The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made based on simple studies - an X-ray.
In order for the disease to regress, an integrated approach to treating cervical osteochondrosis is required.
Why does cervical osteochondrosis occur?
The pain has several localization foci: neck, head, shoulders. Weakened neck muscles provoke the development of osteochondrosis. Due to incorrect posture, inactivity, and unnatural posture, some neck muscles are constantly tense, others spend too much time at rest. The spine adapts to the irrational load at the expense of your health. With cervical osteochondrosis, the following changes are recorded:
- Violation of blood and lymph flow;
- Lack of nutrition of the connective tissue of the intervertebral discs;
- Instability in the position of the vertebral bodies relative to each other.
Gradually, the structures of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are destroyed. This process is irreversible, so you need to take care of your health in a timely manner and immediately undergo treatment for the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, without postponing it to a later date. Reasons are also:
- Neck injuries;
- Obesity;
- Connective tissue dysplasia;
- poor diet, inadequate water intake.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms
Main characters (vortex):
- Pain. It may be constant pulling or it may occur during periods after a static position of the neck and sleeping in an uncomfortable position. There is sharp pain that makes the patient unable to move for a short time (lumbago);
- Torticollis or difficult movement. It is sometimes so painful to turn or tilt your head that a person finds a comfortable position where the pain is minimal and tries to stay in it;
- Muscle tension, feeling of stiffness, feeling of heaviness;
- Grinding of the vertebrae when turning the head. Extravertebral symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis (involving nerves and surrounding tissue);
- Inflammation of the muscles;
- Headache, migraines, dizziness, sometimes with nausea and vomiting;
- Pain in the back of the head, increased pressure in the brain, heavy head feeling; Such symptoms are sometimes so evident that the term "head osteochondrosis" has taken root in patients. Obviously, headache is only a secondary manifestation of pathological changes in the skeletal system, and it is correct to speak of cervical osteochondrosis, and not head osteochondrosis.
- Disorders of the sensory organs: hearing and vision disorders, speech, ringing in the ears due to insufficient nutrition of the brain;
- Pain in the collarbones, arms to palms;
- Tingling and chills in the neck and arms, sometimes numbness in the fingers;
- Limitation of the range of motion of the arms (possibly on one side).
Dangerous consequences of cervical osteochondrosis: treatment is mandatory!
If the degenerative changes are not stopped, then the following can be added to osteochondrosis:
- radicular pain due to pinched nerves emanating from the spine;
- Protrusions and hernias that compress the spinal cord and lead to complete paralysis;
- Cervicocranialgia (cervical migraine, dystonic stage of vertebral artery syndrome);
- the formation of osteophytes on the vertebrae.
Methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine
It is impossible to cure this disease with medication. You can remove the pain syndrome only with analgesics. However, they always have side effects, so it is recommended that they only be used in extreme cases. Symptoms and treatment for cervical spine osteochondrosis vary from patient to patient and require an individual approach.
Doctors have a rich arsenal of advanced technology and can choose the most effective and efficient one. Effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis and its manifestations:
- Traction on the DRX robot - restores the correct position of the vertebrae without the risk of injury;
- Shock wave therapy - improves blood and lymph flow to the affected area, restores metabolic processes, relaxes muscles;
- interstitial electrical stimulation - fights the complications of osteochondrosis, relieves pain caused by inflammation of the pinched nerve;
- HILT - laser therapy that instantly relieves pain.
The next stage in treating symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is restoring blood supply and fixing the correct position of the vertebrae. Rehabilitation can take multiple sessions and include physical therapy, manual therapy, and the use of modern equipment. The more closely the patient follows the recommendations of specialists, the higher the effectiveness of the techniques. The last phase is the responsibility of the patient:
- Correction of lifestyle and diet;
- regular exercise therapy;
- active life position and optimism.