Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

More than 25% of cases of disc degeneration are diagnosed as "cervical osteochondrosis"; its characteristic symptoms and treatment should be considered in as much detail as possible.It is understood that the manifestations of this disease are most often found in people aged 35-40 years, but now the age of patients with this disease has been significantly reduced.

To eliminate osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and its consequences, a conservative approach can: eliminate interference with the function of the spinal roots, neutralize the accompanying pain and prevent the further development of degenerative changes in specific parts of the spine.If non-surgical methods are deemed ineffective and there are specific indications, the patient may be recommended for surgical treatment.The amount of intervention depends on the degree of neglect and the clinical manifestations of the disease.

With the help of conservative treatment methods, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be eliminated in 1-3 months.The post-operative recovery period takes about a year.With the help of physical therapy procedures and special exercises, pain syndromes can be relieved as quickly as possible.To speed up the results, the patient's own positive attitude, dedication to treatment, patience and perseverance are extremely important.On this path, expert help is needed.Therefore, maximum treatment and rehabilitation results are possible only in modern medical clinics, equipped with the latest technologies and using the latest methods to combat diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

What methods does conservative comprehensive treatment include:

• Physical therapy.The method is a set of procedures that utilize physical factors: magnetic fields, low-frequency currents, ultrasound, etc.This effect allows you to shorten the duration of treatment and increase its effectiveness, neutralize pain and stop inflammatory processes.
• Reflexology.The technique involves using special methods to affect active areas and acupuncture points.It allows you to enhance basic treatments and activate the body's self-healing systems.
• Therapeutic exercise.The method involves the use of dose loading to decompress the nerve roots while practicing on special equipment.It allows you to improve the nutrition of the intervertebral discs, normalize metabolism and blood circulation, increase the distance between a certain vertebrae and reduce the load on the spine.
• Traction therapy.The procedure involves traction on the cervical spine to increase the space between the vertebrae, relieve inflammation, reduce pain and reduce pressure on blood vessels.
• Therapeutic massage.The process is performed manually by highly qualified experts.Use a set of techniques designed to relieve muscle tension and have an overall strengthening effect.
• Medication.If cervical osteochondrosis worsens, medication may be needed.To enhance the body's metabolic processes, prescription drugs are given by mouth or by injection.

Although each of the methods described has demonstrated benefits in combating the degenerative disc process, long-lasting results can only be achieved if they are used together.It is important to use specialized rehabilitation equipment to restore full muscular corsetry.

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women requires special considerations.According to statistics, female patients account for 2/3 of patients with this disease.This tendency is related to frequent changes in hormonal levels and the fragility of the bone structure of the spine.Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women should take into account age, the presence of symptoms of cardiovascular disease, and the status of the endocrine system.

Causes of osteochondrosis

It is believed that the main cause of cervical osteochondrosis is the inactive lifestyle of office workers and the elderly.However, lack of physical activity is not the only reason for the development of this disease.Today, even young people are not immune to the symptoms of this disease, and the number of elderly patients is steadily growing.Back injuries, frequent dynamic loading, and other factors may contribute to the development of the disease.Here is a list of them:

• genetic (genetic) predisposition;
• body poisoning;
• Infect;
• age-related changes;
• adverse environmental conditions;
• being overweight;
• Malnutrition leads to micronutrient deficiencies;
• spinal fractures and bruises;
• Cervical spine instability (hypermobility);
• flatfoot;
• Curvature of the spine (scoliosis);
• Developmental abnormalities of the cervical spine;
• incorrect posture;
• Imbalanced skeletal system and muscle development;
• Wearing shoes that are too tight, uncomfortable, or have heels that are too high;
• Being in stressful situations for long periods of time;
• Sudden cessation of regular exercise;
• smoking;
• nervousness;
• low temperature;
• Foot diseases.

People who often engage in heavy physical labor often suffer from cervical osteochondrosis; symptoms may appear quickly and treatment must begin immediately.The causes are: lifting heavy objects, jerking movements, and frequent flexion, extension, and rotation of the body.The pressure on the discs between the vertebrae also increases when you remain in unnatural positions (standing, lying, sitting) for long periods of time.An abrupt transition to active physical exercise, especially those involving moving heavy objects, may also lead to cervical osteochondrosis.To prevent this from happening, doctors recommend starting to gradually increase the load under the supervision of an experienced trainer.

It is worth noting that the disease occurring in the cervical spine is considered the most dangerous type of disc dystrophy.It can cause compression of the nerve endings exiting the spinal cord and cause a cerebrovascular accident.Therefore, people who are at risk due to the above-mentioned reasons should pay attention to their health condition, even if it is a slight deterioration, and contact an experienced specialist if a disease is suspected.

The progression of cervical osteochondrosis

If a patient is diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor must determine the stage of the disease and adopt effective treatment based on the overall symptoms.Diagnostic MRI or radiological examination of different projection areas must be performed.During its development, the disease goes through four stages.Let's take a closer look at them.

Grade one osteochondrosis is diagnosed in the preclinical stages of the disease.At this time, the disease is in its early stages of development, but the patient can already feel its manifestations.First, he started to feel a slight pain in his neck, which became worse if he turned his head.In this part of the spine, at this point, the cartilage template loses its elasticity and compression occurs.Patients may notice that their neck muscles begin to tire quickly even with small loads.Treatment for this stage of the disease is usually medication aimed at relieving swelling.

Level II cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed when the disease begins to cover new areas and progress.During this time, the spine itself begins to undergo destructive changes—the discs thin and the vertebrae move closer together, squeezing the roots of nerve fibers.The patient complained of very severe pins and needles in the neck.Weakness, general malaise, and headache were also noted.

As cervical osteochondrosis progresses to this stage due to frequent exacerbations of the condition, "head-down" syndrome may occur.It is characterized by almost constant pain, which can be relieved only by supporting the head with the hands and redistributing the load on the vertebrae.In this case, the patient's treatment should include not only taking prescribed medications, but also special procedures.

Grade III osteochondrosis is a dangerous, complex form in which patients experience persistent, severe pain in the neck area that spreads to the shoulders or arms.The patient's X-rays will clearly show pathological narrowing of the spinal canal and a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae.During this stage, a hernia may begin to develop, causing a loss of sensation in the hand.Other symptoms include: cervical curvature, pain on palpation, inability to hold the head on its own, and loss of skin sensitivity.During this course of the disease, the patient is treated as in the previous stage.If there is no improvement, then surgery and rehabilitation are inevitable.

Level IV disease is diagnosed when the disc is almost completely destroyed and connective tissue forms in its place.During this dangerous period, the risk of pinching an artery and disrupting the brain's natural nutrition is high.If this occurs, the patient will experience periodic spatial disorientation along with persistent pain and dizziness.

Also worth mentioning is the recovery phase after disc herniation surgery.Patients should be under the supervision of a doctor and undergo regular check-ups to prevent worsening of the condition.During this period, it is necessary to provide him with the most comfortable conditions to allow the surgical site to heal.Conservative supportive care was prescribed.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

Many people do not realize the importance of immediate treatment upon noticing the first symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis.When the disease first appears, it is often mistaken for a common illness.However, the problem can worsen over time, posing danger to the entire body.If the work of the nerves and arteries in the neck is damaged, the brain won't get enough nutrients.This can lead to ongoing pain, loss of coordination, and impaired motor activity.Of course, such a life cannot be called complete.If this disease is ignored, in addition to being unable to perform daily activities, it may also lead to stroke, ischemia and many other diseases, posing a serious threat to life.

The structure of the cervical spine is somewhat different from the rest of the spine, so the symptoms of osteochondrosis in this area are quite specific.The following are signs that you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible:

• Painful feeling.They can appear not only in designated areas, but also in other parts of the body such as the head, arms, shoulders, etc.This is explained by compression of nerve endings and muscle spasms.
• General weakness, dizziness, and general malaise.It occurs when an artery becomes squeezed, causing difficulty in blood circulation in the cervical spine and interruption of nutrition to the brain.
• Arm weakness.Occurs due to pinching of nerves responsible for motor activity.
• Crunching and difficulty turning the head.They occur when the disc structure begins to change and dense connective tissue forms in its place.
• Decreased hand sensitivity.Explained by nervousness.
• Vision and hearing worsen.These symptoms appear in the final stages of the disease, when blood circulation in the cerebellum region is disrupted.

Among the clinical symptoms of the disease, several syndromes can be distinguished:

• Koreshkovi.It manifests as severe pain in the neck that spreads to the shoulder blades, shoulders, or lumbar area.
• vertebrate.It is characterized by throbbing pain in the temples and occipital area.
• reflection.It manifests as severe pain in the back of the neck that worsens with head movement.The pain may be concentrated in the chest and shoulders.
• Cardinal.This syndrome is often confused with symptoms of angina.Diagnosing it independently is quite difficult.Often, people who feel pain in the heart area treat it as an attack and start taking appropriate medications, such as nitroglycerin.Since these medications don't solve the problem, the condition can quickly get worse.

To determine the severity of a disease, it's not enough to know the symptoms.In order to develop an effective treatment plan, the doctor must collect detailed information about the patient: find out whether there are relatives in the family suffering from cervical osteochondrosis, ask about their occupational activities and lifestyle.This is followed by visual inspection, palpation, computed tomography, cervical spine X-ray, and MRI.

The picture becomes more complex when it comes to subtypes of the disease, such as cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis.Its symptoms are unclear, so it is difficult to correctly identify the disease - this can only be entrusted to experienced specialists.Typically, patients complain of dizziness, migraines in various parts of the head, neck and lower back pain, chest pain when coughing, shortness of breath, gray skin, increased heart rate, persistent fatigue, and mood swings.All of these may resemble symptoms of vegetative vascular dystonia or angina, so diagnosis may be confusing.

Osteochondrosis Treatment in Greek Centers

The rehabilitation center offers treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine for women and men using the most modern physical therapy methods.The clinic is located on Greece's picturesque Chalkidiki peninsula, washed by the waves of the Aegean Sea.Patients undergoing inpatient or outpatient treatment can easily combine it with relaxation at Pearl Beach, walks in the picturesque area and exciting sightseeing excursions.Healing sea air and ideal climate conditions contribute to rapid recovery.

Thanks to the use of modern equipment, the diagnosis of the stages of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in rehabilitation centers is as accurate as possible - errors are completely eliminated.Treatment includes a range of procedures designed to restore connective tissue and disc elasticity, relieve inflammation, relieve pain, normalize metabolic processes, and generally improve the patient's health.

A multidisciplinary team of experts provides qualified care to the center's patients.For professional rehabilitation until complete recovery, extensive physical therapy procedures are required, as well as the use of robotic and computer equipment.Utilize the latest methods of treating and repairing damaged cells in cervical osteochondrosis, such as PRP therapy.The complex includes spinal traction and hydromassage.To quickly eliminate pain in the affected area, a highly effective treatment method is used - a physical therapy method based on the targeted impact of radio waves that are safe for humans.

The clinic's high-quality medical services are combined with excellent living conditions in comfortable hotel-style rooms equipped with everything you need.Experienced staff provide 24/7 support and assistance to patients.

In order to get rid of pain and stiffness in the cervical spine and other consequences of osteochondrosis as quickly as possible, patients must carefully monitor the quality of their diet.It is important that during recovery the body receives adequate amounts of substances responsible for the synthesis of cartilage tissue.You also need to limit salt intake, include fresh fruits and vegetables in your menu, and monitor the calorie content of your dishes.In a rehab center, experts will take care of your diet.You will be able to taste delicious dishes prepared by our chefs based on homemade Greek cuisine recipes and taking into account your dietary habits.

The clinic creates all the conditions so that you can not only return to your previous quality of life, but also get a good rest.Enjoy our library, playground and beautiful gardens.No matter how long your treatment lasts, you'll feel right at home.