Signs of cervical osteochondrosis in severe manifestations usually surprise the patient, although the preconditions for the disease are observed long before the onset of the main symptoms and are the result of degenerative changes in the structure of the vertebrae. The nerve roots at the levels C5, C6, C7 (cervical spine) are most often affected.
Clinical manifestations
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into radicular and reflex.
Reflex Syndrome
Lumbago is characteristic of reflex symptoms. Their main feature is the sudden appearance of awkward movement, pulling or prolonged presence of the head in one position. Lumbago of the cervical vertebrae literally kills a person off the track, movements are restricted, the patient takes a forced position due to severe pain.
Common patient complaints:
- astringent headache that radiates to the temples or eyeballs;
- reduced visual acuity, before the eyes as if "everything floats";
- possible increase in pressure.
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, which occurs with a sharp turn of the head, almost always accompanied by an unpleasant feeling of nausea and even vomiting.
It is important to exclude cerebrovascular accidents when making a diagnosis, as the treatment of osteochondrosis is radically different from the treatment of diseases of the vascular system.
With a cardiac symptom in the clinic of reflex syndromes in cervical osteochondrosis, the patient is characterized by sensations that resemble an attack of angina pectoris, but usually there are no difficulties in accurately diagnosing the disease, as the cardiac symptom of, characteristic of osteochondrosis of the spine.
Radicular syndrome
The 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 areas;
- C3- pain occurs in the middle of the neck where the disorder occurred. Symptoms: decreased sensitivity, impaired work and touch of the tongue, speech disorders;
- C4- there is pain in the shoulder-scapular area, impaired sensitivity, may hurt 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, shoulder blade, radial surface and "descends" to the thumb;
- 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, the sensitivity in this area worsens;
- C8- the pain is 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 occur as a result of damage to the cartilage of the cervical joint, which weakens the human nervous system. Dystonia and osteochondrosis, found at the same time, can be a common disease or VSD occurs for common reasons.
Ozchochondrosis is one of the factors that provoke VSD, but it is not necessary for the latter to follow from the former.Vegetative-vascular dystonia often occurs in various types of osteochondrosis, especially in disorders of the cervical spine. But it can also occur as a result of injury, there is compression of the nerves in the cervical spine, blood flow deteriorates and the pressure in the skull increases.
Diagnostic errors
VSD, osteochondrosis and chest pain are treated in different ways. Expensive (and often unnecessary) tests show nothing but problems in the cervical-thoracic area and disorders of blood vessels. In this case, the treatment often remains the same - heart complexes, vitamins, antidepressants. Chiropractors remove the pain, set the patient 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 VSD attacks) are becoming almost the norm for them, but still many patients prefer self-medication or visits to "doctors" whose activities are not aimed at getting rid ofthe disease, only for self-enrichment.
Groups of characteristic manifestations
The main clinical signs of cervical osteochondrosis can be divided into several groups:
- first.Neurological symptoms occur as a consequence of complications in cervical osteochondrosis and direct pressure on the nerve roots, nerve plexuses;
- seconds.Symptoms are manifested by direct exposure of the spinal cord;
- third.Symptoms appear in the brain, affecting its vessels, structures, membranes and trunk.
Each of the listed groups has its own clinical signs and pattern of manifestations, but there are common features of the symptoms, thanks to which it is possible to make a correct diagnosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine often appear as a neurological complication, a characteristic symptom of which is pain in the shoulder joint. This pathology is called "periarthritis of the shoulder blade. "
Distinctive features of the compression of the spinal cord in the cervical region are volume lesions in the tissues and a strong reduction in important functions. Sensitivity of the skin and muscles is impaired, paresis develops, and in complex pathological cases - paralysis.
Therefore, even at the first suspicion of cervical osteochondrosis, it is important to visit a specialist, perform the necessary diagnostic measures and undergo a course of treatment. Remember that pathology detected in time is eliminated quickly and without consequences.