Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is represented by degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the intervertebral disc. This disease refers to progressive disc disorders.
The cervical spine is represented by 7 discs. The cervical area is considered the most mobile. Thanks to this mobility, tilting and turning of the head becomes possible.
The cause of frequent injuries to this part of the spine is the weakness of his muscular corset. The cervical area withstands a constant load, which consists of holding the head, doing turns, tilted. It is because of the tension so strong that dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis) occur in it.
Disease stage
In osteochondrosis, the following stages of development are distinguished:
- Stage 1 osteochondrosis of the cervical area has instability as the main symptom. In vertebral discs, early disturbances were noted.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree cervical region has disc protrusion as the main symptom. Destruction of the fibrous ring occurs due to the reduction of the gap between the discs. The patient is disturbed by a painful sensation, the cause of which is pinching of the nerve endings.
- Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree cervical region manifests itself in the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia occurs. At the developmental stage of the disease, the patient's spine is severely deformed.
- The fourth degree is considered the worst. The patient is disturbed by a very strong sharp pain on slight movements. Periodically, the patient's condition improves, he no longer worries about very severe pain. But such emissions are very dangerous. It shows the formation of bone growths that connect the vertebrae. The growths that form limit the movement of the spine and in the future can cause disability of the patient.
Pathological causes
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine begins to occur not only in people over 40 years of age, but also in young people (18-30 years).
The most common causes of cervical spine osteochondrosis:
- overweight;
- trauma;
- posture violations;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic diseases;
- the presence of nervous tension, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle clamps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, blood supply is disrupted, mobility is limited and posture is impaired. As a result of these changes, dystrophic processes develop in the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. As a result of the dystrophic process, narrowing of the intervertebral disc occurs, as the nerve roots emerging from it are compressed.
symptoms
The uniqueness of the cervical spine lies in its saturation with the blood vessels needed to nourish the brain. Thus, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend on inadequate blood supply to the organs of the head. Lack of oxygen and nutrients has a negative effect on the brain.
Osteochondrosis symptoms of the cervical spine are as follows:
- Frequent headaches.
- Hearing loss, buzzing in the ears.
- The appearance of severe dizziness, which may be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Decreased vision.
- Violation of movement coordination.
- The appearance of a hoarse voice.
- Snoring occurs, indicating the presence of chronic muscle tension.
As a result of pinched nerves in the cervical region, the following symptoms appear:
- pain in the skin, teeth;
- weakness in the arms;
- numb, cold fingers on upper limbs;
- pain in the neck, throat.
The pathological changes that accompany the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to pain in the neck, can raise suspicions of the development of a completely different disease. Turning to the clinic with complaints of pain in the elbow, decreased vision, manifestations of visual disturbances, the patient does not allow the thought of developing osteochondrosis in it.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine are conventionally divided into 3 groups:
- neurological symptoms. It is a complication that occurs as a result of trauma to the discs, nerve roots, nerves, and nerve plexuses. This symptom is pain. Pain in osteochondrosis in the cervical region is piercing, shooting character. It can also be characterized as dull, boring. It can be continuous or intermittent, but is always localized at the depth of the neck. It is pain in the neck that is considered a major sign of the development of osteochondrosis. He accompanies the patient from the moment of awakening, invigorating during the day. The pain can affect the upper limbs, chest area, head.
- Symptoms associated with the effects of the disease on the spinal cord. It manifests itself in the presence of movement disorders. The patient, closing his eyes, felt a lack of coordination. Insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord leads to increased fatigue, the development of myelopathy (loss of pain, temperature sensitivity). The patient is worried about weakness in the upper, lower part.
- Symptoms associated with damage to the brain, cranial nerves, cerebral vessels. It manifests itself in pathological effects on vessels. Lack of blood flow in the system that controls the supply of blood to the brainstem leads to a violation of its function. The patient has increased fatigue, irritability, he is worried about sleep disturbances. She had increased pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical area, pulse also increased, sweating, and dizziness appeared. Also, patients may experience noise in the ears with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by a feeling of blockage in the ears, the hearing itself is reduced. With the presence of these symptoms, as well as a decrease in visual acuity, it is very difficult to determine the relationship with progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
Often, these symptoms do not appear separately, but together, but with the dominance of one group.
Classification of the syndrome
When osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, the symptoms will depend on the object attacking the disease:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- radicular syndrome.
- heart syndrome.
- Irritable reflex syndrome.
- Spinal cord compression.
Heart syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Heart muscle spasm can be caused by compression of nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical region. Cardiac syndrome appears with irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the root of the frenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pain is felt for quite some time, for several hours. They become stronger during sudden movements (sneezing, sharp dizziness, coughing).
Radicular syndrome
The cause of their occurrence is a pinched nerve. Such symptoms appear in patients due to nerve root compression. The pain occurs directly in the neck, then descends, affecting the shoulder blades, shoulders, outer part of the forearms, up to the fingers. Patients may feel pastosity, the effect of "running goosebumps", tingling in the fingers, hands, forearms.
Differences in disease symptoms also depend on the segments affecting the disease:
- Pastosity of the index, middle finger is observed when the central nerve root is injured.
- Pastosity of the ring finger, little finger is characteristic of the defeat of the brachial nerve root.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of a throbbing headache. This persistent pain also affects the temple, crown, occipital and superciliary areas. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. Increased pain is observed when moving, taking an uncomfortable position. Patients also have disturbances in auditory, visual, vestibular function. The patient noticed a decrease in visual acuity, hearing, he began to be disturbed by pain in the eyes, disturbances in the vestibular apparatus. With general weakness of the body, there is a possibility of nausea attacks, loss of consciousness.
Irritable reflex syndrome
The patient is bothered by acute pain in the cervical-occipital region. It occurs at the beginning of movement after a state of rest, for example, after sleep. Also, burning pain can accompany sneezing, doing sharp turns of the head. He gave on the shoulders, the chest.
If you feel any of these symptoms, you should contact the clinic for specific treatment to avoid serious complications.