Osteochondrosis of the neck is a common disease of the spine that affects patients of all ages.
Represents degenerative changes in the vertebral disc, which develops against the background of severe stress, wearing the wrong shoes, severe physical stress and eating disorders. It develops gradually, so the patient may not feel the first symptoms immediately.
The main symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur when pathology develops. They are more noticeable during exacerbations. It is recommended to consult a doctor at the first signs of the disease, as it is often hidden, as well as other diseases that complicate the timely diagnosis.
Patients generally report the following complaints:
- Severe pain in the neck.
- Noise and fullness in the ears.
- Frequent dizziness.
- Shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Blood pressure drops.
- Frequent fainting or syncope.
- Increase in body temperature.
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are not much different from those in women. Patients complain of discomfort in the occiput, sternum and shoulder girdle. You should contact your local therapist or neurologist for a diagnosis.
Neck pain syndrome
One of the most common symptoms of cervical spine chondrosis is neck pain that affects the back of the head and shoulders. The nature of the pain (painful, sharp, mild tingling) directly depends on the location of the lesion and the severity of the development of the pathological process. At the initial stage, this can be a slight discomfort that does not allow you to turn your head freely in all directions. Gradually the pain becomes chronic and limits the range of motion.
Pain manifests itself as a result of deformity of the vertebrae due to insufficient blood supply to the neck area. Against the background of this process, spasms, anxiety and panic attacks are observed. A painful sensation in the neck area may spread to the shoulders or arms. Increase after sleep, sudden movements, laughing or sneezing. Anxiety is associated with a characteristic crisis when trying to turn or muscle weakness.
Muscle spasms and poor blood circulation often cause not only pain but also temporary loss of neck mobility. The constant tension spreads to all sides of the head and the patient begins to complain of migraine attacks.
Tinnitus and ear plugs
Osteochondrosis of the neck is also manifested by a feeling of fullness in the ears, hearing loss and noise. All this is due to insufficient blood flow to the vestibular apparatus. This complex of symptoms is called cochlear, but doctors rarely associate it with a disease in the vertebral region. Pay attention to the nature of the noise and noise in the ear, which usually intensifies when a person is in one position for a long time or tries to change it.
Patients with hearing problems are referred to an otolaryngologist. Additional consultation with a neurologist is required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause in the presence of concomitant disorders of the condition, such as numbness of the face, limited mobility of the neck.
Headache and migraine
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are rarely accompanied by frequent headaches, the female population is more susceptible to them. The vertebrae in this area are constantly subjected to excessive stress, which causes gradual deformation if the muscle tissue is not elastic enough to keep them in their natural position. Because the symptoms are not specific, it is more difficult to determine the cause of the headache.
The following reasons cause an attack:
- Spasm of cerebral vessels.
- Nerve endings compressed in the cervicothoracic spine.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Acute violation of venous flow.
- Increased fatigue.
- Staying in an unnatural position for a long time.
The headache is exacerbated during exacerbation and in one patient, including a man. By nature, it can be constant, dull in the form of convulsions or pulsations. In the elderly, this symptom requires attention, as it may indicate a stroke, angina pectoris, heart attack or arterial hypertension. Therefore, first of all, these conditions are excluded before starting treatment for osteochondrosis.
Patients with heart disease also complain of chest tightness, an irregular heart rhythm that allows the doctor to differentiate the condition in a timely manner. Headaches accompanied by nausea and shortness of breath definitely require an ECG.
Dizziness
Disorders of coordination and frequent dizziness often occur when osteochondrosis develops to 2 or more degrees. It is associated with degenerative changes in the vertebrae, spasms, compressed nerve endings. The brain does not receive enough oxygen, which adversely affects the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
The symptom of a deviation is:
- Systemic dizziness.These are the sensations of rotation of the whole body and the surrounding objects. Dysfunction is caused by dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus, weakening of muscle tissue and receptors in the joints.
- Unsystematic dizziness.In addition to instability, patients experience nausea in an uncertain position in an upright position. There is generally no circular rotation.
Dizziness is a serious symptom that should be treated by a doctor immediately. Numbness in the shoulders, paralysis of facial muscles, fainting, emergency hospitalization are required.
shortness of breath and shortness of breath
Another serious symptom of advanced osteochondrosis in the shoulder area is a constant feeling of shortness of breath. Respiratory problems are caused by compression of nerve endings and receptors that do not transmit impulses from the pharynx to the esophagus. Shortness of breath occurs when the vertebrae move, increasing in a stressful situation accompanied by a lump in the throat. After taking sedatives, the health condition returns to normal.
Shortness of breath causes radicular syndrome. Diaphragmatic spasm affects the depth and rhythm of breathing. The patient becomes short of breath and has difficulty breathing, memory and concentration problems. In osteochondrosis, such a symptom requires emergency care, as it can lead to a number of serious complications. The doctor chooses the drug individually, taking into account the situation.
Nausea
There is a large collection of nerve endings in the cervical region and it passes through an artery that carries food to the brain. With osteochondrosis, there are gradual protrusions and intervertebral hernias, which affect blood pressure and result in an attack of nausea.
Prolonged disruption of normal blood circulation causes vomiting, loss of consciousness, and stroke and disability. Therefore, the appearance of such a symptom, which is not associated with eating disorders, requires immediate medical advice.
Increased blood pressure
A typical symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is an increase in blood pressure during the day. Increased or decreased blood pressure is not maintained for a long time, which is a characteristic sign of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The dynamics of daily pressure is sharp, because the irritation of the nerve endings is a reflex and causes short-term spasms of blood vessels.
A distinctive feature of increased pressure in cervical osteochondrosis:
- headache;
- chest discomfort;
- Decreased sensitivity in the neck area;
- Muscle tension after being in a position for a long time.
All this is taken into account when making a diagnosis. Rapid deterioration of the condition and sudden changes in blood pressure are the basis for hospitalization and hospitalization.
visual impairment
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often provokes unpleasant symptoms such as double vision, tremors, the appearance of "flies". This indicates the severity of the process and requires a visit to the doctor.
The following diseases can develop against the background of destruction of connective tissue in the vertebrae:
- glaucoma.The patient is diagnosed with increased intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. Pathologists can not be completely eliminated, only a stable remission can be achieved with complex treatment.
- cataract.This pathological process leads to the destruction of the lens. The changes are associated with metabolic processes and acute disruption of oxygen supply to the brain. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes. Starting treatment on time helps to maintain the patient's vision.
- Claude Bernard-Horner's disease.Hypoxia in the occipital region is one of the causes of the lesion. The main symptoms of a pathological condition are a decrease in the pupil's reaction or a difference in the size of the pupil in different eyes. Some patients also complain of not being able to close their eyes completely for a night's rest and their ability to see at dusk.
The ophthalmologist prescribes treatment after a thorough examination. However, therapy is carried out only in a complex aimed at eliminating the cause of the disorder. Only then can the problem be solved effectively.
Pharyngeal problems
Degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae cause swallowing problems. The patient complains of a lump in the throat, sweating, a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, itching. The signs indicate a malfunction of the nerve trunks coming out of the spinal cord. However, the symptomatology is not characteristic and can be observed with pathological diseases such as inflammation and swelling.
Changes in body temperature
Osteochondrosis causes an increase in body temperature as it progresses. This symptomatology occurs when the spinal artery is damaged, the spinal canal narrows, or the disc bulges. Causes changes in neurosis and neurological diseases that occur at the same time.
Against the background of fever, there is numbness of the tongue or hands, inflammation of the lymph nodes, burning of the tongue.
The characteristic dizziness of the neck allows you to suspect osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis depending on the stage
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis mainly depend on the stage of development of the pathology, the force of compression of the nerve endings and the process of disc deformation. Causes symptoms of vertebral artery constriction and impaired blood flow to the brain. Compressed nerve endings cause severe neurological pathologies.
The severity of the symptoms directly depends on the stage of development of the disease:
- Initial.Degenerative processes in the spinal discs continue unnoticed by the patient. The first changes are very difficult to observe, as they can be mild headaches (more common in women), discomfort in the neck, a slight deterioration in vision, or loss of sensitivity in the neck area. At this stage, patients rarely see a doctor, associating symptoms with fatigue, lack of sleep or stress.
- The second stage.As the pathology progresses and the disc protrusion appears, more pronounced symptoms appear. The destruction of the annulus fibrosus affects the movements of the head, becoming more limited. In addition, patients begin to complain of persistent ringing in the ears, impaired vision, neck pain with a characteristic crisis, swallowing problems, sleep disorders and decreased clarity of reflexes. Keeping your head in one position is a serious concern that requires a doctor's consultation.
- The third stage.Gradually intervertebral hernias form, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed, there is deformation of the vertebrae, displacement of bone segments, protrusions, instability. The patient complains of severe pain in the neck, open shoulder syndrome, paralysis of the upper extremities, lack of tendon reflexes, sensitivity to the scalp. This is a severe stage of the disease that requires complex treatment.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic systemic disease characterized by various symptoms. The cause is always hidden in compressed nerve endings, circulatory disorders and deformities of the intervertebral discs. Protrusion, hernia, and displacement gradually cause loss of spinal mobility.
Age directly affects the severity of symptoms. The older the patient, the stronger the changes in connective and bone tissue. This is due to muscle fiber weakness, malnutrition and chronic inflammatory diseases in the body.
Patient Feedback
Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is a common disease, because the nerve roots are constantly stressed due to excessive mobility of the segment. Timely detection of pathology prevents serious complications, so many people read patient reviews and compare their symptoms.
It is strictly forbidden to diagnose yourself without laboratory and hardware tests. Any information should only be taken as a note.
Cervical osteochondrosis presents with many symptoms, but most are easily confused with similar pathologies. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the patient's complaints in a comprehensive manner and conduct a differential diagnosis, which allows to identify the disease in a timely manner and prescribe the right treatment, including physiotherapy, gymnastics and medication.