Nowadays there are practically no people over 25 years old who do not experience problems with the spine.One of the most common pathologies is damage to the vertebrae of the neck, which, if left untreated, inevitably progresses and causes the patient more and more discomfort.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints and intervertebral discs.
As cervical osteochondrosis progresses, the following symptoms begin to appear:
- decreased visual and hearing acuity;
- numbness of the tongue;
- when you turn your neck sharply, your vision becomes dark and you feel dizzy;
- a throbbing pain is felt in the back of the head, which can radiate to the temples and crown of the head;
- pain in the cervical region and shoulders, disturbing the patient even during sleep and increasing with movement or stress;
- neck stiff, 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, as well as the sensitivity of the upper and lower extremities, is noticeably reduced.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
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;
- excess body weight.
Reference!The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which may 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.Allows you to detect spasmodic blood vessels, as well as impaired 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 carried out to assess the affected area, check the position of the intervertebral discs, and identify compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
- Blood test.
- X-ray at an early stage of pathology.
- Electroneuromyography showing the presence of inflammatory processes, pinched nerves and damage.
- Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head.
Reference!It is most convenient to undergo all these procedures in one place, where diagnostics are carried out 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 conduct an examination and then refer the patient for the necessary tests.
Important!Carrying out manual therapy and other types of treatment without preliminary diagnosis risks injury and aggravation of 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 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 works to normalize the flow of lymph and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises that increase the tone of the neck muscles.In addition, drug treatment and physical therapy are used to get rid of the pathology.
Results
As a result of the therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spinal column is stabilized, and the pain disappears or weakens.A chiropractor can realign the vertebrae and increase the distance between damaged discs, thereby eliminating friction.
Important!Osteochondrosis of degrees 2 and 3 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 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 soon as possible.
Rehabilitation is aimed not only at restoring the functioning of the spinal column, but also at preventing damage to healthy tissues.The program is compiled taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications.Physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, exercise therapy, and mud applications have proven themselves well.If the patient still has symptoms of the pathology, he is prescribed drug blockades.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid relapse of the disease, you must follow the following recommendations:
- change body position at least every half hour;
- do not lift loads weighing more than 5 kg;
- walk more, do physical therapy, swimming, Pilates;
- It is preferable to use a backpack rather than a bag;
- When working sedentarily, take ten-minute breaks every hour.
Important!The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance.You need to sleep on your back, on a medium-hard orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow.In this case, the head and neck should lie on the pillow, and the shoulders should lie 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 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.