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 cause of frequent injury to this part of the spine is the weakness of its muscular corset. The cervical region withstands constant loads, which consist of holding the head, performing turns, tilting it. It is due to such a strong tension that dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis) occur in it.
Stages of the disease
In osteochondrosis, the following stages of development are distinguished:
- Osteochondrosis of the first degree of the cervical region has as its main symptom instability. Initial disturbances are observed in the vertebral discs.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree cervical region has as its main symptom the emergence of discs. The destruction of the fibrous ring occurs due to the reduction of the gap between the discs. The patient is bothered by painful sensations, the cause of which is the tightening of the nerve endings.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical region of the 3rd degree is manifested in the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia appears. At this stage of disease progression, the patient's spine undergoes severe deformities.
- The fourth degree is considered the most severe. The patient is troubled by sharp sharp pains in the smallest movements. Periodically, the patient's condition improves, he no longer worries about very severe pain. But such relief is very dangerous. It shows the formation of bone growths that connect the vertebrae. The growths formed restrict the movement of the spine and in the future may cause disability of the patient.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine began to appear not only in people over 40 years, but also in young people (18-30 years).
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- excess weight;
- trauma;
- violation of residence;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic diseases;
- presence of nerve strain, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle clamps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, the 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 emerging from them are compressed.
Symptoms
The peculiarity of the cervical spine lies in its saturation with the 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. Lack of oxygen and nutrients negatively affects the brain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:
- Frequent headaches.
- Hearing loss, tinnitus.
- The appearance of severe dizziness, which may also be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Reduced view.
- Violation of coordination of movements.
- Voice display.
- Snoring occurs, which indicates the presence of chronic muscle tension.
As a result of nerve tightening in the cervical region, the following symptoms appear:
- skin, tooth pain;
- weakness in the arms;
- numbness, cold fingers on upper limbs;
- pain in the neck, throat.
The pathological changes that accompany the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to neck pain, can raise the suspicion of developing completely different diseases. Returning to the clinic with complaints of elbow pain, decreased vision, the appearance of visual disturbances, the patient does not even allow the thought of developing osteochondrosis in him.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and thorax are conventionally divided into 3 groups:
- neurological symptoms. It is a complication that occurs as a result of trauma to the discs, nerve roots, nerves and nerve plexuses. These symptoms are pain. The pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical region is of a piercing, shooting character. It can also be characterized as boring, boring. It can be constant or intermittent, but always localized deep in the neck. It is the pain in the neck that is considered to be the main sign of the development of osteochondrosis. She accompanies the patient from the moment of awakening, intensifying during the day. The pain can affect the upper limbs, chest area, head.
- Symptoms associated with the effect of the disease on the spinal cord. Appears in the presence of movement disorders. The patient, closing his eyes, feels lack of coordination. Insufficient supply of blood to the spinal cord causes increased fatigue, development of myelopathy (disappearance of pain, sensitivity to temperature). The patient is concerned about weakness in the upper and lower extremities.
- Symptoms associated with damage to the brain, cranial nerves, cerebral vessels. It is manifested in a pathological effect on the vessels. 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 cervical region, the pulse also increases, sweating and dizziness appear. Also, the patient may experience tinnitus with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by the feeling of suffocation 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 progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
Most often, these symptoms do not appear separately, but together, but with a predominance of one of the groups.
Classification of the syndrome
When osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, the symptoms will depend on the object that struck the disease:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- radicular syndrome.
- cardiac syndrome.
- Irritable reflex syndrome.
- Spinal cord compression.
Cardiac syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Heart muscle spasms can be the result of compression of nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical region. Cardiac syndrome occurs with irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the roots of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pain is felt for quite a long time, for several hours. They intensify when performing sudden movements (sneezing, a sharp turn of the head, coughing).
Radicular syndrome
The cause of their appearance is a suppressed nerve. Such symptoms appear in the patient due to compression of the nerve roots. The pain appears directly in the neck, then descends, touching the shoulder blade, the shoulder, the outer part of the forearm, reaching to the fingers. The patient may feel pastosity, the effect of "running the goose", tingling sensation in the fingers, hands, forearm.
The difference in the symptoms of the disease also depends on the segment that has affected the disease:
- Pastosity of the index, middle finger is noticed when the central nerve roots are damaged.
- Pastosis of the ring finger, little finger is characteristic of damage to the brachial nerve roots.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of a throbbing headache. This constant pain also affects the temple, crown, occipital and superciliary regions. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. Increased pain is noticed when moving, taking an uncomfortable position. The patient also has disturbances in the functioning of the auditory, visual, vestibular apparatus. The patient notices a decrease in visual acuity, hearing, he begins to worry about eye pain, a disorder of the vestibular apparatus. With a general weakening of the body, there is the possibility of nausea attacks, loss of consciousness.
Irritable reflex syndrome
The patient is bothered by acute pain in the cervical-occipital region. Occurs at the beginning of the movement after a state of rest, for example, after sleep. Also, burning pain can accompany sneezing, performing sharp head turns. She gives on the shoulder, chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your specialist treatment clinic to avoid serious complications.