Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis or how to recognize the disease?

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

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

Hence the need 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 of 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 spine 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 coating. 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 - a sharp burning pain in the neck, caused by the pressure of the disc on the nerves.

The onset 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 extremities, as well as the cervical area, 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. The changes at this stage are irreversible and therefore require surgical treatment.

General symptoms of the disease

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

Thus, 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:manifests as 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 stage IV variant of the disease, associated with severe neurological disorders (paralysis, absence of superficial sensations, etc. ).

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

Pain

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

After sharp turns or tilts of the head, lower back pain in the area of ​​the cervix (otherwise cervicago) may occur. 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 in the second stage, the pain usually intensifies, indicating further displacement and destruction of the intervertebral disc.

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

Other types of pain syndrome are:

• pressing headache, which often mimics a migraine, but is not relieved by usual pain relievers. Usually it "diverges" towards the back of the head, the parietal and temporal regions, sometimes towards the eyeballs. In this case, it can be unilateral or bilateral;
• "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 provide short-term relief, while there is a tangible fear of death, you should suspect a myocardial infarction and rush to the hospital.

Sensory disturbances of the cervical spine

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

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 experience muscle weakness with limited range of motion - paresis. The extreme degree of movement disorders is paralysis - a complete lack of movement, as well as a decrease in muscle tone (until 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 rotation. It is often accompanied by osteochondrosis. Dizziness is associated with a defective distribution of blood to the inner ear, a paired balance organ located in the temporal bone. Irregular postures or periodic exacerbations of osteochondrosis cause dizziness, sometimes accompanied by nystagmus - rapid fluctuations of the pupils. The human organ of balance is supplied with blood through an artery - the vertebral artery. It passes into the cervical vertebrae, and therefore can be "squeezed" in diseases of the spine (with osteochondrosis, fractures).
• Ringing tinnitus. Wheezing 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 goes away. 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 caused 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 balance organ. However, prolonged vomiting can lead to serious complications - dehydration and loss of salts from the body, which can lead to alkalosis (alkalization of the blood). This condition requires the intravenous administration of appropriate saline solutions.
• Respiratory disorders. A symptom of cervical osteochondrosis can be difficulty breathing when the breath becomes shallow (you cannot completely “breathe in with your chest”). It causes 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, most often the overstimulation of the phrenic nerve is manifested by prolonged hiccups.
• Night attacks. Holding your breath during sleep with an unsuccessful posture can also be inherent in osteochondrosis of the cervical region. But most often the disease manifests itself in snoring and morning lethargy due to the lack of oxygen-containing blood during the night's sleep. Such "oxygen deficiency" can lead to brain disorders - loss of attention and loss of memory.
• Sore throat. It is considered to be one of the most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. It is manifested by a dry throat, a feeling of "foreign body", itching or possible throat difficulties. The reason for this is the pinching of the nerve and the vascular bundles extending from the spine to the organs of the neck. In addition, it should be remembered that similar symptoms may indicate other pathologies (tumors or respiratory diseases). At the same time, the presence of osteochondrosis does not exclude the tumor or inflammatory processes.

• Visual disturbances. The visual organs are supplied with blood by the vertebral and carotid arteries. Therefore, vision changes associated with this pathology are less common, but they are characteristic of people with atherosclerotic vascular plaques or hypotension (low blood pressure). Among the manifestations can be: "fog" or flickering of "flies" in front of the eyes, decrease in visual acuity or disturbance of its accommodation (focus). 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 disrupted, resulting in an inadequate increase and decrease in pressure. The latter may be accompanied by syncope - fainting.
• Sinkope. Fainting is often seen in older people who also have atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries. Usually, reflex vasospasm (due to overstimulation of nerve endings by hernial protrusion or bone process) leads to a sharp decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the brain. As a result, the brain experiences hypoxia - an oxygen deficiency - which is the cause of loss of consciousness. Pay attention! In such situations, aiding in fainting is by lying down on a flat surface with their legs elevated. Blood from the veins in 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 problems speaking and / or moving after fainting, but these symptoms are usually temporary due to the short duration of fainting. If the state of fainting has lasted for more than a few minutes, and the headache worries, then after a few hours these violations do not go away, you should suspect a stroke and urgently go to thehospital.
• Temperature rise. This is a very rare symptom of cervical osteochondrosis. It occurs when blood flow is impaired in the hypothalamus (the thermoregulatory center of the brain). 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 area of ​​the cervix. Remember, the presence of osteochondrosis does not rule out an increase in temperature due to inflammation or swelling!
• Static violations. These are postural curvatures, an "alignment" of the cervical curvature of the spine, as well as a subluxation in the joints of the spine. Such changes lead to a redistribution of the load, due to which parts of the spine (for example, the lumbar) become overloaded. This can lead to the concomitant development of osteochondrosis in other parts of the spine.
• Stroke of the spine. As mentioned above, stage IV cervical osteochondrosis can lead to stroke (injury to the spinal cord). Such a pathology is extremely rare, but it is distinguished by its danger: there is usually quadriplegia (complete immobilization of the arms and legs), the absence of pain and temperature sensitivity in all extremities, sometimes retraction of the eyes, saggingof the eyelid, narrowing of the pupil, altered sensitivity of the face, etc. In such cases, immediate surgery is indicated.

Disease prevention

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

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

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

It should be remembered that osteochondrosis is a progressive disease that does not go away on its own. Many patients are encouraged by remission (period of weakening of the disease), which causes them to return to their old way of life and to stop treatment. And this, in turn, significantly worsens 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 quick therapy!