Cervical osteochondrosis often remains undiagnosed for a long time.Headaches, dizziness and other symptoms are attributed to general malaise or a vitamin deficiency.But taking vitamins and taking a long rest do not help - over time, headaches attack in the morning after adequate sleep and rest.What's the problem?“Ordinary” osteochondrosis of the cervical spine progresses, easy to identify at home and accurately diagnosed through a comprehensive examination.Rapid detection of pathology guarantees rapid and effective treatment.Otherwise, the disease causes severe neck pain and partial paralysis or numbness of the limbs.
What is cervical osteochondrosis?
Before considering 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 or progress quickly.The same is said about the stage of the disease - depending on external and internal factors, the pathology can reach an advanced stage in 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 for various reasons.The dominant 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 root of the spinal cord - this is where severe pain in the neck and back of the head begins, and an increase in blood or even cranial pressure is caused.
To the horror of people who are not yet aware of the course 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.It is therefore important to diagnose the disease in time and start treatment.
Important!Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured.It is therefore important to prevent it and not to “repair areas already destroyed”.
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 harmless activity.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- Head pain, dizziness, periodic loss of balance for no apparent reason, fainting, blurred vision - the presented symptoms indicate a 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 - a radicular syndrome develops, characterized by the already mentioned pinching of the root of the spinal cord.
- Hypertension and tachycardia, development of cervical migraines - impaired blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
From the above, it becomes clear that unexpressed manifestations in the future can manifest themselves with significant signs that will lead to disruption of the usual vital activities of a person and partial loss of motor activity.
Important!You should consult a doctor at the stage of pain and soreness in the neck after a long stay in a static position or after sleeping.If, after moving your head, you feel heat in the affected area, it is likely that the intervertebral disc is destroyed, and heat means an influx 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 an examination which takes place in three stages:
- inspection;
- Radiography;
- differential diagnosis.
Visual inspection by a specialist
In case of pain, it is better to immediately contact a chiropractor who, after a single examination, will be able to give a more precise picture of the evolution of the pathology.Thus, during the appointment the doctor checks:
- condition of the muscles of the collar area, shoulder girdle, arms;
- symmetry of the neck, chin, supraclavicular areas;
- shoulder position;
- presence of a spinal curvature.
The therapist performs an examination by feeling the back and sides of the neck.Typically, people with osteochondrosis experience pain or discomfort that should not be present.If the development of cervical osteochondrosis is suspected, the doctor carries out tests to determine the intervertebral space using special instruments.
Another important criterion during a visual examination is the determination of normal neck mobility - as a rule, the patient cannot easily turn or fully tilt the head.This criterion makes it possible to determine in advance the location of the affected area and the concomitant pinching of the root of the spinal cord.
X-rays and other instrumental diagnostics
After identifying osteochondrosis, it is important to understand at what stage the disease is and what the possible consequences are.Here they resort to instrumental diagnostics, which includes the following methods:
- Radiography is the simplest and most informative way to determine the course of pathology.This is radioactive X-ray radiation, 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 scan 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 a further deterioration in the patient's condition.
- Doppler ultrasound allows you to determine the condition and blood supply to the brain and neck.This helps explain the presence of dizziness or headaches.
A thorough study of the data obtained allows 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 implemented.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis is the usual exclusion of possible diseases with signs and symptoms similar to cervical osteochondrosis.If a person suffers from headaches during the pathology in question, it is necessary to exclude possible head injuries and other causes causing this symptom.
It is also important here, when neck pain 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.
Accordingly, the doctor may additionally prescribe the following tests to the patient:
- general blood test to exclude the development of an oncological process;
- general urine analysis - to exclude an inflammatory process;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs - to exclude gastritis, ulcers and other organic pathologies;
- fluorography - to exclude tuberculosis;
- other methods of examining the patient's health.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment, which includes several stages - elimination of the exacerbation, maximum possible recovery with treatment of the consequences of the disease and preventive measures to avoid further exacerbation.You should not delay a visit to a specialist, because treatment and rehabilitation in advanced conditions can last several years.