostics and muscle testing. For an accurate and correct diagnosis of myofascial syndrome, neither complex equipment nor laboratory tests are required. No matter how strange it may sound, this is really true.
Let's turn again to J. Travell and D. Simons. On page 150 of the first volume of their monograph, they write: “By the nature of the reflected pain, one can determine which muscle generated the myofascial trigger points responsible for the patient’s pain.”
In practice, this is implemented as follows (for ease of understanding, we will omit a number of complex medical issues). A trained doctor knows very well where pain is reflected from a particular muscle. Based on this knowledge, as well as the patient’s description of his pain areas, the doctor quickly finds the affected muscle. This is the first stage of diagnosis - based on the symptom of referred pain. But, as we remember, myofascial syndrome has another characteristic symptom - weakening of the affected muscles. To identify weakened muscles, there is a whole system of complex muscle tests. When we carry out a second test test on the muscle identified by the first method and get a positive reaction, then all that remains is to carry out the third test, the final test, using palpation diagnostics. J. Travell and D. Simons believe that three types of palpation can be used to identify myofascial trigger points: superficial, pinch and deep [Ibid. Volume I. P. 146].
Thus, a triple check is carried out:
- by zones of referred pain;
- according to muscle tests;
- palpation.
This approach gives 100% confidence in the correctness of the diagnosis.
At first glance, everything is simple. But you should know that we have about 750 muscles. Therefore, the doctor needs to keep in mind all the areas of reflected pain from all muscles. And also special muscle tests to check muscle strength and contractility. Add to this the ability to distinguish similar symptoms of various pathologies, as well as the peculiarities of the course of myofascial syndrome against the background of numerous other diseases: hypertension, hormonal disorders, obesity, diabetes, diseases of internal organs, etc. That’s why, to become a competent chiropractor, you will need 8-9 years of training: institute, clinical residency... And that’s just to start working.
In a word, successful diagnosis of myofascial syndrome requires very extensive knowledge from the doctor.
How does myogelosis develop and who treats it?
To understand the mechanism of how myogelosis develops, you need to understand the structure of muscle tissue. The basic structural unit of this tissue is the myofibril. It consists of myocyte cells and the fibers connecting them. When a nerve impulse passes, myofibrils can contract (decrease in size and release intercellular fluid) or relax (increase in size and absorb intercellular fluid).
The corresponding nerve impulses pass along the axons of the efferent and afferent types. This allows for physical activity. Sympathetic nerve fibers are responsible for the tone of muscle tissue.
Blood supply is carried out using a capillary network extending from arterioles entering through the gate into the thickness of the muscle fiber. Blood, saturated with carbon dioxide and decay products, is drained through the veins. Along with the bloodstream there is a network of lymphatic vessels.
Myogelosis develops according to the following pathogenic mechanism:
- inflammation, exposure to low temperature, release of the stress hormone (cortisol) into the blood, pain impulse or prolonged static tension provoke a sharp spasm of blood vessels;
- inside the myofibrils, blood flow is disrupted, primary necrosis develops;
- in these foci a protective inflammatory reaction occurs;
- it is designed to capture and remove dead myocytes from the focus of necrosis;
- during inflammation, mast cells are drawn into the focus of pathology and release large amounts of fibrinogen;
- therefore, when dead myocytes are removed from necrosis, they are replaced by fibrin deposits;
- Without timely treatment, scar deformities persist in these areas.
The answer to the question of who treats myogelosis is not clear. In a city clinic, these diseases are often treated by a rheumatologist. Although myogelosis has nothing in common with rheumatism. In our manual therapy clinic, several doctors treat a patient at once. The primary diagnosis is carried out by a chiropractor. Then a consultation with a vertebrologist is required, who during the examination excludes pathologies of the spinal column. The neurologist excludes diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
If you suspect myogelosis, contact our manual therapy clinic. The first appointment and consultation with specialists is provided to each patient completely free of charge.
Surgical intervention
Sometimes it is impossible to cope with the disease using conservative methods. This is especially true for advanced cases. Then surgeons come to the aid of the patient. They perform microvascular decompression, which eliminates compression and pinching of nerve endings and corrects blood vessels.
After surgery, the patient remains in the hospital under medical supervision for another 1-2 days. If even after the operation the pain has not completely gone away, painkillers are added.
Symptoms of myogelosis of the cervical spine
Symptoms of myogelosis are characteristic of a number of diseases. Only an experienced doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. The main distinguishing symptoms of cervical myogelosis are compactions in the thickness of the muscle tissue, which can be felt with your fingers. They are dense and painful. They can often be confused with enlarged cervical lymph nodes. And this is a symptom of a completely different pathology. Therefore, you cannot engage in an independent diagnostic process.
Other clinical symptoms of cervical myogelosis include the following:
- pain in the neck, which intensifies with any head movements;
- muscle tension leading to limited mobility;
- tension headaches;
- dizziness due to spasm of cerebral blood vessels;
- numbness of certain areas of the upper extremities;
- paresthesia and crawling sensation;
- decreased muscle strength and increased fatigue.
By palpation, the doctor can determine the location of trigger points. You may also notice external signs of compaction. With an active inflammatory process, the skin in the area of pathology will be hyperemic and hot to the touch.
The most effective diagnostic method is palpation of muscle tissue. For differential purposes, myography, radiography, ultrasound and MRI examinations are prescribed. Sometimes scanning of the cerebral blood vessels may be necessary.
What happens in the muscles?
Each muscle of the human body is composed of small structures - microfibrils. Their main property is the ability to contract and relax. Muscle excitability is provided by nerve endings that connect them to the central nervous system. Muscle tone is provided by peripheral nerves. Thanks to them, the muscles experience slight tension all the time.
Nerves, as well as blood vessels, penetrate muscle tissue through the muscle gate, providing them with nutrition and innervation.
A little about secrets
Treatment of cervical myogelosis
To treat myogelosis, both conservative and surgical treatment methods can be used. Official medicine offers patients the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They stop the process of inflammation and reduce the intensity of pain. Electrophoresis with lidase or vitreous allows you to speed up the process of resorption of scar deformities.
But complete recovery can only be achieved by using manual therapy techniques. In our manual therapy clinic, treatment of cervical myogelosis begins with identifying the potential cause of the pathology. Then the doctor develops an individual course of therapy. It includes a set of measures aimed at treating the underlying disease and restoring damaged muscle tissue.
We use the following treatment methods:
- osteopathy and massage – improve the processes of microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid in the focus of pathological changes;
- reflexology – accelerates the process of regeneration of scar deformations of muscle tissue;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy;
- physiotherapy and laser exposure.
If you require treatment for cervical myogelosis, make an appointment at our manual therapy clinic. During a free consultation, the doctor will give individual recommendations and tell you about all the prospects and treatment options.
Prevention
To prevent the development of painful sensations that provoke myogelosis, doctors recommend:
- Avoid hypothermia, avoid drafts;
- Control your posture;
- When working in an office environment, regularly organize breaks for warm-up;
- Sleep only on a flat, preferably orthopedic bed;
- Organize periods of physical activity for yourself;
- Avoid excessive overload;
- Prevent stressful situations.
It is enough to follow these simple recommendations to maintain your posture and not worry about neck pain.
However, if a problem arises, it should be solved using the recommendations of a qualified doctor.