Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases unique to humans. The reason is a characteristic of a person as a straight leg. The vertical position of the spine causes the vertebrae to press against each other, and the bones and cartilage tissue of the spine are gradually destroyed and deformed. It is recommended to treat osteochondrosis as early as possible.
The human spine begins in the cervical region. In total, there are seven vertebrae in this department, from the first to the seventh. The vertebrae are separated from each other by an intervertebral disc. The cervical spine is a very vulnerable part, mainly due to the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area. In the cervical region, the disease is reflected mainly in the disc, which is a weak point in the structure of the spine.
Factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles also contribute to the spread of cervical osteochondrosis. Also, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is strongly influenced by inadequate blood supply to cartilage tissue.
Therefore, the development of this disease is a complex and lengthy process and has no single cause. Although there is a link between a person’s sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, the disease is often found in trained people, especially athletes, due to increased load on the cervical spine during weight lifting.
In older people, as a rule, deterioration of the vertebral structure is an inevitable process associated with the aging of the body and the weakness of its defenses. However, the most common type of pathology is cervical osteochondrosis, in which the main role is played by external or internal negative factors.
Factors that contribute to the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- bad posture
- Rachiocampsis
- back injury
- Overweight
- hard physical work
- Sedentary work
- Violation of metabolic processes
- Frequent hypothermia
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep
- Stress, fatigue
- hereditary factors
- Contagious disease
- Body features such as neck too long or too short
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease has four stages. It is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease by analyzing the symptoms, because sometimes the degree of deterioration of bone and cartilage tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.
First degree
The process of destruction begins in the bone and cartilage tissue of the vertebrae. As a rule, at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms are mild. The patient is either not aware of it at all, or does not associate it with spinal disease, but associates it with stress and too much work.
Second Degree
The height of the disc begins to decrease, cracks appear on its surface. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage are manifested in persistent pain, weakness, numbness in certain parts of the face.
third degree
Herniated intervertebral discs are formed, ducts and neck muscles are damaged. The patient had dizziness, pain in the back of the head.
year four
Osteophytes appear - bone growths that protect the vertebrae from stress, which leads to pinching of nerves, which leads to stiffness and damage to adjacent joints.
symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- muscle weakness
- Increased sweating
- Numb hands
- Coordination is affected
- Dizziness
- Visual and hearing impairments
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache
These symptoms, characteristic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, may be present at all stages of the disease. In most cases, there are only a few symptoms from the list, and the rest may be absent. A person who first discovers signs of such a disease does not always suspect that he or she has cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, he can turn to various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neuropathologists, surgeons. And a correct diagnosis as a result can be made very late.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndrome
With cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes occur, that is, typical conditions that have a complex of characteristic features. They appear to depend on the nerves and arteries affected by the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- heart syndrome
- hypertension syndrome
- radicular syndrome
- cervical migraine syndrome
Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to the fact that the blood flow in the arteries that run along the spine and feed the brain is reduced. The syndrome is indicated by symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, hearing and vision impairment. In some cases, fainting may occur. Often there is a kind of syndrome, implying that under normal circumstances the blood flow in the arteries is normal, but when the head is turned in one direction or the other, it can go down sharply.
Hypertension is also one of the most dangerous complications. Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by compression of the arteries, not the arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow from the head. This syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can be indicated by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and headache.