Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine accounts for about a quarter of all cases of osteochondrosis. It is the "youngest" and often affects those under 30. The disease develops gradually, progresses slowly but steadily. At the initial stage of development of cervical osteochondrosis, it can usually be asymptomatic, becoming an accidental finding on x-ray examination.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The disease is manifested by dull, aching pains in the chest, under the shoulder blades, in the shoulder area, numbness and the appearance of "goose bumps" in the chest, stiffness of movement. Often the pains are of a belt nature, accompanied by angina, unpleasant painful sensations in the stomach and shortness of breath. Acute pain of short duration is sometimes observed.
The causes of destruction of the vertebral discs and compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord can be scoliosis acquired in adolescence, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, the same type of load on the spine and aregular long-term sitting in a sitting position. .
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms
The most important, very first and most common symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is pain. It intensifies by bending or turning the head.
Depending on the location of the pathological focus, pain can be given to the back of the head, under the scapula or in the arm.
It can be constant, painful. It can happen from time to time, but as the disease progresses, it worries a person more and more often. The pain is also sharp, throbbing. This is a symptom of an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, which can manifest itself after hypothermia of the body.
Head movements are generally difficult. This is due to the constant tension of the muscles in the neck and neck area. When leaning forward or turning your head, a cracking sound is often heard.
In the later stages of cervical osteochondrosis, a person cannot hold his head for long. Sometimes he is unable to turn or tilt it without feeling severe pain. The patient tries to support his head with his hands or tries to take a comfortable position to relieve his suffering.
Vertebral artery syndrome
This group of symptoms occurs due to compression of the vertebral artery by a displaced intervertebral disc, overgrown cartilage tissue, or tight muscles. The syndrome is a collection of symptoms including cervical migraine, altered consciousness, and increased blood pressure.
Cervical migraine is a headache that results from decreased blood flow and oxygen deprivation of tissues. The pain is often one-sided. It hurts, first, at the back of the head. Possible irradiation of the ear, eyes or forehead.
Sometimes hearing loss occurs and the ears begin to ring. Visual impairment possible. In the double eyes, in front of the eyes "flies blink". The scalp can become so painful that it cannot be touched. Headaches with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
A common symptom of cervical osteochondrosis and compression of the vertebral artery is increased blood pressure. But osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and hypertension are not always linked. It should be borne in mind that in old age, an increase in pressure is observed in many people.
Only after studying the history of cervical osteochondrosis can the doctor determine whether hypertension is a complication of the disease. If there is a history of recurrent attacks of high blood pressure, which is accompanied by palpitations and fear of death, this is most likely one of the symptoms of spinal artery compression. If the increase in pressure occurred gradually, and frequent hypertensive crises were not observed, most likely the patient has hypertension, which is not associated with osteochondrosis.
Altered consciousness occurs when there is insufficient blood supply to the brain. There is drowsiness, dizziness, a decrease in the speed of reaction to external stimuli. Short-term loss of consciousness occurs.
Rehabilitation after stroke
What are the most dangerous symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis? Without a doubt, it is a stroke - the death of part of the spinal cord due to the complete lack of blood flow through the compressed vessels. It always leads to disability, causing paresis and paralysis. Fortunately, strokes are rare.
Cardiac Syndrome
Among the symptoms of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is heart pain. It occurs due to the pinching of the posterior roots of the fourth spinal nerve. In fact, heart pain could be attributed to radicular syndrome. But this symptom is specific and therefore isolated as a separate syndrome.
Heart pain with osteochondrosis can mimic angina or myocardial infarction. But when a patient seeks medical help, a competent doctor immediately, only on the basis of the patient's symptoms and complaints, can rule out heart disease.
- First, the presence of other symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae in the patient will already lead the specialist to the idea that the cause of the pain in the heart could be problems with the spine;
- Second, the pain is not strong and sharp, as in myocardial infarction, and is not accompanied by fear of death. It is not associated with physical activity, unlike an angina attack;
- Thirdly, such pain is quite long, and after taking nitroglycerin it does not go away and does not even go away;
- Fourth, the pain increases with turning or tilting the head, which is not seen with "real" heart disease.
Radicular syndrome
Radicular syndrome combines these signs of cervical osteochondrosis that develop as a result of compression of the roots of the spinal nerves. Depending on the level at which the pinching occurred, various symptoms of intervertebral osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may develop.
Compression of the roots at the first or second segment causes numbness of the occipital skin or pain in the occipital region.
Pinching of the roots of the third spinal nerve causes numbness in the tongue and the skin behind the ear. If the motor fibers are pinched, it becomes difficult for a person to chew food and he feels like an enlarged tongue.
Compression of the roots at the fourth segment of the spinal cord causes pain in the heart and collarbone, hiccups and pharyngeal migraines. There is a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, it is difficult to swallow food. There may be a sore throat that mimics a sore throat. But the differential diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis and tonsillitis is not at all difficult. Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil is always accompanied by hyperthermia, while with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, body temperature does not rise.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common symptom of pinching the roots of the fifth spinal nerve is reduced mobility of the shoulder muscles. It is difficult for the patient to raise their hand and take it to the side.
Pinching of the roots of the sixth segment most often causes pain in the scapula and forearm. It becomes difficult for the patient to bend and rotate the forearm.
The seventh pair of spinal nerves primarily innervate the hand, index and middle fingers. When pinched, the mobility of these parts of the body is disturbed, numbness or pain occurs.
Pinching at the eighth segment makes it difficult to flex and extend the ring and little fingers. Pain and sensory disturbances can also occur. However, these manifestations can already be attributed to the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine, since the roots of the eighth spinal nerve are located between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra.
What is the danger of cervical osteochondrosis? First, by its complications. The appearance of intervertebral hernias can lead to compression of the spinal cord and, as a result, the development of paresis and paralysis. When the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear, treatment should already be started. Properly chosen treatment will slow the progression of the disease, improve the patient's quality of life and prevent the development of complications of cervical osteochondrosis.