Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is characterized 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, it is possible to bend and turn the head.
Frequent damage to this part of the spine is due to the weakness of its muscular corset. The cervical region withstands constant loads, including holding the head, making turns and bends. Due to such strong tension, he develops dystrophic changes (osteochondrosis).
Stages of the disease
The following stages of development in osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- Instability is the main symptom of grade 1 osteochondrosis of the cervical region. Primary disorders of the spinal discs are noted.
- The main symptom of grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis is a protrusion of the discs. The destruction of the fibrous ring occurs due to the reduction of the space between the discs. The patient is worried about painful sensations, due to which the nerve endings are constricted.
- Grade 3 osteochondrosis of the cervical region manifests itself in the final destruction of the fibrous ring. Such an destruction results in an intervertebral hernia. At this stage of the disease, the patient's spine is severely deformed.
- The fourth degree is considered the most severe. The patient is bothered by very sharp pains in the slightest movement. Periodically, the patient's condition improves, he is no longer worried about severe pain. But such a relief is very dangerous. This indicates the formation of bone growths that connect the vertebrae. The formed growths restrict the movement of the spine and can lead to the patient's disability in the future.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine began to occur not only in people over 40 years of age, but also in young people (18-30 years).
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- excess weight;
- trauma;
- posture disorder;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic disease;
- presence of nervous tension, stress;
- sedentary lifestyle.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle cramps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, the blood supply is disrupted, 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, the intervertebral discs narrow, resulting in compression of the nerve roots.
Symptoms
The peculiarity of the cervical spine is that it is saturated with blood vessels, which are necessary to nourish the brain. Therefore, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend on insufficient blood supply to the organs of the head. Lack of oxygen and nutrients has a negative effect on the brain.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine include:
- Frequent headaches.
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears.
- The appearance of severe dizziness may even be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Decreased vision.
- Impaired coordination of movements.
- The appearance of a crunch.
- Snoring occurs, indicating the presence of chronic muscle tension.
The following symptoms appear as a result of compressed nerves in the cervical region:
- pains of the skin, teeth;
- weakness in the arms;
- numbness, cold fingers on upper extremities;
- neck, sore throat.
The pathological changes that accompany the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to neck pain, can suspect the development of completely different diseases. A patient who complains of pain in the elbow, decreased vision, manifestations of visual disturbances, does not even allow the idea of developing osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine are conventionally divided into 3 groups:
- neurological symptoms. It is a complication of damage to the discs, nerve roots, nerves and nerve plexuses. These symptoms are pain. In osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the pain is piercing, shooting. It can also be characterized as boring, boring. It can be permanent or intermediate, but is always localized in the depths of the neck. The main symptom of the development of osteochondrosis is pain in the neck. It accompanies the patient from the moment he wakes up and gets stronger during the day. Pain can affect the upper extremities, chest, head.
- Symptoms associated with the impact of the disease on the spinal cord. It manifests itself in the presence of movement disorders. The patient who closes his eyes feels a lack of coordination. Adequate blood supply to the spinal cord leads to increased fatigue and the development of myelopathy (absence 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 manifests itself by having a pathological effect on the vessels. Lack of blood flow within the system that regulates the blood supply to the brainstem leads to its dysfunction. The patient is tired, irritable, and worried about sleep disorders. With osteochondrosis of the cervical region, there is an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate, sweating and dizziness. Also, a patient with osteochondrosis of the cervical region may feel noise in the ear. The patient is bothered by the feeling of blockage in the ear, 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 association with progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
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:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- radicular syndromes.
- heart syndrome.
- Irritant reflex syndrome.
- Compression of the spinal cord.
Heart syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to angina pectoris. Spasms of the heart muscle may be the result of compression of nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical region. Heart syndrome manifests itself with irritation of the main pectoral muscle, the roots of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pain is felt for a long time, a few hours. Intensified during sudden movements (sneezing, dizziness, cough).
Radicular syndromes
The reason for their formation is a compressed nerve. The patient shows such symptoms due to compression of the nerve roots. The pain occurs directly in the neck, then falls down, affects the shoulder blade, shoulder, the outer part of the forearm, reaches the fingers. The patient may feel the effects of pastosity, "escaping goosebumps", tingling in the fingers, hands, forearms.
The difference in the symptoms of the disease also depends on the segment affected by the disease:
- When the roots of the central nerve are damaged, the paste of the index and middle fingers is noted.
- Pasteurization of the ring finger, little finger is characteristic of the defeat of the roots of the brachial nerve.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of throbbing headaches. This constant pain also affects the temple, coronary, occipital and superciliar regions. Sometimes the pain is paroxysmal. Increased pain is noted when moving, holding a restless position. The patient also has hearing, vision and vestibular disorders. The patient sees a decrease in visual acuity, hearing, pain in the eyes, begins to worry with a violation of the vestibular apparatus. With a general weakening of the body, there is a possibility of nausea attacks, fainting.
Irritant reflex syndrome
The patient is worried about sharp pain in the cervical-occipital region. Occurs after a resting state, for example, at the beginning of a movement after sleep. Also, burning pain may be accompanied by sneezing, may make sharp turns of the head. Gives shoulder, chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a clinic for specific treatment to prevent serious complications.