Cervical osteochondrosis involves degenerative disorders of 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 their manifestation.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis by degrees (stages)
Osteochondrosis is a progressive disease, therefore the clinical picture develops gradually. This refers to the number of symptoms of the disease and the intensity of their manifestation. In total, there are 4 stages of the disease.
The first stageof osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is initial. The changes mainly occur at the biochemical level. This stage of the disease is accompanied by mild symptoms or is asymptomatic, so it is called preclinical. It has the following characteristics:
- discomfort appears in the neck, which may spread to the arms and shoulders, sometimes the sensations become painful;
- headache;
- motor activity of the cervical spine is slightly limited;
- there are visual impairments that pass quickly;
- the sensitivity of the skin in the cervix area decreases;
- Symptoms increase with tilting of the head.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis is overlooked by many patients. Symptoms of the disease that appear are often attributed to age, fatigue and stress.
The second stageof cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the development of protuberances. This stage involves dehydration of the intervertebral disc, a decrease in its elasticity and height, and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. In this case, the disc protrudes into the intervertebral canal.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe pain in the neck, crackling is possible;
- painful sensations shoot in nature, radiating under the scapula;
- the pain increases with prolonged maintenance of the head in one position;
- significant loss of sensitivity of the skin of the shoulders and arms;
- frequent and long-lasting headaches;
- visual disturbances, flies in the eyes;
- tinnitus, ringing tones;
- muscle weakness of the upper limbs;
- decreased clarity of tendon reflexes;
- development of insomnia, less often - 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 this case, conservative treatment is sufficient.
The third stageof the disease is characterized by the destruction of the annulus fibrosus and the formation of an intervertebral hernia. At this stage, the spine is deformed, the vertebrae are displaced, against the background of their weak fixation, subluxations and dislocations develop.
This stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe, sharp pain that may spread to the heart;
- partial or complete 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.
Last,fourth stage osteochondrosisinvolves the replacement of the intervertebral disc tissue with scar tissue. At this stage, remission of the disease often occurs, but pathological changes also spread to other structures of the spine. Therefore, clinical signs of different stages of osteochondrosis can be observed simultaneously.
General signs of cervical osteochondrosis
The clinical picture of cervical osteochondrosis is quite varied. This is due to impaired blood circulation, involvement of the peripheral nervous system in the pathological process, possible compression and disruption of the integrity of the spinal cord. Against this background, various symptoms develop, but several common signs of the disease are distinguished.
Pain
This symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is the main one. The main localization of painful sensations is the neck. Headaches and facial pain 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 C5-C6 disc lesion, painful sensations spread to the lateral surface of the forearm, hand, thumb and index finger;
- C6-C7 pathology is accompanied by painful sensations in the back of the shoulder and forearm, which extend to the index and middle fingers;
- if the C7-Th1 disc is involved, the pain radiates along the inner surface of the forearm and hand to the ring and little fingers.
Decreased sensitivity and reflexes
These symptoms occur against the background of a violation of the innervation of nerve roots. Painful sensations may be absent. The characteristics of sensitivity and reduced reflexes depend on the location of the pathological changes:
- When the C4-C5 drive 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 biceps muscle reflex is also reduced.
- Pathology of the C6-C7 disc reduces the sensitivity of the index and middle fingers, the back of the hand and the forearm. There is a decrease in the reflex of the triceps muscle.
- The defeat 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 often develops at the initial 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, there may be fluctuations of the pupils in the horizontal or vertical direction.
Nausea
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, blood flow through the vessels of the brain is disturbed. This causes nausea and belching of air. These symptoms often occur when turning and tilting the head, and sometimes when walking normally. Symptoms can develop and reach indomitable vomiting.
Against the background of such signs, the following consequences are possible:
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss;
- nutritional deficiency, alimentary dystrophy.
Lack of air
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, irritation of the phrenic nerve is possible, which regulates the depth and frequency of breathing. With the defeat of this nerve, a person has difficulty breathing, cannot breathe fully. Against this background, there is a lack of oxygen, which is heavy with the development of shortness of breath and even choking.
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 which the following symptoms appear:
- fatigue even after the duration of sleep;
- discomfort;
- weakness;
- impairment of attention and memory.
Hearing impairment, noise and ringing in the ears
Against the background of circulatory disorders of cervical osteochondrosis, the vestibular apparatus suffers. This leads to dysfunction of the inner ear and causes cochlear syndrome, also called cochlear. He has the following symptoms:
- tinnitus;
- ringtone;
- general hearing loss.
A distinguishing feature indicating cervical osteochondrosis is the occurrence of tinnitus against the background of a prolonged stay in the forced position.
Syncope
This symptom occurs against the background of blood circulation disorders caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Normally, blood is constantly circulating in the arteries of the brain. With osteochondrosis, the bone processes of the vertebrae are deformed and irritate the nerve endings. This leads to a pronounced spasm of the arteries, against the background of which the blood flow temporarily stops and the person suddenly loses consciousness. Fainting usually does not last more than 2 to 3 minutes.
Pharyngeal symptoms
Such a manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis involves a whole complex of pathological signs:
- tickle;
- sensation of a foreign body;
- Difficulty swallowing
- dry throat;
- itchy sensations.
Pharyngeal symptoms develop against the background of disorders of the neurovascular trunks, the source 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.
Visual impairment
Such a disorder of cervical osteochondrosis often occurs against the background of low blood pressure or atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain. Visual impairment can manifest as follows:
- a veil in front of the eyes, the objects are visible, as in a fog;
- visual acuity decreases; The dots
- blink in front of the eyes;
- loses focus on some subjects.
A distinctive feature of visual disturbances against the background of cervical osteochondrosis is the absence of the effect of special gymnastics for the eyes or the use of glasses.
Temperature change
With cervical osteochondrosis, such a deviation occurs locally. This means hyperemia in the pathological area, that is, a local increase in the temperature of the skin.
Syndromes due to cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms accompanying cervical osteochondrosis are quite common and accompany many other diseases of various organs and systems of the body. To facilitate diagnosis, clinical signs are grouped into groups called syndromes:
- Neck pain. This syndrome is reflective and involves neck pain. This may indicate damage to the spine or to the muscles in that area.
- Cervicocranialgia. This syndrome is also reflex. It means painful sensations in the cervico-occipital region and occurs against the background of trauma, inflammation or degenerative changes.
- Cervicobrachialgia. This reflex syndrome involves neck pain radiating to the arm. This occurs against the background of compression of the nerve roots of the cervical spine. With osteochondrosis, this syndrome is accompanied by musculo-tonic, vegetative-vascular or neurodystrophic manifestations.
- Radicular syndrome. It is also called in another way - cervical radiculitis. It involves a frightening sensation on the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, slight swelling with spread to some fingers (depending on the location of the lesion).
- Irritative reflex syndrome. It involves cervicocranialgia. Painful sensations are sharp and burning, can radiate to the shoulder, chest. Symptoms increase with a change in the position of the head, a sharp turn, sneezing.
- Vertebral artery syndrome. This symptom complex includes headache, discomfort with certain movements, imbalance, loss of hearing and vision, weakness, nausea and loss of consciousness. The headache is throbbing, it can be constant or paroxysmal.
- Heart syndrome. The clinical picture resembles angina pectoris. Long-term pain suddenly develops, which intensifies against the background of a sharp movement of the neck, coughing, sneezing. It does not go away with heart medication, and an EKG does not show a violation of blood flow to the heart muscle. The clinical picture can be supplemented by tachycardia and extrasystole.
- Vegetative-dystonic syndrome. Occurs with subluxation with displacement of the C1 vertebra. This syndrome usually involves neurological symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow - muscle spasms, drops in intracranial pressure, dizziness, decreased visual acuity, fainting, headache, nausea.
Cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by various symptoms. The characteristics of clinical manifestations and their intensity largely depend on the stage of the disease, which implies certain pathological changes. Some signs of the disease are combined into syndromes - these groups of symptoms make diagnosis easier.