Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic damage to the spine, which leads to the destruction of the intervertebral discs with the corresponding consequences. Osteochondrosis "infects" the entire spine, but the symptoms of the disease are most pronounced when affecting the cervical region, as the most mobile, and the lumbar region. The thoracic region suffers the least.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the neck are very diverse and often resemble other diseases, which makes differential diagnosis and early recognition of the pathology difficult. In this article, we will consider in detail how osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests itself and what will help you suspect this disease.
Degrees of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a chronic progressive disease with periods of remission and exacerbation. Pronounced clinical symptoms do not appear immediately, but after some time, when the degenerative process enters the 2nd or even 3rd stage.
There are only 4 degrees of pathology:
- The initial stage is characterized by pathological changes inside the intervertebral disc. It loses moisture, which leads to degenerative changes, a decrease in the height of the disc and a rupture of the fibrous capsule. As a rule, there are no signs at this stage. Diagnosis is possible only with the help of MRI of the spine. This is the most favorable stage for starting treatment, because in this case it is possible to completely restore the damaged discs, which cannot be done in the future.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree is characterized by worsening of the damage to the intervertebral discs. Their height significantly decreases, which leads to sagging of the spinal muscles and ligaments. All this leads to instability of the damaged segment of the spine, increased mobility of the vertebrae, their displacement and sliding relative to each other and the spinal axis. As a rule, at this stage, the first signs of the disease appear in the form of pain and other signs characteristic of lesions of the cervical vertebrae.
- In the 3rd stage, protrusions and herniations of the intervertebral discs develop. The symptoms of the disease are fully expressed.
- The fourth stage is the last. In this case, osteophytes and spinal distortions are formed. The body tries to somehow stabilize the damaged segment of the spine, which is why osteophytes develop, ossification of ligaments and other processes that lead to stabilization of the vertebrae, but, unfortunately, this process is accompanied by vertebral subluxations and various types anddegrees of spinal curvature.
The nature of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Manifestations of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine are associated with 3 mechanisms of the negative impact of this pathology:
- Direct compression of the spinal cord that passes into the spinal canal. It should be noted that this happens very rarely in an advanced degenerative process and its complications. Compression of the nerve tissue of the spinal cord can be caused by a large intervertebral hernia that protrudes directly into the lumen of the spinal canal; stenosis (narrowing) of the canal of the spinal cord due to degenerative changes; dislocations, subluxations, fractures of damaged vertebrae.
- Negative impact on the structures of the peripheral nervous system (roots of the spinal cord and nerve fibers) that exit from the cervical spine. They can be compressed between adjacent vertebrae or herniated protrusions and can become inflamed and irritated. All this leads to a number of severe symptoms. This is the most common group of signs of cervical osteochondrosis.
- Negative effect on blood vessels that pass near the damaged area of the spine. In particular, one very important arterial vessel is of clinical importance - the vertebral artery, which passes through the openings of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae into the cranial cavity and supplies blood to the posterior third of the brain and cerebellum.
Let's take a closer look at each group of mechanisms and what symptoms they cause.
Symptoms associated with spinal cord injury
As already mentioned, compression of the spinal cord with cervical osteochondrosis is very rare. This is a very serious condition that can cost a person not only his health, but also his life.
Damage to the upper cervical spine is life-threatening. The cardiovascular and respiratory centers suffer, leading to immediate death. With compression at the level of 3-4 segments of the spinal cord, tetraplegia develops (paralysis of all limbs and muscles below the injury). The respiratory muscles and diaphragm also suffer, which can lead to respiratory arrest and death.
If damage occurs at the level of the 4-5th segment of the spinal cord, tetraplegia develops, but without respiratory failure. When 5-8 segments of the spinal cord are compressed, various muscle groups of the upper limbs suffer, and paraparesis of the legs and disruption of the pelvic organs occur.
Symptoms related to nerve damage
Pain syndrome
First of all, the pain syndrome should be noted, which can be chronic (cervical pain) and acute in the form of lumbago (cervical pain). Pain appears in the neck, back of the head and shoulder girdle. It is usually caused by irritation, compression and inflammation of the nerve roots of the cervical spine, as well as pathological spasm of the muscles in this area, which are innervated by these nerves.
The pain associated with cervicalgia is almost constant, painful, and of varying intensity. As a rule, the pain syndrome can be tolerated. Occurs or worsens with sudden movements, turns and tilts of the head. The movements of the neck are accompanied by a characteristic crunching sound.
Pain in the cervix appears suddenly in the form of a shooting or electric shock. It is very intense, goes to one of the hands. It lasts for a few seconds or minutes, then gives way to cervical pain. It is usually caused by sudden movement and compression of the nerve.
Radicular syndromes
All the major nerves of the upper limb (median, ulnar and brachial) are formed by nerve fibers that emerge from the cervical spine. Thus, in the presence of cervicobrachial osteochondrosis, these nerve structures can suffer. All these nerves are mixed, that is, they have both sensory and motor functions. Depending on which root is affected, symptoms will vary. For example, sensation in the 2nd or 3rd finger may be lost and paralysis of one or more muscles may occur. All these signs of nerve damage are classified into separate syndromes that only a neurologist can determine.
Occipital neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia develops when the large and small occipital nerves are damaged, which are formed by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th pairs of cervical spinal nerves. When these structures are pressed, irritated or inflamed due to a degenerative process in the spine, a headache occurs in the back of the head, which women often complain about.
This pain is so typical that only its description allows a correct diagnosis to be made in 90% of cases. It is also called shooting cranialgia. The pain attack occurs suddenly, there is a unilateral localization (rarely it hurts on both sides), patients compare the nature of the pain with an electric shock. The attack lasts for a few minutes, but may recur several times a day. The pain appears on the posterolateral surface of the neck and spreads upward to the occipital protuberance (repeats the anatomical course of the occipital nerve). At the same time, a sensitivity disorder of the skin on the back of the head (tingling, crawling sensation) may develop.
Cardiac syndrome
This name is due to the fact that this manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is very similar to angina pectoris and other heart diseases. The cause of this phenomenon is damage to the nerve fibers that innervate the pectoralis major muscle and the diaphragmatic nerve, whose fibers are woven into the pericardium of the heart.
The cause of the pain is a spasm of the pectoralis major muscle due to pathological impulses along the damaged nerve fiber. At the same time, patients very often confuse such pain with heart pain. Unlike coronary pain, the pain syndrome in cervical osteochondrosis has a long duration (sometimes several hours or days), which does not happen in angina pectoris, is not related to physical activity, but is related to the position of the body. The pain increases with sudden movements, turning the head, coughing, sneezing, which does not happen with angina pectoris. Anti-anginal drugs (nitroglycerin, etc. ) will not be effective.
important! In any case, similar symptoms require a thorough differential diagnosis, since atypical variants of angina and heart attack also occur. In order not to miss a serious illness, you must first have an ECG. Pathological changes will not be registered in osteochondrosis.
Symptoms associated with vertebral artery injury
Compression of the vertebral artery during cervical osteochondrosis can cause a large number of unpleasant manifestations, which are mainly associated with a decrease in blood flow and hypoxia of the part of the brain that is supplied by this vessel (the posterior third of the brain and cerebellum).
Signs of vertebral artery syndrome:
- headache of a diffuse or pulsating character in the back of the head, temples and parietal region;
- vertigo;
- nausea and vomiting;
- visual disturbances;
- ringing in the ears, reduced hearing acuity;
- impaired coordination and balance;
- development of drop attacks (sudden falls without loss of consciousness due to sudden turns of the head);
- memory impairment, reduced productivity, ability to concentrate.
It is important to remember! With pronounced changes in the spine, the artery can be so compressed that it will lead to the development of an ischemic stroke in the vertebrobasilar region of the brain. Therefore, it is important to suspect pathology in time and take all necessary measures to improve the health of the spine and prevent further pathological changes.
FAQ
What symptoms accompany cervical osteochondrosis?
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can include pain and stiffness in the neck, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and numbness or tingling in the arms and shoulders.
How can you relieve the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis?
To alleviate the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to engage in physical exercises, maintain a correct posture, avoid prolonged sitting in one position, use special pillows and mattresses, as well as use physiotherapy methods.
Useful tips
Tip #1
Pay attention to pain in the neck, shoulders and arms, which can be symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis. The pain can be sharp, dull or localized to certain points.
Tip #2
Pay attention to numbness or weakness in the hands, fingers or shoulders, as this can also be due to cervical osteochondrosis.
Tip #3
Pay attention to headaches, vertigo and tinnitus, as these symptoms can also be associated with cervical osteochondrosis.