It is important to recognize the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis in time in order to seek qualified medical help and prevent the negative consequences of the disease - chronic hypertension, heart attack, stroke, partial or complete limitation of motor activity, disability.
Why is osteochondrosis dangerous?
The main function of the intervertebral discs is cushioning and preventing any damage to the vertebrae during walking, running and jumping. In addition, they ensure the mobility of the entire spine.
As the body ages naturally and under the influence of unfavorable factors - stress, injury, excessive physical activity - the height of the intervertebral discs decreases. The progression of osteochondrosis causes the following complications:
- The dense fibrous ring of the intervertebral discs is destroyed and cracks appear in it.
- The contours of the intervertebral disc move beyond physiological limits, forming a bulge
- Without the help of specialists in the previous stages, the patient faces rupture of the fibrous ring and hernia
- On cartilage and bone tissue, osteophytes form - pathological growths, which become one of the causes of reduced mobility of the spine and pain.
- The roots of the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues are subject to compression and inflammation
Features of cervical osteochondrosis that are not discussed
Many people mistakenly believe that osteochondrosis is exclusively an age-related disease. But, in most cases, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine begins to develop in childhood as a result of birth trauma. For many children, the first clear symptoms appear when they start school. In that period, the already existing negative phenomena and factors are joined by the need for prolonged sitting in a forced position, physical inactivity and neck muscle spasms as a reaction to stress.
Many birth injuries of the cervical spine are not noticeable during a normal visual examination. Although it is precisely because of them that children, and then adults, experience serious problems with the respiratory, cardiac, central nervous system, sensory and motor functions of the body.
What threatens the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine?
The brain is responsible for regulating the entire body. It is also the main consumer of oxygen that comes through the blood.
The brain is supplied with blood by the basilar artery. It, on the other hand, is formed by the joining of two vertebral arteries that pass through the cervical vertebrae.
Deformations and damage to the intervertebral discs lead to instability and displacement of the cervical vertebrae. Compression of one or both vertebral arteries occurs, due to which the oxygen supply to the brain decreases and it begins to send commands to increase pressure. This is how chronic non-communicable diseases develop, especially hypertension.
Over time, patients experience disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The risk of stroke, heart attack and coronary heart disease increases significantly. In men - impotence.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
- Spasm and restriction of neck mobility, pain when turning and tilting the head
- Burning, pain, feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing
- Numbness and coldness of the hands or just the fingers
- Pain and burning in the chest
- Lack of air
- Chronic hypertension
- Headache, migraine
- Dizziness, fainting
- Noise and ringing in the ears
- Reduced visual acuity, the appearance of spots before the eyes
- Increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance
- Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness
- Sleep disorders
- Chronic depression
- Panic attacks
- Pain of varying intensity, spreading to the neck, shoulders, collarbones, upper back and the entire surface of the head from the back of the head to the forehead
If you notice any of the above symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, we recommend that you immediately consult a specialist in a modern clinic. Professional doctors will perform comprehensive diagnostics and develop individual treatment procedures.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in men and women in the clinic
The patented technique of the candidate of medical sciences, Dr. Alexander Yurievich Shishonin, allows you to stop the development of osteochondrosis and significantly improve the well-being of patients of all ages.
At the initial examination, the clinic's specialists perform a microanatomical ultrasound of the neck vessels in order to measure the speed of blood flow and identify muscle spasms that cause compression of the vertebral arteries.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine includes:
Physical therapy. Physical inactivity is one of the key reasons for the development of osteochondrosis. Therefore, an individual set of physical exercises is developed for each patient. The complex of exercise therapy is prescribed based on the diagnosis, the patient's health condition and the presence of acute or chronic diseases.
All exercises are performed under the supervision of certified instructors on special simulators, which helps restore muscle tone and strengthen the muscle corset.
Correction of the deep muscles of the neck and back. Correctologists at the clinic restore blood flow to the brain through manual manipulation of the deep muscles of the neck and vertebrae. Blood pressure normalizes, cognitive functions improve - memory, concentration, mental performance.
Prevention of the development of cervical osteochondrosis
You can prevent the appearance or development of the disease by following the following recommendations:
- Go for long daily walks. In total, you must take at least 6, 000 steps per day.
- Doing sports. The load must not be excessive. Start with manageable exercises, gradually increasing the duration of the exercise and the number of repetitions.
- Balance your diet and maintain a normal body weight.
- Perform Dr. 's neck exercises. Shishonina.