Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is represented by a degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the intervertebral discs. This disease refers to progressive disc disease.
The cervical spine is represented by 7 discs. The cervical region is considered the most mobile. Thanks to this mobility, inclinations and rotations of the head become possible.
The reason for the frequent injury of this part of the spine is the weakness of its muscular corset. The neck area withstands constant stresses consisting in supporting the head, performing its rotations and tilting. Due to such a strong tension, dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis) appear in it.
stages of the disease
With osteochondrosis, the following stages of development are distinguished:
- Osteochondrosis of the first degree of the cervical region has instability as the main symptom. Initial disorders are noted in the intervertebral discs.
- Grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis has a herniated disc as the main symptom. The destruction of the fiber ring occurs due to a decrease in the gap between the disks. The patient is disturbed by painful sensations, the cause of which is pinching of nerve endings.
- Osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree of the cervical region is manifested by the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia occurs. At this stage of the course of the disease, the patient's spine undergoes severe deformities.
- The fourth degree is considered the most difficult. The patient is troubled by very strong sharp pains at the slightest movements. Periodically, the patient's condition improves, he no longer worries about very severe pain. But such relief is very dangerous. It indicates the formation of bony outgrowths connecting the vertebrae. Formed growths limit the movement of the spine and in the future can lead to disability of the patient.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine appeared not only in people over 40, but also in young people (18-30 years).
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- overweight;
- Trauma;
- violation of posture;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic disease;
- the presence of nervous strain, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle clamps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, blood circulation is disturbed, mobility is reduced and posture is impaired. As a result of these changes, dystrophic processes develop in the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. As a result of dystrophic processes, there is a narrowing of the intervertebral discs, as a result of which the nerve roots emerging 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 has a negative effect on the brain.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine Symptoms are as follows:
- Regular headaches.
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears.
- The appearance of severe dizziness, which may even be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Reduced view.
- Violation of coordination of movements.
- occurrence of hoarseness.
- Snoring occurs, which indicates the presence of chronic muscle tension.
The following symptoms occur as a result of pinched nerves in the neck area:
- pain in the skin, teeth;
- weakness in the arms;
- numbness, cold fingers on upper limbs;
- Pain in the neck, throat.
Pathological changes accompanying the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to neck pain, can raise suspicions of the development of completely different diseases. The patient turns to the clinic with complaints of pain in the elbow, reduced vision and manifestations of visual impairment, not even allowing the thought of developing osteochondrosis in him.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine are usually divided into 3 groups:
- neurological symptoms. It is a complication that occurs as a result of trauma to the intervertebral discs, nerve roots, nerves and nerve plexuses. Those symptoms are pain. Pain in osteochondrosis of the neck region has a stabbing, shooting character. It can also be called boring, boring. It can be constant or intermittent, but is always localized in the depths of the throat. It is neck pain that is considered the main sign of the development of osteochondrosis. It accompanies the patient from the moment they wake up and intensifies throughout the day. Pain can affect the upper limbs, chest, and head.
- Symptoms related to the effect of the disease on the spinal cord. It manifests itself in the presence of movement disorders. The patient who closes his eyes feels a lack of coordination. Inadequate blood supply to the spinal cord leads to increased fatigue, the development of myelopathy (disappearance of pain, sensitivity to temperature). The patient is concerned about weakness in the upper and lower extremities.
- Symptoms related to damage to the brain, cranial nerves and cerebral vessels. It is manifested by a pathological effect on the vessels. The lack of blood flow within the system that regulates blood supply to the brainstem provokes a violation of its functions. The patient has increased fatigue, irritability, he is worried about a sleep disorder. He has an increase in pressure with osteochondrosis of the neck region, the pulse also increases, sweating and dizziness appear. Also, the patient may experience noise in the ear with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by the feeling of congestion in the ear, the hearing itself is reduced. In the presence of these symptoms, as well as a decrease in visual acuity, it is very difficult to determine the relationship with the progressing cervical osteochondrosis.
Most often, these symptoms do not appear separately, but together, but with a dominance of one of the groups.
syndrome classification
When osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, the symptoms depend on which object the disease struck:
- Vertebral Artery Syndrome.
- radicular syndromes.
- cardiac syndrome.
- Irritant Reflex Syndrome.
- compression of the spinal cord.
cardiac syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Spasms of the heart muscle can be the result of compression of the nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical spine. Cardiac syndrome occurs with irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the roots of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pains are felt for quite a long time, for several hours. They intensify during the performance of sudden movements (sneezing, sharp turning of the head, coughing).
Radicular Syndromes
The cause of their 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, affecting the scapula, shoulder, outer part of the forearm and reaches the fingers. The patient can feel pastosity, the effect of "running goosebumps", tingling in the fingers, hands, forearm.
The difference in disease symptoms also depends on the segment that the disease has affected:
- Pastosity of the index and middle fingers is noted when the roots of the central nerve are injured.
- Pastosity 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 temple, crown, occipital and eyebrow regions. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. Increased pain is noted when moving and taking an uncomfortable position. The patient also has functional disorders of the auditory, visual and vestibular apparatus. The patient notices a decrease in visual acuity, hearing, he begins to be bothered by pain in the eyes, disruption of the vestibular apparatus. With a general weakening of the body, there is a possibility of attacks of nausea and loss of consciousness.
Irritant Reflex Syndrome
The patient is disturbed by acute pain in the cervical-occipital area. It occurs at the beginning of movement after a state of rest, such as after sleeping. Burning pain can also accompany sneezing and perform sharp turns of the head. She gives in the shoulder, chest.
If you feel any of these symptoms, you should contact the clinic for specialized treatment in order to avoid serious complications.