Cervical osteochondrosis implies degenerative diseases in 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 its manifestation.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in degrees (stages)
Osteochondrosis is a progressive disease, so the clinical picture gradually develops. It refers to the number of symptoms of the disease and the intensity of its manifestation. In total, there are 4 stages of the disease.
The first stageof osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is early. The changes occur mainly at the biochemical level. This stage of the disease is accompanied by mild symptoms or is asymptomatic, which is why it is called preclinical. It has the following features:
- discomfort appears 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;
- there are visual impairments that pass quickly;
- the sensitivity of the skin around the collar decreases;
- Symptoms increase with inclination of the head.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis is ignored by many patients. The symptoms of the disease that appear are usually attributed to age, fatigue and stress.
The second stageof cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the development of lumps. This phase involves dehydration of the intervertebral disc, a decrease in its elasticity and height and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous annulus. In this case, the disc protrudes into the intervertebral channel.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe pain in the neck, it is possible to break;
- painful sensations are triggered in nature, radiating under the scapula;
- pain increases with prolonged maintenance of the head in one position;
- significant loss of sensation in the skin of the shoulders and arms;
- frequent and lasting headaches;
- visual disturbances, eye flies;
- tinnitus, touch;
- muscle weakness in the upper limbs;
- decreased definition of tendon reflexes;
- development of insomnia, less frequently other sleep disorders;
- there is a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing.
The second stage of cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself quite clearly, so many patients see a doctor at this stage. In that case, conservative treatment is sufficient.
The third stageof the disease is characterized by the destruction of the fibrous ring and the formation of an intervertebral hernia. In this phase, the spine is deformed, the vertebrae are displaced, in the context of their weak fixation, subluxations and dislocations develop.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- sharp and intense pain that can spread to the heart;
- partial or total 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,fourth stage osteochondrosisinvolves the replacement of the intervertebral disc tissue with scar tissue. In this phase, remission of the disease often occurs, but pathological changes also spread to other structures of the spine, so the 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 rupture of the integrity of the spinal cord. In this context, several symptoms develop, but several common signs of the disease are distinguished.
Pain
This symptom in cervical osteochondrosis is the main one. The main location for painful sensations is the neck. Headaches and facial pains are also observed. Painful sensations can radiate to various parts of the body.
This characteristic of the pathology depends on the affected area:
- if the C4-C5 disc is affected, the pain radiates to the outer surface of the shoulder and the medial part of the scapula;
- with a C5-C6 disc injury, the 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, extending to the index and middle fingers;
- If the C7-Th1 disc is affected, the pain will radiate along the inner surface of the forearm and hand to the ring and little finger.
Decreased sensitivity and reflexes
These symptoms occur in the context of a violation of the innervation of nerve roots. Painful sensations may be absent. Sensitivity characteristics and reduced reflexes depend on the location of the pathological changes:
- When the C4-C5 disc is affected, the sensitivity in the upper part of the outer shoulder is reduced. There is a decrease in the reflex of the biceps muscle.
- Osteochondrosis of the C5-C6 disc is accompanied by decreased sensitivity of the lateral surface of the forearm, hand, thumb and index finger. The reflex of the biceps muscle is also reduced.
- The pathology of the C6-C7 disk reduces the sensitivity of the index and middle fingers, back of the hand and forearm. There is a decrease in the reflex of the triceps muscle.
- The loss of the C7-Th1 disc is accompanied by 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 usually develops in the early stage of cervical osteochondrosis and is one of the first manifestations of the disease. Dizziness is caused by a decrease 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, the pupils may fluctuate in the horizontal or vertical direction.
Nausea
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, blood flow through the vessels of the brain is altered. This causes nausea and belching. These symptoms usually occur when turning and tilting the head and sometimes during normal walking. Symptoms may increase and induce indomitable vomiting.
Against the background of such signs, the following consequences are possible:
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss;
- nutritional deficiency, food dystrophy.
Shortness of breath
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, irritation of the phrenic nerve, which regulates the depth and frequency of breathing, is possible. With the defeat of this nerve, the person has difficulty in breathing, cannot breathe fully. In this context, there is a lack of oxygen, which leads to the development of shortness of breath and even suffocation.
During nighttime sleep, especially if the head is uncomfortable, there is a risk of respiratory arrest. Usually, these attacks are accompanied by snoring. In the absence of fresh air, hypoxia develops against the background of the following symptoms:
- tiredness even after the duration of sleep;
- malaise;
- weakness;
- weakening of attention and memory.
Hearing impairment, noise and ringing in the ears
In the context of circulatory disorders in cervical osteochondrosis, the vestibular apparatus suffers. This leads to dysfunction of the inner ear and causes cochlear syndrome, also called cochlear. You have the following symptoms:
- tinnitus; Touch
- ;
- general hearing loss.
A distinct feature that indicates cervical osteochondrosis is the occurrence of tinnitus in the context of a prolonged stay in a forced position.
Syncope
This symptom occurs in the context of blood flow disorders caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Normally, blood moves constantly through the cerebral arteries. With osteochondrosis, bone processes in the vertebrae are deformed and irritate nerve endings. This leads to a sharp spasm of the arteries, against which the blood flow stops temporarily and the person suddenly loses consciousness. Fainting usually lasts no longer than 2-3 minutes.
Pharyngeal symptoms
Such a manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis involves a whole complex of pathological signs:
- tickling;
- foreign body sensation;
- Difficulty swallowing dry throat;
- itchy feelings.
Pharyngeal symptoms develop in the context of neurovascular trunk disorders, the origin of which is the spinal cord. When they appear, a differential diagnosis is necessary, since a similar clinical picture is characteristic of the inflammatory process and tumors.
Visually impaired
This disorder in cervical osteochondrosis usually occurs in the context of low blood pressure or atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain. Visual impairment can manifest itself as follows:
- a veil before the eyes, the objects are visible, as if they were in a fog;
- decreases visual acuity;
- dots blink before the eyes;
- loses focus on certain subjects.
A distinctive feature of visual disturbances in the context of cervical osteochondrosis is the lack of effect of special gymnastics for the eyes or the use of glasses.
Temperature change
In cervical osteochondrosis, this deviation occurs at the local level. This means hyperemia in the pathological area, that is, a local increase in skin temperature.
Cervical osteochondrosis syndromes
The symptoms that accompany cervical osteochondrosis are quite common and accompany many other diseases of various organs and systems in the body. To facilitate diagnosis, clinical signs are grouped into groups called syndromes:
- Cervicalgia. This syndrome is reflective and involves pain in the neck. It may indicate damage to the spine or muscles in that area.
- Cervicocranialgia. This syndrome is also reflexive. It means painful sensations in the cervico-occipital region and occurs in the context of trauma, inflammation or degenerative changes.
- Cervicobrachialgia. This reflex syndrome involves pain in the neck radiating to the arm. It occurs in the context of compression of the nerve roots of the cervical spine. In osteochondrosis, this syndrome is accompanied by tonic, vegetative-vascular or neurodistrophic muscle manifestations.
- Root syndrome. It is also called another way - cervical radiculitis. It involves a frightening sensation in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, slight swelling that spreads to some fingers (depending on the location of the injury).
- Irritative reflex syndrome. It implies cervicocranialgia. Painful sensations are sharp and burning, they can radiate to the shoulder, chest. The symptoms increase with the change in the position of the head, a sudden turn, sneezing.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. This symptom complex includes headache, discomfort with certain movements, imbalance, hearing loss and visual acuity, weakness, nausea and loss of consciousness. The headache is throbbing, can be constant or paroxysmal.
- Cardiac syndrome. The clinical picture is similar to angina pectoris. Long-term pain develops suddenly, which intensifies in the context of a sudden movement of the neck, coughing, sneezing. It does not go away with heart medications, and the electrocardiogram does not show abnormal blood flow to the heart muscle. The clinical picture can be complemented by tachycardia and extrasystole.
- Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. It occurs when subluxation with displacement of the C1 vertebra. This syndrome usually implies neurological symptoms of decreased cerebral blood flow - muscle spasms, falls in intracranial pressure, dizziness, decreased visual acuity, fainting, headache, nausea.
Cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by several symptoms. The characteristics of clinical manifestations and their intensity depend largely on the stage of the disease, which implies certain pathological changes. Some of the symptoms of the disease are combined into syndromes - these groups of symptoms facilitate diagnosis.