Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases that are unique to humans. The reason for this is such a distinctive feature of a person as a straight leg. The vertical position of the spine causes the vertebrae to press against each other, and the bones and cartilage tissues of the spine are gradually destroyed and deformed. It is recommended to treat osteochondrosis as soon as possible.
The human spine begins in the cervical region. There are a total of seven beads in this ward, from first to seventh. The vertebrae are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. The cervical spine is a particularly vulnerable part of it, mainly due to the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area. In the cervical region, the disease is mainly reflected in the discs, which are a weak point in the structure of the spine.
Factors such as the small size of the vertebrae and the relative weakness of the neck muscles also contribute to the prevalence of cervical osteochondrosis. Also, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is greatly affected by insufficient blood supply to the cartilage tissue.
So the development of the disease is a complex and lengthy process and there is no single cause. Although there is a link between a person's sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, however, the disease is often found in trained people, especially athletes, due to the increased load on the cervical spine during weight lifting. .
In older people, as a rule, degradation of vertebral structures is an inevitable process associated with aging of the body and weakening of its defenses. However, the most common pathological type of cervical osteochondrosis, in which the main role is played by negative external or internal factors.
Factors contributing to the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- bad attitude
- Rachiocampsis
- back injury
- Overweight
- hard physical work
- Sedentary work
- Violation of metabolic processes
- Frequent hypothermia
- Uncomfortable posture during sleep
- Stress, fatigue
- hereditary factors
- Infectious diseases
- Body characteristics like very long or very short neck
The rate of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The disease has four stages. It is not always easy to determine the stage of the disease by analyzing the symptoms, as sometimes the degree of degradation of bone and cartilage tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.
First step
Destructive processes begin in the bone and cartilage tissue of the vertebrae. As a rule, at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms are mild. Patients either do not notice them at all, or do not associate them with spinal diseases, but attribute them to stress and overwork.
Second Degree
The height of the disk begins to decrease, cracks appear on its surface. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage are manifested in persistent pain, weakness, numbness of certain parts of the face.
Third degree
Herniated intervertebral discs form, vessels and neck muscles are damaged. The patient has dizziness, pain in the back of the head.
fourth degree
Osteophytes appear - bone growths that protect the vertebrae from stress, which leads to nerve constriction, which leads to stiffness and damage to adjacent joints.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- muscle weakness
- Increased sweating
- Numbness of the hands
- Impaired coordination
- Dizziness
- Impairment of sight and hearing
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache
These symptoms, characteristic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, may be present at all stages of the disease. In most cases, there are only a few symptoms from the list, and the rest may be missing. A person who has encountered such signs of the disease for the first time does not always suspect that he has cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, he can turn to different doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neuropathologists, surgeons. And the correct diagnosis as a result can be made too late.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
With cervical osteochondrosis, several syndromes occur, i. e. typical conditions that have a set of characteristic features. They appear depending on the nerves and arteries affected by the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- cardiac syndrome
- hypertensive syndrome
- radicular syndrome
- cervical migraine syndrome
Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most uncomfortable and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to the fact that blood flow to the artery that runs along the spine and nourishes the brain is reduced. The syndrome is manifested by symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, hearing and vision impairment. In some cases, fainting may occur. There is often a type of syndrome, which means that in the normal state the blood circulation in the artery is normal, but when the head is turned in one direction or another, it can drop significantly.
Hypertension is also one of the most dangerous complications. Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by compression of arteries, not arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow from the head. The syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can manifest with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and headache.