Many who are faced with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are interested in the question: "How to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine? ""I suggest you take a look at this.
How to cure cervical osteochondrosis?
Unfortunately, cervical osteochondrosis, like osteochondrosis of other parts of the spine, is a progressive and incurable disease.
Therefore, treating this disease is very difficult today.
The main goals that doctors set for themselves when starting therapy for osteochondrosis are to stop the progression of degenerative processes and not to harm the patient, since the neck borders 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 often harmful to your health.
To treat cervical osteochondrosis, a combination of conservative methods such as drug therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, massage and various physiotherapeutic procedures is often used.
Important!In extreme cases, when conservative methods are ineffective or dangerous complications arise, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Properly 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 as followsGoals:
- to stun;
- relax tense neck muscles;
- relieve the inflammatory process in the spine and paravertebral tissue;
- relieves tissue swelling;
- Improvement of microcirculation and metabolism in the cervical spine;
- improving blood supply to the brain;
- Restoration and protection of the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed:Drug groups:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) perfectly relieve pain and inflammation. In the acute phase of the disease, NSAIDs are used in the form of injections. When the patient's condition improves, the drug is switched to oral administration. The duration 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 the negative effects on the digestive tract, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in parallel with NSAIDs.
- Hormonal active ingredients.A group of glucocorticosteroids is used to relieve inflammation and swelling in radicular syndrome. Glucocorticosteroids are most commonly used as perineural and paravertebral injections.
- Anestheticsused in the form of neuromuscular paravertebral blocks. With this method of administration, the drugs act directly on the roots of the spinal nerves, thereby 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 cartilage tissue of the spine. Chondroprotectors protect the cartilage of the intervertebral discs from the effects of negative factors and contribute to the restoration of their structure, thereby restoring the lost functions of the spinal joints and reducing the manifestations of osteochondrosis.
- Drugs to improve metabolism and microcirculationin spinal tissue 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 visual impairments, strengthen blood vessels and have an antioxidant effect.
- Preparations for topical use– Ointments, creams, gels and plasters help relieve pain and improve blood circulation to the affected areas.
In addition, with cervical osteochondrosis, diuretics to relieve swelling of the paravertebral tissue and nerves, muscle relaxants to relax spasmodic neck muscles, and calcium preparations may be prescribed.
Therapeutic exercises for cervical osteochondrosis
How to treat osteochondrosis? Therapeutic exercises (physiotherapy for cervical osteochondrosis) are specially designed exercises based on physiological body movements that can relieve pain in the spine, improve blood circulation and metabolism in tissues, and restore the normal configuration and mobility of the spine.
Interesting!Therapeutic exercises are an effective means of treating and preventing cervical osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapeutic exercises and gymnastics can be prescribed by a physiotherapist only after reviewing the results of a spinal examination and only after relief of acute pain.
Contraindications to physiotherapy and gymnastics may include:
- illnesses in the acute phase;
- acute infectious diseases;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- malignant and benign neoplasms;
- aortic aneurysm;
- cardiac aneurysm;
- blood clotting disorder;
- cardiac arrhythmia;
- High blood pressure;
- ocular myopia;
- severe forms of diabetes.
Physiotherapeutic methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Electrotherapyrepresents a local effect of the electric field on the cervical spine and paravertebral tissue.
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 therapyHelium-neon rays are used, which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and regenerating effects by activating biological processes in the tissue of the nervous system.
Treatment with ultraviolet rays.Ultraviolet rays have a pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerating and bactericidal effect.
In addition, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the synthesis of calciferol (vitamin D) in the body is activated.
The method is not used for people suffering from malignant diseases of the blood and internal organs.
Balneotherapy– is the use of mineral waters and healing mud in the form of baths, showers, applications and packs. Chemicals and minerals contained in mineral waters and mud improve microcirculation in the spine and affected tissues.
Vibration therapyis the use of mechanical vibrations that target the cervical spine and relieve muscle spasms and pain.
There are band trainers that can be used both in the hospital and at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated in people with pustular skin diseases of the neck and vibration diseases.
Acoustic shock wave therapy,that affect the cervical spine. This reduces pain, improves metabolism and blood circulation in the neck tissue.
There are many other methods of physiotherapy. To eliminate the negative effects of physiotherapeutic factors on the body, a physiotherapist should prescribe procedures and monitor their implementation.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyis called dosed local influence on the elements of the spine with hands in order to restore normal mobility in it and prevent displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
To avoid spinal injuries, only trust your body to a qualified chiropractor.
Manual therapy consists of gentle, gentle adjustment movements, neck massage and traction, using the head and limbs as leverage.
With the help of manual therapy, it is possible to relieve 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 or oncopathological disease or have suffered spinal injuries.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed either by a masseur or by the patient himself (self-massage).
Interesting!There is acupressure and segmental massage of the cervical spine.
Segmental massage is a massage of the 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 placing needles on active points of the spine.
The needle irritates these points and the body activates the production of cortisol and the body's own painkillers, which help manage inflammation and pain.
Cervical osteochondrosisis a progressive, incurable disease. With the help of comprehensive, timely and correctly selected treatment, the process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped.