Symptoms of Cervical Osteochondrosis

Neck osteochondrosis is a common spinal disease that affects patients of all ages. It is a degenerative change in the vertebral disc that develops in a context of high stress, wearing inappropriate shoes, heavy physical exertion and malnutrition.

It develops gradually, so the patient may not notice the first symptoms right away.

Another name for this disease is degenerative-destructive lesion of the spine, affecting the vertebral body, ligament and joint apparatus, intervertebral discs.

Often diagnosed in men and women, it usually develops after 30 years. According to statistics, the disease affects 50 to 80% of the population.

The main signs of the disease

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear as the condition progresses. They are most noticeable during an exacerbation. When noticing the first signs of the disease, it is recommended to consult a doctor, as it often disguises itself as other diseases, which makes timely diagnosis difficult. Patients usually come with the following complaints:

• Severe pain in the collar area.
• Noise and blockage in the ears.
• Frequent dizziness.
• Shortness of breath, feeling of shortness of breath.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Blood pressure drops.
• Fainting or frequent syncope.
• Increased body temperature.

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

Neck ache

One of the most common symptoms of chondrosis of the cervical spine is pain in the neck that affects the back of the neck and shoulders. The nature of the pain (painful, sharp, slight tingling) depends directly on the location of the injury and the severity of the pathological process. In the initial stage this can be mild discomfort, which does not allow you to turn your head freely in all directions. Gradually the pain becomes chronic and limits range of motion.

Pain manifests as a result of deformation of the vertebrae, due to insufficient blood supply to the collar area. In the context of this process, spasms, anxiety and panic attacks are observed. A painful sensation in the neck region may radiate to the shoulders or arms. Increases after sleep, sudden movements, laughing or sneezing. Discomfort is combined with a characteristic snap when trying to turn or muscle weakness.

Muscle tissue spasm and poor circulation often cause not only pain but also a temporary loss of ability to move the neck. Constant excessive tension spreads through the head and the patient begins to complain of migraine attacks.

Noise and congestion in the ears

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

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

headache and migraines

The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men are rarely accompanied by frequent headaches, with the female population being more susceptible. The vertebrae in this area are constantly exposed to excessive stress, which leads to their gradual deformation if the muscle tissue is not elastic enough to keep them in a natural position. It is more difficult to identify the cause of the headache as the symptom is not specific. The following reasons trigger an attack:

• Cerebral vasospasm.
• Compressed nerve endings in the cervicothoracic spine.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Acute disturbance of venous flow.
• Increased fatigue.
• Extended stay in an unnatural position.

Headache intensifies during the period of exacerbation, and in patients, including men. By nature it can be constant, tedious in the form of convulsions or heartbeat. In older people, this symptom requires a lot of attention, as it may speak of an incipient stroke, angina pectoris, heart attack or high blood pressure. Therefore, in the first place, these conditions are excluded before starting treatment for osteochondrosis.

With cardiac pathologies, patients also complain of compression in the chest region, an irregular heart rhythm, which allows the doctor to differentiate in time. Headaches accompanied by nausea, shortness of breath necessarily require an ECG.

Dizziness

Impaired coordination and frequent dizziness usually appear when osteochondrosis reaches grade 2 or more. This is due to degenerative changes in the vertebrae, spasms, compression of nerve endings. The brain does not receive the necessary amount of oxygen, which negatively affects the functioning of the vestibular system. As a result of the deviation from the condition, the symptom is:

• Systemic dizziness. They appear as a sensation of the whole body rotating and the objects around it. The dysfunction arises from the malfunction of the vestibular apparatus, weakening of muscle tissue and receptors located in the joints.
• Non-systemic dizziness. In addition to instability, patients experience bouts of nausea, an uncertain state in the upright position. Circular rotation is usually absent.

Dizziness is a serious symptom that should be treated immediately by a doctor. In the presence of numbness in the shoulders, paralysis of facial muscle tissue, loss of consciousness, emergency hospitalization is required.

shortness of breath and shortness of breath

Another serious symptom with advanced osteochondrosis in the shoulder region is a constant feeling of shortness of breath. Respiratory problems arise from the compression of nerve endings and receptors that do not transmit impulses from the pharynx to the esophagus. Shortness of breath appears when the vertebrae are displaced, increases into a stressful state, accompanied by a lump in the throat. After taking a sedative, the health condition returns to normal.

Shortness of breath causes radicular syndrome. Diaphragm spasm affects the depth and rhythm of breathing. The patient becomes stuffy and has difficulty breathing, memory and concentration problems arise. This symptom in osteochondrosis requires immediate assistance as it can cause a number of serious complications. The doctor selects the medication individually, taking into account the condition.

Nausea

In the cervical region, there is a large accumulation of nerve endings, through which an artery passes, which is responsible for transporting nutrients to the brain. With osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias and protrusions gradually form, which affect blood pressure, and as a result, the patient experiences an attack of nausea.

Prolonged impairment of normal blood circulation leads to vomiting, loss of consciousness and causes stroke and disability. Therefore, the appearance of such a symptom, which is not associated with nutritional errors, requires immediate medical advice.

increased blood pressure

For cervical osteochondrosis, a characteristic symptom is a jump in pressure during the day. For a long time, the increase or decrease in blood pressure is not maintained, which is a characteristic sign of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The daily dynamics of blood pressure are abrupt, as irritation of the nerve endings is reflexive and causes short-term spasms of blood vessels. A distinguishing feature of increased pressure in cervical osteochondrosis is:

• headache;
• chest discomfort;
• decreased sensitivity in the collar area;
• muscle tension after being in the same position for a long time.

All of this is taken into account when making a diagnosis. The rapid deterioration of the condition and sudden changes in pressure are the basis for the patient's hospitalization and provision of care in a hospital setting.

Visual impairment

Osteochondrosis in the cervical spine often causes unpleasant symptoms such as double vision, flickering, the appearance of "flies". This signals the seriousness of the process and requires a visit to the doctor. In the context of connective tissue destruction in the vertebrae, the following diseases can develop:

• Glaucoma. The patient is diagnosed with increased intraocular pressure, optic nerve damage. It is impossible to eliminate pathologists completely, just to achieve stable remission with complex treatment.
• Cataract. This pathological process leads to the destruction of the lens. The changes are associated with metabolic processes and acute impairment of the brain's oxygen supply. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes. The timely start of treatment helps to preserve the patient's vision.
• Claude Bernard-Horner disease. One of the reasons for the appearance of a lesion is considered hypoxia in the occipital region. The main signs of a pathological condition are a decrease in pupil response or a difference in pupil size in different eyes. Some patients complain that they cannot close their eyes completely for nighttime rest, and twilight vision suffers as well.

The ophthalmologist prescribes the treatment after a thorough examination. But therapy is performed only in a complex that seeks to eliminate the cause of the violation. Only then can the problem be resolved effectively.

pharyngeal problems

Degenerative changes in the cervical vertebra cause swallowing problems. The patient complains of a lump in the throat, sweating, foreign body sensation in the throat, itching. Signs indicate a malfunction of the neurovascular trunks exiting the spinal cord. But the symptoms are not considered characteristic and can be seen with pathological disorders such as inflammation and swelling.

Change in body temperature

Osteochondrosis, as it progresses, becomes the cause of increased body temperature. These symptoms occur when the vertebral artery is damaged, spinal canal stenosis, or disc protrusion. It causes changes in neurosis and concomitant neurological disorders. In the context of increased temperature, there is numbness of the tongue or hands, an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes, and a burning sensation in the tongue.

Osteochondrosis symptoms depending on stage

The signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine depend largely on the stage of development of the pathology, on the compression strength of the nerve endings and on the deformation process of the discs. Causes the appearance of symptoms of compression of the vertebral artery and violation of blood flow to the brain. Compressed nerve endings lead to serious neurological pathologies. The severity of the signs directly depends on the stage of development of the disease:

1. Initial. Degenerative processes in the vertebral discs go unnoticed by the patient. It is quite difficult to notice the first changes, as they can be mild headaches (they are stronger in women), discomfort in the neck, slight deterioration of vision or loss of sensation in the collar area. At this stage, patients rarely go to the doctor, attributing symptoms to fatigue, lack of sleep or stress.
2. Second stage. As the pathology progresses and disc protrusion appears, more pronounced symptoms appear. Destruction of the fibrous ring affects head movements, they are more limited. In addition, patients begin to complain of constant ringing in the ears, impaired visual function, a characteristic snapping neck pain, trouble swallowing, sleep disturbances, and decreased clarity of reflexes. Keeping the head in one position causes great discomfort, which requires a doctor's appointment.
3. Third stage. Intervertebral hernias form gradually, the fibrous ring is completely destroyed, there is deformation of the vertebrae, displacement of bone segments, dislocations, instability. The patient complains of acute pain in the neck, pronounced shoulder syndrome, paralysis of the upper limbs, tendon reflexes are not observed, and decreased sensitivity in the scalp. This is a serious stage of the disease that requires complex treatment.

Osteochondrosis is a chronic systemic disease that manifests itself in different symptoms. The reason is always hidden in compressed nerve endings, circulatory disturbances and intervertebral disc deformation. Protrusion, hernia, and displacement gradually lead to a loss of mobility in the vertebra.

Age directly affects the severity of symptoms. The older the patient, the stronger the changes in connective tissue and bone. This is due to muscle fiber weakness, nutritional deficiencies and chronic inflammatory diseases in the body.

patient testimonials

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is a common disease, as the nerve roots are constantly exposed to stress due to the excessive mobility of the segment. Timely detection of pathology prevents serious complications, so many people read patient ratings and compare them to their symptoms.

woman, 35 years old

"We suspected osteochondrosis almost immediately, as I was constantly plagued by headaches and had trouble turning my neck. But the diagnosis was only made after the X-ray. As the treatment does not give a normal result and the pain still appears periodically , CT scan is still ahead, it will confirm or deny progression.

Woman, 42

"Doctors couldn't determine osteochondrosis for a long time because the symptoms echoed in my gastritis. Occasionally I felt bad, but I attributed it to nutritional errors. It wasn't until I passed out that I went to the doctor and started looking for a problem. The discomfort in the neck was not very painful in the early stages, and the pain only made itself felt as the condition progressed. Treatment was prescribed only after CT scan. Treatment is gradually yielding results. "

man, 36 years old

"Neck osteochondrosis developed because of the peculiarities of the profession, but they couldn't determine it right away. At first, my eyesight dropped, which I immediately attributed to nocturnal eyestrain, and then they started to suffer dizziness and neck pain, but as I was driving constantly and it didn't bother me. The diagnosis was made already in almost 3 stages, when the pressure started to jump, and the problems started with general health. The treatment has not yet produced tangible results "

It is strictly prohibited to diagnose yourself without laboratory and apparatus research. Any information should be considered as a note only.

Cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself in a large number of symptoms, but most of them are easily confused with similar pathologies. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the patient's complaints in a complex way and perform differential diagnoses, which allow the timely identification of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment, which includes physiotherapy, gymnastics and drug treatment.