Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, or how to recognize the disease?

Already in his youth, a person has the initial symptoms of cartilage disease - osteochondrosis.

Often, the first to suffer is the cervical region of the spine, which can lead to intervertebral hernia, as well as serious disorders of sensation and movement.

Hence the need arises not only to know the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, but to be able to diagnose them in time.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis

The disease begins to develop - after 25 years - when the metabolism in the cartilage deteriorates due to hormonal changes in the body. In this case, the blood supply to the intervertebral discs naturally stops.

These changes in the spinal column correspond to the initial stage of the disease, when there are no manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis yet. However, a combination of additional factors (heredity, stress, early trauma, etc. ) stimulates further progression of the disease.

The next stage in the development of the disease is the stretching of the membrane of the intervertebral disc - the fibrous covering. Due to the loss of moisture, the disc changes shape and "bulges", which is called protrusion in medicine. At this stage, the first signs appear - sharp burning pains in the neck, which are caused by the pressure of the disc on the nerves.

The beginning of the third stage of the disease is evidenced by the rupture of the membrane of the intervertebral disc (fibrous circle) and the appearance of an intervertebral hernia, which compresses the vessels and nerve fibers. At the same time, disorders of sensation and movement of the upper limbs, as well as the collar zone, join the pain.

The transition to the fourth stage of the development of the disease is the complete destruction of the intervertebral disc, when the blood supply not only to individual nerve fibers, but also to the entire spinal cord stops. Changes at this stage are irreversible, therefore they require surgical treatment.

General symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrosis can be diagnosed in one (or several) parts of the spine. At the same time, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered especially dangerous, since in this part of the spinal column are the great vessels and nerve roots, which supply blood and innervate not only the hands, but also the brain.

So, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into three large groups:

1. Compression of arteries:Usually we are talking about the vertebral arteries, which are located in the processes of the cervical vertebrae and supply the brain;
2. Pinched nerve roots:is ​​manifested by impaired movement and sensation in the hands, as well as in the parietal region of the skull and the back of the head;
3. Spinal cord compression:a variant of the IV stage of the disease, associated with severe neurological disorders (paralysis, lack of superficial sensations, etc. ).

The described manifestations are general. However, there are many private symptoms that allow you to detect the disease in the early stages.

Pain

The first manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis is a local pain syndrome - cervicalgia. This is usually a severe soreness in the neck that sometimes spreads to the arm or the back of the head. Pain occurs after incorrect postures (long trips in transport, sleep) or physical activity. Usually they pass on their own.

After sharp turns or tilts of the head, a lumbar pain may occur in the collar zone (otherwise cervicago). Often it is accompanied by muscle tension, as a result of which head movements become impossible (up to 10 days after the onset of cervicago).

Over time, adaptation to pain occurs. But at the second stage, the pain usually intensifies, which indicates further displacement and destruction of the intervertebral disc.

When the "protrusion" of the intervertebral disc reaches the nerve fibers, radicular syndrome appears (aka "radiculitis"). Usually accompanied by one-sided pain that extends to the arm (as well as sensation and movement disorders). In this case, reflex muscle tension is observed - head tilts are impossible.

Other variants of pain syndrome are:

• pressing headache, which often mimics a migraine, but is not relieved with the usual pain relievers. Usually it "diverges" to the back of the head, parietal and temporal regions, sometimes to the eyeballs. In this case, it can be either one- or two-sided;
• "heart" pain (or cardialgia) is extremely rare. Manifested by pain in the chest, which may resemble an attack of angina pectoris.

Be careful!If the cause of chest pain is osteochondrosis, then in this condition, "heart" drugs will not help! If these pills bring short-term relief, while there is a tangible fear of death, you should suspect a myocardial infarction and urgently go to the hospital.

Sensory disturbances in the cervical spine

Loss, decrease or increase in sensitivity are the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. So, sensory disorders are often observed in the back of the head, as well as around the shoulder joint or hand.

In the latter case, these manifestations are accompanied by edema or other trophic pathologies (ulcers and others).

Movement Disorders

If the intervertebral hernia compresses the motor nerve fibers, the patient may feel muscle weakness with limited range of motion - paresis. The extreme degree of movement disorders is paralysis - a complete lack of movement, as well as reduced muscle tone (up to their atrophy) and the disappearance of reflexes. In the early stages, these symptoms may be temporary.

Other symptoms

The manifestations described above are the classic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.

However, there are other (important! ) signs of the disease.

• Head spin. It is often accompanied by osteochondrosis. Dizziness is associated with a defect in blood delivery to the inner ear, a paired organ of balance located in the temporal bone. Irregular postures or periodic exacerbations of osteochondrosis provoke dizziness, which are sometimes accompanied by nystagmus - rapid fluctuations of the pupils. The human organ of balance is supplied with blood through one artery - the vertebral artery. It passes in the cervical vertebrae, and therefore can be "squeezed" in diseases of the spinal column (with osteochondrosis, fractures).
• Ringing tinnitus. Ringing tinnitus or congestion in the ears is another option for impairing the "delivery" of blood to the inner ear. This symptom appears after a long stay in the wrong position, and then disappears. It is the last symptom that distinguishes a similar symptom in osteochondrosis from similar symptoms in other diseases.
• Nausea. It is an independent symptom, but sometimes it is accompanied by vomiting or vomiting. The latter is provoked by tilting and rotating the head, sometimes even walking. The reason for this condition is the same as for dizziness - reduced delivery of arterial blood to the organ of balance. However, prolonged vomiting can have serious complications - dehydration and loss of salts by the body, which can lead to alkalosis (alkalization of the blood). This condition requires intravenous administration of appropriate saline solutions.
• Respiratory Disorders. A symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can be difficulty breathing when breathing becomes shallow (you cannot completely "breathe in with your chest"). It provokes a similar state of compression or overstimulation of the phrenic nerve (it innervates the diaphragm, the muscle responsible for respiratory movements). In such situations, the patient feels a lack of air or shortness of breath. However, overstimulation of the phrenic nerve is more often manifested by prolonged hiccups.
• Attacks at night. Holding your breath during sleep with an unsuccessful posture can also be inherent in osteochondrosis of the cervical region. But more often the ailment is manifested by snoring and morning lethargy due to the lack of oxygen-containing blood during the night's sleep. Such "oxygen deficiency" can lead to disorders in the brain - loss of attention and memory loss.
• Sore throat. It is considered one of the most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. It manifests itself as dry throat, a feeling of a "foreign body", possible itching or difficulty with the pharynx. The reason for this is pinching of the nerve and vascular bundles extending from the spinal column to the organs of the neck. Also, we must not forget that similar symptoms may indicate other pathologies (tumors or respiratory diseases). At the same time, the presence of osteochondrosis does not exclude tumor or inflammatory processes.

• Visual Disorders. The visual organs are supplied with blood by both the vertebral and carotid arteries. Therefore, changes in vision with this pathology are less common, however, they are characteristic of people with atherosclerotic vascular plaques or hypotension (low blood pressure). Among the manifestations may be: "fog" or flashing of "flies" in front of the eyes, reduced visual acuity or disturbance of its accommodation (focusing). At the same time, the symptoms of the disease are unstable and cannot be corrected by optics (glasses, contact lenses) or visual gymnastics.
• Unstable pressure. When the vertebral artery is compressed, the blood supply to the vasomotor center may be disturbed, as a result of which inadequate increases and decreases in pressure will be observed. The latter may be accompanied by syncope - fainting conditions.
• Sinkope. Fainting is often observed in elderly people who additionally have atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries. Usually, a reflex vasospasm (due to overstimulation of the nerve endings by hernial protrusions or bony processes) leads to a sharp decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the brain. As a result, the brain feels hypoxia - oxygen deficiency - which is the cause of loss of consciousness. Be careful! In such situations, help with fainting consists in the fact that a person is laid on a flat surface and his legs are raised. Blood from the veins of the lower half of the body flows in large volumes to the heart and then to the brain, renewing the necessary blood flow. To bring a person to life, it is worth using a substance with a pungent odor, for example, ammonia. Sometimes people have speech and / or movement problems after syncope, but these symptoms are usually temporary due to the short duration of fainting. If the fainting state lasted longer than a few minutes, and after it the headache worries, while these violations do not disappear after a couple of hours, you should suspect a stroke and urgently go to the hospital.
• Temperature rise. This is a very rare symptom of cervical osteochondrosis. It occurs when blood flow is impaired in the hypothalamus (the brain's thermoregulatory center). Then, not only an increase, but also a decrease in body temperature is possible. However, most often local phenomena are observed - hyperemia (redness and warming) in the collar zone. Remember, the presence of osteochondrosis does not exclude an increase in temperature due to inflammation or swelling!
• Static Violations. These are posture curvatures, "alignment" of the cervical bend of the spine, as well as subluxation in the joints of the spinal column. Such changes lead to a redistribution of the load, due to which some parts of the spine (for example, the lumbar) become overloaded. This can lead to the concomitant development of osteochondrosis in other parts of the spinal column.
• Spinal stroke. As mentioned above, stage IV cervical osteochondrosis can result in spinal stroke (spinal cord injury). Such a pathology is extremely rare, but it is distinguished by its danger: usually there is tetraplegia (complete immobilization of the arms and legs), absence of pain and temperature sensitivity in all extremities, sometimes retraction of the eyes, drooping of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, impaired sensitivity on the face, etc. In such cases, immediate surgical intervention is indicated.

Prevention of ailment

To prevent the development and complication of the disease you need:

• promptly treat spinal column injuries (bruises and dislocations);
• correct posture disorders (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis), instability of spinal segments, ligamentous apparatus;
• to correct orthopedic problems (clubfoot, flat feet), as well as to prefer orthopedic shoes with comfortable heels or special insoles;
• to reduce overweight to normal;
• balance nutrition by increasing the level of micronutrients, fluids, and collagen-containing foods (jelly and bone broths);
• not to lead a sedentary lifestyle, while limiting heavy physical activity;
• undergo annual preventive examinations (especially for those employed in industries where there is an increased level of vibration from machines, equipment or moving machines);
• athletes, bodybuilders, etc. do not abruptly quit training.

Elderly people need to control comorbidities (atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension). At the same time, it is important to exclude bad habits (alcohol and tobacco smoking), as well as avoid stressful situations leading to nervous tension.

It is worth remembering that osteochondrosis is a progressive disease that does not disappear by itself. Many patients are encouraged by remission (a period of weakening of the disease), which causes them to return to their old way of life and stop treatment. And this, in turn, significantly aggravates the outcome of the disease. Therefore, if you notice the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, urgently consult a neurologist! After all, there is no better treatment than timely therapy!