Osteochondrosis is a common pathology of the spine, characterized by dystrophic changes in the structure of the cartilage discs of the vertebrae and their bone base. To one degree or another, osteochondrosis manifests itself in most people after 30 years. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are diverse, which often complicates diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
General symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
The process of osteochondrosis affects any part of the spine or several of them at once. Lumbar and cervical vertebrae are most susceptible to pathology, because they are most susceptible to stress due to the anatomy of the human skeleton.
The consequences of osteochondrosis of the spine in the cervical region cause the most discomfort and potential complications, because the neck is an area rich in neurovascular highways, many of which directly feed the brain. For this reason, the clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are largely related to brain ischemia. In addition, the roots of the nerves that provide sensitivity and motor activity of the arms and shoulder girdle, when pressed by the destroyed discs of the spine, can give a diverse symptomatic picture.
The signs of cervical osteochondrosis depend on which of the body systems is affected by the pathology: In the following, we will consider the general clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Pain in the back of the head, neck and collarbone
This is the most common symptom. The localization of the pain can spread, affecting the shoulders, clavicular region, chest, turning into intense migraine headaches.
The nature of the pain depends on the location of the lesion and the severity of the pathology. In the first stages of the development of the disease, the pain can be fleeting, gradually becoming chronic and painful.
During exacerbations, the pain becomes shooting, with increased neck muscle tone and limited head movements. Often, pain in cervical osteochondrosis can be localized behind the sternum, in which case many patients mistake this symptom for angina pectoris. The distinction can be made by taking a nitroglycerin tablet - it does not relieve the pain caused by osteochondrosis.
Noise, buzzing, feeling of fullness in the ears
These symptoms are often accompanied by hearing loss. These phenomena are associated with a decrease in blood flow from the vertebral arteries to the vestibular apparatus. The complex of these symptoms is called cochlear or cochlear syndrome and it is not always possible to determine its connection with osteochondrosis in the cervical region. A specific distinguishing sign is that noise, congestion and ringing in the ears are felt when changing position, after a long stay in one position.
Vertigo
Vertigo is also caused by disturbed blood flow to the organs of the inner ear, which ensures the balance of the body. Vertigo is often accompanied by nystagmus - voluntary oscillations of the eye's pupils to the side.
Lack of air
This sensation occurs due to irritation of the phrenic nerve endings. It is a component of the bundle of cervical nerves and is involved in the regulation of breathing, its depth and frequency. Patients complain of the inability to breathe deeply. In some cases, the symptom worsens to severe shortness of breath and suffocation. For the same reason, breathing stops at night and snoring is observed. Lack of oxygen due to breathing problems ultimately causes increased fatigue, decreased concentration and memory problems.
Nausea
Followed by belching air. It is also caused by problems with blood circulation in certain areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting, triggered by head and body movements. Frequent nausea and vomiting result in decreased appetite, weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.
Vision problems
"Floating" in the eyes, reduced visual acuity, fog in front of the eyes - these are all symptoms caused by ischemia of the part of the brain responsible for vision. Patients with osteochondrosis rarely complain about their eyesight, because the insufficient blood supply from the vertebral vessels is compensated by the blood flow from the carotid artery system. Glasses and therapeutic exercises for eye muscles do not solve the problem, vision usually improves after treatment of osteochondrosis.
Increase in blood pressure
Unstable pressure levels are caused by disturbed blood flow in the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for the functions of the vascular-motor center.
Sudden fainting or syncope
It occurs when cerebral arteries spasm due to a short-term cessation of blood flow through the vertebral arteries. A patient can be brought out of unconsciousness quickly by lying down with their legs slightly higher than their head - blood flow to the brain allows the person to regain consciousness. After a fainting attack, reversible problems with speech and movement may occur for some time due to a brief interruption of blood flow.
Pharyngeal symptoms
They can often be the only sign indicating cervical osteochondrosis. It is expressed as pain, dryness and feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing. The symptoms are associated with the compression of the nerve plexuses responsible for the innervation of the pharynx. It is necessary to distinguish such manifestations from a similar clinic with inflammation or neoplasms.
Increase in body temperature
An increase in body temperature for cervical osteochondrosis is not the most typical symptom, it is observed rarely and locally: in the neck and neck area, with slight redness of the skin. The clinic of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine can be, first of all, of different degrees of severity, it depends on the stage of development of the pathology, they are also lighter in periods of exacerbation, and secondly, they develop into certain syndromes.
Symptoms depend on the stage of cervical osteochondrosis
Phase I: Beginning of degenerative processes in the cartilage of the vertebral discs. Symptoms are mild and sometimes not noticeable at all. Important: these symptoms become more pronounced when the head is tilted.
As a rule, in the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, patients do not go to the doctor, considering that all symptoms are related to fatigue, stress, age, lack of sleep. Stage II In this stage, the protrusion of the vertebral discs begins. , the intervertebral spaces narrow, and the collagen fiber of the fibrous ring of the disc is destroyed. Noticeable symptoms of point-like pain occur due to compression of the nerve trunks, which are intensified by neck movements and head turns. Here you can already suspect cervical osteochondrosis, whose symptoms in the second stage are as follows: 1. , 2. , 3. and 4.
Holding the head in one position for a long time leads to severe pain. At this stage of the disease, patients already come to the doctor for help. III stage. The fibrous ring in the disc is destroyed, hernias are formed. In the third stage, deformation of the spine, displacement and dislocation of the vertebrae due to their weak fixation is observed.
This is a severe stage of the disease, in which the patient is no longer able to support his head independently. Ischemia of the spinal cord and compression of the spinal arteries lead to paralysis and paresis in other parts of the body and spinal stroke.
Syndromes caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Nonspecificity and a large number of different symptoms accompanying cervical osteochondrosis make diagnosis and further treatment difficult, as some of them may be a sign of completely different diseases. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis belong to certain groups called syndromes. Their presence and severity may indicate pathology in the cervical spine with a certain localization.
A group of common syndromes:
Koreshkovy. It is otherwise called cervical radiculitis. It combines symptoms associated with entrapment of the nerve roots of the cervical vertebrae. It is characterized by "goosebumps" in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, and mushy skin that spreads to certain fingers.
Irritative-reflexive. Burning and acute pain in the back of the head and neck, sometimes radiating to the chest and shoulders, occur when changing the position of the head and neck, when sneezing, coughing or suddenly turning the head.
Vertebral artery syndrome includes:
Heartfelt. An almost identical picture with angina pectoris often leads to wrong diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome occurs due to irritation of the phrenic nerve receptors, partially affecting the pericardium and pectoralis major muscle. Therefore, spasms in the cardiac region are more reflex, in response to irritation of the cervical nerves. Symptoms:
Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. Subluxation of the first cervical vertebra with displacement can lead to the development of vegetovascular dystonia. VSD is not a definitive diagnosis, as it has no pronounced symptoms.
There may be neurological signs, symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow, spikes in intracranial pressure, and muscle spasms. As a result, the patient's complaints are reduced to dizziness, decreased visual acuity, loss of consciousness, headaches and nausea.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
The described condition of the spine is a very serious pathology that, if neglected, leads to disability, and as a result of deep disorders of cerebral circulation, to death. For this reason, you should not self-medicate if such symptoms appear.
In the initial stages, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is conservative, including drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal agents, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this relieves inflammation, pain, improves trophism of soft tissues and cartilage. vertebrae.