There are several approaches to how to treat cervical osteochondrosis of the spine; only the patient can make the choice.Therefore, we invite you to learn about 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 disrupted.Therefore, for a full recovery, it is necessary first of all to normalize the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral discs and the paravertebral muscles surrounding 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 proposed to use exclusively symptomatic methods of influence.They allow you to relieve 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 for this it is enough to remove the pain syndrome.
Meanwhile, 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 zone (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 this provokes infiltrative swelling of soft tissues and increased pain;
- changes in the position of the vertebral bodies, due to which the shock-absorbing stress is relieved;
- pinching of a 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 provoke the manifestation of the changes described above.Simply put, you need 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, then 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 cartilage tissues, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with some facts from anatomy and physiology:
- intervertebral discs consist of a fibrous ring (a dense and elastic outer 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 fluid and nutrition reserves only through diffuse exchange with the surrounding tissues of the paravertebral muscles and endplates;
- endplates are cartilaginous structures located between the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs, they are dotted with capillary vessels and provide nutrition to 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 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 complete diffuse nutrition to the fibrous ring.It begins to dehydrate and crack.Its surface becomes calcified (calcium salts precipitate in cracks) - this prevents the normal process of diffuse exchange of liquids in the future.
Then the fibrous ring begins to take fluid from the located tissue of the nucleus pulposus.It has a jelly-like gelatinous structure.Therefore, it easily gives off 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 absorbing load unevenly.There is an increase in the degree of pressure on the endplates.In their thickness, the process of sclerosis of capillary vessels starts.The endplates lose their ability to provide nutrition to the cartilage tissues of the disc and the periosteum.This is the protrusion 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 complication of long-term osteochondrosis significantly worsens the quality of life and degree of human performance.
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 frame of the neck and collar area;
- overweight and obesity (every extra 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 fiber in the neck;
- incorrectly composed diet and insufficient consumption of clean drinking water during the day;
- curvature of the spinal column and poor posture (for example, a round or stooped back, scoliosis, etc.);
- smoking and drinking strong alcoholic drinks;
- 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 promptly.The faster you do this, the higher 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 performs them, then recovery proceeds faster and more intensely.
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 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 methods of exposure 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 tells 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 full 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 required.But you must first receive an individually developed course of treatment.
As a rule, treatment begins with several sessions of manual traction of the spinal column.This procedure allows you to increase the height of the intervertebral spaces to the physiological norm.This helps to straighten the annulus fibrosus tissue.Compression of the root nerves and their branches is eliminated.The pain syndrome and neurological clinical manifestations disappear.The patient may feel completely healthy.However, complete restoration of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is still far away.
It is required to undergo a full course of treatment aimed at normalizing the processes of diffuse metabolism, enhancing tissue trophism, strengthening the muscular frame 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 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 processes 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 course of treatment will be developed for you, which will allow you to completely restore all the tissues of the spinal column.