The main signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

Cervical osteochondrosis is a very common disease that affects men and women equally. In addition, age does not play a particular role here. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are not found only in the elderly, the pathology of which is a consequence of the natural aging process. The disease increasingly affects young people and, in most cases, they themselves are responsible.

The reasons for the development of pathology

This lesion of the spine 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 supply the brain. In other words, over time, the spine stops functioning normally along its entire length.

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

1. Lift and move heavy objects.
2. Important sporting loads.
3. Bad weight bearing.
4. Long-term adherence to a static posture: working at a computer, writing notes, reading books, office work. This is the main reason for young people.
5. Genetic factor.

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

Classification of symptoms

Thus, treatment of the spine should only be carried out after the patient has received an accurate diagnosis. And for this, the doctor must know the clinical picture of the patient and apply all methods of instrumental examination. The symptoms that occur in the patient depend on the degree of damage to the bodily systems:

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

Now you can take a closer look at the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis.

The most common symptoms of the 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 at the neck, back of the head and neck. The 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 throbbing pain during movement. The muscles are very tight at the same time. Sometimes only an injection - an anesthetic blockage - can eliminate this symptom.
• Tinnitus, feeling of suffocation. This occurs as a result of a deterioration in the blood supply to the vestibular apparatus.
• Dizziness. It is caused by a lack of oxygen because the inner ear is poorly supplied with blood. This condition is further accompanied by uncontrolled irregular movements of the pupils.
• Fainting, from which the patient comes out quite quickly, 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. In other words, the patient is simply not able to breathe deeply. He also snores and may suddenly stop breathing. Over time, the patient develops shortness of breath and attacks of choking. Further oxygen deprivation will damage brain tissue, resulting in impaired 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.

• Vision problems. Cervical osteochondrosis can cause such a symptom as "flies" in front of the eyes or fog, a decrease in severity, a violation of the focus of the gaze. Also, exercise therapy or wearing glasses cannot solve the problem.
• Pressure change. This condition occurs due to a spasm of the arteries. The patient may even pass out.
• Dry and lumpy sensation in the throat. Sometimes this is the only symptom that indicates the neck is affected. Therefore, osteochondrosis in this case can be easily confused with other pathologies.
• Temperature increase. This symptom is rare. In addition, it is not the basal temperature that changes, but the local temperature. The skin around the neck becomes hot and red.
• Reduced mobility. The neck seems to get stuck. And you can also hear an unpleasant crackle and crackle in the neck when turning your head.
• Weakness in the arms and a burning sensation between the shoulder blades.
• Disorders of coordination of movements, which affects the patient's gait.

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

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

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

1. First stage. It is accompanied by periodic headaches, discomfort in the neck, shoulders, arms. There is a slight limitation in mobility. At the cervix, there may be a slight decrease in skin sensitivity. At this stage, treatment is practically not carried out, since patients do not seek medical help. Some patients try to treat osteochondrosis at home using folk remedies.
2. Second step. In the cervical spine, the pain intensifies, an unpleasant cracking is heard. In the shoulder area, as well as in the hands, a serious violation of sensitivity appears. Headaches at this stage practically do not go away, the patient's vision deteriorates, noise occurs in the head and ears, and the clarity of tendon reflexes decreases. With an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, throbbing pains appear, radiating under the scapula. 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 step. Here, the collagen fibers of the disc are already destroyed, the appearance of a hernial protrusion. The fixation of the vertebrae is disturbed and they begin to fall out. Even dislocations can occur. The patient develops very severe pain in the neck and heart, there is 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 stroke.

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

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

What syndromes cause osteochondrosis?

So, there are certain sets 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:

• Root. Alternatively, 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 along the shoulder and extends to the forearms and fingers; the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes; tingling in fingers, forearms, hands. The location of symptoms may vary depending on the damaged root pair.
• Irritating reflex. It is characterized by a sharp burning pain in the neck and occiput, which appears due to movements after sleep, when sneezing. Unpleasant sensations can be given to the chest.
• Vertebral artery syndrome. Here the following symptoms stand out: loss of consciousness, nausea, burning headache severe in nature, extending to the parietal, temporal and occipital parts of the skull. The patient is characterized by weakness, hearing impairment, pain in the eyes 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 cardiac syndrome are as follows: sudden onset pain, which increases with the slightest movement; tachycardia; the inability to stop the attack with special heart pills that promote the expansion of coronary vessels. At the same time, there are no signs of circulatory disorders on the cardiogram.

Osteochondrosis having a chronic form, its exacerbations occur periodically. The intensity of symptoms increases. Feelings can persist for a long time and only an injection of anesthetic can get rid of them. The tablets may not be effective.

How is the pathology diagnosed?

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

• External examination of the patient.
• Neurological tests.
• Duplex scan or Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels.
• MRI.
• 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

Thus, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be carried out from the early stages. In addition, a sick person can take the necessary drugs, do therapeutic exercises at home, but only after a thorough examination and consultation with specialists.

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

In order to eliminate severe pain that the pills cannot stop, a special injection is used, which is made in the inter-articular region. However, this blocking method can only be used a few times a year.

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