Osteochondrosis of the neck is a common spinal disease that affects patients of all ages. It is a degenerative change in the vertebral disc that takes place against the background of severe stress, wearing the wrong shoes, strenuous physical exertion and malnutrition.
It develops gradually, so that the patient may not immediately notice the first symptoms.
Another name for this disease is degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine, affecting the vertebral body, ligament and articular apparatus, intervertebral discs.
Equally often diagnosed in men and women, as a rule, develops after 30 years. According to statistics, this disease affects from 50 to 80% of the population.
The main signs of the disease
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear as the pathology progresses. They are most noticeable during an irritation. Once you notice the first signs of the disease, it is recommended to consult a doctor, as it is often disguised as other disorders, which complicates timely diagnosis. Patients usually come with the following complaints:
- Severe pain in the collar area.
- Noise and choking in the ear.
- Frequent dizziness.
- Shortness of breath, feeling of shortness of breath.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Blood pressure drops.
- Fainting or frequent syncope.
- Increased body temperature.
The signs of cervical osteochondrosis in men are not very different from those that appear in women. Patients complain of discomfort in the neck, sternum and shoulder girdle. You should contact your local therapist or neurologist for a diagnosis.
Neck pain
One of the most common symptoms of cervical spine chondrosis is neck pain that affects the back of the head and shoulders. The nature of the pain (pain, sharp, tingling) depends directly on the location of the lesion and the severity of the development of the pathological process. In the initial stage, this can be a slight inconvenience, which does not allow you to freely turn your head in all directions. Gradually, the pain becomes chronic and limits the range of motion.
The pain is manifested as a result of deformation of the vertebrae, due to insufficient blood supply to the collar area. Against the background of this process, spasms, anxiety attacks and panic are observed. A painful sensation in the neck area may radiate to the shoulders or arms. Growth after sleep, sudden movements, laughter or sneezing. Discomfort is combined with a characteristic flaw when trying to turn or muscle weakness.
Muscle tissue spasms and poor circulation often lead not only to pain, but a temporary loss of the ability to move the neck. Persistent overload spreads throughout the head and the patient begins to complain of migraine attacks.
Noise and congestion in the ears
Osteochondrosis in the neck is also manifested by the feeling of suffocation in the ear, hearing loss and the appearance of noise. All this happens due to insufficient intensity of blood flow to the vestibular apparatus. This complex of symptoms is called cochlear, but doctors rarely associate it with a disorder in the vertebral region. Pay attention to the nature of the noise and noise in the ears, they usually intensify when a person is in a position for a long time or tries to change it.
Patients with hearing problems consult an otolaryngologist. In the presence of concomitant disorders of the condition, such as numbness of the face, limited mobility of the neck, additional consultation with a neurologist is required to clarify the diagnosis and determine the cause.
Headache and migraine
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are rarely associated with frequent headaches; the female population is more sensitive to them. The vertebrae in this area are constantly exposed to excessive stress, which leads to their gradual deformation, if the muscle tissue is not elastic enough to keep them in a natural position. It is more difficult to identify the cause of the headache, as the symptoms are not specific. The following reasons provoke an attack:
- Cerebral vasospasm.
- Nerve sprains in the cervicothoracic spine.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Acute violation of venous flow.
- Added fatigue.
- Long stay in an unnatural position.
The headache intensifies during the period of deterioration and in the patient, including the male. By nature, it can be constant, dull in the form of seizures or pulsating. In older people, this symptom requires great attention, as it can speak of an initial stroke, angina pectoris, heart attack or hypertension. Therefore, first of all, these conditions are ruled out before starting treatment for osteochondrosis.
With heart pathologies, patients also complain of compression in the chest area, a irregular heart rhythm, which allows the doctor to differentiate the condition in time. Headaches associated with nausea, shortness of breath, necessarily require an ECG.
Dizziness
Impaired coordination and frequent dizziness often occur when osteochondrosis develops in grade 2 or more. This is due to degenerative changes in the vertebrae, spasms, tightening of nerve endings. The brain does not receive the necessary amount of oxygen, which negatively affects the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. As a result of the deviation of the condition, the symptoms are:
- Systemic dizziness. They appear as a sensation of rotation of the whole body and objects around it. Dysfunction occurs due to dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus, weakening of muscle tissue and receptors located in the joints.
- Unsystematic dizziness. In addition to instability, patients experience mixed periods, an unstable state in a vertical position. Circular rotation is usually absent.
Dizziness is a serious symptom that should be treated immediately by a doctor. In the presence of numbness in the shoulders, paralysis of the facial muscle tissue, loss of consciousness, urgent hospitalization are required.
Breathing and shortness of breath
Another serious symptom with advanced osteochondrosis in the shoulder area is a persistent feeling of shortness of breath. Respiratory problems arise from the compression of nerve endings and receptors that do not transmit impulses from the pharynx to the esophagus. Respiration occurs when the vertebrae move, increases in a stressful state, accompanied by a lump in the throat. After taking a sedative, the health condition returns to normal.
Shortness of breath provokes radicular syndrome. Diaphragm spasm affects the depth and rhythm of breathing. The patient becomes stuffy and difficult to breathe air, problems with memory and concentration appear. Such a symptom in osteochondrosis requires immediate help, as it can cause a number of serious complications. The doctor chooses the drug individually, taking into account the condition.
nausea
In the cervical region, there is a large accumulation of nerve endings, an artery that is responsible for transporting nutrients to the brain passing through it. With osteochondrosis, extensions and intervertebral hernias gradually form, which affects blood pressure and as a result, the patient feels a mixed attack.
Prolonged impairment of normal blood circulation leads to vomiting, loss of consciousness and causes stroke and disability. Therefore, the appearance of such symptoms, which is not associated with nutritional errors, requires immediate medical advice.
Increased blood pressure
For cervical osteochondrosis, a characteristic symptom is a pressure jump during the day. For a long time, increased or decreased blood pressure is not maintained, which is a characteristic sign of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The daily dynamics of blood pressure is unexpected, as irritation of nerve endings is reflex and causes short-term vascular spasms. A distinctive feature of the increase in pressure in cervical osteochondrosis is:
- headache;
- chest discomfort;
- decreased sensitivity in the collar area;
- muscle tension after staying in one position for a long time.
All of this is taken into account when making a diagnosis. The rapid deterioration of the condition and the immediate changes of pressure are the basis for the hospitalization of the patient and the provision of his assistance in a hospital setting.
Visual impairment
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often provokes such unpleasant symptoms as double vision, tremors, the appearance of "flies". This signals the severity of the process and requires a visit to the doctor. Against the background of destruction of connective tissue in the vertebrae, the following diseases can develop:
- Glaucoma. The patient is diagnosed with increased intraocular pressure, optic nerve damage. It is impossible to completely eliminate pathologists, only to achieve a lasting remission with complex treatment.
- Cataract. This pathological process leads to the destruction of the lens. The changes are associated with metabolic processes and acute impairment of oxygen supply to the brain. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of "flies" before the eyes. Timely initiation of treatment helps maintain the patient's vision.
- Claude Bernard-Horner's disease. One of the reasons for the appearance of a lesion is considered hypoxia in the occipital region. The main signs of a pathological condition are a decrease in the baby's reaction or a change in the baby's size in different eyes. Some patients complain that they can not completely close their eyes to rest overnight and also suffers from dusk vision.
The ophthalmologist prescribes treatment, after a thorough examination. But therapy is performed only in a complex aimed at eliminating the cause of the violation. Only then can the problem be effectively addressed.
Pharyngeal problems
Degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae provoke problems with swallowing. The patient complains of a lump in the throat, sweating, foreign body sensation in the throat, itching. Signs indicate a dysfunction of neurovascular trunks running from the spinal cord. But the symptomatology is not considered characteristic and can be observed with pathological disorders such as inflammation, swelling.
Change in body temperature
Osteochondrosis, as it progresses, becomes the cause of the increase in body temperature. Such symptoms occur when the vertebral artery is damaged, spinal canal stenosis, or disc elongation. It provokes changes in neurosis and concomitant neurological disorders. Against the background of a rise in temperature, there is numbness of the tongue or hands, an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes, a burning sensation of the tongue.
Symptoms of stage-dependent osteochondrosis
The signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend mainly on the stage of development of the pathology, the compressive strength of the nerve endings and the process of deformation of the discs. It provokes the appearance of symptoms of spinal artery compression and a violation of blood flow to the brain. Grip of nerve endings leads to severe neurological pathologies. The severity of the symptoms depends directly on the stage of development of the disease:
- Beginners. Degenerative processes in the vertebral discs continue unnoticed by the patient. It is quite difficult to notice the first changes, as these can be mild headaches (they are felt more strongly in women), neck discomfort, slight deterioration of vision or loss of sensation in the collar area. At this stage, patients rarely go to the doctor, attributing the symptoms to fatigue, lack of sleep or stress.
- Second phase. With the progression of the pathology and the appearance of disc elongation, more pronounced symptoms appear. Destruction of the annulus fibrosus affects the movements of the head, they become more restricted. Also, patients begin to complain of persistent tinnitus, impaired visual function, neck pain with a characteristic crackling, swallowing problems, sleep disturbances, and decreased reflex clarity. Holding the head in one position causes strong discomfort, which requires a doctor’s consultation.
- The third stage. Intervertebral hernias are formed gradually, annulus fibrosus is completely destroyed, there is deformation of the vertebrae, displacement of bone segments, dislocations, instability. The patient complains of acute neck pain, pronounced shoulder syndrome, paralysis of the upper limbs, tendon reflexes are not observed, impaired sensitivity in the scalp. This is a severe stage of the disease that requires complex treatment.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic systemic disease that manifests itself with various symptoms. The reason is always hidden in congested nerve endings, circulatory disorders and deformities of the intervertebral discs. Elongation, hernia, and displacement gradually lead to loss of vertebral mobility.
Age directly affects the severity of symptoms. The older the patient, the stronger the changes in connective and bone tissue. This is due to the weakness of muscle fibers, nutritional deficiencies and chronic inflammatory diseases in the body.
Patient testimonials
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is a common disease, as the nerve roots are constantly exposed to stress due to excessive segment mobility. Timely detection of pathology avoids serious complications, so many people read patient reviews and compare them to their symptoms.
Woman, 35 years old
"We suspected osteochondrosis almost immediately, as I was constantly suffering from headaches and had problems with neck flexion. But the diagnosis was made only after radiography. Since treatment does not give a normal result and the pain still appears periodically, computed tomography is still ahead. , it will confirm or deny progress.
Woman, 42 years old
"Doctors could not diagnose osteochondrosis for a long time due to the fact that the symptoms echoed my gastritis. Occasionally I felt sick, but I attributed this to dietary mistakes. Only after I fainted did I go to the doctor and start"I was looking for a problem. The neck discomfort was not very painful in the initial stage and the pain was only felt when the pathology was progressing. The treatment was prescribed only after the CT scan. The treatment is gradually giving results. "
Man, 36 years old
"Osteochondrosis of the neck developed due to the peculiarities of the profession, but they could not determine it immediately. At first I lost my sight, which I immediately attributed to eye strain at night, and then began to suffer dizziness and neck pain, but"Because I was constantly driving and it did not bother me. The diagnosis was already made in almost 3 stages, when the pressure started to jump and the problems with health in general started. The treatment has not yet given tangible results. "
It is strictly forbidden to diagnose yourself without laboratory research and apparatus. Any information should be taken as a note only.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is manifested by a large number of symptoms, but most of them are easily confused with similar pathologies. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the patient's complaints in a complex and perform differential diagnosis, which allows timely identification of the disease and description of appropriate treatment, which includes physiotherapy, gymnastics and drug treatment.