Signs of cervical osteochondrosis in a strong manifestation usually take the patient by surprise, although the prerequisites for the disease are observed long before the onset of the main symptoms and are a consequence of degenerative changes in the structure of the vertebrae. Most often, the nerve roots of the C5, C6, C7 levels (cervical spine) are affected.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms in cervical osteochondrosis are divided into radicular and reflex.
Reflex Syndrome
Lumbago is characteristic of reflex symptoms. Their main feature is the sudden appearance with an awkward movement, a jerk, or a long stay of the head in one position. The lumbago of the cervical spine literally knocks a person off the track, movements become limited, the patient takes a forced position due to severe pain.
Frequent patient complaints:
- constricting headaches that radiate to the temples or eyeballs;
- decreased visual acuity, before the eyes as if "everything is floating";
- possible pressure rise.
Vertebral artery syndrome occurs when the nerve plexus is irritated, which is often misdiagnosed as a cerebrovascular accident. Manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis with a similar syndrome are frequent dizziness that occurs with a sharp turn of the head, almost always accompanied by an unpleasant feeling of nausea and even vomiting.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to exclude cerebrovascular accident, since the treatment of osteochondrosis is fundamentally different from the treatment of diseases of the vascular system.
With a cardialgic symptom in the clinic of reflex syndromes in cervical osteochondrosis, the patient is characterized by sensations reminiscent of an attack of angina pectoris, but difficulties in accurately diagnosing the disease are usually not observed, since the cardialgic symptom is accompanied by a number of symptoms characteristic of osteochondrosis of the spine.
Radicular Syndrome
Signs of cervical osteochondrosis in radicular syndrome appear in direct proportion to the "number" of the compressed nerve.
Symptoms, sensory and motor changes depend on which nerve root is affected:
- C1- there is a violation of sensitivity in the occipital region;
- C2- the patient feels pain in the parietal and occipital regions;
- C3- pain appears in the half of the neck where the infringement occurred. Symptoms: decreased sensitivity, disruption of the work and touch of the tongue, speech disorders;
- C4- there are pains in the shoulder-scapular region, impaired sensitivity, it can hurt in the heart and liver;
- C5- the patient does not feel the shoulder well on its outer surface, worries about pain in this area;
- C6- pain in osteochondrosis at the level of the 6th vertebra extends to the forearm, scapula, radial surface and "descends" to the thumb of the hand;
- C7- the pain "spreads" from the neck to the shoulder blade, passes along the back of the shoulder and forearm, goes to 2-4 fingers of the hand, sensitivity in this area worsens;
- C8- pains are localized from the neck to the shoulder and further to the little finger.
Inseparable pathological connection
VSD and cervical osteochondrosis are closely related, and vegetative-vascular dystonia can manifest itself as a result of damage to the cartilage of the cervical joint, which loosens the human nervous system. Dystonia and osteochondrosis, detected at the same time, can be a common disease or VSD occurs for common reasons.
Osteochondrosis is one of the factors that provokes VSD, but it is not necessary that the second follows from the first.
Vegeto-vascular dystonia often manifests itself in different types of osteochondrosis, especially in disorders of the cervical spine. But it can also manifest itself as a result of injury, compression of the nerves in the cervical spine occurs, blood flow worsens and pressure inside the skull rises.
Diagnostic Errors
VSD, osteochondrosis and pain in the thoracic region are treated fundamentally differently. Expensive (and often unnecessary) tests show nothing but problems in the cervicothoracic region, and disturbances in the work of blood vessels. In this case, the treatment often remains the same - heart complexes, vitamins, antidepressants. Chiropractors eliminate pain, set the patient up in an optimistic mood, but panic attacks, stress and fatigue do not go anywhere.
More and more people are victims of improper therapy, panic attacks (or an attack of VSD) are becoming almost the norm for them, but still, many of the patients prefer self-medication or visiting "doctors" whose activities are not aimed at getting rid of the disease, butonly for self-enrichment.
Groups of characteristic manifestations
The main clinical signs of cervical osteochondrosis can be divided into several groups:
- first.Neurological symptoms arise as a consequence of complications in cervical osteochondrosis and with direct pressure on the nerve roots, nerve plexuses;
- second.Symptoms appear when directly affecting the spinal cord;
- third.Symptoms occur in the brain, affect its vessels, structures, membranes and trunk.
Each of these groups has its own clinical signs and presentation, but there is a commonality of symptoms, thanks to which it is possible to make a correct diagnosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae often appear as a neurological complication, a characteristic feature of which is pain in the shoulder joint. This pathology is called "periarthritis of the shoulder scapula".
Distinctive features of spinal cord compression in the cervical region are volumetric lesions in the tissues and a strong decrease in important functions. Skin and muscle sensitivity is impaired, paresis develops, and in complex pathological cases, paralysis.
That is why, even at the first suspicion of cervical osteochondrosis, it is important to visit a specialist, carry out the necessary diagnostic measures and undergo a course of treatment. Remember that the pathology detected on time is eliminated quickly and without consequences.