Nowadays, almost no one over the age of 25 suffers from spinal problems.One of the most common pathologies is damage to the neck vertebrae, which, if left untreated, inevitably progresses and causes more and more discomfort in the patient.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine consists of 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 suddenly, your vision becomes dark and you feel dizzy;
- a shooting pain is felt in the back of the head, which can radiate to the temples and the crown of the head;
- pain in the cervical region and in the shoulders, disturbing the patient even during sleep and increasing with movement or stress;
- neck stiffness, 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 limbs are noticeably 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 may be associated with calcium deficiency or hormonal imbalance.Women often face 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 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 performed 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 lesions.
- Double-sided scanning of the vessels of the head.
Reference!It is more 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 appear, treatment cannot be started immediately.First of all, you need to 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 prior 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 risk 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 lymphatic flow and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises that increase the tone of the neck muscles.Additionally, drug treatment and physical therapy are used to eliminate the pathology.
Results
Thanks to therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spine is stabilized, and the pain disappears or weakens.A chiropractor can realign the vertebrae and increase the distance between damaged discs, 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 restoration of lifestyle
The treatment and rehabilitation center offers not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures.The patient leaves the center in good health and ready to return to their normal lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation aims not only to restore the functioning of the spine, but also to prevent damage to healthy tissues.The program is developed taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications.Physiotherapeutic procedures, massages, exercise therapy and mud applications have proven themselves well.If the patient still has symptoms of the pathology, drug blockades are prescribed.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid relapses 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 physiotherapy, swimming, Pilates;
- It is better to use a backpack rather than a bag;
- When working sedentary, take ten-minute breaks every hour.
Important!The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance.You must sleep on your back, on a medium-hard orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow.In this case, the head and neck should rest on the pillow, and the shoulders should rest 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.