Cervical osteochondrosis – a disease of the spine, causing degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. In the first stage, the symptoms are almost unnoticeable, but with the spread of the pathological process, the patient's condition is getting worse.
The cause of the disease
Osteochondrosis arises as a result of the unevenness of the load of the spinal column. Predisposing factors are:
- heavy physical exertion;
- wearing the wrong shoes;
- of malnutrition;
- the problem with the exchange process;
- the nervous and emotional exhaustion.
The disease, which can occur during carrying a child. The big risk in multiple pregnancies. The pathological process may be genetically determined.
The stage and the pictures
The development of osteoarthritis is the is slow. There are 4 main stages of disease:
- In the first phase. The patient to feel discomfort after a long walk, and stay in the same position. Began to draw the seals into the vertebrae and discs.
- In the second stage. The pain of the present. The doctor prescribed a manual therapy and pain relievers.
- In the third stage. There are marked degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.
- The fourth stage of the. In the final stage of the disease, which has affected almost all parts of the spine.
In the final stage of the conservative treatment is not effective. The doctor prescribed surgery, which will require a long recovery period.
Common symptoms of
Low back pain may include one or more of the spinal column. The most commonly affect the cervical vertebrae. The clinical symptoms of such variations are directly related to the part of the brain. Think about all of the major symptoms of this disease.
A pain in the neck, the neck, and the neck area of the
The patients are often a pain in the neck, the occipital and neck area. This is due to the lack of blood supply to the brain. The deformation of the vertebrae, leading to compression of the vertebral artery. On the basis of these degenerative processes can occur hernia.
Along with the pain, there is a risk of serious complications. For example, disruption of the blood-pressure, or long lasting loss of hearing and vision. Sometimes, people who have panic attacks, and anxiety. It can take 30 minutes to complete. Have a condition called diencephalic syndrome.
The other reason for the pain is a spasm of the muscles, which leads to reduced blood flow to the. The patient may temporarily lose the ability to move his neck. The strong strain leads to the fact that the pain from the neck, begin to flow in your head, and you can further expand the head. In this process, the patient, who suffers from severe migraines.
A sound, a tone, a feeling of stuffiness in the ears
This is a complex of symptoms, called the cochlear or cochlear. The doctors are not always able to associate such a deviation with the development of cervical degenerative disc disease.
The noise of ringing in the ears it is what happens when you change position or stay long in one position.
Dizziness,
The cervical vertebrae are very thin, so that the retention in the head, they are subjected to heavy loads. They are more susceptible to deformation, such as the vertebrae of the chest area. As a result of the deviation will occur in the temple, that is, you can either:
- System. There is a sense of circular motion of the body and the surrounding objects. This is due to the malfunction of the vestibular apparatus, muscles, and receptors in the joints.
- Is not a system. The patient presented with a feeling of faintness, stunned, and unsure of the situation in a vertical position. Sense of a circular pivoting is missing.
If you notice any such symptoms, you should immediately consult a physician. The reasons for the emergency treatment in the hospital to the patient:
- numbness in the shoulder;
- paralysis of the facial muscles;
- loss of consciousness,
- a serious headache.
The displaced vertebra, and the muscles to spasm, leading to pinched nerves, which nourish the brain. Due to the lack of oxygen have dizzy spells. At first, the oxygen gets into the back of the head as the centre of the vestibular apparatus.
The lack of air
The lack of air in the osteochondrosis can be of several types: difficulty breathing and lack of oxygen. Heavy breathing in the background of a pinched nerves which transmit signals from the pharynx to the esophagus.
The lack of air, it may be due to a pinched nerve. The result is a spasm of the diaphragm, which may lead to changes in the depth and pace of breathing. The patient becomes stuffy and difficult to breathe.
This is a serious symptom, such as shortness of breath osteochondrosis dangerous to the development of some of the other problems. In this case, the doctor prescribes the medicine.
The disadvantage of
The cervix is the most susceptible, since in its structure there are a large number of nerve fibers and blood vessels. It passes through the neck artery, which transports oxygen and nutrients to the brain. With cervical osteochondrosis formed protrusion and a herniated disc.
To the rear of the structures of the brain have received an insufficient quantity of arterial blood. This leads to the balancing of the reaction. The narrowing of the arteries, which leads to an increase in blood pressure. The patient is the feeling of nausea.
If you don't you will be re-establishing the the flow of blood to the last of the brain structures, the patient developed vomiting and loss of consciousness. A long stroke, increase the risk for the development of the profession and of the continuing disability.
The problem with the vision of the
Osteochondrosis of the neck the patient may experience double vision, floaters, and a flicker. To show the appearance of a serious disease, occurring on the background of osteochondrosis. These include the following diseases:
- glaucoma;
- cataract;
- the disease of the Claude Bernard-Horner.
It is very important to monitor the changing condition of my eyes. This is an important symptom that indicates a problem with their health.
Jump in blood pressure
At first, it seems that a jump in the blood pressure, and low back pain have nothing to do. However, it is not. Degenerative changes in the spine to suffer from the autonomic nervous system.
The jumps have been observed during the day. For this disease is characterized by long-term high blood pressure.
Damage to the dynamics of the day uretralnoe high blood pressure occurs when the reflex irritation of the nervous terminations, and short-cuts krovenosnyh vessels.
The symptoms of high blood pressure in the cervical osteochondrosis:
- severe headache;
- the pressure peaks after the stress or muscle cramps;
- the pains in the extremities: arms, legs, etc.;
- the low sensitivity in the area of the neck.
Sudden fainting, or syncope
Sudden fainting may occur as the result of a brief interruption of the blood flow in the vertebral artery. If the patient loses consciousness, it has to be operated in such a way, that the feet were above his head. It activates the flow of blood to your brain. After passing out, you may have problems with speech and movement.
Well the problem
Sometimes, the appearance of degenerative processes of the cervical vertebrae can be confirmed only in the well of the symptoms. They manifest themselves through:
- difficulty in swallowing;
- a sore throat;
- a foreign body sensation in the throat;
- the itching.
Such features, which are associated with damage to the neuro-vascular trunks, which go from the spinal cord. However, the following symptoms have been observed not only in osteochondrosis, but also to the inflammation or swelling of the.
The rise in body temperature
With cervical osteochondrosis fever. This issue occurs when the following injuries:
- vertebral artery syndrome;
- a disc protrusion;
- stenosis in the spinal canal.
Fever can cause a neurosis, neurological zabolevaniem and fibromyalgics syndrome. Sometimes, there are a number of disease conditions that aggravate the symptoms of degenerative disc disease.
The manifestations depend on the stage of the disease
- In the first phase of the development of the disease, the symptoms may not be noticed. The first signs of the beginning of a degenerative process: a headache, a slight limitation of physical activity, a neck, a headache, a pain in the neck and arms. These symptoms will become pronounced when turning or tilting the head.
- In the second phase of development begins with the protrusion of the spinal discs, that the cracks begin to taper off. The pain becomes more severe, there is a ringing in the ears, and disturbed sleep.
- The third stage is characterized by the destruction of the fibrous ring of the disc. There are disruptions and displacements of the vertebrae, herniation in the cervical spine.
- In the fourth stage, the most degenerative changes, are irreversible.
That occur in the brain?
The symptoms of the brain can be significant or minimal. Cerebral waivers will only occur if a strong compression of the vertebral artery bony outgrowths. As a result, there are problems with the access of blood to the head, the brain, and this is caused by spasms of the small blood vessels and hypothalamic dysregulation.
By cervical osteochondrosis may result in the following syndromes:
- Hypothalamic. This can lead to neurological and physical.
- Syncope-and-drop-syndrome. It seems that the patient feels weakness in the legs and loss of consciousness for a few minutes.
- Vestibular-stem. Noticed dizziness in the head, turns around.
As a result of the degenerative process, the patient is trying to avoid public places. So, having an irrational fear of the and depression.
The differences in women and men
The symptoms of a cervical chondrosis of the men and women, and they are virtually indistinguishable. Degenerative changes of the cervical vertebrae are more common in women, this is due to the anatomical structure of the neck of the womb. In men, the cervical musculature is better developed.
Chondrosis of the spine in children and adolescents
Chondrosis of the spine in children and adolescents is a consequence of the General delay of the development of the connective tissue. This may be the result of a genetic abnormalities or disorders of the mineral metabolism. Immature intervertebral discs are vulnerable to a variety of pathological processes.
The disease is caused by a sedentary lifestyle, long sitting at the computer, and the availability of the excess weight. The symptoms of this disease are similar to symptoms of osteoarthritis in adults. With the defeat of the cervix, the patient is experiencing pain in the neck, dizzy spells, and migraines.
The diagnosis of
Before the diagnosis, and the treatment, the doctor will perform several diagnostic tests. It is an examination that evaluates the posture, and the study of the musculature.
Computed tomography
Computed tomography allows you to see the bones in the 3D projection. In accordance with the principle of carrying out the procedure, which is similar to that of the x-ray. However, this information allows you to see the multi-dimensional image.
This procedure is not available for children and pregnant women, because of the high-dose x-ray irradiation. Among the contraindications include lack of patient's ability to remain in a stationary position for a few minutes.
The X-ray
X-rays – a classic procedure that is to be assigned for a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease. This is a practical, harmless, and provides, in order to assess the degree of degenerative change. With this technique, it is possible to diagnose the disease in its early stages.
The X-ray does not allow to obtain cross-sectional images of the body tissue. There are a number of the more modern and informative method of examination. The X-ray is only suitable for the initial diagnosis.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease, which, without timely treatment can lead to irreversible degenerative changes, and disability. In the initial stage, it may be only a mild discomfort. With the development of the pathological process, the symptoms become more and more intense. When the first signs of damage to the spinal column, they should immediately consult a physician.