Cervical osteochondrosis means degenerative disorders of the intervertebral discs. The disease is accompanied by a complex of different symptoms. The clinical picture develops as the disease progresses - each stage corresponds to certain signs and the intensity of their occurrence.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis by degree (phase)Osteochondrosis is a progressive disease, so the clinical picture develops gradually. This refers to the number of symptoms of the disease and the intensity of their occurrence. In total, there are 4 stages of the disease.
The first stageosteochondrosis of the cervical spine is initial. The changes occur mainly at the biochemical level. This stage of the disease is associated with mild symptoms or is asymptomatic, hence it is called preclinical. It has the following features:
- appears discomfort in the neck, which can spread to the arms and shoulders, sometimes the sensations become painful;
- headache;
- motor activity in the cervical spine is slightly limited;
- has vision impairments that pass quickly;
- the sensitivity of the skin of the collar area decreases;
- Symptoms increase with tilting of the head.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis has been ignored by many patients. The symptoms of the disease that appear are often attributed to age, fatigue and stress.
The second stageof cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the development of extensions. This stage includes dehydration of the intervertebral disc, a decrease in its elasticity and height, and the appearance of cracks in the ring fibrosis. In this case, the disc swells in the intervertebral canal.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe neck pain, oppression is possible;
- painful sensations are shooting in nature, radiating under the shoulder;
- Pain increases with prolonged holding of the head in one position;
- significant loss of sensation in the skin of the shoulders and arms;
- frequent and persistent headaches;
- visual disturbances, flies in the eye;
- tinnitus, bell;
- muscle weakness in the upper limbs;
- decrease in the clarity of tendon reflexes;
- development of insomnia, rarely other sleep disorders;
- has a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing.
The second stage of cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself quite clearly, so many patients consult their doctor at this stage. In this case, conservative treatment is sufficient.
The third stageof the disease is characterized by the destruction of anus fibrosis and the formation of an intervertebral hernia. At this stage, the spine is deformed, the vertebrae are displaced, against the background of their poor fixation, subluxations and displacements develop.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- sharp sharp pains that can spread to the heart;
- partial or complete violation of the sensitivity of the skin on the back of the head, shoulders, arms;
- paresis, paralysis of the upper limbs;
- almost complete absence of tendon reflexes.
Finally,stage fourosteochondrosis involves replacing the intervertebral disc tissue with scar tissue. At this stage, remission of the disease often occurs, but pathological changes spread to other structures of the spine, therefore, clinical signs of different stages of osteochondrosis can be observed simultaneously.
General Signs of Cervical Osteochondrosis
The clinical picture of cervical osteochondrosis is quite diverse. This is due to impaired blood flow, involvement of the peripheral nervous system in the pathological process, possible compression and disruption of the integrity of the spinal cord. Against this background, various symptoms develop, but some common signs of the disease are distinguished.
Pain
This symptom in cervical osteochondrosis is major. The main localization of painful sensations is the neck. Headaches and acne are also noticed. Painful sensations can radiate to different parts of the body.
This characteristic of the pathology depends on the affected area:
- if the C4-C5 disc is affected, then the pain radiates to the outer surface of the shoulder and the middle part of the shoulder;
- if the C5-C6 disc is affected, painful sensations spread to the lateral surface of the forearm, hand, thumb, and index finger;
- Pathology C6-C7 is accompanied by painful sensations along the back of the shoulder and forearm, which extend to the index and middle fingers;
- if the C7-Th1 disc is involved, the pain radiates along the inner surface of the forearm and hand to the ring finger and little finger.
Decreased sensitivity and reflexes
These symptoms occur against the background of violation of nerve root innervation. Painful sensations may be absent. Characteristics of reduced sensitivity and reflexes depend on the localization of pathological changes:
- When the C4-C5 disc is touched, the sensitivity in the upper part of the outer shoulder decreases. There is a decrease in reflex from the biceps muscles. Osteochondrosis of the C5-C6 disc is associated with decreased tenderness of the lateral surface of the forearm, hand, thumb, and index finger. The reflex from the biceps muscles is also reduced.
- C6-C7 disc pathology reduces the sensitivity of the index and middle fingers, the back of the hand and the forearm. There is a decrease in reflex from the triceps muscles.
- Loss of the C7-Th1 disc is associated with a decrease in the sensitivity of the ring finger, little finger, inner surface of the hand and forearm. Reflexes are not affected.
Dizziness
This symptom often develops in the early stages of cervical osteochondrosis and is one of the first manifestations of the disease. Dizziness is caused by a reduction in the volume of oxygen supplied to the semicircular canals of the inner ear. They are located in the brain and provide balance. Simultaneously with dizziness, there may be fluctuations in the pupils in a horizontal or vertical direction.
Mixed
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, blood flow through the vessels of the brain is disturbed. This provokes nausea and numbness of the air. These symptoms often occur when you turn and tilt your head, and sometimes during normal walking. Symptoms may increase and achieve persistent vomiting.
Against the background of such signs, the following consequences are possible:
- ul oreksin;
- weight loss;
- nutritional deficiency, food dystrophy.
Lack of air
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, irritation of the phrenic nerve is possible, which regulates the depth and frequency of respiration. With the defeat of this nerve, a person has difficulty breathing, can not breathe completely. Against this background, there is a lack of oxygen, which is fraught with the development of shortness of breath and even suffocation.
During nighttime sleep, especially if the head is not comfortable, there is a risk of respiratory arrest. Usually these attacks are accompanied by snoring. In the absence of fresh air, hypoxia develops, against which the following symptoms arise:
- fatigue even after prolonged sleep;
- bad condition;
- weakness;
- impaired attention and memory.
Hearing impairment, noise and tinnitus
Against the background of circulatory disorders in cervical osteochondrosis, the vestibular apparatus suffers. This leads to dysfunction of the inner ear and provokes cochlear syndrome, which is otherwise called cochlear. Has the following symptoms:
- tinnitus;
- ringing;
- general hearing loss.
A distinguishing feature that indicates cervical osteochondrosis is the appearance of tinnitus on the background of a prolonged stay in a forced position.
Sinkopa
This symptom occurs against the background of blood flow disorders provoked by cervical osteochondrosis. Normally, blood constantly moves through the cerebral arteries. With osteochondrosis, the bone processes of the vertebrae deform and irritate the nerve endings. This leads to a pronounced spasm of the arteries, against the background of which the blood flow stops temporarily, and the person suddenly loses consciousness. Fainting usually lasts no more than 2-3 minutes.
Symptoms of pharynx
This manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis implies a whole range of pathological signs:
- tickling;
- foreign body sensation;
- Difficulty swallowing
- dry throat;
- itching sensation.
Pharyngeal symptoms develop against the background of disorders of neurovascular trunks, the source of which is the spinal cord. When they appear, differential diagnosis is necessary, as a similar clinical picture is characteristic of the inflammatory process and tumors.
Damage to vision
Such a disorder in cervical osteochondrosis often occurs against the background of low blood pressure or atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries. Visual impairment may appear as follows:
- a veil before the eyes, objects are visible, as if in a fog;
- visual acuity decreases;
- points shoot in front of the eyes;
- loses focus on certain topics.
A distinctive feature of visual disturbances against the background of cervical osteochondrosis is the lack of effect from special gymnastics for the eyes or the use of glasses.
Temperature change
With cervical osteochondrosis, such a deviation occurs locally. This means hyperemia in the pathological area, i. e. a local increase in skin temperature.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
The symptoms that accompany osteochondrosis of the cervix are quite common and accompany many other diseases of various organs and systems of the body. To facilitate diagnosis, clinical signs are grouped into groups called syndromes:
- Cervicalgia. This syndrome is reflexive and involves neck pain. May indicate spinal cord or muscle damage in this area.
- Cervicocranialgia. This syndrome is also reflex. It means painful sensation in the cervico-occipital region and occurs against the background of trauma, inflammation or degenerative changes.
- Cervicobrachialgia. This reflex syndrome involves radiating pain in the neck to the arm. Occurs against the background of compression of the nerve roots of the cervical spine. With osteochondrosis, this syndrome is associated with tonic-muscular, vegetative-vascular, or neurodystrophic manifestations.
- Radicular syndrome. It is also called in another way - cervical radiculitis. Includes a tingling sensation in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, slight swelling that spreads to some fingers (depending on the location of the wound).
- Irritable reflex syndrome. Means cervicocranialgia. Painful sensations are sharp and burning, may radiate to the shoulder, chest. Symptoms increase with a change in head position, a sharp turn, sneezing.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. This complex of symptoms includes headaches, discomfort with certain movements, imbalance, hearing loss and visual acuity, weakness, nausea and loss of consciousness. The headache is throbbing, it can be constant or paroxysmal.
- cardiac syndrome. The clinical picture resembles angina pectoris. Long-term pain develops suddenly, which intensifies against the background of a sharp movement of the neck, coughing, sneezing. Does not pass with heart medication and an electrocardiogram does not show violations of blood flow to the heart muscle. The clinical picture can be supplemented with tachycardia and extrasystole.
- Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. Occurs by subluxation with displacement of the C1 vertebra. This syndrome usually means neurological symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow - muscle spasms, drop in intracranial pressure, dizziness, decreased visual acuity, fainting, headache, nausea.
Cervical osteochondrosis is associated with various symptoms. The characteristics of clinical manifestations and their intensity depend mainly on the stage of the disease, which implies certain pathological changes. Some of the symptoms of the disease are combined into syndromes - such groups of symptoms facilitate diagnosis.