Now there are no people over the age of 25 who do not have spinal problems. One of the most common pathologies is damage to the cervical vertebrae, which, if left untreated, inevitably progresses and causes more discomfort to the patient.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the joints and intervertebral discs.
With the development of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms begin to appear:
reduction of hearing and visual acuity;
language matching;
darkening of the eyes, dizziness with a sharp turn of the neck;
behind the head, a throbbing pain is felt which may spread to the temples and crowns;
pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, even during sleep, disturbs the patient and is aggravated by movement or tension;
neck stiffness, especially in the morning;
pressure in the sternum;
shortness of breath, feeling short of breath.
Because 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 tendency to osteochondrosis of the neck is inherited. In addition, the common causes of pathology are:
unbalanced diet;
scoliosis;
straight legs;
VSD;
stress;
spinal injuries and bruises;
excessive physical activity;
rheumatism;
sedentary lifestyle;
overweight.
Reference! The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which may be associated with calcium deficiency or hormonal disorders. Women often face this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
Diagnostics
The following diagnostic methods are used to determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine:
Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and vertebral arteries. In addition to disrupting the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord, it also allows the detection of spasmodic vessels.
Audiography to check the function of the auditory organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine. It is performed to assess the area of the lesion, to check the condition of the intervertebral discs, to detect compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Blood test.
X-ray in the early stages of pathology.
Electron neuromyography showing inflammation, compression, and nerve damage.
Duplex scanning of the main vessels.
Reference! All these procedures are performed in the most convenient place, for example, in a treatment and rehabilitation center, where diagnostics uses modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur, you cannot start treatment immediately. You should first make an appointment with a neurologist. The specialist will examine and then refer the patient to the necessary research.
It is important! Hand therapy and other treatments without an initial diagnosis threaten with injury and aggravation of existing problems.
Methods of treatment
Once diagnosed, the patient can continue treatment. Leading specialists work in treatment and rehabilitation centers, so the likelihood 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, restores the vertebrae and joints to their natural state, trying to normalize lymph flow and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises to tone the neck muscles. In addition, drug therapy and physiotherapy are used to get rid of the pathology.
results
As a result of the therapy, the nerve endings are released from the pinch, the spine is stabilized, and the pain disappears or decreases. A chiropractor can straighten the vertebrae and increase the distance between the damaged discs, thereby eliminating friction.
It is important! Grade 2 and 3 osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. However, therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore the damaged functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Restoration
Treatment and rehabilitation centers provide not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures. The patient leaves the center in a healthy way and is ready to return to a normal lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation aims not only to restore the function of the spine, but also to prevent damage to healthy tissues. The program is designed taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications. Physiotherapy procedures, massage, exercise therapy, mud applications have proven themselves well. If the patient still has pathological symptoms, drug blockade is prescribed.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
The following recommendations should be followed to prevent recurrence of the disease:
change body position at least every half hour;
Do not lift loads over 5 kg;
walk more, do physical therapy, swim, Pilates;
it is better to use a backpack, not a bag;
When in a sitting position, take a ten-minute break every hour.
It is important! The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance. You should sleep on a backpack, an orthopedic mattress of medium strength and an orthopedic pillow. In this case, the head and neck should be on the pillow, and the shoulders on the mattress.
You should not delay a visit to a neurologist, as the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective at an early stage. However, regardless of the degree of damage to the joints and intervertebral discs, it is possible to stop the disease and improve quality of life. It is important not to waste time and follow the recommendations of a specialist.