Today there are practically no people over 25 years old who do not have problems with the spine.One of the most common diseases is damage to the cervical vertebrae, which, if left untreated, inevitably progresses and causes the patient more and more discomfort.
What is Osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the joints and intervertebral discs.
As cervical osteochondrosis progresses, the following symptoms appear:
- reduced visual and hearing acuity;
- numbness of the tongue;
- If you twist your neck sharply, your vision will become dark and you will feel dizzy;
- A throbbing pain is felt in the back of the head, which can radiate to the temples and crown;
- Pain in the neck and shoulders, which also disturbs the patient during sleep and increases with movement or stress;
- Neck stiffness, especially in the morning;
- pressure in the sternum;
- Shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air.
Since the spinal cord is not adequately supplied with nutrients, there is a noticeable limitation in mobility and the sensitivity of the upper and lower extremities.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The predisposition to osteochondrosis of the neck is inherited.In addition, common causes of the development of pathology are:
- unbalanced diet;
- scoliosis;
- flat feet;
- VSD;
- Stress;
- spinal injuries and bruises;
- excessive physical activity;
- Rheumatism;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Overweight.
Reference!The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a disorder of mineral metabolism, which can be accompanied by calcium deficiency or hormonal imbalance.Women often encounter this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
diagnosis
To determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and vertebral arteries.Allows the detection of vascular spasms and impaired blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
- Audiography to check the function of the hearing organs.
- Ultrasonic.
- CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine.It is performed to assess the affected area, check the position of the intervertebral discs, and detect compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
- Blood sample.
- X-ray at an early stage of pathology.
- Electroneuromyography shows the presence of inflammatory processes, pinched nerves and damage.
- Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head.
Reference!It is most convenient to carry out all these procedures in one place, where diagnostics are carried out using modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear, treatment cannot be started immediately.First, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.The specialist carries out an examination and then refers the patient for the necessary examinations.
Important!Performing manual therapy and other types of treatment without prior diagnosis carries the risk of injury and exacerbation of existing problems.
Treatment methods
Once the diagnosis is made, the patient can proceed with treatment.Leading specialists work in the treatment and rehabilitation center, so the likelihood of complications is minimal.
The main method of treating neck osteochondrosis is manual therapy.The specialist performs a massage that relaxes the neck and shoulders, returns the vertebrae and joints to their natural position, and normalizes lymph flow and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises that increase the tone of the neck muscles.In addition, drug treatment and physiotherapy are used to eliminate the pathology.
Results
Through the therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spine is stabilized and the pain disappears or becomes less severe.A chiropractor can realign the vertebrae and increase the distance between damaged discs, eliminating friction.
Important!Osteochondrosis grades 2 and 3 cannot be completely cured.However, through therapy and rehabilitation, the patient can restore the impaired functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and lifestyle restoration
The treatment and rehabilitation center provides not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures.The patient leaves the center healthy and ready to return to their normal lifestyle as quickly as possible.
The goal of rehabilitation is not only to restore the functionality of the spine, but also to prevent damage to healthy tissue.The program is compiled taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications.Physiotherapeutic procedures, massages, exercise therapies and mud applications have proven successful.If the patient continues to have symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed drug blockades.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid a relapse of the disease, you must follow the following recommendations:
- Change your posture at least every half hour.
- Do not lift loads weighing more than 5 kg.
- run more, do physical therapy, swim, Pilates;
- Use a backpack rather than a bag.
- If you are sedentary, take a ten-minute break every hour.
Important!The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance.You must sleep on your back, on a medium-firm orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow.In this case, your head and neck should lie on the pillow and your shoulders on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective at an early stage.Therefore, do not delay a visit to the neurologist.However, it is possible to stop the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life, regardless of the degree of damage to the joints and intervertebral discs.To do this, it is important not to waste time and follow the recommendations of a specialist.