The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are so contradictory that at the initial stage of the disease an incorrect diagnosis is often made and a completely different disease is treated. But over time, clearer signs appear and it becomes clear that the cause of the symptoms is damage to the spine. Cervical spondylosis is insidious due to its insidious development, so that many patients do not even suspect for a long time that they have been at risk for a long time.
The disease can be caused by congenital or acquired injuries, heredity, physical overload, poor posture and excess weight. Each case has its own individual reason for the development of this disease.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on the stage at which the patient is. They manifest themselves differently at each stage of spondylosis. There are four stages in total.
- First stage. There is an initial destruction and loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs. It can be accompanied by aching pain in the neck, but sometimes there are simply temporary discomfort that few people pay attention to.
- Second floor. The intervertebral gaps are reduced and the fibrous ring is destroyed. Severe pain becomes permanent due to the pinched nerve root. The manifestations of the disease become more pronounced and treatment of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis usually begins at this stage. It is necessary to start with exercises for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
- Third section. Complete destruction of the fibrous ring is observed. Intervertebral hernias and significant deformations of the spine occur. Migraines, nausea, dizziness and numbness in the extremities are often observed.
- Fourth stage. The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are advanced and manifest themselves in attacks of stabbing pain with every movement. Bone growths form that restrict movement.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and its treatment largely depend on the stage and neglect of spondylosis, as well as the patient's health status, and are completely different at all stages.
The most typical manifestations of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine are:
- severe headache in the back of the head, temples and vertex;
- dizziness, fainting;
- severe pain radiating to the arms and shoulders;
- coordination and vision problems;
- throbbing pain in forehead ridges and temples;
- Change in timbre of voice, hoarseness, snoring;
- painful attacks radiating to the chest;
- heart pain that resembles angina pectoris;
- aching toothache;
- Numbness in the face, fingers;
- breathing problems, nausea, pain in the eyes and heart;
- memory impairment and reduced intelligence;
- pain in neck, forearm, arm;
- noise in the ears;
- Tingling of the limbs, weakness, chills.
Main syndromes of cervical spondylosis
Cervical osteochondrosis can occur in different forms in different patients. Doctors have grouped such symptoms into clinical syndromes.
cardiac syndrome
It has similar symptomatic features to angina pectoris. Because of this similarity, there is a serious risk of missing treatment for cardiac ischemia instead of cervical spondylosis. Characterized by irritation of the nerve roots of the thoracic region or the phrenic nerve. This syndrome is accompanied by persistent paroxysmal pain. Tachycardia and extrasystole are observed. But the cardiogram shows no abnormalities.
Irritable reflex syndrome
It is always accompanied by burning, unbearable pain in the neck and occipital area, particularly acute when moving. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, manifested by this syndrome, consist of severe pain in the shoulder and chest.
Radicular syndrome
Better known as cervical sciatica. It occurs when the nerve endings of the cervical spine become pinched. When there is compression of the nerve roots, the pain threshold drops from the neck to the shoulder blades and continues to the shoulder, forearm and fingers. Possible dough, tingling, goosebumps feeling.
Vertebral artery syndrome
The patient begins to suffer from burning, throbbing headaches in the area of the brow ridges, crown, back of the head and temples; these can be persistent or paroxysmal. If the immune system is weakened, dizziness, nausea and possibly fainting will occur. Hearing acuity decreases, noises are heard in the ears, and the function of the vestibular apparatus is disrupted. Sometimes there is a significant deterioration in vision.
Cervicothoracic spondylosis
The symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis closely resemble those of cervical spondylosis. However, the peculiarity of this complication is that an incorrect diagnosis is often made. It is usually confused with angina pectoris or vegetative-vascular dystonia. Unfortunately, many patients have to take useless medications until it turns out that the cause of serious discomfort is thoracic osteochondrosis.
It is characterized by painful attacks similar to intercostal neuralgia, cardiac ischemia, or cholecystitis or gastritis. Body movements are very difficult, the patient is afraid to take deep breaths.
Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis also have their own peculiarities, the treatment of which hardly differs from the general principles of therapy for this disease. The main manifestations of this pathology:
- asthenic syndrome;
- migraine attacks;
- jumping blood pressure;
- lack of coordination;
- double vision or stars in the eyes;
- Dizziness;
- neck, chest, heart pain;
- numbness and coldness in the fingers;
- pain in the arms, shoulders, along the ribs;
- Constant noise in the ears.
Many patients think that the manifestation of the disease is only constant pain, but this is not so. Dangerous complications can occur that lead to disability. Advanced osteochondrosis leads to bulging of the cervical spine, hernias, intercostal neuralgia, radiculitis and complete deformation of the fingers.
Therefore, if you regularly experience pain of various types or the symptoms listed above seem familiar to you, seek qualified help immediately.