Osteochondrosis is one of the few diseases that is unique to humans. The reason for this is such a characteristic feature of a person as a flat foot. The vertical position of the spine leads to the pressure of the vertebrae on each other, and the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine is 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 vertebrae in this ward, from the first to the seventh. The vertebrae are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. Its part of the cervical spine is especially vulnerable, primarily due to the increased mobility of the vertebrae in this area. In the cervical region, the disease is reflected primarily in the discs, which are a weak point in the structure of the spine.
Factors such as small vertebral size and relative neck muscle weakness also contribute to the spread of cervical osteochondrosis. Also, the development of cervical osteochondrosis is greatly influenced by insufficient blood supply to cartilage tissue.
Thus, the development of the disease is a complex and long-lasting process and there is no single cause. Although there is a connection between a person's sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, the disease is often found in trained people, especially athletes, due to the increased load on the cervical spine when lifting weights.
In older people, as a rule, the degradation of vertebral structures is an inevitable process associated with the aging of the body and the weakening of its defenses. However, the most common is the pathological type of cervical osteochondrosis, in which external or internal negative factors play a major role.
Factors that contribute to the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- bad posture
- 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 such as a neck that is too long or too short
Stage 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, because sometimes the degree of degradation of bone and cartilage tissue may not correspond to the symptoms observed in the patient.
First degree
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 disc begins to decrease, cracks appear on its surface. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis at this stage are manifested by constant pain, weakness, numbness of certain parts of the face.
Third degree
Herniated intervertebral discs are formed, veins and muscles of the neck 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 pinching of the nerve, which leads to stiffness and damage to adjacent joints.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- Pain in neck and shoulders
- muscle weakness
- Increased sweating
- Numbness of the hands
- Impaired coordination
- Dizziness
- Impairment of sight and hearing
- Increase in blood pressure
- Headache
These symptoms, characteristic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, can be present in all stages of the disease. In most cases, there are only a few symptoms on the list, and the rest may be absent. A person who first encounters such signs of the disease does not always suspect that he has cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, you can turn to various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons. And the correct diagnosis as a result can be made very late.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
Cervical osteochondrosis has several syndromes, ie typical conditions that have a complex of characteristic features. They occur depending on which nerves and arteries are affected by the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- cardiac syndrome
- hypertensive syndrome
- radicular syndrome
- cervical migraine syndrome
Vertebral artery syndrome is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous complications of cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to the fact that the blood flow in the artery that runs along the spine and feeds 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 some kind of syndrome, which means that in a normal state, the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head turns in one direction or another, it can fall suddenly.
Hypertension is also one of the most dangerous complications. Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it is caused by compression of the arteries, not the arteries, which makes it harder for blood to flow out of the head. The syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can be manifested by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and headache.