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 treat 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 difficult.
The main goals that doctors set when starting treatment for osteochondrosis are to stop the progression of degenerative processes and not harm the patient, since 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.
Not only does self-medication not bring any relief, but it is also 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 is widely used.
Important!In extreme cases, when conservative methods are ineffective or dangerous complications arise, surgical intervention is used.
Correctly selected treatment for cervical osteochondrosis can stop the disease and provide remission for several decades.
Drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Medications for cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed with the followinggoals:
- anesthetize;
- relax tense neck muscles;
- relieve the inflammatory process of the spine and paravertebral tissues;
- relieve tissue swelling;
- improve microcirculation and metabolism of the cervical spine;
- improve blood supply to the brain;
- restore and protect the bone and cartilaginous tissues of the spine.
Patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed the following:drug groups:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories(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 drugs. The duration of treatment with these drugs is 7-10 days. NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to erosions and ulcers. To eliminate the negative effects on the digestive tract, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed alongside NSAIDs.
- Hormonal agents.A group of glucocorticosteroids is used to relieve the inflammation and swelling of radicular syndrome. Glucocorticoids are most often used in the form of perineural and paravertebral injections.
- Anestheticsused in the form of neuromuscular paravertebral blocks. With this method of administration, medications act directly on the spinal nerve roots, thereby relieving pain. To enhance the blocking effect, anesthetics are combined with a glucocorticosteroid. The course of treatment includes 5-6 blocks.
- Chondroprotectors.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.
- Medicines to 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 visual impairment, strengthenblood vessels and have an antioxidant effect.
- Topical preparations– ointments, creams, gels and patches help relieve pain and improve blood circulation to affected areas.
In addition, 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 (physical therapy for cervical osteochondrosis) is a set of specially designed exercises based on physiological movements of the body that can reduce pain in the spine, improve blood circulation and metabolism in tissues and restorenormal configuration and mobility of the spine.
Interesting!Therapeutic exercise is an effective way to treat and prevent cervical osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy exercises and gymnastics can be prescribed by a physiotherapist doctor only after studying the results of a spinal examination and only after the acute pain has been relieved.
Contraindications to physiotherapy and gymnastics may include:
- acute illnesses;
- acute infectious diseases;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- malignant and benign neoplasms;
- aortic aneurysm;
- heart aneurysm;
- blood clotting disorder;
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- high blood pressure;
- eye myopia;
- severe forms of diabetes.
Physiotherapeutic methods for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
Electrotherapyrepresents a 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 or other metal implants.
Laser therapyinvolves 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.
Ultraviolet light treatment.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) is activated in the body.
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 found in mineral waters and mud improve microcirculation in the spine and affected tissues.
Vibration therapyis the use of mechanical vibrations directed toward the cervical spine, which reduce muscle spasms and pain.
There are band exercise machines that can be used both in a hospital setting and at home.
Important!Vibration therapy is contraindicated for people suffering from pustular skin diseases in the neck area and vibrational diseases.
Acoustic shock wave therapy,that affect the cervical spine. Thus, pain is reduced, metabolism and blood circulation in the neck tissues are improved.
There are many other methods of physiotherapy. To eliminate the negative impact of physiotherapeutic factors on the body, a physiotherapist must prescribe and monitor the implementation of procedures.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis with manual therapy and massage?
Manual therapyis called local dosed impact on the elements of the spine with the hands to restore normal mobility there 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 adjusting movements, neck massage and traction, where the head and limbs are used as leverage.
Through manual therapy it is possible to reduce neck pain, activate the autonomic nervous system and increase spinal mobility.
Manual therapy cannot be carried out in patients with cervical osteochondrosis, who also suffer from inflammatory diseases of the spine, oncopathology or who have suffered spinal injuries.
Massage for cervical osteochondrosis can be performed either by a massage therapist or by the patient himself (self-massage).
Interesting!There are acupressure and segmental massages of the cervical spine.
Segmental massage is a massage of the paravertebral zones, and acupressure is a massage of special "vital" points responsible for individual segments of the spine.
Acupuncture or acupuncture
Acupunctureis a method of treating cervical osteochondrosis by applying needles to active points of the spine.
The needle irritates these points and the body activates the production of cortisol and endogenous painkillers, which help to cope with inflammation and pain.
Cervical osteochondrosisis a progressive and incurable disease. Thanks to comprehensive, timely and correctly selected treatment, the process of destruction and immobilization of the spine can be stopped.