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 spine, is a progressive and incurable disease.
Therefore, the treatment of this disease today is very complicated.
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 provide relief, but is 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 are widely used.
Important!In extreme cases, when conservative methods are ineffective or dangerous complications arise, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Correctly selected treatment for cervical osteochondrosis can stop the disease and ensure remission for several decades.
Pharmacological 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;
- Restores and protects the bone and cartilage tissue of the spine.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed the following:drug groups:
- Non-steroidal 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, he switches 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 to relieve inflammation and swelling in radicular syndrome. Glucocorticosteroids are most commonly used in the form of perineural and paravertebral injections.
- anestheticsused in the form of paravertebral neuromuscular 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.The preparations of this group contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are components of the cartilaginous 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.
- Medications to improve metabolism and microcirculation.in 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 visual impairments, 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 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 designed 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 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 physiotherapy and gymnastics may include:
- diseases in acute phase;
- acute infectious diseases;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- malignant and benign neoplasms;
- Aortic aneurysm;
- cardiac aneurysm;
- blood clotting disorder;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- hypertension;
- ocular myopia;
- severe forms of diabetes.
Physiotherapeutic methods for the treatment of 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 therapyIt involves 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.
In addition, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the synthesis of calciferol (vitamin D) in the body is activated.
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. The 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 to the cervical spine, which reduce muscle spasms and pain.
There are band exercisers that can be used both in the hospital setting and at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated for people with pustular skin diseases on the neck and vibration diseases.
acoustic shockwave therapy,that affect the cervical spine. Thus, pain is reduced, metabolism and blood flow in the neck tissues are improved.
There are many more methods of physiotherapy. To eliminate the negative impact of physiotherapy factors on the body, a physiotherapist must prescribe and monitor the implementation of procedures.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis using manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyIt is called dosed local impact on the elements of the spine with hands to restore normal mobility in it and eliminate the displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
To avoid spinal injuries, trust your body only to a qualified chiropractor.
Manual therapy consists of gentle, gentle tightening 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 spinal mobility.
Manual therapy cannot be performed in 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 by a masseuse or by the patient himself (self-massage).
Interesting!There is 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
AcupunctureIt is a method of treating cervical osteochondrosis by applying needles to the active points of 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 correctly selected treatment, the process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped.