The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are so contradictory that in the initial 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 ailments is damage to the spine. Neck spondylosis is insidious due to its gradual development, so many patients for a long time do not even suspect that they have long been at risk.
The disease can be triggered by congenital or acquired injuries, heredity, physical overload, poor posture, and excess weight. Each case has its own individual reason for the formation of this disease.
Stages of development of cervical osteochondrosis
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on the stage at which the patient is. At each stage of spondylosis they manifest themselves differently. There are four stages in total.
- First stage. There is an initial destruction and loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs. It may be accompanied by aching pain in the neck, but sometimes there is simply temporary discomfort, which few people pay attention to.
- Second stage. The intervertebral gaps are reduced and the fibrous ring is destroyed. Severe pain becomes constant due to pinched nerve root. Manifestations of the disease become pronounced, and treatment of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis most often begins at this stage. It is necessary to start doing exercises for cervical osteochondrosis.
- Third stage. Complete destruction of the fibrous ring is observed. Intervertebral hernias and significant deformation of the spinal column appear. Migraines, nausea, dizziness, and numbness of the extremities are often observed.
- Fourth stage. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine become advanced and manifest as sharp pain attacks with any movement. Bone 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 spondylosis and the health status of the patient; at all stages they are completely different.
The most typical manifestations of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine are:
- severe headaches in the back of the head, temples, crown of the head;
- dizziness, fainting;
- intense pain radiating to the arms and shoulders;
- impaired coordination and vision;
- throbbing pain in the brow ridges, temples;
- change in voice timbre, hoarseness, snoring;
- painful attacks radiating to the chest;
- heart pain resembling angina pectoris;
- aching toothache;
- numbness of the face, fingers;
- breathing problems, nausea, pain in the eyes and heart;
- memory impairment and decreased intelligence;
- pain in the 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 combined such symptoms into clinical syndromes.
Cardiac syndrome
It has symptomatic features similar to angina pectoris. Because of this similarity, there is a serious risk of failing to treat 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 prolonged paroxysmal pain. Tachycardia and extrasystole are observed. But the cardiogram does not show any abnormalities.
Irritative-reflex syndrome
It is always accompanied by burning, unbearable pain in the cervical-occipital area, especially acute when moving. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, manifested by this syndrome, consist of intense pain in the shoulder and chest.
Radicular syndrome
Better known as cervical sciatica. It appears when the nerve endings of the cervical spine are pinched. When compression of the nerve roots occurs, the pain threshold descends from the neck down to the shoulder blades, moving to the shoulder, forearm and fingers. Possible pastiness, tingling, sensation of goosebumps.
Vertebral artery syndrome
The patient begins to suffer from a burning, throbbing headache in the area of the brow ridges, the crown of the head, the back of the head, and the temples; it can be constant or paroxysmal. If the immune system is weakened, dizziness, nausea, and possible 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 cervical spondylosis. But 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 ailments 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 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 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 consists only of constant pain, but this is not so. Dangerous complications leading to disability may occur. Advanced osteochondrosis leads to protrusion of the cervical spine, hernias, intercostal neuralgia, radiculitis and complete deformation 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.