Vertebrogenic cervicobrahialgia: types of manifestations, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Neck pain due to spine pathology is known in medical practice as vertebrogenic cervicobrachialgia. According to statistics, about half of the world's population each year suffers from various manifestations of this ailment. In 30% of patients he goes into a chronic form, negatively affecting the quality of life. If you have clinical symptoms, you should see a doctor. Pain syndrome can also signal other diseases requiring immediate medical intervention.

General information

Vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia is a kind of osteochondrosis of the spine. With this pathology, all the pain concentrates in the neck area, gradually spreading to one or both hands. Among the main reasons for its development, physicians emphasize the compression of the nerve roots.

The cervical segment consists of seven vertebrae and intervertebral discs. It is also customary to refer to the spinal cord. The painful discomfort that occurs with cervicobrahialgia is often a consequence of the trauma of the nerve plexus in the region of the shoulders. It is a set of fibers that go towards the neck. It is against the background of damage to the plexus sometimes complications occur. If pathology is neglected and untreated, the likelihood of disability is high.

Why does the neck pain appear?

Vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia often develops on the background of dorsopathy. These are pathologies of the spine, arising from degenerative changes. Among them, the most common is osteochondrosis of the cervical department. The disease develops due to a malfunction in the nutrition of intervertebral discs, which gradually lose their elasticity and deform. As a result, bone growths( osteophytes) and protrusions are formed. The pathological process entails narrowing the intervertebral openings and the canal together with the spinal cord. The consequence of the above disorders is the appearance of pain in the neck area.

For other reasons of cervicobrachialgia doctors include:

• benign / malignant neoplasms on the spine;
• osteoporosis;
• infectious-inflammatory processes;
• mechanical spinal column injuries;
• pathology of the carotid artery.

Any of these disorders can cause a painful syndrome. Often the pathology proceeds asymptomatically, but manifests itself only under the influence of certain factors. Among them are hypothermia, intense physical activity, sedentary work.

Symptoms and signs of the pathological process

The main manifestation of cervicobrahialgia is discomfort in the neck, and its intensity is viriated. The pain may be permanent or may increase with exercise. As a rule, discomfort increases with coughing and sneezing, tilting the head.

What else has vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia symptoms? To frequent manifestations of the disease doctors refer to the limitation of mobility and the dropout of reflexes. Some patients complain of muscle weakness, impaired sensitivity in the affected area, numbness of the hands. In especially serious cases, the pathology manifests itself as thoracalgia, a burning pain in the chest region. Its appearance is usually due to osteochondrosis of the spinal column. Pain syndrome increases with irritation and compression of nerve endings. The listed symptoms of pathology play a huge role in the diagnosis of "vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia."

Types of manifestations of the disease: right, left and on both sides

Pathology occurs equally often on both the left and right. However, the severity of the pain syndrome does not depend on the side of the lesion, but the manifestations are somewhat different. For example, vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia on the left is accompanied by discomfort, as in myocardial infarction. Often this is the only symptom of the ailment, sometimes it is supplemented by numbness of the neck and arm.

The right-sided form of pathology is also similar in its manifestations to myocardial infarction. Therefore, patients with similar symptoms are carefully examined. Without fail they are prescribed ECG and ultrasound of the heart. A complete examination is indicated for patients who have a history of heart disease. Vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia on the right is a real problem for many. The thing is that most of the people on our planet are right-handed. As a result, they lose the ability to self-service. Sometimes they need help to get dressed or a snack. Two-sided form of the disease, in which pain is spread simultaneously to both hands, is extremely rare.

Medical examination

If you have painful discomfort in the neck, you should seek medical help. The diagnosis of "vertebrogenic cervicobrahialgia" is confirmed on the basis of the results of instrumental research methods. Usually, the patient is prescribed CT, MRI and myelography. A complete diagnosis also makes it possible to determine the root cause of the disease, its severity and localization. Based on the clinical picture, the doctor prescribes treatment. At the initial stages of the pathological process are limited to drug therapy, exercise therapy and physiotherapy procedures. In advanced cases, surgery is required.

Drug therapy

Patients diagnosed with "vertebrogenic cervical brachialgia" should be treated with a decrease in physical activity. It is recommended constant rest, limiting the impact on the hand. A support collar is put on the collar zone. As the symptoms of the disease decrease from its use, they refuse, replacing with stretching sessions and exercise therapy.

Drug therapy is prescribed by a doctor taking into account the form of pathology and the degree of its severity. Usually the specialist prescribes muscle relaxants against seizures( "Midokalm", "Sirdalud").If their application is not effective, steroid hormones are prescribed. To reduce the pain syndrome use "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac".These medications relieve inflammation and relieve spasms. Take them strictly according to the recommendations of the doctor, it is unacceptable to reduce or increase the dosage. The maximum effect is observed with the combined use of drugs of various types of action( gels, ointments, injections).If vertebrogenic cervicobrahialgia is accompanied by osteochondrosis, it is expedient to additionally take chondoprotectors( Aflupol, Teraflex).

The use of medicines helps to reduce severe manifestations of the disease. However, drug therapy does not allow the elimination of the underlying disease that provoked this condition.

Surgical intervention

If the medication is ineffective, an operation is shown, during which the doctor removes the affected parts of the vertebrae and performs prosthetic implants. Surgical intervention is advisable in the following cases:

• intervertebral hernia more than 8 mm in diameter;
• lack of positive dynamics for 4 months;
• development of severe muscular atrophy;
• appearance of neurological abnormalities in neoplasms on the spine.

The rehabilitation period after the operation takes a lot of time and requires the participation of qualified specialists.

Other methods of treatment

Non-drug therapy( massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy) in the fight against pathology also gives good results. However, it can not replace the standard course of treatment with drugs or surgery. What alternatives are available?

Massage has a positive effect on all processes in the body. To resort to his help should only be prescribed by a doctor. During the massage sessions, the specialist develops the muscle structures of the hands and neck. Such procedures positively affect the nutrition of the nerve column, contribute to the reduction of inflammatory foci. If there is an unpleasant sensation from the massage is better to give up.

LFK is a key method of fighting cervicobrahialgia. Correctly selected set of exercises helps to restore the performance of joints and strengthen muscles.

Physiotherapeutic procedures include spinal traction. This is a rather painful process, but very effective. It should be abandoned to patients with intervertebral hernia. In the last few years, the procedure has lost its former popularity. The thing is that patients often suffered injuries due to the incompetence of specialists who performed stretching.

Chronic form of pathology

Chronic vertebrogenic cervicobrahialgia requires a special approach. In addition to the standard course of treatment, patients are shown taking multivitamin complexes to strengthen bone tissue. For relaxation, you can choose a special orthopedic mattress and pillow that contribute to the physiological position of the neck during sleep. In the cold season it is necessary to dress according to the weather, to avoid hypothermia.

Preventive measures

Many people know that the best prevention of any disease is a healthy lifestyle. It implies a moderate exercise, a rejection of addictions and proper nutrition. The last item includes a diet with restriction of fatty foods and alcoholic beverages. The diet should consist mainly of fresh vegetables and fruits, a variety of cereals, low-fat varieties of meat and fish. Daily gymnastics is another rule of prevention of cervicobrahialgia. Known to all from childhood exercises allow you to maintain the flexibility of the ligamentous apparatus of the spine, improve the functioning of the basic systems of internal organs.