Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, lowered head while working at a computer, many hours "sitting" in front of the TV are factors that contribute to the appearance and development of the disease. A patient faced with a disease arises a question: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? The article is devoted to the answer to the question.
Stages of development of the disease
The disease develops in stages:
- cervical osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is characterized by damage to the cartilaginous tissue, the patient feels muscle discomfort, slight malaise. Symptoms are erased, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- cervical osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree entails the destruction of the fibrous ring, a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, which are pinched, painful symptoms appear;
- cervical osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree is expressed in the further sequential destruction of the vertebrae, a change in the shape of their bodies, 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 a bowed head or intense physical exertion, mild discomfort occurs in the back of the neck. The patient is in no hurry to see a doctor, mistaking them for the consequences of muscle overstrain. Pathology is slowly but persistently progressing.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensations in the problem area - "lumbago" is given to the hand, shoulder blade;
- overstrain 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 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, drops in blood pressure appear, visual acuity and hearing decrease.
What to do
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of the development of the disease, drug treatment is not used. Enough preventive procedures:
- Organization of a healthy lifestyle;
- Proper nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty, high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Give up lifting weights - load on the spine;
- Combating bad habits;
- Take the correct posture during sleep (orthopedic mattresses will help), while working at the computer;
- Watch your gait.
The use of medicines
With age, osteochondrosis progresses. Treatment is aimed at combating the pathological property. It is worth reducing pain (anesthetizing), reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process, and intensifying the metabolism in the cervical zone.
Groups of drugs are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesics;
- muscle relaxants (medicines aimed at relieving muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe drugs that contain aspirin. Such remedies relieve pain, fever, and fight minor malaise.
The course includes sedative tablets.
A doctor who is developing a complex to combat the disease will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of drugs.
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 a 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 into the spinal cord, in the second - injections into the recurrent branch of the spinal nerve.
The last blockade has a more complex action, execution technique.
Ointments
An option for treating osteochondrosis with medication is the use of creams, ointments, gels - agents for external treatment of painful areas.
The therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Advantages:
- the use of ointments is inferior in price to magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- means for external use are convenient, 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, contain analgesic components;
- complex creams;
- irritating ointments - enhance 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 pulled out using the Glisson loop. As a result, muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral zone 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 load is increased gradually. To get started, do the exercises at half strength so as not to overload 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 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, the 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 correctness 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, table. It must be identical so that the person sits upright, without bending over, without overstraining the muscles.
For sleep you will need a special bed, orthopedic latex mattress. It is worth making sure that 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.
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, leading to irreversible negative health consequences. Competent medical assistance will heal the disease.