The danger of protrusion of the cervical spine segments c3-c4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7

disc Protrusion cervical spine – the classic pathology in people who spend a long time at the computer. This is due to increased load on the lower segments of the neck with prolonged bent position.

causes of degenerative changes in the cervical spine

The Cervical disks in the norm compensate for the load on top of the spinal column and prevent slippage of the vertebrae. Under the influence of precipitating factors, they begin to crack and lose its functional properties.

The reason for the defeat of the intervertebral discs most often is disruption of blood supply and lack of nutrients (degenerative changes). These substances enter in the intervertebral discs is not from the blood vessels, and by penetration (diffusion) from other tissues.

First pulpous nucleus begins to lose water, which leads to loss of shock absorbing function of the spine. Against this background, gradually the cartilage starts to crack and at some point the fibrous ring that holds all the internal structure, ruptures.

The result of the process becomes disc protrusion C5-C6, C6-C7 and other levels, which are usually not manifested pain syndrome. It may be accompanied by the sensation of mild discomfort, not so alarming person. The main causes of protrusion of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine:

• metabolic disorders (gout, diabetes);
• Traumatic injuries of the spine;
• Diseases of the internal organs;
• Pathological changes of the vertebrae osteochondrosis, scoliosis, kyphosis
• Osteoporosis (rarefaction of bone structure);
• posture.

After degenerative changes, the second most common cause of a slipped disc in segments C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 is a change in posture. If the sort of profession a person is forced to spend a long time with his head tilted, he is at high risk.

Initially, the pathology affects the level of C6-C7, which have the maximum absorbing load when the head tilts, segment C3-C4 is affected in the least. Thus, the progression of degenerative changes in the cervical spine occurs from the bottom up.

Symptoms of protrusion in the cervical spine

about Radiating pain disc protrusion C5-C6

Protrusion C5-C6 and C6-C7 in the initial stages is not accompanied by pain syndrome. Only when the rear protrusion may be compression of the nerve roots, which is accompanied by local pain syndrome in the neck. Most dangerous is a compression of the vertebral artery, which occurs when the displacement of the vertebrae in the background of herniated discs. Artery brings blood to structures of the brain. When compression symptoms:

• Dizziness and headaches;
• Radiation of pain in the area of hands and lower extremities;
• Jump in blood pressure;
• Numbness of hands;
• the Emergence of aching pain in the upper limbs in bad weather.

Recall that the protrusion of the cervical spine for the most part occur without clinical symptoms, so are not detected early. However, to avoid the progression of this disease in a hernia it is possible only with timely detection and treatment.

complications of protrusion of the intervertebral disc

In most cases, protrusion of the cervical spine are not accompanied by serious complications. However, this level of the spine is quite vulnerable to many diseases. On the background of instability of the cervical vertebrae may occur hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) brain cells with periodic losses of consciousness.

If in other parts of the spine prolapsed intervertebral disc up to 4 mm does not cause serious complications in the cervical spine is a protrusion of up to 3 mm at the levels C5-C6 and C6-C7 can cause paralysis of upper limbs and the stroke (bleeding in the brain). Around the damaged vertebrae and intervertebral discs is actively inflamed ligaments, which causes cervical sciatica (sharp pain in neck when tilting the head or lifting the arms up). Complications pathology depends also on the type of protrusion:

• circular Rear protrusion
• Uniform or the annular protrusion;
• Foraminal circular hernia.

Rear circular protrusion directed towards the region of spinal canal. To avoid complications of the disease is possible only if timely treatment to the doctor. The defeat of the disks at the level of C4-C5, C6-C7 often turns into an intervertebral hernia. If thus there is compression of the nerve root, there is pain in the neck.

Compression of the vertebral arteryaccompanied by violation of cerebral circulation with the defeat of the centre of defecation and urination. The prognosis for a person with such development of events is extremely unfavorable.

Basic principles and methods of treatment

To Treat a prolapsed disk in the cervical spine is better in the early stages. Basic principles of treatment of protrusion of C3-C7:

• Elimination of the causes of the disease;
• measures to prevent further deterioration of the situation;
• Maximum exclusion of clinical manifestations of a slipped disc.

The Complexity of therapy is the need for cures for complex diseases. The most dangerous condition is the instability of vertebrae. If it is localized at the level of C6-C7, the high probability of compression syndrome of the spinal cord. When the person often loses consciousness during intense physical exertion or head tilt. However, the above situation with vertebral instability occurs only 5% of people.

With early detection of the prolapsed disc at the level C5-C6 or C6-C7, it can quickly be prevented. To effectively treat the pathology, it is necessary to use combined schemes. They should take into account the pathogenetic links of the process, especially vertebral syndrome (manifestations of pathology in the lumbar spine), ways of elimination of nerve compression.

Pathogenetic therapy involves the exposure of the factors that lead to changes in the spinal disc segment (PDS). Principles of pathogenetic therapy:

• Tools for normalizing the blood and lymph circulation (andekalin, aminophylline, dihydroergotamine);
• the Introduction of local anaesthetic drugs into the damaged area PDS;
• the use of the preparations of ascorbic and glucuronic acids to reduce inflammation and restore the structure of the cartilaginous tissue;
• Correction of the venous blood supply (eskuzan, glivenol, caffeine)

With the weakening of the fixation properties of articular-ligamentous apparatus of the PDS activities, which are aimed at stabilizing the spinal segment. In patients with severe local pain syndrome in segments C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7 is assigned to bed rest and means of accelerating the repair of cartilage:

• Vitreous body
• Rumalon;
• phibbs
• Polybion;
• potassium Orotate.

If the protrusion of C3-C6 is accompanied with severe pain, as well as displacement of vertebrae (instability), it is necessary to use stabilizing braces that will support the cervical spine in the correct position. It is better to choose models which can correct the displacement of the vertebrae (hard). Assign them to the doctor. Fixing the bandage on the neck are also used when there is a favourable Outlook regarding the disease. Thus, the protrusion in the segments C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7 is a dangerous pathology in the running for. To quickly cure, it is necessary to identify the disease at early stages.