Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, bowing the head while working at the computer, hours of "sitting" in front of the TV are factors that contribute to the appearance and development of the disease. A patient dealing with the disease arises the question: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? The article is devoted to the answer to that question.
Stages of disease development
The disease develops gradually:
- grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by damage to cartilage tissue, the patient feels muscle discomfort, slight body discomfort. Symptoms are erased, some people go to the doctor at this stage;
- stage 2 cervical osteochondrosis requires destruction of the fibrous ring, a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, which is pinched, painful symptoms appear;
- 3rd degree cervical osteochondrosis is manifested in the subsequent subsequent destruction of the vertebrae, changes in their body shape, proliferation of bone processes, intervertebral hernias are variable. The patient feels stiff, sore when trying to turn the neck to the side
symptoms
In the early stages of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long stay with the head bowed or doing vigorous physical exercise, mild discomfort occurs in the back of the neck. Patients are in no hurry to see a doctor, thinking they are the result of excessive muscle. The pathology slowly but steadily develops.
The main symptoms of the disease:
- painful sensation in the problem area - "lumbago" is given to the hands, shoulder blades;
- overstrain cervical muscles;
- numbness of the tongue - felt when eating, talking;
- muscle paresis of the arms, legs, accompanies any activity
As the intervertebral discs and vertebrae change shape, the patient’s condition worsens.
The course of osteochondrosis is complicated by neurogenic symptoms caused by compression by osteophytes or protrusion of spinal root hernias, vertebral arteries. Headache, dizziness, decreased blood pressure appear, visual acuity and decreased hearing.
What to do
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of disease development, drug treatment is not used. Adequate preventive procedures:
- Healthy lifestyle organization;
- Proper nutrition (stay away from spicy, fatty, high -calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing morning exercises for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Stop lifting weights - load on the spine;
- Fighting bad habits;
- Take the correct posture during sleep (orthopedic mattresses will help), while working at the computer;
- Watch your steps.
Use of drugs
With age, osteochondrosis develops. Treatment aims to combat pathological properties. It is worth reducing pain (anesthesia), reducing the intensity of inflammatory processes, and increasing metabolism in the cervical zone.
Group of drugs used:
- vitamin complex;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesic;
- muscle relaxant (a drug intended to relieve muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe medications that contain aspirin. Such medications relieve pain, fever, and fight minor lethargy.
This 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 medications.
Injections
Restriction is a procedure that represents the introduction of a drug into an area affected by a progressive pathological process.
Only doctors with higher medical education perform such actions. Injections reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process, reduce pain.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, two types of injections can be used.
In the first case, the active substance is injected into the nerve branch into the spinal cord, in the second - injection into the recurrent branch of the spinal cord.
The last restriction has a more complex action, execution technique.
Ointment
The 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.
This therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Advantage:
- the use of ointments is lower than the price of magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- means for external use are simple, affordable;
- there are no contraindications to use;
- you can use the funds for a long time, because allergic reactions to the components are excluded.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contains analgesic components;
- complex cream;
- irritating ointment - improves local blood circulation;
- chondroprotectors, restore cartilage tissue;
- homeopathic products, containing natural plant extracts;
- massage mixture (in the composition - mummies, herbal potions, bee venom).
Non -drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The therapeutic method is chosen 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 nerve is pinched, the cervical vertebra is pulled out using a Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral zone are stretched. The distance between the vertebrae increases, nerves and blood vessels are released. You can stretch the spine manually 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 preventative measure. The load intensity increases gradually. To start, do 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, nerve endings, blood vessels are compressed, local blood circulation is disrupted, and a "stagnation zone" is formed. In this case, doctors recommend constantly monitoring the anatomical accuracy of posture, gait, posture.
Keep your back and neck straight throughout the day. If the work is of a sedentary static nature, it is important to pay attention to the height of the chair, table. It must be the same so that the person sits upright, without bending, without straining the muscles.
To sleep you need a special bed, an orthopedic latex mattress. It is worthwhile to make 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. One should be warned against self-medication, which leads to irreversible negative health consequences. Efficient medical help will cure this disease.