In recent years, osteochondrosis of the neck has been found in people of different ages, including young people. Office workers, drivers and people who stay in front of a computer for a long time are particularly susceptible to this disease.
People over 20 years old who do not pay enough attention to their health and physical activity can develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as a result of which the discs between the vertebrae begin to thicken and collapse, which will cause compression of the nerve endings and arteries.
What is dangerous osteochondrosis of the neck
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region, what kind of disease is represented approximately by each adult, but not everyone knows what it is really dangerous for. Many nerve channels and vessels run along this section of the spine, which are responsible for supplying the brain with nutrients. In the neck area, the vertebrae are particularly close to each other, so that even with a slight change in their structure, nerve roots and blood vessels can be compressed.
Against the background of circulatory disorders of the brain, various health problems can arise:
- migraine and severe headaches with cervical osteochondrosis;
- hypertension;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- cardiovascular disorders;
- pathology of the respiratory system;
- disturbances of vision, hearing and even the coordination of movements.
In later forms of development, osteochondrosis of the neck, as in the photo, leads to vertebral artery syndrome. The latter is responsible for supplying the cerebellum with blood and nourishing the medulla oblongata. Against this background, cerebral ischemia can occur, as well as stroke.
A bump on the neck with osteochondrosis can be a sign of a malignant tumor: consult a doctor immediately!
Common osteochondrosis of the cervical region can damage nerve endings:
- radiculopathy;
- loss of head mobility;
- the appearance of growths on the vertebrae.
In order to avoid serious complications, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner, which is impossible without diagnosis.
X-ray for the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
The doctor is able to determine osteochondrosis of the cervical spine on an x-ray. For greater information content, each section of the spine can be translucent separately and from different angles. In such photographs of the pathology of the neck, one can examine in detail and determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae.
Some doctors direct the patient to a so-called functional X-ray: the patient must take different positions to twist the spine in order to create an image of the neck. In rare cases, patients receive injections of special substances into the disc, artery or spinal canal. In this case, the X-ray conclusion will be the most accurate and detailed.
Classification of osteochondrosis of the neck according to the ICD
ICD 10 is the International Classification of Diseases, which in 2007 became the generally accepted guide for assigning appropriate codes to various diseases. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region, ICD code 10 in 1998 had M42, and several types of pathologies were attributed to it. To date, according to the ICD, the disease has been identified in a section with other pre-dorsopathies ranging from M50 to M54. Depending on the pain syndrome, the disease is classified into:
- M50. 0 - osteochondrosis with myelopathy;
- M50. 1 - with radiculopathy;
- M50. 2 - disc offset;
- M50. 3 - other neck pathology;
- M50. 9 - diagnosis not specified.
Varieties of cervical osteochondrosis
Consider the most common types of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine according to the ICD classification.
Protrusions in disease
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with disc protrusion is one of the most common complications. Protrusions are the initial phase of the appearance of an intervertebral hernia, so they should not be underestimated. The main factors behind the appearance of protrusions include:
- lack of amino acids in the tissues;
- poor water supply to cells;
- low concentration of trace elements in the tissues.
Intervertebral discs have a core of gelatinous structure, which is surrounded by a special fibrous ring. A low supply of cells with useful components against the background of osteochondrosis damages the fibrous ring, which should hold the pulpy nucleus in the disc. Tissue pathologies occur with the formation of cracks in the ring and the ingress of gelatinous substance into microcracks.
Cephalgic syndrome
Sometimes doctors diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with cephalic syndrome in patients. It is determined by such complaints of sick people as:
- tinnitus;
- heaviness in the head;
- pre-fainting and fainting states.
The combination of these symptoms indicates poor cerebral circulation, due to which the brain receives less oxygen for full functioning. Other symptoms include drowsiness and occasional fever.
Osteochondrosis of the neck with displacement
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with displacement, which occurs in some patients, is one of the most common forms. The disease develops for many reasons, including:
- birth defects;
- acquired injuries;
- diseases.
The displacement of the vertebrae contributes to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes pain and disrupts the work of various internal organs. If you feel pain in the neck and you suspect displacement of the discs, you should quickly go to the doctor, who will prescribe an effective treatment.
Such osteochondrosis of the spine, displacement of the cervical discs and vertebrobasilar insufficiency are often interrelated disorders that require serious and immediate therapy.
Will they take me into the army if I have cervical osteochondrosis?
Many young conscripts suffer from an unpleasant pathology for various reasons. Some wonder if osteochondrosis of the neck is taken in the army?
We note right away that in the early stages of development this disease will not even allow you to get respite, since it does not interfere with the service. With the disease in more advanced stages, a pain syndrome and limited mobility, the patient should be registered with a neurologist. The official conclusion of the doctor will allow you to get a reprieve, and in the most advanced cases, the young man may be declared unfit.
By law, it is impossible to serve in the army with the defeat of three vertebrae and with a hernia between the vertebrae in the cervical region.
Is it possible to obtain a certificate of absence from work if osteochondrosis of the neck is diagnosed?
Now let's see, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, do they give sick leave and for how long? It is really possible to emit it, since serious bone pathologies can provoke disc displacement, herniation and other dangerous disorders.
You can get sick leave for cervical osteochondrosis if you do the following:
- Contact a neurologist who will make a diagnosis and issue an appropriate certificate.
- The doctor will diagnose and determine the possible health risk, taking into account the work of the patient.
- When hospital treatment is prescribed, the sick leave will have one type, and if the patient is assigned to rest for several days, the sheet will receive a different appointment.
With osteochondrosis, the number of days off work depends on various factors:
- in the initial stages, sick leave can be granted for 3-7 days if going to work does not aggravate the condition;
- in an aggravated form, sick leave of up to two weeks may be required;
- with more severe lesions of the vertebrae, the patient can be left in treatment for three months;
- a complicated form with periarthritis and other syndromes is treated for up to 7 months, and it will be possible to work after complete normalization of the condition.
When surgery is required for the treatment of osteochondrosis, a sick leave sheet is issued taking into account the preparation and rehabilitation schedule.