The first signs of cervical osteochondrosis are quite difficult to notice. They often cause so little discomfort that a person does not pay attention to them and does not rush to consult a doctor. In other cases, the symptoms are confused with simple fatigue or a mild cold:
- increased neck pain;
- feeling of heaviness in the back of the head;
- slight tingling in the hands.
These signs appear in thousands of people every day, but few can recognize them as the development of cervical osteochondrosis.
Important! Remember that the disease develops slowly, and in the first stages it is much easier to restrain the progress of destructive processes than to treat the advanced stage!
Who is in danger
Osteochondrosis develops not only in those who lead a sedentary life. Athletes from fields such as classical wrestling, judo, freestyle wrestling and sambo also suffer from this disease. The disease develops due to critical loads on the spine in the neck area (constant falls and blows, high mobility of the neck). It is important to remember that osteochondrosis is often diagnosed before the age of 35 - over 86% of cases.
As the disease develops
Currently, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is much more common than other pathologies of the spine. This is due to the greater mobility of the neck. As the disease progresses, severe pain occurs, which worsens the person's life. Osteochondrosis progresses slowly, but it certainly leads to degenerative changes in the bone tissue of the spine. There are four stages of disease development:
- The first stage is characterized by an almost complete absence of symptoms. The disease can only be diagnosed during a routine examination. Sometimes a slight pain may occur, which many recognize as signs of stress or fatigue. In the first phase, the nucleus pulposus is destroyed, which makes the vertebrae less able to bear the load. As a result, degenerative-dystrophic processes develop. Among the first symptoms are: mild headaches that disappear quickly, spasm syndrome "inside the neck", significant muscle tension in the upper back.
- In the second stage of the disease, cracks appear on the sides of the discs due to stress. They are not yet very deep, but they already contribute to the displacement of the core. During the diagnosis, a protrusion is often detected and the height of the disc is reduced. This phase is characterized by frequent and long-lasting pain. A person loses strength, certain areas of his face begin to go numb, and due to fear of new painful sensations, stiffness of movements develops.
- The third stage is characterized by the formation of a hernia in the cervical region between the vertebrae. All tissues are affected along with the vessels located in this area - veins, muscles, nerves, arteries. The pain flows smoothly and spreads from the neck to the occipital region. Special sensitivity occurs when moving the head. Patients also begin to complain of dizziness due to insufficient blood flow in the vertebral artery.
- In the fourth stage, osteophytes are formed - the bone tissue grows in width because the body and brain literally send signals that require an increase in surface area to distribute the load. As a result, the nerves of the vertebrae are compressed, the cavities between the vertebrae are reduced, there is severe stiffness, and sometimes the inability to move. All adjacent joints are damaged. In order to eliminate the causes and "contain" cervical osteochondrosis at this stage, it will be necessary to carry out long-term and difficult treatment, including surgical intervention.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is an important process that will help curb the degradation of the cervical vertebrae, alleviate complications and preserve the quality of life. But in order to identify the pathology, you need not only to monitor the symptoms, but at least once a year to carry out diagnostics and take the necessary tests.
Characteristics of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Even minor changes in the vertebrae, ligaments and intervertebral discs lead to disruption of the functioning of the nerve endings. Blood vessels are also affected. All are directly connected to the brain and other organs, where unpleasant symptoms arise.
Important! Compression of blood vessels and nerves leads to discomfort and severe pain.
Clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into three groups:
- the first group is characterized by neurological manifestations of pathology that arise due to the influence of inflammatory processes and changes that occur in tissues on the peripheral part of the nervous system;
- the second group is related to the impact of the process on the spinal cord;
- The third group includes signs that depend on the disruption of processes in the nerve endings leading to the brain.
As soon as disorders appear in the peripheral nervous system, a person begins to feel pain. They don't always start suddenly and last a long time, but they all start from the same place - inside the door. The pain is not similar to muscle pain, there is no relaxation when kneading.
In most cases, when the peripheral system is damaged, there is a feeling of lack of air. Patients feel as if they have a "lump" in their throat and it becomes difficult to breathe. The pain is characterized as unexpressed, dull, and constant tension is felt in the muscles. Sometimes, after a night's sleep, the pain intensifies.
The progression of the disease leads to the spread of symptoms. Following the head and neck, the hands begin to suffer:
- feeling weak;
- numbness occurs in one or more fingers;
- then large parts of the hands go numb.
If you feel pain and pressure in the heart area, you can talk about the development of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis is often misidentified as angina or neuralgia. It is mainly characterized by symptoms such as:
- cough;
- stomach pain;
- discomfort in the liver;
- pain in the lungs.
As soon as the vertebral artery is connected to the destructive process (supplying the brain with oxygen), symptoms from the brain begin to appear. As the disease progresses, it becomes constricted and cannot function normally. Thus, dizziness occurs, vision deteriorates and tinnitus occurs.
The use of conventional painkillers rarely helps with cervical osteochondrosis headaches.
Physical activity and frequent nervous efforts can cause the pathology to worsen. Symptoms of worsening cervical osteochondrosis:
- increase in irritation;
- sensitive and interrupted sleep;
- fast fatigue.
If a person is diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia, the symptoms intensify: neuroses develop, blood pressure jumps. The diagnosis can also indicate the development of cervical osteochondrosis, so it is necessary to undergo all the tests, make a magnetic resonance and make other images of the cervical spine.
It is almost impossible to independently diagnose cervical osteochondrosis based on symptoms. Given that the first stage takes place almost without obvious signs, it is necessary to undergo regular preventive examinations. At the first signs of the disease, treatment should be started, following the doctor's recommendations. Even if the disease has not yet "played out" and does not cause tangible problems.
Syndromes
For an accurate diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis, a correct justification of the symptoms is required. Based on tests, images and examinations, the doctor must accurately determine the causes of the symptoms. All of them are associated with certain syndromes.
Humeroscapular periarthritis
The syndrome is characterized by severe pain and muscle contracture in the area of one of the shoulder joints. In left-handed people, the left shoulder joint is usually affected, and in right-handed people, the right joint. Characteristics of pain syndrome:
- constant;
- painful;
- painful
In most cases, the pain intensifies at night. If you move your arm to the side or put it behind your back, the pain will also increase. Sometimes the pain is felt in the whole arm, in the occipital and scapular part.
During the examination, the doctor often notices tension in the joint area, and during palpation the patient feels severe pain in the muscles. In some cases, the doctor notices compaction and small nodules by palpation, and slight swelling of the affected shoulder also occurs.
Radicular syndromes
The syndrome can develop when the spinal root is damaged. It usually occurs several years after the onset of osteochondrosis. Irreversible destruction occurs in the vertebrae and discs: the cavity consisting of nerves and blood vessels shrinks, as the cartilage becomes thinner or an intervertebral hernia forms. Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is characterized by certain symptoms:
- the pain is observed in the forearm, in the area of the scapula and passes to the front of the chest;
- it becomes difficult to move the neck, pain and stiffness are felt;
- The sensitivity of the skin on the hands worsens, it becomes numb and the sensation of "goosebumps" appears;
- the person cannot raise the arm from the side of the affected parts.
Irritative-reflex syndrome
The syndrome is characterized by a slightly burning, sharp pain in the back of the head and neck. It occurs when you move your head after a long period of immobility, for example, when you work at a computer. Discomfort is felt in the shoulder joints, as well as in the chest area.
Cardiac syndrome
The syndrome is often confused with angina pectoris, because the symptoms of the disease are almost identical. This happens because the pain and contractions of the muscle tissue in the heart area are caused by the compression of the root in the lower parts of the cervical spine. Hence the similarity of diseases.
The syndrome is characterized by pain that comes in attacks and can last from 10-15 minutes to several hours. They are significantly increased by sudden movements (turning, coughing, sneezing). Often the cardinal syndrome is characterized by the development of tachycardia, and coronary dilators do not cope with pain relief. There are also no signs on the cardiogram that are characteristic of circulatory disorders.
Vertebral artery syndrome
The role of the vertebral artery is to supply the brain and spinal cord. With the syndrome, the work of the periarterial sympathetic plexus is disturbed. The picture of the syndrome looks like this:
- headaches of varying intensity;
- disorders of the vestibular apparatus (staggering, loss of balance);
- mild and severe dizziness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- pharyngolaryngeal and ocular symptoms (deterioration of vision, appearance of a veil before the eyes).
In vertebral artery syndrome, burning pain often occurs not only in the neck, but also in the back of the head. A feeling of lethargy, resentment and irritability develops. Anxiety levels increase, sleep and memory may be disturbed.
Therefore, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to determine which syndrome underlies cervical osteochondrosis. Based on specific symptoms, test results, photographs and palpation, an experienced doctor will be able to accurately determine the characteristics of the pathology and prescribe the correct treatment.