Osteochondrosis is a common pathology of the spine, characterized by a dystrophic change in the structure of the cartilaginous discs of the vertebrae and their bony base. To one degree or another, osteochondrosis manifests itself in most people after 30 years. 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 at once. The lumbar and cervical vertebrae are the most susceptible to pathology, as they are most susceptible to stress due to the anatomy of the human skeleton.
The consequences of spinal osteochondrosis in the cervical region cause the most inconvenience and potential complications, because the neck is an area rich in neurovascular highways, many of which directly supply the brain. For this reason, clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are largely associated with ischemia of brain areas. In addition, the nerve roots that provide sensitivity and motor activity of the arms and shoulder girdle, when compressed by destroyed intervertebral discs, can give a varied symptomatic picture.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the neck 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
This is the most common symptom. The localization of pain can be extensive, affecting the shoulders, clavicular region, chest, turning into intense migraines.
The nature of the pain depends on the location of the lesion and the severity of the pathology. In the early stages of the development of the disease, the pain can be quickly transient, gradually becoming chronic and painful.
During exacerbations, the pain becomes throbbing, with increased tone of the neck muscles and limited head movements. Often, the pain associated with cervical osteochondrosis can be localized behind the sternum, in which case many patients confuse this symptom with angina. Differentiation can be done by taking a nitroglycerin tablet - the pain caused by osteochondrosis is not relieved by this.
Noise, ringing, 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 combination of these symptoms is called cochlear or cochlear syndrome, and it is not always possible to determine its connection with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. A specific sign of differentiation is that noise, congestion and ringing in the ears are felt when changing position, after a long stay in one position.
Dizziness
Dizziness is also caused by impaired blood flow to the inner ear organs, which keep the body balanced. Dizziness is often accompanied by nystagmus - voluntary oscillations of the pupils to the sides.
Lack of air
This sensation appears due to irritation of the phrenic nerve endings. It is a component of the cervical nerve bundle and participates 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 leads to increased fatigue, decreased concentration, and memory problems.
Nausea
Accompanied by belching of air. It is also caused by problems with blood flow to certain areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting, caused by movements of the head and body. Frequent nausea and vomiting leads to decreased appetite, weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.
Vision problems
"Floaters" in the eyes, decreased visual acuity, fog before the eyes - these are all symptoms caused by ischemia of the part of the brain responsible for vision. Patients with osteochondrosis complain about their vision less often, since insufficient blood supply from the vertebral vessels is compensated by blood flow from the carotid artery system. Glasses and therapeutic exercises for the eye muscles do not solve the problem, vision usually improves after treatment of osteochondrosis.
Increased blood pressure
Unstable pressure levels are caused by impaired blood flow in the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for the functions of the vascular-motor center.
Sudden fainting or syncope
Occurs when the cerebral arteries constrict due to a short-term cessation of blood flow in the vertebral arteries. The patient can be quickly brought out of the state of unconsciousness by lying him down so that his legs are slightly higher than his 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 a period of time due to a brief cessation of blood flow.
Pharyngeal symptoms
Often they can be the only sign indicating cervical osteochondrosis. Expressed by pain, dryness and a feeling of lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing. The symptoms are associated with compression of the nerve plexuses responsible for innervation of the pharynx. It is necessary to differentiate these manifestations from a similar clinic with inflammation or neoplasms.
Increased body temperature
Increased body temperature in cervical osteochondrosis is not the most typical symptom, it is observed rarely and locally: in the region of the cervix and cervix, with slight redness of the skin. The clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be, firstly, of varying degrees of severity, it depends on the stage of development of pathologies, also during periods of exacerbations they are brighter and, secondly, they progress tocertain syndromes.
Symptoms depending on the stage of cervical osteochondrosis
Stage I: Beginning of degenerative processes in the cartilage of the vertebral discs. Symptoms are mild and sometimes may not be seen at all. Important: these symptoms are accentuated when the head is tilted.
As a rule, at the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, patients do not consult the doctor, believing that all symptoms are associated with fatigue, stress, age and lack of sleep. Stage II At this stage, protrusion of the spinal discs has begun, the intervertebral spaces narrow, and the collagen fiber of the annulus fibrosus of the disc is destroyed. Noticeable painful symptoms of a one-time nature appear due to compression of the nerve trunks, which intensify with neck movements and head turns. Here one can already suspect cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which in the second stage are as follows: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Keeping your head in the same position for a long time results in severe pain. At this stage of the disease, patients are already asking the doctor for help. Stage III The annulus fibrosus of the disc is destroyed, hernias form. At the third stage, deformation of the spine, displacement and dislocation of the vertebrae is observed due to their weak fixation.
This is a serious stage of the disease, in which the patient is no longer able to support his head alone. Spinal cord ischemia and compression of the spinal arteries lead to paralysis and paresis in other parts of the body and stroke.
Syndromes caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The nonspecificity and large number of varied symptoms accompanying cervical osteochondrosis make diagnosis and subsequent treatment difficult, since some of them may be signs of completely different diseases. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into certain groups called syndromes. Their presence and severity can indicate a pathology of the cervical spine with a precise location.
A group of common syndromes:
Koreshkovy. Otherwise called cervical radiculitis. It involves symptoms associated with pinched nerve roots in the cervical vertebrae. Characterized by "goosebumps" in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, and pasty skin extending to some fingers.
Irritative-reflexive. Burning, sharp pain in the back of the head and neck, sometimes radiating to the chest and shoulder, occurring when the position of the head and neck changes, when sneezing, coughing or abruptly turning the head.
Vertebral artery syndrome includes:
Cardiac. An almost identical picture with angina often leads to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome appears due to irritation of the phrenic nerve receptors, partly involving the pericardium and the pectoralis major muscle. So, spasms in the heart region are more of a 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 vegetative-vascular dystonia. VSD is not a definitive diagnosis, as it does not present with pronounced symptoms.
There may be neurological signs, symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow, increases in intracranial pressure and muscle spasms. As a result, the patient's complaints boil down to dizziness, decreased visual acuity, loss of consciousness, headache and nausea.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis
The described condition of the spine is a very serious pathology, which, if neglected, leads to disability and, due to deep disorders of cerebral circulation, to death. For this reason, you should not self-medicate if such symptoms appear.
In the early stages, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is conservative and includes medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal agents, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this relieves inflammation, pain, improves tissue trophismsoft and cartilage of the vertebrae.