Cervical osteochondrosis and its symptoms

Cervical osteochondrosis is a progressive degenerative dystrophic disease of the intervertebral discs located between the first seven vertebrae. Vertebrae 1-7 belong to the cervical spine.Pathological changes in the context of osteochondrosis lead to deformation of the vertebrae, ultimately disrupting the blood supply to the vertebrae, nerve conduction in the neck and innervation areas of the damaged nerves.Cervical osteochondrosis can be an independent disease or it can be combined with osteochondrosis in other parts of the body - the thoracic and lumbar spine.

The main symptoms

The main symptom of cervical osteochondrosis is pain, and the location and nature of the pain depend on the location of the lesion. The most common are the collar area, one or both arms.The disease is characterized by unilateral pain that can occur in any part of the arm - shoulder, forearm, hand or even fingers. Many patients complain of headaches and dizziness.The pain syndrome may also be felt in the chest, supraclavicular area, or spread throughout the back. For some people, the pain is concentrated in the neck or base of the throat.Cervical osteochondrosis has a variety of symptoms, often accompanied by impaired touch sensitivity, muscle weakness, vision and hearing loss, rapid heartbeat, and panic attacks.

attention!Sometimes osteochondrosis is complicated by vertebral artery syndrome, which may require emergency hospitalization.

first sign

In its early stages, osteochondrosis presents more like ordinary fatigue after a busy day and occurs in cycles. At night, there is discomfort and pain in the neck, heaviness and pain in the head, mainly in the occipital area. There may be crunching and squeaking sounds when turning the head.The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are more obvious in women than in men, and are often accompanied by unstable psychological and emotional states. Additionally, men suffer from the disease much less frequently.Worsening of rickets usually occurs during menopause, when a woman's body undergoes hormonal changes and her immune system weakens. Diagnosis can be difficult due to similar symptoms to many other diseases.Men react less to minor things like a creaking in their necks and often don't notice suspicious symptoms at all. Moreover, symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in men may not appear for a long time, which is explained by the particularities of the anatomical structure.Men are naturally blessed with more developed, stronger muscles, which provide additional support to the spine. The muscular framework acts like a kind of armor, protecting the vertebrae and preventing them from deforming.

Vertebral artery syndrome (VAS)

The clinical manifestations of SPA are often represented by a variety of symptoms, but only one of the possible symptoms can be observed:

• Headache located mainly in the back of the head and at the base of the skull - basilar migraine, accompanied by typical symptoms: loss of coordination, nausea leading to vomiting, tinnitus, and less commonly - speech disturbances;
• Dizziness that occurs when you turn your head. They may be accompanied by vomiting, darkening of the eyes, and impaired motor coordination;
• Stress-induced eye fatigue, speckled flickers and bright flashes of light in front of the eyes, and loss of vision in some places. Patients may complain of eyeball pain, redness, sandy sensation, and conjunctival inflammation;
• Persistent or paroxysmal tinnitus, the nature of which varies depending on the position of the neck. Symptoms such as mild deafness, ear plugging, and unresponsiveness to quiet sounds may occur. In some cases, people notice paracusia - selective hearing of sounds, in which a person hears more in the presence of extraneous noise than in complete silence. good;
• When osteochondrosis progresses, vegetative symptoms are always present and are most often combined with other symptoms. These may be hot flashes or chills, increased sweating, cold hands and feet, shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure and poor sleep quality;
• TIA - Transient ischemic attack - accompanied by mechanical compression of the vertebral artery, manifested by double vision, temporary partial blindness and loss of visual field, dizziness, vomiting, speech and swallowing dysfunction;
• Fainting may be caused by sudden movements of the head or by being placed in an uncomfortable position. Loss of consciousness can last for varying amounts of time and cause weakness in the limbs;
• A fall attack is a sudden fall, usually without loss of consciousness, caused by a sudden flow of blood to the brain when the head is tilted back. The immediate cause was paralysis of the legs, but motor function recovered quickly.

Headache and dizziness

Most patients with cervical chondrosis have this symptom, but it may not be present. The cause of dizziness is related to compression of the aorta and blood vessels, which disrupts the delivery of oxygen to the nerve tissue in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.Under the influence of mechanical trauma to the vertebral body structure and chronic ischemia of nerve fibers, sensitivity increases and nerve endings are stimulated, eventually causing cervical dizziness.Dizziness may be accompanied by unsteady movements, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and increased sweating of the face and shoulders.Headache is a common symptom of cervical rickets. It is paroxysmal in nature, with attacks lasting from a few hours to a few days. The pain varies in intensity, but occurs with enviable regularity.Headaches are caused by changes in the position of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs that compress the vertebral arteries. Because blood vessels are compressed, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, causing pain.

refer to:The cause of the pain may also be muscle spasms, typical of osteochondrosis.

panic attack

Panic attacks are also associated with reduced nutrition to the brain, leading to symptoms such as:

• Fever or chills, elevated body temperature;
• Numbness, tingling in limbs, muscle spasms, impaired movement;
• Dizziness, loss of coordination, dark eyes;
• Pain behind the sternum or on the left side of the chest, rapid pulse, and elevated blood pressure;
• Insomnia, fear of death, or mental confusion and confusion;
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing until suffocation, lump in throat;
• Abdominal discomfort and pain, indigestion, frequent urination.

sore throat

Typically, a sore throat with osteochondrosis occurs when the fourth cervical vertebrae is damaged or displaced. Positioning is usually lateral as the vertebrae and discs are shifted to one side.Due to the compression of the root, the pharyngeal muscles spasm, tense, and are accompanied by pain. The throat feels heavy and full and breathing becomes difficult. However, there were no mechanical obstacles to breathing and swallowing freely; there were no foreign bodies or tumors in the esophagus and larynx.Often, medications, douches, and inhalations for tonsillitis or sore throat are not effective.The source of pain is the area between the thyroid cartilage and the jugular vein. The nature of the pain ranges from mild to debilitating.

treat

Comprehensive treatment for cervical osteochondrosis includes a variety of approaches—taking medications, performing therapeutic exercises, participating in physical therapy, and massage. If necessary, you can use folk remedies and prepare various compresses, prepare infusions and decoctions.If the condition worsens, it is recommended to stay in bed. Additionally, you should lie on a flat and fairly hard and springy surface - a sagging sofa or feather bed won't work.

attention!Severe pain requires immediate medical attention.

To immobilize the cervical spine, your doctor may recommend wearing a Shants collar. It supports the neck in an anatomically correct position, eliminating movement and therefore pain.Medication selection is based on existing symptoms and diagnosis. If hernias and protrusions are discovered, surgical treatment may be performed.

drug	action
Vasodilators and nootropics	Improve cerebral circulation, dilate blood vessels, relax smooth muscles, and reduce nerve signal frequency
Chondroitin and Glucosamine Preparations	Restore intervertebral disc cartilage tissue and slow down the degeneration process
muscle relaxants	Relieve muscle spasms
NSAIDs	Relieves inflammatory processes, tissue swelling
analgesics	eliminate pain
Opioids	For severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional methods
Vitamin complex containing vitamins B, A, C, calcium	Strengthens nerve, muscle and bone tissue for overall healing effect
Antidepressants and sedatives	Coping with the stress of ongoing pain

treatment at home

It is not recommended to stay at home for too long and rest in bed until the acute symptoms subside before taking active action. You should start with simple exercises and then work your way up to more intense exercises.

• Exercise 1 - Self-extension. Stand with your arms down along your body, tilt your head to the right, and reach your left hand down. Maintain this position and repeat on the other side.
• Exercise 2 – Self-massage. Place the towel over your shoulders, hold the edges of the towel, and pull in one direction or the other.
• Exercise 3 – Turn your head left and right, tilt to the right, then to the left shoulder.
• Exercise 4 – Same as the counter-action with your hands: While turning or tilting, press your temples to create extra resistance.

Tips to prevent osteochondrosis

Tip #1

Physical activity is a major way to combat physical aging and the development of disc dystrophy. Usually, exercising every day and going to the pool at least once a week is enough. All of these allow you to strengthen the muscle corset of your spine.

Tip #2

Even healthy people need massage; it is recommended to have it done once a year.

Tip #3

It is important to monitor your weight and avoid weight gain.

Tip #4

When you work in a stressed position for a long time, you need to rest, change your position, and do warm-up exercises.

Tip #5

Eating well means getting enough vitamins and trace elements in your food.

Tip #6

Try not to lift or carry heavy objects, and if you must, wear a supportive corset.

FAQ

When do you need to see a doctor urgently?

Reasons to seek medical attention or even call an ambulance immediately are:

• Persistent numbness in your arms or legs;
• Severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional analgesics;
• Movement disorders;
• Severe headache, dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms of cerebrovascular accident;
• The back is "stuck" in a certain position, severely limiting movement.

Is it possible to permanently cure rickets?

No, this is a chronic disease that gets worse in cycles. Even after treatment and following all doctor's recommendations, the cartilage in the affected area of the disc can be replaced by scar tissue. That is to say, the structure of the segment has been destroyed, and this process is irreversible. However, with some effort on the part of the patient, a high quality of life is achievable.