The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are so contradictory that in the early stages 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 diseases is spinal damage. Osteoarthritis of the neck is insidious due to its gradual development, which is why many patients do not even suspect for a long time that they have been at risk for a long time.
The disease can be triggered by congenital or acquired injuries, heredity, physical overload, poor posture and excess weight. Each case has its own reason for the formation of this disease.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on the stage the patient is in. At each stage of osteoarthritis, they manifest differently. 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 neck pain, but sometimes there is just temporary discomfort that few people pay attention to.
- Second step. The intervertebral spaces are reduced and the annulus fibrosus is destroyed. Severe pain becomes constant due to pinching of the nerve root. The manifestations of the disease become pronounced, and treatment of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis most often begins at this stage. It is necessary to start doing exercises for cervical osteochondrosis.
- Third step. Complete destruction of the annulus fibrosus is observed. Intervertebral hernias and significant spinal deformities appear. Migraines, nausea, dizziness and numbness of the extremities are often observed.
- Fourth step. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine become advanced and are manifested by sharp attacks of pain with every movement. Bony growths form, limiting movement.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and their treatment will largely depend on the stage and neglect of osteoarthritis and the patient's health status; at all stages they are completely different..
The most typical manifestations of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- severe headaches in the back of the head, temples, top of the head;
- dizziness, fainting;
- intense pain radiating to the arms and shoulders;
- coordination and vision problems;
- throbbing pain in browbones and temples;
- change in voice timbre, hoarseness, snoring;
- painful attacks radiating to the chest;
- heart pain resembling angina;
- painful toothache;
- numbness of the face, fingers;
- breathing problems, nausea, eye and heart pain;
- memory problems and decreased intelligence;
- pain in neck, forearm, arm;
- noise in the ears;
- tingling in the limbs, weakness, chills.
Main syndromes of cervical spondylosis
Cervical osteochondrosis can occur in different forms depending on the patient. Doctors have combined these symptoms into clinical syndromes.
Cardiac syndrome
It has symptomatic features similar to those of angina. Because of this similarity, there is a serious risk of not treating cardiac ischemia rather than cervical spondylosis. Characterized by irritation of the nerve roots of the thoracic region or phrenic nerve. This syndrome is accompanied by prolonged paroxysmal pain. Tachycardia and extrasystole are observed. But the cardiogram shows no abnormality.
Irritative reflex syndrome
It is always accompanied by burning and unbearable pain in the cervico-occipital region, particularly acute during movements. The 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 appears when the nerve endings in the cervical spine are pinched. When nerve root compression occurs, the pain threshold moves down from the neck to the shoulder blades, moving toward the shoulder, forearm, and fingers. Possible doughiness, tingling, goosebumps sensation.
Vertebral artery syndrome
The patient begins to suffer from a burning, throbbing headache in the brow bones, top of the head, back of the head, and temples; it can be constant or paroxysmal. If the immune system is weakened, dizziness, nausea and possibly fainting occur. Hearing acuity decreases, noise is heard in the ears, and the functioning of the vestibular apparatus is disrupted. Sometimes there is a significant decrease in vision.
Cervicothoracic spondylosis
The symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis are very similar to those of cervical spondylosis. But the peculiarity of this complication is that an erroneous diagnosis is often made. It is usually confused with angina or vegetative-vascular dystonia. Unfortunately, many patients have to take unnecessary medications until it turns out that the cause of serious illnesses is thoracic osteochondrosis.
It is characterized by painful attacks resembling intercostal neuralgia, cardiac ischemia or even cholecystitis or gastritis. Body movements are very difficult, the patient is afraid to breathe deeply.
Symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis
The symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis also have their own characteristics, the treatment of which differs little from the general principles of treatment of this disease. The main manifestations of this pathology:
- asthenic syndrome;
- migraine attacks;
- jump blood pressure;
- lack of coordination;
- double vision or stars in the eyes;
- dizziness;
- pain in neck, chest, heart;
- numbness and cold in the fingers;
- pain in arms, shoulders, along ribs;
- constant noise in the ears.
Many patients think that the manifestation of the disease consists only of constant pain, but this is not the case. Dangerous complications leading to disability may occur. Advanced osteochondrosis leads to protrusion of the cervical spine, hernias, intercostal neuralgia, radiculitis and complete deformity of the fingers.
Therefore, if you periodically experience pain of various types or the symptoms listed above are familiar to you, immediately seek qualified help.