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 very often lead the patient to disability or the need for surgery.
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 complete recovery, it is first necessary to normalize the widespread exchange between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles surrounding them.Unfortunately, official medicine does not want to recognize the fact that only this approach to treatment gives positive dynamics to 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 the intervertebral discs.This is done deliberately because there are regulatory deadlines by which the patient must return to work.Human health is not taken into consideration in this process.The most important thing is to be discharged from sick leave on time.And for this it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
In the meantime, it is worth realizing 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 area (they unload the intervertebral discs, provide protection to the root nerves and injuries due to the convergence of adjacent vertebral bodies);
- inflammation, designed to increase blood microcirculation in the lesion, but in reality 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 (radicular nerves, their branches, nerve plexus, large nerves extending from it);
- damage to paired 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.
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 continues during treatment and after its completion, there is a high probability of recurrence of the disease in the near future.
To understand the process of development of the dystrophic degenerative process in cartilaginous tissues, we suggest you familiarize yourself with some facts of anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs are made up of a fibrous ring (a dense and elastic external shell) 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 their fluid and nutrient reserves only through widespread exchanges with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and endplates;
- the end plates are cartilaginous structures located between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs, they are dotted with capillary vessels and provide nourishment to the fibrous ring and the periosteum;
- the paravertebral muscles support the spine in a vertical position, giving it flexibility and plasticity;
- the interspinous yellow ligaments fix the position of the vertebral bodies in the longitudinal direction;
- the short transverse ligaments of the vertebral column fix the vertebral bodies in the horizontal plane;
- the anterior and posterior long ligaments fix the entire spinal column and partially relieve its shock load.
Dystrophic degenerative changes usually begin with the fact that the paravertebral muscles are not subjected to regular physical activity.They lose the ability to provide widespread and complete nourishment to the fibrous ring.It begins to dehydrate and break down.Its surface becomes calcified (calcium salts precipitate into the cracks) - this prevents the normal process of widespread exchange of liquids in the future.
Then the annulus fibrosus begins to draw fluid from the localized tissue of the nucleus pulposus.It has a gelatinous structure similar to gelatin.Therefore, it easily releases liquid, 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 load unevenly.There is an increased degree of pressure on the end plates.In their thickness the process of sclerosis of the capillary vessels begins.The endplates lose their ability to provide nutrition to the cartilaginous tissues of the disc and periosteum.This is the protrusion phase.
If effective and comprehensive treatment is not started at this stage, the fibrous ring will soon break down under the influence of physical activity.An intervertebral hernia forms in the cervical spine.This complication of long-term 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 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;
- incorrectly 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 in the organization of spaces for sleeping and working;
- lesions in the neck and collar area;
- endocrine and vascular pathologies (atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and concomitant diabetic angiopathy, etc.).
All of these potential causes should be addressed promptly.The faster you do this, the greater the chance that the damaged cartilage fiber will be fully restored.As a rule, an experienced doctor carefully collects anamnesis data during the initial examination.It then makes individual recommendations for each patient based on the information collected.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 collar area (can be shooting, pulling, tearing, tapping - depends on what triggered the pain syndrome);
- muscle fiber tension, limited mobility;
- change in head position, curvature of the spine (compensatory);
- headache and dizziness, decreased mental performance (this is a consequence of reduced patency of the posterior vertebral arteries);
- increased nervous excitability, emotional instability, panic attacks, etc.
Before treating cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, it is necessary to understand which symptoms are associated with what.The use of symptomatic exposure methods is strictly prohibited.This can only lead to a significant worsening of 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 key priority.
You can immediately make an appointment with a vertebrologist in a clinic specializing in manual therapy.The doctor will carry out a complete examination, make an accurate diagnosis and explain to 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 need to consult an experienced doctor.In most cases of illness, hospitalization of the patient is not necessary.But first you need to receive an individually developed course of treatment.
As a rule, treatment begins with several sessions of manual traction of the spine.This procedure allows you to increase the height of the intervertebral spaces to the physiological norm.This helps straighten the fibrous tissue of the ring.Compression of the root nerves and their branches is eliminated.The painful 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 a full course of treatment aimed at normalizing the processes of widespread metabolism, improving tissue trophism, strengthening the muscular structure 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 changes in dystrophic tissue;
- massage to increase the elasticity of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons);
- foot reflexology to activate the hidden reserves of the human body to start the natural regeneration processes of damaged cartilage tissue;
- physiotherapy, laser treatment, electrical myostimulation;
- therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy, etc.
The course of treatment is always developed individually for each patient.Therefore, if you turn to a specialized clinic, an effective and safe course of treatment will be developed for you, which will allow you to completely restore all the tissues of the spine.