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, so the clinical picture develops gradually. This 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 initial. 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 characteristics:
- neck discomfort appears, 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 in the neck area decreases;
- Symptoms increase with head tilt.
Many patients ignore the early stage of osteochondrosis. The symptoms of the disease that appear are often attributed to age, fatigue, stress.
The second stageof cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by the development of bumps. This stage involves the dehydration of the intervertebral disc, the decrease of its elasticity and height and the appearance of fissures 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, creaking is possible;
- painful sensations are triggered in nature, radiating under the scapula;
- Pain increases with prolonged holding of the head in one position;
- significant loss of sensation in the skin of the shoulders and arms;
- frequent and prolonged headaches;
- visual disturbances, flies in the eyes;
- tinnitus, buzzing;
- muscle weakness in the upper extremities;
- 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, which is why many patients consult a doctor at this stage. In this 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. 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 acute pain that may spread to the heart;
- partial or complete violation of skin sensitivity on the back of the head, shoulders, arms;
- paresis, paralysis of the upper extremities;
- almost complete absence of tendon reflexes.
Finally,the fourth stageosteochondrosis involves the replacement of the intervertebral disc tissue with scar tissue. At this stage, remission of the disease often occurs, but the pathological changes spread to other structures of the spine, so that 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 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 location for 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, then the pain radiates to the outer surface of the shoulder and the medial part of the scapula;
- with a C5-C6 disc injury, the pain sensations extend 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, extending to the index and middle fingers;
- if the C7-Th1 disc is affected, the pain radiates along the inner surface of the forearm and hand to the ring finger and little finger.
Decreased sensitivity and reflexes
These symptoms occur against the background of a violation of the innervation of the nerve roots. There may be no painful sensations. The characteristics of decreased sensitivity and 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 decreased bicep reflex.
- Osteochondrosis of the C5-C6 disc is accompanied by decreased sensitivity of the lateral surface of the forearm, hand, thumb, and forefinger. The biceps muscle reflex is also reduced.
- C6-C7 disc pathology reduces sensitivity of the index and middle fingers, the back of the hand, and the forearm. There is a decreased reflex of the triceps muscle.
- The defeat of the C7-Th1 disk is accompanied by decreased sensitivity of the ring finger, little finger, inner surface of the hand, and forearm. Reflections are not affected.
Dizziness
This symptom often 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 delivered to the semicircular canals of the inner ear. They are located in the brain and provide balance. Simultaneously with dizziness, there may be fluctuations in the pupils in a 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 grow and lead to untamed vomiting.
In the context of such signals, the following consequences are possible:
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss;
- nutritional deficiency, alimentary dystrophy.
Shortness of breath
With 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, a person has shortness of breath, he cannot breathe fully. Against this background, there is a lack of oxygen, which is fraught with the development of shortness of breath and even suffocation.
During nighttime sleep, especially if the head feels uncomfortable, there is a risk of respiratory arrest. Usually these attacks are accompanied by snoring. In the absence of fresh air, hypoxia develops, in the context of which the following symptoms arise:
- tiredness even after the duration of sleep;
- discomfort;
- weakness;
- weakening of attention and memory.
Hearing impairment, noise and ringing in the ears
Against the background of circulatory disorders in cervical osteochondrosis, the vestibular apparatus suffers. This leads to inner ear dysfunction and causes cochlear syndrome, which is also called cochlear. You have the following symptoms:
- tinnitus;
- ringing;
- generalized hearing loss.
A distinctive feature indicating cervical osteochondrosis is the appearance of tinnitus in the context of prolonged stay in a forced position.
Syncope
This symptom occurs against the background of blood flow disorders caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Normally, blood constantly moves through the cerebral arteries. 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 does not usually last more than 2 to 3 minutes.
Pharyngeal symptoms
This manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis involves a wide range of pathological signs:
- sweating;
- foreign body sensation;
- Difficulty swallowing
- dry throat;
- itching sensations.
Pharyngeal symptoms develop in the context of disorders of the neurovascular trunks, the source of which is the spinal cord. When they appear, differential diagnosis is necessary, since a similar clinical picture is characteristic of the inflammatory process and tumors.
Visual impairment
This disorder in cervical osteochondrosis often occurs against the background of low blood pressure or atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain. Visual impairment can manifest itself as follows:
- a veil before the eyes, objects are visible, as in a fog;
- decreases visual acuity;
- dots blink before 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 on 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
The symptoms that accompany 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:
- Cervicalgia. This syndrome is reflex and involves neck pain. It can indicate damage to the spine or muscles in this area.
- Cervicocranialgia. This syndrome is also reflex. It signifies painful sensations in the cervico-occipital region and occurs in the context of trauma, inflammation or degenerative changes.
- Cervicobrachialgia. This reflex syndrome involves neck pain that radiates to the arm. It occurs against the background of compression of the nerve roots of the cervical spine. With osteochondrosis, this syndrome is accompanied by muscular-tonic, vegetative-vascular or neurodystrophic manifestations.
- Root syndrome. It is also called another way: cervical radiculitis. It involves a chilling sensation in the affected area, tingling in the fingers and forearms, slight swelling with extension to some fingers (depending on the location of the injury).
- Irritant reflex syndrome. It involves cervicocranialgia. Painful sensations are sharp and burning, they 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 complex of symptoms includes headache, discomfort with certain movements, imbalance, decreased visual and hearing acuity, weakness, nausea and loss of consciousness. The headache is stabbing, it can be constant or paroxysmal.
- Heart syndrome. The clinical picture resembles angina pectoris. Prolonged pain develops suddenly, intensifying against the background of a sharp movement of the neck, coughing, sneezing. It does not go away with heart medications and an EKG does not show a violation of the blood flow of the heart muscle. The clinical picture can be complemented by tachycardia and extrasystole.
- Vegetative dystonic syndrome. It occurs when there is subluxation with displacement of the C1 vertebra. This syndrome generally involves neurological symptoms of impaired cerebral blood flow: muscle cramps, drop in intracranial pressure, dizziness, decreased visual acuity, fainting, headache, nausea.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is accompanied by several symptoms. The characteristics of the 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 facilitate the diagnosis.