How to treat cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is called pathological processes in the cartilage of the intervertebral discs and nearby tissues. The disease can occur on any part of the spinal column, however, the cervical spine is more susceptible to osteochondrosis. This is due to the anatomical features of the body. The vertebrae in the neck are smaller than those in the thoracic and lumbar regions and are very close to each other. In addition, the neck is characterized by increased mobility and undergoes regular stress while holding the head.

Why does the disease appear

The development of the disease is primarily associated with changes due to age. Other reasons are noted:

• lack of physical activity;
• spine diseases;
• excessive overload;
• improper posture;
• unfavorable heredity;
• increased body weight;
• autoimmune disorders in which cartilage is damaged.

The condition of bone and cartilage tissue is seriously affected by nutrition. The development of pathology is facilitated by a diet with a lack of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, vitamins A and E, vitamin D. The high-risk group includes office workers, professional athletes, people who are engaged in hard physical labor.

How to identify cervical osteochondrosis

Symptoms of the disease depend on the clinical case and stage of development. The most common signs are:

• pains that affect not only the neck and head, but also other parts of the body;
• weakness, decreased sensitivity of the hands, numbness of the face;
• a crunch in the neck when you need to turn your head;
• dizziness, weakness, darkening in the eyes caused by pinched blood vessels;
• deterioration of vision and hearing.

Pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae bothers almost all patients. With pathology, the vessels, bundles of nerve endings in the neck area are pinched. As a rule, the pain is most felt in the region of the head, occiput, shoulders, and radiates to the scapula and chest.

Against the background of the disease, the heart rhythm may be disturbed. In the neck area, there are several arteries that are responsible for the blood supply to the brain. When the blood vessels are pinched, the patient faces problems such as impaired coordination of movements, arrhythmia, and ischemic heart disease. In severe cases, the obstruction of blood circulation leads to strokes and other life-threatening conditions.

Stages of the disease

Disease progression is divided into four stages:

• At the initial stage, bone and cartilage tissue is just beginning to break down. Pathology manifests itself as slight pain and fatigue, which patients associate with stress.
• At the second stage, there is a decrease in the disc, the appearance of cracks. The pain increases, there may be numbness of the face and decreased sensitivity of the limbs.
• In the third stage, intervertebral hernias begin to form. The process affects muscles and blood vessels. The patient experiences not only pain, but also dizziness.
• At the last stage, the growth of bone tissue occurs, the nerve endings are pinched. The disease manifests itself with pronounced symptoms: pain, dizziness, numbness. Many patients have impaired motor activity.

Diagnostics

If you suspect cervical osteochondrosis, the patient needs to consult a neurologist and undergo a diagnosis. Its task is to assess the condition of bone and cartilage tissue. Previously, x-rays were used to diagnose diseases of the spine. Now preference is given to more advanced research methods:

• CT scan;
• MRI;
• duplex scanning of the vessels of the cervical spine.

Most often, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis. It allows you to determine the presence and location of hernias, the speed of blood flow, the presence of obstacles to normal blood circulation.

Treatment

A patient diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine needs to reconsider his lifestyle, ensure regular physical activity, and eat right. To improve the condition, it is recommended to sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a comfortable pillow to relieve stress from the spine.

Medications

With cervical osteochondrosis, the patient is shown drugs that relieve inflammation, improve blood flow, and reduce pain. The doctor prescribes medicines for vasodilation, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to improve cerebral circulation, chondroprotectors - means to restore cartilage tissue. To slow down the decay of bone tissue, the body needs B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is the main method of treating osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Specialists use many procedures, the task of which is to improve metabolic processes in bone and cartilaginous tissues, reduce pain, relieve spasm and improve blood circulation. Here are the basic techniques:

• Shockwave therapy. . . Low frequency acoustic waves affect the cartilage tissue of the cervical spine. They contribute to the restoration of tissues, slow down the formation of osteophytes - growths on bones that squeeze nerve endings and blood vessels. The source of low-frequency waves is a special apparatus, therefore it is possible to take the SWT course only on the basis of a medical institution.
• Massage. . . This is the most common method of conservative therapy for cervical osteochondrosis. Massage helps to improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms. The technique of therapeutic massage is selected depending on the stage of the disease and the clinical picture. This is a very important condition, since if the massage is performed unprofessionally, it can harm the patient, cause a deterioration in well-being. It is worth giving up massage for vascular diseases, high blood pressure. During an exacerbation, massage should be as delicate as possible. Stroking, rubbing are allowed, that is, impact on the upper layers of tissues.
• Therapeutic gymnastics (exercise therapy). . . Exercise therapy helps to strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation. There are special sets of exercises for patients with osteochondrosis. Gymnastics can be performed not only in the office of a medical institution, but also at home. As a rule, exercise therapy is most effective during the period of remission, when the patient does not feel severe pain. Wellness exercises should be combined with walks, water procedures.
• Acupuncture. . . This is an auxiliary method for treating osteochondrosis, which is based on the effect of special needles on biologically active points. Thanks to this, metabolism is activated, pain syndrome decreases.
• Kinesitherapy. . . This is a hardware technique that is used to treat diseases of the spine, rehabilitation after injuries. Thanks to the exercises, the load is removed from the spine, its mobility is improved, and blood circulation is restored. Kinesitherapy classes are conducted under the guidance of an instructor. There are many methods and apparatus for conducting exercises, therefore, a suitable set of exercises is selected for each patient.
• Laser therapy. . . Thanks to laser radiation, a positive effect is achieved, the patient's well-being improves. The procedure reduces inflammation and pain, and has a positive effect on metabolic processes.
• Electrotherapy. . . Specialists use devices that are a source of galvanic, pulsed, alternating current. The purpose of the procedure is to reduce pain, relieve spasm, and stimulate.
• Water procedures. . . Water is the best medicine for osteochondrosis. Patients with this disease are shown therapeutic baths, swimming, underwater massage. Very useful for the prevention and treatment of pathology is a regular visit to the pool.

Surgery for osteochondrosis

Spine surgery for osteochondrosis is indicated for patients with an advanced stage of the disease, in which it is not possible to achieve remission by conservative methods. Surgery is used to remove herniated discs and affected discs. Also, operations are performed to expand the diameter of the spinal canal, remove the vertebral arch. Their goal is to eliminate compression of the nerves and spinal cord, which allows you to get rid of discomfort.

All manipulations are performed under anesthesia using X-ray and microsurgical control.
For disc protrusion, the method of laser discectomy is used. This is a minimally invasive technique that allows you to vaporize the nucleus pulposus of the disc using a laser beam and thereby eliminate compression.

Nutrition for osteochondrosis

Improper nutrition increases the risks of developing degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which include osteochondrosis. To slow down pathological processes in bones and cartilage, it is necessary to provide the body with a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. The diet should include:

• dairy products - a source of calcium;
• fresh vegetables and herbs;
• legumes, nuts, seeds - a source of protein, magnesium, B vitamins;
• cereals, baked goods with the addition of whole grains;
• lean meat;
• Fish and seafood;
• olive and other vegetable oils;
• jelly, jellied meat, jellied dishes.

There are no strict dietary restrictions, but there are foods that are undesirable to consume in large quantities. First of all, it is strong tea and coffee, which impair the absorption of calcium and vitamins. Foods that are high in salt will also be unhealthy.