Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged stay in a static position, head down while working in front of the computer, many hours "sitting" in front of the TV are factors that contribute to the onset and development of the disease. A patient facing an illness raises the question: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? The article is dedicated to answering the question.
Stages of disease development
The disease develops in stages:
- 1st degree cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by damage to the cartilaginous tissue, the patient feels muscle discomfort and mild malaise. Symptoms are cleared, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- second-degree cervical osteochondrosis causes destruction of the fibrous ring, a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, which compress, and painful symptoms appear;
- third-degree cervical osteochondrosis is expressed in subsequent sequential destruction of vertebrae, a change in the shape of their bodies, proliferation of bone processes, intervertebral hernia is variable. The patient experiences difficulty, pain when trying to turn the neck to the side
Symptoms
In the early stage of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long stay with the head down or intense physical exertion, a slight discomfort occurs in the back of the neck. The patient is in no hurry to see a doctor, confusing him with the consequences of excessive muscle tension. The pathology is progressing slowly but persistently.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensations in the problem area - "lumbago" is given by hand, shoulder blade;
- excessive strain on the cervical muscles;
- tongue numbness - felt when 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 the spinal roots, vertebral artery. Headaches, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, decreased visual acuity and decreased hearing appear.
What to do
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of disease development, drug treatment is not used. Sufficient preventive procedures:
- Organization of a healthy lifestyle;
- Adequate nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty and high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Give up lifting weights - load on the spine;
- Fighting bad habits;
- Assume correct posture during sleep (orthopedic mattresses help) while working at the computer;
- Watch your walk.
The use of medications
With age, osteochondrosis progresses. Treatment is aimed at combating the pathological property. It is worth reducing pain (anesthetizing), decreasing the intensity of the inflammatory process and intensifying the metabolism in the cervical area.
Drug groups are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesics;
- muscle relaxants (medicines to relieve muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe medications that contain aspirin. These remedies relieve pain, fever and fight minor discomfort.
The course includes sedative pills.
The doctor who is developing a complex to fight the disease will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of medication.
Injections
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 education 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 in the recurrent branch of the spinal nerve.
The last block has a more complex action, an execution technique.
Ointments
One option for the treatment of osteochondrosis with the aid of medication is the use of creams, ointments, gels - means for external treatment of painful areas.
The therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Benefits:
- the use of ointments is cheaper than magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- facilities for external use are convenient and accessible;
- there are no contraindications for use;
- you can use the backgrounds for a long time, as an allergic reaction to the components is excluded.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contains analgesic components;
- complex creams;
- irritating ointments - increase local blood circulation;
- chondroprotective, 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 physician based on the analysis of the stage of development of the disease. In the first phase, the patient is advised to sleep on a hard surface. If the nerves are pinched, the cervical vertebrae are pulled out using the Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments in the paravertebral area are stretched. The spacing between the vertebrae increases, the nerves and blood vessels are freed. You can manually stretch your spine using manual therapy. Results are given by magnetotherapy, ultrasound.
An important place in the system of therapeutic measures to combat osteochondrosis is occupied by physical exercise - 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 with, do the exercises with half strength so you don't overload your spine.
Therapy for cervical osteochondrosis is initially dangerous - in the fight for health, you can harm the body. Treatment is prescribed by a physician who has performed a comprehensive examination of the patient.
correct body position
Most symptoms of osteochondrosis are due to the fact that if the neck is in the wrong position, nerve endings, blood vessels are compressed, local blood circulation is disturbed, and "stagnation zones" are formed. In this regard, doctors recommend constantly monitoring the anatomical correction of postures, gait, posture.
Keep your back and neck straight throughout the day. If the work is of a static sedentary nature, it is important to pay attention to the height of the chair, the table. It must be identical so that the person feels erect, without leaning over, without straining the muscles too much.
To sleep you will need a special bed, latex orthopedic mattress. It's important to make sure the pillow is at the correct height (measured as the distance from the neck to the shoulder joint). This position relaxes the cervical muscles during sleep, providing a healing effect.
Cervical spine osteochondrosis is a disease that requires an integrated approach to organize therapeutic and prophylactic measures to combat it. It is worth being warned against self-medication, which leads to negative and irreversible health consequences. Competent medical assistance will cure the disease.