Many people are familiar with cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, head down while working at a computer, and many hours "sitting" in front of the television are factors that contribute to the onset and development of the disease. A patient confronted with a disease asks himself a question: how to treat cervical osteochondrosis? The article is devoted to the answer to the question.
Stages of disease development
The disease progresses in stages:
- 1st degree cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by damage to the cartilage tissue, the patient feels muscle discomfort, slight discomfort. The symptoms are cleared, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- 2nd degree cervical osteochondrosis leads to the destruction of the fibrous ring, a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae that are pinched, painful symptoms appear;
- 3rd degree cervical osteochondrosis is expressed by the continued sequential destruction of the vertebrae, a change in the shape of their body, the proliferation of bone processes, the intervertebral hernia is variable. The patient feels difficulty, pain when trying to turn the neck to the side
Symptoms
At the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long stay with the head down or an intense physical effort, a slight discomfort occurs in the neck. The patient is in no hurry to see a doctor, confusing him with the consequences of muscle surge. The pathology progresses slowly but steadily.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensations in the problem area - "lumbago" is given to the hand, to the scapula;
- overexertion of the cervical muscles;
- numbness of the tongue - felt while eating, speaking;
- paresis of the muscles of the arms, legs, accompanies any activity
As the intervertebral discs and vertebrae are deformed, the patient's condition worsens.
The course of osteochondrosis is complicated by neurogenic symptoms caused by compression by osteophytes or hernial protrusion of vertebral roots, vertebral artery. Headaches, dizziness, drops in blood pressure appear, decreased visual and hearing acuity.
What to do
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of the development of the disease, drug therapy is not used. Enough preventive procedures:
- Organization of a healthy lifestyle;
- Good nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty and high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Ditch the lifting weights - load on the spine;
- Fight bad habits;
- Adopt the correct posture while sleeping (orthopedic mattresses will help you), while working at the computer;
- Watch your step.
The use of medication
With age, osteochondrosis progresses. The treatment is aimed at combating the pathological property. It is worth reducing pain (anesthesia), reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process and intensifying the metabolism in the cervical area.
Groups of drugs are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- pain relievers;
- muscle relaxants (medicines to relieve muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe drugs that contain aspirin. Such remedies relieve pain, fever and fight minor ailments.
The course includes sedative tablets.
A doctor who develops a complex to fight the disease will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of medication.
Injection
Blockade is a procedure that represents the introduction of a drug into an area affected by a progressive pathological process.
Only a doctor with higher medical training performs the action. The injection reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process, reduces pain.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, two types of injections are applicable.
In the first case, the active substance is injected in the direction of the nerve branches in the spinal cord, in the second - injections into the recurrent branch of the spinal nerve.
The last blockade has a more complex action, a technique of execution.
Ointments
One option for the treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of drugs is the use of creams, ointments, gels - means of external treatment of painful areas.
Therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Advantages :
- the use of ointments is inferior in price to magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- the means for external use are practical, affordable;
- there are no contraindications for use;
- you can use the funds for a long time, since an allergic reaction to the components is excluded.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contains analgesic components;
- complex creams;
- irritant ointments - improve local blood circulation;
- chondroprotectors, restore cartilage tissue;
- homeopathic products, contain natural plant extracts;
- massage mixtures (in the composition - mummy, herbal ingredients, bee venom).
Non-drug treatment of osteochondrosis
Therapeutic methods are selected by the doctor based on the analysis of the stage of development of the disease. At the first stage, the patient is advised to sleep on a hard surface. If the nerves are pinched, the cervical vertebrae are extracted using the Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral area are stretched. The spacing between the vertebrae increases, the nerves and blood vessels are released. You can manually stretch the spine using manual therapy. The results are given by magnetotherapy, ultrasound.
An important place in the system of therapeutic measures to combat osteochondrosis is occupied by physical exercises - gymnastics, swimming.
Exercise is recommended for patients in remission, healthy people as a preventive measure. The intensity of the charge is gradually increased. To start, do the exercises at half strength so as not to overload the spine.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is initially dangerous - in the fight for health, you can harm the body. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor who has performed a comprehensive examination of the patient.
Correct body position
Most of the symptoms of osteochondrosis are due to the fact that if the neck is in the wrong position, nerve endings, blood vessels are constricted, local blood circulation is disturbed, and "stagnation zones" form. In this regard, doctors recommend constantly monitoring the anatomical correctness of postures, gait and posture.
Keep your back and neck straight throughout the day. If the work is static and sedentary in nature, it is important to pay attention to the height of the chair, the table. It must be the same so that the person sits upright, without bending over, without putting too much strain on the muscles.
To sleep you will need a special bed, an orthopedic latex mattress. It is worth making sure that the pillow is at the correct height (measured as the distance between the neck and the shoulder joint). This position relaxes the cervical muscles during sleep, providing a healing effect.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease that requires an integrated approach to the organization of therapeutic and prophylactic measures to combat it. It is worth warning about self-medication, which leads to irreversible negative consequences on health. Competent medical assistance will cure the disease.