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 bone base. One way or another, osteochondrosis manifests itself in most people after the age of 30. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are varied, which often complicates the diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
General symptoms and signs of cervical osteochondrosis
The process of osteochondrosis affects any part of the spine or several at the same time. The lumbar and cervical vertebrae are the most susceptible to pathology, as they are the most susceptible to stress due to the anatomy of the human skeleton.
The consequences of spinal osteochondrosis in the cervical region are those that cause the greatest potential disorders and complications, as the neck is an area rich in neurovascular highways, many of which directly feed the brain. For this reason, the clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are largely associated with ischemia of brain areas. Furthermore, the nerve roots that provide sensitivity and motor activity of the arms and shoulder girdle, when compressed by destroyed spinal discs, can give a varied symptomatic picture.
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis 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 region
This is the most common symptom. The location of the pain can be extended, reaching the shoulders, clavicular region, chest, transforming into intense migraines.
The nature of the pain depends on the location of the injury 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 acute, with increased tone in the neck muscles and limited head movement. Often, pain in cervical osteochondrosis can be localized behind the sternum, in which case many patients confuse this symptom with angina pectoris. Differentiation can be made by taking a nitroglycerin tablet - the pain caused by osteochondrosis is not relieved by it.
Noise, buzzing, 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 complex of these symptoms is called cochlear or cochlear syndrome, and it is not always possible to determine its connection with osteochondrosis in the cervical region. A specific sign of differentiation is that noise, congestion and ringing in the ears are felt when changing position, after staying in the same position for a long time.
Dizziness
Dizziness is also caused by a violation of blood flow to the organs of the inner ear, which ensures balance in the body. Dizziness is often accompanied by nystagmus - voluntary oscillations of the pupils to the sides.
Shortness of breathe
This sensation arises due to irritation of the phrenic nerve endings. It is a component of the cervical nerve bundle and is involved in regulating 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 causes increased fatigue, decreased concentration and memory problems.
Nausea
Accompanied by belching of air. It is also caused by blood circulation problems in certain areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes seen with uncontrollable vomiting, triggered by head and body movements. Frequent nausea and vomiting result in decreased appetite, weight loss and nutritional deficiency.
Vision problems
"Floaters" in the eyes, decreased visual acuity, fog before the eyes - all these are symptoms caused by ischemia of the part of the brain responsible for vision. Patients with osteochondrosis complain less often about vision, since the insufficient blood supply of the vertebral vessels is compensated by the blood flow from the carotid artery system. Glasses and therapeutic exercises for the eye muscles do not solve the problem, vision usually improves after osteochondrosis treatment.
Blood pressure spikes
Unstable pressure levels are caused by impaired blood flow in the medulla oblongata, responsible for the functions of the motor-vascular center.
Sudden fainting or syncope
It occurs when cerebral arteries spasm due to a short-term interruption of blood flow through the vertebral arteries. The patient can be quickly brought out of the state of loss of consciousness by laying him down so that his legs are slightly higher than his head - the flow of blood to the brain allows the person to return to consciousness. After a fainting attack, reversible problems with speech and movement may occur for some time due to a brief interruption in blood flow.
Pharyngeal symptoms
They can often be the only sign indicating cervical osteochondrosis. It is expressed as pain, dryness and a feeling of lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing. Symptoms are associated with compression of the nerve plexuses responsible for innervating the pharynx. It is necessary to differentiate such manifestations from a similar clinic with inflammation or neoplasms.
Increased body temperature
An increase in body temperature in cervical osteochondrosis is not the most typical symptom, it is observed rarely and locally: in the cervical region and collar, with slight redness of the skin. The clinic of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine can be, firstly, of varying degrees of severity, it depends on the stage of development pathologies, also during periods of exacerbations they are brighter and, secondly, they develop into certain 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 even be noticed. Important: These symptoms become more pronounced when the head is tilted.
As a rule, in the first stage of cervical osteochondrosis, patients do not go to the doctor, believing that all the symptoms are associated with fatigue, stress, age, lack of sleep. Stage II At this stage, protrusion of the vertebral discs has begun, the intervertebral spaces narrow and the collagen fiber of the fibrous ring of the disc is destroyed. Noticeable pain symptoms of a punctual nature appear due to compression of the nerve trunks, which intensify with movements of the neck and turns of the head. Here you can already suspect cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which in the second phase are as follows: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Keeping your head in one position for a long time causes severe pain. At this stage of the disease, patients already look to the doctor for help. Stage III The fibrous ring of the disc is destroyed, hernias are formed. In the third stage, deformation of the spine, displacement and dislocation of the vertebrae is observed due to their weak fixation.
This is a serious phase of the disease, in which the patient can no longer support their head alone. Spinal cord ischemia and compression of spinal arteries lead to paralysis and paresis in other parts of the body and stroke.
Syndromes caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The non-specificity and large number of varied symptoms accompanying cervical osteochondrosis make diagnosis and further treatment difficult, as some of them may be signs of completely different diseases. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis fall into certain groups called syndromes. Its presence and severity may indicate pathology in the cervical spine with a specific location.
A group of common syndromes:
Koreshkovy. Also called cervical radiculitis. Combines symptoms associated with compression of the nerve roots of the cervical vertebrae. Characterized by "goosebumps" in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, and pasty skin spreading to some fingers.
Irritative-reflexive. Burning and sharp pain in the back of the neck and neck, sometimes radiating to the chest and shoulders, occurring when the position of the head and neck changes, when sneezing, coughing or turning the head sharply.
Vertebral artery syndrome includes:
Cardiac. A picture almost identical to that of angina pectoris often leads to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome arises due to irritation of the phrenic nerve receptors, partially involving the pericardium and the pectoralis major muscle. Thus, spasms in the cardiac 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 pronounced symptoms.
There may be neurological signs, symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure spikes, and muscle spasms. As a result, the patient's complaints boil down to dizziness, decreased visual acuity, loss of consciousness, headaches 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, as a result of profound disorders of cerebral circulation, to death. For this reason, you should not self-medicate if these symptoms appear.
In the initial stages, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is conservative, including medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal agents, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this relieves inflammation, pain, improves the trophism of soft tissues and cartilage of the vertebrae.