The main signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is a very common disease that affects men and women equally. Also, age doesn't play a special role here. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are found not only in the elderly, whose pathology is a consequence of the natural aging process. The disease is increasingly present in young people and in most cases they are themselves to blame.

The reasons for the development of pathology

This lesion of the spinal column has a degenerative-dystrophic character. That is, in the vertebrae, as well as in all their structural elements, pathological changes occur, which can no longer be reversed in the later stages. This type of osteochondrosis is considered the most dangerous, since its consequence is the violation of the main nerve roots and vessels that feed the brain. That is, over time, the spine stops functioning normally along its entire length.

The following reasons for the development of the disease can be distinguished:

1. Lifting and moving heavy objects.
2. Significant sports loads.
3. Improper transport of weights.
4. Long-term adherence to a static posture: computer work, writing notes, reading books, office work. This is the main reason for young people.
5. Genetic factor.

Of course, inflammatory processes that have occurred in the spine or other parts of the body can also provoke osteochondrosis of the neck. Other reasons are not excluded: hypothermia, trauma, surgery.

Symptom classification

Hence, spine treatment should only be performed after the patient has been given an accurate diagnosis. And for this, the doctor must know the patient's clinical picture and apply all methods of instrumental examination. Symptoms that arise in the patient depend on the degree of damage to the body's systems:

1. Most of the symptoms on the side of the brain are due to impaired blood circulation due to vascular compression.
2. The picture of peripheral nerve damage appears due to compression of the nerve roots exiting the vertebral foramen.
3. Severe neurological disorders appear in the late stages of the development of the disease due to pinching of the spinal cord.

Now you can consider in more detail the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis.

The most common symptoms of pathology

Despite the reason that contributed to the appearance of the problem, the clinical picture is almost always the same in all patients. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations. They are located in the neck, in the back of the head and in the collar area. Pain can also spread to the shoulders, chest, collarbone of the skeleton. Frequent migraines are characteristic of osteochondrosis. Gradually, the discomfort becomes painful, chronic. The exacerbation of the pathology causes excruciating pain when moving. The muscles are very tense at the same time. Sometimes just an injection - an anesthetic block - can eliminate this symptom.
• Tinnitus, feeling of suffocation. This happens due to a deterioration in the blood supply to the vestibular apparatus.
• Dizziness. It is caused by a lack of oxygen, as the inner ear is poorly supplied with blood. This condition is also accompanied by uncontrolled irregular movements of the pupils.
• Fainting, from which the patient comes out quickly enough, if there is an improvement in blood circulation in the affected area.
• Feeling of lack of air. The presented symptom appears due to irritation of the phrenic nerve. That is, the patient is simply not able to take a deep breath. He also snores and can suddenly stop breathing. Over time, the patient develops shortness of breath and attacks of suffocation. Further oxygen deficiency will damage brain tissue, resulting in reduced attention and memory.
• Nausea. Sometimes any movement of the body or head is accompanied by vomiting, which is difficult to control. The patient's appetite is disturbed, the weight is reduced.

• Poor eyesight. Cervical osteochondrosis can cause such a symptom as "flies" in front of the eyes or fog, decreased severity, violation of gaze focus. Also, physical therapy or wearing glasses cannot solve the problem.
• Pressure change. This condition occurs due to the spasm of the arteries. The patient may even lose consciousness.
• Dry, lumpy sensation in the throat. Sometimes this is the only symptom that says the neck is affected. Therefore, osteochondrosis in this case can be easily confused with other pathologies.
• Temperature increase. This symptom is rare. Furthermore, it is not the basal temperature that changes, but the local temperature. The skin around the neck becomes hot and red.
• Limited mobility. The neck seems to wedge. And you can also hear an unpleasant crackle and creak in your neck when you turn your head.
• Weakness in the arms and burning sensation between the shoulder blades.
• Impaired coordination of movements, which affects the patient's gait.

Some of the signs of cervical osteochondrosis, listed above, are not specific. This makes diagnosing the disease somewhat difficult, as a person does not turn to specialists in time.

Symptoms of the disease, depending on the degree of its development

Depending on what symptoms are observed in the patient, what is their prevalence and intensity, we can talk about the stage of development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Each grade has its own characteristics:

1. First stage. He is accompanied by periodic headaches, discomfort in the neck, shoulders, arms. There is a slight limitation of mobility. In the collar area, there may be a slight decrease in skin sensitivity. At this stage, treatment is practically not carried out, as patients do not seek medical help. Some patients try to cure osteochondrosis at home using folk remedies.
2. Second phase. In the cervical spine, the pain intensifies, an unpleasant crunch is heard. In the shoulder region, as well as in the hands, a serious violation of sensitivity appears. Headache at this stage practically does not go away, the patient's vision deteriorates, noise occurs in the head and ears, and the clarity of tendon reflexes decreases. During an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, shooting pains appear, radiating under the shoulder blade. Here it is no longer possible not to notice the symptoms of the disease, and the patient tries to see a doctor. However, it is no longer possible to completely get rid of defeat. It will only be possible to slow down its further development.
3. Third stage. Here the collagen fibers of the disc are already destroyed, the appearance of a hernial protrusion. The fixation of the vertebrae is interrupted and they begin to fall out. Dislocations can also occur. The patient develops very severe pain in the neck and heart, there are paresis and paralysis of the upper limbs, the spine is bent. Tendon reflexes at this stage of development of osteochondrosis are practically absent. A complication of this degree of cervical osteochondrosis is a spinal stroke.

If a person "rescues" from illness at home without consulting a doctor, this behavior can lead to disability.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine cannot be completely cured, but timely and correct therapy can slow its progression.

What syndromes cause osteochondrosis?

Hence, there are some series of symptoms that indicate that a person has a certain syndrome. If at least one sign is absent, it is not necessary to talk about such a pathological condition.

There are several syndromes caused by cervical osteochondrosis:

• Radicular. In another way, it can be called "cervical radiculitis". It appears as a result of pinched nerves. It is characterized by the following symptoms: the presence of pain that radiates to the shoulder blades, runs down the shoulder and extends to the forearms and fingers; the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes; tingling in the fingers, forearms, hands. The localization of symptoms can vary depending on which root pair is damaged.
• Irritative reflex. It is characterized by acute burning in the neck and occiput, which appears due to movement after sleep, when sneezing. Unpleasant sensations can be given in the chest.
• Vertebral artery syndrome. Here the following symptoms stand out: loss of consciousness, nausea, severe head burning in nature, which extends to the parietal, temporal and occipital parts of the skull. The patient is characterized by weakness, hearing problems, eye pain and blurred vision.
• Cardiac. It has a peculiarity: it is easy to confuse it with an attack of angina pectoris, so the prescribed treatment may turn out to be wrong. If the patient is diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of heart syndrome are as follows: pain that appears suddenly, which increases with the slightest movement; tachycardia; the inability to stop the attack with special heart pills that promote the expansion of the coronary vessels. At the same time, there are no signs of circulatory disorders on the cardiogram.

Since osteochondrosis has a chronic form, its exacerbations periodically occur. The intensity of the symptoms increases. Feelings can persist for a long time, and only an injection of anesthetic can remove them. The tablets may not be effective.

How is the disease diagnosed?

To accurately determine the severity of osteochondrosis, to identify the extent of the destruction of the vertebrae, the patient must undergo a thorough examination. It includes the following procedures:

• External examination of the patient.
• Neurological tests.
• Duplex scan or Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels.
• Magnetic resonance.
• CT.
• X-ray of the cervical spine in two projections.
• Electrocardiogram.

Laboratory analyzes in this case are not informative. Although they are sometimes prescribed to determine the cause of the development of osteochondrosis.

Features of the treatment of pathology

Hence, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis must be carried out in the early stages. Also, a sick person can take the necessary medications, do therapeutic exercises at home, but only after a thorough examination and consultation with specialists.

Therapy must be complete. It is not enough to remove only the symptoms of the pathology. It is necessary to try to restore the functionality of the cervical spine. For this, a person needs drugs (painkillers, hormonal, vitamin complexes, chondroprotective drugs), as well as therapeutic exercises.

To eliminate intense pain that pills cannot stop, a special injection is used, which is performed in the interarticular region. However, this locking method can only be used a few times a year.

In addition to drug treatment, the patient is offered physiotherapy procedures: massage, ultrasound and treatment with ultraviolet rays. If conservative therapy does not work, the patient is prescribed surgery. But it is, rather, an extreme measure, and it is better not to allow the disease to reach such a state.