Neck osteochondrosis in recent years has been found in people of different ages, including young people. Office workers, drivers and people who sit in front of a 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 may develop osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as a result of which the discs between the vertebrae begin to thicken and collapse, and this will lead to 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 by approximately every adult, but not everyone knows what it is really dangerous for. Numerous 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 especially close to each other, so even with a slight change in their structure, nerve roots and blood vessels can be squeezed.
Against the background of circulatory disorders of the brain, various health problems may occur:
- migraine and severe headaches with cervical osteochondrosis;
- hypertension;
- vegetative dystonia;
- cardiovascular disorders;
- pathology of the respiratory system;
- impaired vision, hearing and even 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 and spinal stroke may occur.
A lump on the neck with osteochondrosis can be a sign of a malignant tumor - see a doctor right away!
Common osteochondrosis of the cervical region can cause damage to the nerve endings:
- radiculopathy;
- loss of head mobility;
- the appearance of growths on the vertebrae.
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 at different angles. In such photographs of the pathology of the neck, it is possible to examine in detail and determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae.
Some doctors subject the patient to a so-called functional x-ray: the patient has to take different positions to twist the spine to create an image of the neck. In rare cases, patients are injected with special substances into the disc, artery or spinal canal. In this case, the X-ray conclusion will be made the most accurate and detailed.
Classification of neck osteochondrosis 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 assigned to it. To date, according to the ICD, the disease has been identified in a section with other pre-dorsopathies in the range of 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 offset;
- M50. 3 - other pathology of the neck;
- M50. 9 - unspecified diagnosis.
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 popular complications. Protrusions are the initial stage of the appearance of an intervertebral hernia, so they should not be underestimated. The key factors causing the appearance of protrusions include:
- lack of amino acids in the tissues;
- poor supply of cells with water;
- low concentration of trace elements in the tissues.
The intervertebral discs have a core of a gelatinous structure, surrounded by a special fibrous ring. A weak 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 occur with the formation of cracks in the ring and the penetration of the gelatinous substance into microcracks.
Headache syndrome
Sometimes doctors diagnose osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with headache syndrome in patients. It is determined by such complaints of sick people as:
- tinnitus;
- heaviness in the head;
- states of pre-fainting and fainting.
The combination of these symptoms indicates poor cerebral circulation, as a result of which the brain receives less oxygen for full functioning. Additional symptoms include drowsiness and the 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 anomalies;
- acquired injuries;
- illnesses.
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 experience neck pain and suspected disc displacement, you should quickly go to the doctor, who will prescribe effective treatment.
Such osteochondrosis of the spine, displacement of the cervical discs and vertebrobasilar insufficiency are often related ailments 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 are interested in whether osteochondrosis of the neck is taken into the army?
We note right away that in the early stages of development this disease will not even allow you to have a break, since it does not interfere with serving. With the disease in more advanced stages, pain syndrome and limited mobility, the patient must 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.
According to the law, it is impossible to serve in the army with the defeat of three vertebrae and with a hernia between the vertebrae of the cervical region.
Is it possible to get a sick leave certificate if osteochondrosis of the neck is diagnosed?
Now let's find out, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, do they give sick leave and for how long? It is indeed possible to issue it, as serious bone pathologies can cause disc displacement, herniation and other dangerous ailments.
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 patient's work.
- When inpatient treatment is prescribed, the sick leave will have one type, and if the patient is assigned rest for several days, the sheet will receive a different appointment.
With osteochondrosis, sick leave for how many days it will be issued depends on various factors:
- in the initial stages, 3-7 days of sick leave can be granted 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 injuries of the vertebrae, the patient can be left on 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 the state is completely normalized.
When surgery is required for the treatment of osteochondrosis, a sick leave sheet is issued, which takes into account the time of preparation and rehabilitation.