Now there are practically no people over the age of 25 who do not have spinal problems. 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 a degenerative-dystrophic alteration of 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, darkens in the eyes, dizziness;
in the back of the head, a throbbing pain is felt, which can radiate to the temples and crown;
pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, which bothers the patient even during sleep and aggravated by movement or exertion;
stiff neck, 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, decreases noticeably.
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 feet;
VSD;
fatigue;
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 a calcium deficiency or hormonal disruption. 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 functioning of the hearing organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine. It is carried out with the aim of assessing the area of the lesion, checking the position of the intervertebral discs, detecting compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Blood test.
X-rays 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 most 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 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 to the necessary studies.
Important! Performing manual therapy and other types of treatment without preliminary diagnosis threatens with injury and aggravation of existing problems.
Methods of treatment
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, brings the vertebrae and joints back 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. In addition, drug treatment and physiotherapy are used to eliminate the 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 is able to straighten the vertebrae and increase the distance between the damaged discs, thus eliminating friction.
Important! 2nd and 3rd degree osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore impaired functions of the spine as much as possible.
Lifestyle rehabilitation and recovery
In treatment and rehabilitation centers, not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out, but also rehabilitative measures. 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 drawn up taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications. Procedures of physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, mud applications have proven themselves well. If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed drug blockade.
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;
walk more, do physiotherapy, swim, pilates;
it is preferable to use not a bag, but a backpack;
when you are sedentary, take a ten minute break every hour.
Important! The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance. You must sleep on your back, on an orthopedic mattress of medium firmness 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 at an early stage, so you shouldn't put off 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.