There are several approaches to the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine;only the patient can make the choice.Therefore, we invite you to learn how manual therapy differs for this disease and why the methods used by official medicine most often lead the patient to disability or the need for surgical intervention.
Let's start with the fact that in the regional clinic, where the majority of patients with neck pain go, there is no effective treatment regimen for osteochondrosis.It 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 necessary first of all to normalize the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles around them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to recognize the fact that only this approach to treatment gives positive dynamics in the patient's condition.
It is suggested to use exclusively symptomatic methods of impact.They allow you to relieve the symptoms that accompany the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs.This is done deliberately because there are regulatory deadlines in which the patient must return to work.Human health is not considered in this process.The most important thing is to be released from sick leave on time.And for this it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
In the meantime, it is worth understanding that the pain is part of a protective mechanism that prevents the final destruction of the intervertebral disc.Pain syndrome in cervical osteochondrosis can be caused by the following changes:
- excessive tension in the muscles of the neck and collar area (they unload the intervertebral discs, provide protection for the radicular nerves and injuries due to the convergence of adjacent vertebral bodies);
- inflammation designed to increase blood microcirculation in the lesion, but in fact it provokes infiltrative swelling of soft tissues and increased pain;
- changes in the position of the vertebral bodies, due to which the shock-absorbing tension is released;
- pinching of a nerve fiber (radicular nerves, their branches, nerve plexus, large nerves coming out of it);
- damage to the paired cranial nerves.
Before the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to eliminate all pathogenic factors that provoke the manifestation of the changes described above.Simply put, you need to restore all damaged tissues and create the right conditions for their recovery.
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 vertebrae
There are reasons that lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae.If the effect of these pathogenic factors continues during the treatment and after its completion, then there is a high probability of a relapse 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 of anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs consist of an annulus fibrosus (dense and elastic outer shell) and an internal nucleus pulposus (pulpous body that maintains the shape and height of the disc);
- they do not have their own circulatory network and can replenish the reserves of fluids and nutrients only through diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and end plates;
- end plates are cartilaginous structures located between the bodies of the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs, they are dotted with capillary vessels and provide nutrition to the fibrous ring and the periosteum;
- paravertebral muscles maintain the spine in a vertical position, giving it flexibility and plasticity;
- interspinous yellow ligaments fix the position of the vertebral bodies in the longitudinal direction;
- the short transverse ligaments of the spine fix the bodies of the vertebrae in the horizontal plane;
- the anterior and posterior long ligaments fix the entire spine and partially relieve the shock-absorbing load from it.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes usually begin with the fact that the paravertebral muscles are not subjected to regular physical activity.They lose their ability to provide full diffuse nutrition to the annulus fibrosus.It starts to dehydrate and crack.Its surface is calcified (calcium salts settle in cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse fluid exchange in the future.
The annulus fibrosus then begins to absorb fluid from the overlying nucleus pulposus tissue.It has a jelly-like gelatin structure.Therefore, it easily releases fluid, but at the same time sharply loses its physiological volume.This negatively affects its ability to maintain the physiological height of the intervertebral disc.
It begins to distribute the shock-absorbing load unevenly.There is an increase in the degree of pressure on the end plates.In their thickness, the process of sclerosis of capillary vessels begins.The end plates lose their ability to provide nutrition to the cartilaginous tissues of the disc and periosteum.This is the convexity stage.
If effective comprehensive treatment is not started at this stage, the fibrous ring will soon burst under the influence of physical activity.An intervertebral hernia is formed in the cervical spine.This complication of long-term osteochondrosis significantly worsens the quality of life and the degree of a person's ability to work.
The potential causes that lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae are:
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity on the muscle framework of the neck and collar area;
- overweight and obesity (each additional kilogram provokes a multiple increase in the shock-absorbing load on the cartilaginous intervertebral discs);
- sedentary work, during which there is prolonged static tension of the muscle fibers of the neck;
- improperly composed diet and insufficient consumption of clean drinking water during the day;
- curvature of the spine and poor posture (for example, round or curved back, scoliosis, etc.);
- smoking and drinking strong alcoholic beverages;
- violation of ergonomic rules when organizing bedrooms and work spaces;
- neck and collar injuries;
- endocrine and vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and accompanying diabetic angiopathy, etc.).
All of these potential causes should be addressed immediately.The faster you do this, the greater the chances that the damaged cartilage fiber will be fully restored.As a rule, an experienced doctor carefully collects data about the medical history during the initial examination.He then makes individual recommendations for each patient based on the information gathered.If the patient fulfills them, then 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 (it can be shooting, pulling, tearing, tapping - it depends on what caused the pain syndrome);
- muscle fiber tension, limited mobility;
- change in the position of the head, curvature of the spine (compensatory);
- headache and dizziness, reduced mental capacity (this is a consequence of impaired patency 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 methods of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine and vertigo - the choice usually remains for the patient, who is told by an experienced doctor 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 make an appointment with a vertebrologist at a specialized manual therapy clinic right now.The doctor will conduct a complete examination, make an accurate diagnosis and tell you how to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and the dizziness that develops as a result.
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 receive an individually developed course of treatment.
As a rule, treatment begins with several sessions of manual spinal traction.This procedure allows you to increase the height of the intervertebral spaces to the physiological norm.This helps straighten the annulus fibrosus tissue.The compression of the root nerves and their branches is eliminated.Pain syndrome and neurological clinical manifestations disappear.The patient may feel completely healthy.But the complete restoration of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is still far away.
It is necessary to undergo a full course of treatment aimed at normalizing the processes of diffuse metabolism, improving tissue trophism, strengthening the muscle framework of the neck and collar area.
This course of treatment may include the following procedures:
- osteopathy to restore the normal microcirculation of lymphatic fluid and blood in areas of degenerative-dystrophic tissue changes;
- massage to increase the elasticity of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons);
- reflexology to activate the hidden reserves of the human body to start the processes of natural regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue;
- physiotherapy, laser treatment, electromyostimulation;
- therapeutic gymnastics and kinesitherapy, etc.
The course of treatment is always developed individually for each patient.Therefore, if you contact a specialized clinic, then an effective and safe course of treatment will be developed for you, which will allow you to fully restore all the tissues of the spine.