Many who have encountered osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are interested in the question: "How to treat cervical osteochondrosis? "I suggest you look into this.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis?
Unfortunately, cervical osteochondrosis, like osteochondrosis of other parts of the spinal column, is a progressive and incurable disease.
Therefore, the treatment of this disease today is very difficult.
The main goals that doctors set for themselves when starting therapy for osteochondrosis are to stop the progression of degenerative processes and not harm the patient, because the neck borders on vital brain centers.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist, but in no case by the patient himself.
Self-medication not only does not bring relief, but is also often harmful to health.
For the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a combination of conservative methods such as drug therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, massage and various physiotherapeutic procedures is widely used.
Important!In extreme cases, when conservative methods are ineffective or dangerous complications occur, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Correctly selected treatment for cervical osteochondrosis can stop the disease and ensure remission for several decades.
Drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medications for cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed with the followinggoals:
- anesthetize;
- relax cramped neck muscles;
- relieve the inflammatory process in the spine and paravertebral tissues;
- relieve tissue swelling;
- improve microcirculation and metabolism in the cervical spine;
- improve blood supply to the brain;
- restore and protect the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed the following:drug groups:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) perfectly relieve pain and inflammation. In the acute period of the disease, NSAIDs are used in the form of injections. When the patient's condition improves, they switch to oral administration of drugs. The course of treatment with these drugs is 7-10 days. NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to erosions and ulcers. To eliminate the negative effects on the digestive tract, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in parallel with NSAIDs.
- Hormonal agents.A group of glucocorticosteroids is used that relieve inflammation and swelling in radicular syndrome. Glucocorticosteroids are most often used as perineural and paravertebral injections.
- Anestheticsused in the form of neuromuscular paravertebral blockades. With this method of administration, the drugs directly act on the roots of the spinal nerves, thereby relieving pain. To enhance the blockade effect, anesthetics are combined with a glucocorticosteroid. The course of treatment consists of 5-6 blockades.
- Chondroprotectors.Preparations in this group contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are components of the cartilage tissue of the spine. Chondroprotectors protect the cartilage of the intervertebral discs from the effects of negative factors and help restore their structure, thereby restoring the lost functions of the spinal joints and reducing the manifestations of osteochondrosis.
- Drugs to improve metabolism and microcirculationin spinal tissues and nerves.
- Vitamins.Vitamin preparations, such as ascorbic acid, retinol acetate, tocopherol acetate, calciferol, thiamine, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin, improve nerve conduction, reduce the severity of hearing and vision impairment, strengthen blood vessels and have an antioxidant effect.
- Preparations for topical use– ointments, creams, gels and patches help relieve pain and improve blood flow to the affected areas.
Also, for cervical osteochondrosis, diuretics can be prescribed to relieve swelling of paravertebral tissues and nerves, muscle relaxants to relax spasmodic neck muscles, and calcium supplements.
Therapeutic exercise for cervical osteochondrosis
How to treat osteochondrosis? Therapeutic exercise (physical therapy for cervical osteochondrosis) is a specially designed set of exercises based on physiological body movements that can reduce pain in the spine, improve blood flow and metabolism in tissues, and restore the normal configuration and mobility of the spine.
Interesting!Therapeutic exercise is an effective means of treating and preventing cervical osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy exercises and gymnastics can only be prescribed by a physical therapy doctor after studying the results of a spinal examination and only after acute pain has been relieved.
Contraindications to physical therapy and gymnastics may include:
- diseases in the acute phase;
- acute infectious diseases;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- malignant and benign neoplasms;
- aortic aneurysm;
- cardiac aneurysm;
- blood clotting disorder;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- high blood pressure;
- eye myopia;
- severe forms of diabetes.
Physiotherapeutic methods for treating cervical osteochondrosis
Electrotherapyrepresents a local effect on the cervical spine and paravertebral tissues of the electric field.
The method has a positive effect on blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area. Electrotherapy is contraindicated for people with pacemakers and other metal implants.
Laser therapyinvolves the use of helium-neon rays, which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and regenerating effects by activating biological processes in the tissues of the nervous system.
Treatment with ultraviolet rays.Ultraviolet rays have pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerating and bactericidal effects.
Also, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the synthesis of calciferol (vitamin D) is activated in the body.
The method is not used in persons who suffer from malignant diseases of the blood and internal organs.
Balneotherapy– is the use of mineral waters and mud in the form of baths, showers, applications and wraps. Chemicals and minerals that are present in mineral waters and mud improve microcirculation in the spine and affected tissues.
Vibration therapy- this is the use of mechanical vibrations aimed at the cervical spine, which reduce muscle spasm and pain.
There are band exercisers that can be used both in a hospital setting and at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated for persons with pustular skin diseases in the neck and vibration disease.
Acoustic shock wave therapy,which affect the cervical spine. Thus, pain is reduced, metabolism and blood flow in the tissues of the neck are improved.
There are many more physical therapy methods. To eliminate the negative impact of physiotherapy factors on the body, a physiotherapist should prescribe and monitor the implementation of procedures.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis using manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyis called dosed local impact on the elements of the spine with hands to restore normal mobility in it and eliminate displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
To avoid spinal injury, trust your body only to a qualified chiropractor.
Manual therapy consists of gentle, gentle adjustment movements, neck massage and traction, where the head and limbs are used as leverage.
With the help of manual therapy, it is possible to reduce neck pain, activate the autonomic nervous system and increase the mobility of the spine.
Manual therapy cannot be performed on patients with cervical osteochondrosis, who also suffer from inflammatory diseases of the spine, oncopathology, or have had spinal injuries.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed either by a massage therapist or by the patient himself (self-massage).
Interesting!There are acupressure and segmental massage of the cervical spine.
Segmental massage is a massage of paravertebral zones, and acupressure is a massage of special "vital" points that are responsible for individual segments of the spine.
Acupuncture or acupuncture
Acupunctureis a method of treating cervical osteochondrosis by applying needles to active points of the spine.
The needle irritates these points and the body activates the production of cortisol and endogenous painkillers, which help cope with inflammation and pain.
Cervical osteochondrosisis a progressive, incurable disease. With the help of comprehensive, timely and properly selected treatment, the process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped.