The diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the cervical spine" is established in more than 25% of cases of degeneration of the intervertebral disc;Its characteristic symptoms and treatment should be discussed in as much detail as possible.It is known that the manifestations of the disease are most often manifested by people aged 35-40, but now there is a sharp tendency to decrease the age of patients suffering from this disease.
To remove cervical osteochondrosis and its consequences, conservative methods allow you to: eliminate the dysfunction of the spinal roots, neutralize the accompanying pain and prevent the further development of degenerative changes in the indicated part of the spine.If the non-surgical method is considered ineffective and there are special indications, the patient is prescribed an operation.The volume of intervention is determined by the degree of neglect of the disease and clinical manifestations.
With the help of conservative treatment methods, you can get rid of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in 1-3 months.The postoperative recovery period will take about one year.The pain syndrome can be removed as quickly as possible with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures and special exercises.In order to speed up the result, it is very important to have a positive attitude of the patient himself, his attention to healing, patience and endurance.In this way, the help of specialists is needed.Therefore, the greatest effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation can be achieved only in a modern medical clinic equipped with the latest technology and using the latest methods in the fight against diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
What methods does conservative complex treatment include:
- Physiotherapy.This method is a set of procedures using physical factors: magnetic fields, low-frequency currents, ultrasound, etc.This effect allows you to reduce the treatment time and increase its effectiveness, neutralize pain and stop inflammatory processes.
- Reflexology.The technique involves impacting active zones and acupuncture points using special methods.It allows you to strengthen the basic treatment and activate the body's self-healing system.
- therapeutic exercise.The method involves creating decompression of the nerve roots using dosed loads during training on special equipment.This allows you to improve nutrition of the intervertebral discs, normalize metabolism and blood circulation, increase the distance between the vertebrae in a certain section and reduce the load on the spine.
- traction treatment.The procedure involves traction on the cervical spine 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 set of techniques is used, which aims to relieve muscle tension and has a general strengthening effect.
- Drug treatment.The use of medication is indicated in case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis.Medicines prescribed to enhance metabolic processes in the body are taken orally or by injection.
Despite the fact that each of the described methods has proven its benefits in the fight against degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs, a long-term effect can be obtained only with their comprehensive use.It is very important to use specialized rehabilitation equipment to restore the muscular corset.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women requires special attention.According to statistics, the fair sex accounts for 2/3 of those suffering from this disease.The tendency is associated with frequent changes in hormonal levels and a more fragile structure of the bones of the spine.Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women should be prescribed taking into account age, the presence of symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and the state of the endocrine system.
Causes of osteochondrosis
It is believed that 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 from showing signs of the disease, and the number of elderly patients is steadily increasing.Back injuries, frequent dynamic loads and other factors contribute to the development of the disease.Here is their list:
- genetic (hereditary) predisposition;
- intoxication of the body;
- infections;
- age-related changes;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- excess body weight;
- lack of microelements due to poor nutrition;
- fractures, bruises of the spine;
- instability of the cervical spine (hypermobility);
- flat feet
- curvature of the spine (scoliosis);
- abnormal development of the cervical spine;
- incorrect posture;
- uneven development of the bone system and muscles;
- wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, very high heels;
- long exposure to a stressful situation;
- Abrupt cessation of regular exercise;
- smoking
- nervous tension;
- hypothermia;
- foot diseases
People who often engage in hard physical work often suffer from osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;Symptoms can appear quickly and treatment should be started immediately.The cause of the disease is: weight lifting, cartilaginous movements, frequent bending, lengthening and rotation of the body.The pressure on the discs between the vertebrae also increases with prolonged exposure to an unnatural position in any position - standing, lying, sitting.A sharp transition to active physical exercise, especially associated with moving heavy objects, can also cause cervical osteochondrosis.To prevent this, doctors recommend increasing the load gradually and under the supervision of an experienced trainer.
It should be noted that the disease developed in the cervical region of the spine is recognized as the most dangerous type of intervertebral disc dystrophy.This leads to compression of the nerve endings exiting the spinal cord and causes a cerebrovascular accident.Therefore, people at risk for the reasons described above should pay attention to a slight deterioration of health and contact an experienced specialist in case of suspicion of illness.
The degree of development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is confirmed in the patient, the doctor should determine the stage of the disease based on the totality of symptoms and prescribe effective treatment.MRI diagnosis of the area or radiographic examination in different projections is mandatory.During its development, the disease goes through four stages.Let's take a closer look at them.
Osteochondrosis of the first degree is diagnosed at the preclinical stage of the disease.At this time, the disease is at the beginning of its development, but the patient already feels its manifestations.First of all, he starts having a slight pain in his neck that gets worse if he turns his head.In this part of the spine, at this time, cartilage-like plates lose their elasticity and become compacted.The patient may notice that the neck muscles begin to tire quickly even with a small load.Treatment of the disease at this stage, as a rule, is medication, which aims to relieve swelling.
Cervical osteochondrosis of the second degree is diagnosed when the disease begins to cover new areas and progress.During this period, destructive changes begin in the spinal column itself - the discs become thinner and the vertebrae come closer to each other, pressing the roots of the nerve fibers.The patient complains of severe neck pain.Weakness, general weakness and headache are also noted.
Due to frequent exacerbations, a person with cervical osteochondrosis who has progressed to this stage may develop a "falling head" syndrome.It is characterized by almost continuous pain, which can be relieved only by manually pressing the head and distributing the load from the vertebrae.The treatment of the patient in this case should include not only taking prescribed medications, but also special procedures.
The third degree of osteochondrosis is a dangerous, complex form, in which a person experiences constant severe pain in the cervical region, which spreads 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 hernia may begin to develop, which leads to a loss of sensation in the hands.Other symptoms are: curvature of the cervical spine, pain on palpation, inability to hold the head independently, loss of skin sensitivity.In this course of the disease, the patient is prescribed treatment as in the previous stage.If this does not lead to improvement, then surgery, followed by rehabilitation, is inevitable.
The fourth degree of the disease is diagnosed when the intervertebral disc is almost completely destroyed and connective tissue forms in its place.During this dangerous period, there is a high risk of stretching the artery and disrupting the brain's natural nutrition.If this happens, along with constant pain and dizziness, the patient will have periodic disorientation in space.
It is worth mentioning separately the stage of rehabilitation that takes place after herniated disc surgery.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 it is to treat cervical spine osteochondrosis as soon as the first symptoms appear.When the disease first begins to manifest, it is often mistaken for a common disease.However, the problem worsens day by day, which threatens the entire human body.If the work of the nerves and arteries in the neck is disturbed, the brain cannot receive proper nutrition.This threatens constant pain, loss of coordination and impaired motor activity.Of course, such a life cannot be called complete.And if the disease is neglected, in addition to the impossibility of normal activities, it can lead to stroke, ischemia and many other diseases that pose a serious threat to life.
The structure of the cervical spine is somewhat different from other parts of the spine, so the signs of osteochondrosis in this area are quite specific.The following signs indicate that you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible:
- painful sensations.They can appear not only in the specified place, but also in the head, arms, shoulders and other parts of the body.This is explained by spasm of nerve endings and muscles.
- General weakness, dizziness, weakness.It occurs when an artery is stretched, which causes blood circulation in the cervical spine to be difficult and brain nutrition to be disturbed.
- Weakness in the arms.Occurs due to stretching of the nerve responsible for motor activity.
- Cramps and difficulty turning the head.They appear when the structure of the intervertebral disc begins to change and dense connective tissue forms in its place.
- Loss of sensitivity in the hands.Explained by pinched nerve.
- Deterioration of sight and hearing.These signs appear in the last stage of the disease, when blood circulation in the cerebral area is disturbed.
Several syndromes are distinguished among the clinical signs of the disease:
- Koreshkov.It is characterized by severe pain in the neck that spreads to the shoulder blade, shoulder, or lower back.
- Vertebrate.It is characterized by throbbing pain in the temples and nape of the neck.
- reflex.It is manifested by severe pain in the back of the neck, which increases with head movement.The pain can be localized in the chest and shoulder area.
- Cardinal.This syndrome is quite often confused with the signs of angina pectoris;It is quite difficult to diagnose it independently.Often, a person who feels pain in the heart area takes it for an attack and begins to take appropriate medications, for example, nitroglycerin.Since these medications do not solve the problem, the situation can quickly worsen.
To determine the extent of the disease, it is not enough to know only the symptoms.In order to prescribe effective treatment, the doctor must collect detailed information about the patient: find out if there were relatives with cervical osteochondrosis in the family, examine his professional activity and lifestyle.This will be followed by a visual examination, palpation, computed tomography, X-ray of the cervix, MRI.
The situation becomes somewhat more complicated when it comes to a subtype of the disease, such as osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine.It has vague symptoms, so it is quite difficult to correctly qualify the disease - this can only be entrusted to an experienced specialist.As a rule, the patient complains of dizziness, migraines in different areas of the head, lumbago in the neck, pain in the chest during coughing, shortness of breath, gray color of the skin, increased heart rate, constant fatigue and mood swings.All these are similar to the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia or angina pectoris, so confusion may arise when making a diagnosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the Greek center
The rehabilitation center treats cervical osteochondrosis in men and women using the most modern methods of physiotherapy.The clinic is located in Greece, on the beautiful 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 picturesque places and excursions to interesting sights.And the healing sea air and ideal climatic conditions contribute to 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 includes a set of procedures aimed at restoring the connective tissue and elasticity of the intervertebral discs, removing inflammation, relieving pain, normalizing metabolic processes and improving the patient's health in general.
A multidisciplinary team of experts provides qualified assistance to patients at the center.A wide range of physiotherapeutic procedures, robotic and computerized equipment are used to carry out professional rehabilitation until full recovery.The latest methods of treatment and restoration of cells damaged by cervical osteochondrosis, such as PRP therapy, are used in practice.The complex includes back traction and hydromassage.In order to quickly neutralize the pain in the affected area, a highly effective therapy is used - a physiotherapy method based on targeted exposure to safe radio waves for humans.
The high quality of medical services in the clinic is combined with excellent living conditions in comfortable hotel rooms, where there is everything you need.Experienced staff provides 24/7 support and assistance to patients.
In order to get rid of pain and stiffness in the cervical spine as quickly as possible and other consequences of osteochondrosis, the patient should carefully monitor the quality of his diet.It is important that during the recovery period the body receives a sufficient amount of substances that are responsible for the synthesis of cartilage tissue.It is also necessary to limit salt intake, include fresh fruits and vegetables in the menu and monitor the calorie content of dishes.Specialists will take care of your diet in the rehabilitation center.You will be able to taste the delicious dishes prepared by our chef according to the recipes of homemade Greek cuisine, taking into account your diet.
The clinic has created all the conditions to not only return to the previous quality of life, but also to have a good rest.Enjoy our library, playground and beautiful flower garden.Regardless of how long your treatment lasts, you will feel great.