The cervical spine is one of the most vulnerable to osteochondrosis, and unfortunately, it is very often affected by this disease. Its symptoms, in addition to pain in the neck itself, can be intense headaches associated with clamping of the vertebral artery by bony growths in the vertebrae. Cervical osteochondrosis can be dangerous not only for the elderly, but also for young people who lead a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
What are the causes of cervical osteochondrosis?
The causes of cervical osteochondrosis are the same as those of the entire degenerative process of the spine as a whole: sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, heredity, sedentary lifestyle, professional overload, etc. Of the special factors, it should be noted the high mobility of this section of the spine, due to which the cervical vertebrae have a large daily load.
Many features of cervical osteochondrosis are also related to the fact that the cervical vertebrae differ in structure from the rest and are closely related to the important blood vessels in the neck that feed the brain. These vessels are called vertebral arteries, or more simply, vertebral arteries. They pass through the interior of the arches of the cervical vertebrae and carry blood directly to the cranial cavity. And if the cervical vertebra is affected by osteochondrosis, the artery inside the vertebra can be pinched, which reduces blood flow to the brain. This is one of the mechanisms for the appearance of headaches in cervical osteochondrosis.
What are the stages of cervical osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be mild or severe. The most severe stage of degeneration is an intervertebral hernia. In the cervical region, hernias do not appear as often as in the lumbar, but even here they are not a rarity. Many young people see a doctor with hernias detected on MRI, while others have hernias during the diagnostic process. The important thing here is that a hernia itself is not always the cause of the pain, but this does not mean that it should not be treated.
It is important to note that not all neck pain is caused by osteochondrosis. That is, this process can take place, but it is not the cause of this pain syndrome in this patient. Much more often, the cause of pain is musculoskeletal syndrome, the essence of which is overstrain of short sections of skeletal muscles. For example, if we sit in front of a computer for a long time, the trapezius muscles go numb in a monotonous position, causing spasms and pain that can radiate to the neck, head and arms.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
For the correct and competent treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, several key points must be observed. All of them are somehow related to prevention and early visit to the doctor. We list the most necessary measures:
- Careful adherence to the rules of ergonomics, organization of your workspace, the correct height of the table, the monitor at eye level.
- Regular heating of the neck and arms (which are closely related to it), at least once every 1, 5-2 hours during sedentary work, daily morning exercises.
- Regular massage and osteopathy courses, at least once every 6 months.
Taking painkillers can only be started as directed by a doctor; otherwise, you can simply put the disease in a corner, relieve the symptoms and leave the cause of the pathology unattended.
How can osteopathy help in cervical osteochondrosis?
Osteopathy for this disease is a very effective treatment method. The fact is that the need for manual procedures for osteochondrosis is obvious to everyone, but not everyone understands how dangerous these manipulations can be.
Some chiropractors practice raw confidence techniques, after which the patient suddenly feels especially "positive", "enlightenment" in the head is achieved. This is the "reduction" of the vertebrae with an incredible crunch and terrible techniques, reminiscent of suffocation, to unlock motor segments.
It must be said that all these crude and apparently beautiful techniques are often unsafe and have nothing to do with osteopathy. The system of cervical vertebrae is arranged very finely and balanced, so that any serious intervention affects not only a single vertebra, but also the entire neck, the entire spine, the head, the blood vessels, etc.
The osteopath works with the neck very carefully and gently, without sudden movements or rough manipulations. At first glance, it may seem that the doctor did not do anything special, but this is not the case. The basis of osteopathy is the subtle sensitivity of the doctor's hands. The osteopath always knows how to balance the system of muscles, ligaments and bones without damaging it. Therefore, osteopathic correction of cervical osteochondrosis is the most successful, safe and effective.