Now there are hardly any people over the age of 25 who don't have spinal problems. 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 is a degenerative-dystrophic damage to the joints and intervertebral discs.
With the progression of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms begin to appear:
decreased visual and hearing acuity;
numbness of the tongue;
with a sudden choker, he darkens in the eyes, dizziness;
on the back of the head, a throbbing pain is felt, which may radiate to the temples and crown;
pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, disturbing the patient even during sleep and aggravated by movement or exertion;
stiff neck, especially in the morning;
pressure in the breastbone;
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, decreases significantly.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The predisposition to osteochondrosis of the neck is hereditary. In addition, the common causes of the development of pathology are:
unbalanced diet;
scoliosis;
flat foot;
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 can be associated with calcium deficiency or hormonal disruption. Women often face this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
Diagnostic
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 vessels, as well as a violation of the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
Audiography to test the functioning of the auditory organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine. It is carried out with the aim of evaluating the area of the lesion, checking the position of the intervertebral discs, detecting compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Blood test.
X-ray at an early stage of the pathology.
Electroneuromyography showing the presence of inflammation, pinching, and nerve damage.
Duplex scan of the vessels of the head.
Reference! All these procedures are more conveniently carried out in one place, for example, in a treatment and rehabilitation center, where diagnostics are carried out using modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you cannot start treatment 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 to the necessary studies.
Important! Carrying out manual therapy and other types of treatment without prior diagnosis threatens injury and aggravation of existing problems.
Processing 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 muscles of the neck. In addition, drug therapy and physiotherapy are used to get rid of the pathology.
results
As a result of therapy, the nerve endings are released from the pinching, the spine is stabilized, and the pain goes away or decreases. A chiropractor is able to straighten the vertebrae and increase the distance between damaged discs, thereby eliminating friction.
Important! 2 and 3 degree osteochondrosis 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 recovery
In treatment and rehabilitation centers, not only the diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out, but also rehabilitation measures. The patient leaves the center in good health and ready to resume his usual lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation is aimed not only at restoring the functioning of the spine, but also at preventing damage to healthy tissue. The program is established taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications. Physiotherapy procedures, massage, exercise therapy, mud applications have been proven to work. If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, drug blockade is prescribed.
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 weighing more than 5 kg;
walking more, doing physiotherapy, swimming, Pilates;
it is better to use not a bag, but a backpack;
when you are sedentary, take ten-minute breaks every hour.
Important! The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance. You should 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 should be on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is more 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 follow the recommendations of a specialist.