Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the neck is a common spinal disease that affects patients of all ages. It is a degenerative change in the vertebral disc that develops against the background of severe stress, wearing the wrong shoes, severe physical exertion and malnutrition.

It develops gradually, so the patient may not feel the first symptoms immediately.

Another name for this disease is degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine, affecting the vertebral body, ligamentous and articular apparatus, intervertebral discs.

The same is often diagnosed in men and women, and usually develops after 30 years. According to statistics, the disease affects 50-80% of the population.

The main symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear as the pathology progresses. They become more noticeable during exacerbations. It is recommended to consult a doctor at the first signs of the disease, as it is often disguised as other disorders, which complicates the timely diagnosis. Patients usually present with the following complaints:

• Severe pain in the neck.
• Noise and congestion in the ears.
• Frequent dizziness.
• Shortness of breath, feeling short of breath.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Blood pressure drops.
• Frequent fainting or fainting.
• Increased body temperature.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are not much different from those seen in women. Patients complain of discomfort in the occiput, sternum and shoulder girdle. You should contact your local therapist or neurologist for a diagnosis.

Sore throats

One of the most common symptoms of cervical spine chondrosis is neck pain, which affects the back of the head and shoulders. The nature of the pain (pain, sharp, slight tingling) directly depends on the location of the lesion and the severity of the development of the pathological process. At first, this may be a small inconvenience that does not allow you to turn your head freely in all directions. Gradually, the pain becomes chronic and limits the range of motion.

The pain is due to deformation of the vertebrae due to insufficient blood supply to the collar area. Against the background of this process, spasms, anxiety and panic attacks are observed. Pain in the neck may spread to the shoulders or arms. Growth after sleep, sudden movements, laughing or sneezing. Anxiety is associated with a characteristic crisis or muscle weakness when trying to turn around.

Muscle spasms and poor blood circulation often cause not only pain but also a temporary loss of the ability to move the neck. Constant overexertion spreads to all parts of the head and the patient begins to complain of migraine attacks.

Noise and congestion in the ears

Osteochondrosis of the neck is also manifested by a feeling of blockage in the ears, hearing loss and the appearance of noise. All this is due to insufficient intensity of blood flow to the vestibular apparatus. This complex of symptoms is called cochlear, but doctors rarely associate it with a disorder in the vertebral region. Pay attention to the nature of noise and ringing in the ears, they usually intensify when a person is in one position for a long time or trying to change it.

Patients with hearing problems consult an otolaryngologist. In the presence of concomitant disorders, such as facial numbness, limited neck mobility, additional consultation with a neurologist is required to clarify the diagnosis and determine the cause.

Headache and migraine

The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are rarely accompanied by frequent headaches, the female population is more sensitive to them. If the muscle tissue is not elastic enough to keep it in its natural position, the vertebrae in this area are constantly subjected to excessive tension, which causes them to gradually deform. It is more difficult to determine the cause of the initial pain because the symptom is not specific. The following reasons cause the attack:

• Cerebral vasospasm.
• Nerve endings compressed in the cervicothoracic spine.
• Increased blood pressure.
• acute impairment of venous flow.
• Increased fatigue.
• Staying in an unnatural position for a long time.

The headache is exacerbated during the period of exacerbation and in the patient, including men. By its nature, it can be constant, dull in the form of seizures or pulsations. In the elderly, this symptom requires careful attention, as it may indicate an early 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, irregular heart rhythm, which allows the doctor to differentiate the situation in a timely manner. Headaches accompanied by nausea and shortness of breath necessarily require an ECG.

Dizziness

Disorders of coordination and frequent dizziness often appear when osteochondrosis develops to 2 or more degrees. This is due to degenerative changes in the vertebrae, spasms, compression of nerve endings. The brain does not receive enough oxygen, which adversely affects the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. Symptoms as a result of the deviation of the situation:

• Systemic dizziness. They look like the rotation of the whole body and the feeling of objects around. Dysfunction is caused by a malfunction of the vestibular apparatus, weakening of muscle tissue and receptors in the joints.
• Non-systemic dizziness. In addition to instability, patients experience nausea and an uncertain position in an upright position. There is generally no circular rotation.

Dizziness is a serious symptom that requires immediate medical attention. Shoulder numbness, paralysis of facial muscles, fainting, emergency hospitalization are required.

Shortness of breath and shortness of breath

Another serious symptom with advanced osteochondrosis in the shoulder area is a feeling of constant shortness of breath. Respiratory problems are caused by the compression of nerve endings and receptors that do not transmit impulses from the esophagus to the esophagus. Shortness of breath, which occurs during the displacement of the vertebrae, increases in a stressful situation, accompanied by a lump in the throat. After taking a sedative, your health will return to normal.

Lack of air causes radicular syndrome. Spasm of the diaphragm affects the depth and rhythm of breathing. The patient becomes short of breath and has difficulty breathing, and has problems with memory and concentration. 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 accumulation of nerve endings in the cervical region, through which an artery responsible for transporting nutrients to the brain passes. With osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias form gradually, which affects blood pressure and results in a nausea attack.

Prolonged disruption of normal blood circulation leads to vomiting, loss of consciousness, 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 characteristic symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is a jump 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 daily dynamics of blood pressure is sharp, because the irritation of the nerve endings is 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 staying in one 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 spine:

• Glaucoma. The patient is diagnosed with increased intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. It is impossible to completely eliminate the pathologists, only to achieve a stable remission with complex treatment.
• Cataracts. 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. Timely initiation of treatment helps to maintain the patient's vision.
• Claude Bernard-Horner's disease. One of the reasons for the appearance of a lesion is hypoxia in the occipital region. 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 complain that they cannot close their eyes completely to rest at night, and they also suffer from twilight vision.

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 tackled effectively.

Pharyngeal problems

Degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae cause swallowing problems. The patient complains of swelling in the throat, sweating, foreign body sensation in the throat, itching. The signs indicate a malfunction of the neurovascular stems from the spinal cord. However, the symptomatology is not characteristic and can be accompanied by pathological disorders such as inflammation and swelling.

Changes in body temperature

Osteochondrosis causes an increase in body temperature as it progresses. Such symptoms occur when the vertebral artery is damaged, stenosis of the spinal canal, or disc protrusion. Causes changes in neurosis and accompanying neurological disorders. Against the background of an increase in temperature there is numbness of the tongue or hands, an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes, a burning sensation of the tongue.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis depending on the stage

The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine mainly depend on the stage of development of the pathology, the force of compression of the nerve endings and the process of deformation of the discs. This triggers the appearance of symptoms of compression of the vertebral artery 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:

1. Initial. Degenerative processes in the spinal discs are ignored by the patient. The first changes are very difficult to observe, as they can be mild headaches (felt more strongly in women), discomfort in the neck, a slight deterioration of vision, or loss of sensitivity in the neck area. At this stage, patients rarely see a doctor, and the symptoms are associated with fatigue, lack of sleep or stress.
2. The second stage. As the pathology progresses and a disc protrusion appears, more pronounced symptoms appear. The destruction of the annulus fibrosus affects the movements of the head, which are more limited. Patients also begin to complain of constant 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 and requires a doctor's consultation.
3. The third stage. Intervertebral hernias form gradually, annulus fibrosus is completely destroyed, there is deformation of the vertebrae, displacement of bone segments, dislocations, instability. The patient complains of severe pain in the neck, acute 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 with various symptoms. The cause is always hidden in the compressed nerve endings, circulatory disorders and deformities of the intervertebral discs. Dislocations, hernias, and displacements cause the vertebrae to gradually lose 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 reviews

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra 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 the reviews of patients and compare them with their symptoms.

Female, 35 years old

"Almost immediately, we suspected osteochondrosis because I was constantly suffering from headaches and had trouble turning my neck. But the diagnosis was made only after an X-ray. will deny.

Female, 42

"Because the symptoms echoed my gastritis, doctors could not diagnose osteochondrosis for a long time. I got sick from time to time, but I attributed it to eating errors. Only after I lost consciousness did I go to the doctor and start looking for a problem. He felt better as he progressed. Treatment was prescribed only after CT. The treatment is gradually yielding results. "

Man, 36 years old

"Osteochondrosis of the neck developed according to the characteristics of the profession, but could not be diagnosed immediately. At first I lost my eyesight, I immediately associated it with night eye fatigue, then began to feel dizzy and neck pain, but it did not bother me because I was constantly driving. almost in 3 stages, when the pressure started to jump and the problems started with health in general. The treatment has not yet yielded significant results. "

It is strictly forbidden to diagnose yourself without laboratory and hardware research. Any information should only be taken as a note.

Cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself with many symptoms, but most of them are easily confused with similar pathologies. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive review of the patient's complaints and differential diagnosis, which allows to identify the disease in a timely manner and prescribe the right treatment, including physiotherapy, gymnastics and medication.