Osteochondrosis is a serious back disease that interferes with the mobility of the vertebrae, changing their position and pinching of the nerve roots occurs. There are types of diseases, among which cervical osteochondrosis is considered serious. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are bright, the diagnosis of the disease is not difficult.
Cervical osteochondrosis involves the destruction of the intervertebral space in the cervical spine. The position of the vertebrae changes, pinching occurs. The disease is fraught with consequences, it is worth knowing its symptoms. Every 4 people with back pain have cervical osteochondrosis. The age of the patients is decreasing.
Symptoms
The main and troublesome symptom of osteochondrosis is pain. It comes at any time, it doesn't go away for several days, weeks. The strength and duration of the pain syndrome depend on the stage of the disease. With cervical osteochondrosis, the neck hurts at the site of the dislocation of the focus of inflammation. The disease covers several vertebrae, the pain spreads throughout the neck.
Cervical osteochondrosis differs from varieties, suggests severe symptoms. It is a headache, dizziness. Osteochondrosis causes pinching of the nerve roots, irritation of the nerve fibers located around them. The nucleus of the intervertebral disc is inflamed, as are the surrounding tissues.
There are many arteries and vessels in the neck that suffer from osteochondrosis. Inflamed nerves cause spasm in the blood vessels, which negatively affects patency. In the vessels, the lumen of the blood decreases, because they narrow, a smaller volume of blood passes through them. The head and brain suffer from oxygen starvation. Hence the headache, lightheadedness, fainting, nausea, vomiting.
Headache, migraine in tandem with pain in the neck causes a state of despair, depression. To eliminate the symptoms, doctors use all their strength to bring the patient back to his usual life, to the rhythm. The patient is subject to the relief of symptoms, it is worth knowing the methods, methods.
Conservative treatment
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis require urgent medical attention. A neuropathologist deals with the treatment of back diseases. If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region appear, a consultation with a cardiologist will be required. Treatment of the disease is complex, versatile. Don't expect the disease to go away after a week or two. Improvement should be noticed in 2-3 weeks, cure - in 3-4 months, if the disease is at the first stage. If a person consults a doctor later, it will not be possible to fully recover from osteochondrosis.
Much depends on the professionalism and experience of the doctor. It is worthwhile to compile a treatment complex that affects different aspects of the disease. The main role is played by drug treatment. Medicine is confidently advancing in the development of drugs for osteochondrosis, drugs actively affect the focus of inflammation. The main thing is to choose the right medicine.
Conservative treatment involves taking drugs belonging to the groups:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Medicines are aimed at eliminating the focus of inflammation, act gradually, slowly. For treatment, the patient is prescribed 2-3 courses of NSAIDs, with a two-week break. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have side effects that appear when the course of treatment is delayed for more than 10 days. The gastrointestinal tract suffers.
- Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis (neck pain, migraine) require the use of analgesics, severe pain relievers. They stop the pain for a while. In order for the pain not to bother for a long time, accompanying methods are used: self-massage, physiotherapy exercises, manual therapy.
- Vasodilator drugs are important in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Used to relieve vasospasm. It is recommended to select carefully, individually. They have many contraindications. Self-selection, drugs are not recommended. Illiteracy will lead to an aggravation of the disease.
- Chondroprotectors are aimed at the regeneration of damaged connective tissues. Osteochondrosis thins the intervertebral space, destroys cartilage and connective tissue. Regeneration without drugs is slow, since microcirculation is impaired, metabolic products do not leave the cells. Chondroprotectors improve microcirculation, remove metabolic products, stimulate metabolic processes in the cells of the affected tissue. Cell regeneration is faster.
Medicinal groups are considered to be the main ones in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck, but drugs alone cannot be eliminated.
Methods of therapy
When prescribing treatment, the doctor relies on important factors. It is worth finding out whether the patient has an allergy to choose therapy, drugs. The presence of chronic diseases is discovered. The treatment regimen, its duration, directions depend on the collected anamnesis. History indicates the severity of the disease.
Therapy is not limited to drugs. Treatment is complemented by methods:
- Physiotherapy. It includes methods: magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, hydrotherapy, mud therapy, phototherapy. In the treatment of back diseases, the musculoskeletal system, electrophoresis and magnetotherapy are used.
- Massage. We recommend that you rely on a qualified massage therapist. Massage of the collar area stimulates blood flow, improves the mobility of the vertebrae and temporarily relieves pain.
- Physiotherapy. A physical therapy specialist will compose, coordinate a course of exercises that have a beneficial effect on the body, will be an additional method of restoring the body.
- Traditional methods. In folk medicine, there are many effective recipes for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck. It is worthwhile to competently approach treatment with herbs, natural ingredients, as plants cause allergic reactions, side effects. It is advisable to agree on treatment with a doctor. This will save you from unwanted consequences and complications.
Treatment of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is compiled by a doctor. Self-medication should be excluded, a serious illness requires a professional approach. With the wrong medicines, the positive dynamic is minimized.