Acute chondrosis of the cervical spine is not a completely correct expression. When we talk about cervical chondrosis, we mean such a disease as osteochondrosis, which has a chronic, gradually progressive course. The essence of this pathology lies in degenerative-dystrophic changes on the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral discs located between them. The main complication of this disease is the formation of an intervertebral hernia, which in turn can constrict the spinal cord, blood vessels, etc. In this article, we will discuss the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis, and we will also discuss its diagnosis.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest itself?
The main clinical sign of cervical osteochondrosis is pain syndrome.
Some patients report fairly intense, sharp pain in the neck, intensified by even the slightest movement. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a sick person cannot turn his head due to painful sensations and holds it forcibly, causing the least discomfort in posture.
However, the presence of dull, persistent pain of moderate intensity is most commonly noted. The patient complains of discomfort in the neck, which becomes more pronounced with active physical activity, after sleeping in an uncomfortable position, etc. Forced detention in such people is absent. However, they still have to limit their motor activity to some extent, for example, try to avoid sharp turns and tilts of the head.
In addition, the clinical picture may be supplemented by sensitive disorders in the cervical region, for example, a feeling of "crawling" on the neck.
With further progression of osteochondrosis and the formation of an intervertebral hernia, the pain syndrome becomes much more intense. A sick person indicates constant severe neck pain, which significantly reduces the quality of his life.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The primary method for diagnosing cervical osteochondrosis is an X-ray examination performed in two projections. X-ray results can reveal:
- Correction of cervical lordosis;
- Alignment of intervertebral discs;
- Narrowing of the intervertebral opening;
- Marginal bone growth and so on.
A more informative diagnostic method that enables not only the recognition of osteochondrosis, but also the implementation of differential diagnostics with other diseases, is magnetic resonance imaging. Computed tomography can also be done. In 2015, scientists from the Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education published a paper, according to the results of which it was determined that quantitative computed tomography is a method that allows the identification of the earliest changes in bone tissue.
In addition, the research plan can be supplemented by:
- Myelography;
- Discography;
- Electrophysiological research and so on.