Headache with cervical spinal necrosis

Headache with cervical spinal necrosis-one of the first signs that may indicate a development of the disease. At first, they appear paroxysmal, then permanently, accompanied by severe deterioration of health, stiff movements, and fainting. It is important to understand that without proper treatment, the disease can progress seriously and cause dangerous consequences.

Osteochondrosis - definition and mechanism of development

Bone tumors- Chronic progressive disease of the spine. On examination, there is a gradual destruction of cartilage and deformation of bone segments. The cervical spine consists of six vertebrae - segments of the bone that are connected by ligaments. To absorb shock when moving, rotating and tilting the head, disc pads are located between adjacent vertebrae. The arteries and vertebral nerves passing through special holes, leading to the brain and protecting them from damage are one of the functions of the cervical spine.

With bone necrosis, the cartilage tissue of the disc loses its elasticity. Its main cause is an inadequate supply of blood and nutrients to the cartilage tissues of the disc. This process may involve age-related changes, inadequate blood supply to cartilage, as well as the consequences of injuries and arthritis. The discs become thin and not elastic enough, so they cannot be absorbed in motion. This leads to a decrease in neck mobility, pain sensation, and pinching of nerves and blood vessels passing through this area. This process progresses, as the cervical spine is the most mobile and has a weak muscular bra.

The cause of headaches is degeneration of the cervical spine

Cervical bone necrosis- The disease is common in both the old and the young. It is accompanied by restricted neck movement in all or in a certain direction, impaired hearing or vision, as well as acute headache. These symptoms appear in the early stages of the disease and only progress over time.

Headaches in cervical bone necrosis are associated with a number of pathological changes:

• decreased lumen between adjacent vertebrae of the cervical spine;
• compression of nerves and blood vessels that travel to the brain;
• insufficient blood supply to brain cells;
• deformation of bone tissue, formation of growth foci, fusion of vertebrae - adaptive mechanism of the body against bone abrasion during movement.

Necrosis of bone headache can only occur when the cervical spine is damaged. In this area, arteries and nerves pass through, carry blood to the brain and participate in brain nourishment. With the defeat of the thoracic and lumbar regions, pain in the head does not occur. However, the disease is most often diagnosed in this area, as it is the most mobile and underdeveloped supportive corsets. Poor posture, long sitting, little physical activity, or vice versa, too heavy load without enough warm-up will contribute to the rapid development of osteonecrosis at any age.

The nature of pain caused by bone necrosis

Headache due to osteonecrosis is a symptom that can be identified even in the absence of any damage to the neck. However, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of examination alone. There are several options for necrotic headaches, depending on what caused them:

• when squeezing the vertebral artery - migraine-like pain that usually lasts only half of the head;
• when pressing the roots of the spinal nerves - impulsive, acute, increased with rotation and tilt of the head;
• chronic headache - associated with ischemia, lack of oxygen and nutrients in certain areas of the brain.

With osteonecrosis, headache is often accompanied by other symptoms. The main causes are neck stiffness, muscle spasms and irritability. In addition, the person may experience numbness in their hands and a tingling sensation on the skin of the palms. When the blood supply to the brain is inadequate, hearing and vision deteriorate, and difficulty coordinating movements occurs. In addition, there is an increased sensitivity to bright lights and loud, tactile sounds. These signs disappear after blood circulation is restored.

Methods of diagnosis

Headache caused by degenerative cervical spine is a symptom that is difficult to accurately diagnose. To begin treatment, it is necessary to determine the location of the problem area, the stage of the disease and the pathological changes caused by the disease. For this, a set of exams are prescribed, including:

• MRI of the head is one of the most informative and accurate diagnostic methods, through which the condition of brain tissue can be assessed;
• MRI of the cervical spine is an easy way to obtain an accurate picture of all the disorders that occur in this area (thinning and decreased elasticity of articular cartilage, overgrowth of the joint surface of the bone;
• Neck and head vascular Doppler is performed with the addition of a contrast agent to monitor cerebral blood flow and identify ischemic brain areas.

Treatment of headaches with cervical osteoporosis

Treatment of a headache in symptomatic cervical bone necrosis. Seizures can be treated at home, but they will continue to manifest. It is important to understand that osteonecrosis is a chronic, progressive disease that cannot completely restore the structure of the affected spine. The goal of therapy is to slow down the destruction of the vertebrae, restore normal blood and internal organs, and eliminate soreness and other unpleasant symptoms.

Medicine treatment

Most patients are prescribed a comprehensive treatment regimen for osteonecrosis. Pain relievers can be taken at home, but the headache will return. It is important to find an effective medication that affects not only the symptoms but also the cause of the headache. Timely initiation of treatment will keep the spine at its old level and prevent further deterioration.

There are a number of medications that doctors may prescribe to relieve headaches in osteonecrosis of the cervix:

• non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs - eliminate pain and reduce inflammation in the joints (ibuprofen);
• muscle relaxants - a group of drugs that reduce muscle spasm, thereby improving blood circulation in the vertebral arteries (tolperisone hydrochloride);
• vasodilators - necessary for high blood pressure, as well as for the elimination of vascular spasm (magnesium sulfate);
• Nootropics is a supplement of choice for improving blood circulation in brain cells.

If bone necrosis is causing headaches and neck, the drug can be prescribed in both tablet or injection and ointment form. For improving blood circulation and cartilage nutrition, the gel with warming and anti-inflammatory properties is very helpful. They stimulate blood circulation and regeneration, thus, maintaining the condition of the spine during the exacerbation of the disease.

Additional techniques

Treatment of headaches in osteonecrosis includes a number of techniques that strengthen the cervical spine and prevent compression on vital nerves and arteries. These are special exercises for the formation of a muscle bra, as well as methods of impacting the physically affected area and other methods. They are prescribed in combination with drug therapy and are carried out in a course of repeated treatment.

1. Physiotherapy exercises - simple exercises to strengthen the muscles and ligaments, increase their elasticity. The boot consists of rotating and bending, the circular motion of the head. Next, you should alternately place the palms on the forehead, temples, and back of the head. Head tilted to one side, palms against. At home, you can exercise in the morning and evening, exercising for at least 20-30 minutes per day.
2. Massage is an effective technique to help relieve severe headaches caused by bone necrosis, as well as prevent disease progression. At home, you can massage yourself, in which the muscles of the back and side of the neck, as well as the trapezoidal muscles, are molded. It is very helpful to attend massage therapy sessions, which are performed in a course of 5-10 sessions. The treatment is repeated every 4–5 months.
3. Physiotherapy is a set of techniques that a doctor may order to improve health in patients with cervical spinal necrosis. These could be magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, paraffin application, and other methods of exposure. Under the impact, blood flows faster to the damaged area, the nutrition of the discs is damaged and their oxidation improves. In addition, restorative processes are activated at the cellular level, so the disease does not develop further.

Regular exercise, participation in massage sessions, and physical therapy will help get rid of a severe headache caused by bone necrosis. The main condition is to complete the process of complete procedures. They are taken over a period of a few days to a week, and for maximum effect it can take up to 10 sessions. During treatment, ease of movement is noted, free of headaches and other symptoms, improved concentration and performance. However, it is important to remember that osteonecrosis is a chronic disease, so the course is repeated every 4–6 months.

Surgical treatment of bone necrosis

Activity is indicated in the case of ineffective conservative therapy. This occurs in severe cases, if the patient has a fusion of neighboring vertebrae or a formation of bone - the bone develops on the joint surface of the bone. These changes lead to constant headaches, neck stiffness, and chronic ischemia of certain parts of the brain. The operation can be done in a number of ways:

• eliminates pathological developments on the surface of the vertebrae, does not allow them to participate in movement;
• connect adjacent vertebrae to reduce compression of nerves and blood vessels;
• Replace the damaged segment with an implant.

Decisions about surgical intervention are made individually. It must be understood that this is a complex operation that will require a long recovery time. In the initial stage, it is not performed, since there is no threat to the patient's health.

Prevention methods

Symptoms and treatment of headaches in osteoporosis of the cervix are related to the mechanism of the development of the disease. Injury is one of its causes, but the pathological process can manifest itself in a healthy person as well. Doctors recommend practicing the right habits from an early age that will help maintain the health of the neck spine and prevent the development of dangerous diseases:

• Correct posture both when walking and when working with monitors is the primary condition for a uniform load on the spine;
• moderate physical activity - even a healthy person can benefit from simple daily exercises to strengthen and increase the elasticity of neck muscles and ligaments;
• a properly selected mattress and pillow will help avoid pinched nerve and ischemic brain cells during sleep;
• avoid electrical loads in everyday life - don't try to carry heavy objects in uncomfortable bags and bags;
• for those in sedentary jobs - take frequent breaks for small warm-ups;
• in the cold season - scarf.