Osteochondrosis of the neck in recent years is found in people of different ages, including young people. Office workers, drivers and people who sit at the computer for a long time are especially susceptible to this disease.
People over the age of 20 who do not pay enough attention to their health and physical activity can develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, due to which the discs between the vertebrae begin to thicken and collapse, which will lead to nerve compression. endings and arteries.
What is dangerous osteochondrosis of the neck
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region, such a disease is almost every adult, but not everyone knows what it is really dangerous for. Numerous nerve channels and vessels pass along this part 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 even with a slight change in structure, nerve roots and blood vessels can be compressed.
Different health problems can appear against the background of brain circulation disorders:
- migraine and severe headaches with cervical osteochondrosis;
- hypertension;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- cardiovascular disorders;
- pathology of the respiratory system;
- impaired vision, hearing, and even movement coordination.
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 spinal stroke.
A lump on the neck in osteochondrosis can be a sign of a malignant tumor: consult a doctor immediately!
Common osteochondrosis of the cervical region can cause damage to 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 a diagnosis.
X-ray for the diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
A doctor can determine osteochondrosis of the cervical spine on an X-ray. For greater information content, each part of the spine can be transparent separately and at different angles. Such photographs of neck pathology can be examined in detail and the degree of damage to the vertebrae can be determined.
Some doctors refer the patient to a so-called functional X-ray: the patient has to take different positions to twist the spine in order to take an image of the neck. In rare cases, patients are injected with special substances into a disc, artery, or spinal canal. In this case, the X-ray conclusion will be made 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 a 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 part with other predorsopathies 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 - disk displacement;
- M50. 3 - other pathology of the neck;
- M50. 9 - unspecified diagnosis.
Types 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 popular complications. Protrusions are the initial stage of the appearance of an intervertebral hernia, so they should not be underestimated. The key factors that cause bumps to appear are:
- lack of amino acids in tissues;
- poor water supply to cells;
- low concentration of trace elements in tissues.
Intervertebral discs have a core of gelatinous structure, which is surrounded by a special fibrous ring. Poor supply of cells with useful components against the background of osteochondrosis causes damage to the fibrous ring, which should hold the nucleus pulposus in the disc. Tissue pathologies are caused by the formation of cracks in the ring and the penetration of the gelatinous substance into the microcracks.
Cephalgic syndrome
Sometimes doctors diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with cephalgia syndrome in patients. It is determined by such complaints of sick persons 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. Additional 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 a number of reasons, including:
- congenital abnormalities;
- acquired injuries;
- diseases.
The movement 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 your neck and suspect that the discs are moving, contact your doctor immediately, who will prescribe an effective treatment.
Such osteochondrosis of the spine, displacement of cervical discs and vertebrobasilar insufficiency are often interrelated disorders that require serious and urgent treatment.
Will they take me into the army if I have cervical osteochondrosis?
Many young recruits suffer from an unpleasant pathology for various reasons. Some are interested in whether neck osteochondrosis is accepted in the army?
We immediately note that in the primary stages of development, this disease will not even allow you to get a break, because it does not interfere with the service. With the disease in an advanced stage, pain syndrome and limited mobility, the patient should be registered with a neurologist. The official conclusion of the doctor will allow you to delay, and in the most advanced cases the young man can be declared incompetent.
By law, it is impossible to serve in the army with the defeat of three vertebrae and a hernia between the vertebrae of the cervical region.
Is it possible to get sick leave if neck osteochondrosis is diagnosed?
Now let's understand, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, do they give sick leave and for how long? It is really possible to issue it, because serious bone pathologies can cause disc displacement, herniation and other dangerous disorders.
You can get sick leave due to cervical osteochondrosis if you do the following:
- Contact a neurologist who will diagnose and issue the appropriate certificate.
- The doctor will diagnose and determine the possible health risk, taking into account the patient's work.
- When hospital treatment is prescribed, the sick leave will have one type, and if the patient is scheduled for several days of rest, the list will have another term.
In the case of osteochondrosis, the sick leave for how many days will be issued depends on various factors:
- in the initial stages, sick leave can be given for 3-7 days if going to work does not worsen the condition;
- in severe form, sick leave of up to two weeks may be required;
- with more severe vertebral lesions, the patient can be left on treatment for three months;
- the complicated form with periarthritis and other syndromes is treated for up to 7 months, and it will be possible to work after the condition is completely normalized.
When an operation is required for the treatment of osteochondrosis, sick leave is issued taking into account the time of preparation and rehabilitation.