Cervical Osteochondrosis: Overview of All Possible Symptoms

The first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are difficult to notice. Usually, they cause so little discomfort that people don't notice them and don't rush to see a doctor. In other cases, symptoms can be confused with simple fatigue or a mild cold:

• Increased neck pain;
• Heaviness in the back of the head;
• There is a slight tingling sensation in the hands.

These symptoms occur to thousands of people every day, but few recognize them as cervical osteochondrosis.

important! Remember that the disease develops slowly and in the first stages it is much easier to control the progress of the destructive process than to treat the later stages!

who is in danger

Osteochondrosis doesn’t just happen to people who sit for long periods of time. Athletes in Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, freestyle wrestling, sambo and other fields also suffer from this disease. The disease occurs due to critical loads on the spinal region of the neck (continuous falls and blows, high neck mobility). It is important to consider that osteochondrosis is usually diagnosed before the age of 35 years - in more than 86% of cases.

How the disease develops

Cervical osteochondrosis is currently more common than other spinal conditions. This is due to greater mobility in the neck. As the disease progresses, severe pain occurs that worsens a person's life. Osteochondrosis progresses slowly but certainly leads to degenerative changes in the bone tissue of the spine. There are four degrees of progression of the disease:

1. The first stage is characterized by an almost complete absence of symptoms. The disease can only be diagnosed through routine tests. Mild pain may sometimes occur, which many people consider to be a sign of stress or fatigue. In the first stage, the nucleus pulposus is destroyed, so the vertebrae begin to bear more severe loads. As a result, a degenerative dystrophic process occurs. Initial symptoms include: mild headache that disappears quickly, "inner neck" spasm syndrome, and noticeable muscle tension in the upper back.
2. In the second stage of the disease, cracks develop on the sides of the disc due to pressure. They are not very deep yet, but already help to squeeze out the nucleus. During diagnosis, herniation and reduced disc height are often discovered. This stage is characterized by frequent and persistent pain. A person loses strength, becomes numb in certain areas of the face, and stiffens movements due to fear of new painful sensations.
3. The third stage is characterized by the formation of a hernia in the neck area between the vertebrae. All tissues and blood vessels located in the area - veins, muscles, nerves, arteries - are also affected. The pain spreads smoothly from the neck to the occiput area. Particularly sensitive when moving the head. The patient also began complaining of dizziness due to insufficient blood flow in the vertebral artery.
4. In stage four, osteophytes form - the width of the bone tissue increases because the body and brain are literally signaling that more area is needed to distribute the load. As a result, the nerves of the vertebrae are compressed, the spaces between the vertebrae are reduced, severe stiffness occurs, and sometimes even the inability to move. All adjacent joints are damaged. At this stage, to eliminate the cause and "contain" cervical osteochondrosis, long-term and difficult treatment is required, including surgical intervention.

Preventing cervical osteochondrosis is an important process that can help curb cervical spine degeneration, alleviate complications, and maintain your quality of life. But to determine the pathology, you need not only to monitor symptoms, but also to have a diagnosis at least once a year and carry out the necessary tests.

Symptoms and characteristics of cervical osteochondrosis

Even small changes in the vertebrae, ligaments, and discs can lead to disruption of nerve ending function. Blood vessels can also be affected. They all connect directly to the brain and other organs, which is where unpleasant symptoms occur.

important! Pressure on blood vessels and nerves can cause discomfort and severe pain.

The clinical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into three groups:

• The first group is characterized by neuropathological manifestations due to the influence of inflammatory processes and changes in the tissues of peripheral parts of the nervous system;
• The second group relates to the effects of the procedure on the spinal cord;
• The third group includes signs that rely on disruption of nerve ending processes leading to the brain.

Once there is a disorder in the peripheral nervous system, a person will begin to feel pain. They don't always start suddenly and last for a long time, but they all start in the same place - inside the neck. The pain is different from muscle pain in that there is no feeling of relaxation when kneading.Most often, a feeling of shortness of breath occurs when the peripheral system is damaged. The patient feels as if there is a "lump" in his throat and breathing becomes difficult. The pain is characterized by an inexpressible, dull ache, and a feeling of constant muscle tension. Sometimes the pain gets worse after a night's sleep.The progression of the disease leads to the spread of symptoms. After the head and neck, the arms begin to be affected:

• feeling weak;
• Numbness in one or more fingers;
• Most of the hand will then become numb.

If you feel pain and pressure in the heart area, you can talk about the development of osteochondrosis in the cervicothoracic spine. Osteochondrosis is often mistaken for angina or neuralgia. Its main features are the following symptoms:

• cough;
• stomachache;
• Liver discomfort;
• Lung pain.

Once the vertebral artery is connected to the damaging process (which supplies oxygen to the brain), symptoms of the brain begin to appear. As the disease progresses, it becomes squeezed and stops functioning properly. This is the cause of dizziness, vision loss, and tinnitus.

Headaches caused by cervical osteochondrosis are of little help with the use of traditional pain relievers.

Physical activity and frequent nervousness can worsen the condition. Symptoms of worsening cervical osteochondrosis:

• increase stimulation;
• Sensitive and intermittent sleep;
• Fatigues quickly.

If a person is diagnosed with vegetative vascular dystonia, then symptoms intensify: neurosis develops, blood pressure increases. The diagnosis may also indicate the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, so it will be necessary to pass all tests, perform an MRI, and take other pictures of the cervical spine.Diagnosing cervical osteochondrosis independently based on symptoms is nearly impossible. Since there are few visible signs in the first stage, regular preventive inspections are necessary. As soon as the first signs of the disease appear, treatment should be started as recommended by your doctor. Even if the disease is not "over" and causes no real problems.

syndrome

In order to accurately diagnose cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms must be interpreted correctly. Based on tests, images, and examinations, doctors must accurately determine the cause of symptoms. All of these are associated with certain syndromes.

Humeral periscapulitis

The syndrome is characterized by severe pain and muscle contractures in the shoulder joint area on one side. In left-handers, the left shoulder joint is usually affected, while in right-handers, the right shoulder joint is usually affected. Characteristics of pain syndromes:

• continuous;
• pain;
• pain.

In most cases, the pain worsens at night. The pain can also worsen if you move your hands to the side or behind your back. Sometimes pain is felt throughout the arm, occiput, and shoulder blade areas.During the examination, doctors will often notice tension in the joint area, and during palpation, the patient will feel severe pain in the muscle. In some cases, doctors will find compactions and small nodules upon palpation, as well as slight swelling of the affected shoulder.

radiculopathy syndrome

This syndrome occurs when the roots of the spinal cord are damaged. It usually appears several years after the onset of osteochondrosis. Irreversible destruction of the vertebrae and discs occurs: as the cartilage thins or herniates form, the cavities containing nerves and blood vessels shrink. Osteochondrosis with radiculopathy syndrome has certain symptoms:

• Pain is observed in the forearm, shoulder blade area and moves to the front of the chest;
• It becomes difficult to move your neck and you feel pain and stiffness;
• The skin on the hands becomes less sensitive, becomes numb, and feels like "goosebumps";
• A person cannot raise their hands from one side of the affected area.

irritant reflex syndrome

The syndrome is characterized by burning, severe pain in the back of the head and neck. This condition occurs when you move your head after being immobile for a long period of time, such as when working at a computer. Discomfort may be felt in the shoulder joints and chest area.

cardiac syndrome

The syndrome is often confused with angina because the symptoms of the two conditions are nearly identical. This happens because the roots of the lower cervical spine are compressed, causing pain and contraction of the muscle tissue in the heart area. Hence the similarity of the diseases.The syndrome is characterized by attacks of pain that can last from 10-15 minutes to several hours. Symptoms are significantly worsened by sudden movements (turning around, coughing, sneezing). Typically, Cardinal syndrome is characterized by tachycardia without pain relief from coronary artery dilators. There was also no sign of any characteristic circulatory disorder on the electrocardiogram.

vertebral artery syndrome

The function of the vertebral artery is to supply the brain and spinal cord. In this syndrome, the work of the sympathetic plexus around the arteries is disrupted. A picture of the syndrome looks like this:

• headaches of varying degrees;
• Vestibular organ disorder (staggering, loss of balance);
• mild and severe dizziness;
• feel sick and vomit;
• Throat and eye symptoms (reduced vision, veiling in front of eyes).

With vertebral artery syndrome, burning pain may occur not only in the neck but also in the back of the head. A feeling of lethargy, resentment, and irritability develops. Anxiety levels increase, and sleep and memory may be disrupted.

Therefore, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to determine which syndrome causes cervical osteochondrosis. Based on specific symptoms, examination results, photographs, and palpation, an experienced physician will be able to accurately determine the pathological characteristics and prescribe the correct treatment plan.