Today, there are practically no people older than 25 years who do not have spine problems.One of the most common pathologies is an injury to the neck spine, which without treatment will definitely progress and cause more and more discomfort to the patient.
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:
- Decreased visual and hearing acuity;
- numbness of the tongue;
- When you bend your neck sharply, your vision becomes dark and you feel dizzy;
- A throbbing pain is felt in the back of the head, which can spread to the temples and the crown of the head;
- pain in the cervical area and shoulders, which bothers the patient even during sleep and increases with movement or stress;
- neck is stiff, especially in the morning;
- pressure in the chest;
- Shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air.
Because the spinal cord does not receive enough nutrients, the range of motion, as well as the sensitivity of the upper and lower limbs, is noticeably reduced.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The tendency to osteochondrosis of the neck is hereditary.In addition, the common reasons for the development of pathology are:
- unbalanced diet;
- scoliosis;
- flat feet
- VSD;
- stress
- spinal injuries and bruises;
- excessive physical activity;
- rheumatism;
- lifeless lifestyle;
- Excess body weight.
Hint!The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which may be related to calcium deficiency or hormonal imbalance.Women often encounter this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
diagnosis
The following diagnostic methods are used to determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine:
- Dopplerography of carotid and vertebral arteries.Allows you to identify spasmodic blood vessels, as well as disturbed 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 injured area, check the position of the intervertebral discs, and determine the compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
- blood test
- X-ray in the early stages of pathology.
- Electromyography shows the presence of inflammatory processes, nerve stretching and damage.
- Duplex scanning of blood vessels of the head.
Hint!It is most convenient to undergo all these procedures in one place, where diagnostics are carried out using modern equipment.
Which doctor is treating?
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are detected, 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 examinations.
Important!Performing manual therapy and other types of treatment without prior diagnosis leads to trauma and exacerbation of existing problems.
Treatment methods
After the diagnosis, the patient can proceed 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 lymph and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises that increase the tone of the neck muscles.In addition, medical treatment and physiotherapy are used to remove 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 the damaged discs, thus eliminating the friction.
Important!Osteochondrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degrees cannot be completely cured.But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore the broken functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and restoration of lifestyle
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 his usual lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation aims not only to restore the functionality of the spinal column, but also to prevent damage to healthy tissues.The program is drawn up taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications.Physiotherapy procedures, massage, exercise therapy and the use of mud have proven themselves well.If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed drug blockade.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To prevent recurrence 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 physical therapy, swimming, pilates;
- It is preferable to use a backpack rather than a bag;
- Take a ten-minute break every hour while sitting.
Important!The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance.You should sleep on your back, on an orthopedic mattress of medium density and an orthopedic pillow.In this case, the head and neck should be on the pillow, and the shoulders should be on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective in the early stages, 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.For this, it is important not to waste time and follow the recommendations of a specialist.