Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by specific ailments of patients.
As a rule, the first and most common are pain.
They occur in the neck, between the shoulder blades, in the hands. Pain in the joints (wrist, elbow or shoulder), which accompanies osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, can be characterized as cracking or pain, causing numbness, tingling. In addition, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of the limbs to the impact of low temperatures, reduce strength and the development of clumsiness in the hands.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often accompanied by headaches. However, they can also be of different natures. Feelings of cracking in the frontal zone, in the ear, eye sockets, as well as numbness on the scalp are typical.
This disease is also characterized by various vegetative disorders. These include instability of blood pressure and pulse, a feeling of a lump in the throat and palpitations, shortness of breath, and in some cases the development of panic attacks.
In advanced forms, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is accompanied by severe restriction of movement, weakness of the muscles of the upper and lower extremities, as well as disruption of the cerebral blood supply.
There are frequent manifestations of dizziness, gait instability, general weakness, visual disturbances. Patients often complain of increased fatigue, worsening of mood until the appearance of depression.
Static disorders in the disease are vertebral subluxations and limited mobility of the segments.
Disorder of blood circulation causes a disorder of brain activity, expressed in individual symptoms. This in turn can lead to vertebrobasilar insufficiency and, in some cases, stroke.
In accordance with the indications, diagnostic measures are prescribed, including radiography, possibly with functional examinations; MRI of the brain (head) and cervical spine; ultrasound dopplerography in the main arteries. If necessary, triplex or duplex scanning of intra- and extracranial vessels may be prescribed. Blood tests, EEG, audiography, ECG, electronystagmography are mandatory. The examination also includes consultations with cardiologists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists and ENT doctors.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Treatment
For effective therapy, it is necessary to clarify the diagnosis and determine the causes of the patient's complaints.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis knows a neuropathologist who selects the necessary set of measures. It includes physical rehabilitation (exercise therapy), prescribing medication (if necessary and depending on the symptoms - intravenous drip and intramuscular injections, as well as blockades). The course of treatment includes physiotherapy, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic.
Of course, it is most effective to perform a complex effect on the patient's body. However, as practice shows, the longest result of treatment is recorded in the physical rehabilitation of patients. Thus, in many cases, well-chosen sets of therapeutic exercise exercises can influence the cause of disease development. At the same time, other methods have the greatest impact on the consequences of the disease. As a result, they are usually considered as additional therapeutic measures.
It should be noted that exercise therapy exercises, as well as additional methods of impact, are always selected individually.