Cervical osteochondosis symptoms and treatments

6 May 2025

A characteristic of sedentary lifestyle of office workers and those who like to relax in front of the television or behind the monitor screen often cause osteochondrosis. In the article, we will consider what is osteochondrosis of the cervical column, the main causes of this disease, its symptoms and stages, treatment methods, as well as to answer other questions that occur in patients with osteochondosis.

The osteochondrous process affects a spine or more at the same time. The lumbar and cervical vertebrae are the most affected by pathologies, as the most sensitive to the loads due to the anatomy of the human skeleton. The consequences of vertebral osteochondrosis in the cervical region cause the most drawbacks and potential complications, because the neck is a zone rich in neuromusive highways, many of which directly feed the brain. In addition, the nerve roots, which provide the sensitivity and motor activity of the hands and the shoulder belt, when the compression of the destroyed vertebrates can give a variety of symptomatic images.The signs of neck osteochondosis depend on which body systems are affected by pathology: The disrupted blood circulation due to the pressure of the vertebral arteries determines most of the brain symptoms.The compression of the roots leaving the vertebrates gives an image of the lesion of the peripheral nerves.The pinch of the spinal cord areas is associated with severe neurological pathologies found in advanced cases.Below, consider the general clinic of osteochondrosis of the cervical column. Pain on the back of the head, neck and necklace. It is the most common symptom. The location of pain can be extended, affecting the shoulders, the collarbone region, the chest, transforming into intense head migraines. The nature of the pain depends on the location of the lesion and the severity of the pathology. At first, the pain can be quickly transient, gradually becoming chronic, painful. In moments of exacerbations, the pain becomes shot, with an increased tone of the neck muscles and a limited movement of the head. Often, pain with cervical osteochondosis can be located behind the sternum, in which case many patients take this symptom for angina.

Noise, ringing, congestion feeling in the earsThese symptoms often join a decrease in hearing. These phenomena are associated with a decrease in the blood flow of the vertebral arteries to the vestibular apparatus. The complex of these symptoms is called a cochlear or snail syndrome, and it is far from being always possible to determine its connection with osteochondrosis in the cervical region. A specific characteristic of differentiation is that noise, congestion and ringing in the ears are felt when modifying the position, after a long stay in a position.
DizzinessLuries are also due to a violation of the blood flow to the organs of the inner ear, which ensures the balance of the body. NYSTAGM often joins dizzy - arbitrary fluctuations of eye students on the sides.
Lack of airThis feeling appears due to the irritation of the ends of the diaphragmatic nerve. It is a component of the cervical nervous beam and is involved in the regulation of breathing, its depth and its frequency. Patients complain about the inability to breathe in the chest. In some cases, the symptom worsens with severe shortness of breath and suffocation. For the same reason, breathing stops at night and snoring. The disadvantage of oxygen due to respiratory problems is ultimately the cause of the increase in fatigue, a decrease in concentration and memory problems.
NauseaHe is accompanied by Burning Air. Also due to blood circulation problems in certain areas of the brain and inner ear. Nausea is sometimes observed with indomitable vomiting caused by the movements of the head and body. The consequence of nausea and frequent vomiting is a decrease in appetite, weight loss, food insufficiency.
Vision problemsThe "flies" in the eyes, a decrease in visual acuity, fog in front of the eyes - all the symptoms due to the ischemia of the brain area that is responsible for vision. Patients with osteochondosis complain less vision, as the lack of blood supply of vertebral vessels is offset by the blood flow of the carbon arteries system. Glasses and therapeutic gymnastics for eye muscles do not solve the problem, generally vision improves after the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Green symptomsIt is often the only sign indicating cervical osteochondrosis. They are expressed as perspiration, drought and a feeling of a bump in their throat, difficulties swallowing. Symptoms are associated with compression of the nervous plexus responsible for the innervation of the pharynx. These manifestations are necessary to differentiate from a similar clinic for inflammation or neoplasms.
How to treat cervical osteochondosisThe state described in the spine is a very serious pathology which, with negligence, leads to disability and due to deep cerebral and death disorders. For this reason, by self-medication, if such symptoms appear, you should not do it. Osteochondrosis is treated in a hospital and at home, exclusively as prescribed by a doctor. In the early stages, the treatment of cervical osteochondosis is conservative, which includes drug prescriptions: non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, hormonal drugs, vitamin complexes, chondroprotectors - all this reliefDuring the acute period, drugs are prescribed in the form of injections, as the pain disappears, the patient goes to the tablets. Physiotherapy, massage, exercise exercises, generally prescribed at the remission stage, join medication lessons. In difficult cases, osteochondrosis is treated by surgery.
The cervical column diagramOsteochondrosis of the cervical column (osteohondroz) is a dystrophic degenerative lesion of intervertebral discs, which damage the wheels, vertebrae and joints in the cervical region, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is observed. The disease progresses if it is not treated and can cause headache, circulatory disorders and even hernias. Like osteoporosis, the disease occurs due to a violation of mineral metabolism, as a result of which bones and joints become less durable. Osteochondrosis can cause the instability of the cervical column (symptoms and treatment are similar to chondosis, but have a number of characteristics), which is often accompanied by a displacement of the vertebrae. In turn, it accelerates the development of osteochondrosis, destroying vertebrates.The main causes that can cause osteochondrosis:incorrect nutrition and excess weight;violations of posture, scoliosis, rheumatism, flat feet;Sedentary lifestyle: sedentary work (drivers, office employees), lack of physical effort, etc. ;injuries in the neck, spine injuries; Too much physical activity, unusual for the body;nervous tension, frequent stress;hereditary predisposition to the development of the disease;Incorrect development of the cervical column.Most of the above reasons cause a load on the cervical vertebrae, as a result of which muscle spasm occurs. For this reason, the blood circulation process is disrupted, the effectiveness of metabolic processes is reduced, which causes degenerative changes. The structure of the intervertebral discs changes, they are lightened and distorted, speaking beyond the spine. Often, the cause of osteochondrosis is a progressive disc, spread out with adjacent vertebrae or bone tissue. It occurs most often with prolonged physical effort in the lumbar and cervical, almost never touching the chest. Development osteochondosis goes through several stages characterized by certain signs and symptoms. We will consider these steps below.
Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree of the cervical region (preclinical stadium)Usually, at the initial stage of the development of the disease, only a slight smoothing of the lordosis of the neck is observed, the patients experience pain intensification with turns and the tilt of the head, tension and rapid fatigue of the muscles in the back and lower back. At this stage, osteochondrosis is healed without medication, just change nutrition, perform exercises and other events.
2 degrees osteochondrosisIn the second step between the vertebrae, the instability is observed, the patient begins to disturb more intense pain, which periodically gives him his hands or his shoulders, the pain is also intensified with turns and the inclination of the head. Patients are starting to notice rapid fatigue, absent absence, reduction in performance level and headache.
3 degrees osteochondrosisAt this stage, the pain begins to intensify, it occurs constantly not only in the neck, but also in the shoulders, gives it to her hands. The muscles of the hand become weaker, numbness is observed, because the hernias of the intervertebral discs begin to form. In this case, the diagnosis reveals the small mobility of the cervical region. Patients are concerned about dizziness and weakness.
4 -degree osteochondrosisAt the final stage, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, which are replaced by the connective tissue. The pathological process affects several crest segments at the same time, which can be at different stages of destruction. In patients, there is a violation of coordination, dizziness and pain are improved, there is noise in the ears and other disorders. Even the initial stage of the disease can be identified according to the following signs:Headache for osteochondrosis in the cervical regionpain in the neck, neck, shoulders or arms;weakness of the hands;Crunch and pain during the movements of the head;General weakness, fatigue, altered coordination, dizziness;Reduce the acuity of vision and hearing, the numbness of the language.One of the most common signs is stunning for osteochondrosis of the cervical column. At the same time, the symptoms of dizziness can be accompanied by noise and ringing in the ears (reduced auditory acuity), sensations of disorientation, migraines, as well as nausea and vomiting. In addition, it is the doctor who determines how to treat these symptoms that should not be tried to get rid of dizziness with popular methods. Another unpleasant consequence is frequent headaches, especially in women. Migraines can occur several times a day, causing unpleasant and painful sensations. The signs of the cervical region disease manifest themselves in a slightly different way from osteochondrosis of the spine in the frame that the vertebrae in the neck are close to each other, the height of the intervertebral discs is low, which leads to complications even with minor degenerative changes.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis that occur in the brainWith the development of osteochondrosis, the flow of blood towards the brainstem through the arteries, which are compressed by the protruding edges of the vertebrae, decreases. As a result, there is a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. In patients, neurotic disorders are observed: irritability, anxiety, frequent mood change, resentment, insomnia, the ability to concentrate is reduced. In some cases, epidemics of anger, fear, desire can occur. Vascular spasms can cause fainting, headache, noise in the ears, the appearance of points in front of the eyes. In this case, the following exacerbation symptoms appear: stunning, feeling of instability, nausea, in some vomiting cases.
Treatment of cervical column osteochondrosisFor the treatment of a disease such as osteochondrosis, various methods are used: drugs, physiotherapy, massage of the cervical-brotheral area for blood supply to the brain and therapeutic gymnastics, and the maintenance of good nutrition. Despite the fact that women are more sensitive to headaches and the numbness of the members in this disease, the treatment of cervical osteochondosis in women is not different from their treatment in men: the same drugs and exercises are prescribed.
Diagnostic methodsAn experienced doctor easily diagnoses cervical osteochondosis, as the disease has a characteristic clinical picture. To determine the stage, the negligence and prevalence of the pathological process, a certain number of additional examinations are prescribed to the patient: X -ray - a change in the mobility and the arrangement of the vertebrae, a decrease in intervertebral cracks, the saline deposits are determined;CT scan - allows you to see the gaps, the changes in the height of the disc, the instability of the vertebrae, the compression of the nerve fibers and the spinal cord;Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to precisely see pathological changes, to determine the blood flow and the condition of the nerve roots.Usually, only radiography of the cervical column is sufficient, more expensive methods are used in confusing and unclear cases.
Medical physical educationCervical osteochondosis exercises can be strictly during remission, acute movements can cause the patient's condition deterioration. All physiotherapy exercises are reduced to turns and head inclinations. It is important to carry out actions slowly, without sudden movements. In case of pain - Stop the lesson and ask for advice on a specialist.If a person tends to develop a pathology, he must periodically visit a specialist and undergo research. This will help identify the disease at an early stage and start treatment over time. For example, cervical osteochondosis, whose symptoms are described in the article, affects the cervical vertebrae and begin to literally destroy them. What will come, it's easy to guess.