Improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of nutrients provoke the development of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. One of the most common injuries is cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to their excessive mobility and increased stress on the department. The first signs of violation require consultation of a specialist and the appointment of the correct treatment. It includes taking medications, physiotherapy procedures, and therapeutic exercises.
Brief information about the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis develops against the background of severe wear of cartilage tissue and bones. With age, the discs between the vertebrae lose their elasticity and become more susceptible to damage. Therefore, the disease is diagnosed on average in 90% of retirees. A chronic condition develops after a temporary remission, which is facilitated, as a rule, by a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, bad habits and the specifics of professional activity.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops gradually, so it is conventionally divided into several stages. In the initial stage, the elasticity of the discs is noticeably reduced, microfractures appear. The discomfort is almost imperceptible and worries for a short period of time, so patients rarely go to the doctor in time, attributing the symptoms to fatigue.
Gradually, as it progresses, sharp, aching pains appear, especially with prolonged exposure to a position, dizziness, numbness in the shoulders or face, panic attacks, and coordination problems. It becomes more difficult for the patient to keep his head in one position, vision and hearing problems appear. Ignoring such symptoms is dangerous, as it often leads to serious complications. Symptoms of the disease are the same in men and women.
Treatment regimen for osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis begins with a diagnosis. It allows not only to identify the pathological process, but also the degree of its distribution, the severity of the course, the presence of concomitant diseases. The tactic chosen to deal with the problem consists of the following points:
- Prescription drugs (NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, B vitamins). All these drugs are aimed at eliminating swelling, improving blood circulation, restoring damaged disc tissue, protecting nerve endings.
- Physiotherapy. Procedures are prescribed only after stopping the acute phase. The main methods are electrophoresis and magnetotherapy. They will help restore neck flexibility and consolidate the effect.
- Manual therapy. It is used to reduce the manifestation of pain in the acute period and restore the correct position of the spine. The procedure is performed by a specialist in the field of surgery, who has a sufficient level of qualification to carry out these activities. It is worth checking this out before the session starts.
- Physical therapy. Special therapeutic exercises or exercises designed specifically for the patient help to cope with the pathological process. In addition, the complexes developed by doctors have proven themselves well in this area.
With the permission of the doctor, folk remedies can be included in the scheme that eliminates unpleasant symptoms. But self-replacement of selected options or increasing dosage can adversely affect treatment in general, so care should be taken.
Processing activities
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a long-term process that includes various methods of eliminating unpleasant symptoms and restoring damaged cartilage tissue. The main objectives of the therapeutic path are:
- Relief of unpleasant symptoms (headache, numbness, inflammation, paralysis) during an exacerbation of the pathological process.
- Normalization of blood circulation in the affected area.
- Restoring the nutrition of cells and tissues to preserve their structure and functioning.
- Elimination of the cause of the development of the degenerative process.
- Prevention of possible complications.
Many patients are interested in whether osteochondrosis can be cured?Timely therapy received at the stage of exacerbation allows not only to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also to slow down the degenerative process, to achieve stable remission. The damage at stages 2-3 is already irreversible and the patient will have to live with the diagnosis for life. Periodically subjected to examination by the attending physician to determine its dynamics.
Pharmacological therapy
It is best to start treating cervical chondrosis with taking painkillers that help cope with unpleasant symptoms. This is effective up to stage 2 of the development of the pathological process, when the fibrous ring has not yet been destroyed. The main goal is to prevent damage to the cartilage tissue and achieve a stable remission. A variety of drug groups are used for this.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Treatment of chondrosis of the neck is not complete without the use of NSAIDs, since this group of drugs allows you to stop unpleasant symptoms during an exacerbation of the disease. NSAIDs help eliminate swelling and inflammation, increasing the effectiveness of pain relievers.
They are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections. The form of the injections is one of the most effective, but it is used most often in the hospital setting, when the patient is in serious condition.
The course of treatment with drugs of this group does not exceed 14 days. After this, disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract may appear. If the patient has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, drugs are prescribed simultaneously with the prescribed funds to protect the mucous membrane of the organ.
Muscle relaxants
Any treatment regimen for cervical osteochondrosis always includes taking medications to eliminate muscle spasm. It is a natural response to inflammation. They are prescribed at the beginning of treatment in the form of injections, after which it is recommended to replace them with pills.
The course of treatment with muscle relaxants should last no more than 1-2 weeks, as they can easily be addictive. After reducing the manifestation of pain and eliminating the spasm, they are canceled.
Hormonal drugs
They are prescribed to patients to eliminate pain if the pathological process has developed to 2-3 degrees. Hormonal agents have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and help to quickly eliminate an unpleasant symptom. It is unacceptable to use drugs of this group during pregnancy or a high probability of developing an allergic reaction.
Steroids are prescribed with caution and in combination with others, as the likelihood of side effects is high. Their independent appointment is unacceptable.
Chondroprotector
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, but there are a number of drugs aimed at regenerating damaged tissue. They are called chondroprotectors. They are used in the form of ointments, injections and tablets. The last module is the most convenient, it allows you not to miss an appointment even while traveling.
On average, the course of treatment with chondroprotectors lasts 3-6 months. Ointments are mainly used for prophylaxis, as they are of the least effective. When choosing injections, 10-12 injections are enough to start the regeneration process.
Physiotherapy
Various physiotherapeutic methods are used to combat the disease only during the period of remission. They are prescribed to strengthen the muscle corset, improve the blood circulation process, normalize well-being and relieve pain. The following procedures apply:
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetotherapy.
- Acupuncture.
- Treatment with leeches.
- Massage.
Osteochondrosis cannot be cured with some physiotherapy procedures. Many techniques have a number of contraindications, for example, the period of pregnancy and lactation, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Physiotherapy
Various physical therapy complexes are useful for restoring the natural position of the spine. At home, you can study according to special programs. Physical therapy is carried out in compliance with a number of rules. All movements are performed smoothly, without sudden movements, at the same time of day. The complex usually includes the following approaches:
- The head tilts to each side 2 times.
- Lower your arms along the body, shrug your shoulders, linger for 10 seconds. Return from the starting position.
- Hang on the horizontal bar for 10 seconds. Repeat several times throughout the day.
- Lie on a hard surface, hang your head from the edge down, gradually raise it, tensing the muscles only of the cervical spine.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine requires a lifestyle correction. Exercise should be a part of life to maintain the health of the injured area and the spine as a whole.
Surgery
Conservative therapy does not always give the expected result, the doctor prescribes surgical intervention. It is performed in the neck or thoracic region, only if there is a strong compression of the spinal nerve, with deformation of the vertebrae or acute compression of the spinal cord. Surgery is performed from the front of the neck or from the back, depending on many factors. The main task of the surgeon is to eliminate instability and compression. For this, the following techniques are used:
- Spinal fusion. It involves connecting the vertebrae to limit their mobility. It is widely used to treat osteochondrosis. It reduces the flexibility of the neck, but permanently solves the problem with the pain. During the operation, a bone graft is used, which is fixed with metal fasteners, rods and plates. They increase the speed of fusion and stabilization of the cervical spine. The implant is taken from the donor or the patient himself, usually from the thigh area. For this, an additional incision is made during the operation.
- Discectomy. In the process, the problematic intervertebral disc is removed, the bone segments are fixed to each other. For this, special screws are used. Thus, unpleasant symptoms are eliminated and compression of the spinal cord is eliminated.
- Correctivity. It involves the removal not only of the affected intervertebral disc, but also of the entire bone element. The spine is stabilized, as in the previous case, using special screws and fasteners.
- Laminectomy. Bone arches, spurs and ligaments are removed, anything that puts pressure on the spinal cord. This allows you to create the right space that ensures the normal functioning of the organ. But the procedure destabilizes the ridge, so the use of attachments is required.
The possible risks and consequences of the operation are discussed individually with each patient. The main ones are initially difficulty swallowing, voice changes, difficulty breathing, infection or reaction to anesthesia.
Advice to the patient during an exacerbation
An exacerbation of osteochondrosis lasts an average of 3-5 days, but it all depends on the age of the patient, the extent of the lesion, compliance with the recommendations issued by the doctor. It is strictly forbidden to lubricate the damaged area with ointments or massage, this will only aggravate the situation. To alleviate the condition, the following measures should be taken:
- Get in a comfortable position. During the acute phase, the cervical vertebrae need complete rest. Therefore, when pain appears, you should lie down on a flat surface, try to completely relax. This position will temporarily eliminate the pain, relieving the condition as a whole.
- Take a pain reliever and call a doctor for a consultation. Do not hope that the disease will go away on its own and start treatment as soon as possible. Medicines alone are not enough to slow down the degenerative process, an integrated approach is needed, which includes physiotherapeutic procedures and special exercises.
- Purchase an orthopedic collar (Shanga). This device is available in most specialty stores. It prevents movement of the cervical vertebrae and thus minimizes the likelihood of deterioration. Depending on the density of the material, the collar can be hard or soft, but in any case it reliably fixes the neck in one position.
The selection of medicines is carried out by a doctor, taking into account individual characteristics and the presence of contraindications. Standard pain relievers may not work if the cartilage is severely damaged. In this case, only epidural blocks will help. Therefore, it is better not to take the advice of relatives and neighbors into account.
Patient testimonials
Osteochondrosis is treated for a long time, using various methods to relieve discomfort. Therefore, many patients doubt the effectiveness of the chosen regimen. Patient reviews will help to understand the problem of treatment.
- "I have been treating osteochondrosis of the neck for more than 6 years and have never tried it. At first, pills were prescribed, but they only relieved the pain. Then he visited the physical therapy and physiotherapist office for a long time, but the result did not appear for long. A cumulative effect is assumed everywhere, but the disease itself does not go away. As long as there are no negative dynamics, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment, but it is already becoming difficult to work at the same pace. "
- "I did not go to the doctor for a long time with pain in the neck, as a result the intervertebral disc collapsed. The tablets do not give tangible relief, but while I take them I use rubs and compresses. They help better with potatoes and honey. But as I progress. of the disease, I'm thinking of an operation, but this is the last resort ".
- "I was diagnosed with osteochondrosis several years ago, stupidly I wasted a lot of time in treatment with folk remedies, I was afraid of the pills and therefore I did not take them. As a result, the disease progressed rapidly, and the excess weight and the constant load on the neck hit. Now painkillers are already helping little, severe pain constantly bothers, numbness of the skin has appeared. The doctor has not yet proposed an operation, but I think it will be around the corner if this treatment regimen it does not work".
Treatment of osteochondrosis involves an integrated approach, which includes various modern techniques and drugs, massages, recipes of alternative medicine. Only this approach can slow down degenerative changes in bone and connective tissue, achieve stable remission and maintain quality of life, minimizing the risk of serious complications.