The diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical spine" is established in more than 25% of cases of intervertebral disc degeneration;Its characteristic symptoms and treatment should be considered in detail as much as possible.It is known that the manifestations of the disease were detected by the most people, but now there is a trend announced to reduce the age of patients suffering from this disease.
To get rid of cervical osteochondrosis and its consequences, conservative methods allow you to: eliminate disturbances in the activity of the spinal roots, neutralize accompanying pain and prevent further development of degenerative changes in the indicated part of the spine.If the non-surgical method is considered ineffective and there are special symptoms, the patient is operated on.The extent of intervention is determined by the degree of neglect and clinical manifestations of the disease.
With the help of conservative treatment methods, it is possible to get rid of the manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis within 1-3 months.The recovery period after the operation will take about a year.Pain syndrome can be relieved as soon as possible with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures and special exercises.In order to speed up the result, the patient's own positive attitude, focus on healing, patience and perseverance are extremely important.In this way, the help of experts is needed.Therefore, it is possible to achieve the greatest effectiveness of painting and rehabilitation, equipped with the latest technology and using the latest methods in the fight against diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Conservative complex treatment includes which methods:
- Physiotherapy.This method is a set of procedures using physical factors: magnetic fields, low-frequency currents, ultrasound, etc.
- Reflexology.The technique involves influencing active zones and acupuncture points using special methods.It allows you to develop basic healing and activate the body's self-healing system.
- Therapeutic exercise.The method consists in creating decompression of nerve roots using entangled loads during training on special equipment.This makes it possible to improve nutrition of intervertebral discs, normalize metabolism and blood circulation, increase the distance between the vertebrae in a certain part and reduce the load on the spine.
- Traction treatment.The procedure involves stretching the cervical vertebrae to increase the space between the vertebrae, relieve inflammation, reduce pain, and relieve pressure on blood vessels.
- Therapeutic massage.The procedure is performed manually by a highly qualified specialist.A method is used that aims to reduce muscle tension and has a general strengthening effect.
- Drug treatment.The use of drugs is indicated if there is an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.Medicines prescribed to increase the body's metabolic processes are administered orally or by injection.
Despite the fact that each of the described methods has proven its benefits in the fight against degenerative processes in intervertebral discs, a lasting effect can be achieved only by using them comprehensively.To restore a complete muscle corset, it is very important to use specialized rehabilitation equipment.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women requires special attention.According to statistics, it is the fair sex that makes up 2/3 of those suffering from this disease.Predisposition is often associated with changes in hormonal levels and is associated with a more fragile structure of the spine.Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women should take into account age, signs of cardiovascular diseases and the state of the endocrine system.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The main cause of cervical osteochondrosis is an insufficiently active lifestyle led by office workers and elderly people.However, lack of physical activity is not the only cause of this disease.Today, even young people are not immune to the manifestation of symptoms of the disease, and the number of elderly patients is constantly increasing.The development of the disease can be facilitated by back injuries, frequent dynamic loads and other factors.Here is their list:
- genetic (hereditary) tendency;
- intoxication of the body;
- infections;
- age-related changes;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- Excess body weight;
- lack of micronutrients due to poor nutrition;
- fractures, bruises of the spine;
- instability of cervical vertebrae (hypermobility);
- straight legs;
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis);
- abnormal development of the cervical spine;
- Incorrect posture;
- uneven development of the skeletal system and muscles;
- Wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, very high heels;
- prolonged exposure to a stressful situation;
- abrupt cessation of regular exercise;
- smoking;
- nervous tension;
- hypothermia;
- foot diseases.
People who often engage in heavy physical work often suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;Symptoms can appear quickly and treatment should begin immediately.The cause of the disease: heavy lifting, jerking movements, frequent flexion, length and rotation of the body.The pressure on the discs between the vertebrae increases with prolonged exposure to an unnatural position in any position, sitting, sitting.A sharp transition to active physical exercises, especially those associated with heavy objects, can also cause cervical osteochondrosis.To prevent this from happening, doctors recommend starting to load the load gradually and under the supervision of an experienced trainer.
It should be noted that the disease developing in the cervical spine is recognized as the most dangerous type of intervertebral disc dystrophy.It pinched the end of a nerve exiting the spinal cord and caused a cerebrovascular accident, he said.Therefore, people who are at risk due to the above reasons should pay attention to a slight deterioration in their health and contact an experienced specialist if they suspect a disease.
The degree of development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is confirmed in a patient, the doctor determines the stage of the disease based on the totality of symptoms and prescribes effective treatment.MRI diagnosis or radiographic examination of the area in various projections is mandatory.In its development, the disease goes through four stages.Let's take a closer look at them.
Osteochondrosis of the first degree is diagnosed in the preliminary stage of the disease.At this time, the disease is at the beginning of its development, but the patient can already feel its manifestations.At first, if he turns his head, he begins to experience small pains in the neck.In this part of the spine, at this moment, the loss of elasticity of cartilage-like plates and its compression occurs.The patient may notice that the neck muscles begin to tire quickly even with small loads.The treatment of the disease at this stage is medication aimed at reducing swelling.
The second degree of cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed when the disease begins to cover new areas and progress.During this period, destructive changes begin in the spine itself - the discs become thinner and the vertebrae become closer, squeezing the roots of the nerve fibers closer together.The patient complains of very severe pin point pain in the neck.Weakness, general malaise and headache are also noted.
Due to frequent complications, a person suffering from cervical osteochondrosis progressing to this stage may develop "falling head" syndrome.It is characterized by almost constant pain, which can only be relieved by supporting your head with your hand and redistributing the load from the spine.In this case, the treatment of the patient should not only take prescribed drugs, but also include special procedures.
The third degree of osteochondrosis is a dangerous, complex form in which a person experiences constant severe pain in the cervical region, spreading to the shoulder or arm.X-ray of the patient clearly shows the pathological narrowing of the spinal canal and the reduction of the distances between the vertebrae.At this stage, a tear may begin to develop, causing loss of sensation in the hands.Other symptoms include: curvature of the cervical spine, pain during palpation, inability to hold the head, loss of skin sensitivity.With this course of the disease, when the patient reaches the previous stage, treatment is prescribed.If it does not lead to improvement, then surgery is inevitable after rehabilitation.
The fourth degree of the disease is diagnosed when the intervertebral disc is almost completely destroyed and connective tissue forms.During this dangerous period, there is a high risk of squeezing the artery and disrupting the natural nutrition of the brain.If this happens, in addition to constant pain and dizziness, the patient will experience periodic weakness in space.
Also, it is necessary to note the rehabilitation phase that occurs after surgery for a herniated disc.The patient should be under the supervision of a doctor and undergo regular examinations to prevent the condition from worsening.During this period, it is necessary to provide him with the most comfortable conditions for the healing of the operated area.Conservative supportive treatment is prescribed.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Many people do not know how important treatment is immediately after discovering the first signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.When the disease first begins to manifest itself, it is often mistaken for a common disease.But the problem will worsen every day, endangering the entire human body.If the nerves and blood vessels in the neck are disturbed, the brain will not be able to receive adequate nutrition.This constantly threatens to cause pain, coordination and impaired motor activity.Of course, such a life cannot be called complete.If the disease is neglected, it can lead to stroke, iSchemia and many other serious life-threatening diseases, in addition to inability to perform normal activities.
The structure of the cervical vertebrae is slightly different from other parts of the spine, so the symptoms of osteochondrosis in this area are quite specific.The following signs indicate that you should contact a specialist as soon as possible:
- Painful feelings.They can appear not only in the indicated area, but also on the head, arms, shoulders and other parts of the body.This is explained by compressed nerve endings and muscle spasms.
- General weakness, dizziness, malaise.Occurs when an artery is compressed, causing difficulty in blood circulation and brain nutrition in the cervical spine.
- Weakness in arms.It occurs due to pinching of the nerve responsible for motor activity.
- Crunching and difficulty turning the head.It appears when the structure of the intervertebral disc begins to change, and connective tissue forms in its place.
- Decreased sensitivity in the hands.It is explained by a pinched nerve.
- Deterioration of vision and hearing.These symptoms appear in the last stage of the disease, when blood circulation in the cerebellar region is disturbed.
A number of syndromes are distinguished among the clinical signs of the disease:
- Koreshkovy.It manifests itself as severe pain in the neck, spreading to the shoulder blade, shoulder or lower back.
- Vertebrate.It is characterized by throbbing pain in the temples and occipital area.
- Reflex.It increases with head movements, manifests itself as intense pain in the back of the neck.Pain can be localized in the chest and shoulder.
- Cardinal.This syndrome is quite often confused with the symptoms of angina pectoris;It is quite difficult to diagnose independently.Often, a person who feels pain in the heart area takes it for an attack and starts taking the appropriate medicine, for example, nitroglycerin.Since these drugs do not solve the problem, the condition can quickly worsen.
It is not enough to know the symptoms alone to determine the degree of the disease.In order to prescribe effective treatment, the doctor must collect detailed information about the patient: find out whether there are relatives in the family suffering from cervical osteochondrosis, information about professional activities and lifestyle.This is followed by visual examination, palpation, computed tomography, cervical X-ray, MRI.
The situation becomes a little more complicated when it comes to a subtype of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine.It has vague symptoms, so it is quite difficult to correctly diagnose the disease - this can only be entrusted to an experienced specialist.As a rule, the patient complains of dizziness, migraine in different parts of the head, lumbago in the neck, chest, shortness of breath, gray skin, constant fatigue, constant fatigue and mood swings.All these are similar to signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia or angina, so confusion may arise when making a diagnosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the Greek center
The Rehabilitation Center provides treatment for cervical osteochondrosis in women and men using the most modern methods of physiotherapy.The clinic is located in Greece, on the picturesque peninsula of Halkidiki, washed by the waves of the Aegean Sea.A patient undergoing inpatient or outpatient treatment can easily combine relaxation on pearl beaches, walks in scenic areas and interesting sightseeing excursions.And the healing sea air and ideal climatic conditions contribute to a quick recovery.
Thanks to the use of modern equipment, the diagnosis of the stages of cervical osteochondrosis in the rehabilitation center is as accurate as possible - errors are completely eliminated.The treatment is aimed at restoring the connective tissue and elasticity of the intervertebral discs, reducing inflammation, relieving pain, normalizing metabolic processes and generally improving the patient's health.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists provides qualified care to patients at the center.A wide variety of physiotherapeutic procedures and robotic and computerized equipment are used to carry out professional rehabilitation until full recovery.The latest methods of treatment and regeneration of cells damaged by cervical osteochondrosis, such as Prp therapy, are applied.The complex includes spinal stretching and hydromassage.To quickly neutralize pain in the affected area, a highly effective therapy is used - a physiotherapy method based on the targeted effect of radio waves, which is safe for humans.
The high quality of medical services at the clinic is combined with excellent living conditions in comfortable hotel-style rooms with everything you need.Experienced staff support and assist patients 24/7.
In order to get rid of pain and stiffness in the cervical spine and other consequences of osteochondrosis, the patient should carefully monitor the quality of his diet.During the recovery period, it is important that the body receives a sufficient amount of substances for the synthesis of cartilage tissue.It is necessary to limit salt intake, include fresh fruits and vegetables in the menu and monitor the calorie content of dishes.Specialists in the Rehabilitation Center will take care of your diet.Taking into account your diet, you will be able to taste the delicious dishes prepared by our chef according to the recipes of homemade Greek cuisine.
The clinic has created all the conditions so that you can not only return to your previous quality of life, but also have a good rest.Have fun in our library, playground and beautiful flower garden.No matter the length of your treatment, you will feel at home.