Osteochondrosis is one of the rare diseases that is unique to humans. This is because of the distinctive feature of a person, such as a straight leg. The vertical position of the spine causes the vertebrae to compress, 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 at the neck. In total, this department has seven vertebrae from the first to the seventh. The vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs. The cervical spine is a particularly sensitive part of this area, primarily due to the increased mobility of the vertebrae. In the cervical region, the disease is primarily reflected in the discs, which are weak points 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 spread of cervical osteochondrosis. Adequate blood supply to the cartilage tissue also greatly affects the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Thus, the development of the disease is a complex and long process and does not have a single cause. Although there is a link between a person's sedentary work and the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, it is more common in people who have been trained for the disease, especially athletes, due to the increased load on the cervical spine during weight lifting.
In the elderly, as a rule, the degradation of vertebral structures is an inevitable process associated with the aging of the body and the weakening of the immune system. However, it is the most common pathological type of cervical osteochondrosis, in which the main role is played by external or internal adverse factors.
Factors contributing to the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- bad posture
- Raxiokampis
- back injury
- Overweight
- hard physical work
- Sedentary work
- Disorders of metabolic processes
- Frequent hypothermia
- Anxious posture while lying down
- Stress, fatigue
- hereditary factors
- Infectious diseases
- Body features such as a very long or very short neck
Developmental rates of cervical osteochondrosis
There are four stages of the disease. 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, the symptoms at this stage of cervical osteochondrosis are mild. Patients either do not feel them at all, or do not associate them with spinal diseases, but rather with stress and overwork.
Second degree
The height of the disc begins to decrease, cracks appear on the surface. At this stage, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are manifested by constant pain, weakness, numbness of certain parts of the face.
Third degree
Herniated intervertebral discs are formed, neck veins and muscles are damaged. The patient has dizziness and pain in the back of the head.
fourth degree
Osteophytes appear - bone growths that protect the vertebrae from stress, causing nerve compression, which in turn causes 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
- Hand matching
- Damaged coordination
- Dizziness
- Visual and hearing impairment
- Increased blood pressure
- headache
These symptoms, which are characteristic of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, can be present at all stages of the disease. In most cases, there are only a few symptoms on the list, and the rest may not be. A person who first encounters such symptoms of the disease does not always suspect cervical osteochondrosis. Therefore, he can consult various doctors - therapists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons. And as a result, the correct diagnosis can be made too late.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
Several syndromes occur with cervical osteochondrosis, ie typical conditions with a complex of characteristic features. Depending on which nerves and blood vessels are affected by the disease:
- vertebral artery syndrome
- heart 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 a decrease in blood flow in the artery that runs along the spine and feeds the brain. The syndrome manifests itself with symptoms such as systemic or periodic dizziness, hearing and vision impairment. In some cases, fainting may occur. Often there is a kind of syndrome, in which the blood flow in the artery is normal, but when the head turns in one direction or the other, it can fall sharply.
Hypertension is also one of the most dangerous complications. Unlike vertebral artery syndrome, it occurs as a result of constriction of the arteries, not the arteries, and makes it difficult for blood to flow from the head. The syndrome leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which can manifest itself with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and headache.