There are several approaches on how to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine;only the patient can make the choice.Therefore, we invite you to learn about the differences in manual therapy 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 district clinic, where the vast majority of patients with neck pain go, there is no effective treatment regimen for osteochondrosis.This is a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.It develops when the nutrition of these fibers is interrupted.Therefore, for a complete recovery, it is first of all necessary to normalize the diffuse exchanges between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles that surround them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to recognize the fact that only this approach to treatment provides positive dynamics in the patient's condition.
It is proposed to use exclusively symptomatic methods of influence.They allow you to alleviate the symptoms that accompany the process of destruction of intervertebral discs.This is done deliberately because there are regulatory deadlines within which the patient must return to work.Human health is not taken into account in this process.The most important thing is to be discharged from sick leave on time.And to do this, it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
However, it is worth highlighting that 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 zone (they unload the intervertebral discs, protect the radicular nerves and convergence injuries of the adjacent vertebral bodies);
- inflammation, intended to increase blood microcirculation in the injury, but in fact causes infiltrative swelling of soft tissues and increased pain;
- changes in the position of the vertebral bodies, due to which shock-absorbing stress is relieved;
- pinching of a nerve fiber (root nerves, their branches, nerve plexus, large nerves extending from it);
- damage to the cranial nerves.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to eliminate all pathogenic factors that provoke the manifestation of the changes described above.Simply put, it is necessary 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 treatment and after its completion, there is a high probability of a relapse of the disease in the near future.
To understand the process of development of the degenerative-dystrophic process in cartilaginous tissues, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with some facts from anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs consist of a fibrous ring (a dense, elastic outer layer) and an inner nucleus pulposus (corpus pulposus that maintains the shape and height of the disc);
- they do not have their own circulatory network and can replenish liquid and nutrient reserves only through diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and end plates;
- the end plates are cartilaginous structures located between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs, they are dotted with capillaries and provide nutrition to the fibrous ring and the periosteum;
- the paravertebral muscles support 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;
- short transverse ligaments of the spine fix the vertebral bodies in the horizontal plane;
- the anterior and posterior long ligaments fix the entire spinal column and partially relieve the shock-absorbing load from it.
Degenerative dystrophic changes often begin with the paravertebral muscles not being subjected to regular physical activity.They lose the ability to provide complete diffuse nutrition to the fibrous ring.It starts to dehydrate and crack.Its surface becomes calcified (calcium salts precipitate in the cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse fluid exchange in the future.
Then the fibrous ring begins to remove fluid from the tissue located in the nucleus pulposus.It has a gelatinous jelly-like structure.Therefore, it easily releases liquid, but at the same time drastically loses its physiological volume.This negatively affects your ability to maintain the physiological height of the intervertebral disc.
It begins to distribute the shock absorption load unevenly.There is an increase in the degree of pressure on the endplates.In its thickness, the process of sclerosis of the capillaries begins.The endplates lose the ability to provide nutrition to the cartilaginous tissues of the disc and periosteum.This is the protrusion stage.
If comprehensive and effective treatment is not started at this stage, the fibrous ring will soon rupture under the influence of physical activity.An intervertebral hernia forms in the cervical spine.This complication of prolonged osteochondrosis significantly worsens the quality of life and the degree of human performance.
Potential causes leading to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- maintain a sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity in the muscular structure of the neck and collar region;
- overweight and obesity (each extra kilogram causes a multiple increase in the shock-absorbing load on the cartilaginous intervertebral discs);
- sedentary work, during which there is prolonged static tension of the neck muscle fiber;
- poorly composed diet and insufficient consumption of drinking water during the day;
- curvature of the spine and poor posture (e.g. round or hunched back, scoliosis, etc.);
- smoking and drinking strong alcoholic beverages;
- violation of ergonomic rules in the organization of sleeping and working spaces;
- injuries to the neck and collar region;
- endocrine and vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic angiopathy, etc.).
All of these potential causes must be addressed immediately.The faster you do this, the greater the chances that the damaged cartilage fiber will be completely restored.As a rule, an experienced doctor carefully collects medical history data during the initial examination.He then makes individual recommendations for each patient based on the information collected.If the patient carries them out, recovery will be faster and more intense.
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, hitting - it depends on what triggered the pain syndrome);
- tension of muscle fibers, limited mobility;
- change in head position, curvature of the spine (compensatory);
- headache and dizziness, decreased mental performance (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 in the patient's condition.
There are many methods of treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine and dizziness - the choice usually lies with the patient, to whom an experienced doctor tells 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 clinic specializing in manual therapy right now.The doctor will perform 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 of it.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine at home
Before treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine at home, you need to consult an experienced doctor.In most cases of the disease, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary.But first you must receive an individually developed 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 fibrous ring tissue.Compression of the radicular nerves and their branches is eliminated.The pain syndrome and neurological clinical manifestations disappear.The patient can feel completely healthy.However, the complete restoration of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs is still far away.
It is necessary to carry out a complete treatment aimed at normalizing diffuse metabolic processes, enhancing tissue trophism, strengthening the muscular structure of the neck and collar region.
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 the elasticity of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons);
- reflexology to activate the hidden reserves of the human body to initiate the natural regeneration processes of damaged cartilaginous tissue;
- physiotherapy, laser treatment, electrical myostimulation;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, etc.
The course of treatment is always developed individually for each patient.Therefore, if you contact a specialized clinic, an effective and safe treatment will be developed for you, which will allow you to completely restore all tissues of the spine.