Cervical Osteochondrosis: What It Is, Causes, and Symptoms

Neck pain and stiffness are a common complaint, and they are often explained with a single word: osteochondrosis. Let's look at what lies behind this diagnosis and which symptoms really require a doctor.

What cervical osteochondrosis is

Cervical osteochondrosis is the wear of cartilage (intervertebral discs), bones, and joints of the neck, that is, the cervical vertebrae. It is one of the common causes of chronic neck pain.

In international practice, cervical spondylosis is more often discussed and is considered a normal part of aging: many people over 40 have such changes but no symptoms. The term "osteochondrosis" has been widely used in Russian-language medicine since the 1960s, although Western classifications do not have a separate disease by that name.

Signs of wear on X-rays are found in any person over 30 years of age, but clinical manifestations occur in only one of 10 people with such changes. There is no direct link between the image and the severity of pain.

Causes of changes in the cervical spine

The basis is age-related wear: discs lose elasticity, and marginal outgrowths appear on the bones. Over time, such changes can compress nerve roots, and in advanced cases the spinal cord becomes involved in the process.

The process is accelerated by neck injury (sometimes years before the first symptoms), heredity, spinal surgery, disc herniation, severe arthritis, congenital narrowing of the spinal canal, excess weight, lack of movement, and work involving lifting, bending, and turning.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Symptoms usually increase gradually, but sometimes they appear or sharply worsen suddenly. Pain can be mild, or it can be deep and so severe that movement is impossible. It radiates to the shoulder blade, shoulder, and occasionally to the forearm and fingers.

It worsens when standing or sitting, at night, when coughing, sneezing, and laughing, when tilting the head back or turning it. Stiffness, numbness, and unusual sensations in the shoulders and arms are added, along with headache in the back of the head, pain along the inner edge of the shoulder blade, and muscle weakness: it is hard to raise an arm or clench the hand.

Less commonly, there is loss of balance, pain or numbness in the legs, and loss of bladder and bowel control — this is a sign of pressure on the spinal cord.

Who is at risk

The main risk factor is age: by age 60, most people have signs of cervical osteochondrosis on X-rays. The likelihood is increased by:

• a previous neck injury, including many years ago;
• a family history of such changes;
• excess weight and lack of activity;
• work involving lifting, bending, and twisting;
• past spinal surgery, disc herniation, severe arthritis.

How cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed

It begins with an examination: the doctor observes how you tilt and turn your head, checks reflexes, arm strength, and sensation, and assesses gait. Increased pain when tilting the head with light pressure from above usually indicates pressure on a nerve.

X-rays will show arthritis and other changes. MRI or CT is used for severe pain in the neck or arm that does not go away, and for weakness and numbness in the arms. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity tests show how the nerve root is functioning.

Possible complications and when a doctor is needed

Most people with such changes maintain an active life, symptoms improve without surgery, but some live with chronic pain. Complications include fecal and urinary incontinence, loss of muscle function or sensation, poor balance, and rarely persistent loss of ability to work.

See a doctor if pain or stiffness does not go away within a few weeks, worsens with movement, or the condition deteriorates. Rapidly increasing pain, heaviness in the arms and legs, tingling in the arm together with neck pain, and pain between the shoulder blades are reasons not to postpone a visit.

Cervical osteochondrosis by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Call 103 or 112 if new problems with walking appear, control over the bladder or bowel is lost, sudden loss of coordination occurs (for example, it is difficult to button a shirt), half of the face droops, you cannot raise both arms, or speech is impaired.

Realistic expectations: most people get better, but pain and stiffness return, and this is part of the story, not a failure. This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer