The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made on the basis of simple studies - an x-ray.
For the disease to recede, an integrated approach to the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is necessary.
Why does cervical osteochondrosis appear?
The pain has several foci of localization: neck, head, shoulders. Weakened neck muscles cause the development of osteochondrosis. Due to poor posture, inactivity and adopting unnatural postures, some muscles in the neck are constantly strained, others spend too much time resting. The spine adapts to the irrational load to the detriment of its health. In cervical osteochondrosis, the following changes are recorded:
- violation of blood and lymphatic flow;
- lack of nutrition of connective tissue of intervertebral discs;
- instability of the position of the vertebral bodies relative to each other.
Gradually, the structures of the vertebrae and discs are destroyed. This process is irreversible, so you should take care of your health on time and immediately undergo treatment for the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, without procrastinating. The reasons also include:
- neck injuries;
- overweight;
- connective tissue dysplasia;
- poor nutrition, insufficient water intake.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: symptoms
Main signs (vertebral):
- Pain. It can be constant traction or appear during periods after a static neck position, sleeping in an uncomfortable position. There are sharp pains that immobilize the patient for a short time (lumbago);
- Torticollis or difficult movement. Sometimes it is so painful to turn or tilt the head that a person finds a comfortable position in which the pain is minimal and tries to stay there;
- Muscle tension, feeling of stiffness, heaviness;
- Crunch of the vertebrae when turning the head. Extravertebral symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis (with damage to the nerves and surrounding tissues);
- Inflammation of the muscles;
- Headache, migraines, dizziness, sometimes with nausea and vomiting;
- Pain in the back of the head, increased intracranial pressure, heavy head feeling; sometimes these symptoms appear so clearly that the term "osteochondrosis of the head" has taken root in patients. Obviously, headaches are only a secondary manifestation of pathological changes in the skeletal system, and it is correct to speak of cervical, and not cranial, osteochondrosis;
- Disturbance of sensory organs: impaired hearing and vision, speech, ringing in the ears due to lack of nutrition in the brain;
- Pain in the collarbones, arms to the palms;
- Tingling and chills in the neck and arms, sometimes numbness of 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, the following can be added to osteochondrosis:
- root pain due to pinched nerves emanating from the spine;
- protrusions and hernias, which 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 treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine
It is impossible to cure this disease with medication. You can get rid of pain syndrome only with pain relievers. But they still have side effects, so it is recommended to use them only in extreme cases. Symptoms and treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine vary from patient to patient and require an individual approach.
Doctors have at their disposal a rich arsenal of advanced technologies; they can choose the most effective and efficient. Effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis and its manifestations:
- traction on the DRX robot - it restores the correct position of the vertebrae without risk of injury;
- shock wave therapy - improves blood and lymph flow to the affected area, restores metabolic processes, relaxes muscles;
- interstitial electrical stimulation - fights complications of osteochondrosis, relieves pain caused by inflammation of the pinched nerve;
- HILT - laser therapy that relieves pain instantly.
The next step in the treatment of symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is the restoration of blood supply, consolidation of the correct position of the vertebrae. Rehabilitation can take several sessions and include physiotherapy, manual therapy and the use of modern devices. The more accurately the patient follows the recommendations of specialists, the higher the effectiveness of the techniques. The last step is the patient's area of responsibility:
- correction of lifestyle and nutrition;
- regular exercise therapy;
- active life position and optimism.