The intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease, the symptoms of which are most often found in people aged 30-50 years. Let us consider in more detail what this pathology is and how to recognize it.
What is a hernia of the cervical spine?
The cervical region is the upper part of the vertebral column, which consists of seven vertebrae. This part of the spine is characterized by the greatest mobility and, at the same time, the greatest vulnerability to traumatic injuries.
Strength and flexibility of the spine are provided by intervertebral discs that are located between the vertebrae and are fibrocarticular plates. The intervertebral disc consists of two parts:
- pulpous nucleus;
- fibrous ring.
With a hernia there is a displacement of the pulpous nucleus and a rupture of the fibrous ring, as a result of which the nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord are squeezed. There is a violation of the supply of nerve roots with oxygen and nutrients, and the conductivity of the nerve impulse is also limited.
Causes of a hernia of the cervical spine:
- incorrect posture;
- spine trauma;
- irrational loads on the spine;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- degenerative processes in the vertebrae, etc.
Signs of a hernia of the cervical spine
Symptoms of a hernia in the cervical spine, as a rule, occur suddenly. Manifestations of the disease may differ slightly depending on which particular nerve root has suffered. The main signs of the intervertebral hernia of the cervical region are as follows:
- unstable, aching pain in the neck (mostly, the posterior surface of the part), which increases with the turns and slopes of the head, with coughing and sneezing;
- irradiation of painful sensations, in which there is muscle tension and straightening of the bend of the spine, in the shoulder, shoulder blade or arm;
- headaches and dizziness;
- blood pressure jumps;
- numbness of fingers ;
- a tingling sensation, a sensitivity disorder in the hands;
- sleep and memory disorders, etc.
The sooner the symptoms of the hernia of the cervical vertebra are discovered, the easier the treatment process will be. But also it should be taken into account that the above clinical signs can be observed in other diseases, therefore, in order to establish an accurate diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics is necessarily carried out.
Diagnosis with symptoms of the vertebral hernia of the cervical
The most informative and atraumatic method of diagnosis of the intervertebral hernia of the cervical department is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Through this method, a specialist can obtain detailed information about the size and structure of the hernia, the trends towards progression, squeezing the hernia surrounding surrounding structures, accompanying pathologies, and assess the condition of the spine as a whole.
Identify the intervertebral hernia in the cervical spine can also be using computed tomography (CT). But with this method the structure of soft tissues in the pictures
X-rays with hernia symptoms are rarely used and, mainly, only to exclude other diseases of the spine. This is due to the fact that the radiographic signs of the hernia of the cervical region are not informative, because the X-ray does not determine the state of soft tissues.
A more detailed method is a myelogram (a kind of X-ray using a dye), which allows you to see the pinching of a nerve, a tumor, a growth of bones. The damage to the nerve roots can be detected by electromyography.