Characteristic features of the disease
The course of cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by slow, irreversible destruction of the intervertebral discs. Deprived of a cushioning cartilage lining, the bony vertebrae also begin to deform.
- external means with a local anesthetic, regenerating, warming effect;
- drugs that provide adequate nutrition to the brain;
- chondroprotectors that trigger disc recovery processes;
- local and systemic analgesics.
The pathology cannot yet be completely cured. The efforts of doctors are aimed at eliminating the painful symptoms and preventing the spread of the disease to other parts of the spine. For this purpose, complex treatment schemes with drugs from different groups are drawn up.
Signs of cervical chondrosis
In the initial stages of the disease, there are practically no symptoms in women and men. Sometimes a person feels slight discomfort in the evening. He describes them as tiredness after a full day's work, so he doesn't go to the doctor. Meanwhile, his intervertebral discs are gradually destroyed. Vertebrae are deformed with the formation of bony growths, pressing on the vertebral artery.
After about a year, the discomfort is replaced by pain that worsens when turning or tilting the head.
- clicking, crackling in the neck;
- limitation of range of motion;
- blood pressure spikes;
- rapid heart rate;
- migraine-like unilateral throbbing headaches;
- visual and hearing disorders;
- dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, sensation of imaginary rotation of objects;
- attacks of nausea, rarely ending in vomiting.
Due to oxygen starvation of the brain, sleep is disturbed, weakness, apathy, fatigue and ringing in the ears appear. A person's psycho-emotional state worsens - he becomes nervous and worries about trifles.
Principles of drug treatment
Chiropractors, professional massage therapists, physiotherapists and doctors of physical therapy are involved in the treatment of cervical chondrosis. At the last stage, the use of public funds is permitted. But the main role in complex therapy is assigned to pharmacological drugs.
- injection solutions are used for exacerbation of chondrosis to quickly eliminate painful symptoms;
- tablets, capsules, dragees are prescribed during remission to prevent disc destruction, relieve mild or moderate pain and restore blood circulation;
- ointments, gels, balms, creams are the safest, they quickly deal with stiffness and unpleasant crunch.
It is rarely possible to treat osteochondrosis with one drug. Therapeutic regimens usually include at least 5 drugs with different pharmacological properties. They are compatible and convenient to use at home.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are used more often than other drugs in the treatment of cervical chondrosis. They are indicated for sharp, piercing or distant, dull pain. The mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is based on the ability to inhibit the enzymes responsible for the production of neurotransmitters.
- removal of painful sensations;
- elimination of squeaks and clicks that occur when the neck is turned;
- stopping the course of acute, subacute, chronic inflammatory processes affecting soft tissues;
- stimulate the reduction of edema that affects sensory nerve endings;
- increasing the range of motion in the damaged cervical vertebrae.
In the treatment of chondrosis, drugs in the form of solutions for parenteral administration and tablets have proven themselves well.
Long-term use of NSAIDs leads to damage to the gastric mucosa. Concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors will help to avoid this. The drugs reduce the production of aggressive gastric juice by the parietal cells, which increases under the influence of NSAIDs.
Synthetic hormones
Glucocorticosteroids are synthetic analogues of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. This is the "heavy artillery" of drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Like natural hormones, glucocorticosteroids quickly relieve inflammation, swelling and almost immediately eliminate pain. They are used in the form of solutions for intramuscular administration. But in case of acute pain, it is possible to place them directly in the area of the destroyed intervertebral disc.
The use of hormonal drugs during pregnancy, breastfeeding, adolescence and childhood is prohibited.
All glucocorticosteroids have many contraindications. In clinical practice, cases of withdrawal include severe damage to the liver, kidneys and stomach after long-term hormone therapy. They are not used in the presence of liver cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, renal failure or osteoporosis.
Medicines with a chondroprotective effect
All the means used in the complex treatment of chondrosis only eliminate its symptoms, temporarily improving a person's well-being. The only exception is chondroprotectors. These drugs contain ingredients that can induce the repair of damaged cartilage intervertebral discs. The pain in the neck stops hurting after using them and disappears not in a few hours, but forever.
In pharmacies, chondroprotectors are presented in a wide range. These are capsules, substances for preparing injection solutions, powders packed in bags.
- Glucosamine. Stimulates the synthesis of bioactive substances necessary for the construction of tissues, improves the composition of the synovial fluid. It increases the permeability of the joint capsule, restores enzymatic processes and inhibits the destruction of discs.
- Chondroitin. It participates in the building of cartilage and bone tissue, accelerates metabolic processes. Inhibits the destruction of intervertebral discs, blocks enzymes that cause damage to cartilage tissue.
Products improving microcirculation
A substance sought to improve blood circulation in cervical osteochondrosis is xanthine nicotinate. This drug is used in the treatment of pathology of high severity, when not only the discs are deformed, but also the bony vertebrae. Compression of the vertebral artery is manifested by cervicocranialgia. This is the name of a whole complex of symptoms of damage to the spinal artery: headache, "floating" in front of the eyes, temporary blurred vision, sweating, rapid heart rate.
Thioctic acid helps improve microcirculation and eliminate "vertebral artery syndrome". The disadvantage of such drugs is their indiscriminate effect, since they accelerate the movement of blood in the body, which is not always advisable. Therefore, the list of their contraindications includes epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and peptic ulcer.
Preparations with B vitamins
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in the acute stage cannot be done without the use of drugs, the composition of which is formed by vitamins of group B. The fact is that acute bone growths of the vertebrae affect not only the vertebral artery. They also put pressure on sensitive nerve roots, disrupting innervation. Nerve impulses enter the central nervous system with a delay and its reactions are inhibited.
Violation of innervation leads to paresthesia - loss of sensitivity in certain areas of the body.
In the drug treatment of cervical chondrosis, drugs whose activity is determined by pyridoxine, thiamine and B12 have proven themselves well.
Many are available as intramuscular solutions. Contains B vitamins and anesthetic. Therefore, after the injection, the pain instantly disappears and the range of motion in the area of the cervical vertebrae is restored.
At the same time, the product improves blood circulation, functioning of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems, relieves inflammation and degeneration of nerves. There are contraindications for its use. These are periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding, hypersensitivity to the ingredients.
The best muscle relaxants
Eliminating mild symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and treating its exacerbations at home is often complicated by muscle spasms. The nerve root is compressed by displaced intervertebral discs and inflammatory edema. A severe pain syndrome appears, which the body tries to eliminate with muscle spasms. Thanks to this specific protective reaction, the person's mobility is limited and the discomfort disappears.
But often the increase in skeletal muscle tone causes even more pressure on the nerve endings.
Muscle relaxants are combined with all means for the treatment of chondrosis, including glucocorticosteroids. They are well tolerated by the body, but some can cause addiction and "withdrawal syndrome". Therefore, they are not intended for long-term therapy. The duration of the course of treatment does not exceed one week.
Medicines that improve the psycho-emotional state
Of all the chondroses, cervical is the one that especially worsens the psycho-emotional state of a person. All associated with damage to the vertebral artery by bony growths, leading to cerebral hypoxia.
- panic attack;
- depression, neurosis;
- visual and hearing disorders;
- dry unproductive cough;
- Lack of air;
- restlessness, apathy, fatigue;
- various sleep disorders.
What you don't need to do when they occur is to use cough suppressants, eye drops, or ear drops. Symptoms can often be eliminated by taking a course of drugs with a mild sedative effect: Tenoten, Novo-Passit, tinctures of motherwort, valerian, peony. Tranquilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants are prescribed only for severe neuroses and depression.
Vitamin balanced complexes
Most vitamins, basic micro- and macroelements enter the human body with food. But food products cannot always satisfy physiological needs or are absorbed and distributed incorrectly. For example, with circulatory disorders characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis. There is a deficiency of bioactive substances, which negatively affects the functioning of all vital systems.
To quickly replenish the body's daily needs of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, their balanced complexes should be included in treatment regimens.
Magnesium forms muscle and bone tissue, and iodine regulates metabolism. Manganese, molybdenum, chromium, potassium, chlorine, selenium, zinc stimulate the strengthening of the tendon-ligament apparatus, and copper stops inflammatory processes. These minerals are present in all the above complexes.
The correct intake of medication is to use 1 tablet per day - this amount is enough to improve the blood supply to the brain with useful substances.
A week later, the signs of anemia that appear at stage 3 of the development of cervical chondrosis disappear. The person no longer feels sleepy and does not suffer from impaired coordination of movements. Double vision of objects in front of the eyes disappears.
Ointments, gels, balms
External means for exacerbation of chondrosis at home are always used. They cannot cope with severe pain, injections or analgesics are required. Ointments, creams, gels, balms are used to eliminate the pain that occurs during hypothermia and change of climatic zones.
- Anti-inflammatory. Medicines have a more gentle effect on the human body than other NSAIDs.
- Vasodilators. The agents have a local irritating effect and dilate the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
- Pain relievers. Medicines help relieve pain immediately after administration. They absorb well and do not leave greasy marks on clothes and bedding.
- Warming up. Pepper extract products are applied with an applicator only. The drugs have an analgesic effect a few minutes after applying them to the back of the neck.
Products for external use are effective and very rarely provoke the development of local allergic reactions. But caution is required during treatment. If the ointments get on the mucous membranes, rinse them quickly with water. Especially those that contain essential oils, natural poisons and turpentine.
Therapeutic patches
A time-tested remedy for exacerbation of osteochondrosis is Pepper patch. Its composition is represented by phytoextracts of red hot pepper, belladonna and dimexide. The active ingredients of the patch gradually penetrate the area of the damaged disc and have an analgesic effect for 3-5 hours. If your neck hurts, then the external medicine is used whole or cut into small pieces.
Pepper patch is convenient for treatment at home, at work or while traveling. But there are also contraindications - individual intolerance to one of the components. And for women with sensitive skin, it can cause a chemical burn.
The patches have anti-inflammatory, decongestant and chondroprotective effects. They are intended for the treatment of all pathologies of the cervical spine. Their use helps to reduce the pharmacological load on the human body by reducing the doses of systemic drugs.
How to properly treat cervical chondrosis?
Stopping the destruction of the intervertebral discs is possible only with an integrated approach to therapy. It is practiced to wear orthopedic devices (Schantz collars) that fix the vertebrae in an anatomical position. Applicators are necessary to improve the blood supply of damaged tissues with nutrients and bioactive substances. Daily courses in physiotherapy, yoga, swimming, walks in the fresh air are shown.
It is recommended that most medications be used to relieve symptoms during exacerbations. They have many side effects, including damage to liver tissue. Chondroprotectors, means to improve blood circulation and balanced vitamin and mineral complexes are suitable for regular use.