The main signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a very common disease that affects women and men equally. Moreover, age does not play a special role here. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are found not only in the elderly, whose pathology is the result of a natural aging process. The disease is becoming more common in young people and in most cases they themselves are to blame for it.

Reasons for the development of pathology

This damage to the spine has a degenerative-dystrophic character. That is, pathological changes occur on the back of the spine, as well as in all their structural elements, which can not be changed in the later stages. This type of osteochondrosis is considered the most dangerous because it results in damage to the main nerve roots and vessels that feed the brain. That is, over time, the spine ceases to function normally along its entire length.

The following causes of the disease can be identified:

1. Lifting and moving heavy objects.
2. Significant sports loads.
3. Improper weight bearing.
4. Long-term protection of static posture: working with a computer, writing notes, reading books, office work. This is the main reason for young people.
5. Genetic factor.

Naturally, inflammatory processes occurring in the spine or other parts of the body can also provoke osteochondrosis of the neck. Other causes are not excluded: hypothermia, trauma, surgery.

Classification of symptoms

Therefore, treatment of the spine should be done only after the patient has been made an accurate diagnosis. To do this, the doctor must know the clinical picture of the patient, as well as use all methods of instrumental examination. The symptoms that occur in the patient depend on the degree of damage to the body systems:

1. Most of the symptoms on the part of the brain are due to circulatory disorders due to compression of blood vessels.
2. The picture of peripheral nerve damage arises due to compression of the nerve roots that protrude from the spinal hole.
3. Acute neurological disorders appear in the late stages of disease development due to spinal cord injury.

Now you can look in more detail at the main signs of cervical osteochondrosis.

The most common symptoms of pathology

Regardless of the cause that contributed to the appearance of the problem, the clinical picture is almost always the same in all patients. Osteochondrosis of the cervix has the following symptoms:

• Painful sensations. They are localized on the neck, back of the head and around the neck. The pain can also spread to the shoulders, chest, skeletal clavicle. Osteochondrosis is characterized by frequent migraines. Gradually, the discomfort becomes painful, chronic. Exacerbation of pathology causes shooting pains during movement. The muscles are very tense at the same time. Sometimes only an injection - anesthetic blockade - can eliminate this symptom.
• Tinnitus, an unpleasant sensation. This occurs as a result of a deterioration in the blood supply to the vestibular apparatus.
• Dizziness. This is caused by a lack of oxygen because the inner ear is poorly supplied with blood. This condition is further accompanied by uncontrolled irregular movements of students.
• The mind from which the patient emerges quickly enough if there is an improvement in blood circulation to the affected area.
• Feeling of shortness of breath. The presented symptom occurs due to irritation of the flight nerve. That is, the patient simply cannot breathe deeply. He also snores and may suddenly stop breathing. Over time, the patient develops shortness of breath and suppresses attacks. Further oxygen starvation will damage brain tissue, resulting in impaired attention and memory.
• Nausea. Sometimes any movement of the body or head is accompanied by nausea that is difficult to control. The patient has an appetite, loses weight.

• Sight problems. Osteochondrosis of the cervix can cause symptoms such as "flies" in front of the eyes or fog, decreased severity, impaired focus of the gaze. Moreover, exercise therapy or wearing glasses can not fix the problem.
• Pressure change. This condition occurs due to spasm of the arteries. The patient may even lose consciousness.
• Dry and bumps fed. Sometimes this is the only symptom that says the neck is acting. Therefore, osteochondrosis in this case can easily be confused with other pathologies.
• Increase in temperature. This symptom is rare. Moreover, it is not the basal temperature that changes, but the local temperature. The skin of the neck becomes hot and red.
• Mobility restriction. The neck appears. You will also hear an unpleasant crackling and cramping in the neck as you change your head
• Weakness in the arms and a burning sensation between the shoulder blades.
• Impaired coordination of movements, which affects the patient's gait.

Some of the signs of cervical osteochondrosis listed above are not specific. This somewhat complicates the diagnosis of the disease, since the person does not turn to specialists in a timely manner.

Symptoms of the disease, depending on the degree of its development

Depending on what symptoms are observed in the patient, what is their prevalence and intensity, we can talk about the stage of development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Each degree has its own characteristics:

1. The first stage. It is accompanied by periodic headaches, discomfort in the neck, shoulders, arms. There is little restriction on mobility. A slight decrease in skin sensitivity may be observed around the collar. At this stage, treatment is practically not carried out, as patients do not seek medical help. Some patients try to treat osteochondrosis at home using folk remedies.
2. The second stage. The pain in the cervical spine intensifies, an unpleasant crisis is heard. In the shoulder region, as well as in the hands, a serious impairment of sensitivity occurs. The headaches practically do not disappear at this stage, the patient's vision deteriorates, noise appears in the head and ears, and the clarity of the tendon reflexes decreases. During the exacerbation of osteochondrosis there are shooting pains, radiating under the scapula. Here it is no longer possible to notice the symptoms of the disease and the patient tries to see a doctor. However, it is no longer possible to get rid of failure completely. It will be possible only to slow down its further development.
3. The third stage. Here the plate collagen fibers are already destroyed, the appearance of a hernia rash. The fixation of the spine is broken and they start to fall out. Dislocations can even occur. The patient has very severe pain in the neck and heart, there is paresis and paralysis of the upper extremities, the spine is bent. At this stage in the development of osteochondrosis, tendon reflexes are virtually non-existent. A complication of this degree of cervical osteochondrosis is a spinal stroke.

If a person "saves" from the disease at home without consulting a doctor, this behavior can lead to disability.

Osteochondrosis of the cervix cannot be completely cured, but timely and correct therapy can slow its progression.

What syndromes cause osteochondrosis?

So there is a certain set of symptoms that indicate that a person has a certain syndrome. If there is not at least one sign, then it is not necessary to talk about such a pathological condition.

There are several syndromes provoked by cervical osteochondrosis:

• Radical. Alternatively it may be called "cervical sciatica". It arises as a result of broken nerves. It is characterized by the following symptoms: the presence of pain that radiates to the shoulder blades, runs along the shoulder and extends to the forearms and fingers; The appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes; Tingling of fingers, forearms, hands. The localization of symptoms may vary depending on which pair of roots is damaged.
• Irritating reflex. It is characterized by severe burning pain in the neck and occiput, which occurs due to movement after sleep, during sneezing. Unpleasant sensations may be given to the chest.
• Spinal artery syndrome. The following symptoms are distinguished: loss of consciousness, nausea, severe headache in nature, extending to the parietal, temporal and occipital parts of the skull. The patient is characterized by weakness, hearing loss, pain in the eyes, and blurred vision.
• Of the heart. It has a peculiarity - it is easy to confuse it with an angina attack, so the prescribed treatment may turn out to be wrong. If a patient is asked about cervical osteochondrosis, the symptoms of heart syndrome are as follows: Sudden onset of pain that increases with slight movement; Tachycardia; Inability to stop an attack with special heart pills that help dilate coronary vessels. At the same time, there are no signs of circulatory disorders on the cardiogram.

Since osteochondrosis has a chronic form, its exacerbations occur periodically. The intensity of the symptoms increases. Feelings can last a long time and only anesthetic injection can remove them. Tablets may not be effective.

How is pathology diagnosed?

To accurately determine the severity of osteochondrosis, to determine the extent of destruction of the spine, the patient needs a thorough examination. It includes the following procedures:

• External examination of the patient.
• Neurological tests.
• Duplex scan of blood vessels or Doppler ultrasound.
• MRI
• CT
• X-ray of the cervical spine in two projections.
• Electrocardiogram.

Laboratory analysis in this case is not informative. Although sometimes they are prescribed to determine the cause of the development of osteochondrosis.

Peculiarities of pathology treatment

So, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be carried out in the first stages. Moreover, the patient can take the necessary medication, do therapeutic exercises at home, but only after a thorough examination and consultation with specialists.

Therapy should be comprehensive. It is not enough to just remove the symptoms of the pathology. It is necessary to try to restore the functioning of the cervical spine. To do this, a person needs medication (painkillers, hormonal, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectants), as well as therapeutic exercises.

To eliminate the acute pain that the pills can not stop, a special injection is used, which is done in the intra-articular region. However, this blockade method can be used only a few times a year.

In addition to medical treatment, the patient is offered physiotherapy procedures: massage, ultrasound and ultraviolet treatment. If conservative therapy does not work, then the patient is prescribed surgical intervention. That is, extreme size and it is better not to allow the disease in such a state.