Now there are practically no people over the age of 25 who do not experience problems with the spine. One of the most common pathologies is injury 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 are degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints and intervertebral discs.
With the progression of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms begin to appear:
decreased visual acuity and hearing;
numbness of the tongue;
with a sharp turn of the neck, it darkens in the eyes, dizzy;
a stabbing pain is felt in the back of the head, which may radiate to the temples and crown;
pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, which bothers the patient even during sleep and is aggravated by movement or exertion;
stiff neck, especially in the morning;
pressure on the sternum;
shortness of breath, feeling short of breath.
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, noticeably decreases.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis.
The predisposition to osteochondrosis of the neck is inherited. Also, common causes of the development of pathology are:
unbalanced diet;
scoliosis;
flatfoot;
VSD;
stress;
injuries and bruises on the spine;
excessive physical activity;
rheumatism;
sedentary lifestyle;
over weight.
Reference! The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which may be associated with a calcium deficiency or hormonal disturbance. Women often face 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 vessels, as well as a violation of the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
Audiography to test the function of the hearing organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI scan of the head and cervical spine. It is performed in order to assess the area of the injury, check the position of the intervertebral discs, detect compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Blood test.
Radiography at an early stage of pathology.
Electroneuromyography showing the presence of inflammation, pinching, and nerve damage.
Duplex examination of the vessels of the head.
Reference! All these procedures are most conveniently performed in one place, for example, in a treatment and rehabilitation center, where diagnoses are carried out with modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur, you cannot start treatment right away. First, make an appointment with a neurologist. The specialist will perform an examination and then refer the patient to the necessary studies.
Important! Carrying out manual therapy and other types of treatment without a preliminary diagnosis threatens injury and aggravation of existing problems.
Treatment methods
Once the diagnosis is made, the patient can proceed to 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, 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 to tone the neck muscles. Also, drug treatment and physiotherapy are used to get rid of pathology.
results
As a result of the therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spine stabilizes, and the pain disappears or decreases. A chiropractor can straighten the vertebrae and increase the distance between the damaged discs, thus eliminating friction.
Important! Osteochondrosis of 2 and 3 degrees cannot be completely cured. But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore the damaged functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and lifestyle recovery
In treatment and rehabilitation centers, not only the diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures are carried out. The patient leaves the center healthy and ready to return to his usual way of life 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. Physiotherapy procedures, massages, exercise therapy, mud applications have proven themselves. If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed drug blocking.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis.
To avoid a relapse of the disease, the following recommendations should be followed:
change the position of the body at least every half hour;
do not lift a load that weighs more than 5 kg;
walking more, doing physical therapy, swimming, Pilates;
it is preferable to use not a bag, but a backpack;
when you're sedentary, 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 firm orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow. In this case, the head and neck should rest on the pillow and the shoulders on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective at an early stage, so you should not postpone 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. For this, it is important not to waste time and to follow the recommendations of a specialist.