Improper nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and nutritional deficiencies can lead to the development of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. One of the most common lesions is cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to their excessive mobility and increased pressure on the department. The first signs of violations require consultation with a specialist and assign the correct treatment. It includes taking medications, physical therapy procedures, and therapeutic exercises.
Brief information about the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis develops under the background of severe abrasion of cartilage tissue and bones. As we age, the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae lose their elasticity and become more susceptible to injury. Therefore, an average of 90% of pensioners are diagnosed with this disease. Chronic diseases develop after temporary remission, which is usually caused by the details of a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, bad habits, and professional activities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops gradually, so it is usually divided into several stages. In the initial stage, the elasticity of the intervertebral disc is significantly reduced, and microcracks appear. This discomfort is almost imperceptible and can cause anxiety in a short period of time. Therefore, patients rarely seek medical attention on time and attribute the symptoms to fatigue.
Gradually, as the disease progresses, severe pain will appear, especially when in one position for a long time, dizziness, numbness of the shoulders or face, panic attacks, and coordination problems will occur. It becomes more difficult for patients to keep their heads in one position, and vision and hearing problems occur. Ignoring these symptoms is dangerous because it usually leads to serious complications. The symptoms of the disease are the same in men and women.
Treatment options for osteochondrosis
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis begins with the diagnosis. It can not only identify the pathological process, but also its distribution, the severity of the course, and the existence of the accompanying disease. The selected strategies to deal with the problem include the following:
- Drug prescriptions (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, B vitamins). All these drugs are designed to eliminate swelling, improve blood circulation, repair damaged intervertebral disc tissue, and protect nerve endings.
- physiotherapy. Procedures are only prescribed after the acute phase has ceased. The main methods are electrophoresis and magnetic therapy. They will help restore the flexibility of the neck and strengthen the effect.
- Manipulative therapy. It is used to reduce the performance of acute pain and restore the correct position of the spine. This procedure is performed by an expert in the field of surgery who has a sufficient level of qualifications to engage in such activities. It is worth checking this before the meeting starts.
- Exercise therapy. Special therapeutic exercises, or exercises specifically designed for patients, help to cope with the pathological process. In addition, the complex developed by the doctor has also proven its ability in this regard.
With the permission of the doctor, folk remedies can be included in the plan to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. However, changing the selected option or increasing the dose by yourself will usually have a negative impact on the treatment, so you should proceed with caution.
Therapeutic activity
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a long-term process, including various methods to eliminate discomfort symptoms and repair damaged cartilage tissue. The main goals of the treatment course are:
- Relief of unpleasant symptoms (headache, numbness, inflammation, paralysis) during the deterioration of the pathological process.
- The blood circulation in the affected area is normalized.
- Restore the nutrition of cells and tissues to maintain their structure and function.
- Eliminate the reasons for the development of the degradation process.
- Prevent possible complications.
Many patients are concerned about whether osteochondrosis can be cured?Receiving timely treatment during the worsening stage can not only eliminate the unpleasant symptoms, but also slow down the degenerative process and achieve stable relief. The damage of stage 2-3 is irreversible, and the patient will have to be diagnosed for life. Regularly check by the attending physician to determine the dynamics.
medical treatement
It is best to start taking painkillers that help relieve the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. This is effective before the second stage of the development of the pathological process, when the annulus fibrosis has not yet been destroyed. The main goal is to prevent damage to cartilage tissue and achieve stable relief. For this purpose, multiple drug groups are used.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
If you do not use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the treatment of cervical chondropathy is incomplete, because this group of drugs allows you to stop the unpleasant symptoms during the worsening of the disease. NSAIDs help eliminate swelling and inflammation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of painkillers.
They are used in the form of tablets, ointments or injections. The injection form is one of the most effective, but it is most commonly used in a hospital setting when the patient is seriously ill.
The course of treatment of this group of drugs does not exceed 14 days. After this, there may be obstacles to the work of the gastrointestinal tract. If the patient has gastrointestinal problems, medications are prescribed at the same time as the prescribed funds to protect the mucous membranes of the organs.
Muscle relaxants
Any treatment plan for cervical osteochondrosis includes taking medication to eliminate muscle spasms. This is a natural response to inflammation. They are prescribed in the form of injections at the beginning of treatment, after which it is recommended to use pills instead.
The course of muscle relaxants should not exceed 1-2 weeks because they are very addictive. They were cancelled after the manifestations of pain were relieved and the spasms were eliminated.
Hormonal drugs
If the pathological process progresses to 2-3 degrees, they will be prescribed to the patient to eliminate pain. Hormonal drugs have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and help to quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is unacceptable to use this group of drugs during pregnancy or when allergic reactions are extremely likely.
Steroids are prescribed cautiously and used in combination with other drugs because of the high possibility of side effects. Their independent appointment is unacceptable.
Chondroprotective agent
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis in the cervical and thoracic area, but there are many drugs designed to regenerate damaged tissues. They are called chondroprotective agents. They are used in the form of ointments, injections and tablets. The last form is the most convenient, it allows you to never miss an appointment even on the go.
On average, the course of treatment with chondroprotective agents lasts 3-6 months. Ointments are mainly used for prevention because they are the least effective. When choosing an injection, perform 10-12 injections to start the regeneration process.
physiotherapy
Various physical therapy methods are only used to combat the disease during remission. They are prescribed to strengthen muscle corsets, improve blood circulation, normalize health and relieve pain. The following procedures apply:
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetic therapy.
- acupuncture.
- Treat with leech.
- massage.
Certain physical therapy procedures cannot cure osteochondrosis. Many techniques have many contraindications, for example, the deterioration of chronic diseases during pregnancy and lactation.
physiotherapy
Various exercise therapy complexes can be used to restore the natural position of the spine. At home, you can study according to a special plan. Physiotherapy is performed according to many rules. All movements were carried out smoothly at the same time of the day, without sudden movements. The complex usually includes the following methods:
- Tilt the head 2 times to each side.
- Lower your arms along your body, raise your shoulders, and stay for 10 seconds. Return from the starting position.
- Hang on the horizontal bar for 10 seconds. Repeat several times during the day.
- Lie on a hard surface, hang your head down from the edge, and gradually raise your head while only tightening the cervical muscles.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine requires lifestyle correction. Exercise should be a part of life to keep the injured area and the entire spine healthy.
Surgery
Conservative treatment does not always get the expected results, and doctors will prescribe surgical intervention. It is only performed in the neck or chest area when the spinal nerves are strongly compressed, the vertebrae are deformed, or the spinal cord is acutely compressed. Whether the operation is performed from the front of the neck or from the back depends on many factors. The main task of the surgeon is to eliminate instability and oppression. To this end, the following techniques are used:
- Spinal fusion. It involves the connection of vertebrae to limit their mobility. It is widely used to treat osteochondrosis. Reduce the flexibility of the neck, but permanently solve the pain problem. During the operation, bone grafts are used, fixed with metal fasteners, rods and plates. They increase the fusion rate and stability of the cervical spine. The implant is taken from the donor or the patient, usually from the thigh area. For this reason, additional incisions were made during the operation.
- Discectomy. During this process, the problematic disc is removed and the bone segments are fixed to each other. Special screws are used for this. Therefore, the unpleasant symptoms are eliminated and spinal cord compression is eliminated.
- correct. It means not only removing the affected intervertebral disc, but also removing the entire bone element. As in the previous case, special screws and fasteners are used to stabilize the spine.
- Laminectomy. The bone arch, bone spurs, and ligaments are removed, all of which put pressure on the spinal cord. This allows you to create the correct space to ensure the normal function of the organ. However, this procedure destroys the stability of the ridge, so binding is required.
Discuss the possible risks and consequences of surgery individually with each patient. It is mainly dysphagia, voice changes, dyspnea, infection, or reaction to anesthesia at first.
Advice for patients during worsening of the condition
The deterioration of osteochondrosis lasts for an average of 3-5 days, but it all depends on the age of the patient, the extent of the disease, and the compliance with the doctor’s advice. It is strictly forbidden to use ointment or massage to lubricate the damaged area, as this will only aggravate the situation. In order to alleviate this situation, the following measures should be taken:
- Enter a comfortable position. In the acute phase, the cervical spine needs complete rest. Therefore, when there is pain, you should lie down and relax as much as possible. This position will temporarily get rid of the pain and relieve the condition as a whole.
- Take painkillers and call your doctor for consultation. Don't expect the disease to go away on its own, start treatment as soon as possible. Medication alone is not enough to slow down the degenerative process; a comprehensive approach is required, including physical therapy procedures and special exercises.
- Buy orthopedic collars (Shantsa). Most specialty stores have this equipment. It prevents movement of the cervical spine, thereby minimizing the possibility of deterioration. Depending on the density of the material, the collar can be hard or soft, but in any case, it can reliably fix the neck in one place.
The choice of drugs is carried out by the doctor, taking into account individual characteristics and the existence of contraindications. If the cartilage is severely damaged, standard painkillers may not work. In this case, only epidural block will help. Therefore, it is best not to consider the suggestions of relatives and neighbors.
Patient testimonials
Long-term treatment of osteochondrosis, using various methods to relieve discomfort. Therefore, many patients doubt the effectiveness of the chosen regimen. Patient comments will help understand treatment issues.
- "I have been treating neck osteochondrosis for more than 6 years, but I have never tried it. At first, the doctor prescribed pills, but they only relieve the pain. Then he went to the exercise therapy and physical therapist office for a long time. Time, but the results did not appear for long. Everywhere it is assumed that there is a cumulative effect, but the disease itself has not disappeared. As long as there is no negative motivation, doctors will prescribe conservative treatment, but it has become difficult to work at the same pace. "
- "It's been a long time since I went to see the doctor. My neck hurts and my intervertebral disc collapsed. Pills did not provide any significant relief, but I rubbed and compressed them when I took them. They are most helpful for potatoes and honey. But as the disease progresses, I’m considering surgery, but it’s a last resort. "
- "I was diagnosed with osteochondrosis a few years ago. The stupid thing is that I wasted a lot of time on folk remedies. I was afraid of taking medicine, so I didn't take it. As a result, the disease progressed rapidly, and the neck was overweight and constant load. Affected. Now the painkillers have no effect. The severe pain is constantly plagued and the skin has numbness. The doctor has not proposed surgery, but I think if this treatment does not work, it will be just around the corner. "
The treatment of osteochondrosis involves a comprehensive approach, including various modern techniques and medicines, massage, and alternative medicine formulations. Only this method can slow down the degenerative changes of bone and connective tissue, achieve stable relief and maintain quality of life, while minimizing the risk of serious complications.