Acute chondrosis of the cervical spine is not an entirely correct expression. Speaking of cervical chondrosis, we mean a disease like osteochondrosis, which has a chronic and gradually progressive course. The essence of this pathology resides in the degenerative-dystrophic alterations in the cervical vertebrae and in the intervertebral discs located between them. The main complication of this disease is the formation of an intervertebral hernia, which in turn can compress the spinal cord, blood vessels, and so on. In this article, we will consider the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and also talk about its diagnosis.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest?
The main clinical sign of cervical osteochondrosis is the pain syndrome.
Some patients point to a sharp and quite intense pain in the neck, aggravated by the slightest movement. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the patient, due to painful sensations, cannot turn his head and holds it in a forced posture, causing minimal discomfort.
However, the presence of dull and persistent pain of moderate intensity is more frequently observed. The patient complains of neck discomfort, which becomes more pronounced with active physical activity, after sleeping in an uncomfortable position, and so on. The forced posture in these people is absent. However, they still need to limit their motor activity a bit, for example, trying to avoid sharp bends and head tilts.
In addition, the clinical picture may be complemented by sensitive disturbances in the cervical region, for example, a "shivering" sensation in the neck.
With the progression of osteochondrosis and the formation of an intervertebral hernia, the pain syndrome becomes much more intense. A sick person has constant severe pain in the neck, which significantly reduces the quality of his life.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main method for diagnosing cervical osteochondrosis is an X-ray examination performed on two projections. X-ray results can reveal:
- Straightening of cervical lordosis;
- Flattening of the intervertebral discs;
- Narrowing of the intervertebral foramen;
- Marginal bone growths and so on.
A more informative diagnostic method, which allows not only identifying osteochondrosis, but also making differential diagnoses with other diseases, is magnetic resonance imaging. Computed tomography can also be done. In 2015, scientists from the Medical Academy of Graduate Education published a paper, according to the results of which it was found that quantitative computed tomography is the method that allows identifying the first changes in bone tissue.
In addition, the research plan can be complemented by:
- Myelography;
- Discography;
- Electrophysiological research and so on.