Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is represented by 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, tilts and turns of the head become possible.
The reason for frequent injuries to this part of the spine is the weakness of its muscular corset. The cervical region withstands constant loads, which consist of maintaining the head, performing turns, and tilting. It is precisely because of such strong tension that dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis) occur in it.
Stages of the disease
In osteochondrosis, the following stages of development are distinguished:
- Grade 1 osteochondrosis of the cervical region has instability as the main symptom. Initial disorders are observed in the spinal discs.
- Grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis has protruding discs as the main symptom. The destruction of the fibrous ring occurs due to the reduction of the distance between the discs. The patient is disturbed by painful feelings, the cause of which is pinching of nerve endings.
- Grade 3 osteochondrosis of the cervical region is manifested by the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia develops. At this stage of disease progression, the patient's spine is subjected to severe deformities.
- The fourth degree is considered the most difficult. The patient is disturbed by very strong sharp pains at the slightest movement. Occasionally the patient's condition improves, he is no longer worried about very severe pain. But such relief is very dangerous. This indicates the formation of bony outgrowths that connect the vertebrae. Formed growths restrict the movement of the spine and may cause disability in the patient in the future.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine began to occur not only in people older than 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 posture;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic disease;
- presence of nervous tension, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops on the background of muscle cramps. Under the influence of muscle cramps, the blood supply is disturbed, mobility is limited and posture is disturbed. As a result of these changes, dystrophic processes develop within the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. As a result of dystrophic processes, the intervertebral discs narrow, due to which the roots of the nerves that come out of them are compressed.
Symptoms
The peculiarity of the cervical spine lies in its saturation with blood vessels necessary for brain nutrition. Therefore, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend on insufficient blood supply to the head organs. 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 be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Reduced vision.
- Violation of movement coordination.
- Occurrence of hoarseness.
- Snoring occurs, indicating the presence of chronic muscle tension.
The following symptoms occur as a result of nerve entrapment in the cervical region:
- pain in the skin, teeth;
- weakness in the hands;
- numbness, cold fingers on upper limbs;
- pain in neck, throat.
The pathological changes that accompany the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, apart from neck pain, can cause suspicion of the development of completely different diseases. Addressing the clinic with complaints of elbow pain, reduced vision, manifestation of visual disorders, the patient does not 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 the discs, nerve roots, nerves and nerve plexuses. These symptoms are pain. The pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical region is of a penetrating, shooting character. It can also be characterized as boring, boring. It can be permanent or intermittent, but always localized in the depth of the neck. Neck pain is considered to be the main sign of the development of osteochondrosis. It follows the patient from the moment of waking up, 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. It is manifested by the presence of movement disorders. The patient, closing his eyes, feels a lack of coordination. Insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord causes increased fatigue, development of myelopathy (disappearance of pain, temperature sensitivity). The patient is worried about weakness in the upper and lower extremities.
- Symptoms associated with damage to the brain, cranial nerves, cerebral vessels. It is manifested by a pathological effect on blood vessels. Lack of blood flow within the system that regulates blood flow to the brainstem causes a violation of its functions. The patient has increased fatigue, irritability, and is worried about sleep disorders. There is an increase in pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the pulse also increases, sweating, dizziness occurs. Also, the patient may feel noise in the ear with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by the feeling of ear congestion, 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 connection with progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
Most often, these symptoms do not appear separately, but together, but with the predominance of one of the groups.
Classification of the syndrome
When osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs, the symptoms will depend on which object is affected by the disease:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- radicular syndromes.
- cardiac syndrome.
- Irritable reflex syndrome.
- Spinal cord compression.
Heart syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Cardiac muscle spasms may be due to compression of the nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical region. Cardiac syndrome occurs by irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the root of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pain is felt for a long time, several hours. They intensify when performing sudden movements (sneezing, sudden turning of the head, coughing).
Radicular syndromes
The cause of their formation is nerve entrapment. Such symptoms occur in the patient due to compression of the nerve roots. The pain occurs directly in the neck, then descends, affects the shoulder blade, shoulder, outer forearm, reaching the fingers. The patient may feel pasty, "tingling" effect, tingling in fingers, hands, forearms.
The difference in the symptoms of the disease also depends on the segment that has affected the disease:
- The pastyness of the index finger, middle fingers is noticed when the roots of the central nerve are injured.
- The pastyness of the ring finger, little finger is characteristic of the defeat of the root of the brachial nerve.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of pulsating headaches. This constant pain also affects the temple, crown, occipital and superciliary region. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. Increased pain is noticed when moving, taking an awkward position. The patient also has disorders of the auditory, visual, vestibular apparatus. The patient notices a decrease in visual acuity, hearing, he begins to be disturbed by pain in the eyes, a disorder of the vestibular apparatus. With the general weakening of the organism, there is a possibility of nausea and loss of consciousness.
Irritable reflex syndrome
The patient is disturbed by acute pain in the cervical-occipital region. It occurs at the beginning of movement after a state of rest, for example, after sleep. Also, tingling may be accompanied by sneezing, performing sharp turns of the head. She gives in the shoulders, the chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a clinic for specialized treatment to avoid serious complications.