Indicates symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck

23 November 2020

The diagnosis of osteochondrosis in my opinion is not as sad as discirculatory encephalopathy and vegetative-vascular dystonia. Yes, by "osteochondrosis" we mean completely different diseases at home and abroad. Abroad - these are severe skeletal changes, especially in children. For us, it’s enough to complain of neck pain, do an x-ray or MRI (where there are sure to be degenerative changes) - and here’s the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.

Main causes of back pain

In most cases, the patient is diagnosed with osteochondrosis and back pain. But in fact, the reasons are different:

Non-specific back pain
Caused by muscles, ligaments, tendons. It does not require MRI. This is the most common cause of back pain and the best option because doctors usually prescribe quite appropriate therapy - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, exercise. It should be noted that in the case of chronic pain lasting more than 3 months, completely different medications are required.
Back pain is a fairly rare cause. Were you surprised? And if there is a hernia on the MRI and your back hurts, isn’t the hernia causing the pain? In most cases, no. In addition to pain, there may be other symptoms of hernia: weakness of certain muscles, decreased tendon reflexes, impaired sensitivity in the innervation zone of the root. There are no such symptoms - you may forget about the hernia as the cause of the pain.

Serious causes other than pain and other symptoms are ruled out by MRI.

It is much worse if the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made with completely different complaints: increased pressure, dizziness, weakness, anxiety, headache. What should we exclude in this case?

Tension headaches and migraines.
Not connected to the neck. Healing the neck means going the wrong way and bringing the chronicity of our pain closer. Tension headaches can be accompanied by muscle tension, but it is still tension headaches rather than osteochondrosis.
Dizziness
Not due to acute blues. The real causes of dizziness are: benign paroxysmal dizziness, vestibular data impairment, vestibular migraine, Meniere's disease, vestibular paroxysma, cerebellar and trunk pathology, psychogenic dizziness, iron and vitamin B 12 deficiency, heart disease, many lung diseases and moreother.
Arterial hypertension.
Sometimes I come across the opinion that if a patient's blood pressure rises, they should check their neck and of course their cervical blood vessels. Have you found arterial hypoplasia, curvature, degenerative changes in the cervical spine? Blame them for the pressure rise. This is absurd. In reality, there is no correlation between increased pressure and the neck.
Anxiety depressive disorders.
Do you have anxiety, dizziness, weakness and fatigue, sleep disturbance? Let's look at Benim's neck again. And the poor patient gets physiotherapy, massage and some homeopathy instead of going to a psychiatrist with antidepressants and sedatives.
Iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction.

Always keep this in mind when you complain of fatigue, weakness, decreased concentration, dizziness, headache.

Changes are happening in our bodies over the years. The baby's skin is soft and supple. At the age of 30, in spite of resorting to cosmetic procedures, this is no longer the case. Imagine a sailor who has spent his entire life sailing: his skin is rough and wrinkled. The same thing happens with our spine. In most cases, the protrusions and hernias are age-related natural changes. If you have many provocative factors in your life, such as carrying heavy burdens, you are more likely to develop a large hernia.

Numerous studies have shown that disc extensions occur in healthy people: at age 20 - up to 40% of those surveyed (remember, these are patients without back pain), at age 70 - up to 90%. In addition, the severity of changes in MRI is not associated with the degree of pain syndrome: a large hernia may have no pain at all, and small protrusions may cause severe pain to the patient (because the cause is not in the protrusions but in something else).

Does a hernia ever hurt?

Of course yes! In about 1-4% of all cases of back pain. How do you recognize this? Hernia leads not only to pain, but also to other disorders: decreased sensitivity, changes in reflexes, and sometimes a decrease in muscle strength. All this is determined by a competent doctor during a neurological examination.

If the muscle strength is sufficient, the reflexes of tapping with the hammer are symmetrical, not weakened, there are no sensory disturbances, it is highly unlikely that the back pain is caused by a hernia.

In addition, by compressing the spinal root to a certain level (if you read the MRI results, you will see that the protrusions and hernias are described at a level such as C3-C5 or L5-S1), the hernia is not just a sensitivitycauses a decrease anywhere, certain segments, and strictly defined changes in reflexes. The neurologist correlates the level of the lesion with the MRI data.

Classification of symptoms in cervical osteochondrosis

The development of this disease sometimes occurs before the age of 30-35 years, so signs of the disease can occur even in adolescence. Signs of cervical osteochondrosis are discussed in detail below; disease has become a real problem in the modern world. Sitting, staying in front of a computer for a long time negatively affects a person’s health and well-being. All symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck are associated with multiple system failures:

In advanced cases, there are signs of compression, the integrity of the spinal cord located in the spinal canal deteriorates.
Abnormal neural process can affect the peripheral system. The roots of the spinal cord, which are located near the deformation foci of the bone and cartilage tissue, are exposed to a negative effect.
In some cases, the vertebral arteries become pinched. These blood vessels supply nutrients, oxygen, to the brain cells. Violation of these processes leads to a sudden deterioration of human well-being.

One of the first signs of the disease is known to be cervical spine pain. At first it passes quickly, is intermittent, but then it becomes chronic. The main sites of pain localization are:

occipital muscles (increased by turning the neck, tilting the head);
shoulder area;
neck.

It can hurt in different ways depending on the location of the lesion, the discomfort can be sharp, shoot, intermittent, painful and permanent. Over time, head movements become more difficult due to tension in the neck muscles. When the artery is constricted, cervical migraines are sometimes seen (weakening of the blood supply, lack of oxygen, headache).

Nausea

In some cases, the blood vessels in the circulatory system are compressed, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the human brain and inner ear. This causes nausea in osteochondrosis. This symptom is usually accompanied by a decrease in appetite, which causes weight loss, lack of necessary nutrients. In advanced stages, the disease can cause vomiting when the head is turned, walking or bending. This is due to a lack of blood supply in the middle ear, where the center of balance is located.

Neurological symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Some manifestations of the disease are not immediately attributable to characteristic signs. You need to know what symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis cannot be ignored, such as shortness of breath. If this stage is damaged, Frenic nerve irritation syndrome may develop. The patient has difficulty breathing, lack of oxygen, which causes shortness of breath and even severe suffocation.

This manifestation of pathology is often accompanied by snoring, exacerbated if you become uncomfortable during sleep. This leads to the fact that one does not rest at night, wakes up with a general feeling of malaise, weakness, feels tired and overwhelmed. This condition, if left untreated, can lead to memory impairment, decreased concentration, and irreversible changes in brain tissue.

Vestibular Signals

The other direction of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the vestibular signs. The brain is supplied with all the necessary nutrients through the vertebral arteries. If cervical chondrosis develops in which the inner ear breaks, the patient experiences tinnitus and ringing. In some cases, hearing loss or loss contributes to these symptoms.

Lump in the throat

In some cases, the disease manifests itself in only one symptom - the pharynx. There is a feeling that a lot has formed in the throat with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there is sweating, itching, dryness, swallowing is difficult. These manifestations are associated with conduction impairment of neurovascular strains from the spinal cord. A lump in the throat is not a specific symptom of chondrosis, but may indicate a tumor or inflammatory process. When this symptom appears, be sure to see a doctor.

Visual signs of cervical osteochondrosis

Symptoms of chondrosis of the cervical spine may vary, but the most common are visual acuity disorders. Visual analyzers are supplied through the carotid and vertebral arteries. If the decrease in blood circulation is due to the latter squeezing, then a decrease in vision begins, which does not improve with wearing glasses. Cervical osteochondrosis - symptoms:

low blood pressure;
floating, flickering dots;
atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain;
Violation of focus on the topic;
veil, fog in front of eyes.

It is a characteristic sign that the loss of vision is due to pinching of the blood vessels by the vertebrae, damage to the blood circulation, lack of wearing glasses, and not performing special exercises. Only timely treatment of the underlying disease (before irreversible tissue damage occurs) will help change the condition.

Arterial Signals

The spine plays an important role in the human body, so all diseases affect many systems. Certain arterial signs of osteochondrosis of the neck indicate this disease. This includes sudden loss of consciousness. This is the most unpleasant, most dangerous symptom that is inherent in this disease. This is due to damaged blood circulation when blood temporarily stops in the arteries of the brain.

Severe arterial spasm results from the reaction of deformed bone processes to irritation of nerve endings. If your friend suffers from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and has lost consciousness, he should be laid down, his legs raised to a low height in order to increase the outflow of blood from the limbs and increase the flow to the brain. After that, people tend to recover quickly.

Blood pressure instability is another symptom of the disease. Doctors can diagnose spasmodic indicators if the blood supply is cut off. This is not a specific symptom of chondrosis, but fits the general picture of the disease. Blood pressure may drop or rise suddenly. A person feels a deterioration in his or her condition, so he or she must ensure peace.

Dizziness

It has been previously reported that this disease sometimes causes loss of consciousness. This applies to cases where the blood supply to the brain was very difficult. More often, patients experience dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis. This is a common symptom that accompanies this disease in all patients. This phenomenon has a spontaneous manifestation. This condition is caused by a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to the inner ear. It is located in the human brain and is responsible for a sense of balance. Dizziness occurs when:

rotation of the head, neck;
if you suddenly get out of bed.

Temperature in osteochondrosis

In some cases, pathological processes spread between the structures of the cervical segment of the spinal cord. This is done by the protrusion of the plate, the narrowing of the channel. The temperature of osteochondrosis is the body’s response to these pathologies. The same reaction is possible with vertebral artery syndrome. This is a common occurrence of osteochondrosis in the final stages of disease development. Therefore, an increase in temperature indicates non-specific symptoms of the disease.

This symptom may not occur, the body's thermoregulation may be normal. If you experience constant pain in the back of your head, shoulders, neck, and when you turn or tilt your head, aggravation occurs, you should consult a specialist and undergo an examination. Lack of treatment definitely leads to the condition deteriorating, the level of comfort in life decreases.

Learn more about what to do if you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a lesion of the vertebral discs of the cervical spine that results in degenerative-dystrophic changes. The main reason for its development is a violation of the normal course of metabolic processes, which leads to distortion of the structure of the vertebral bodies and cartilage discs. In the case of localization of the neck, the symptoms of the pathology are largely determined by the compression of the large blood vessels. Treatment methods are selected depending on the stage, the specificity and severity of the course, and the main symptoms.

Characteristics of the disease

The cervical shape is the most dangerous type of osteochondrosis: it leads to deterioration of the cerebral circulation as the vertebral artery passes through this area - one of the largest blood vessels that provides the materials and oxygen needed by the brain.

Vertebral displacement, abnormal changes, and overgrowth of bone and fibrous tissue interfere with normal vascular function.

The specificity of the symptoms of osteochondrosis in this section is determined, among other things, by a structural feature of the cervical vertebrae, which is that they adhere more closely to each other. As a result, any change in a segment provokes the failure of the entire class.

Clinic depending on the stage

During development, cervical osteochondrosis goes through four stages. How does it manifest in all of them?

Section 1. Initial disturbances in the stability of intervertebral discs appear. Symptoms are mild or absent. Not very pronounced pain and local muscle tension are possible.
Section 2. The disc begins to protrude, the gaps between the vertebrae are narrowed, and the annular fibrosis collapses. In many cases, compression of the nerve endings results in pain, mainly of a point nature. When they turn, they increase, the neck is tilted. The tone decreases, weakness often appears.
Section 3. The process of final destruction of the fibrous ring leads to the formation of hernias. This stage is characterized by significant deformity of the spine. Increased pain and fatigue occur in the background of sensory disorders and limited mobility in the affected area.
Section 4 is the most difficult. Intense pain syndrome occurs with any movement attempt that results in significant restriction of mobility in this class. Sometimes the pain subsides, but this does not indicate an improvement in the condition, but only an increase in the size of the bone growths, which significantly restricts movement. They often lead to patient disability.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

When located in the cervical spine, the predominant symptoms of osteochondrosis are:

Pain is the main symptom

pain in the neck, occipital, shoulder, arms;
Restriction of movements, crackling at various turns, neck tilting;
hand weakness;
pain on the left side of the chest radiating to the right arm;
burns in the interscapular zone;
recurrent headache;
weakness;
dizziness (may become unconscious with a severe course of cervical osteochondrosis);
the coordination of movements is disturbed, which is mainly reflected in the gait;
hearing loss, tinnitus;
decreased vision;
sore throat;
poor dental health;
sound attenuation or hoarseness;
is a consequence of neck muscle tension.

In cervicothoracicus, the symptoms are almost similar to those in cervical osteochondrosis. It:

asthenic syndrome;
dizziness and headache;
periodic pressure fluctuations;
flashing flies in front of eyes;
pain in the shoulder girdle and arms;
muscle weakness;
numbness, tingling, coldness of fingers;
pain in the chest, in the area of the heart;
nausea;
tongue, facial numbness;
dental problems;
sensation of current flowing through the arms when the neck is bent.

Syndromes

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are not considered typical. Which of them is the most emphatic depends largely on the specific goal. Many of the manifestations can be mistakenly associated with other pathological conditions. Therefore, there are often cases where improper treatment is prescribed. The complex of symptoms is divided into the following groups:

is radical;
vertebral artery syndrome;
irritant-reflex syndrome.

Radicular syndrome

Another name is cervical sciatica. The syndrome develops as a result of tightening of the nerve endings in the neck. The pains extend from the neck down to the shoulder blades, along the shoulder along the outside of the forearm to the fingers. In this case, they often appear:

creepy feeling;
tingling of hands, forearms, fingers;
pasty.

Manifestations also vary depending on the area of the lesion. If the ends of the central nerve are affected, the paste extends to the thumb, middle, and forefinger. When the ends of the brachial nerve are pinched, the little finger and the ring finger are affected.

Irritable-reflex syndrome

Burning is a sharp pain in the cervico-occipital region that appears during movement after a static state: after sleep, when sneezing, a sharp turn of the head becomes a sign. Often the pain radiates toward the shoulders and chest.

Vertebral artery syndrome

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

throbbing or burning headache (paroxysmal or persistent), spreading to the temporal region, darkness, occiput, forehead spines;
increased discomfort after certain movements or prolonged, uncomfortable position;
general weakness;
nausea;
loss of consciousness;
hearing problems;
eye pain;
blurred vision.

Heart Syndrome

With the appearance of these complex symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck, an image similar to angina pectoris develops, often leading to incorrect treatment. Muscle contractions and cramps in the heart area are likely a reflex response to compression of nerve endings in the lower cervical region. Cardiac syndrome is a consequence of irritation of the phrenic nerve (fibers leading to the pericardium) or pectoral muscle:

pain occurs suddenly, lasts a long time;
aggravated by sharp movements of the neck, cough, sneezing;
tachycardia and extrasystole possible;
pain does not stop after taking coronary vasodilators;
There are no signs of impaired circulation on the ECG.

Exacerbation of the disease

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in the exacerbation stage include:

increased pain and its irradiation to the shoulder blades, interscapular zone, arms, shoulders;
Difficulty moving shoulders, torso, arms, sometimes breathing (inhaling and exhaling);
pain syndrome is often similar to a heart attack or intercostal neuralgia;
when pain occurs in the right hypochondria or hip area, the clinic is similar to manifestations of gastritis or cholecystitis;
headaches have long-term, unbalanced, visual and auditory functions;
skin trophicity in the innervation zone is confused, tingling, numbness, dryness, pallor, burning sensation, coldness;
increases neck muscle tone;
weakness, lethargy, nervous tension, anxiety, emotional instability occur;
Possible sleep disturbances, memory disturbances and concentration problems.

How the disease is diagnosed

Leading methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis of the neck include:

radiography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
computed tomography;
Doppler ultrasound;
duplex scanning.

The last two methods are used to check the condition of the cervical vessels.

Signs of cervical osteochondrosis

The cervical spine contains a lot of blood vessels that feed the brain. Therefore, any neck problem, including cervical osteochondrosis, can lead to a deterioration in the blood supply to the brain. Therefore - and the most common signs of cervical osteochondrosis:

regular headaches and dizziness,
occasionally - sudden fainting,
disorder of movement coordination, appearance of "slackness" of walking,
hearing loss, tinnitus,
visual impairment,
appearance of dental disease,
the appearance of hoarseness in the sound, changes the tone and weakening of the sound
snoring,
Persistent sore throat.

Other symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck include a feeling of coldness in the fingers, numbness, weakness in the arms, pain in the neck and shoulders, often accompanied by dizziness and nausea.

How to treat this disease

Cervical spine osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatmentdepends on the patient's condition, the severity of the disease, the nature of the cervical vertebrae.

In the acute period, hospitalization and medication may be required.

Usually painkillers, novocaine muscle blockade, muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle cramps; chondroprotectors for feeding cartilage tissue; sedatives that calm the nervous system, B vitamins that enhance neuromuscular conductivity.

Treatment of cervical spine osteochondrosis should always be long-term and comprehensive.

During the period of remission, when there are no acute symptoms, physiotherapy methods (electrophoresis, ultrasound, etc. ) are widely used, physiotherapy, massage, as well as non-traditional procedures such as acupuncture.

There are a number of conservative treatments for osteochondrosis that can stop the disease from progressing. However, each patient needs individual treatment, taking into account the stage of the disease, the characteristics of the body, gender and age.

Purpose of cervical osteochondrosis treatment:

Elimination of pain and swelling at the site of inflammation.
Relaxation of tense neck muscles.
Release of pinched nerve roots.
Increased blood circulation.
Activation of metabolism.
Improving the nutrition of intervertebral discs.

Targeted comprehensive treatment can prevent protrusions and intervertebral hernias.

In order to avoid the onset ofcervical spine osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatmentand to avoid serious complications of the disease, treatment should be started in a timely manner.