Many who have encountered osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are interested in the question: "How to treat cervical osteochondrosis? "
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis?
Unfortunately, cervical osteochondrosis, like osteochondrosis of other parts of the spine, is a progressive and incurable disease.
Therefore, the treatment of this disease today is very difficult.
The main goals that doctors set themselves when starting treatment for osteochondrosis are to stop the progression of degenerative processes and not harm the patient, since the neck borders vital centers of the brain.
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 often harmful to health.
For the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, a combination of conservative methods is widely used, such as drug therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, massage and various physiotherapeutic procedures.
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
Medicines for cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed with the followinggoals:
- anesthetize;
- relax tight 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 receive 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 medications. The course of treatment with these drugs is 7-10 days. NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, causing erosions and ulcers. To eliminate negative effects on the digestive tract, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in parallel with NSAIDs.
- Hormonal agents.A group of glucocorticosteroids are 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 blocks. With this method of administration, the medications act directly on the roots of the spinal nerves, relieving pain. To enhance the blocking effect, anesthetics are combined with a glucocorticosteroid. The course of treatment consists of 5-6 blocks.
- Chondroprotectors.Preparations in this group contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are components of the cartilaginous tissue of the spine. Chondroprotectors protect the cartilage of 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.
- Medicines to improve metabolism and microcirculationin the tissues and nerves of the spine.
- Vitamins.Vitamin preparations such as ascorbic acid, retinyl acetate, tocopherol acetate, calciferol, thiamine, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin improve nerve conduction, reduce the severity of hearing and visual 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 in affected areas.
Additionally, 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 (physiotherapy for cervical osteochondrosis) is a specially developed set of exercises based on physiological movements of the body 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 and gymnastics exercises can only be prescribed by a physiotherapist 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 disorder;
- high pressure;
- ocular 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 metallic implants.
laser therapyinvolves the use of helium-neon rays, which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and regenerating effects, activating biological processes in the tissues of the nervous system.
Ultraviolet ray treatment.Ultraviolet rays have pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerating and bactericidal effects.
In addition, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the synthesis of calciferol (vitamin D) is activated in the body.
The method is not used in people suffering from malignant diseases of the blood and internal organs.
Balneotherapy– is the use of mineral waters and muds in the form of baths, showers, applications and wraps. Chemicals and minerals present in mineral waters and mud improve microcirculation in the spine and affected tissues.
Vibration therapyis the use of mechanical vibrations directed at the cervical spine, which reduce muscle spasm and pain.
There are band exercisers that can be used in both a hospital setting and at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated for people with pustular skin diseases on the neck and vibration diseases.
Acoustic shock wave therapy,that affect the cervical spine. Thus, pain is reduced, metabolism and blood flow in the neck tissues improve.
There are many other physical therapy methods. To eliminate the negative impact of physiotherapeutic factors on the body, the physiotherapist must prescribe and monitor the implementation of procedures.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyis called dosed local impact on the elements of the spine with hands to restore normal mobility and eliminate displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
To avoid spinal injuries, trust your body only to a qualified chiropractor.
Manual therapy consists of gentle adjustment, massage and traction movements on the neck, 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 spinal mobility.
Manual therapy cannot be carried out in patients with cervical osteochondrosis, who also suffer from inflammatory diseases of the spine, oncopathology or who have suffered spinal injuries.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed by both the massage therapist and 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 in the spine.
The needle irritates these points and the body activates the production of cortisol and endogenous analgesics, which help deal with inflammation and pain.
Cervical osteochondrosisIt is a progressive and incurable disease. With the help of comprehensive, timely and properly selected treatment, the process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped.