There are now virtually no people over the age of 25 who do not have spinal problems. One of the most common pathologies is cervical spine injury, 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 change in the joints and intervertebral discs.
With the progression of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms begin to appear:
Impaired visual acuity and hearing;
Numbness of the tongue;
With a sharp twist of the neck, it darkens the eyes, dizziness;
In the back of his head is felt a sharp pain which can radiate to the temples and crown;
Pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, bothers the patient even during sleep, and aggravates movement or load;
The neck tightened, especially in the morning;
Pressure in the chest;
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, is significantly reduced.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The predisposition to neck osteochondrosis is hereditary. In addition, common reasons for the development of pathology are:
Unbalanced diet;
Scoliosis;
Flat feet;
VSD;
Stress;
Spinal injuries and bruises;
Excessive physical activity;
Rheumatism;
Sedentary lifestyle;
Excess weight.
Reference! The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a disorder of mineral metabolism, which may be associated with calcium deficiency or hormonal disorders. Women often face this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic methods are used to determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine:
Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and spinal arteries. Allows you to detect spasmodic vessels as well as disruption of blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
Audiography to check the function of the hearing organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine. It is performed to assess the area of the lesion, check the position of the intervertebral discs, and detect compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
ᲡBlood test.
X-ray in the early stages of pathology.
Electroneuromyography shows the presence of inflammation, tingling, and nerve damage.
Duplex scan of its vessels.
Reference! All these procedures are most convenient in one place, for example, in a medical and rehabilitation center, where the diagnosis is made using modern equipment.
Which doctor is treating you
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear, you can not start treatment immediately. First of all, you need to appoint a neurologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and then hand over the necessary examinations to the patient.
ᲛImportant! Conducting manual therapy and other types of treatment without prior diagnosis threatens injuries and exacerbates existing problems.
Treatment methods
After diagnosis, the patient can continue treatment. Leading specialists work in medical and rehabilitation centers, so the likelihood of complications is minimal.
The main method of treatment of neck osteochondrosis is manual therapy. The specialist does a massage that soothes the neck and shoulders, restores the vertebrae and joints to their natural state, and works to normalize lymph flow and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises to strengthen the neck muscles. In addition, medical treatment and physiotherapy are used to get rid of the pathology.
results
As a result of therapy the nerve endings are freed from tingling, the spinal column is stabilized and the pain disappears or decreases. The chiropractor can straighten the spine and increase the distance between the damaged discs, thereby eliminating friction.
ᲛImportant! Grade 2 and 3 osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured. But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore impaired spinal functions as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and lifestyle restoration
Medical and rehabilitation centers provide not only diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, but also rehabilitation measures. The patient leaves the center healthy and ready to return to a normal lifestyle as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation aims not only to restore the functioning of the spinal column, but also to prevent damage to healthy tissues. The program is designed taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications. Physiotherapy procedures, massage, exercise therapy, the use of mud have proven themselves well. If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed medication blockade.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To prevent recurrence of the disease, the following recommendations should be followed:
Change body position at least every half hour;
Do not carry loads weighing more than 5 kg;
More walking, physical therapy, swimming, Pilates;
It is advisable to use not a bag but a backpack;
When immobile, take a ten-minute break every hour.
ᲛImportant! The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance. You should sleep on your back, on a medium-strength orthopedic mattress, and on an orthopedic pillow. In this case, the head and neck should be on the pillow and the shoulders on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective at an early stage, so a visit to a neurologist should not be delayed. 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.