Many people know about cervical osteochondrosis. Prolonged standing in a static position, head lowered while working on the computer, many hours "sitting" in front of the TV are factors that contribute to the appearance and development of the disease. A patient facing a disease a question arises: how to cure cervical osteochondrosis? The article is dedicated to answering the question.
Stages of disease development
The disease develops in stages:
- grade 1 cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by cartilage tissue damage, the patient feels muscular discomfort, mild maltreatment. The symptoms disappear, few people go to the doctor at this stage;
- grade 2 cervical osteochondrosis leads to destruction of the fibrous ring, reduction of the distance between the vertebrae, which are tight, painful symptoms appear;
- grade 3 cervical osteochondrosis is expressed in the subsequent further destruction of the vertebrae, a change in the shape of their bodies, the spread of bone processes, intervertebral hernia is variable. The patient feels difficulty, pain when trying to turn the neck to the side
Symptoms
In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis is asymptomatic. After a long posture with the head bent or intense physical exertion, a slight discomfort appears in the back of the neck. The patient does not rush to visit a doctor, confusing them about the consequences of muscle overload. The pathology is progressing slowly but steadily.
The main signs of the disease:
- painful sensation in the problem area - "lumbago" is given to the hand, shoulder blade;
- excessive strain of the cervical muscles;
- numbness of the tongue - felt when eating, speaking;
- paresis of the muscles of the arms, legs, accompanies every activity
With deformity of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae, the patient's condition worsens.
The course of osteochondrosis is complicated by neurogenic symptoms caused by compression by osteophytes or hernial extension of the spinal roots, vertebral artery. Headaches, dizziness, drop in blood pressure appear, decreased visual acuity and hearing.
What to do
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis requires an integrated approach. In the early stages of disease development, drug treatment is not used. Sufficient preventive procedures:
- Organizing a healthy lifestyle;
- Proper nutrition (abstinence from spicy, fatty, high-calorie foods);
- Gymnastics (doing exercises in the morning for 10-15 minutes will improve physical condition);
- Stop lifting weights - loads on the back;
- Fighting bad habits;
- Get proper posture while sleeping (orthopedic mattresses will help) while working on the computer;
- Watch your walk.
Use of drugs
With age, osteochondrosis progresses. Treatment aims to combat pathological property. It is worth reducing pain (anesthesia), reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process and intensifying metabolism in the cervical area.
Groups of drugs are used:
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotective agents;
- analgesic;
- muscle relaxants (medicines aimed at relieving muscle spasms).
Doctors often prescribe drugs that contain aspirin. Such tools relieve pain, fever and fight small disease.
The course includes sedative tablets.
A doctor who is developing a complex to fight the disease will cure osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with the help of medication.
Injections
Blockade is a procedure that represents the introduction of a drug into an area affected by a progressive pathological process.
The operation is performed only by a doctor with higher medical education. The injection reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process, reduces pain.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, two types of injections are applied.
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 final block has a more complex action, an execution technique.
ointment
One option for treating osteochondrosis with the help of medications is the use of creams, ointments, gels - tools for external treatment of painful areas.
Therapy is used in the early stages of osteochondrosis. Advantages:
- the use of ointments is inferior in price to magnetic therapy, acupuncture;
- tools for external use are convenient, affordable;
- there are no contraindications for use;
- you can use the funds for a long time, as an allergic reaction to the ingredients is ruled out.
Types of ointments used to treat osteochondrosis:
- anti-inflammatory, contains analgesic ingredients;
- complex creams;
- irritating ointments - improve local blood circulation;
- chondroprotectors, restore cartilage tissue;
- homeopathic products, containing natural plant extracts;
- massage mixture (in composition - zombie, 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 firm surface. If the nerves are compressed, the cervical vertebrae are retracted using the Glisson loop. As a result, the muscles and ligaments of the paravertebral area stretch. The space between the vertebrae increases, the nerves and blood vessels are liberated. You can manually stretch your spine using manual therapy. Results are given by magnetotherapy, ultrasound.
An important place in the system of therapeutic measures to combat osteochondrosis occupy physical exercises - gymnastics, swimming.
Exercise is recommended for remission patients, healthy people as a preventive measure. The intensity of the load gradually increases. To begin, do the exercises with 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 physician who has performed a comprehensive 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, the blood vessels are congested, the local blood circulation is disturbed and "stagnation zones" are formed. In this regard, doctors recommend continuous monitoring of the anatomical correctness of postures, walking, 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, the table. It should be identical so that the person sits on his feet, without bending, without overloading the muscles.
For sleep you will need a special bed, latex orthopedic 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 cervical muscles during sleep, providing a healing effect.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a disease that requires an integrated approach to organizing therapeutic and prophylactic measures to combat it. It is worth warning against self-medication, leading to irreversible negative health consequences. Competent medical help will cure the disease.