Nowadays there are practically no people over the age of 25 who do not have spinal problems.One of the most common pathologies is damage to the vertebrae of the neck which, if left untreated, inevitably progresses and causes more and more discomfort to the patient.
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 begin to appear:
- decreased visual and auditory acuity;
- numbness of the tongue;
- when you turn your neck sharply, your vision darkens and you feel dizzy;
- a shooting pain is felt in the back of the head, which may radiate to the temples and top of the head;
- pain in the cervical region and shoulders, which disturbs the patient even during sleep and increases with movement or stress;
- stiff neck, especially in the morning;
- pressure in the sternum;
- shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air.
Due to the fact that the spinal cord does not receive enough nutrients, the range of motion and sensitivity of the upper and lower extremities are significantly reduced.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The predisposition to osteochondrosis of the neck is hereditary.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;
- excess body weight.
Reference!The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which can be associated with calcium deficiency or hormonal imbalance.Women often encounter this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
Diagnostics
To determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and vertebral arteries.It allows you to detect spasmodic blood vessels and compromised blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
- Audiography to check the functioning of the hearing organs.
- Ultrasound.
- CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine.It is done to evaluate the affected area, check the position of the intervertebral discs and identify compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
- Blood tests.
- X-ray at an early stage of the pathology.
- Electroneuromyography showing the presence of inflammatory processes, pinched nerves and damage.
- Duplex scan of the head vessels.
Reference!It is more convenient to undergo all these procedures in one place, where diagnostics are performed using modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur, treatment cannot be started immediately.First of all, you should make an appointment with a neurologist.The specialist will carry out an examination and then refer the patient for the necessary tests.
Important!Performing manual therapy and other types of treatment without a preliminary diagnosis risks causing injury and worsening existing problems.
Treatment methods
Once the diagnosis is made, the patient can move on to treatment.Leading specialists work in the treatment and rehabilitation center, so the probability of complications is minimal.
The main method of treating osteochondrosis of the neck is manual therapy.The specialist performs a massage that relaxes the neck and shoulders, returns the vertebrae and joints to their natural position and works to normalize the flow of lymphatic and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises that increase the tone of the neck muscles.In addition, pharmacological treatments and physical therapy are used to eliminate the pathology.
Results
Thanks to the therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spine is stabilized and the pain disappears or subsides.A chiropractor can realign the vertebrae and increase the distance between the damaged discs, thus eliminating friction.
Important!Grade 2 and 3 osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured.But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore the impaired functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and lifestyle restoration
The treatment and rehabilitation center offers not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures.The patient leaves the center healthy and ready to return to his normal lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation aims not only to restore the functioning 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, physical therapy and mud applications have proven effective.If the patient still has symptoms of the disease, pharmacological blocks are prescribed.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid relapse of the disease, you should follow the following recommendations:
- change body position at least every half hour;
- do not lift loads weighing more than 5 kg;
- walk more, do physiotherapy, swimming, pilates;
- It is preferable to use a backpack rather than a bag;
- When working in a sedentary manner, take ten-minute breaks every hour.
Important!The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance.It is necessary to sleep on your back, on an orthopedic mattress of medium hardness and on 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, so do not delay a visit to a neurologist.But it is possible to halt the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life regardless of the extent 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.