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Cervical osteochondrosis: treatment
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Before we learn what treatment for cervical osteochondrosis involves, it is necessary to know what this disease is. Today, it is a very common diagnosis. And it is completely wrong to think that this problem can only affect older people. A significant number of patients from 20 to 40 years old suffer from such a disease as cervical osteochondrosis, the treatment of which is now successfully carried out using various methods.
The disease develops as a result of displacement of the cervical vertebrae and pinching of the spinal cord nerve root endings. Such processes are called degenerative-dystrophic.
[ Causes of cervical osteochondrosis and risk factors
One of the causes of the disease is an unhealthy lifestyle: lack of physical activity, dietary irregularities. Often, staying in an unhealthy posture, which provokes muscle tension and spasms, is due to professional necessity. Office work forces people to stay near the computer for a long time, to hold the receiver with their shoulder raised to their cheek during telephone conversations, leaving their hands free to operate the keyboard.
As a result, posture is disrupted, vertebrae are displaced, and blood supply to the brain is disrupted. The latter is due to the fact that the vertebral artery is located in the openings of the cervical vertebrae.
The risk group also includes people whose professional activities are associated with vibration exposure. Heredity and injuries also play a negative role.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Patients experience headaches, which are often constant. The pain intensifies with movement, accompanied by dizziness. Turning the head to the side is often painful.
The pain also spreads to the chest, similar to angina. However, unlike paroxysmal cardiac pain, its duration reaches several days.
Due to the pinched nerve endings, patients may also experience shooting pains, numbness in the hands and tongue, and tingling sensations. Such phenomena are observed both when awake and at night.
It is often accompanied by fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Treatment with traditional methods
Physiotherapy, manual therapy, therapeutic and preventive gymnastics, and drug treatment are good for treatment. A complex combination of several methods is possible based on the diagnostic results.
The diagnosis is established based on the patient's complaints. Magnetic resonance imaging and X-rays are additionally prescribed.
When a diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made, treatment should be selected individually.
The efforts of manual therapists and osteopaths are aimed at restoring the mobility of the spine, combating damage to the intervertebral discs. Therapeutic effects include recommendations for performing exercises, organizing the correct posture during sleep. The doctor can draw the patient's attention to the condition of certain organs.
A course of magnetic therapy or treatment with laser therapy is based on stimulation of the affected nerve centers through the skin.
Thermal imaging diagnostics allows identifying impact zones. At the same time, the functioning of the autonomic nervous system improves.
Therapeutic gymnastics gives a long-term effect. The set of exercises is selected taking into account the patient's condition: in the acute stage, some exercises are difficult to perform. The load varies depending on changes in well-being. Positive results are achieved after regular gymnastics.
Medicinal treatment is prescribed when the disease progresses. NSAIDs, analgesics, and vitamin therapy are used. External creams, ointments, and patches supplement pain relief.
Treatment with alternative methods
Among the additional or alternative methods, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and folk remedies are good.
Tibetan medicine clinics consider a comprehensive approach and diagnostics of the body as a whole to be the key to effective treatment. For health improvement, a number of procedures are performed, including massage, acupuncture, cleansing diets, gymnastics, and the use of medicinal plants.
Yoga also offers its own methods of recovery. Classes should be conducted by a competent and reliable instructor.
Traditional medicine recommends applying horseradish compresses: the leaves of the plant should be scalded, allowed to cool and applied to the source of pain. It is better to perform the procedure at night. An infusion of garlic and lemon can also alleviate the condition: the crushed mixture is infused in boiling water and taken internally on an empty stomach, ½ cup. Experts say that self-massage is effective.
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis
To prevent the disease, you need to lead an active lifestyle and avoid static positions for a long time. Daily gymnastics is the best way to prevent it.
During the day, it is better to alternate sedentary work with physical activity: take "physical exercise breaks". It is enough to simply walk, bend over a few times, stretch.
If you are going to perform heavy physical work, you should avoid sudden movements. It is better to increase the duration of work by reducing the intensity.
Strengthening the immune system in general plays an important role.
For the prevention of osteochondrosis, it is very important to prevent the development of scoliosis in childhood. It is necessary to ensure control over the child's correct posture, to equip the workplace comfortably for the period of doing homework. It is advisable to introduce the child to daily exercises from an early age. Swimming gives a good effect.
Preventive treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
When the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to conduct diagnostics as early as possible in order to prevent the development of the disease. This will allow you to avoid drug treatment and restore metabolic functions in the cervical vertebrae faster. It is also important to prevent the development of complications: problems with hearing and vision, respiratory system disorders. By eliminating the pain associated with cervical osteochondrosis, treatment will help the patient return to his normal lifestyle.