Cervical osteochondrosis, unlike diseases of other parts of the spine, is almost as common among young people and the elderly. It’s hard to imagine a person who has never experienced neck pain: it’s a "pay" for a sedentary lifestyle, constantly opting for a computer or a desk.
Other risk factors include bad habits and eating errors, being overweight, poor posture and flat feet, inadequate physical activity. Even the habit of carrying a bag on one shoulder can ultimately lead to osteochondrosis, which involves improper distribution of the load and a forced change in the normal position of the spine.
The prevalence of the disease may be the reason for their frivolous attitude towards it. But it is important to note that the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a mandatory measure if you want to prevent unpleasant and dangerous complications.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
Osteochondrosis SHOP is a degenerative disease of the cartilage of the cervical spine, characterized by a violation of the structure and function of the intervertebral discs. This disease tends to progress slowly, however, as the condition of the tissues deteriorates, other pathologies may appear:
- hernia and protrusion;
- inflammatory processes;
- cervical vertebra instability and associated risks;
- muscle diseases;
- paralysis, etc.
One common complication is vertebral artery syndrome. It is an attack of pain accompanied by other signs: loss of balance, blurred vision and hearing, hum in the ear, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness, and even temporary speech problems. Although these are reversible consequences, such symptoms are dangerous and impair quality of life, which means that the onset of the syndrome must be prevented. This is possible with early treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The localization of the pathological process in the cervical spine leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms:
- crackling when turning the head;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- difficulty concentrating;
- fainting, half fainting;
- pain in the hands, numbness, tingling in the fingers;
- neck pain;
- restriction of neck movement;
- neck muscle cramps;
- deterioration of cognitive processes.
In the case of a combination of osteochondrosis of several classes (e. g. neck and chest), the disease may manifest itself in other signs: back muscle spasm, chest pain, and so on.
In order to select the appropriate treatment for cervical osteochondrosis, the degree of development of the pathology and stage should be assessed, and the presence or absence of concomitant disorders should be clarified. You should first consult a neurologist. Based on the complaints, medical history, survey, and visual examination in various situations of torso, movement, and rest, the physician sends a confirmatory / clarification of the preliminary diagnosis for a comprehensive examination.
The disease is diagnosed in several ways:
- radiography SHOP;
- CT;
- myelography;
- MRI;
- ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck, Doppler ultrasound of the arteries of the brain;
- laboratory tests (inflammatory processes, etc. ).
In some cases, accurate detailed diagnosis allows viewing of concomitant diseases of osteochondrosis. This will allow you to make the right decision in choosing your treatment tactics.
The effectiveness of further measures depends on the time and accuracy of the diagnosis. Despite the presence of specific symptoms, the picture of cervical osteochondrosis is similar to the course of other diseases. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between pathology and make the right choice.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is performed surgically or by conservative methods. Surgery is used only in the most extreme cases, a strict indication of intervention is the complete ineffectiveness of conservative methods (for a long time), the impossibility of using them, and the rapid progression of the disease.
The treatment regimen is chosen by a neurologist, taking into account severity, general health, indications and contraindications for each procedure. Both conservative treatment and the postoperative period require a careful and comprehensive approach. Combine the following methods:
- drug therapy - restores cartilage tissue, relieves pain and inflammation, improves metabolic processes, saturates tissues with oxygen, etc. ;
- Practical therapy - regular performance of prescribed exercises improves posture, strengthens the muscle corset, contributes to the normal tone of the neck muscles and reduces the compression of nerve tissue;
- massage - massage of the neck-collar zone allows the removal of muscle clamps and cramps, the restoration of the normal position of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae and the normalization of blood flow;
- water aerobics, swimming - a visit to the pool helps to strengthen muscles, relieve cramps, of course unload the SHOP and stretch the spine;
- traction therapy - spinal attraction allows to increase the space between the plates, to correct the structure of the spinal column, it is widely used when combining pathologies with different localizations;
- physiotherapy methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis - increase the effect of taking drugs, aimed at stopping pain and inflammation of tissues, contribute to their normal recovery, speed up metabolic processes;
- dietary nutrition - optimal water management prevents cartilage tissue from losing water and provides the necessary amount of vitamins and trace elements.
Active treatment of cervical osteochondrosis lasts up to 3 months, depending on the severity of the condition. However, even then, the health of the spine cannot be forgotten: restorative, supportive measures can take up to 1 year. Optimal physical activity, dieting and giving up bad habits are also necessary throughout life, which is the basis for effective disease prevention.