Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is represented by a degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the intervertebral discs. This disease refers to progressive disc disorders.
The cervical spine is represented by 7 discs. The cervical region is considered the most mobile. Thanks to this mobility, tilting and turning of the head become possible.
The reason for frequent injury to this part of the spine is the weakness of its muscular corset. The cervical region supports constant loads, which consist of keeping the head, performing its turns, inclinations. It is because of such strong tension that dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis) occur.
stages of the disease
In osteochondrosis, the following stages of development are distinguished:
- 1st degree osteochondrosis of the cervical region has instability as its main symptom. In the vertebral discs, initial disturbances are observed.
- 2nd degree osteochondrosis of the cervical region has disc protrusion as its main symptom. The destruction of the annulus fibrosus occurs due to the decrease in the space between the discs. The patient is disturbed by painful sensations, the cause of which is the compression of the nerve endings.
- Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree cervical region is manifested in the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia occurs. At this stage of disease progression, the patient's spine suffers severe deformities.
- The fourth degree is considered the most serious. The patient is disturbed by very sharp sharp pains at the slightest movements. Periodically, the patient's condition improves, he is no longer worried about very severe pain. But such relief is very dangerous. Indicates the formation of bony growths connecting the vertebrae. The formed growths limit the movement of the spine and in the future may cause the patient to become disabled.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine began to occur not only in people over 40 years old, but also in young people (18-30 years old).
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- trauma;
- violation of posture;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic disease;
- the presence of nervous tension, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle cramps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, blood supply is disturbed, mobility is limited, and posture is impaired. As a result of these changes, dystrophic processes develop within the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. As a result of dystrophic processes, narrowing of the intervertebral discs occurs, due to which the nerve roots that emerge from them are compressed.
Symptoms
The peculiarity of the cervical spine lies in its saturation with blood vessels necessary to nourish the brain. Therefore, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend on insufficient blood supply to the organs of the head. The lack of oxygen and nutrients negatively affects the brain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:
- Frequent headaches.
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears.
- The appearance of severe dizziness, which may even be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Reduced vision.
- Violation of coordination of movements.
- Hoarseness appearance.
- 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;
- numbness, cold fingers in the upper limbs;
- neck pain, throat.
The pathological changes that accompany the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to neck pain, can raise suspicion of the development of completely different diseases. Turning to the clinic with complaints of pain in the elbow, decreased vision, manifestation of visual disturbances, the patient does not even allow the thought of developing osteochondrosis in him.
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 discs, nerve roots, nerves and nerve plexuses. These symptoms are pain. Pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical region is penetrating and stabbing. It can also be characterized as boring, dull. It can be constant or intermittent, but always located in the depths of the neck. It is neck pain that is considered the main sign of the development of osteochondrosis. It accompanies the patient from the moment of awakening, intensifying during the day. The pain can affect the upper limbs, chest region, head.
- Symptoms associated with the effect of the disease on the spinal cord. It manifests itself in the presence of movement disorders. The patient, closing his eyes, feels lack of coordination. Insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord causes increased fatigue, development of myelopathy (disappearance of pain, temperature sensitivity). The patient is concerned about weakness in the upper and lower extremities.
- Symptoms associated with damage to the brain, cranial nerves, cerebral vessels. It manifests itself in a pathological effect on the vessels. The lack of blood flow within the system that regulates blood supply to the brain stem causes a violation of its functions. The patient has increased fatigue, irritability, is worried about a sleep disorder. He has an increase in pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the pulse also increases, sweating and dizziness appear. In addition, the patient may have noise in the ear with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by the sensation of clogging in the ear, the hearing itself is reduced. In the presence of these symptoms, in addition to decreased visual acuity, it is very difficult to determine the relationship with progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
Most often, these symptoms do not appear separately, but together, but with a predominance of one of the groups.
Syndrome classification
When osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, the symptoms will depend on which object hit the disease:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- root syndromes.
- heart syndrome.
- Irritant reflex syndrome.
- Spinal cord compression.
heart syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Heart muscle spasms can be the result of compression of the nerve roots in the lower cervical region. Cardiac syndrome appears with irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the roots of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pains are felt for a long time, for several hours. They intensify when performing sudden movements (sneezing, a sudden turn of the head, coughing).
root syndromes
The cause of its occurrence is a pinched nerve. Such symptoms appear in the patient due to compression of the nerve roots. The pain occurs directly in the neck, then goes down, reaches the shoulder blade, shoulder, outer part of the forearm, reaching the fingers. The patient may feel pasty, "running goosebumps" effect, tingling in the fingers, hands, forearm.
The difference in disease symptoms also depends on the segment that affected the disease:
- Pastity of the index and middle fingers is noted when the central nerve roots are injured.
- Pastity of the ring finger, little finger is characteristic of the defeat of the roots of the brachial nerve.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of a throbbing headache. This constant pain also affects the temples, crown, occipital and superciliary regions. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. Increased pain is noticed when moving, assuming an uncomfortable position. The patient also has disorders in the functioning of the auditory, visual and vestibular systems. The patient notices a drop in visual acuity, in hearing, he begins to be disturbed by eye pain, a disorder of the vestibular apparatus. With a general weakening of the body, there is a possibility of attacks of nausea, loss of consciousness.
irritative reflex syndrome
The patient is disturbed by sharp pain in the cervico-occipital region. It occurs at the beginning of movement after a state of rest, for example after sleep. In addition, burning pain may accompany sneezing, performing sharp head turns. She sags in her shoulder, in her chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact the clinic for specialized treatment in order to avoid serious complications.