Already in his youth, a person has the initial symptoms of cartilage disease - osteochondrosis.
Often, the cervical region of the spine is the first to suffer, which can lead to intervertebral hernia, as well as severe disturbances of 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 in the cartilage deteriorates due to hormonal changes in the body. In this case, the blood supply to the intervertebral discs stops naturally.
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 progression of the disease.
The next stage in the development of the disease is the stretching of the intervertebral disc membrane, the fibrous lining. Due to the loss of moisture, the disc changes shape and "bulges", which in medicine is called protrusion. At this stage, the first signs appear: severe 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 intervertebral disc membrane (fibrous circle) and the appearance of an intervertebral hernia, which compresses the vessels and nerve fibers. At the same time, sensitivity and movement disorders of the upper limbs, as well as the collar zone, 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. Changes at this stage are irreversible, so they require surgical treatment.
General symptoms of the disease
Osteochondrosis can be diagnosed in one (or more) parts of the spine. At the same time, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered to be especially dangerous, since in this part of the spine, large vessels and nerve roots are located, which supply blood and innervate not only the hands, but also the brain.
Thus, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into three large groups:
- Compression of the arteries:We are usually talking about the vertebral arteries, which are located in the processes of the cervical vertebrae and supply the brain;
- Pinched nerve roots:manifests itself with altered movements and sensations in the hands, as well as in the parietal region of the skull and in the back of the head;
- Spinal cord compression:a stage IV variant of the disease associated with severe neurological disorders (paralysis, lack of superficial sensations, etc. ).
The manifestations described are general. However, there are many private symptoms that make it possible to detect the disease in the early stages.
Pain
The first manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis is a local pain syndrome - cervicalgia. This is usually severe neck pain that sometimes spreads to the arm or back of the head. Pain occurs after poor posture (long transport trips, sleep) or physical activity. They usually pass on their own.
After sharp turns or head tilts, lower back pain may occur in the neck area (otherwise cervicagus). Often it is accompanied by muscle tension, as a result of which head movements become impossible (up to 10 days after the onset of the cervicago).
Over time, pain adaptation occurs. But in the second stage, the pain usually intensifies, which indicates further displacement and destruction of the intervertebral disc.
When the "protrusion" of the intervertebral disc reaches the nerve fibers, radicular syndrome (also known as "sciatica") appears. Usually accompanied by one-sided pain that extends to the arm (as well as disturbances in sensation and movement). In this case, reflex muscle tension is observed - head tilts are impossible.
Other variants of the pain syndrome are:
- pressing headache, which often simulates a migraine, but is not relieved with the usual analgesics. It usually "diverges" in the back of the head, in the parietal and temporal regions, sometimes in the eyeballs. In this case, it can be unilateral or bilateral;
- Pain in the "heart" (or cardialgia) is extremely rare. Manifested by pain in the chest, which can 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 bring short-term relief, while there is a tangible fear of death, you should suspect a myocardial infarction and urgently go to the hospital.
Sensory disturbances in the cervical spine
Loss, decrease or increase in sensation are the main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Hence, sensory disturbances are often observed in the back of the head, as well as around the shoulder joint or hand.
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 a limited range of motion - paresis. The extreme degree of movement disorders is paralysis - a complete lack of movement, as well as reduced muscle tone (up to their atrophy) and the disappearance of reflexes. In the early stages, these symptoms can be temporary.
Other symptoms
The manifestations described above are the classic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.
However, there are other (important! ) signs of the disease.
- Turn of the head. It is often accompanied by osteochondrosis. Vertigo is associated with a defect in the delivery of blood to the inner ear, a paired organ of balance located in the temporal bone. Irregular postures or periodic exacerbations of osteochondrosis cause dizziness, which is sometimes accompanied by nystagmus - rapid fluctuations of the pupils. The human organ of balance is supplied with blood through one artery - the vertebral artery. It passes into the cervical vertebrae, and therefore can be "crushed" in diseases of the spine (with osteochondrosis, fractures).
- Ringing tinnitus. Ringing from tinnitus or congestion in the ears is another option to hinder the "delivery" of blood to the inner ear. This symptom appears after a long stay in the wrong position and then disappears. 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 is sometimes accompanied by vomiting or vomiting. The latter is caused by tilting and turning the head, sometimes even walking. The reason for this condition is the same as in dizziness - reduced delivery of arterial blood to the organ of balance. However, prolonged vomiting can have serious complications: dehydration and loss of salts by the body, which can lead to alkalosis (alkalization of the blood). This condition requires intravenous administration of appropriate saline solutions.
- Respiratory disorders. A symptom of cervical osteochondrosis may be difficulty breathing when breathing becomes shallow (it is not possible to "breathe in fully with the chest"). It causes a similar state of compression or overstimulation of the phrenic nerve (innervates the diaphragm, the muscle responsible for respiratory movements). In such situations, the patient experiences a lack of air or shortness of breath. However, excessive stimulation of the phrenic nerve is most often manifested by prolonged hiccups.
- Night Attacks. Breath holding while sleeping with unsuccessful posture may also be inherent in osteochondrosis of the cervical region. But more often the ailment 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 a dry throat, "foreign body" sensation, possible itching or difficulty in the pharynx. The reason for this is the pinching of the nerve and vascular bundles that extend from the spine to the organs of the neck. Furthermore, we must not forget that similar symptoms can indicate other pathologies (tumors or respiratory diseases). At the same time, the presence of osteochondrosis does not exclude tumor or inflammatory processes.
- Visual disturbances. The visual organs are supplied with blood by the vertebral and carotid arteries. Therefore, changes in vision with this pathology are less common, however, they are characteristic of people with atherosclerotic vascular plaques or hypotension (low blood pressure). The manifestations may include: "fog" or flashes of "flies" in front of the eyes, reduced 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 can be disturbed, as a result of which an inadequate increase and decrease in pressure will be observed. The latter can be accompanied by syncope - conditions of fainting.
- Sinkope. Fainting is often seen in older people who also have atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries. Usually, a reflex vasospasm (due to overstimulation of nerve endings from hernial protrusion or bone processes) leads to a sharp decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the brain. As a result, the brain feels hypoxia - lack of oxygen - which is the cause of the loss of consciousness. Watch out! In such situations, the help with fainting consists in the fact that a person is lying 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, 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 speech and / or movement problems after syncope, but these symptoms are usually temporary due to the short duration of fainting. If the fainting state lasted more than a few minutes and after it the headache worries, while these violations do not go away after a couple of hours, you should suspect a stroke and urgently go to the hospital.
- Increase in temperature. This is a very rare symptom of cervical osteochondrosis. It occurs when blood flow is impaired in the hypothalamus (the brain's thermoregulatory center). Thus, 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 collar area. Remember, the presence of osteochondrosis does not rule out a rise in temperature due to inflammation or swelling!
- Static violations. These are posture curvatures, "alignment" of the cervical curve of the spine, as well as subluxations in the joints of the spine. Such changes lead to a redistribution of the load, due to which some parts of the spine (for example, the lumbar part) become 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 spinal stroke (injury to the spinal cord). Such a pathology is extremely rare, but is distinguished by its danger: tetraplegia (complete immobilization of arms and legs), absence of pain and temperature sensitivity in all extremities, sometimes retraction of the eyes, drooping of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, reduced sensitivity on the face and so on. In these cases, immediate surgery is indicated.
Prevention of disturbances
To prevent the development and complications of the disease you need:
- promptly treats spinal injuries (bruises and dislocations);
- disorders of correct posture (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis), instability of the spinal segments, ligament apparatus;
- to correct orthopedic problems (clubfoot, flat feet), as well as prefer orthopedic shoes, with comfortable heels or special insoles;
- to reduce overweight to normal;
- balances nutrition by increasing the level of micronutrients, liquids and foods containing collagen (gelatin and broths with bone);
- do not lead a sedentary lifestyle, while limiting heavy physical activity;
- undergo annual preventive examinations (especially for those who are employed in sectors where there is an increase in the level of vibrations from machines, equipment or moving machines);
- athletes, bodybuilders, etc. they do not abruptly stop training.
Older people need to control comorbidities (atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension). At the same time, it is important to exclude bad habits (alcohol and tobacco smoking), as well as avoid stressful situations that lead 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 lifestyle and discontinue treatment. And this, in turn, significantly aggravates 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 prompt therapy!