Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, head down while working on a computer, many hours of "sitting" in front of the TV are factors that contribute to the emergence and development of the disease. In a patient facing a disease, the question arises: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? The article is devoted to the answer to the question.
Stages of disease development
The disease develops in stages:
- 1st degree cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by damage to cartilage tissue, the patient feels muscle discomfort, mild malaise. Symptoms disappear, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- 2nd degree cervical osteochondrosis leads to destruction of the fibrous ring, reduction of the distance between the vertebrae that are compressed, painful symptoms appear;
- 3rd degree cervical osteochondrosis is expressed in further successive destruction of the vertebrae, change in the shape of their bodies, proliferation of bone processes, intervertebral hernia is variable. The patient has difficulty, pain when trying to turn the neck to the side
Symptoms
In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long stay with a bowed head or intense physical exertion, there is a slight discomfort in the back of the neck. The patient is in no hurry to go to the doctor, confusing him with the effects of muscle strain. The pathology progresses slowly but steadily.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensations in the problem area - "lumbago" is given to the hand, shoulder blade;
- overexertion of the cervical muscles;
- numbness of the tongue - felt when eating, talking;
- paresis of the muscles of the arms, legs, accompanies any activity
As the intervertebral discs and vertebrae become deformed, the patient's condition worsens.
The course of osteochondrosis is complicated by neurogenic symptoms caused by compression of osteophytes or hernial protrusion of the vertebral roots, vertebral artery. Headache, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, decreased visual acuity and hearing.
What to do
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of the disease, drug treatment is not used. Sufficient preventive procedures:
- Organizing a healthy lifestyle;
- Proper nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty, high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Refuse to lift weights - load on the spine;
- Fighting bad habits;
- Take the correct posture during sleep (orthopedic mattresses will help you) while working in front of the computer;
- Watch your gait.
The use of drugs
Osteochondrosis progresses with age. Treatment is aimed at combating the pathological property. It is worth to reduce pain (anesthesia), reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process and increase metabolism in the cervical region.
Groups of drugs are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesics;
- muscle relaxants (drugs aimed at relieving muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe drugs that contain aspirin. Such remedies relieve pain, fever and fight mild malaise.
The course includes sedative tablets.
A doctor who develops a complex to combat the disease will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of drugs.
Injections
Blockade is a procedure that involves injecting a drug into an area affected by a progressive pathological process.
The action is performed only by a doctor with higher medical education. The injection reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process, reduces pain.
Two types of injections are used to treat osteochondrosis.
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
An option for the treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of drugs is the use of creams, ointments, gels - means for external treatment of painful areas.
The therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. advantages:
- the use of ointments is lower in price than magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- the means for external use are convenient, accessible;
- there are no contraindications for use;
- you can use the funds for a long time, as an allergic reaction to the components is excluded.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contain analgesic components;
- complex creams;
- irritating ointments - improve local blood circulation;
- chondroprotectors, restore cartilage tissue;
- homeopathic products containing 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. In the first stage, the patient is advised to sleep on a hard surface. If the nerves are compressed, the cervical vertebrae are pulled out using the Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral area are stretched. The distance between the vertebrae increases, the nerves and blood vessels are released. You can manually stretch the spine with the help of manual therapy. The results are given by magnetic therapy, 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 load increases gradually. To begin, do the exercises at half strength so as not to strain the spine.
Therapy for 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 thorough examination of the patient.
Proper body position
Most of the symptoms of osteochondrosis are due to the fact that if the neck is in the wrong position, the nerve endings, blood vessels are compressed, local blood circulation is disrupted and "stagnation zones" are formed. In this regard, doctors recommend constant monitoring of the anatomical correctness of posture, 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, table. It should be identical so that the person sits upright without bending over, without straining the muscles.
For sleep you will need a special bed, orthopedic latex mattress. It is worth making sure that the pillow is at the right height (measured as the distance from the neck to the shoulder joint). This position relaxes the neck 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 being warned against self-medication, which leads to irreversible negative consequences for health. Competent medical care will cure the disease.