Inadequate nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and nutrient deficiency lead to the development of several musculoskeletal system diseases. One of the most common injuries is cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to their excessive mobility and increased stress in the department. The first signs of violation require specialist consultation and appointment of appropriate treatment. It includes taking medication, physiotherapy procedures and therapeutic exercises.
Brief information about the disease
Cervical osteochondrosis develops in a context 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 in an average of 90% of retirees. A chronic condition develops after a temporary remission, which is usually facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, bad habits, and the specifics of professional activity.
Cervical spine osteochondrosis develops gradually, so it is conventionally divided into several stages. In the initial stage, the elasticity of the discs is visibly reduced, micro-cracks appear in them. The discomfort is almost imperceptible and worries for a short period of time, so patients rarely go to the doctor at the right time, attributing symptoms to tiredness.
Gradually, as it progresses, sharp 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 the head in the same position, vision and hearing problems arise. Ignoring these symptoms is dangerous as it often leads to serious complications. The symptoms of the disease are the same in men and women.
Treatment regimen for osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis begins with 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 of these medications aim to eliminate swelling, improve blood circulation, restore damaged disc tissue, and protect nerve endings.
- Physiotherapy. Procedures are prescribed only after stopping the acute stage. The main methods are electrophoresis and magnetotherapy. They will help restore flexibility to the neck and consolidate the effect.
- Manual therapy. It is used to reduce the onset of pain in the acute period and to restore the correct position of the spine. The procedure is performed by a specialist in the surgical area, who is sufficiently qualified to perform such activities. It is worth checking this before starting the session.
- Exercise therapy. Special therapeutic exercises or exercises designed specifically for the patient help to deal with the pathological process. Furthermore, complexes developed by doctors have proven to be good in this area.
With the doctor's permission, folk remedies can be included in the regimen that eliminates unpleasant symptoms. But self-substituting selected options, or increasing the dosage, can negatively affect treatment in general, so caution must be exercised.
treatment activities
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a long-term process that includes several methods to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore damaged cartilage tissue. The main objectives of the therapeutic course are:
- Relief of unpleasant symptoms (headache, numbness, inflammation, paralysis) during an exacerbation of the pathological process.
- Normalization of blood circulation in the affected area.
- Restoration of nutrition to cells and tissues to preserve their structure and function.
- Elimination of the cause of the development of the degenerative process.
- Prevention of possible complications.
Are many patients interested in knowing if osteochondrosis can be cured?Timely therapy received in the exacerbation stage allows not only to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms, but also to slow down the degenerative process, in order to achieve stable remission. The damage in stages 2-3 is already irreversible and the patient will have to live with the diagnosis for life. It undergoes periodic examination by the attending physician to determine the dynamics.
drug therapy
It's best to start treating cervical chondrosis with pain relievers that help to deal with the unpleasant symptoms. It is effective until stage 2 of the development of the pathological process, when the fibrous ring has not yet been destroyed. The main objective is to prevent damage to cartilage tissue and achieve stable remission. A variety of drug groups are used for this.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment of neck chondrosis is not complete without the use of NSAIDs, as this group of drugs makes it possible to stop unpleasant symptoms during an exacerbation of the disease. NSAIDs help to eliminate swelling and inflammation, which increases the effectiveness of pain relievers.
They are used in the form of pills, ointments or injections. The injection form is one of the most effective, but it is most used in the hospital environment, when the patient is in a serious condition.
The course of treatment with drugs in this group is not longer than 14 days. After that, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract may appear. If the patient has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, medications are prescribed simultaneously with the prescribed funds to protect the organ's mucous membrane.
muscle relaxants
Any treatment regimen for cervical osteochondrosis always includes the use of medications to eliminate muscle spasm. It's 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 not last longer than 1-2 weeks as they can easily become addictive. After reducing the onset of pain and eliminating the spasm, they are cancelled.
hormonal drugs
They are prescribed to patients to get rid of pain if the pathological process develops in 2 to 3 degrees. Hormonal agents have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and help to quickly eliminate an unpleasant symptom. It is unacceptable to use drugs from this group during pregnancy or with 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. Your independent appointment is unacceptable.
Chondroprotectors
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, but there are several drugs designed to regenerate damaged tissue. They are called chondroprotectors. They are used in the form of ointments, injections and pills. The last form is the most convenient as it allows you not to miss any appointments, even on the go.
On average, the course of treatment with chondroprotectors lasts from 3 to 6 months. Ointments are mainly used for prophylaxis, as they are the least effective. When choosing the injections, it is enough to make 10 to 12 injections to start the regeneration process.
Physiotherapy
Several physical therapy methods are used to fight the disease only during the period of remission. They are prescribed to strengthen the muscular 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 by some physical therapy procedures. Many techniques have a number of contraindications, for example, period of pregnancy and breastfeeding, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Physiotherapy
Various exercise therapy complexes are helpful in restoring the spine's natural position. At home, you can study according to special programs. Physical therapy is performed according to a series of rules. All movements are performed smoothly, without sudden movements, at the same time of day. The complex usually includes the following approaches:
- Head tilts to each side 2 times.
- Lower your arms at your sides, lift your shoulders, take 10 seconds. Return from the starting position.
- Hang from the horizontal bar for 10 seconds. Repeat several times a day.
- Lie down on a hard surface, hang your head from the edge down, lift it gradually, while tensing the muscles of the cervical spine only.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine requires lifestyle correction. Exercise should be 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 strong compression of the spinal nerve, with deformation of the vertebrae or acute compression of the spinal cord. Surgery is performed on the front of the neck or on the back, depending on many factors. The surgeon's main task 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 in the treatment of osteochondrosis. It reduces the flexibility of the neck, but permanently resolves the pain problem. During the operation, a bone graft is used, which is fixed with metal clasps, rods and plates. They increase the rate of fusion and stabilization of the cervical spine. The implant is removed from the donor or the patient, usually from the thigh region. For this, an additional incision is made during the operation.
- Dissecectomy. In the process, the problematic intervertebral disc is removed, the bone segments are fixed together. For this, special screws are used. Thus, the unpleasant symptoms are eliminated and the spinal cord compression is eliminated.
- Correctomy. It involves removing not only the affected intervertebral disc, but also the entire bony element. The spine is stabilized, as in the previous case, by means of screws and special fasteners.
- Laminectomy. Bone arch, spurs and ligaments are removed, which puts pressure on the spinal cord. This allows you to create the right space that ensures normal organ functioning. But the procedure destabilizes the crest, so the use of moorings is necessary.
The possible risks and consequences of the operation are discussed with each patient individually. The main ones are difficulties in swallowing at first, 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 patient's age, the extent of the lesion, and compliance with the doctor's recommendations. It is strictly forbidden to lubricate the damaged area with ointments or massages, 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 relax completely. This position will temporarily get rid of the pain, alleviating the condition as a whole.
- Take a pain reliever and call a doctor for an appointment. Don't wait for the disease to go away by itself and start treatment as soon as possible. Medications alone are not enough to slow the degenerative process, an integrated approach is needed, which includes physical therapy procedures and special exercises.
- Buy an orthopedic collar (Shantsa). This device is available at 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 holds the neck in position.
The selection of medications is made by a physician, 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 into account the advice of relatives and neighbors.
patient testimonials
Osteochondrosis is treated for a long time using various methods of relieving discomfort. Therefore, many patients doubt the effectiveness of the chosen regimen. Patient assessments will help to understand the issue of treatment.
- "I've been treating neck osteochondrosis for over 6 years and have never tried it. At first the pills were prescribed but they just relieved the pain. Then he visited the exercise therapy and physiotherapist's office for a long time, but the result did not appear for long. Everywhere, a cumulative effect is assumed, but the disease itself does not disappear. As long as there is no negative dynamics, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment, but it is already becoming difficult to work at the same pace. "
- "I haven't been to the doctor for a long time with neck pain, as a result the intervertebral disc has collapsed. The pills don't give tangible relief, but while I take them, I use rubbing and compresses. They help better with potatoes and honey. , as the disease progresses, I'm considering an operation, but that's the last resort. "
- "I was diagnosed with osteochondrosis several years ago, I foolishly wasted a lot of time on treatment with folk remedies, I was afraid of the pills and so I didn't take them. As a result, the disease progressed rapidly and so did the excess weight and constant load on the neck. They affected. Now the painkillers are of little help, the severe pain is constantly bothering you, the 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 does not work. "
The treatment of osteochondrosis involves an integrated approach, which includes several modern techniques and medicines, massages and alternative medicine recipes. Only this approach can delay degenerative changes in bone and connective tissue, achieve stable remission and maintain quality of life, while minimizing the risk of serious complications.