There are several approaches to treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine;only the patient can make this 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.It is a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.It develops when the nutrition of these fibers is disrupted.Thus, for complete recovery, it is first necessary to normalize the diffuse exchanges between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles which surround them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to recognize that only this therapeutic approach gives a positive dynamic to the patient's condition.
It is proposed to use exclusively symptomatic methods of influence.They help relieve the symptoms that accompany the process of destruction of the 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 get out of sick leave on time.And for this, it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
In the meantime, you should know that pain is part of a protective mechanism that prevents the permanent 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, protect the radicular nerves and injuries due to the convergence of adjacent vertebral bodies);
- inflammation, designed to increase blood microcirculation in the lesion, but actually causes infiltrative swelling of soft tissues and increased pain;
- changes in the position of the vertebral bodies, whereby the stress of shock absorption is relieved;
- pinching of a nerve fiber (radicular nerves, their branches, nerve plexus, large nerves branching off from them);
- damage to paired cranial nerves.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is necessary to eliminate all pathogenic factors provoking the manifestation of the changes described above.Simply put, you need to restore all damaged tissues and create conditions for their regeneration.
Comprehensive 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 persists during treatment and after its completion, there is a high probability of relapse of the disease in the near future.
To understand the process of development of the degenerative dystrophic process in cartilaginous tissues, we suggest familiarizing yourself with some facts of anatomy and physiology:
- the intervertebral discs are made up of a fibrous annulus (a dense and elastic outer shell) and an internal nucleus pulposus (pulp body that maintains the shape and height of the disc);
- they do not have their own circulatory network and can only replenish their water and nutritional reserves by diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and vertebral endplates;
- the vertebral endplates are cartilaginous structures located between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs, they are dotted with capillary vessels and provide nutrition to the annulus fibrosus and the periosteum;
- the paravertebral muscles support the spine in a vertical position, giving it flexibility and plasticity;
- the interspinous ligaments yellowe fix the position of the vertebral bodies in the longitudinal direction;
- short transverse spinal ligaments attach the vertebral bodies in the horizontal plane;
- the anterior and posterior long ligaments fix the entire spine and partially relieve the shock absorption load.
Degenerative dystrophic changes usually begin with the paravertebral muscles not being subjected to regular physical activity.They lose their ability to provide complete diffuse nutrition to the annulus fibrosus.It begins to dehydrate and crack.Its surface calcifies (calcium salts precipitate into the cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse exchange of fluids in the future.
Next, the annulus fibrosus begins to draw fluid from the localized tissue of the nucleus pulposus.It has a gelatinous, jelly-like structure.Therefore, it easily exudes fluid, but at the same time strongly loses its physiological volume.This negatively affects its 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 end plates.In their thickness, the process of sclerosis of capillary vessels begins.The vertebral endplates lose their ability to nourish the cartilaginous tissues of the disc and periosteum.This is the mating stage.
If effective comprehensive treatment is not started at this stage, the annulus fibrosus will soon rupture under the influence of physical activity.An intervertebral hernia forms in the cervical spine.This long-term complication of 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:
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle without regular physical activity on the muscular structure of the neck and collar area;
- overweight and obesity (each additional kilogram causes a multiple increase in the shock absorption 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 when arranging sleeping and working spaces;
- neck and collar injuries;
- endocrine and vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and accompanying diabetic angiopathy, etc.).
All of these potential causes must be addressed promptly.The sooner you perform this operation, the greater the chance that the damaged cartilage fiber will be completely restored.Typically, 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 performs them, recovery takes place 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 pull, pull, tear, tap - 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 (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 remains with the patient, to whom an experienced doctor explains all the possibilities and prospects of using one or another approach.Therefore, consultation with an experienced vertebrologist is always an essential priority.
You can now make an appointment with a vertebrologist in a clinic specializing in manual therapy.The doctor will conduct a comprehensive 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, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary.But first you need to follow an individually developed treatment.
Typically, treatment begins with several sessions of manual spinal traction.This procedure allows the height of the intervertebral spaces to be increased to the physiological norm.This helps straighten the tissue of the annulus fibrosus.Compression of root 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 undergo comprehensive treatment aimed at normalizing the processes of diffuse metabolism, improving tissue trophism and strengthening the muscular structure of the neck and collar region.
This 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 launch the natural regeneration processes of damaged cartilage tissue;
- physiotherapy, laser treatment, electrical myostimulation;
- therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy, 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 spinal tissues.