Leading positions in the list of the most common diseases of the 21st century are invariably occupied by diseases of the spine. The first line, in most cases, belongs to the diagnosis: osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - a dangerous disease that requires mandatory intervention by experienced doctors.
The disease does not spare anyone, neither women nor men (clinical cases of cervical osteochondrosis in men are less common than in women, but occur). In addition, the disease "gets younger" every year, today signs of cervical osteochondrosis can be observed not only in those who have reached the age of 40, but also in those who only yesterday celebrated their 25th birthdayday.
What is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, what serves as a catalyst for the onset of this disease, why the epidemic called osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is gaining momentum, what symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis should be the reason for a visit to the hospital, hownot be at risk and eat a chance to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever? For those who are looking for answers to these questions, this article is intended. So, first things first.
General information about the disease
This disease can be characterized by one word - dystrophy. It occurs against the background of changes in the chemical composition of bone and cartilage tissue and leads to a loss of elasticity and strength of elements of the spine (discs). Their structure changes, first the outer layer (annulus fibrosus) is destroyed, then the inner layer (nucleus pulposus). A disc (fibrous cartilage) that has completely lost its properties can be deformed, overgrown with growths (osteophytes) and displaced.
Discs that change shape, size, and location pinch either nerve roots (they can injure one of the 8 pairs of spinal nerves located in that area) or blood channels (arteries that are responsible for feeding the brain, pass through this area). . . In both the first and the second case, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are clearly felt.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is the most common diagnosis that a neurologist or vertebrologist should make to their patients. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, as the most common reason for visiting a doctor, is due to two reasons:
- Anatomical features. The vulnerability of the upper part of the ridge is related to the reduction and fragility of its connecting elements (vertebrae, discs).
- Serious loads. The neck is responsible for both mobility and stability. This cannot but cause rapid "wear and tear" of weak units.
Therefore, the question: is cervical osteochondrosis treatable? worries many.
Causes of the disease
Before moving on to the question: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis, you need to understand the causes of its occurrence and try to rule out factors that may cause the onset of its development.
It is not possible to give a complete list of catalysts, but it is quite possible to outline the moments that may lead to the fact that the signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine will not make you wait.
The main causes of osteochondrosis:
- unhealthy diet (snacks on the go, fast food, lack of diet and a balanced diet - this is a shortcut to depletion of cartilage and bone tissue, which does not receive enough micronutrients and vitamins that maintain its health);
- sedentary lifestyle (another possible option is lack of physical activity, provokes stagnation of ridge elements and lack of adequate oxygen supply to tissues);
- genetic predisposition (in this case you can ask your parents what to do with cervical osteochondrosis, they will tell you how to get rid of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and how this disease manifests itself).
- delayed injuries (the need to obtain information about what constitutes cervical osteochondrosis may also occur when the development of this disease is the result of displacement or rupture of the intervertebral discs as a result of injury);
- diseases of the vascular system, of infectious or inflammatory nature (in the first case, information on the topic: how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs due to lack of nutrients that support cartilage, in the second, due to the fault of autoimmune andnecrotic processes that destroy joints, vertebral discs).
Hormonal instability caused by overweight or stressful situations, as well as improper posture (scoliosis) are two more reasons to familiarize yourself with the case materials: is it possible to cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Signs of illness
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis are established. The bug work is complete. Now the most important thing is not to miss the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the neck (in case the risk factors are eliminated too late and the disease has already begun to manifest itself). The sooner they are diagnosed, the easier and faster the path to recovery will be.
For convenience, it is convenient to divide all signs of the disease into two groups. This can be done on the basis of the main criterion: origin.
The first group is the phenomenon, the occurrence of which is provoked by compression of the blood arteries (caused by vascular changes). Compressed channels for transporting blood, saturated with oxygen and nutrients, can not fully cope with their task, parts of the brain do not receive enough nutrition and lose some of their functionality.
The second group are the symptoms, the manifestation of which is associated with pinched nerve endings (caused by neurological changes). In most cases, the vagus nerve (coordinating the state of the esophagus, pharynx and larynx), the diaphragmatic nerve (responsible for heart rate and regulation of the respiratory process), as well as nerve endings that innervate other organs of the internal structure, suffer from deformation, destruction and mixing. of discs and vertebrae.
More detailed information on how not to miss the first "bells" of the disease in case of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and to use in time the help that the doctor can offer is presented in the table below.
Symptoms of the disease
| Origin | Manifestations |
|---|---|
| Changes in the state of the vascular system | dizziness, fainting lack of coordination memory impairment decreased concentration loss of visual acuity and hearing blackheads in front ofeyes ringing, tinnitus apathy, depression panic attacks nausea, vomiting |
| Neurological changes | pain in the neck, temples, nape (permanent, paroxysmal) pain radiating to the arm, shoulder, interscapular area, chest shortness of breath, shortness of breath, suffocation pressure, chest tightness, angina lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing, dryness, itchy throat |
Important! If at least one of the symptoms in the table above appears, you need to have an urgent examination and start treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Any other behavior can lead to more serious consequences that cannot be cured without surgery!
Complex therapy
How is cervical osteochondrosis treated, that's how the inflamed question sounds. The answer is simple: with the help of complex therapy prescribed by a competent qualified physician.
Fighting this disease requires discipline from the patient and strict adherence to the recommendations of a specialist. In most cases, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be cured using several methods of traditional and alternative medicine at once (only a doctor coordinating the patient can determine a specific program aimed at effective treatment of cervical osteochondrosis).
He usually selects techniques from the following list:
exercise therapy
Physiotherapy is an excellent tool for health therapy, which allows you to both cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and improve your overall health. It solves several problems at once:
- normalizes blood circulation;
- accelerates metabolic processes;
- relieves pain syndrome;
- strengthens the muscular corset;
- unloads the spine;
- fills with cheerfulness and optimism.
There are a number of rules that explain how to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis by properly charging without making the situation worse. They read:
- the set of exercises should be chosen by a specialist who has an idea of the general clinical picture (age, chronic diseases and characteristics of the patient);
- any discomfort during lessons should be a reason to abandon gymnastics (at least before consulting a doctor), as well as a period of exacerbation of the disease;
- too active sudden movements are completely excluded, you must do it carefully without rushing;
- exercises should be done regularly (occasional exercises will not solve the problem).
Massage (manual therapy)
Is it possible to cure cervical osteochondrosis in another way? Absolutely. All that is needed to activate the regenerative properties of the body, relieve spasms, release nerve roots, constricted arteries and reduce symptoms are the skillful hands of an excellent masseur or guide.
The general guidelines are:
- The procedure must be performed by a specialist with appropriate education and experience;
- exposure time of the problem area - no more than 35 minutes;
- duration of one course (without interruption) - no more than 12 sessions;
- any changes in the patient's condition should be known to the treating physician.
Important! Massage for osteochondrosis or a visit to a doctor's office - a guide to contraindications is strictly prohibited!
Physiotherapy
This field of clinical medicine has found its own answer to the question: how to get rid of osteochondrosis? She suggests using the healing properties of various phenomena, including:
- high frequency sound waves (ultrasound);
- mechanical vibration (vibration);
- electric currents of varying intensity (electrophoresis, UHF);
- ultraviolet radiation (quartz);
- other physiotherapy techniques.
These procedures contribute to the emergence of positive dynamics. They normalize blood flow, relieve inflammation, relieve pain, facilitate the process of drug administration and shorten the time required for their absorption by tissues.
Medicine
How to deal with cervical osteochondrosis, which continues to progress, despite all attempts to stop this process? Only with the help of drugs designed to eliminate the causes of this phenomenon.
All drugs used in the integrated approach are divided into several groups, depending on the actions taken. The table below will help you clarify the situation.
Medications
| Group | Action | |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesics, NSAIDs | pain relief, elimination of the inflammatory process |
|
| Muscle relaxants |
relieve muscle spasm | |
| Chondroprotectors | activation of the tissue regeneration function, restoration of the structure of discs, vertebrae, joints |
|
| Vitamins and minerals |
stimulation of metabolic processes, activation of the protective properties of the body, improved microcirculation, strengthening of the immune system, |
The specialist decides for himself how to treat osteochondrosis of the neck. It can complement therapy with drugs belonging to the group of vasodilators (to relieve vasodilators), antidepressants (to relieve nervous tension) and others, depending on the overall clinical picture of the disease.
In summary, we can give an unambiguous answer to the main question: is osteochondrosis treatable? Yes, but only under the strict supervision of a competent doctor and with the great desire of the patient himself!