M42.01: Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine Occipito-atlanto-axial region

You have bone or cartilage that has changed at the junction between your head and your cervical spine.

The spine consists of several sections. The cervical spine begins below the head. The cervical spine is very mobile. Below that is the thoracic spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. Below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is also very mobile and it bears a large part of the body’s weight. After the lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx join.

The spine is made up of the individual vertebrae. Between every 2 vertebrae there is a vertebral disc. Intervertebral discs consist of cartilage and connective tissue. Intervertebral discs connect neighboring vertebrae to one another and absorb pressure and shocks.

The bone or cartilage at the junction between your head and your cervical spine has changed since you were a child or an adolescent. These changes can have various causes. It may be that the vertebrae do not ossify properly so that they become misshapen. If the shape of one or more vertebrae changes, spinal disks can change too. Vertebrae can also crumble. Exactly why vertebrae crumble is still unknown.

With this disorder, you may not initially have any discomfort. When the changes to the spine increase, they may get back pain. You may also find it more difficult than usual to move your spine.