Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is represented by degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the intervertebral discs. This disease refers to progressive disc disorders.
The cervical vertebra is represented by 7 discs. The cervical region is considered the most mobile. Thanks to this mobility, tilts and turns of the head are possible.
The reason for the frequent injury of this part of the spine is the weakness of its muscular corset. The neck area withstands constant loads, which consist of maintaining the head, making turns, tilts. It is 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 noted in the spinal discs.
- Grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis has a protruding disc as the main symptom. The destruction of the fibrous ring occurs due to the reduction of the gap between the discs. The patient is disturbed by painful sensations, the cause of which is the pinching of nerve endings.
- Grade 3 cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself in the final destruction of the fibrous ring. As a result of such destruction, an intervertebral hernia occurs. At this stage of the disease, the patient's spine suffers from severe deformities.
- The fourth degree is considered the most severe. The patient is troubled by very severe sharp pain at the slightest movement. 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 connecting the vertebrae. The formed growths restrict the movement of the spine and in the future can cause damage to the patient.
Causes of pathology
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is beginning to occur 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:
- Overweight;
- trauma;
- posture disorder;
- hypothermia, infectious diseases;
- metabolic disease;
- the presence of nervous tension, stress;
- sedentary way of life.
Osteochondrosis develops against the background of muscle cramps. Under the influence of muscle spasms, the blood supply is disrupted, mobility is restricted and posture is impaired. As a result of these changes, dystrophic processes develop inside the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. As a result of dystrophic processes, the intervertebral discs narrow, due to which the nerve roots coming out of them are compressed.
Symptoms
The peculiarity of the cervical spine lies in its saturation with blood vessels needed to nourish the brain. Therefore, the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend on the insufficient blood supply to the organs of the head. Lack of oxygen and nutrients has a negative effect on the brain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are as follows:
- Frequent headaches.
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears.
- The appearance of severe dizziness, which may even be accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Reduced vision.
- Impaired coordination of movements.
- Appearance of a hoarse voice.
- Snoring occurs, which indicates the presence of chronic muscle tension.
As a result of pinching nerves in the cervical region, the following symptoms appear:
- soreness of the skin, teeth;
- weakness in the hands;
- tingling, cold fingers on the upper limbs;
- pain in the neck, throat.
The pathological changes accompanying the disease have many clinical manifestations. Most of them, in addition to neck pain, can cause suspicion of developing a variety of diseases. Turning to the clinic with complaints of elbow pain, decreased vision, visual disturbances, the patient does not even allow the thought of developing osteochondrosis in him.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck and chest are conditionally divided into 3 groups:
- neurological symptoms. This 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 has a piercing, shooting nature. It can also be characterized as boring, boring. It can be permanent or periodic, but always localized in the depths of the neck. Neck pain is considered to be the main sign of the development of osteochondrosis. It 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. Manifested in the presence of motor 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 concerned about weakness in the upper and lower limbs.
- Symptoms associated with damage to the brain, cranial nerves, cerebral vessels. It manifests itself in a pathological effect on the vessels. The lack of blood flow in the system that regulates the blood supply to the brainstem provokes a violation of its functions. The patient has increased fatigue, irritability, he worries about sleep disorders. He has an increase in pressure with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the heart rate also increases, sweating and dizziness. Also, the patient may experience tinnitus with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. The patient is disturbed by the feeling of blockage in the ear, hearing itself is reduced. In the presence of these symptoms, as well as in the reduction of visual acuity, it is very difficult to determine the relationship with progressive cervical osteochondrosis.
Most often, these symptoms do not occur 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 which object struck the disease:
- Vertebral artery syndrome.
- radicular syndromes.
- heart syndrome.
- Irritable reflex syndrome.
- Spinal cord compression.
Heart syndrome
The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of angina pectoris. Cardiac muscle spasms can be the result of compression of the nerve roots in the lower part of the cervical region. Cardiac syndrome is manifested by irritation of the pectoralis major muscle, the roots of the phrenic nerve.
Paroxysmal pain is felt for a long time, for several hours. They are exacerbated by sudden movements (sneezing, dizziness, coughing).
Radicular syndromes
The reason for their occurrence is a pinched nerve. Such symptoms occur in the patient due to compression of the nerve roots. The pain appears directly in the neck, then descends, affects the shoulder blade, shoulder, outer forearm, reaching the fingers. The patient may feel pasty, the effect of "goosebumps", numbness of the fingers, hands, forearms.
The difference in the symptoms of the disease also depends on the segment that has affected the disease:
- Pastosity of the index, middle fingers is noted when the roots of the central nerve are injured.
- The pastosity of the ring finger, the little finger, is characteristic of damage to the roots of the brachial nerve.
vertebral artery syndrome
It is characterized by the appearance of throbbing headaches. This constant pain also affects the temples, crown, occipital and supraciliary area. Sometimes the pain becomes paroxysmal. There is increased pain 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, begins to be embarrassed by eye pain, violation of the vestibular apparatus. With general weight loss the body is likely to have bouts of nausea, loss of consciousness.
Irritable reflex syndrome
The patient is concerned about acute pain in the cervical-occipital region. It appears at the beginning of movement after a state of rest, for example after sleep. Also, burning pain may accompany sneezing, making sharp turns of the head. She gives in the shoulder, chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact a specialist clinic to avoid serious complications.