Osteochondrosis is the process of degeneration, aging, breakdown and transformation of cartilage tissue into a kind of bone.
To understand the problem of osteochondrosis, you need to imagine the structure of the spine: it consists of 35 vertebrae that are placed one above the other in a column to form a spinal column. There are "inserts" between the vertebrae - cartilage discs (they act as shock absorbers and lubricants when the vertebrae move), the discs consist of a rigid multilayer ring and a liquid gelatinous core in the middle.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
Everyone knows that the structure of the spine becomes thinner, closer to the head. The upper vertebrae that make up the cervical region are long, sophisticated, but very strong and agile. However, their strength is not unlimited, especially when the daily stress on the neck exceeds the norm. The main causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are always hidden in these loads.
The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine also depends on the type of load and the location of the damage to the vertebral plates: each nerve root is responsible for a particular function, which is why the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the neck are so varied. The disease develops in 4 stages. Each next one is harder than the previous one.
Stage 1 cervical osteochondrosis:
How can our spine protect against excessive and destructive physical activity (or inactivity)?
First, discomfort: stretching, tingling, shooting - these are all the first signs of any disease of the spine.
Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the cervical spine begins with a feeling of tension and fatigue in the muscles of the neck. The patient may experience mild pain and crackling as the head is turned and tilted. It often happens that such discomfort is "probably chilled" or "I'm tired of something. "
Remember! A pain sign, we can say our body signal, if it worked, it is not just that. The pain cannot be ignored or numb with pills!
Section 2:
The patient already feels more pain when turning and tilting the head. Sometimes the pain radiates (spreads) to the right or left arm, shoulder joint, sometimes to the hand.
On the nervous system, headaches, fatigue, fatigue, and absence are still rare (in women, the initial symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are very similar to the cyclical symptoms of the reproductive system: headache, dizziness, weakness, fatigue).
Even if the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine have already become apparent, in the second stage, there is still every chance to prevent the development of the disease and the appearance of complications. It is especially important to prevent the formation of hernias, which can be dangerous in the cervical spine by losing mobility and deteriorating the blood supply to the brain.
Section 3:
In the third stage, the disease is already considered negligible because the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is much more difficult at this stage and eradication is often irreversible. The pain increases when the intervertebral hernias appear.
Continuous weakness and dizziness - due to the stinging of nerves and large blood vessels that feed the cerebral cortex - are also increased. The pain is often given to the hands. The innervation of the muscles of the upper limbs is disturbed, resulting in weakening. Numbness and tingling of the hand is a common symptom of third-degree degenerative disc disease of the neck.
Section 4:
Intervertebral discs have already been significantly destroyed and undergone significant changes, each with its hernias and protrusions having a significant impact on patient well-being. Instead of destroyed discs, connective tissue appears, which deprives the spine of elasticity.
Compression of nerves and blood vessels leads to impaired coordination. Pain, drowsiness, lethargy, and dizziness are worse. Added to this is the ringing of the ear. There is a huge risk of diseases that osteochondrosis can cause:
- When the vertebral artery is compressed by a hernia, it leads to cerebral ischemia and extends to the spinal cord;
- Vascular entrapment can lead to malnutrition in the cortex or lower parts of the brain. As a result - loss of perception, loss of consciousness;
- Spinal cord compression can even be fatal.