There are several approaches to how to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine;only the patient can make the choice.Therefore, we invite you to learn how manual therapy for this disease differs and why the methods used in official medicine most often leave patients with disabilities or need surgical intervention.
Let's start with the fact that there is no effective treatment regimen for osteochondrosis in the district polyclinic, where the vast majority of patients with neck pain apply.This is a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.It develops when the nutrition of these fibers is disturbed.Therefore, for complete recovery, it is first necessary to normalize the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles surrounding them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to accept that only this approach to treatment gives positive dynamics in the patient's condition.
It is suggested to use only symptomatic methods.They allow to eliminate the symptoms accompanying the process of destruction of intervertebral discs.This is done on purpose because there are regulatory deadlines by which the patient must return to work.Human health is not considered in this process.The main thing is that they leave sick leave on time.And for this, it is enough to eliminate the pain syndrome.
Meanwhile, it is worth understanding that pain is part of the protective mechanism that prevents the final destruction of the intervertebral disc.Pain syndrome in cervical osteochondrosis can cause the following changes:
- excessive tension in the muscles of the neck and collar zone (they loosen the intervertebral discs, protect the radicular nerves and injuries due to the convergence of adjacent vertebral bodies);
- inflammation intended to increase blood microcirculation in the lesion, but in fact it causes infiltrative swelling of soft tissues and increased pain;
- changes in the position of the vertebral bodies, due to which the stress of shock absorption is eliminated;
- nerve fiber compression (radicular nerves, their branches, nerve plexuses, large nerves extending from it);
- damage to the cranial paired nerves.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to eliminate all pathogenic factors that cause the manifestation of the changes described above.You simply need to restore all damaged tissues and create suitable conditions for their regeneration.
Complete treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible only with an integrated approach to solving this problem.An experienced vertebrologist or neurologist will be able to develop an individual recovery course.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
There are reasons that lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.If the effect of these pathogenic factors continues during and after the treatment, then there is a high probability of recurrence of the disease in the near future.
In order to understand the development process of the degenerative dystrophic process in cartilage tissues, we suggest you familiarize yourself with some facts from anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs consist of a fibrous annulus (dense and elastic outer shell) and an inner pulpous nucleus (corpus pulposus, which maintains the shape and height of the disc);
- they do not have their own circulatory network and can replenish their fluid and nutrient reserves only through diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and end plates;
- endplates are cartilaginous structures located between the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs, which are punctuated by capillaries and provide nutrition to the fibrous ring and periosteum;
- paravertebral muscles support the spine in a vertical position, give it flexibility and plasticity;
- interspinous yellow ligaments fix the position of the vertebral bodies in the longitudinal direction;
- short transverse ligaments of the spine straighten the vertebral bodies in the horizontal plane;
- front and back long ligaments straighten the entire spine and partially release the shock-absorbing load from it.
Degenerative dystrophic changes usually begin when the paravertebral muscles are not exposed to regular physical activity.They lose the ability to provide full diffuse nutrition to the fibrous ring.It begins to dehydrate and crack.Its surface becomes calcified (calcium salts settle in the cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse fluid exchange in the future.
Then the fibrous annulus begins to receive fluid from the tissue where the nucleus pulposus is located.It has a gelatinous texture like jelly.Therefore, it easily releases fluid, but at the same time it loses its physiological volume dramatically.This has a negative effect on the ability of the intervertebral disc to maintain its physiological height.
The shock absorber begins to distribute its load unevenly.There is an increase in pressure in the end plates.The process of sclerosis of capillary vessels begins in their thickness.The end plates lose the ability to provide nutrition to the cartilage tissues and periosteum of the disc.This is the protrusion stage.
If effective comprehensive treatment is not started at this stage, the annulus fibrosus will soon break under the influence of physical activity.An intervertebral hernia occurs in the cervical spine.This complication of long-term osteochondrosis significantly worsens the quality of life and the degree of human activity.
Potential reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity in the muscular framework of the neck and collarbone;
- overweight and obesity (each additional kilogram causes a multiple increase in the shock absorption load on the cartilaginous intervertebral discs);
- sedentary work with long static tension of muscle fibers in the neck;
- improperly designed diet and insufficient consumption of clean drinking water during the day;
- curvature of the spine and poor posture (for example, rounded or bent back, scoliosis, etc.);
- smoking and drinking strong alcohol;
- violation of ergonomic rules during the organization of sleeping and working places;
- neck and neck injuries;
- endocrine and vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and accompanying diabetic angiopathy, etc.).
All these potential causes should be eliminated immediately.The sooner you do this, the higher the chance that the damaged cartilage fiber will be completely restored.As a rule, an experienced doctor carefully collects medical history information during the initial examination.It then makes individual recommendations for each patient based on the collected data.If the patient performs these, the recovery proceeds faster and more intensively.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis - how to treat them
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are:
- pain in the neck and collar area (can be shooting, pulling, tearing, tapping - it depends on what triggered the pain syndrome);
- muscle fiber tension, limited mobility;
- change in head position, curvature of the spine (compensator);
- headache and dizziness, decreased mental performance (this is the result of impaired permeability of the posterior vertebral arteries);
- increased nervous excitability, emotional instability, panic attacks, etc.
Before treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, you need to understand what symptoms are associated with what.The use of symptomatic exposure methods is strictly prohibited.This can only lead to a significant deterioration of the patient's condition.
There are many ways to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine and vertigo - the choice usually remains with the patient, an experienced doctor talks about all the possibilities and prospects for using one or another approach.Therefore, consultation with an experienced vertebrologist is always a critical priority.
You can now make an appointment with a vertebrologist at a specialized manual therapy clinic.The doctor will conduct a complete examination, make an accurate diagnosis and tell you how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the resulting dizziness.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine at home
Before treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine at home, you should consult an experienced doctor.In most cases of the disease, hospitalization of the patient is not required.But first you need to get an individually designed treatment course.
As a rule, treatment begins with several sessions of manual stretching of the spine.This procedure allows to increase the height of the intervertebral spaces to the physiological norm.It helps repair the annulus fibrosus tissue.Compression of the root nerves and their branches is eliminated.Pain syndrome and neurological clinical manifestations disappear.The patient may feel completely healthy.However, the complete restoration of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is still far away.
It is required to undergo a full course of treatment aimed at normalizing diffuse metabolic processes, strengthening tissue trophism, and strengthening the muscle framework of the neck and collar area.
This course of treatment may include the following procedures:
- osteopathy to restore normal microcirculation of lymphatic fluid and blood in areas of degenerative dystrophic tissue changes;
- massage to increase flexibility of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons);
- reflexology to activate the hidden reserves of the human body to start the natural regeneration processes of the damaged cartilage tissue;
- physiotherapy, laser treatment, electrical myostimulation;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, etc.
The treatment course is always prepared individually for each patient.Therefore, if you visit a specialized clinic, then an effective and safe course of treatment will be prepared for you, which will allow you to completely restore all the tissues of the spine.