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 find out how manual therapy for this disease differs 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 cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.It develops when the nutrition of these fibers is disturbed.Therefore, for a complete recovery, it is necessary first of all to normalize the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles that surround them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to acknowledge 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 influence.They allow you to alleviate the symptoms that accompany the process of destruction of the intervertebral discs.This is done on purpose as there are regulatory deadlines within which the patient must return to work.Human health is not considered in this process.The most important thing is that you are released from sick leave on time.And for that it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
In the meantime, it is worth understanding 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 of the muscles of the neck and neck zone (they relieve the intervertebral discs, provide protection for 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 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 the nerve fiber (radicular nerves, their branches, nerve plexus, 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.Simply put, it is necessary to restore all damaged tissues and create appropriate 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 course of recovery.
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 disease recurrence in the near future.
In order to understand the process of development of the degenerative-dystrophic process in cartilage tissues, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with some facts from anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs consist of a fibrous ring (dense and elastic outer sheath) and an internal nucleus pulposus (corpus pulposus that maintains the shape and height of the disc);
- they do not have their own circulatory network and can replenish fluid and nutritional reserves only by diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and end plates;
- the end plates are cartilaginous structures located between the bodies of the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs, they are interspersed with capillary vessels and ensure the nutrition of the fibrous ring and periosteum;
- paravertebral muscles support the spinal column 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 impact-absorbing load.
Degenerative dystrophic changes usually begin with the fact that the paravertebral muscles are not subjected to regular physical activity.They lose the ability to provide complete diffuse nutrition to the annulus fibrosus.It starts to dehydrate and crack.Its surface becomes calcified (calcium salts are deposited in the cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse fluid exchange in the future.
Then the fibrous ring begins to take fluid from the located tissue of the nucleus pulposus.It has a gelatinous jelly-like structure.Therefore, it easily releases fluid, but at the same time it rapidly loses its physiological volume.This negatively affects its ability to maintain the physiological height of the intervertebral disc.
It begins to unevenly distribute the shock-absorbing load.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 cartilage tissue of the disc and periosteum.This is the protrusion stage.
If effective, comprehensive treatment is not started at this stage, the fibrous annulus will soon rupture 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 level of human ability.
Potential causes that lead to the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity on the muscular framework of the neck and collar;
- overweight and obesity (each extra kilogram causes a multiple increase in the load on the cartilaginous intervertebral discs that absorb shocks);
- sedentary work, during which there is long-term static tension of the muscle fibers in the neck;
- improperly prepared diet and insufficient consumption of clean drinking water during the day;
- curvature of the spine and poor posture (for example, round or hunched back, scoliosis, etc.);
- smoking and drinking strong alcoholic beverages;
- violation of ergonomic rules when organizing sleeping and working spaces;
- injuries in the neck and collar area;
- 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 chance that the damaged cartilage fiber will be completely restored.As a rule, an experienced doctor carefully collects data from the medical history during the initial examination.It then makes individual recommendations for each patient based on the collected information.If the patient performs them, 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 collarbone area (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 irritability, 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 with 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 key priority.
You can already make an appointment with a vertebrologist in a specialized clinic for manual therapy.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 must receive an individually developed therapy.
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 removed.Pain syndrome and neurological clinical manifestations disappear.The patient may feel completely healthy.However, the complete restoration of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs is still a long way off.
A complete treatment aimed at normalizing the process of diffuse metabolism, strengthening tissue trophism, and strengthening the muscular framework of the neck and collarbone is needed.
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 process of natural regeneration of damaged cartilage 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, then an effective and safe treatment will be developed for you, which will allow you to completely restore all the tissues of the spinal column.