Everyone in his life at least once encountered a headache. It varies so much in nature and intensity that it is sometimes difficult to determine the root cause of its occurrence. In some cases, it is the headache that plays the role of a concomitant symptom of the disease, and sometimes it is the result of overwork or even stress.
How is cervical osteochondrosis manifested? Headache, and medications do not help? What to do in this case? The answers to these and many other questions can be found in this article.
Causes of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine
According to experts, a great many stand out factors provoking the development of such a common problem. First of all, this is a hereditary predisposition. There are other reasons that a person cultivates. For example, incorrect posture. Many parents have been trying since childhood to teach their child to keep their back straight, but more often than not, such efforts are in vain. As a result, cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed today even among the younger generation.
As for older patients, here the main causes of pathology lie in professional activities, inactivity. Bad habits, sleep on a soft bed, improper diet exacerbate the current situation. Due to all of the above factors, cervical osteochondrosis occurs. According to doctors, if you seek qualified help in a timely manner, the likelihood of developing complications is negligible.
Why does cervical osteochondrosis cause a headache?
Due to the reasons described above, numerous degenerative-dystrophic processes are formed directly in the intervertebral discs themselves. As a rule, one or several cervical vertebrae are involved in this process. The so-called hyaline cartilage begins to gradually lose its usual elasticity and firmness, it cracks and dries. Then, through the outer layer, its core begins to protrude, and a hernia forms between the vertebrae themselves. The cartilaginous layer is flattened, the vertebrae come together, squeezing the roots of all the spinal nerves located between them . In this area, the inflammatory process and edema develop. It is in the direction of the location of these nerves that discomfort appears in the neck, and with it the headache in osteochondrosis.
Main characteristics
Osteochondrosis, as you know, can affect the entire spine, but most often it affects the cervical spine. Headaches that occur with this pathology are characterized by the following symptoms:
- Localization in the occipital / temporal areas.
- Paroxysmal character.
- Discomfort mainly occurs in the morning or immediately after waking up.
- Headache with osteochondrosis increases with bends or inclinations.
- Nausea, vomiting, unilateral hearing loss.
It is important to note that this problem cannot be eliminated even after taking analgesic drugs. The pain becomes so excruciating that it often leads to the development of depression, increased pressure, and the loss of habitual disability.
What triggers a headache in cervical osteochondrosis?
- Improper posture.
- Dehydration
- Muscle imbalance.
- Low mobility of the neck and upper back.
- Previous mechanical injuries.
- Uncomfortable posture while sleeping.
- Stressful situations.
- Sedentary work.
Diagnostics
Headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should not be ignored. If primary symptoms occur, which were discussed above, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. This issue is addressed by a neuropathologist.
Confirming the final diagnosis will require not only a standard physical examination, but also radiography and MRI of the cervical spine.
It is very important to distinguish between discomfort in cervical osteochondrosis and the so-called tension headaches that occur due to stress, overwork. The latter, as a rule, are episodic in nature, localized in the temple area, eyes. Patients in this case complain of a constant feeling of constriction of the head, as if they had put on a helmet, loss of appetite and other psychosomatic disorders.
Headache with osteochondrosis can seriously poison a person’s life. That is why it is so important to choose a course of treatment in a timely manner and thereby return the patient to a familiar existence.
What is the difference between therapy?
Most often, the development of a disease such as cervical osteochondrosis occurs gradually. At the initial stages, he has no obvious clinical signs, the patient does not bother anything. That is why drug therapy is not prescribed. However, to prevent the subsequent development of such destructive processes, doctors strongly recommend that you reconsider your usual lifestyle, choosing a healthier option and try to change uncomfortable working conditions.
If a headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine does not bother, but the so-called degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine itself have already begun, it is important to be guided by the following rules:
- Try to lead an active lifestyle.
- Engage in sporting activities.
- Monitor your correct posture.
- Follow a diet.
- Give up all bad habits and weight lifting.
With the progression of the disease and the appearance of headaches, there is a need for special treatment. In this case, the following are considered to be the main methods of conservative therapy:
- Wearing a special collar.
- Massage of the collar zone (improves blood supply to muscle tissue, the brain).
- Physiotherapeutic procedures (paraffin, electrophoresis, ultrasound).
- Physiotherapy.
Medications
Medication for headaches in osteochondrosis should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist. To alleviate the existing pain syndrome, it is recommended to take analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics. In case of acute headache, the following drugs are prescribed: “Analgin” in combination with “Diphenhydramine”, “No-spee” or “Papaverine”. It is important to note that all these remedies provide only temporary relief.
To improve all metabolic processes directly in the brain itself and to eliminate the existing discomfort, neuroprotectors are prescribed (drugs "Actovegin", "Neuromedin", "Piracetam").
If the doctor has confirmed that there is a chronic headache with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, treatment must necessarily include the intake of B vitamins, the use of gels and ointments (Ketonal, Nise-gel preparations) and stimulators of repair processes in the tissues themselves ( funds "Teraflex", "Chondroxide").
It should be noted that osteochondrosis therapy should be carried out in combination. First of all, you should remove all pain in the neck and head, eliminate the root causes that cause discomfort. If the patient treats only a headache, the main problem will not be eliminated.
How to relieve headache with osteochondrosis? It is necessary for some time to provide the patient with complete peace. It is very important that the neck is in a comfortable position. Do not make any sudden movements. As soon as the headache goes away, you need to call a doctor.
Physiotherapy exercises and cervical osteochondrosis
Headache, the treatment of which involves not only the use of drugs, almost always requires complete rest on the part of the patient. However, to prevent pathology and prevent the development of subsequent complications, doctors recommend special gymnastic exercises. It should be noted that resorting to their help is not recommended at the time of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, when discomfort is felt especially strongly.
- Starting position lying on your back. You need to put one hand on the chest, and the other on the stomach. Take a deep breath. After about 10 seconds, exhale slowly and relax. This exercise is recommended to be performed within five minutes several times a day.
- Starting position lying on the stomach. It is necessary to raise the head and chest so that the abdomen and lower body remain motionless on the floor. The exercise should be repeated for five minutes at intervals of approximately 25 seconds.
- Starting position lying on your back. It is necessary to gently bend the legs at the knees and alternately turn either on the left or on the right side. The exercise can be repeated several times a day for five minutes with an interval of 25 seconds.
Forecast
Unfortunately, today headache is often diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Symptoms of such an unpleasant problem prevent you from leading your usual lifestyle. However, doctors are sure that in the case of correctly selected therapy, one can forget about the pathology literally after a month of treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Headache with osteochondrosis is considered a fairly common problem. Experts from all over the world are engaged in its study. As noted above, treating only the headache itself does not make sense. If the patient does not take into account the root cause, which led to its development, all efforts will be in vain. Thus, it becomes clear that in this case it is extremely important to prevent the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis. For these purposes, doctors recommend constantly monitoring their posture, playing sports, eating right and not overeating. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the vitamin-mineral balance in the body, which is so important for its proper functioning.
We hope that all the information presented in this article will be really useful for you. Be healthy!