Many people 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 can cervical osteochondrosis be cured?
Unfortunately, cervical osteochondrosis, like osteochondrosis of other parts of the spine, is a progressive and incurable disease.
Therefore, the treatment of this disease is very difficult today.
When starting the treatment of osteochondrosis, the main goals set by doctors are to stop the progress of degenerative processes and avoid damage to 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 health.
A combination of conservative methods such as drug therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, massage and various physiotherapy procedures are widely used for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Important!In extreme cases, when conservative methods are ineffective or dangerous complications occur, surgical intervention should be used.
Correctly selected treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can stop the disease and provide remission for several decades.
Drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medicines for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed as followsgoals:
- anesthetizes;
- relax cramped neck muscles;
- relieves the inflammatory process in the spine and paravertebral tissues;
- relieves tissue swelling;
- improves microcirculation and metabolism in the cervical spine;
- improves blood supply to the brain;
- restores and protects the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed the following:drug groups:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) perfectly relieves 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 duration of treatment with these drugs is 7-10 days. NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, which can lead to erosions and ulcers. In order to eliminate negative effects on the digestive system, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed in parallel with NSAIDs.
- Hormonal drugs.A group of glucocorticosteroids are 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 blockades. With this method of administration, the drugs act directly on the roots of the spinal nerves, thereby relieving pain. In order to enhance the blockade effect, anesthetics are combined with glucocorticosteroids. The treatment process consists of 5-6 blocks.
- Chondroprotectors.The preparations belonging to 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 to restore their structure, thereby restoring the lost functions of the spinal joints and reducing the manifestations of osteochondrosis.
- Medicines that 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 local use– ointments, creams, gels and patches help relieve pain and improve blood flow in the affected areas.
In addition, for cervical osteochondrosis, diuretics can be prescribed to relieve swelling of the paravertebral tissues and nerves, muscle relaxants to relax the spasmodic neck muscles, and calcium supplements.
Therapeutic exercise for cervical osteochondrosis
How to treat osteochondrosis? Therapeutic exercise (physiotherapy of cervical osteochondrosis) is a set of exercises based on specially physiological body movements, which reduce pain in the spine, improve blood flow and metabolism in the tissues, and restore the normal configuration and mobility of the spine.
Interesting!Therapeutic exercise is an effective tool for the treatment and prevention of cervical osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy exercises and gymnastics can only be prescribed by the physiotherapist after studying the results of the spinal examination and only after alleviating acute pain.
Contraindications to physical therapy and gymnastics can be:
- diseases in the acute phase;
- acute infectious diseases;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- malignant and benign tumors;
- aortic aneurysm;
- heart aneurysm;
- blood clotting disorder;
- cardiac arrhythmia;
- hypertension;
- eye myopia;
- severe forms of diabetes.
Physiotherapy methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Electrotherapyrepresents the local effect of the electric field on the cervical spine and paravertebral tissues.
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 therapyit includes the use of helium-neon rays, which have an anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and regenerating effect by activating biological processes in the tissues of the nervous system.
Treatment with ultraviolet radiation.Ultraviolet rays have a pronounced anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, regenerating and bactericidal effect.
In addition, ultraviolet radiation activates the synthesis of calciferol (vitamin D) in the body.
The method is not used in persons suffering from malignant diseases of the blood and internal organs.
Balneotherapy– use of mineral waters and mud in the form of baths, showers, lubrications and wraps. The chemicals and minerals in the mineral waters and mud improve the microcirculation of the spine and affected tissues.
Vibration therapythe use of mechanical vibrations directed at the cervical spine, which reduce muscle spasm and pain.
There are treadmills that can be used in a hospital setting or at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated in patients with cervical pustular skin disease and vibration disease.
Acoustic shock wave therapy,which affect the cervical spine. This reduces pain, improves metabolism and blood flow in the tissues of the neck.
There are many physical therapy methods. In order to eliminate the negative effect of physiotherapy factors on the body, the physiotherapist must prescribe and monitor the implementation of the procedures.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with the help of manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyThe so-called dosed local effect on the elements of the spine by hand to restore normal mobility and eliminate displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
To avoid spinal injury, entrust your body only to a qualified chiropractor.
Manual therapy consists of gentle, gentle aligning movements, neck massage and traction, with the head and limbs acting as lifts.
With the help of manual therapy, it is possible to reduce neck pain, activate the vegetative nervous system and increase the mobility of the spine.
Manual therapy cannot be performed on patients with cervical osteochondrosis, who also suffer from spinal inflammation, oncopathology, or who have suffered spinal injuries.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed by a massage therapist or by the patient himself (self-massage).
Interesting!There is acupressure and segmental massage of the cervical spine.
Segmental massage is the massage of the paravertebral zones, and acupressure is the massage of the special "vital" points responsible for each segment of the spine.
Acupuncture or acupuncture
AcupunctureThe method of treating cervical osteochondrosis using needles on the active points of the spine.
The needle irritates these points, and the body activates the production of cortisol and endogenous pain relievers, which help to cope with inflammation and pain.
Cervical osteochondrosisprogressive, incurable disease. The process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped with the help of comprehensive, timely and properly selected treatment.