Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis or how to recognize the disease?

Even 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 an intervertebral hernia, as well as serious sensory and movement disorders.

Therefore, there is a need not only to know the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, but also to be able to diagnose in time.

Stages of cervical osteochondrosis

The disease begins to develop - after 25 years - when the metabolism in 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 still no manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis. However, a combination of additional factors (heredity, stress, early trauma, etc. ) stimulates further disease progression.

The next stage in the development of the disease is the stretching of the membrane of the intervertebral disc - the fibrous lining. Due to the loss of moisture, the disc changes its shape and "swells", which in medicine is called a bulge. At this stage, the first signs appear - sharp burning pain 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, the pain is accompanied by disturbances in the sensation and movement of the upper limbs, as well as the area of ​​the collar.

The transition to the fourth stage 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 several) parts of the spine. At the same time, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered particularly dangerous, because in this part of the spine are large vessels and nerve roots that supply blood and innervate not only the hands but also the brain.

Thus, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into three major groups:

1. Compression of the arteries:We usually talk about the vertebral arteries, which are located in the processes of the cervical vertebrae and supply the brain;
2. Pinched nerve roots:manifests itself with impaired movement and sensation in the hands, as well as in the parietal area of ​​the skull and the back of the head;
3. Compression of the spinal cord:variant of stage IV of the disease, associated with severe neurological disorders (paralysis, lack of superficial sensations, etc. ).

The described events are common. However, there are many particular symptoms that make it possible to detect the disease in its early stages.

Pain

The first manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis is a local pain syndrome - cervicalgia. This is usually a severe pain in the neck that sometimes spreads to the arm or nape. The pain occurs after incorrect postures (long trips in transport, sleep) or physical activity. They usually go away on their own.

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

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

When the "bulge" of the intervertebral disc reaches the nerve fibers, radicular syndrome (also known as "radiculitis") occurs. It is usually accompanied by unilateral pain that extends to the arm (as well as disturbances in sensation and movement). In this case, there is a reflex muscle tension - tilting the head is impossible.

Other types of pain syndrome are:

• A depressing headache that often mimics a migraine but is not relieved with the usual painkillers. It usually "diverges" to the back of the head, parietal and temporal areas, sometimes to the eyeballs. In this case, it can be unilateral or bilateral;
• "heart" pain (or cardialgia) is extremely rare. It is manifested by chest pain, which may resemble an attack of angina pectoris.

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

Sensory disturbances in the cervical vertebrae

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

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

Traffic disorders

If an intervertebral hernia compresses motor nerve fibers, the patient may experience muscle weakness with limited range of motion - paresis. The final degree of movement disorders is paralysis - complete lack of movement, as well as reduced muscle tone (until their atrophy) and the disappearance of reflexes. Such symptoms in the early stages 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 defect in the blood supply to the inner ear, a paired organ of balance located in the temporal bone. Improper postures or periodic exacerbations of osteochondrosis provoke dizziness, which is sometimes accompanied by nystagmus - rapid oscillations of the pupils. The human balance organ is supplied with blood through one artery - the spinal artery. It passes into the cervical spine and can therefore be "squeezed" in diseases of the spine (with osteochondrosis, fractures).
• Ringing in the ears. Ringing in the ears or congestion in the ears is another possibility of disrupting the "supply" of blood to the inner ear. This symptom appears after a long stay in the wrong position and then disappears. This is the last symptom that distinguishes a similar symptom in osteochondrosis from similar symptoms in other diseases.
• Nausea. This is an independent symptom, but is sometimes accompanied by vomiting or vomiting. The latter is provoked by tilting and turning the head, sometimes even walking. The cause of this condition is the same as dizziness - reduced delivery of arterial blood to the organ of balance. However, prolonged vomiting can have serious complications - dehydration and loss of salts from the body, which can lead to alkalosis (alkalization of the blood). This condition requires intravenous administration of appropriate saline.
• Respiratory disorders. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be difficulty breathing when breathing becomes shallow (you can't "breathe with your chest" completely). It provokes a similar state of compression or overstimulation of the diaphragmatic nerve (innervates the diaphragm, the muscle responsible for respiratory movements). In such situations, the patient experiences shortness of breath or shortness of breath. However, more often overstimulation of the phrenic nerve is manifested by prolonged hiccups.
• Attacks at night. Retention of breath during sleep with a failed posture may also be inherent in osteochondrosis of the cervical region. But more often the malaise is manifested by snoring and morning lethargy due to lack of oxygen-containing blood during night sleep. Such "oxygen deficiency" can lead to brain disorders - loss of attention and memory loss.
• Sore throat. It is considered one of the most common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. It manifests itself as dryness in the throat, a feeling of a "foreign body", possible itching or difficulty with the pharynx. The reason for this is the pinching of the nerve and vascular bundles extending from the spine to the organs of the neck. Also, we must not forget that such symptoms may indicate other pathologies (tumors or respiratory diseases). In this case, the presence of osteochondrosis does not exclude tumor or inflammatory processes.

• Visual impairment. The visual organs are supplied with blood from both the vertebral and carotid arteries. Therefore, changes in vision with this pathology are less common, but they are characteristic of people with atherosclerotic vascular plaques or hypotension (low blood pressure). Manifestations may include: "fog" or blinking of "flies" in front of the eyes, decreased visual acuity or impaired placement (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 disrupted, resulting in an inadequate increase and decrease in pressure. The latter may be accompanied by syncope - seizures.
• Syncope. Seizures are common in the elderly, who also have atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Usually, reflex vasospasm (due to overstimulation of nerve endings by hernial protrusions or bone processes) leads to a sharp decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the brain. As a result, the brain experiences hypoxia - a lack of oxygen - which causes loss of consciousness. Be careful! In such situations, the help with a seizure consists in the fact that the 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, restoring the necessary blood flow. To bring a person to himself "means to use a substance with a pungent odor, such as ammonia. Sometimes people have problems with speech and / or movement after syncope, but these symptoms are usually temporary due to the short duration of the seizure. If the seizure lasts longerfor a few minutes and after that the headache worries, until these disorders disappear after a few hours, you should suspect a stroke and go to the hospital urgently.
• Rising temperature. This is a very rare symptom of cervical osteochondrosis. This occurs when blood flow is disrupted in the hypothalamus (the brain's thermoregulatory center). Then it is possible not only to increase but also to reduce body temperature. Most often, however, local phenomena are observed - hyperemia (redness and warming) in the collar. Remember that the presence of osteochondrosis does not preclude fever due to inflammation or swelling!
• Static Disorders. These are distortion of the posture, "alignment" of the cervical spine, as well as subluxation in the joints of the spine. Such changes lead to a redistribution of the load, due to which some parts of the spine (eg the lumbar spine) are overloaded. This can lead to the concomitant development of osteochondrosis in other parts of the spine.
• Spinal stroke. As mentioned above, stage IV cervical osteochondrosis can lead to a spinal stroke (damage to the spinal cord). Such pathology is extremely rare, but is characterized by its danger: there is usually tetraplegia (complete immobilization of the arms and legs), absence of pain and temperature sensitivity in all limbs, sometimes narrowing of the eyes, drooping eyelid, pupil contraction, impaired sensitivityon the face, etc. In such cases, immediate surgical intervention is indicated.

Disease Prevention

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

• promptly treat spinal injuries (bruises and dislocations);
• correct posture disorders (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis), instability of the spinal segments, ligament apparatus;
• for correcting orthopedic problems (flat feet, flat feet), as well as preferably orthopedic shoes with comfortable heels or special insoles;
• to reduce excess weight to normal;
• balances nutrition by increasing the level of micronutrients, fluids and foods containing collagen (jelly and broths on the bones);
• not to lead a sedentary lifestyle, while limiting strenuous physical activity;
• undergo annual preventive inspections (especially for those employed in industries where there is an increased level of vibration from metalworking machines, equipment or moving machines);
• athletes, bodybuilders and more. do not leave training abruptly.

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

It is worth remembering that osteochondrosis is a progressive disease that does not go away on its own. 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 worsens the outcome of the disease. Therefore, if you notice the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, consult a neurologist immediately! After all, there is no better treatment than timely therapy!