Osteochondrosis is a common disease that has recently "grown younger" - it began not only in elderly people but also in young people. This disease is accompanied by dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissue, most often the osteochondrosis of the spine is recorded, and in the second place the osteochondrosis of the cervical region is in the second place.
The peculiarity of osteochondrosis is that it causes severe pain to the patient. Mutilation of pain is one of the main tasks of treating the disease together with the removal of inflammation and the restoration of cartilaginous tissue.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical region, headaches develop which, at the onset of the disease, quickly pass and are not pronounced, but eventually cause a virtually permanent, more severe pain.
Causes of headache in cervical osteochondrosis
The pain syndrome in osteochondrosis changes during the course of the disease as the tissues degenerate. This process has several stages and symptoms that lead to headaches.
The first cause of headaches with cervical osteochondrosis
Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical region at the first stage arise due to degenerative processes in the cartilage tissue (or several). Inside the cartilage there is a core that dries out, and therefore the cartilage loses its elasticity, and then changes its shape due to thickening, and as a result, it cracks.
When the process develops for a long time, the cartilage begins to protrude, and then there is a so-called "intervertebral hernia".
The second cause of pain in cervical osteochondrosis
When the cartilage is damaged, the vertebrae are displaced and approach each other, resulting in increased stress on this area. The joints abrade and become covered with bony growths, an inflammatory process occurs that leads to headaches.
The third cause of headaches with cervical osteochondrosis
When the disease has developed, then, in the absence of treatment, a painfully removable symptom can arise - displaced cartilages squeeze the vessels and roots of the spinal nerves, which leads to inflammation and swelling. When this happens, the pain arises along the course of the affected nerves in the region of the head.
Symptoms of headache with cervical osteochondrosis
Because of the disturbance of nerve conduction and vessel spasms (in some parts of the brain), and as a result, increased intracranial pressure (associated with stagnant processes), the following symptoms occur:
- intense sharp pain when moving head or eyes;
- pains occur suddenly and are paroxysmal at the onset of the disease, and can last up to 6 hours, and when the disease has developed sufficiently, it is likely permanent headaches;
- localization of pain - mainly in the temporal and occipital areas, in more rare cases, pain covers the entire head;
- In the neck area, there may be lumbago, and in the shoulder area, aching pain;
- there may also be a feeling of nausea and even vomiting;
- due to the violation of nerve conduction, numbness of the hands, face and neck may occur, hearing may decrease or dizziness and even swaying while walking may occur.
Treatment of headache with cervical osteochondrosis
If the head is hurting with osteochondrosis, then, first of all, it is necessary to take an anesthetic anti-inflammatory agent. The most popular of these medicines is Diclofenac .
Also, a positive effect of taking any analgesic in combination with antispasmodics is possible.
Positive effect can have vasodilator drugs, and those that help improve cerebral circulation (one of the most popular - Cavinton).
For the treatment of osteochondrosis , therapeutic exercise and medicines are shown, which improve the structure of the cartilaginous tissue.