Osteochondrosis is a common pathology of the spine, characterized by dystrophic changes in the discs and bone bases of the vertebrae. To some degree, osteochondrosis appears in most people after the age of 30. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are varied, 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 parts at the same time. Lumbar and cervical vertebrae are most susceptible to pathology, as they are most susceptible to stress due to the anatomy of the human skeleton.
The consequences of cervical osteochondrosis cause the most discomfort and possible complications in the neck region, since the neck is an area rich in neurovascular highways, many of which directly feed the brain, therefore the clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are largely related to ischemia of brain areas. In addition, the nerve roots that ensure the sensitivity and motor activity of the arms and shoulder girdle can be compressed by the destroyed spinal discs and give a varied symptom picture.
The signs of cervical osteochondrosis depend on which body system is affected by the pathology: Below we will consider the general clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Pain in the back of the head, neck and collar area
This is the most common symptom. The localization of the pain can be prolonged, affecting the shoulder, the collarbone region, the 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 stage of the development of the disease, the pain can be temporary and gradually become chronic and painful.
During exacerbations, the pain becomes shooting, with increased tone of the neck muscles and limited head movement. Cervical osteochondrosis pain can often 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 - the pain caused by osteochondrosis does not subside with it.
Noise, ringing, fullness in the ear
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 relationship with osteochondrosis of the neck region. A specific sign of discrimination is that noise, congestion and tinnitus can be felt when changing body position, after staying in one position for a long time.
Dizziness
Dizziness is also caused by a disturbance in the blood flow of the organs of the inner ear, which ensures the balance of the body. Vertigo is often accompanied by nystagmus - voluntary side-to-side oscillations of the pupils.
Lack of air
This sensation occurs due to irritation of the phrenic nerve endings. It is a component of the cervical nerve bundle and is involved in the regulation of breathing, its depth and frequency. Patients complain that they cannot 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
It is accompanied by a burp of air. It is also caused by blood circulation problems in certain areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting, which is triggered by movement of the head and body. Frequent nausea and vomiting results in decreased appetite, weight loss and nutrient 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 vision, since 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.
Blood pressure rises
The unstable pressure level is caused by a disturbance in the blood flow of the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for the functions of the vascular-motor center.
Sudden fainting or fainting
It occurs when the cerebral arteries spasm due to a short-term stoppage of blood flow through the vertebral arteries. A patient can be brought out of unconsciousness quickly by laying him down with his legs slightly higher than his head - blood flowing to the brain allows the person to regain consciousness. After fainting, due to the short stoppage of blood flow, reversible speech and movement problems may occur for a while.
Pharyngeal symptoms
Often these can be the only signs that indicate cervical osteochondrosis. Pain, dryness and feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing. The symptoms are associated with compression of the nerve plexuses responsible for the innervation of the pharynx. Such manifestations should be distinguished from a similar clinic where there is inflammation or neoplasm.
An increase in body temperature
An increase in body temperature is not the most characteristic symptom in the case of cervical osteochondrosis, it can be observed rarely and locally: in the neck and collar area, with slight skin redness. The clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is primarily of variable severity, it depends on the stage of development of the pathologies, they are also clearer during exacerbations, and secondly, they develop into certain syndromes.
Symptoms depending on the stage of cervical osteochondrosis
Stage I: Beginning of degenerative processes in the discs of the intervertebral discs. Symptoms are mild and sometimes not noticeable at all. Important: these symptoms become more pronounced when the head is tilted.
As a general rule, in the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, patients do not go to the doctor because they believe that all symptoms are related to fatigue, stress, age, lack of sleep. II. stage In this stage, the discs have begun to protrude, the intervertebral spaces narrow, and the collagen fiber of the fibrous ring of the disc is destroyed. Due to the compression of the nerve trunks, noticeable, point-like pain symptoms appear, which intensify with neck movements and turning the head. Here you can already suspect cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which in the second stage are as follows: 1. , 2. , 3. and 4.
Keeping the head in one position for a long time leads to severe pain. At this stage of the disease, patients already turn to a doctor for help III. stage The fibrous ring in the disc is destroyed and hernias develop. In the third stage, deformation of the spine, displacement and displacement of the vertebrae due to their weak fixation is observed.
This is the severe stage of the disease, in which the patient can no longer support his head independently. Ischemia of the spinal cord and compression of spinal arteries leads to paralysis and paresis in other parts of the body, as well as to spinal cord stroke.
Syndromes caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The non-specificity and variety of symptoms associated with cervical osteochondrosis make diagnosis and further treatment difficult, as some of them may be signs of completely different diseases. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be classified into groups called certain syndromes. Their presence and severity may indicate cervical spine pathology of a specific location.
A group of common syndromes:
Koreshkovy. Also known as cervical radiculitis. It combines symptoms related to pinched nerve roots in 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, occurs when changing the position of the head and neck, sneezing, coughing or turning the head sharply.
Vertebral artery syndrome includes:
Heart. A picture almost identical to that of angina pectoris often leads to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome occurs due to irritation of the phrenic nerve receptors, which partly affects the pericardium and pectoral muscles. Thus, spasms around the heart are more of a reflex, in response to irritation of the cervical nerves. Symptoms:
Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. Subluxation with displacement of the first cervical vertebra can lead to the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia. VSD is not a sure diagnosis because it has no obvious symptoms.
Neurological symptoms, symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow, increased intracranial pressure and muscle spasms may occur. As a result, the patient's complaints can be traced back to dizziness, reduced visual acuity, loss of consciousness, headache and nausea.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
The described condition of the spine is a very serious disease, which, if neglected, leads to disability and death due to deep cerebral circulation disorders. For this reason, you should not self-medicate if such symptoms appear.
In the initial stage, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is conservative, including drug treatment: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal drugs, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this relieves inflammation, pain, improves the trophism of soft tissues and cartilage tissues. vertebrae.