It is important to recognize the first signs of cervical osteochondrosis in time 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 to cushion and prevent damage to the vertebrae during walking, running and jumping. They also provide mobility to the entire spine.
With the natural aging of the body and due to the influence of adverse factors - stress, injury, excessive physical activity - the height of the intervertebral discs decreases. The progression of osteochondrosis provokes the following complications:
- The dense fibrous ring of the intervertebral discs is destroyed and cracks appear in it.
- The contours of the intervertebral disc are displaced beyond physiological limits, forming a protrusion
- Without the help of specialists at the previous stages, the patient is faced with rupture of the fibrous ring and hernia
- Osteophytes are formed on the cartilaginous and bone tissues - pathological growths, which become one of the causes of reduced mobility of the spine and pain.
- The roots of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues are subject to compression and inflammation
Features of cervical osteochondrosis that are not talked about
Many people mistakenly believe that osteochondrosis is an exclusively 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. It is during this period that the already existing negative phenomena and factors are joined by the need for prolonged sitting in a forced position, lack of physical activity and neck muscle spasms as a reaction to stress.
Many birth injuries to the cervical spine are not apparent on 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 vertebrae?
The brain is responsible for regulating the entire body. It is also the main consumer of oxygen, which comes through the blood.
The blood supply to the brain is carried out by the basilar artery. It, in turn, is formed by the fusion of two vertebral arteries that pass through the cervical vertebrae.
Deformation and damage to the intervertebral discs leads to instability and displacement of the cervical vertebrae. Compression of one or both vertebral arteries occurs, as a result of which the supply of oxygen to the brain is reduced and it begins to send commands to increase the pressure. This is how chronic non-infectious diseases develop, especially hypertension.
Over time, patients experience disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The risk of stroke, heart attack and ischemic heart disease increases significantly. In men - impotence.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae
- Spasm and limitation of mobility of the neck, pain when turning and tilting the head
- Burning, soreness, 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
- Decreased visual acuity, appearance of dots before the eyes
- Increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, reduced work capacity
- Difficult concentration, forgetfulness
- Sleep disorders
- Chronic depression
- Panic attack
- Pain of varying intensity, spreading to the neck, shoulders, collarbones, upper back and the entire surface of the head from the nape to the forehead
If you notice any of the listed symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, we recommend that you immediately contact specialists in a modern clinic. Professional doctors will perform a comprehensive diagnosis 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 appointment, the clinic's specialists perform a microanatomical ultrasound of the vessels of the neck to measure the speed of blood flow and identify muscle spasms that provoke compression of the spinal arteries.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae includes:
Physiotherapy. Lack of physical activity is one of the main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis. Therefore, an individual complex of physical exercises is developed for each patient. The complex of exercises is prescribed based on the diagnosis, the patient's state of health 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. Orthopedic surgeons at the clinic restore blood supply to the brain through manual manipulation of the deep muscles of the neck and spine. Blood pressure normalizes, cognitive functions improve - memory, concentration, mental activity.
Prevention of the development of cervical osteochondrosis
You can prevent the appearance or development of the disease by adhering to the following recommendations:
- Take long daily walks. In total, you should take at least 6, 000 steps per day.
- I do sports. The load should not be excessive. Start with doable exercises, gradually increasing the duration of the exercise and the number of repetitions.
- Balance your diet and maintain a normal body weight.
- Perform Dr. Shishonin's neck exercises.