Cervical osteochondrosis often remains undiagnosed for a long time.Headaches, dizziness and other symptoms are attributed to general malaise or vitamin deficiency.But taking vitamins and taking a long rest do not help - over time, headaches attack in the morning after proper sleep and rest.What's the matter?“Ordinary” osteochondrosis of the cervical spine progresses, which is easy to identify at home and accurately diagnose through a full examination.Timely detection of pathology guarantees fast and effective treatment.Otherwise, the disease provokes severe pain in the neck and partial paralysis or numbness of the limbs.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
Before examining the question of how to determine cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to study the pathogenesis of the pathology.Cervical osteochondrosis is a destructive lesion of the intervertebral discs.The defeat can be long-lasting or progress rapidly.The same is said about the stage of the disease - depending on external and internal factors, the pathology can reach an advanced stage within a short time, or it can make itself felt for many years with aching pain in the neck after a long static position.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the destruction of the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, which develops due to various reasons.The leading position is occupied by cartilage dystrophy - a kind of thinning of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc, which develops as a result of a deficiency of useful microelements, impaired blood circulation, and pressure on the vertebrae.Thinning leads to pinching of the spinal cord root - this is where severe pain in the neck and back of the head begins, and an increase in blood or even cranial pressure is provoked.
To the horror of people who are not yet aware of the development of the presented pathology, it should be noted that the destruction can be affected by a long stay at the computer or a banal unhealthy diet.Therefore, it is important to diagnose the disease in time and begin treatment.
Important!Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that cannot be fully cured.Therefore, it is important to prevent it, and not “patch up already destroyed areas.”
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Doctors advise contacting the clinic at the first symptoms of the development of cervical osteochondrosis.Of course, they are easy to identify at home, and not only here - dangerous manifestations can await the patient even during a harmless activity.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Pain in the head, dizziness, periodic loss of balance for no apparent reason, fainting, blurred vision - the presented symptoms indicate syndrome (pinching) of the vertebral artery, as a result of which the brain and organs do not receive the necessary beneficial microelements and oxygen.
- Increased intracranial pressure, nausea and vomiting - against the background of insufficient oxygen supply and other disturbances in the blood supply to the brain, hypertensive syndrome develops.
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, characteristic tingling or numbness, partial or complete paralysis of the arms, pain in the throat and ears, hearing impairment - radicular syndrome develops, characterized by the already mentioned pinching of the spinal cord root.
- Hypertension and tachycardia, the development of cervical migraine - impaired blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
From the above, it becomes clear that unexpressed manifestations in the future can make themselves felt with significant signs that will lead to disruption of a person’s usual life activities and partial loss of motor activity.
Important!You should consult a doctor already at the stage of pain and aches in the neck after a long stay in a static position or after sleep.If, after moving your head, you feel warmth in the affected area, it is likely that the intervertebral disc is destroyed, and the warmth means a rush of blood and complete restoration of blood circulation.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
As soon as pain and discomfort in the neck area are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor for examination, which is carried out in three stages:
- inspection;
- X-ray;
- differential diagnosis.
Visual inspection by a specialist
If pain occurs, it is better to immediately contact a chiropractor, who, after just one examination, will be able to give a more accurate picture of the development of the pathology.So, at the appointment the doctor checks:
- condition of the muscles of the collar zone, shoulder girdle, arms;
- symmetry of the neck, chin, supraclavicular areas;
- shoulder position;
- presence of spinal curvature.
The therapist conducts an examination by palpating the back and sides of the neck - usually people with osteochondrosis feel pain or discomfort that should not be there.If the development of cervical osteochondrosis is suspected, the doctor makes tests to determine the intervertebral space using special instruments.
Also an important criterion during a visual examination is the determination of normal neck mobility - as a rule, the patient cannot easily make full turns or tilts of the head.This criterion can preliminarily determine the location of the affected area and concomitant pinching of the spinal cord root.
X-ray and other instrumental diagnostics
After identifying osteochondrosis, it is important to understand at what stage the disease is and what the possible further consequences are.Here they resort to instrumental diagnostics, which consists of the following methods:
- X-ray is the simplest and most informative way to determine the development of pathology.It is radioactive radiation of x-rays, on the basis of which an image is taken - highlighting the musculoskeletal system.From the image you can determine the affected disc, possible pinching and other features of the pathology.
- MRI and CT are the most modern methods of instrumental diagnostics, on the basis of which doctors can determine the nature of the existing pinching and its stage.According to the data received, the doctor suggests further deterioration of the patient’s condition.
- Doppler ultrasound allows you to determine the condition and blood supply to the brain and neck.This makes it possible to explain the presence of dizziness or headaches.
A comprehensive study of the data obtained makes it possible not only to diagnose the disease and determine its stage, but also to prevent further damage to the spine.Based on the diagnosis, appropriate treatment is taken.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis is the usual exclusion of possible diseases that have similar signs and symptoms as cervical osteochondrosis.If a person suffers from headaches during the pathology under consideration, it is necessary to exclude possible head injuries and other causes that caused this symptom.
It is also important here, when pain in the neck is detected, to exclude diseases of the spine itself - for example, the same injury, dystrophic changes of a congenital or acquired nature, an inflammatory process or cancer.Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often confused with heart disease, stomach ulcers, vegetative-vascular dystonia and other diseases.
As a result, the doctor may additionally prescribe the following tests to the patient:
- general blood test to exclude the development of an oncological process;
- general urinalysis - to exclude an inflammatory process;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs - to exclude gastritis, ulcers and other organ pathologies;
- fluorography - to exclude tuberculosis;
- other methods of examining the patient’s health.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment, which consists of several stages - elimination of exacerbation, maximum possible recovery with treatment of disease-consequences and preventive measures to avoid a new exacerbation.You should not delay a visit to a specialist, since treatment and rehabilitation in advanced conditions can last several years.