Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will bring good results only when it is regular, consistent and systematic. This disease is on the list of the most frequent complaints from patients of working age, spending half a day at the computer. Often, patients do not want to notice the pain and do not attach importance to them, which leads to complications.

If you do not want to experience constant pain in the neck, head, shoulders, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of the disease includes such common methods: 

• Inspection; 
• Radiography; 
• CT scan; 
• Magnetic resonance imaging; 
• Doppler ultrasound.

After determining the location of the disease and its stages, they often begin treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the purpose of which is to get rid of the causes of pain.

Review of modern methods of treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is best corrected in the initial stage of formation before the appearance of vertebral artery syndromes and cardialgia, accompanied by chronic headaches and painful sensations in the area of the shoulder blades, the heart. OSHP - this is the abbreviation of this disease, over time leads to a change in the overall structure of the spinal column due to active compensatory expansion of connective, fibrillar and bone tissues, therefore, treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be started as early as possible and carried out comprehensively with an emphasis on neutralizing inflammatory processes and relief of pain. The therapeutic strategy of the first stage is aimed at neutralizing pain, the second stage consists in activating the blood supply and metabolic processes in the affected areas of the spine, at the third stage physiotherapeutic and manual techniques are shown.

1. If the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is in the acute stage, accompanied by severe pain, the paravertebral blockade is indicated by local injection of novocaine, lidocaine, corticosteroids (cortisone, diprospan) in order to relieve muscle tension in the vertebral motor segment (PDS) and decrease pain.
2. Combinations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, diclofenac), antispasmodics (mydocalm), analgesics (spazmalgon) and vitamin complexes (group B, nicotinic acid) are effective.
3. As a local therapy prescribed ointment - chondroprotectors (Hondroksid) and funds with NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory components) - Voltaren, Ketonal.
4. Effective reflex therapy procedures, electrical stimulation, manual therapy, massages, performing a complex of therapeutic exercises.
5. If the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine lasts for years, the disease is in an advanced stage and a herniated disc is diagnosed, surgery is possible.

[1], [2], [3]

Conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most often carried out using conservative techniques. It is also possible to use anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, chondoprotectors, as well as drugs that help relieve swelling and tension in the muscles. However, medications only help to cope with intense pain. Physiotherapy treatment of cervical osteochondrosis helps to get rid of it, if not forever, then at least for a long time. The most commonly used methods include: 

• Acupuncture; 
• Massotherapy; 
• Electrophoresis; 
• Laser therapy; 
• Methods of manual therapy.

As a rule, this treatment of cervical osteochondrosis takes about two weeks.

[4], [5], [6], [7]

Drug treatment

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra is treated quite successfully with timely access to a doctor and the appointment of a set of measures, which include medical, physiotherapy and preventive therapies, such as physical therapy, massage, acupuncture. The main tasks of providing medical assistance are to relieve pain and restore normal functioning of the cervical vertebrae.

Cervical osteochondrosis medication treatment involves the following:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen or piroxicam;
• Anesthetic drugs - spasmalgon, ketanov, analgin;
• Myelorelaxant - mydocalm, sirdalud, trental;
• Chondroprotectors - aflutop, teraflex;
• Vitamin complex - vitamins of group B and nicotinic acid;
• External irritants - Finalgon, Apizatron;
• External means with regenerating, chondroprotective properties - Hondroksid, Traumel C;
• External products containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components - diclofenac, voltaren.

The disease of civilization - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine develops asymptomatically at the first stage, and so it is insidious. However, when neurological and cardiac symptoms, such as persistent headache and pain, radiating to the heart under the scapula, appear, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebra requires immediate and effective treatment. The first help may be the administration of antispasmodics (Spasmalgon, Baralgin) and the application of an ointment containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components (Indomethacin, Diclofenac), will also help the ointment with a local irritant effect (Apisatron or Finalgon). In case of acute pain syndrome, it is impossible to perform popular methods of physical therapy and massage, it is much more expedient to consult a vertebrologist where you can prescribe an anesthetic paravertebral blockade, relieve pain, and then a drug complex, including anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, I have I had a problem, I will not work). (Baclofen or Mydocalm), vitamin complex (B1, B2, B6, B12) and physiotherapy. Only after completing the course of treatment is it possible to perform a complex of physical therapy and preventive massage sessions.

[8], [9], [10]

Preparations for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis

Therapy of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be as comprehensive as possible, aimed at stopping several symptomatic areas at once. Explicit pain syndrome, neurological symptoms, cardialgia, exacerbation of all the symptoms of existing major diseases - this pathological "union" requires a careful selection of methods, methods and means to alleviate both vertebral symptom (dizziness), and pain in the heart, and edema, and spasm muscles in order to return the patient's ability to work and increase vitality. Preparations for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis are divided into the following categories: 

• Analgesics that are capable of stopping pain, - ketans, analgin, dexalgil, less often - tram; 
• For an epidural blockade, lidocaine, novocaine, or its mixture with corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone) is prescribed; 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral, injectable forms, topical administration - diclofenac, movalis, ibuprofen, indomethacin; 
• Antispasmodics, myelorelaxants - mydocalm, papaverine, no-spa; 
• The means reducing vestibular disorders - betaserk; 
• Vasodilator drugs - Vinpocetine, Cavinton; 
• Diuretics - diuretic drugs to neutralize the swelling in the strangulated tissues - lasix, furosemide; 

Chondroprotective drugs - alflutop, hondroksid, teraflex.

Treatment of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis

Any type of osteochondrosis - cervical, thoracic or lumbar, is treated more quickly and effectively in the early stages of the disease. Since osteochondrosis is often asymptomatic and long-lasting, it often happens in a combined form (cervical with breast), therefore it is very important to make a correct diagnosis for the administration of a specific complex of therapeutic measures. Treatment of cervical thoracic osteochondrosis involves three stages of action:

1. Treatment with drugs, aimed at the relief of pain, relaxation of the insulation, strained muscles, improving cerebrovascular blood supply and the vertebral column - nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen), analgesics, mielorelaksanty (Mydocalm, baclofen), ointments irritant - Finalgon, Apisatron.
2. Physiotherapy methods that reinforce drug therapy - electrostimulation by microcurrents, UHF, acupuncture, acupuncture, manual therapy course.
3. Preventive methods, neutralizing relapses - a complex of physical therapy, therapeutic massage.

Also shown is compliance with a gentle diet that excludes salty and spicy foods, to minimize edema and improve metabolism.

Treatment of vertigo with cervical osteochondrosis

Vestibular neurological symptoms are characteristic of the complex of signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, due to the fact that as a result of compression of the vertebral artery, the main blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most often, dizziness occurs when sharp bends, after sleeping, when turning the head, and often among the vestibular symptoms, there is a decrease in the acuity of hearing and vision. Treatment of vertigo in cervical osteochondrosis consists primarily in restoring normal blood supply and relaxing the tense muscles of the cervical region. Nootropic drugs, such as oxybral, cinnarizine, fezam, are effective as drugs that activate the bloodstream, betahistine dihydrochloride (Betaserk) is prescribed to improve microcirculation, myeloralaxant is effective, relieves vasospasms - Sirdalud, Midocalm. In addition, dizziness caused by osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae requires compliance with a gentle diet, which excludes spicy, salty foods and the use of hard liquors - coffee, alcohol.

Treatment with alternative means

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine affects more than 80% of the world's population, therefore it is rightly considered a disease of civilization, since the dystrophic lesions of the articular cartilage of the most vulnerable - the cervical vertebrae are associated with a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle. If the disease is at an early stage, then in addition to medical methods, there are also recipes of our ancestors, which are sometimes more effective and safe than drug therapy.

Cervical osteochondrosis treatment with alternative means involves the following:

Compresses of distracting, irritating properties, improving blood supply - from horseradish leaves, compresses anti-inflammatory - from burdock leaves and cabbage, warming compresses - a mixture of propolis and dry mustard.

Infusions taken orally 3 times a day (1 tablespoon) for two to three weeks - 50 g of chopped celery root insist 12 hours in a liter of hot water or 50 g of chopped sunflower roots boil in a liter of water for 5 minutes.

Gymnastics

Osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is a disease characteristic of those people who spend 8-10 hours a day, sitting at the office table, with a computer. The main cause of osteochondrosis of the cervical region according to the WHO (World Health Organization) is a sedentary lifestyle, which causes a constant static voltage, stress on the vertebrae of the lower part of the neck. If the disease has already developed and is diagnosed, the first stage, which helps to relieve pain and neurological symptoms, is drug therapy, but a course of physiotherapy exercises is an integral part of complex treatment. Reasonable load on the neck muscles during remission allows to strengthen and form the muscular corset to support the intervertebral discs. Any treatment of cervical osteochondrosis gymnastics only fixes, in addition, it effectively prevents relapses. Therapeutic gymnastics complex is prescribed two to three weeks after the main medication course and it includes isometric (no turns, static) muscle stretching exercises and exercises with turns, head rotations, arm flips.

Treatment of exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine rarely begins with obvious clinical symptoms, the course of the disease is often latent, latent, and therefore, medical care is usually provided only when osteochondrosis is accompanied by unbearable pain. The exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis treatment involves a complex and intensive, since it must be directed to the rapid relief of pain, neurological symptoms. Most often, in the period of exacerbation, blockages are prescribed in the form of paravertebral injections of novocaine or its mixture with hydrocortisone, and administration of diprospan is also effective. The fixation of the cervico-thoracic region with the help of special corsets or orthoses (orthopedic collars) is effective. After arresting the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are taken, both orally (orally) and as ointments, gels, manual therapy, physiotherapy procedures — myostimulation with microcurrents, electrophoresis, and acupuncture, as well as performing physical therapy complex — give a good fixing effect.

How to make the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis more effective?

Let us dwell on the therapeutic massage, which, with its proper performance, you can do at home to get rid of unpleasant sensations. In order not to bring yourself harm, you must follow a few simple rules: 

• Do not push too hard on the neck and back; 
• All movements must be from top to bottom;

The massage process itself may include the following components: 

• With your hand on your knee, slide your fingers from the back of your head to the shoulder; 
• Do the same edge of the palm; 
• Make light circular movements along the same path; 
• Mash bumps behind the ears; 
• Slide your fingers along the side of your neck.

Complementary treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a can massage used in all types of osteochondrosis, as well as radiculitis. This famous folk method helps to improve blood circulation and improve muscle condition. In the case of cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to make smooth movements from the nape to the shoulders, however, without touching the vertebra itself.

All these movements will help you stretch and relax the muscles of the neck. Their daily use is well combined with outdoor activities and going to the pool or gym. However, if you do not have such an opportunity, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can be performed at home by performing some of the following exercises: 

• Nods head; 
• Tilts left and right; 
• Moving the head back and forth without tilting; 
• Lying on the stomach, reduce the shoulder blades, raising the head, shoulders; 
• The starting position is the same. Make successive movements with your hands: forward - to the sides - to the shoulders. 
• Make vertical movements with your shoulders from a sitting position.

Therapeutic exercises should be as relaxing as possible, neat, without any strength techniques and painful sensations. Only then they will benefit, and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis will increase if you combine all these exercises with proper nutrition - the use of all necessary vitamins and minerals, the absence of too salty and spicy foods in your diet.

In order for the problem of osteochondrosis to be familiar to you only by hearsay, you need to remember the following: 

• The back of your chair should be quite stiff; 
• You work or relax in front of the TV or computer - do not stay in one position for a long time. Get up periodically and walk around the room; 
• Do not tilt your head too close to a book or monitor. Remember the optimal distance of 30-35 cm. 
• The bed should not be too soft; 
• Even when working and driving, keep calm, do not overwork.

With proper understanding and implementation of all the recommendations of the doctor, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is a painless and useful exercise. After all, doing all the exercises, you will contribute to improving the overall condition of the body. And an active lifestyle has not harmed anyone!

[11], [12]