Neurological diseases >>>> Migraine and cervical osteochondrosis

Migraine and cervical osteochondrosis.

Cervical osteochondrosis, which destroys the tissue of the intervertebral discs, in addition to causing pain in the neck and shoulder girdle, constrains movements in the cervical spine, can also provoke headaches, which are called cervical migraines.

The causes of cervical migraine lie in the violation of the innervation of the cervical and head regions due to compression (compression) of the roots of the spinal nerves and blood vessels (vertebral arteries) located in the region of 1-3 cervical vertebrae. Such disorders lead to stagnation in blood vessels, edema of innervated tissues and impaired cerebral circulation as a result of circulatory disorders in one or both vertebral arteries.

Typical signs of cervical migraine are the development of severe headaches in the occipital region, dizziness, the urge to vomit when raising and throwing the head back, a feeling of constriction from the back of the head to the forehead, in violation of coordination of movement, in hearing impairment (pulsating tinnitus) and / or vision (double vision, a veil in front of the eyes), sometimes loss of consciousness with a sharp movement of the head.

In addition to cervical osteochondrosis the cause of cervical migraine may be injuries or instability of the cervical spine, myogelosis of the muscles of the cervical spine, abnormal structure of the cervical vertebrae, anomalies in the structure of the vertebral arteries, whiplash (with a sharp throwing back of the head), myopathy, cervical myositis.

Correct diagnosis of the causes of cervical migraine is of great importance, since the prescribed treatment will depend on its results. For diagnosis, X-ray is used to detect abnormalities (bony outgrowths) and injuries of the cervical spine (displacement of discs, subluxation of the vertebral joints). Doppler examination of the arteries will reveal the vascular causes of impaired blood flow. An analysis of cholesterol levels is necessary.

Treatment of cervical migraine is always carried out in a comprehensive manner. A neurologist prescribes anesthetic therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve tissue edema (nimesulide, ibuprofen, and the like) antispasmodics, relaxing smooth muscles (no-shpa) and muscle relaxants. They use drugs that restore the patency of blood vessels and improve blood circulation (cinnarizine, emoxipin, piracetam). After relief of pain symptoms and relaxation of muscle muscles, massage of the cervical region, exercises that load the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle, spa treatments and a hot shower on the shoulder girdle and neck area are indicated. With instability of the cervical vertebrae, hernia and protrusion of the cervical intervertebral discs (protrusion) in severe cases, surgical intervention is used.

Improperly chosen and untimely treatment can relieve attacks, but will not eliminate the causes of their occurrence, which means it will not solve the problem.